LRP-1 is the major receptor responsible for the saturable uptake of plasma free Abeta(1-40) by the liver. Reduction of LRP-1 expression will play a role in the age-related reduction in hepatic Abeta(1-40) clearance.

The hepatic clearance of amyloid ␤-peptide (1-40) [A␤(1-40)] from plasma, which is largely mediated by low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP-1), is suggested to play a role in preventing A␤(1-40) accumulation in the brain. Epidemiological investigations suggest a high incidence of cerebral A␤ deposition in insulin-resistant type II diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of insulin on the hepatic clearance of A␤(1-40). LRP-1 expression on the hepatic plasma membrane was increased in a time-dependent manner by portal infusion of insulin and was 2.2-fold greater than that in nontreated controls after a 10-min infusion, whereas the expression in whole lysate was not affected by insulin treatment. The apparent hepatic uptake of [125 I]A␤(1-40) was also induced by insulin in a time-dependent manner. The increase in [125 I]A␤(1-40) uptake by insulin was concentrationdependent (EC 50 ϭ 230 pM) and was completely abolished by receptor-associated protein (2 M), an LRP-1 inhibitor. In conclusion, plasma insulin facilitates LRP-1 translocation to the hepatic plasma membrane from the intracellular pool, resulting in significant enhancement of hepatic A␤(1-40) uptake from the circulating blood. The presently proposed mechanism would explain the epidemiological results demonstrating that type II diabetes mellitus is a risk factor of Alzheimer's disease.

-The objective of this study was to elucidate the range of abilities of nonclinical safety assessment for predicting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in humans. The dataset included 1256 ADRs with an incidence rate of 5% or more collected from 142 drugs approved in Japan from 2001 to 2010 (excluding anticancer agents and vaccines). Gastrointestinal, neurological and hepatobiliary ADRs were relatively common, followed by hematological, cutaneous, systemic and cardiovascular ADRs in the dataset. The analysis revealed that 48% of ADRs were predictable based on a comprehensive nonclinical safety assessment considering animal toxicity. Hematological and ocular ADRs, infection, and application site reactions showed a correlation of more than 70%, while musculoskeletal, respiratory and neurological ADRs showed a correlation of less than 30%. In addition to subjective patient perceptions, several laboratory parameters routinely monitored both in animals and humans showed a lower correlation, e.g., abnormalities in hepatobiliary and metabolic parameters, and blood pressure increase. Large molecule drugs showed lower correlation than small molecule drugs; ADRs were observed in various organs and consideration of pharmacological action did not significantly contribute to the prediction. It was also confirmed that the current standard of toxicology testing regarding dosing duration and dose level is adequate to Correspondence: Takako Ohkura

An endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamide) has been shown to cause vasodilatation in vitro and a brief vasoconstriction followed by prolonged depressor response in vivo. This study investigated the vascular effects of anandamide and underlying mechanisms in rat mesenteric vascular beds. In preparations with an intact endothelium and active tone, anandamide at low concentrations (0.1 - 1 nM) caused a concentration-dependent decrease in perfusion pressure due to vasodilatation, but at high concentrations (10 nM - 1 µM) elicited an initial and sharp increase in perfusion pressure due to vasoconstriction followed by long-lasting vasodilatation in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with SR141716A [cannabinoid-1 (CB(1))-receptor antagonist] blunted both the vasoconstrictor and vasodilator responses. Also, removal of the endothelium and indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), but not adrenergic denervation with 6-hydoxydopamine (adrenergic neurotoxin), markedly inhibited the vasoconstrictor response to anandamide, while these treatments did not affect vasodilatation. The vasodilatation, but not vasoconstriction, in response to anandamide was markedly attenuated by capsazepine [selective antagonist for transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1)], pretreatment with capsaicin [calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)ergic-nerve depletor], or cold-storage denervation. These results suggest that in rat mesenteric vascular beds, anandamide causes CB(1)-receptor- and prostanoid-mediated endothelium-dependent vasoconstriction and perivascular capsaicin-sensitive CGRPergic nerve-mediated vasodilatation.

No abstract

Predation by larger conspecifics poses a major threat to small juveniles in many animal species. However, in social insects, raids perpetrated by large colonies may provide smaller colonies with opportunities for parasitization. Herein, in the termite Reticulitermes speratus , we demonstrate that small incipient colonies parasitize large mature colonies through egg abduction when attacked by raiding conspecifics. We observed that the eggs of incipient colonies were brought into raiding colonies while their parents were killed during the attack. In this species, unmated females found new colonies with female–female (FF) cooperation, in addition to the typical monogamous colony foundation. Interestingly, the abducted eggs of FF pairs developed into nymphs (reproductive caste) in the raiding colonies, whereas the eggs of male–female (MF) pairs developed into workers (non-reproductive caste). Parthenogenetic eggs are known to be developmentally predisposed to becoming female reproductives owing to genomic imprinting in termites. This study demonstrates that the plundering of small colonies by larger conspecific colonies not only results in the extinction of the weaker colonies, but also serves as a strategy that incipient colonies use to obtain the reproductive position in large colonies by stealth. The results elucidate the diversity and complexity of inter-colonial interactions in social insects.

No abstract

We have found the unusual reactivity of a heterochiral oligodeoxynucleotide toward restriction endonuclease Eco RI. To conduct the kinetic analysis of the reaction, fluorescent-labeled single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide molecular beacons were designed and synthesized. The beacons showed a remarkable fluorescence response by addition of Eco RI. The results promise that the beacon could be an effective tool for the kinetic analysis of Eco RI-catalyzed cleavage reaction of the heterochiral oligodeoxynucleotide.