A soluble allogeneic effect factor (AEF) was produced by using H-2 congenic mouse strains and a serum.free cell culture medium. An AEF derived from untreated activated responder cells and irradiated stimulator cells provided helper cell function in a primary and secondary antibody response for both T-cell-depleted responder B cells and stimulator B cells. This interaction may be determined by g...

Elucidating the regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic islet β cells is important for understanding and treating diabetes. MIN6 cells, a transformed β-cell line derived from a mouse insulinoma, retain GSIS and are a popular in vitro model for insulin secretion. However, in long-term culture, MIN6 cells' GSIS capacity is lost. We previously isolated a subclone, M...

BACKGROUND Although electroacupuncture (EA) relieves various types of pain, individual differences in the sensitivity to EA analgesia have been reported, causing experimental and clinical difficulties. Our functional genomic study using cDNA microarray identified that 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a well-known factor in the regulation of energy homeostasis, is the most highly expresse...

We study social preferences in a three-person ultimatum game experiment with one proposer and two responders. Any responder can unilaterally punish the proposer. In three treatments, we vary the pecuniary consequences of rejection in such a way that upon rejection of one responder the other responder is (i) affected negatively, (ii) not affected, and (iii) positively affected. We collect comple...

The immune response to certain synthetic polypeptide antigens and native proteins has been shown to be controlled by immune response (Ir) genes, which reside in the murine major histoeompatibility complex (MHC) 1 (reviewed in 1). The expression of such Ir gene control has been localized to T cells, B cells, and/or antigen-presenting cells (2-4). Support for the concept of Ir gene expression in ...

In vitro lymphocyte responses of high responder (HR) and low responder (LR) guinea pigs from pe-ripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to parasite antigens soluble protein third stage larvae (SPL3) and soluble protein adult stage ( SPA), non-parasite antigen ovalbumin (OVA) were examined. There was substantial differences between HR and LR guinea pigs in the rate of acquisition of responsiveness to t...

To investigate the effects of a low calorie regimen on sympathetic function and its relation to blood pressure response, 22 untreated obese essential hypertensive patients (50 +/- 2 years, body mass index 29 +/- 1 kg/m2) were hospitalized and a diet was prescribed of 2,000 kcal/day for 5 days (control period) followed by 800 kcal/day for 21 days without changing salt intake (8-10 g/day). The do...