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en: Autotaxin controls caudal diencephalon-mesencephalon development in the chick.

en: The diencephalon is the embryonic anlagen of the higher integration centers of the brain. Recent studies have elucidated how the cells in the rostral diencephalon acquire their regional identities. However, the understanding of the mechanisms under which the caudal diencephalon is formed is still limited. Here we focus on the role of Autotaxin (ATX), a lysophospholipid-generating exoenzyme, whose mRNA is detected in the caudal diencephalon. RNA interference against ATX altered the expression pattern of Pax6-regualted genes, Tcf4, Lim1, and En1, implying that ATX is required for the maintenance of the regional identity of the caudal diencephalon and the diencephalon-mesencephalon boundary (DMB). Furthermore, ATX-RNAi inhibited neuroepithelial cell proliferation on both sides of the DMB. We propose a dual role of ATX in chick brain development, in which ATX not only contributes to the formation of caudal diencephalon as a short-range signal, but also regulates the growth of mesencephalon as a long-range signal.

en: Developmental Dynamics

ja: Developmental Dynamics


en: Effective Treatment of a Mouse Model of Sjogren's Syndrome With Eyedrop Administrasiton of Anti-CD4 Monoclonal Antibody

en: To determine whether eyedrop administration of an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) is effective in the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) using a mouse model of the disease. The anti-CD4 mAb was administered daily into the eyes of mice with SS from ages 4 to 8 weeks or ages 10 to 12 weeks. During treatment, tear volume was monitored and after final treatment, histologic features of the lacrimal and salivary glands, the phenotypes and function of T cells, and serum titers of anti-alpha-fodrin antibody were examined. Eyedrop administration of anti-CD4 mAb before the onset of SS prevented the autoimmune pathology seen in the lacrimal glands but not that in the salivary glands. Furthermore, eyedrop administration of anti-CD4 mAb after the development of SS inhibited mononuclear cell infiltration and the destruction of parenchyma only in the lacrimal glands. Eyedrop administration of anti-CD4 mAb suppressed the local activation of CD4+ T cells rather than deleting CD4+ T cells, which reduced the expansion of pathologic CD4+ T cells against alpha-fodrin. These results demonstrate the remarkable efficacy of anti-CD4 mAb eyedrops in the treatment of SS eye symptoms, which illustrates a new antibody-based therapeutic strategy for patients with eye problems caused by SS as well as other diseases.

en: Arthritis and Rheumatism

ja: Arthritis and Rheumatism