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We demonstrate an aberrant ramification pattern of the renal and testicular vessels. On both sides, the anterior and posterior renal veins emerged from the renal. On the right side, the anterior renal vein collected the right testicular vein and drained into the inferior vena cava, while the posterior one directly drained into the inferior vena cava. Two retrocaval testicular arteries originated from the aorta. On the left side, the perinephric vein drained from the abdominal wall and adrenal gland and joined the anterior renal vein. The anterior renal vein also collected the testicular, suprarenal, and inferior phrenic veins. The posterior one received the other testicular vein and the first three lumbar veins. These renal veins converged, passed anteriorly to the aorta, and drained into the inferior vena cava. Knowledge of the varied anatomy of these vessels will contribute to safe surgical approach to the kidneys.

The aim of this study was to present a facile protocol for preparation of both enantiomerically pure forms of (Z)-1,5-octadien-3-ol with lipases and to identify the stereochemistry of oyster alcohol from Crassostrea gigas. The asymmetric hydrolysis of (±)-(Z)-1,5-octadien-3-yl acetate with CHIRAZYME L-2 afforded the (R)-alcohol with ≧99% ee in 37.8% conversion. On the other hand, the first asymmetric acylation of the alkadienol with lipase PS recovered the (S)-alcohol with 79.5% ee in 47.8% conversion. Then, the second asymmetric acylation of the recovered (S)-alcohol with lipase PS gave the remaining (S)alcohol with ≧99% ee in 14.1% conversion. Thus, we have successfully prepared both enantiomerically pure forms of (Z)-1,5-octadien-3-ol with high ee (≧99%) separately. On the other hand, oyster alcohol in the extract from C. gigas was purified by silica gel column chromatography and the structure was confirmed by 1 H- and 13 C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Furthermore, the stereochemistry of oyster alcohol was decided as the (R)-form from the specific rotation and its optical purities were determined as 20.45 ± 0.2% ee by a chiral gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry for the first time.

The aim of this study was to characterize aroma compounds from Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis Mazel ex Houz. De ehaie) stem powders with a headspace solid phase microextraction - gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method and reconstruct the fresh stem aroma. A total of 32 aroma compounds were identified from the powders, comprising monoterpene hydrocarbons (40.03%), hydrocarbons (26.27%), aliphatic aldehydes (13.82%), norisoprenoids (7.93%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (3.40%), aliphatic ketones (2.47%), an aromatic alcohol (1.34%) and an acid (1.30%). The most abundant aroma compound was limonene (32.95%) and the absolute configuration and optical purities were determined as (R)-form with 98.17 ± 0.27% enantiomeric excess. The odor active values (OAVs) showed thirteen aroma active compounds (OAVs > 1.00) were determined, including seven aliphatic aldehydes, three monoterpene hydrocarbons, two norisoprenoids and one aliphatic ketone. We have compared the aroma profiles between the Moso bamboo stem powders and a reconstructed one on the basis of quantitative data and characterized the active compounds that can be responsible for the fresh stem aroma by sensory evaluation.

Histamine (HIST) and other biogenic amines found in fish and fishery products accumulated by the action of bacterial amino acid decarboxylase cannot be decomposed and eliminated by heating or other chemical methods. A simple method for HIST elimination is proposed by a coupling reaction of the fungal amine oxidase (FAO) and bacterial aldehyde oxidase (ALOX) of acetic acid bacteria. As a model reaction, FAO oxidized benzylamine to benzaldehyde, which in turn was oxidized spontaneously to benzoic acid with ALOX. Likely, in HIST elimination, FAO coupled well with ALOX to produce imidazole 4-acetic acid from HIST with an apparent yield of 100%. Imidazole 4-acetaldehyde was not detected in the reaction mixture. In the absence of ALOX, the coupling reaction was incomplete given a number of unidentified substances in the reaction mixture. The proposed coupling enzymatic method may be highly effective to eliminate toxic amines from fish and fishery products., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.)

D-Mannose isomerase (EC 5.3.1.7) catalyzing reversible conversion between D-mannose and D-fructose was found in acetic acid bacteria. Cell fractionation confirmed the enzyme to be a typical membrane-bound enzyme, while all sugar isomerases so far reported are cytoplasmic. The optimal enzyme activity was found at pH 5.5, which was clear contrast to the cytoplasmic enzymes having alkaline optimal pH. The enzyme was heat stable and the optimal reaction temperature was observed at around 40 to 60˚C. Purified enzyme after solubilization from membrane fraction showed the total molecular mass of 196 kDa composing of identical four subunits of 48 kDa. Washed cells or immobilized cells were well functional at nearly 80% of conversion ratio from D-mannose to D-fructose and reversely 20-25% of D-fructose to D-mannose. Catalytic properties of the enzyme were discussed with respect to the biotechnological applications to high fructose syrup production from konjac taro., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.)

The aim of this study was to propose an alternative route for preparing chiral β- and α-ionols by asymmetric oxidation with a heme acquisition system A (HasA) derived from symbiotic fluorescent bacteria as a biocatalyst. The HasA (6 g) in distilled water (300 mL) was stirred at 1150 rpm for 1 day at 40°C. Subsequently, a secondary alcohol (0.77 mmol) as a substrate in 2% 2-propanol was added to the catalyst solution. After verifying that the oxidation proceeded to ca 50% using gas chromatography (GC), the reaction mixture was filtered, extracted, washed, and dried over. The extract was concentrated in vacuo and purified using silica gel column chromatography to yield the oxidized product and recover the unreacted alcohol. β-Ionol was oxidized into β-ionone in a conversion of ca. 50% in the presence of the HasA for three days, and the remaining alcohol was recovered and analyzed using chiral GC after acetylation. The HasA selectively catalyzed the asymmetric oxidation of β-ionol with a preference for the (R)- form to recover (S)-β-ionol with 96.4 ±1.6% enantiomeric excess (ee). In addition, α-ionol was similarly oxidized into α-ionone in a conversion of ca. 50% for seven days, preferentially remaining (9S)-α-ionol with 97.9 ± 0.2% ee. The characteristic aroma of (S)-β-ionol obtained by the asymmetric oxidation with the HasA showed floral and fruity like, while the aroma of (9S)-α-ionol described as violet and sweet. In this study, we successfully developed a new approach to prepare enantiomerically pure (S)-β- and α-ionols by the asymmetric oxidation with the HasA.

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the aroma components of absolute oil from natsudaidai (Citrus natsudaidai Hayata) flowers. A total of 43 aroma components were detected in the absolute oil of natsudaidai flowers using a headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME)-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The most abundant components from the absolute oil was linalool (31.14%), followed by methyl anthranilate, γ-terpinene, p-cymene, (E)-β-ocimene, limonene, indole and α-terpineol. The configuration of linalool from the absolute oil was assigned as (S)-form and its optical purities were determined as 89.36±0.36% enantiomeric excess using a SPME-chiral GC. These results indicated that the composition of aroma components in the absolute oil would influence the overall aroma qualities of natsudaidai flowers and the physiological effects on human.

BACKGROUND Thallium-201 has been widely used in clinical practice for the management of coronary heart disease, but little is known regarding its kinetics in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. CASE REPORT We report a 78-year-old man who developed acute inferior myocardial infarction during exercise thallium-201 scintigraphy. The patient underwent exercise testing with thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy because of a single episode of chest pain. The workload was started with 25 watts and increased by 25 watts every 2 min on a bicycle ergometer with continuous monitoring of 12-lead electrocardiography. Thallium-201 was injected intravenously at 85% of the age-predicted maximal heart rate, and ST-segment elevations refractory to medication subsequently developed in the inferior leads, followed by chest pain. Scintigraphic image acquisition was deferred and he was transferred to the catheter laboratory in this hospital. Emergency coronary angiography showed occlusion in the right coronary artery, and stent implantation was successfully performed. The peak level of creatine kinase in the clinical course was 201 U/l. Scintigraphic images obtained 4 h after the onset of ST-segment elevation showed severely reduced activity in the left ventricular inferior wall, with partial redistribution 24 h later. Follow-up imaging performed 4 months later revealed increased accumulation of thallium-201 in the inferior wall. CONCLUSIONS Our case highlights the kinetics of thallium-201 during acute myocardial infarction.

Due to the indigestibility, utilization of konjac taro, Amorphophallus konjac has been limited only to the Japanese traditional konjac food. Koji preparation with konjac taro was examined to utilize konjac taro as a source of utilizable carbohydrates. Aspergillus luchuensis AKU 3302 was selected as a favorable strain for koji preparation, while Aspergillus oryzae used extensively in sake brewing industry was not so effective. Asp. luchuensis grew well over steamed konjac taro by extending hyphae with least conidia formation. Koji preparation was completed after 3-day incubation at 30°C. D-Mannose and D-glucose were the major monosaccharides found in a hydrolyzate giving the total sugar yield of 50 g from 100 g of dried konjac taro. An apparent extent of konjac taro hydrolysis at 55°C for 24 h seemed to be completed. Since konjac taro is hydrolyzed into monosaccharides, utilization of konjac taro carbohydrates may become possible to various products of biotechnological interest.

Gluconobacter Frateurii: CHM 43 have D-mannitol dehydrogenase (quinoprotein glycerol dehydrogenase) and flavoprotein D-fructose dehydrogenase in the membranes. When the two enzymes are functional, D-mannitol is converted to 5-keto-D-fructose with 65% yield when cultivated on D-mannitol. 5-Keto-D-fructose production with almost 100% yield was realized with the resting cells. The method proposed here should give a smart strategy for 5-keto-D-fructose production.

An essential oil from dried "wakame" (Undaria pinnatifida), prepared by a simultaneous distillation extraction method, was analyzed by GC-MS, indicating the presence of one major component of volatiles. The volatile component was identified as (6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z,18Z)-1,6,9,12,15,18-henicosahexaene by comparison with the GC-MS and NMR spectra of synthetic. The henicosahexaene showed a subtly marine aroma. (6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-1,6,9,12,15-Henicosapentaene was also detected as a minor polyene in the essential oils. It was suggested that these polyenes contribute to the characteristic aroma of the dried wakame.

Membrane-bound, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent glycerol dehydrogenase (GLDH, or polyol dehydrogenase) of Gluconobacter sp. oxidizes various secondary alcohols to produce the corresponding ketones, such as oxidation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose in vitamin C production. Substrate specificity of GLDH is considered limited to secondary alcohols in the D-erythro configuration at the next to the last carbon. Here, we suggest that L-ribose, D- and L-lyxoses, and L-tagatose are also substrates of GLDH, but these sugars do not meet the substrate specificity rule of GLDH. The oxygen consumption activity of wild-type Gluconobacter frateurii cell membranes depends on several kinds of sugars as compared with that of the membranes of a GLDH-negative variant. Biotransformation of those sugars with the membranes was examined to determine the reaction products. A time course measuring the pH in the reaction mixture and the increase or decrease in substrates and products on TLC suggested that oxidation products of L-lyxose and L-tagatose were ketones with unknown structures, but those of L-ribose and D-lyxose were acids. The oxidation product of L-ribose was purified and revealed to be L-ribonate by HRMS and NMR analysis. Biotransformation of L-ribose with the membranes and also with the whole cells produced L-ribonate in nearly stoichiometric amounts, indicating that the specific oxidation site in L-ribose is recognized by GLDH. Since purified GLDH produced L-ribonate without any intermediate-like compounds, we propose here a reaction model where the first carbon in the pyranose form of L-ribose is oxidized by GLDH to L-ribonolactone, which is further hydrolyzed spontaneously to produce L-ribonate.

An essential oil from the brown alga Sargassum thunbergii, prepared by a simultaneous distillation extraction method, contained in two types of volatile polyenes with a terminal double bond such as (6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z,18Z)-1,6,9,12,15,18-henicosahexaene and (6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-1,6,9,12,15-henicosapentaene and with their saturated terminal structures such as (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z,18Z)-3,6,9,12,15,18-henicosahexaene and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-3,6,9,12,15-henicosapentaene. These volatile polyenes were identified by comparison with the GC-MS and NMR spectra of synthetics. The polyenes with the saturated terminal structures were found in the brown algae for the first time.

Mitochondria, which evolved from a free-living bacterial ancestor, contain their own genomes and genetic systems and are produced from preexisting mitochondria by binary division. The mitochondrion-dividing (MD) ring is the main skeletal structure of the mitochondrial division machinery. However, the assembly mechanism and molecular identity of the MD ring are unknown. Multi-omics analysis of isolated mitochondrial division machinery from the unicellular alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae revealed an uncharacterized glycosyltransferase, MITOCHONDRION-DIVIDING RING1 (MDR1), which is specifically expressed during mitochondrial division and forms a single ring at the mitochondrial division site. Nanoscale imaging using immunoelectron microscopy and componential analysis demonstrated that MDR1 is involved in MD ring formation and that the MD ring filaments are composed of glycosylated MDR1 and polymeric glucose nanofilaments. Down-regulation of MDR1 strongly interrupted mitochondrial division and obstructed MD ring assembly. Taken together, our results suggest that MDR1 mediates the synthesis of polyglucan nanofilaments that assemble to form the MD ring. Given that a homolog of MDR1 performs similar functions in chloroplast division, the establishment of MDR1 family proteins appears to have been a singular, crucial event for the emergence of endosymbiotic organelles., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

A novel oxidation of D-pentonates to 4-keto-D-pentonates was analyzed with Gluconobacter thailandicus NBRC 3258. D-Pentonate 4-dehydrogenase activity in the membrane fraction was readily inactivated by EDTA and it was reactivated by the addition of PQQ and Ca 2+ . D-Pentonate 4-dehydrogenase was purified to two different subunits, 80 and 14 kDa. The absorption spectrum of the purified enzyme showed no typical absorbance over the visible regions. The enzyme oxidized D-pentonates to 4-keto-D-pentonates at the optimum pH of 4.0. In addition, the enzyme oxidized D-fructose to 5-keto-D-fructose, D-psicose to 5-keto-D-psicose, including the other polyols such as, glycerol, D-ribitol, D-arabitol, and D-sorbitol. Thus, D-pentonate 4-dehydrogenase was found to be identical with glycerol dehydrogenase (GLDH), a major polyol dehydrogenase in Gluconobacter species. The reaction versatility of quinoprotein GLDH was notified in this study.

Atherosclerosis is the primary cause for cardiovascular disease. Here we identified a novel mechanism underlying atherosclerosis, which is provided by ARIA (apoptosis regulator through modulating IAP expression), the transmembrane protein that we recently identified. ARIA is expressed in macrophages present in human atherosclerotic plaque as well as in mouse peritoneal macrophages. When challenged with acetylated LDL, peritoneal macrophages isolated from ARIA-deficient mice showed substantially reduced foam cell formation, whereas the uptake did not differ from that in wild-type macrophages. Mechanistically, loss of ARIA enhanced PI3K/Akt signaling and consequently reduced the expression of acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 (ACAT-1), an enzyme that esterifies cholesterol and promotes its storage, in macrophages. Inhibition of PI3K abolished the reduction in ACAT-1 expression and foam cell formation in ARIA-deficient macrophages. In contrast, overexpression of ARIA reduced Akt activity and enhanced foam cell formation in RAW264.7 macrophages, which was abrogated by treatment with ACAT inhibitor. Of note, genetic deletion of ARIA significantly reduced the atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice. Oil red-O-positive lipid-rich lesion was reduced, which was accompanied by an increase of collagen fiber and decrease of necrotic core lesion in atherosclerotic plaque in ARIA/ApoE double-deficient mice. Analysis of bone marrow chimeric mice revealed that loss of ARIA in bone marrow cells was sufficient to reduce the atherosclerogenesis in ApoE-deficient mice. Together, we identified a unique role of ARIA in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis at least partly by modulating macrophage foam cell formation. Our results indicate that ARIA could serve as a novel pharmacotherapeutic target for the treatment of atherosclerotic diseases., (© 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

Eight-carbon (C8) volatiles, such as 1-octen-3-ol, octan-3-one, and octan-3-ol, are ubiquitously found among fungi and bryophytes. In this study, it was found that the thalli of the common liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, a model plant species, emitted high amounts of C8 volatiles mainly consisting of (R)-1-octen-3-ol and octan-3-one upon mechanical wounding. The induction of emission took place within 40min. In intact thalli, 1-octen-3-yl acetate was the predominant C8 volatile while tissue disruption resulted in conversion of the acetate to 1-octen-3-ol. This conversion was carried out by an esterase showing stereospecificity to (R)-1-octen-3-yl acetate. From the transgenic line of M. polymorpha (des6(KO)) lacking arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, formation of C8 volatiles was only minimally observed, which indicated that arachidonic and/or eicosapentaenoic acids were essential to form C8 volatiles in M. polymorpha. When des6(KO) thalli were exposed to the vapor of 1-octen-3-ol, they absorbed the alcohol and converted it into 1-octen-3-yl acetate and octan-3-one. Therefore, this implied that 1-octen-3-ol was the primary C8 product formed from arachidonic acid, and further metabolism involving acetylation and oxidoreduction occurred to diversify the C8 products. Octan-3-one was only minimally formed from completely disrupted thalli, while it was formed as the most abundant product in partially disrupted thalli. Therefore, it is assumed that the remaining intact tissues were involved in the conversion of 1-octen-3-ol to octan-3-one in the partially disrupted thalli. The conversion was partly promoted by addition of NAD(P)H into the completely disrupted tissues, suggesting an NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductase was involved in the conversion., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Plants receive volatile compounds emitted by neighboring plants that are infested by herbivores, and consequently the receiver plants begin to defend against forthcoming herbivory. However, to date, how plants receive volatiles and, consequently, how they fortify their defenses, is largely unknown. In this study, we found that undamaged tomato plants exposed to volatiles emitted by conspecifics infested with common cutworms (exposed plants) became more defensive against the larvae than those exposed to volatiles from uninfested conspecifics (control plants) in a constant airflow system under laboratory conditions. Comprehensive metabolite analyses showed that only the amount of (Z)-3-hexenylvicianoside (HexVic) was higher in exposed than control plants. This compound negatively affected the performance of common cutworms when added to an artificial diet. The aglycon of HexVic, (Z)-3-hexenol, was obtained from neighboring infested plants via the air. The amount of jasmonates (JAs) was not higher in exposed plants, and HexVic biosynthesis was independent of JA signaling. The use of (Z)-3-hexenol from neighboring damaged conspecifics for HexVic biosynthesis in exposed plants was also observed in an experimental field, indicating that (Z)-3-hexenol intake occurred even under fluctuating environmental conditions. Specific use of airborne (Z)-3-hexenol to form HexVic in undamaged tomato plants reveals a previously unidentified mechanism of plant defense.

PI3K/Akt signaling plays an important role in the regulation of cardiomyocyte death machinery, which can cause stress-induced cardiac dysfunction. Here, we report that apoptosis regulator through modulating IAP expression (ARIA), a recently identified transmembrane protein, regulates the cardiac PI3K/Akt signaling and thus modifies the progression of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy. ARIA is highly expressed in the mouse heart relative to other tissues, and it is also expressed in isolated rat cardiomyocytes. The stable expression of ARIA in H9c2 cardiac muscle cells increased the levels of membrane-associated PTEN and subsequently reduced the PI3K/Akt signaling and the downstream phosphorylation of Bad, a proapoptotic BH3-only protein. When challenged with DOX, ARIA-expressing H9c2 cells exhibited enhanced apoptosis, which was reversed by the siRNA-mediated silencing of Bad. ARIA-deficient mice exhibited normal heart morphology and function. However, DOX-induced cardiac dysfunction was significantly ameliorated in conjunction with reduced cardiomyocyte death and cardiac fibrosis in ARIA-deficient mice. Phosphorylation of Akt and Bad was substantially enhanced in the heart of ARIA-deficient mice even after treatment with DOX. Moreover, repressing the PI3K by cardiomyocyte-specific expression of dominant-negative PI3K (p110α) abolished the cardioprotective effects of ARIA deletion. Notably, targeted activation of ARIA in cardiomyocytes but not in endothelial cells reduced the cardiac PI3K/Akt signaling and exacerbated the DOX-induced cardiac dysfunction. These studies, therefore, revealed a previously undescribed mode of manipulating cardiac PI3K/Akt signaling by ARIA, thus identifying ARIA as an attractive new target for the prevention of stress-induced myocardial dysfunction.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. The perivascular adipose tissue is closely implicated in the development of atherosclerosis; however, the contribution to CKD-associated atherogenesis remains undefined. Eight-week-old apoE-deficient mice were uninephrectomized and fed a high-cholesterol diet starting at 12 wk of age. The atherosclerotic lesion area in the thoracic aorta was comparable in 16-wk-old uninephrectomized (UNX) mice and sham control mice; however, the lesion area was markedly exaggerated in 20-wk-old UNX mice compared with the control (54%, P < 0.05). While the accumulation of monocytes/macrophages and the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in the thoracic periaortic adipose tissue (PAT) did not differ between the two groups, angiotensinogen (AGT) mRNA expression and the angiotensin II (ANG II) concentration in the PAT were significantly higher in 16-wk-old UNX mice than in the control (1.9- and 1.5-fold increases vs. control, respectively; P < 0.05). ANG II concentrations in both the plasma and epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) were comparable between the two groups, suggesting that PAT-specific activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is primarily involved in CKD-associated atherogenesis. The homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and plasma insulin level after glucose loading were significantly elevated in 16-wk-old UNX mice. In vitro stimulation of preadipocytes with insulin exaggerated the AGT mRNA expression along with increased mRNA expression of PPARγ. These findings suggest that PAT-specific RAS activation probably primarily contributes in accelerating atherosclerotic development in UNX mice and could thus represent a therapeutic target for preventing CKD-associated atherogenesis.

Eikenella corrodens produces autoinducer-2 (AI-2) in the mid log phase, and AI-2 activity decreases dramatically during the stationary phase. We investigated the mechanism underlying this decrease in AI-2 activity. To analyze the mechanism, we extracted and purified AI-2 from the supernatant of mid-log-phase culture. Simultaneously, the stationary-phase culture supernatant was fractionated by ammonium sulfate precipitation. On incubating purified AI-2 and 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3(2H)-furanone (MHF) with each fraction, the 30% fraction decreased both AI-2 and MHF activities. The data suggest that AI-2 and MHF were rendered inactive in the same manner. Heat and/or trypsin treatment of the 30% fraction did not completely arrest AI-2 inactivation, suggesting that partially heat-stable proteins are involved in AI-2 inactivation. We observed that an enzyme converted MHF to another form. This suggests that E. corrodens produces an AI-2 inactivating enzyme, and that AI-2 can be degraded or modified by it.

Insulin resistance is closely associated with obesity and is one of the earliest symptoms of type-2 diabetes. Endothelial cells are involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance through their role in insulin delivery and adipose tissue angiogenesis. Here we show that Ecscr (endothelial cell surface expressed chemotaxis and apoptosis regulator; also known as ARIA), the transmembrane protein that regulates endothelial cell signalling, is highly expressed in white and brown adipose tissues, and regulates energy metabolism and glucose homeostasis by modulating endothelial cell functions. Ecscr-deficient mice fed a normal chow show improved glucose tolerance and enhanced insulin sensitivity. We demonstrate that Ecscr deletion enhances the insulin-mediated Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation in endothelial cells, which increases insulin delivery into the skeletal muscle. Ecscr deletion also protects mice on a high-fat diet from obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders by enhancing adipose tissue angiogenesis. Conversely, targeted activation of Ecscr in endothelial cells impairs glucose tolerance and predisposes mice to diet-induced obesity. Our results suggest that the inactivation of Ecscr enhances insulin sensitivity and may represent a new therapeutic strategy for treating metabolic syndrome.

D-Ribose and 2-deoxy-D-ribose were oxidized to 4-keto-D-ribonate and 2-deoxy-4-keto-D-ribonate respectively by oxidative fermentation, and the chemical structures of the oxidation products were confirmed to be as expected. Both pentoses are important sugar components of nucleic acids. When examined, purine nucleosidase activity predominated in the membrane fraction of acetic acid bacteria. This is perhaps the first finding of membrane-bound purine nucleosidase.

Vascular calcification is a major risk factor for the cardiovascular disease, yet its underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Recently, we identified that osteogenic signals via bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 exerted by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a crucial role in the formation of atherosclerotic plaque calcification. Here we report a synergistic interaction between macrophages and VSMCs with respect to plaque calcification. Treatment with conditioned medium (CM) of macrophages dramatically enhanced BMP-2 expression in VSMCs, while it substantially reduced the expression of matrix Gla-protein (MGP) that inhibits the BMP-2 osteogenic signaling. As a result, macrophages significantly accelerated the osteoblastic differentiation of C2C12 cells induced by VSMC-CM. In contrast, macrophage-CM did not enhance the osteoblastic gene expressions in VSMCs, indicating that macrophages unlikely induced the osteoblastic trans-differentiation of VSMCs. We then examined the effect of recombinant TNF-α and IL-1β on the VSMC-derived osteogenic signals. Similar to the macrophage-CM, both cytokines enhanced BMP-2 expression and reduced MGP expression in VSMCs. Nevertheless, only the neutralization of TNF-α but not IL-1β attenuated the effect of macrophage-CM on the expression of these genes in VSMCs, due to the very low concentration of IL-1β in the macrophage-CM. On the other hand, VSMCs significantly enhanced IL-1β expression in macrophages, which might in turn accelerate the VSMC-mediated osteogenic signals. Together, we identified a unique role of macrophages in the formation of plaque calcification in coordination with VSMCs. This interaction between macrophages and VSMCs is a potential therapeutic target to treat and prevent the atherosclerotic plaque calcification., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ageing is an important risk factor for ischemic cardiovascular diseases, although its underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here, we report a crucial role of Bcl-2 in the impaired angiogenic functions in senescent endothelial cells (ECs) by modulating the mitochondrial redox state. Cellular senescence impaired angiogenic functions in ECs without attenuating the mitogen-activated protein kinase or Akt signaling, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or Tie-2 expressions. We identified that Bcl-2 expression was markedly reduced in 3 independent models for senescent ECs, and pharmacological inhibition, as well as small interfering RNA-mediated gene silencing of Bcl-2, significantly impaired the angiogenic functions in young ECs. Bcl-2 has an antioxidative role by locating the glutathione at mitochondria, and we found that mitochondrial oxidative stress was significantly augmented in senescent ECs, in association with reduced mitochondria-associated glutathione. Transfection of Bcl-2 in senescent ECs significantly reduced the mitochondrial oxidative stress, restored the mitochondrial membrane potential, and improved the angiogenic capacity. Furthermore, gene transfer of Bcl-2 using adenovirus significantly improved the in vivo angiogenesis in the Matrigel plugs implanted into aged mice, whereas the Bcl-2 inhibitor reduced the angiogenesis in the Matrigel plugs implanted into young mice. Together, Bcl-2 plays a crucial role in the regulation of the mitochondrial redox state in ECs, and, thus, loss of Bcl-2 during the senescence exacerbates the impaired angiogenesis by augmenting the mitochondrial oxidative stress.

Endothelial and endothelial progenitor cells (ECs and EPCs) play a fundamental role in angiogenesis that is essential for numerous physiological and pathological processes. The phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/ phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway has been implicated in angiogenesis, but the mechanism in the regulation of this pathway in ECs and EPCs is poorly understood. Here we show that ARIA (apoptosis regulator through modulating IAP expression), a transmembrane protein that we recently identified, regulates the PTEN/PI3K pathway in ECs and EPCs and controls developmental and postnatal angiogenesis in vivo. We found that ARIA is abundantly expressed in EPCs and regulates their angiogenic functions by modulating PI3K/Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling. Genetic deletion of ARIA caused nonfatal bleeding during embryogenesis, in association with increased small vessel density and altered expression of various vascular growth factors including angiopoietins and VEGF receptors. Postnatal neovascularization induced by critical limb ischemia was substantially enhanced in ARIA-null mice, in conjunction with more bone marrow (BM)-derived ECs detected in ischemic muscles. Administration of PI3K or NO synthase inhibitor completely abolished the enhanced neovascularization in ARIA(-/-) mice. Mechanistically, we identified that ARIA interacts with PTEN at the intracellular domain independently of the PTEN phosphorylation in its C-terminal tail. Overexpressed ARIA increased PTEN in the membrane fraction, whereas ARIA-silencing reduced the membrane-associated PTEN, resulting in modified PI3K/Akt signaling. Taken together, our findings establish a previously undescribed mode of regulation of the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway by ARIA, and reveal a unique mechanism in the control of angiogenesis. These functions of ARIA might offer a unique therapeutic potential.

In our previous study, a new microbial reaction yielding 4-keto-D-arabonate from 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate was identified with Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens RCTMR 10. It appeared that decarboxylation and dehydrogenation took place together in the reaction. To analyze the nature of the reaction, investigations were done with the membrane fraction of the organism, and 4-keto-D-arabinose was confirmed as the direct precursor of 4-keto-D-arabonate. Two novel membrane-bound enzymes, 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate decarboxylase and 4-keto-D-aldopentose 1-dehydrogenase, were involved in the reaction. Alternatively, D-arabonate was oxidized to 4-keto-D-arabonate by another membrane-bound enzyme, D-arabonate 4-dehydrogenase. More directly, D-arabinose oxidation was examined with growing cells and with the membrane fraction of G. suboxydans IFO 12528. 4-Keto-D-arabinose, the same intermediate as that from 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate, was detected, and it was oxidized to 4-keto-D-arabonate. Likewise, D-ribose was oxidized to 4-keto-D-ribose and then it was oxidized to 4-keto-D-ribonate. In addition to 4-keto-D-aldopentose 1-dehydrogenase, the presence of a novel membrane-bound enzyme, D-aldopentose 4-dehydrogenase, was confirmed in the membrane fraction. The formation of 4-keto-D-aldopentoses and 4-keto-D-pentonates (4-pentulosonates) was finally confirmed as reaction products of four different novel membrane-bound enzymes.

4-Keto-D-arabonate (D-threo-pent-4-ulosonate) and 4-keto-D-ribonate (D-erythro-pent-4-ulosonate) were prepared from D-arabinose and D-ribose by two successive reactions of membrane-bound enzymes, D-aldopentose 4-dehydrogenase and 4-keto-D-aldopentose 1-dehydrogenase of Gluconobacter suboxydans IFO 12528. Alternatively, they were prepared from D-arabonate and D-ribonate with another membrane-bound enzyme, D-pentonate 4-dehydrogenase. Analytical data confirmed the chemical structures of the 4-pentulosonates prepared. This is the first report of successful enzymatic synthesis of 4-pentulosonates.

Objective: Vascular calcification is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Here, we investigated a role of dedifferentiated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the atherosclerotic intimal calcification., Methods and Results: We prepared human cultured VSMCs in either redifferentiatiated or dedifferentiated state and analyzed the gene expressions of bone-calcification regulatory factors. Expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), a potent initiator for osteoblast differentiation, was significantly enhanced in dedifferentiated VSMCs. Furthermore, endogenous BMP-2 antagonists, such as noggin, chordin, and matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein, were all downregulated in the dedifferentiated VSMCs. Conditioned medium from dedifferentiated VSMCs, but not from redifferentiated VSMCs, stimulated the osteoblastic differentiation of the mesenchymal progenitor C2C12 cells, which was abolished by BMP-2 knockdown. In atherosclerotic intima from apolipoprotein (apo)E-deficient mice, αSM-actin-positive cells, presumably dedifferentiated VSMCs, expressed BMP-2. We generated BMP-2-transgenic mice using αSM-actin promoter and crossed them with apoE-deficient mice (BMP-2-transgenic/apoE-knockout). Significantly accelerated atherosclerotic intimal calcification was detected in BMP-2-transgenic/apoE-knockout mice, although serum lipid concentration and atherosclerotic plaque size were not different from those in apoE-knockout mice. Enhanced calcification appeared to be associated with the frequent emergence of osteoblast-like cells in atherosclerotic intima in BMP-2-transgenic/apoE-knockout mice., Conclusions: Our findings collectively demonstrate an important role of dedifferentiated VSMCs in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic calcification through activating paracrine BMP-2 osteogenic signals.

Production of 4-keto-D-arabonate (4KAB) was confirmed in a culture medium of Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens strains, newly isolated from water kefir in Argentina. The strains rapidly oxidized D-glucose, D-gluconate (GA), and 2-keto-D-gluconate (2KGA), and accumulated 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate (25DKA) exclusively before reaching the stationary phase. 25DKA was in turn converted to 4KAB, and 4KAB remained stable in the culture medium. The occurrence of 4KAB was assumed by Ameyama and Kondo about 50 years ago in their study on the carbohydrate metabolism of acetic acid bacteria (Bull. Agr. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 22, 271-272, 380-386 (1958)). This is the first report confirming microbial production of 4KAB.

The citrus fruit Setomi is a hybrid of Yoshiura ponkan (Citrus reticulate Blanco) and Kiyomi (Citrus unshiu Mrcov. x Citrus sinensis Osbeck). The essential oils from the peel of Setomi and its parent cultivars were obtained by a simultaneous distillation extraction technique. Comparing the essential oils of Setomi and its parent cultivars, it was found that the oil in the peel of Setomi consisted of characteristic aroma components from each parent cultivar. The principal component analysis of data, obtained with an electronic nose, indicated that the odor quality of Setomi was different from those of the parent cultivars.

Prorenin is an enzymatically inactive precursor of renin, and its biological function in endothelial cells (ECs) is unknown despite its relevance with the incidence of diabetic microvascular complications. Recently, (pro)renin receptor was identified, and the receptor-associated prorenin system has been discovered, whereas its expression as well as function in ECs remain unclear. In the present study, we found that ECs express the (pro)renin receptor, and that prorenin provoked ERK activation through (pro)renin receptor independently of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Prorenin stimulated the proliferation, migration and tube-formation of ECs, while it inhibited endothelial apoptosis induced by serum and growth factor depletion. MEK inhibitor abrogated these proangiogenic effects of prorenin, while AT1 receptor antagonist or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor failed to block them. In vivo neovascularization in the Matrigel-plugs implanted into mouse flanks was significantly enhanced by prorenin, in which significant ERK activation was detected in ECs. Furthermore, tumor xenografts stably transfected with prorenin demonstrated the significantly accelerated growth rate concomitantly with enhanced intratumoral neovascularization. Our data demonstrated that the RAS-independent (pro)renin receptor-mediated signal transduction plays a pivotal role in the regulation of ECs function as well as in the neovascularization, and thus prorenin is potentially involved in the pathophysiology of diabetic microvascular complications as well as cancers.

There are more than a few risks of hemorrhage complication in patients with amyloidosis. Although most cases with amyloidosis exhibit minor bleeding manifestations, they can be occasionally associated with life-threatening problems. To our knowledge, there are only a few cases of spontaneous pericardial hematoma associated with amyloidosis. We here report a patient who suddenly died of cardiac tamponade with massive pericardial hematoma 7 years after the diagnosis of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). A 69-year-old female with FAP with cardiogenic shock was admitted to our emergency room. Although she previously underwent permanent pacemaker implantation for atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular response, electrocardiogram showed a critical pacing failure. Emergent telemetry check revealed a sudden extreme increase of pacing capture threshold in the right ventricle. Maximum pacing voltage could not improve the critical condition, and she died 7 h after arrival. Autopsy showed a massive pericardial hematoma in the right ventricular free wall, and microscopic examination revealed typical amyloid deposition in the arterial wall of the pericardium. In this case, it is assumed that a sudden rupture of fragile pericardial vessels with amyloid deposition led to the lethal pericardial hematoma.

Background: Acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI) often induces transient sinus bradycardia through vagal enhancement, known as Bezold-Jarisch reflex, which is explained by preferential distribution of vagal nerve in the inferior wall. We examined vagal activity in relation to the occurrence of residual ischemia in patients with old inferior MI and assessed its diagnostic usefulness., Methods: Exercise myocardial scintigraphy was performed in 15 patients with old inferior MI, 19 angina pectoris (AP) patients with inferior ischemia but no MI, and 32 control subjects who had no evidence of cardiac disease. We analyzed the connection of residual ischemia in old MI with ST-segment response to exercise and with vagal activity as determined by coefficient of component variance of high frequency (CCV(HF))., Results: Exercise-induced percentage change in CCV(HF) was higher in patients with old MI and residual ischemia (18.8 +/- 13.5%) and AP (5.5 +/- 9.7%) than old MI but no residual ischemia (-24.1 +/- 4.9%) or control (-22.8 +/- 4.5%, P = 0.006). Percentage change in CCV(HF) > -5% had a good diagnostic value for the detection of residual ischemia in patients with old inferior MI with sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 89%, accuracy of 87%, and positive likelihood ratio of 7.50, which was higher than that of ST-segment depression (67%, 50%, 56%, and 1.33)., Conclusions: Vagal enhancement was associated with residual ischemia in old inferior MI as well as inferior AP. Measurement of CCV(HF) is useful in improving the diagnostic reliability of exercise electrocardiography in patients with old inferior MI.

Chlorogenate hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.42, CHase) was highly induced in mycelia of Aspergillus sojae AKU 3312 grown in Czapek medium containing either instant coffee powder or coffee pulp as inducer. No CHase formation was observed in the mycelia when cultivated without the inducer. CHase was purified readily from CHase-induced mycelia to high homogeneity, and the purified CHase revealed the molecular weight of 180,000 consisting of two identical subunits of 88 kDa. Equimolar quinate (QA) and caffeate (CA) were confirmed on hydrolysis of chlorogenate (CGA). The purified CHase was only useful for a laboratory scale hydrolysis of CGA. For practical QA and CA production using scaled up hydrolysis of vegetable extracts of natural CGA resources, the enzyme activity of purified CHase decreased and denatured irreversibly. Preparation of coffee pulp koji and its application to QA and CA production were proposed instead of purified CHase. When coffee pulp koji was heated at 60 degrees C for 30 min, CHase survived without any appreciable loss of enzyme activity while vegetative mycelial growth and spore germination were terminated. The heated coffee pulp koji thus prepared was effective itself as stable immobilized catalyst of CHase for QA and CA production from vegetable CGA resources such as coffee powders, coffee pulp, and others.

Background: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) often develop myocardial ischemia in association with abnormal blood pressure response to exercise. Vagal nerves mediate cardioinhibitory stimuli, with little knowledge regarding vagal response to myocardial ischemia in patients with HCM., Methods: Exercise Tc-99m-tetrofosmin myocardial scintigraphy was performed in 59 HCM patients and 39 controls who had no evidence of cardiac disease. We examined how reversible regional perfusion abnormality and transient left ventricular cavity dilation, a parameter of subendocardial ischemia, are related to vagal modulation as assessed by coefficient of high frequency component variance (CCV(HF)) on heart rate variability. We then correlated the results with abnormal blood pressure response to exercise, defined as failed increase >or=25 mm Hg during exercise., Results: Regional perfusion abnormality and left ventricular cavity dilation were observed in 26 and 21 HCM patients, respectively. The percentage change of CCV(HF) from before to after exercise was higher in HCM patients with left ventricular cavity dilation than without or controls (5.2+/-9.8%, -23.5+/-5.7%, -14.5+/-5.5%, P=0.004). By contrast, the change of CCV(HF) was similar in HCM patients with regional perfusion abnormality, those without, and controls. The change of CCV(HF) was correlated with exercise-induced increase in systolic blood pressure (rho=-0.64, P<0.001); HCM patients with abnormal blood pressure response were characterized by a higher percentage change in CCV(HF) (50.0+/-18.3%)., Conclusions: Subendocardial ischemia provoked vagal enhancement in patients with HCM, which may be related to the development of abnormal blood pressure response to exercise.