ZIP8 exacerbates collagen-induced arthritis by increasing pathogenic T cell responses

Zinc is a trace element that is essential for immune responses. Therefore, changes in cellular zinc levels in specific immune cells may influence inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the regulation of zinc mobilization in immune cells and its role in the pathogenesis of RA are not fully understood. Thus, we investigated the roles of zinc transporters in RA pathogenesis. We demonstrated that ZIP8 was specifically upregulated in CD4⁺ T cells that infiltrated the inflamed joint and that ZIP8 deficiency in CD4⁺ T cells abrogated collagen-induced arthritis. ZIP8 deficiency dramatically affected zinc influx in effector T cells and profoundly reduced T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signaling, including NF-κB and MAPK signaling, which are pathways that are involved in T helper (Th) 17 cell differentiation. Taken together, our findings suggest that ZIP8 depletion in CD4⁺ T cells attenuates TCR signaling due to insufficient cellular zinc, thereby reducing the function of effector CD4⁺ T cells, including Th17 cells. Our results also suggest that targeting ZIP8 may be a useful strategy to inhibit RA development and pathogenesis.Subject terms: Autoimmunity, Immunological disorders     

Classification of cultivation area of ginseng by near infrared spectroscopy and ICP-AES

A rapid and nondestructive near infrared (NIR) method using soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) for the classification of cultivation area (Korea and China) was evaluated and confirmed. Raw, first, and second derivative NIR spectra were compared to develop a robust classification rule. The chemical properties of ginseng samples were also investigated to find out the differences between Korean samples and Chinese samples. These differences make NIR spectroscopic method viable. The average value of each Korean and Chinese ginseng sample for crude fiber, crude protein, starch, and 10 inorganic constituents were measured and compared with F-test and t-test. The inorganic constituents were also measured by induced coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). It could be found that the amount of starch and ten inorganic elements for example Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn in ginseng samples are considerably different based on cultivation area. SIMCA has been applied to the inorganic data to investigate the possibility of ICP-AES as classification tool. However, it was observed that the result was not equal to than NIR spectra data. The overall results showed the availability of NIR method using SIMCA would be adequate for classification of cultivation of ginseng, since NIR spectra includes useful and various information on chemical properties in spite of broad and overlapped bands.     

Catalytic carbonylation for the synthesis of chemical intermediates

Chemistry related to three catalytic carbonylation reactions is discussed. Synthesis of diphenylurea from nitrobenzene, aniline, and CO gives isolated yields above 98% at 100–120 °C and 15–60 bar of CO in the presence of a palladium (II) complex, PPh₃ and NEt₄Cl. Experimental evidence was provided to prove a new reaction stoichiometry and involvement of a carbamoyl intermediate. In carbonylation of HCHO over ion exchange resin catalysts, reaction temperature, time, pressure, and solvent were important variables to obtain high yields of methyl glycolate. Carbonylation of isobutylphenylethanol at 120°C and 40 bar of CO in the presence of PdCl₂−PPh₃−HCl gives 98% yield of α-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid (ibuprofen). Each catalyst component had a definite role that is indispensable for an efficient overall reaction.     

Radioisotopes of thirteen elements in intertidal coastal and estuarine sediments in the Irish Sea

A survey has been carried out of⁴⁰K,⁶⁰Co,⁹⁹Tc,¹⁰⁶Ru,¹²⁵Sb,¹²⁹I,¹³⁴Cs,¹³⁷Cs,¹⁵⁴Eu,²²⁶Ra,²²⁸Ra,²³⁷Np,²³⁸Pu,^239,240Pu,²⁴¹Pu,²⁴¹Am,²⁴²Cm, and^243,244Cm activities in sediments from the Irish Sea. Several of these radionuclides were measured independently at two separate laboratories to enable the intercomparison of the results produced. The comprehensive data set generated allows the present spatial distributions of these radionuclides in coastal sediments to be examined in relation to sediment textural characteristics and by comparison with earlier survey, enables the temporal trends in their activities to be determined. In general all artificial radionuclides showed lower activities in sediments in response to falling discharges from Sellafield and relationships with either grain size, distance from Sellafield or both. Isotope ratios were similar to cumulative weighted activity ratios rather than present day values due to sediment mixing. Pu levels supplied evidence for the lag in response of sediment deposits with increasing distance from Sellafield due to sediment transport.     

Strategies for multi-site GLP studies

 A GLP study can be performed at more than one site. This is called a multi-site study. Although, the study is performed at different sites, it is still one study and must completely comply with the GLP principles. The fact that different activities are conducted at different sites implies that the planning, the organization and the communication are crucial for the success of the study. This means that all the staff involved should know their responsibilities and should have the knowledge and skills to realize all the phases of the study according to the GLP principles. To achieve a well managed multi-site study, several strategies for setting up such a study can be followed. This paper focuses on the responsibilities, communication, and collaboration of the personnel, which are involved in a multi-site study. Several case studies are highlighted, and we concluded that the basic communication triangle in a single-site GLP study between test facility management, study director, and the quality assurance unit should be extended to the communication among test facility and test site management, study director, principle investigator(s), and the quality assurance units at the test sites. Introduction Received: 14 August 2002 Accepted: 26 November 2002     

The concerted addition of HBr to aryl alkynes; orthogonal pi bond selectivity

In a weakly acidic solution, the addition of HBr to 1-phenylprop-1-yne produces predominantly the anti-Markovnikov product. In this paper, we consider five possible explanations for this behavior and conclude that the concerted addition is occurring on the acetylenic pi bond orthogonal to the extended aromatic pi system. The electronic effect of the distal methyl group and the steric hindrance of the coplanar phenyl ring combine to promote bromide attack at the beta carbon. Attack on this pi bond is insensitive to the electronic effect of meta and para substituents on the ring but is very (sterically) sensitive toward all ortho substituents.     

Electrocatalytic activity of binary Palladium Ruthenium anode catalyst on Ni-support for ethanol alkaline fuel cells

In search for a cheaper anode catalyst for the oxidation of ethanol for development of direct alcohol fuel cells, Pd has been considered here as an interesting substitute for Pt in Pt Ru binary electrodeposite. The binary catalyst when co-deposited on nickel support has been found to increase the current density and decrease the anodic overvoltage significantly with respect to pure Pt, Pd and Ni. Its electrocatalytic capability is also comparable with that of the Pt-Ru binary electrocatalyst on Ni-support, when studied in 1 M EtOH containing 1 M NaOH solution. The effect of loading of Pd Ru electrocatalyst on Ni support has also been tested. The electrocatalytic activity of the electrodes for oxidation of ethanol has been explained by studies of cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, steady-state polarization, and conjugated scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy. It has been found that electrode containing the higher amount of deposit are less affected by carbonaceous poisons.     

Condensation of 4-aryl-4-oxobutanoic acids with benzylamines: Synthetic and structural studies on 1-arylmethyl-3-[(<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-1-arylmethylidene]-5-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-2-pyrrolones

The microwave-mediated reaction of 4-aryl-4-oxobutanoic acids with benzylamines furnished 1-arylmethyl-3-[(E)-1-arylmethylidene]-5-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolones. This result is in contract to the earlier report on this reaction conducted under neat conditions. Structures for the products were assigned on the basis of spectral data and confirmed by independent synthesis. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 368–373, March, 2007.     

Qualitative features of the two-dimensional Raman spectrum in liquids

The theory presented earlier [J. Kim and T. Keyes, Phys. Rev. E 66, 051110 (2002)] is analyzed to determine the information available from the two-dimensional Raman spectrum R((5))(t(2),t(1)) in liquids. The known spectra are well represented by the sum of two products of ordinary time correlations predicted by the theory. The shape of R((5)) is related in general to the values of simple same-time averages and concepts amenable to physical intuition. Using standard models for the time correlations entering the theory, specific analytic expressions for the spectrum are obtained depending on two parameters and a time scale, and the behavior of the spectrum is mapped out in the parameter space.     

A new isoprenyl phenyl ether compound from mangrove fungus

A new isoprenyl phenyl ether, 3-hydroxy-4-(3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)benzoic acid methyl ester (1), together with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), 2-hydroxy-6-methylbenzoic acid (3), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (4) were isolated from Mangrove fungus (No. B60) from the South China Sea. The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. In the preliminary bioassay, compound 1 exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities. Compound 1 also inhibited cytotoxicity to the hepG2 cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 10.0 μg/mL. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 313–314, July–August, 2007.