Tomisato Miura - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Tomisato Miura

International Journal of Radiation Biology, Sep 27, 2021

Abstract Purpose Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in cytogenetic biodosimetry uses mic... more Abstract Purpose Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in cytogenetic biodosimetry uses micronucleus (MN) frequency scored in binucleated cells (BNC) for dose estimation. Cell-cycle progression parameters of nuclear division index (NDI) and percentage of BNC (% BNC) are also evaluated. Whole blood (WB) or peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from WB can be used for lymphocyte culture. Previously, 2 Gy PBMCs showed higher NDI and lower MN frequency than WB in 15 ml polypropylene tube single cultures. In this follow-up study, we wanted to assess if soluble factors present in WB but absent in PBMCs could increase MN frequency or decrease NDI in PBMCs co-cultured with WB. Materials and methods Peripheral blood from four healthy donors (two males: 25, 51; two females: 23, 26 years old) was irradiated with X-ray at 1 Gy/min. CBMN assay was performed with different combinations of 0 and 2 Gy WB and PBMC (WB, WB-IR, PBMC, PBMC-IR) mono- and co-cultures in a polystyrene six-well plate. Co-cultures were separated by 0.4 µm transwell inserts. Log2 fold changes and values of NDI, % BNC and MN frequency analyzed by three scorers were obtained. Results As upper and lower wells of the same culture condition showed some significant differences, wells of the same level were compared. NDI of PBMCs increased when PBMC or PBMC-IR was co-cultured with WB or WB-IR, respectively, as compared to mono-cultures. There was no increase in PBMC-IR’s MN frequency when co-cultured with WB or WB-IR. MN frequency was consistently higher in WB-IR than PBMC-IR in both mono- and co-cultures. NDI, % BNC and MN frequency were similar when WB or PBMC were co-cultured with PBMC-IR or WB-IR, respectively. Significantly lower NDI and % BNC, and higher MN frequency were also seen in some conditions of 15 ml cultures than six-well mono-cultures. Conclusions Instead of the hypothesized decrease in NDI and increase in MN frequency, our co-culture set-up showed that in the absence of direct cell–cell interaction, soluble factors in WB increased NDI but not MN frequency in PBMCs. Moreover, radiation-induced bystander effects could not be observed. As the type of cell culture (WB, PBMC) and culture vessels could influence NDI and MN frequency, CBMN culture protocols should be kept consistent for dose–response calibration curve construction and dose estimation.

International Journal of Radiation Biology, Aug 10, 2022

Antioxidants

The details of the dose-dependent response of serum proteins exposed to ionizing radiation, espec... more The details of the dose-dependent response of serum proteins exposed to ionizing radiation, especially the oxidative modification response in amino acid sequences of albumin, the most abundant protein, are unknown. Thus, a proteomic analysis of the serum components from mice exposed to total body X-irradiation (TBI) ranging from 0.5 Gy to 3.0 Gy was conducted using LC-MS/MS. The analysis of oxidative modification sequences of albumin (mOMSA) in TBI mouse serum revealed significant moderate or strong correlations between the X-irradiation exposure dose and modification of 11 mOMSAs (especially the 97th, 267th and 499th lysine residues, 159th methionine residue and 287th tyrosine residues). In the case of X-irradiation of serum alone, significant correlations were also found in the 14 mOMSAs. In addition, a dose-dependent variation in six proteins (Angiotensinogen, Odorant-binding protein 1a, Serine protease inhibitor A3K, Serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1, Prothrombin and Epidermal gr...

International Journal of Radiation Biology

Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences

PROCEEDINGS OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND APPLICATION 2020 (ICONSTA 2020), 2021

Polyphenols in Human Health and Disease, 2014

Epidemiological and cohort studies have suggested that the consumption of fruits and vegetables p... more Epidemiological and cohort studies have suggested that the consumption of fruits and vegetables prevents chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Apples are most significant as large contributors of flavonoids in European and North American diets. Apples contain flavanols (catechins) and their polymer procyanidins as predominant flavonoids. Apple procyanidins (APCs) have been shown to possess many physiological functions such as antioxidative and antitumor activities. In this chapter, we will summarize the mechanism of APCs in antiproliferative activity, especially cell signal transduction, the induction of apoptosis, and anti-carcinogenesis of APCs in rats fed high-fat diets. APCs have chemical properties such as high molecular weight and a stereochemical helical structure, which other flavonoids do not have. Moreover, we describe the relationship between the antitumor activity of APC, and the bioavailability and stereochemical structures; in particular, the degree of polymerization.

This article cites 51 articles, 22 of which can be accessed free

Foods, 2021

Previously, we reported that apple polyphenols and their major active compounds, the flavan-3-ols... more Previously, we reported that apple polyphenols and their major active compounds, the flavan-3-ols and the procyanidins, can result in various health benefits in animals and humans, according to clinical studies. Here, we developed a rapid method for quantifying flavan-3-ols and procyanidins using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, where we investigated the amounts of flavan-3-ols and procyanidins in the Japanese major apple production centre, the Aomori Prefecture, from 2016 to 2018. The non-bagged ‘Fuji (n = 609)’, the bagged ‘Fuji (n = 1101)’, and the ‘Orin (n = 504)’ apples were evaluated in terms of their differences in flavan-3-ols and procyanidins based on apple variety and the controlled atmosphere storage. The bagging treatments of the ‘Fuji’ apples resulted in significantly higher concentrations of procyanidins, while changes in flavan-3-ols concentrations were not clearly observed by treatment. In addition, ‘Orin’ had a significantly higher...

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2021

Mucus layer that covers the body surface of various animal functions as a defense barrier against... more Mucus layer that covers the body surface of various animal functions as a defense barrier against microbes, environmental xenobiotics, and predators. Previous studies have reported that L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO), present in several animal fluids, has potent properties against pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites. LAAO catalyzes the oxidative deamination of specific Lamino acids with the generation of hydrogen peroxide and L-amino acid metabolites. Further, the generated hydrogen peroxide is involved in oxidation (direct effect) while the metabolites activate immune responses (indirect effect). Therefore, LAAO exhibits two different mechanisms of bioactivation. Previously, we described the selective, specific, and local oxidative and potent antibacterial actions of various LAAOs as potential therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on their biochemical features, enzymatic regulations, and biomedical applications with a view of describing their probable role as biochemical agents and biomarkers for microbial infections, cancer, and autoimmune-mediated diseases. We consider that LAAOs hold implications in biomedicine owing to their antimicrobial activity wherein they can be used in treatment of infectious diseases and as diagnostic biomarkers in the above-mentioned diseased conditions. Key points •Focus on biochemical features, enzymatic regulation, and biomedical applications of LAAOs. •Mechanisms of antimicrobial activity, inflammatory regulation, and immune responses of LAAOs. •Potential biomedical application as an antimicrobial and anti-infection agent, and disease biomarker.

Infection and Immunity, 1998

This study was carried out to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in Staphylococcus aureus in... more This study was carried out to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in Staphylococcus aureus infection in mice. NO production in spleen cell cultures was induced by heat-killed S. aureus . Expression of mRNA of the inducible isoform of NO synthase (iNOS) was induced in the spleens and kidneys of S. aureus -infected mice. When mice were treated with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) or gamma interferon (IFN-γ) before S. aureus infection, the induction of iNOS mRNA expression in the kidneys was inhibited. These MAbs also inhibited NO production in spleen cell cultures stimulated with heat-killed S. aureus . NO production in the spleen cell cultures and levels of urinary nitrate plus nitrite were suppressed by treatment with aminoguanidine (AG), a selective inhibitor of iNOS. The survival rates of AG-treated mice were significantly decreased by either lethal or sublethal S. aureus infections. However, an effect of AG administration on bacterial ...

Infection and Immunity, 1996

The role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in host resistance against Listeria monocy... more The role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in host resistance against Listeria monocytogenes infection was studied with mice. The constitutive expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA was observed in the spleens and livers of mice before and after infection. Injecting the mice with anti-TGF-beta 1 peptide serum resulted in diminished antilisterial resistance, whereas the administration of human platelet-derived TGF-beta 1 enhanced the resistance. Moreover, mice were protected against lethal infection when treated with TGF-beta 1. These results suggest the TGF-beta 1 might be involved in antilisterial resistance. On the other hand, injecting the mice with TGF-beta 1 resulted in a decrease in the titers of endogenous gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-6, which are crucial in antilisterial resistance, in sera and in extracts of spleen and liver. Thus, a complicated mechanism might be involved in the role of TGF-beta 1 in host resistance against L. monocytog...

Infection and Immunity, 1996

The production and roles of endogenous interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in a sublethal infection wi... more The production and roles of endogenous interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in a sublethal infection with Listeria monocytogenes were studies in normal mice and anti-gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) monoclonal antibody (MAb)-pretreated mice. In normal mice, the expression of mRNAs for IL-4 and IL-10, which was amplified by reverse transcription-PCR, was induced in the spleens and livers either early or late in infection, although the serum IL-4 and IL-10 were not detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In vivo administration of anti-IL-4 MAb showed no effect on antilisterial resistance, whereas anti-IL-10 MAb partially diminished the defense. In anti-IFN-gamma MAb-pretreated mice, a delay in the bacterial elimination from the spleens and livers was observed and high titers of serum IL-4 and IL-10 were induced late in infection. Production of endogenous IL-4 and IL-10 was suppressed in both CD4+ cell-and CD8+ cell depleted mice. The suppression of antilisterial resistance in anti-IFN...

Infection and Immunity, 1996

The production and roles of endogenous interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in a sublethal infection wi... more The production and roles of endogenous interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in a sublethal infection with Listeria monocytogenes were studies in normal mice and anti-gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) monoclonal antibody (MAb)-pretreated mice. In normal mice, the expression of mRNAs for IL-4 and IL-10, which was amplified by reverse transcription-PCR, was induced in the spleens and livers either early or late in infection, although the serum IL-4 and IL-10 were not detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In vivo administration of anti-IL-4 MAb showed no effect on antilisterial resistance, whereas anti-IL-10 MAb partially diminished the defense. In anti-IFN-gamma MAb-pretreated mice, a delay in the bacterial elimination from the spleens and livers was observed and high titers of serum IL-4 and IL-10 were induced late in infection. Production of endogenous IL-4 and IL-10 was suppressed in both CD4+ cell-and CD8+ cell depleted mice. The suppression of antilisterial resistance in anti-IFN...

Scientific reports, Jan 10, 2016

Several studies have suggested that flavan-3-ols/procyanidins are associated with a reduced risk ... more Several studies have suggested that flavan-3-ols/procyanidins are associated with a reduced risk of developing obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, the role of highly polymeric procyanidins (PP), which are major non-absorbable flavonoids, in the biological effects, is not completely understood. Here, we show that 0.5% PP administration for 20 weeks alleviated obesity and regulate expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat/high-sucrose diet. PP-treatment attenuated weight gain and inflammatory effects including lipopolysaccharide and gut permeability. Additionally, metabolic urine profiling using high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry demonstrated that PP-treatment decreased the levels of endogenous metabolites associated with insulin resistance. Furthermore, microbial 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the cecum demonstrated that PP administration markedly decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and i...

Atherosclerosis, Mar 27, 2017

Apple polyphenol contains abundant procyanidins, which have been associated with an anti-atherosc... more Apple polyphenol contains abundant procyanidins, which have been associated with an anti-atherosclerosis and cholesterol-lowering effect. The aim of this study was to investigate whether apple procyanidins (APCs) feature therapeutic efficacy in terms of regressing atherosclerosis and whether this efficacy is due to mechanisms other than a cholesterol-lowering effect. After eight weeks on an atherogenic diet, rabbits were given a normal diet for another eight weeks to normalize the increased serum lipids level. The rabbits in the baseline group were sacrificed at this stage. The control group was subsequently fed a normal diet for eight weeks, while the APCs group was administrated 50 mg/kg/day of APCs in addition to the normal diet. Serum lipids and aortic intimal-medial thickness (IMT) were serially examined, and the resected aorta was examined histologically and through molecular biology. Aortic IMT on ultrasonography and the lipid accumulation area examined using Sudan IV stainin...

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases, Nov 1, 2009

International Journal of Radiation Biology, Sep 27, 2021

Abstract Purpose Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in cytogenetic biodosimetry uses mic... more Abstract Purpose Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in cytogenetic biodosimetry uses micronucleus (MN) frequency scored in binucleated cells (BNC) for dose estimation. Cell-cycle progression parameters of nuclear division index (NDI) and percentage of BNC (% BNC) are also evaluated. Whole blood (WB) or peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from WB can be used for lymphocyte culture. Previously, 2 Gy PBMCs showed higher NDI and lower MN frequency than WB in 15 ml polypropylene tube single cultures. In this follow-up study, we wanted to assess if soluble factors present in WB but absent in PBMCs could increase MN frequency or decrease NDI in PBMCs co-cultured with WB. Materials and methods Peripheral blood from four healthy donors (two males: 25, 51; two females: 23, 26 years old) was irradiated with X-ray at 1 Gy/min. CBMN assay was performed with different combinations of 0 and 2 Gy WB and PBMC (WB, WB-IR, PBMC, PBMC-IR) mono- and co-cultures in a polystyrene six-well plate. Co-cultures were separated by 0.4 µm transwell inserts. Log2 fold changes and values of NDI, % BNC and MN frequency analyzed by three scorers were obtained. Results As upper and lower wells of the same culture condition showed some significant differences, wells of the same level were compared. NDI of PBMCs increased when PBMC or PBMC-IR was co-cultured with WB or WB-IR, respectively, as compared to mono-cultures. There was no increase in PBMC-IR’s MN frequency when co-cultured with WB or WB-IR. MN frequency was consistently higher in WB-IR than PBMC-IR in both mono- and co-cultures. NDI, % BNC and MN frequency were similar when WB or PBMC were co-cultured with PBMC-IR or WB-IR, respectively. Significantly lower NDI and % BNC, and higher MN frequency were also seen in some conditions of 15 ml cultures than six-well mono-cultures. Conclusions Instead of the hypothesized decrease in NDI and increase in MN frequency, our co-culture set-up showed that in the absence of direct cell–cell interaction, soluble factors in WB increased NDI but not MN frequency in PBMCs. Moreover, radiation-induced bystander effects could not be observed. As the type of cell culture (WB, PBMC) and culture vessels could influence NDI and MN frequency, CBMN culture protocols should be kept consistent for dose–response calibration curve construction and dose estimation.

International Journal of Radiation Biology, Aug 10, 2022

Antioxidants

The details of the dose-dependent response of serum proteins exposed to ionizing radiation, espec... more The details of the dose-dependent response of serum proteins exposed to ionizing radiation, especially the oxidative modification response in amino acid sequences of albumin, the most abundant protein, are unknown. Thus, a proteomic analysis of the serum components from mice exposed to total body X-irradiation (TBI) ranging from 0.5 Gy to 3.0 Gy was conducted using LC-MS/MS. The analysis of oxidative modification sequences of albumin (mOMSA) in TBI mouse serum revealed significant moderate or strong correlations between the X-irradiation exposure dose and modification of 11 mOMSAs (especially the 97th, 267th and 499th lysine residues, 159th methionine residue and 287th tyrosine residues). In the case of X-irradiation of serum alone, significant correlations were also found in the 14 mOMSAs. In addition, a dose-dependent variation in six proteins (Angiotensinogen, Odorant-binding protein 1a, Serine protease inhibitor A3K, Serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1, Prothrombin and Epidermal gr...

International Journal of Radiation Biology

Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences

PROCEEDINGS OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND APPLICATION 2020 (ICONSTA 2020), 2021

Polyphenols in Human Health and Disease, 2014

Epidemiological and cohort studies have suggested that the consumption of fruits and vegetables p... more Epidemiological and cohort studies have suggested that the consumption of fruits and vegetables prevents chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Apples are most significant as large contributors of flavonoids in European and North American diets. Apples contain flavanols (catechins) and their polymer procyanidins as predominant flavonoids. Apple procyanidins (APCs) have been shown to possess many physiological functions such as antioxidative and antitumor activities. In this chapter, we will summarize the mechanism of APCs in antiproliferative activity, especially cell signal transduction, the induction of apoptosis, and anti-carcinogenesis of APCs in rats fed high-fat diets. APCs have chemical properties such as high molecular weight and a stereochemical helical structure, which other flavonoids do not have. Moreover, we describe the relationship between the antitumor activity of APC, and the bioavailability and stereochemical structures; in particular, the degree of polymerization.

This article cites 51 articles, 22 of which can be accessed free

Foods, 2021

Previously, we reported that apple polyphenols and their major active compounds, the flavan-3-ols... more Previously, we reported that apple polyphenols and their major active compounds, the flavan-3-ols and the procyanidins, can result in various health benefits in animals and humans, according to clinical studies. Here, we developed a rapid method for quantifying flavan-3-ols and procyanidins using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, where we investigated the amounts of flavan-3-ols and procyanidins in the Japanese major apple production centre, the Aomori Prefecture, from 2016 to 2018. The non-bagged ‘Fuji (n = 609)’, the bagged ‘Fuji (n = 1101)’, and the ‘Orin (n = 504)’ apples were evaluated in terms of their differences in flavan-3-ols and procyanidins based on apple variety and the controlled atmosphere storage. The bagging treatments of the ‘Fuji’ apples resulted in significantly higher concentrations of procyanidins, while changes in flavan-3-ols concentrations were not clearly observed by treatment. In addition, ‘Orin’ had a significantly higher...

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2021

Mucus layer that covers the body surface of various animal functions as a defense barrier against... more Mucus layer that covers the body surface of various animal functions as a defense barrier against microbes, environmental xenobiotics, and predators. Previous studies have reported that L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO), present in several animal fluids, has potent properties against pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites. LAAO catalyzes the oxidative deamination of specific Lamino acids with the generation of hydrogen peroxide and L-amino acid metabolites. Further, the generated hydrogen peroxide is involved in oxidation (direct effect) while the metabolites activate immune responses (indirect effect). Therefore, LAAO exhibits two different mechanisms of bioactivation. Previously, we described the selective, specific, and local oxidative and potent antibacterial actions of various LAAOs as potential therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on their biochemical features, enzymatic regulations, and biomedical applications with a view of describing their probable role as biochemical agents and biomarkers for microbial infections, cancer, and autoimmune-mediated diseases. We consider that LAAOs hold implications in biomedicine owing to their antimicrobial activity wherein they can be used in treatment of infectious diseases and as diagnostic biomarkers in the above-mentioned diseased conditions. Key points •Focus on biochemical features, enzymatic regulation, and biomedical applications of LAAOs. •Mechanisms of antimicrobial activity, inflammatory regulation, and immune responses of LAAOs. •Potential biomedical application as an antimicrobial and anti-infection agent, and disease biomarker.

Infection and Immunity, 1998

This study was carried out to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in Staphylococcus aureus in... more This study was carried out to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in Staphylococcus aureus infection in mice. NO production in spleen cell cultures was induced by heat-killed S. aureus . Expression of mRNA of the inducible isoform of NO synthase (iNOS) was induced in the spleens and kidneys of S. aureus -infected mice. When mice were treated with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) or gamma interferon (IFN-γ) before S. aureus infection, the induction of iNOS mRNA expression in the kidneys was inhibited. These MAbs also inhibited NO production in spleen cell cultures stimulated with heat-killed S. aureus . NO production in the spleen cell cultures and levels of urinary nitrate plus nitrite were suppressed by treatment with aminoguanidine (AG), a selective inhibitor of iNOS. The survival rates of AG-treated mice were significantly decreased by either lethal or sublethal S. aureus infections. However, an effect of AG administration on bacterial ...

Infection and Immunity, 1996

The role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in host resistance against Listeria monocy... more The role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in host resistance against Listeria monocytogenes infection was studied with mice. The constitutive expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA was observed in the spleens and livers of mice before and after infection. Injecting the mice with anti-TGF-beta 1 peptide serum resulted in diminished antilisterial resistance, whereas the administration of human platelet-derived TGF-beta 1 enhanced the resistance. Moreover, mice were protected against lethal infection when treated with TGF-beta 1. These results suggest the TGF-beta 1 might be involved in antilisterial resistance. On the other hand, injecting the mice with TGF-beta 1 resulted in a decrease in the titers of endogenous gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-6, which are crucial in antilisterial resistance, in sera and in extracts of spleen and liver. Thus, a complicated mechanism might be involved in the role of TGF-beta 1 in host resistance against L. monocytog...

Infection and Immunity, 1996

The production and roles of endogenous interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in a sublethal infection wi... more The production and roles of endogenous interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in a sublethal infection with Listeria monocytogenes were studies in normal mice and anti-gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) monoclonal antibody (MAb)-pretreated mice. In normal mice, the expression of mRNAs for IL-4 and IL-10, which was amplified by reverse transcription-PCR, was induced in the spleens and livers either early or late in infection, although the serum IL-4 and IL-10 were not detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In vivo administration of anti-IL-4 MAb showed no effect on antilisterial resistance, whereas anti-IL-10 MAb partially diminished the defense. In anti-IFN-gamma MAb-pretreated mice, a delay in the bacterial elimination from the spleens and livers was observed and high titers of serum IL-4 and IL-10 were induced late in infection. Production of endogenous IL-4 and IL-10 was suppressed in both CD4+ cell-and CD8+ cell depleted mice. The suppression of antilisterial resistance in anti-IFN...

Infection and Immunity, 1996

The production and roles of endogenous interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in a sublethal infection wi... more The production and roles of endogenous interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in a sublethal infection with Listeria monocytogenes were studies in normal mice and anti-gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) monoclonal antibody (MAb)-pretreated mice. In normal mice, the expression of mRNAs for IL-4 and IL-10, which was amplified by reverse transcription-PCR, was induced in the spleens and livers either early or late in infection, although the serum IL-4 and IL-10 were not detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In vivo administration of anti-IL-4 MAb showed no effect on antilisterial resistance, whereas anti-IL-10 MAb partially diminished the defense. In anti-IFN-gamma MAb-pretreated mice, a delay in the bacterial elimination from the spleens and livers was observed and high titers of serum IL-4 and IL-10 were induced late in infection. Production of endogenous IL-4 and IL-10 was suppressed in both CD4+ cell-and CD8+ cell depleted mice. The suppression of antilisterial resistance in anti-IFN...

Scientific reports, Jan 10, 2016

Several studies have suggested that flavan-3-ols/procyanidins are associated with a reduced risk ... more Several studies have suggested that flavan-3-ols/procyanidins are associated with a reduced risk of developing obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, the role of highly polymeric procyanidins (PP), which are major non-absorbable flavonoids, in the biological effects, is not completely understood. Here, we show that 0.5% PP administration for 20 weeks alleviated obesity and regulate expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat/high-sucrose diet. PP-treatment attenuated weight gain and inflammatory effects including lipopolysaccharide and gut permeability. Additionally, metabolic urine profiling using high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry demonstrated that PP-treatment decreased the levels of endogenous metabolites associated with insulin resistance. Furthermore, microbial 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the cecum demonstrated that PP administration markedly decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and i...

Atherosclerosis, Mar 27, 2017

Apple polyphenol contains abundant procyanidins, which have been associated with an anti-atherosc... more Apple polyphenol contains abundant procyanidins, which have been associated with an anti-atherosclerosis and cholesterol-lowering effect. The aim of this study was to investigate whether apple procyanidins (APCs) feature therapeutic efficacy in terms of regressing atherosclerosis and whether this efficacy is due to mechanisms other than a cholesterol-lowering effect. After eight weeks on an atherogenic diet, rabbits were given a normal diet for another eight weeks to normalize the increased serum lipids level. The rabbits in the baseline group were sacrificed at this stage. The control group was subsequently fed a normal diet for eight weeks, while the APCs group was administrated 50 mg/kg/day of APCs in addition to the normal diet. Serum lipids and aortic intimal-medial thickness (IMT) were serially examined, and the resected aorta was examined histologically and through molecular biology. Aortic IMT on ultrasonography and the lipid accumulation area examined using Sudan IV stainin...

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases, Nov 1, 2009