Light microscopic immunolocalization of taurine, a sulfur-containing free amino acid, was investigated in the developing retina of a lefteye flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, which exhibits metamorphic changes with rod cell addition for 3-5 weeks after hatching. This immunocytochemical study of the developing retina revealed: 1) From 3 to 13 days after hatching, intense immunostaining was shifted from the surroundings of neural cells to the neural somata and processes in the inner retina. 2) Intense immunoreactivity appeared also in the outer and inner segments and basal processes (pedicles) of cone cells within 6 days or 13 days after hatching. 3) Lack of immunoreactivity was found in the outer segment of rod cells from their appearance during metamorphosis. These findings are discussed with the possible functional roles of taurine in the fish retina: 1) involvement in cell differentiation and/or development; 2) protection of the outer segments against light stimuli; and 3) regulation of neural transmission.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder that involves inflammation and pain of joints. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) is being evaluated for treating RA. However, the molecular basis mechanism underlying the effectiveness of linear polarized near infrared light irradiation (LPIL) is unclear. It has been reported that interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) plays a key role in the progression of RA. Aim: The objective of this study was to determine whether LPIL (Super Lizer TM ; SL) decrease gene expression and production IL-1ß in human RA synovial cells, MH7A, and RA joint tissue of collagen-induced-rheumatoid arthritis (CIA) rats. Materials and Methods: IL-1ß challenged MH7A and CIA rat joints were irradiated with SL. Total RNA was isolated from MH7A, and gene expression profiles were analyzed using DNA microarray. The mRNA levels were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR. The production of IL-1ß in rat knee joints was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results: DNA microarray analysis showed that IL-1ß increased IL-1ß gene expression in MH7A, and SL significantly reduced its IL-1ß mRNA level. The reduction of IL-1ß mRNA level by SL was successfully confirmed by reverse RT-PCR and real-time PCR. SL reduced the swelling of CIA rat knee joints, and the immunohistochemical study demonstrated that a strong IL-1ß staining in synovial membrane tissue of CIA rat joint, and the immuno-staining was significantly reduced by SL. Conclusion: Since autocrine IL-1ß production has been identified to be an important proinflammatory cytokine in the pathogenesis of RA, the reduction of IL-1ß expression in RA synovial cells is one of mechanisms in reduction of the inflammation in RA by SL.

Low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) stimulates bone regeneration and may be useful for bone fracture and oral implant therapy. However, the molecular mechanism of LLLI in accelerating bone formation is not well known. In order to understand the mechanism of LLLI in accelerating bone formation, we attempted to identify gene expressions enhanced by LLLI by a subtractive gene cloning and DNA microarray analysis. Osteoblastic cell MC3T3-E1 was treated with 830 nm Ga-Al-As diode laser irradiation and total mRNA was recovered and used to construct a subtractive gene library of genes with transcription enhanced by LLLI. The DNA sequences of subtracted gene was subjected to a homology search using BLASTN program in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Genes with mRNA levels altered by LLLI were also analysed using Affymetrix GeneChip. The mRNA levels were confirmed by RT-PCR and real-time PCR. Subtracted gene clones MCL101 indicated high homology with GDP-dissociation inhibitor beta (GDPIB) genes. Affymetrix GeneChip TM analysis was further analyzed and found that GDI alpha gene expression was also enhanced by LLLI. The increased mRNA level of GDIA and GDIB by LLLI was successfully confirmed by RT-PCR and real-time PCR. Since the up-regulation of GDIA is one of the mechanisms underlying the synergistic boneforming effect of parathyroid hormone and oestrogen. Moreover, GDIA and GDIB involve in the regulation of vesicle-mediated cellular transport and anti-apoptosis, the enhancement of GDIA and GDIB gene expressions by LLLI may be a part of mechanisms in the acceleration of bone formation by LLLI.