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Histamine-releasing factor (HRF) is a multifunctional protein with fundamental intracellular functions controlling cell survival and proliferation. HRF is also secreted during allergic reactions and promotes IgE-mediated activation of mast cells and basophils. In this study, we investigated HRF secretion and its relevance to airway inflammation. HRF monomers were constitutively secreted from BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and converted to oligomers over the course of culture. Stimulation with house dust mite (HDM) extract increased HRF secretion substantially. Several cytokines involved in asthma pathogenesis showed moderate effects on HRF secretion but dramatically enhanced HDM-induced HRF secretion. HDM-induced HRF secretion from BEAS-2B cells and normal HBECs proceeded via TLR2. Consistent with this, multiple TLR2 ligands, including Der p 2, Der p 5, Der p 13, and Der p 21, induced HRF secretion. Der p 10 (tropomyosin) also promoted HRF secretion. Cell death or incubation with adenosine and ATP, compounds released upon cell death, also enhanced HRF secretion. Furthermore, intranasal administration of recombinant HRF elicited robust airway inflammation in HDM-sensitized mice in an FcεRI-dependent manner. Therefore, we conclude that HRF is a novel alarmin that promotes allergic airway inflammation.

We present in this article a survey of recent results in value distribution theory for the Gauss maps of several classes of immersed surfaces in space forms, for example, minimal surfaces in Euclidean $n$-space ($n$=3 or 4), improper affine spheres in the affine 3-space and flat surfaces in hyperbolic 3-space. In particular, we elucidate the geometric background of their results., Comment: 15 pages, review paper. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1311.1931, arXiv:1205.4782, arXiv:1606.02376

We provide a unified description of Heinz-type mean curvature estimates under an assumption on the gradient bound for space-like graphs and time-like graphs in the Lorentz-Minkowski space. As a corollary, we give a unified vanishing theorem of mean curvature for these entire graphs of constant mean curvature., 11 pages, no figure, minor revision

Bioactive immunomodulatory biomaterials have shown promise for influencing the immune response to promote tissue repair and regeneration. Macrophages and T cells have been associated with this response; however, other immune cell types have been traditionally overlooked. In this study, we investigated the role of mast cells in the regulation of the immune response to decellularized biomaterial scaffolds using a subcutaneous implant model. In mast cell-deficient mice, there was dysregulation of the expected M1 to M2 macrophage transition typically induced by the biomaterial scaffold. Polarization progression deviated in a sex specific manner with an early transition to an M2 profile in female mice, while the male response was unable to properly transition past a pro-inflammatory M1 state. Both were reversed with adoptive mast cell transfer. Further investigation of the later stage immune response in male mice determined a greater sustained pro-inflammatory gene expression profile including the IL-1 cytokine family, IL-6, alarmins, and chemokines. These results highlight mast cells as another important cell type that influences the immune response to pro-regenerative biomaterials.

Mast cells are innate immune cells that intersect with the adaptive immunity and play a crucial role in the initiation of allergic reactions and the host defense against certain parasites and venoms. When activated in an allergen- and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-dependent manner, these cells secrete a large variety of allergenic mediators that are pre-stored in secretory granules or de novo–synthesized. Traditionally, studies have predominantly focused on understanding this mechanism of mast cell activation and regulation. Along this line of study, recent studies have shed light on what structural features are required for allergens and how IgE, particularly anaphylactic IgE, is produced. However, the last few years have seen a flurry of new studies on IgE-independent mast cell activation, particularly via Mrgprb2 (mouse) and MRGPRX2 (human). These studies have greatly advanced our understanding of how mast cells exert non-histaminergic itch, pain, and drug-induced pseudoallergy by interacting with sensory neurons. Recent studies have also characterized mast cell activation and regulation by interleukin-33 (IL-33) and other cytokines and by non-coding RNAs. These newly identified mechanisms for mast cell activation and regulation will further stimulate the allergy/immunology community to develop novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of allergic and non-allergic diseases.

Food allergy occurs due to IgE- and mast cell-dependent intestinal inflammation. Previously, we showed that histamine-releasing factor (HRF), a multifunctional protein secreted during allergy, interacts with a subset of IgE molecules and that the HRF dimer activates mast cells in an HRF-reactive IgE-dependent manner. In this study, we investigated whether HRF plays any role in food allergy. Specifically, we determined that prophylactic and therapeutic administration of HRF inhibitors that block HRF-IgE interactions reduces the incidence of diarrhea and mastocytosis in a murine model of food allergy. Food allergy-associated intestinal inflammation was accompanied by increased secretion of the HRF dimer into the intestine in response to proinflammatory, Th2, and epithelial-derived cytokines and HRF-reactive IgE levels at the elicitation phase. Consistent with these data, patients with egg allergy had higher blood levels of HRF-reactive IgE compared with individuals that were not hypersensitive. Successful oral immunotherapy in egg-allergy patients and food-allergic mice reduced HRF-reactive IgE levels, thereby suggesting a pathological role for HRF in food allergy. Together, these results suggest that antigen and HRF dimer amplify intestinal inflammation by synergistically activating mast cells and indicate that HRF has potential as a therapeutic target in food allergy.

Background: Dizziness is the most common posterior circulation symptom; however, diagnosing a posterior circulation infarction is difficult due to a lack of typical symptoms. We aimed to investigate the frequency of misdiagnosis of a posterior circulation infarction in patients who presented with dizziness and to develop a new stroke scale that increased the diagnostic accuracy for stroke among these subjects. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive data from subjects hospitalized with ischemic stroke who presented with dizziness (the developmental phase). Based on these results, we created a novel stroke scale, which was used as a diagnostic procedure in the prospective validation phase. We compared the rate of misdiagnosis of ischemic stroke between phases. Results: During the development phase, 115 subjects were hospitalized for ischemic stroke accompanied by dizziness. Six ischemic stroke subjects were not properly diagnosed (6/115, 5.2%). We created the new DisEquilibrium, Floating sEnsation, Non-Specific dizziness, Imbalance, and VErtigo (DEFENSIVE) stroke scale to prevent underdiagnosis of a posterior circulation infarction. During the validation phase, 949 subjects with dizziness were examined with the DEFENSIVE stroke scale; among these subjects, 100 were hospitalized for ischemic stroke accompanied by dizziness. No subject with ischemic stroke was overlooked. The new DEFENSIVE stroke scale had a sensitivity of 100% and decreased the rate of improper diagnosis of stroke (5.2% versus 0%; P = .022). Conclusions: Our new stroke recognition instrument for a posterior circulation infarction presenting with dizziness and related symptoms (the DEFENSIVE stroke scale) is easy to administer and has good diagnostic accuracy.

We elucidate the geometric background of function-theoretic properties for the Gauss maps of several classes of immersed surfaces in three-dimensional space forms, for example, minimal surfaces in Euclidean three-space, improper affine spheres in the affine three-space, and constant mean curvature one surfaces and flat surfaces in hyperbolic three-space. To achieve this purpose, we prove an optimal curvature bound for a specified conformal metric on an open Riemann surface and give some applications. We also provide unicity theorems for the Gauss maps of these classes of surfaces., 26 pages. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1205.4782

Mouse body temperature measurement is of paramount importance for investigating allergies and anaphylactic symptoms. Rectal probes for temperature readings is common, and they have been proven to be accurate and invaluable in this regard. However, this method of temperature measurement requires the mice to be anesthetized in order to insert the probe without injury to the animal. This limits the ability to observe other phenotypes of the mouse simultaneously. In order to investigate other phenotypes while measuring temperatures, rectal probes are not ideal, and another method is desired. Here, we introduce a noninvasive method of temperature measurement that foregoes the requirement for mouse anesthesia while maintaining equal reliability to rectal probes in measuring body temperature. We use an infrared thermometer that detects body surface temperatures at ranges between 2 and 150 mm. This method of body temperature measurement is successful in reliably replicating temperature change trends during passive system anaphylaxis experiments in mice. We show that body surface temperatures are about 2.0 °C lower than rectal probe measurements, but the degree of temperature drop follows the same trend. Furthermore, we use the same technique to observe mice in a food allergy model to evaluate temperature and activity levels simultaneously.

Histamine-releasing activities on human basophils have been studied as potential allergy-causing agents for four decades. An IgE-dependent histamine-releasing factor (HRF) was recently shown to interact with a subset of immunoglobulins. Peptides or recombinant proteins that block the interactions between HRF and IgE have emerged as promising anti-allergic therapeutics, as administration of them prevented or ameliorated type 2 inflammation in animal models of allergic diseases such as asthma and food allergy. Basic and clinical studies support the notion that HRF amplifies IgE-mediated activation of mast cells and basophils. We discuss how secreted HRF promotes allergic inflammation in vitro and in vivo complex disease settings.

The classical result of Nevanlinna states that two nonconstant meromorphic functions on the complex plane having the same images for five distinct values must be identically equal to each other. In this paper, we give a similar uniqueness theorem for the Gauss maps of complete minimal surfaces in Euclidean four-space., 9 pages, no figure

Objective We are investigating how HRF secretion is regulated during allergic conditions. Results HRF interacts with a subset of IgE molecules. HRF dimer and oligomers, but not monomer, enhance the antigen sensitivity and magnitude of IgE-dependent mast cell activation. We found that BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells constitutively secrete various forms of HRF (monomer, disulfide-linked dimer/oligomers). Secretion of these forms of HRF was enhanced by allergens such as house dust mites (HDM). HDM-mediated HRF secretion was dramatically enhanced by epithelial-derived cytokines (IL-25, IL-33, TSLP), Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1b, IL-6, TNF), although the cytokines alone had much less effects. Mechanical injury of BEAS-2B cells and its byproducts (i.e., adenosine and ATP) also enhanced HRF secretion. In contrast, papain and bromelain (occupational allergens) as well as uric acid (NLRP3 inflammasome activator) exhibited limited effects on HRF secretion. Several high-molecular-weight forms (≥150 kDa) of HRF were found in body fluids. Interestingly, rhinovirus infection in humans and nasal instillation of HDM in mice, conditions predisposing asthma exacerbation, induced secretion of these HRF forms into airways. These results suggest that disulfide-linked HRF dimer/oligomers are involved in asthma exacerbation. Conclusion HRF dimer/oligomers secreted by epithelial and other cells enhance allergic inflammation as a novel alarmin.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is anchored to the synaptic basal lamina via a triple helical collagen Q (ColQ) in the form of asymmetric AChE (AChE/ColQ). The C-terminal domain of ColQ binds to MuSK, the muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase, that mediates a signal for acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering at the NMJ. ColQ also binds to heparan sulfate proteoglycans including perlecan. Congenital defects of ColQ cause endplate AChE deficiency. A single intravenous administration of adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8)-COLQ to Colq-/- mice rescued motor functions, synaptic transmission, and the ultrastructure of NMJ. We also injected AAV1-COLQ-IRES-EGFP to the left tibialis anterior and observed colocalization of AChE/ColQ at all the examined NMJs of the non-injected limbs. Additionally, injection of purified recombinant AChE/ColQ protein complex into gluteus maximus accumulated AChE in non-injected forelimbs. These observations suggest that the tissue-targeting signal of ColQ can be exploited to specifically deliver the transgene product to the target tissue. MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis (MG) accounts for 5-15% of autoimmune MG. As AChR deficiency is typically mild and as cholinesterase inhibitors are generally ineffective or worsen myasthenic symptoms, we asked if the patient's MuSK-IgG interferes with binding of ColQ to MuSK. In vitro overlay of AChE/ColQ to muscle sections of Colq-/- mice revealed that MuSK-IgG blocks binding of ColQ to the NMJ. In vitro plate-binding of MuSK to ColQ disclosed that MuSK-IgG exerts a dose-dependent block of MuSK-ColQ interaction. In addition, passive transfer of MuSK-IgG to mice reduced the size and density of ColQ to ∼10% of controls and had a lesser effect on the sizes and densities of AChR and MuSK. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms of specific binding of ColQ to the NMJ enabled us to ameliorate devastating myasthenic symptoms of Colq-/- mice and to reveal bases of anti-MuSK MG.

We introduce a new notion called the extended hyperbolic metrics, as a hyperbolic metric (i.e. metric of constant curvature − 1) with certain kinds of singularities defined on a Riemann surface, and we give several fundamental properties of such metrics. Extended hyperbolic metrics are closely related to space-like surfaces of constant mean curvature one (i.e. CMC-1 surfaces) in de Sitter 3-space S 1 3. For example, the singular set of a given CMC-1 surface in S 1 3 is contained in the singular set of the associated extended hyperbolic metric. We then classify all catenoids in S 1 3 (i.e. weakly complete constant mean curvature 1 surfaces in S 1 3 of genus zero with two regular ends whose hyperbolic Gauss map is of degree one). Such surfaces are called S 1 3-catenoids. Since there is a bijection between the moduli space of S 1 3-catenoids and the moduli space of co-orientable extended hyperbolic metrics with two regular singularities, a classification of such hyperbolic metrics is also given. (Co-orientability of extended hyperbolic metrics is defined in this paper.)

The main goal of this paper is to reveal the geometric meaning of the maximal number of exceptional values of Gauss maps for several classes of immersed surfaces in space forms, for example, complete minimal surfaces in the Euclidean three-space, weakly complete improper affine spheres in the affine three-space and weakly complete flat surfaces in the hyperbolic three-space. For this purpose, we give an effective curvature bound for a specified conformal metric on an open Riemann surface., 13 pages, to appear in Mathematische Zeitschrift

We perform a systematic study of the image of the Gauss map for complete minimal surfaces in Euclidean four-space. In particular, we give a geometric interpretation of the maximal number of exceptional values of the Gauss map of a complete orientable minimal surface in Euclidean four-space. We also provide optimal results for the maximal number of exceptional values of the Gauss map of a complete minimal Lagrangian surface in the complex two-space and the generalized Gauss map of a complete nonorientable minimal surface in Euclidean four-space. © 2017 Fondazione Annali di Matematica Pura ed Applicata and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Embargo Period 12 months

In many tissues and organs, connexin proteins assemble between neighboring cells to form gap junctions. These gap junctions facilitate direct intercellular communication between adjoining cells, allowing for the transmission of both chemical and electrical signals. In rodents, gap junctions are found in differentiating myoblasts and are important for myogenesis. Although gap junctions were once believed to be absent from differentiated skeletal muscle in mammals, recent studies in teleosts revealed that differentiated muscle does express connexins and is electrically coupled, at least at the larval stage. These findings raised questions regarding the functional significance of gap junctions in differentiated muscle. Our analysis of gap junctions in muscle began with the isolation of a zebrafish motor mutant that displayed weak coiling at day 1 of development, a behavior known to be driven by slow-twitch muscle (slow muscle). We identified a missense mutation in the gene encoding Connexin 39.9. In situ hybridization found connexin 39.9 to be expressed by slow muscle. Paired muscle recordings uncovered that wild-type slow muscles are electrically coupled, whereas mutant slow muscles are not. The further examination of cellular activity revealed aberrant, arrhythmic touch-evoked Ca(2+) transients in mutant slow muscle and a reduction in the number of muscle fibers contracting in response to touch in mutants. These results indicate that Connexin 39.9 facilitates the spreading of neuronal inputs, which is irregular during motor development, beyond the muscle cells and that gap junctions play an essential role in the efficient recruitment of slow muscle fibers.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is anchored to the synaptic basal lamina via a triple helical collagen Q (ColQ) in the form of asymmetric AChE (AChE/ColQ). We exploited the proprietary NMJ-targeting signals of ColQ to treat congenital myasthenia and to explore the mechanisms of autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG). Mutations in COLQ cause congenital endplate AChE deficiency (CEAD). First, a single intravenous administration of adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8)-COLQ to Colq−/− mice normalized motor functions, synaptic transmission, and partly the NMJ ultrastructure. Additionally, injection of purified recombinant AChE/ColQ protein complex into gluteus maximus accumulated AChE in non-injected forelimbs. Second, MuSK antibody-positive MG accounts for 5–15 % of MG. In vitro overlay of AChE/ColQ to muscle sections of Colq−/− mice, as well as in vitro plate-binding of MuSK to ColQ, revealed that MuSK-IgG blocks binding of ColQ to MuSK in a dose-dependent manner. Passive transfer of MuSK-IgG to wild-type mice markedly reduced the size and intensity of ColQ signals at NMJs. MuSK-IgG thus interferes with binding of ColQ to MuSK. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms of specific binding of ColQ to NMJ enabled us to ameliorate devastating myasthenic symptoms of Colq−/− mice and also to reveal underlying mechanisms of anti-MuSK-MG.

In this paper, we prove effective estimates for the number of exceptional values and the totally ramified value number of the Gauss map for pseudo-algebraic and algebraic minimal surfaces in Euclidean four-space and give a kind of unicity theorem (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Btk plays crucial roles in the differentiation and activation of B and myeloid cells. Despite drastic reductions of other Ig isotypes, paradoxically high IgE responses have been known inbtkmutant mice. Here we show thatbtk–/–dendritic cells exhibit a more mature phenotype and a strongerin vitroandin vivoT cell-stimulatory ability than wild-type cells. Increased IgE responses were induced by adoptive transfer ofbtk–/–dendritic cells into mice. Consistent with the stronger T cell-stimulatory ability ofbtk–/–dendritic cells,btk–/–mice exhibited enhanced inflammation in Th2-driven asthma and Th1-driven contact sensitivity experiments. These negative regulatory functions of Btk in dendritic cells appear to be mediated mainly through autocrine secretion of IL-10 and subsequent activation of Stat3.

Protein kinase C (PKC) and Syk protein tyrosine kinase play critical roles in immune cell activation including that through the high-affinity IgE receptor, FcepsilonRI. Mechanisms by which PKC activation leads to the activation of Ras, a family of GTPases essential for immune cell activation, have been elusive. We present evidence that Tyr-662 and Tyr-658 of PKCbetaI and PKCalpha, respectively, are phosphorylated by Syk in the membrane compartment of FcepsilonRI-stimulated mast cells. These phosphorylations require prior PKC autophosphorylation of the adjacent serine residues (Ser-661 and Ser-657, respectively) and generate a binding site for the SH2 domain of the adaptor protein Grb-2. By recruiting the Grb-2/Sos complex to the plasma membrane, these conventional PKC isoforms contribute to the full activation of the Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway in FcepsilonRI-stimulated mast cells.

Background Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are susceptible to several viruses, including herpes simplex virus (HSV). Some patients experience 1 or more episodes of a severe skin infection caused by HSV termed eczema herpeticum (EH). There are numerous mouse models of AD, but no established model exists for EH. Objective We sought to establish and characterize a mouse model of EH. Methods We infected AD-like skin lesions with HSV1 to induce severe skin lesions in a dermatitis-prone mouse strain of NC/Nga. Gene expression was investigated by using a microarray and quantitative PCR; antibody titers were measured by means of ELISA; and natural killer (NK) cell, cytotoxic T-cell, regulatory T-cell, and follicular helper T-cell populations were evaluated by using flow cytometry. The role of NK cells in HSV1-induced development of severe skin lesions was examined by means of depletion and adoptive transfer. Results Inoculation of HSV1 induced severe erosive skin lesions in eczematous mice, which had an impaired skin barrier, but milder lesions in small numbers of normal mice. Eczematous mice exhibited lower NK cell activity but similar cytotoxic T-cell activity and humoral immune responses compared with normal mice. The role of NK cells in controlling HSV1-induced skin lesions was demonstrated by experiments depleting or transferring NK cells. Conclusion A murine model of EH with an impaired skin barrier was established in this study. We demonstrated a critical role of defective NK activities in the development of HSV1-induced severe skin lesions in eczematous mice.

Objective: Muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody-positive myasthenia gravis (MG) accounts for 5%–15% of autoimmune MG. MuSK mediates the agrin-signaling pathway and also anchors the collagenic tail subunit (ColQ) of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The exact molecular target of MuSK–immunoglobulin G (IgG), however, remains elusive. As acetylcholine receptor (AChR) deficiency is typically mild and as cholinesterase inhibitors are generally ineffective, we asked if MuSK-IgG interferes with binding of ColQ to MuSK. Methods: We used 3 assays: in vitro overlay of the human ColQ-tailed AChE to muscle sections of Colq−/− mice; in vitro plate-binding assay to quantitate binding of MuSK to ColQ and to LRP4; and passive transfer of MuSK-IgG to mice. Results: The in vitro overlay assay revealed that MuSK-IgG blocks binding of ColQ to the neuromuscular junction. The in vitro plate-binding assay showed that MuSK-IgG exerts a dose-dependent block of MuSK binding to ColQ by but not to LRP4. Passive transfer of MuSK-IgG to mice reduced the size and density of ColQ to ∼10% of controls and had a lesser effect on the size and density of AChR and MuSK. Conclusions: As lack of ColQ compromises agrin-mediated AChR clustering in Colq −/− mice, a similar mechanism may lead to AChR deficiency in MuSK-MG patients. Our experiments also predict partial AChE deficiency in MuSK-MG patients, but AChE is not reduced in biopsied NMJs. In humans, binding of ColQ to MuSK may be dispensable for clustering ColQ, but is required for facilitating AChR clustering. Further studies will be required to elucidate the basis of this paradox.

We provide an effective ramification theorem for the ratio of canonical forms of a weakly complete flat front in the hyperbolic three-space. Moreover we give the two applications of this theorem, the first one is to show an analogue of the Ahlfors islands theorem for it and the second one is to give a simple proof of the classification of complete nonsingular flat surfaces in the hyperbolic three-space., 11 pages, no figure, to appear in Geometriae Dedicata. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1004.1484

CMC-1 trinoids (i.e. constant mean curvature one immersed surface with three regular embedded ends) in hyperbolic 3-space H^3 are irreducible generically, and the irreducible ones have been classified. However, the reducible case has not yet been fully treated, so in this paper we give an explicit description of CMC-1 trinoids in H^3 that includes the reducible case., 10 pages, 3 figures

We give the best possible upper bound for the number of exceptional values of the Lagrangian Gauss map of complete improper affine fronts in the affine three-space. We also obtain the sharp estimate for weakly complete case. As an application of this result, we provide a new and simple proof of the parametric affine Bernstein problem for improper affine spheres. Moreover we get the same estimate for the ratio of canonical forms of weakly complete flat fronts in hyperbolic three-space., 20 pages, no figure, to appear in Journal of the Mathematical Society of Japan

In this paper, we define the totally ramified value number (TRVN) of the Gauss map of a complete minimal surface, and prove that there exist algebraic minimal surfaces that have the TRVN equal to $2.5$.

We refine Osserman's argument on the exceptional values of the Gauss map of algebraic minimal surfaces. This gives an effective estimate for the number of exceptional values and the totally ramified value number for a wider class of complete minimal surfaces that includes algebraic minimal surfaces. It also provides a new proof of Fujimoto's theorem for this class, which not only simplifies the proof but also reveals the geometric meaning behind it., 15pages