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We previously demonstrated that water intake increased mesenteric lymph flow and the total flux of IL-22 in rat jejunum. The drained water and the higher permeability of albumin in the jejunal microcirculation contributed to increase the lymph flow and IL-22 transport via the activation of great bulk flow in the jejunal villi. To address the effects of water intake-mediated great bulk flow-dependent mechanical force on jejunal physiological function and immunological regulation of innate lymphoid cells (ILC)-3, we examined the effects of shear stress stimulation on cultured rat myofibroblast cells. Next, we investigated the effects of water intake on podoplanin and IL-22 expressions in cultured human intestinal epithelial cells and rat in vivo jejunal preparations, respectively. Shear stress stimulation of the myofibroblast cells induced ATP release via an activation of cell surface F1/F0 ATP synthase. ATP produced podoplanin expression in the intestinal epithelial cells. Water intake accelerated immunohistochemical expressions of podoplanin and IL-22 in the interepithelial layers and lamina propria of the jejunum. ATP dose-dependently increased IL-22 mRNA expression in ILC-3, which are housed in the lamina propria. Water intake also increased immunohistochemical and mRNA expressions of ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases 2 and 5 in jejunal villi. In conclusion, water intake-mediated shear stress stimulation-dependent ATP release from myofibroblast cells maintains higher tissue colloid osmotic pressure in the jejunal microcirculation through podoplanin upregulation in the interepithelial layers. ATP induces IL-22 mRNA expression in ILC-3 in jejunal villi, which may contribute to regulation of mucosal immunity in small intestine.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We investigated effects of shear stress stimulation on cultured myofibroblast cells and water intake on podoplanin and IL-22 expressions in rat jejunal villi. The stimulation induced ATP release from the cells. Water intake accelerated podoplanin and IL-22 expression levels. ATP increased IL-22 mRNA expression in innate lymphoid cells (ILC)-3. Hence, water intake maintains higher osmotic pressure in the jejunal villi through ATP release and podoplanin upregulation. Water intake may regulate the mucosal immunity.

A close causal relationship has been suggested to exist between cancer and periodontitis. We hypothesized that the immune surveillance system is impaired in patients with periodontitis, which contributes to cancer development and growth. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between immune surveillance mechanisms and periodontitis in cancer patients. The presence or absence of periodontitis was assessed and the peripheral blood (PB) concentrations of IL-6, immunosuppressive cytokines (VEGF, TGF-β1, and CCL22) and proportion of T regulatory cells (Treg, CD3 + CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 +) were measured. Subjects were classified into the following four groups: non-cancer patients without periodontitis (C − P −), non-cancer patients with periodontitis (C − P +), cancer patients without periodontitis (C + P −), and cancer patients with periodontitis (C + P +). The results of a multivariate analysis showed that the PB concentration of IL-6 was significantly higher in C + than in C- and higher in C + P + than in C + P −. The PB proportion of Treg was significantly higher in C + P + than in C + P −, C − P + , and C − P −. The results of this study suggested that the presence of periodontitis and cancer synergistically increased Treg in PB, which may be one of the underlying causes of immunosuppression and immune evasion in cancer. It was also suggested that the presence of periodontal disease and/or cancer also increases IL-6 in PB, which would be associated with cancer progression. These results suggest the possibility that the presence of periodontitis might synergistically contribute to cancer progression.

Salivary dysfunction, such as reduced salivary flow and an altered salivary composition, is caused by several diseases, medical conditions, and medications. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship between hypertension and morphological changes in the submandibular glands. An epidemiological study was conducted to elucidate the relationship between hypertension and dry mouth. The effects of hypertension on morphological changes and the intima thickness of arteries in the submandibular glands were histopathologically investigated. Among 1933 subjects in the epidemiological study, 155 (8.0%) had dry mouth. A multivariate analysis revealed that dry mouth correlated with age (p

Background: Previous animal studies have shown that intragastric administration of water can accelerate mesenteric lymph flow. Similarly, human studies have shown that abdominal breathing can induc...

The number of reports describing malignant tumors arising in flaps has been increasing recently. This report describes the case of a patient who had a second squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the center of the skin island of a forearm flap raised approximately 6 years previously. Histopathologic examination suggested human papillomavirus infection and "mucosalization" of the flap. In addition, the authors review previous cases, with special attention to etiologic factors and surgical strategies. There might be a causal relation between second primary SCC in the flap and the carcinogenic effect (chronic inflammation) induced by the environment surrounding the squamous epithelium of the flap. If environmental factors have greatly contributed to the occurrence of a tumor, there is a potential for tumor occurrence in the remaining flap. There also might be a potential for generating second primary SCC in these foci. The results suggested that total resection of the flap might be recommended in the surgical resection of second primary SCC arising in a flap.