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A Ichihara

Publications and source records attributed to A Ichihara.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Importance of cell aggregation for expression of liver functions and regeneration demonstrated with primary cultured hepatocytes.

Adult rat hepatocytes aggregated to form floating multicellular spheroids when cultured in Primaria dishes, which have a positively charged surface, in serum-free Williams' medium E (WE) supplemented with insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF). These hormones were essential for maintenance of the spheroids, whereas the size of the spheroids depended on the inoculum cell density. The spheroids retained in vivo levels of expressions of albumin and glucokinase and synthesized scarcely any DNA even in the presence of insulin and EGF. On transfer to type I collagen-coated dishes, the spheroids gradually disaggregated and the cells formed monolayers, in which the expressions of albumin and glucokinase were suppressed and DNA synthesis and hexokinase activity were increased. DNA synthesis of hepatocytes in monolayer culture was maximal 24 hr after transfer of the spheroids, approximately 80% of the hepatocyte nuclei were labelled with bromodeoxyuridine during culture for 48 hr, and the mitotic index was approximately 70% after 60 hr. These results suggest that, in spheroids, hepatocytes remained in the G0 phase, but that when they formed monolayers, they progressed to the G1 phase and proceeded through the cell cycle in the presence of insulin and EGF. This work shows that the cell cycle of hepatocytes in culture can be manipulated by providing conditions for quiescence as spheroids or growth as monolayers and that the shape of hepatocytes is important for regulating their growth and liver-specific functions.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Regulation of proteasome expression in developing and transformed cells.

The proteasome is a unique protease complex found in all eukaryotic cells and has multiple functions for essential activities. In this work we showed that it is expressed at high level in immature, rapidly growing cells, such as those in early embryonic tissues and cancer cells (Fig. 7). The increase of its expression is down-regulated on differentiation of the cells. However, lymphatic blastocytes grow rapidly and express high levels of proteasomes, but are differentiated. Therefore, the proteasome is not expressed at high levels only in immature cells, but is also involved specifically in nuclear activities of cells during rapid growth, possibly regulating proteinous factors in the cell cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Purification and characterization of the 26S proteasome complex catalyzing ATP-dependent breakdown of ubiquitin-ligated proteins from rat liver.

An ATP/ubiquitin-dependent proteasome complex with an apparent sedimentation coefficient of 26S was purified from rat liver to near homogeneity by an improved method based on procedures reported previously. Two electrophoretically distinct forms of the 26S complex, named 26S alpha and 26S beta, with very similar subunit compositions were found not only in purified preparations but also in crude extracts, indicating that the 26S proteasome is present as two isoforms. The 26S proteasome was shown to degrade multi-ubiquitinated, but not unmodified, lysozymes in an ATP-dependent fashion, to have ATPase activity supplying energy for proteolysis, and to contain isopeptidase activity to generate free ubiquitin Mg2+/ATP-dependently. The 26S proteasome also catalyzed the ATP-independent hydrolyses of three types of fluorogenic peptides with basic, neutral, and acidic amino acids at their cleavage sites, respectively. These peptides are also good substrates for the 20S proteasome, but their degradation by the free 20S proteasome and by its assembled form in the 26S complex differ markedly, suggesting a functional difference between the two forms of proteasomes. Electrophoretic and immunochemical analyses showed that the large 26S complex was composed grossly of two different structures: a core 20S proteasome with multicatalytic proteinase functions and an associated part possibly with a regulatory role. These two structures both consisted of multiple polypeptides with molecular masses of 21-31 and 35-110 kDa, respectively. The subunit multiplicity of the rat 26S proteasome closely resembled that of the human counterpart, showing only minor species-specific differences in certain components. The assembly of this multi-component complex was found not to involve a sulfhydryl bond. Electrophoretic peptide mapping with lysyl-endopeptidase indicated the non-identity of the multiple subunits of the 26S proteasome. From these structural and functional characteristics, the 26S proteasome, which is widely distributed in mammals, is suggested to be a new type of multi-molecular complex catalyzing the soluble energy- and ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic pathway.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1993

Identification of a biologically functional novel IL-1 beta-specific receptor on adult rat hepatocytes.

Cellular receptors for interleukin-1 (IL-1) bind both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta with the same affinity, and both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta have the same potential in most IL-1-related biological responses, despite their low amino acid sequence homology (26%). Here, we identified and partially characterized a biologically functional novel IL-1 receptor, which specifically binds IL-1 beta but not IL-1 alpha, present on adult rat hepatocytes. Scatchard analysis of the binding of 125I-IL-1 beta to isolated adult rat hepatocytes showed that rat hepatocytes express a high affinity receptor for IL-1 beta with a Kd value of 9.6 x 10(-10) M at 1,200 sites/cell, whereas there was no specific binding of 125I-IL-1 alpha at least up to 10 ng/ml. Specific binding of 125I-IL-1 beta to hepatocytes was competitively inhibited by unlabeled IL-1 beta, but not by IL-1 alpha. Cross-linking of 125I-IL-1 beta to plasma membranes of hepatocytes indicated that the receptor for IL-1 beta has an apparent molecular mass of 80-100 kDa. Moreover, the formation of a cross-linked complex between 125I-IL-1 beta and the receptor was specifically inhibited by unlabeled IL-1 beta, but not by IL-1 alpha. Finally, DNA synthesis of adult rat hepatocytes was specifically inhibited by IL-1 beta, but not by IL-1 alpha, in a dose-dependent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1993

Arginine vasopressin produces renal vasodilation via V2 receptors in conscious dogs.

In conscious dogs, 36-h water deprivation induced a significant increase in renal blood flow (RBF) with elevation of the plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentration to 9.6 +/- 1.8 pg/ml. To simulate such a condition, a mild elevation of plasma AVP was produced by infusing AVP intravenously at a dose of 0.1 ng.kg-1.min-1 for 20 min. The plasma AVP concentration then increased to 6.8 +/- 0.7 pg/ml. This dose of AVP increased the RBF by 21.7 +/- 2.6% and decreased the renal vascular resistance by 18.1 +/- 2.3% without significant changes in mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, or heart rate. The mechanism of this renal vasodilatory action was examined using newly developed, orally effective, selective AVP antagonists OPC-21268 (a V1-receptor antagonist) and OPC-31260 (a V2-receptor antagonist). In 36-h water-deprived dogs, V2-receptor blockade with OPC-31260 significantly decreased the RBF by 20.5 +/- 2.6% without significant changes in cardiac output. The exogenous AVP-induced renal vasodilatory response tended to be augmented when V1 receptors were blocked by pretreatment with OPC-21268, but the change did not achieve statistical significance. On the other hand, V2-receptor blockade by either pretreatment with OPC-31260 or simultaneous infusion of OPC-31260 inhibited this vasodilatory response. Furthermore, intravenous infusion of 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) at a dose of 0.3 ng.kg-1 x min-1 for 20 min significantly increased the RBF by 36.5 +/- 1.7%, and this DDAVP-induced renal vasodilation was inhibited by simultaneous infusion of V2-receptor antagonist.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Effects of magnesium on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in human subjects.

Recent prospective study of intravenous magnesium sulphate administration into patients with acute myocardial infarction revealed the improvement of survival rate of these patients. This study was designed to determine the effect of intravenous administration of magnesium on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system. MgSO4 (0.72% in 3.24% glucose solution) at 5 mEq/hr was infused intravenously into six healthy normotensive men for six hours. MgSO4 infusion increased plasma renin activity (PRA) at 60 minutes (4.1 +/- 1.4 ng/ml/hr vs 2.7 +/- 0.8 ng/ml/hr, p < 0.05) and decreased plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) at 180 minutes (40 +/- 8 pg/ml vs 60 +/- 12 pg/ml, p < 0.05). The maximum level of serum magnesium reached 2.32 +/- 0.09 mEq/L, from the control value of 1.58 +/- 0.07 mEq/L, at -3 hours. Analysis of both serum levels and urinary excretion of electrolytes revealed significant increases in urinary excretion of calcium and magnesium, whereas no significant changes in other electrolytes in serum or urinary excretion were found. To clarify the mechanism by which magnesium increased PRA and suppressed PAC, either prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin (75 mg/day), or a calcium channel blocker, diltiazem (90 mg/day), was administered. Indomethacin completely blocked the increase in PRA but did not induce any changes in PAC. Diltiazem inhibited the decrease in PAC but did not induce any changes in PRA. These data indicate that magnesium stimulates renin release through the elevation of prostaglandins and suppresses aldosterone production through the intracellular calcium mobilization. From these results it is suggested that a favorable effect of magnesium administration to patients with myocardial infarction relates to the alterations of the RAA system.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Structure and properties of the 26S protease complex from chick skeletal muscle.

The 26S protease complex was purified from chick skeletal muscle and shown to consist of unusually heterogeneous 21-140 kDa polypeptides, including the 21-32 kDa subunits of the 20S proteasome. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that the 26S complex may have a symmetric morphology with two large rectangular terminal domains attached to a thinner central 20S proteasome domain. The 26S complex was capable of degrading the peptide substrates of the 20S proteasome, including Suc-LLVY-AMC, N-Cbz-LLE-NA and N-Cbz-ARR-MNA. The two enzyme complexes showed similar sensitivities to various site-specific protease inhibitors, although their sensitivities to SDS were differed from each other. Immunoprecipitation with anti-26S complex antibody reduced peptide hydrolysis by the 20S proteasome. Similarly, anti-20S proteasome antibody inhibited peptide hydrolysis by the 26S complex. These results demonstrate that the 26S protease complex contains the 20S proteasome as a functional and structural component.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Serum concentration and localization in tumor cells of proteasomes in patients with hematologic malignancy and their pathophysiologic significance.

The pathophysiologic significance of proteasomes in hematologic malignancies was examined by comparison of the proteasome levels in normal subjects and patients with benign liver diseases. The serum proteasome level measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was found to be positively correlated with the tumor burden of the patients with hematologic malignancies such as acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and myeloma. Immunohistochemical staining showed that proteasomes were strongly expressed in these tumor cells, especially in the nuclei. These data suggest that the elevated levels of serum proteasomes in these patients are derived from tumor cells, reflect the tumor burden, and so provide prognostic information. However, in patients with benign liver diseases, serum proteasome levels correlated with serum alanine aminotransferase activities, suggesting that in hematologic malignancies associated with liver injury some of the serum proteasomes may originate from hepatocytes. The marked production of proteasomes by malignant blood cells may be involved in transformation and proliferation of these cells.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed1992

Ornithine decarboxylase is degraded by the 26S proteasome without ubiquitination.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, is the most rapidly turned over mammalian enzyme. We have shown that its degradation is accelerated by ODC antizyme, an inhibitory protein induced by polyamines. This is a new type of enzyme regulation and may be a model for selective protein degradation. Here we report the identification of the protease responsible for ODC degradation. Using a cell-free degradation system, we demonstrate that immunodepletion of proteasomes from cell extracts causes almost complete loss of ATP- and antizyme-dependent degradation of ODC. In addition, purified 26S proteasome complex, but not the 20S proteasome, catalyses ODC degradation in the absence of ubiquitin. These results strongly suggest that the 26S proteasome, widely viewed as specific for ubiquitin-conjugated proteins, is the main enzyme responsible for ODC degradation. The 26S proteasome may therefore have a second role in ubiquitin-independent proteolysis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Expression of only one of two types of mRNA transcribed from the serine dehydratase gene is repressed in hepatoma cells.

The expressions of mRNA for serine dehydratase in H4IIE, HTC, and HepG2 hepatoma cells were investigated. Of the two types of mRNA transcribed from the single copy of the rat serine dehydratase gene, expression of only that encoding 35 kDa serine dehydratase is repressed in these cells. The other type coding the 8.9 kDa truncated translation product is expressed at a similar level to that in hepatocytes in primary culture and is not under hormonal control.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of gene expression of proteasomes (multi-protease complexes) during growth and differentiation of human hematopoietic cells.

We have reported that proteasomes are expressed at abnormally high levels in various hematopoietic tumor cells (Kumatori, A., Tanaka, K., Inamura, N., Sone, S., Ogura, T., Matsumoto, T., Tachikawa, T., Shin, S., and Ichihara, A. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 7071-7075). In the present study, we examined changes in the expressions of proteasomes during growth of peripheral T-lymphocytes from healthy adults and differentiation of human leukemic cell lines. Up-regulation of mRNAs encoding multiple proteasome subunits was observed during proliferation of resting T-cells induced by mitogens such as phytohemagglutinin and interleukin-2. In contrast, in vitro terminal differentiation into monocytic, granulocytic, and erythroid cells of various immature leukemic cell lines, such as HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells and K562 erythroleukemia cells, by various inducing agents caused rapid and marked down-regulation of proteasomes expression, independently of the cell type, direction of differentiation, or type of signal. The syntheses of proteasome subunits of 21-31 kDa and their associated components of 35-110 kDa, measured by [35S]methionine incorporation, were much higher in mitogen-activated T-cells and unstimulated HL-60 cells, which grow rapidly, than in resting and differentiated cells, indicating apparent correlations of the mRNA levels of proteasomes with their translational activities. However, immunochemically, no detectable difference in the cellular contents of proteasomes was found in these cells in induced and uninduced states for proliferation and differentiation, suggesting accelerated turnover of proteasomes in rapidly proliferating cells. Inhibition of proteasome expression by an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide for the largest proteasome subunit, C2, caused partial arrest of cell cycle progression of T-lymphocytes, suggesting that up-regulation of proteasomes is indispensable for proliferation of the cells. We also observed that the nuclear fraction of proteasomes increased in proliferating T-cells and that proteasomes moved rapidly between the nucleus and cytoplasm during differentiation of HL-60 cells.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Demonstration that a human 26S proteolytic complex consists of a proteasome and multiple associated protein components and hydrolyzes ATP and ubiquitin-ligated proteins by closely linked mechanisms.

It is known that two types of high-molecular-mass protease complexes are present in the cytosol of mammalian cells; a 20S latent multicatalytic proteinase named the proteasome, and a large proteolytic complex with an apparent sedimentation coefficient of 26S that catalyzes ATP-dependent breakdown of proteins conjugated with ubiquitin. In this work, we first demonstrated that a low concentration of SDS was required for activation of the latent proteasome, whereas the 26S complex degraded substrates for proteasomes in the absence of SDS. Moreover, the 26S complex was greatly stabilized in the presence of 2 mM ATP and 20% glycerol. Based on these characteristics, we next devised a novel procedure for purification of the 26S proteolytic complexes from human kidney. In this procedure, the proteolytic complexes were precipitated from cytoplasmic extracts by ultracentrifugation for 5 h at 105000 x g, and the large 26S complexes were clearly separated from the 20S proteasomes by molecular-sieve chromatography on a Biogel A-1.5 m column. The 26S enzyme was then purified to apparent homogeneity by successive chromatographies on hydroxyapatite and Q Sepharose, then by glycerol density-gradient centrifugation. Electrophoretic and immunochemical analyses showed that the purified human 26S complex consisted of multiple subunits of proteasomes with molecular masses of 21-31 kDa and 13-15 protein components ranging in molecular mass over 35-110 kDa, which were directly associated with the proteasome. The purified 26S proteolytic complex degraded 125I-labeled lysozyme-ubiquitin conjugates in an ATP-dependent manner. The 26S enzyme also showed high ATPase activity, which was copurified with the complex. Vanadate and hemin strongly inhibited not only ATP cleavage, but also ATP-dependent breakdown of ubiquitinligated proteins, suggesting that the 26S complex hydrolyzes ATP and ubiquitinated proteins by closely linked mechanisms. These findings indicate that the 26S complex consists of a proteasome with proteolytic function and multiple other components including an ATPase that regulates energy-dependent, ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1992

c-myc expression is down-regulated by cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix contacts in normal hepatocytes, but not in hepatoma cells.

Primary culture of adult rat hepatocytes resulted in marked increase of c-myc expression within a few hours. The high level of c-myc mRNA was maintained throughout culture on collagen-coated dishes, but decreased greatly with time during culture on collagen-gel or matrigel. Expression of c-myc was also down-regulated at high cell density. The decrease in its expression appeared closely related to inhibitions of DNA synthesis and cell spreading. In contrast, hepatoma H4TG cells showed a high level of c-myc expression which was not affected by culture on any extracellular matrices examined or by the cell density. These results suggest that up-regulation of expression of the c-myc gene is linked to G0 to G1 transition during cell cycle progression, which in normal hepatocytes is strictly regulated by cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, but that this control mechanism is defective in malignant hepatic tumor cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

cDNA cloning of rat proteasome subunit RC1, a homologue of RING10 located in the human MHC class II region.

The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA that encodes a new subunit, named RCl, of rat proteasomes (multicatalytic proteinase complexes) has been determined. The polypeptide predicted from the open reading frame consisted of 208 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 23, 130, which is consistent with the size obtained by electrophoretic analysis of purified RCl. The partial amino acid sequences of several fragments of RCl, obtained by protein chemical analyses, were found to be in excellent accordance with those deduced from the cDNA sequence. Surprisingly, the overall structure of RCl was found to be almost identical to that of recently isolated RING10, whose gene is located in the class II region of the human MHC gene cluster. This finding suggests that RCl is a homologue of human RING10, supporting the proposal that proteasomes are involved in the antigen processing pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

PRS3 encoding an essential subunit of yeast proteasomes homologous to mammalian proteasome subunit C5.

We found by computer analysis that a putative yeast proteasome subunit gene named PRS3 that encodes a protein very similar to subunit C5 of rat and human proteasomes is located immediately 3' to the ERD2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The similarity of the primary structures of the two suggests that this subunit may have a common function in proteasomes of all eukaryotes. The protein, deduced from the open reading frame of PRS3, consists of 242 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 27,077. Chromosomal disruption of the PRS3 gene created a recessive lethal mutation. Physical mapping by hybridization to intact S. cerevisiae chromosomal DNA showed that the PRS3 gene is located on chromosome II, unlike two other subunit genes, PRS1 and PRS2, which are located on chromosomes XV and VII, respectively. These findings indicate that the PRS3 protein is a subunit of yeast proteasomes that is essential for cell viability.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Molecular cloning of cDNAs for rat proteasomes: deduced primary structures of four other subunits.

Proteasomes (multi-protease complexes) are composed of approximately 15 non-identical subunits of similar sizes (molecular weight = 21-32 kDa), but different charges (isoelectric point = 4-9). Previously, we deduced the primary structures of 6 subunits of rat proteasomes by recombinant DNA techniques. In this paper we report the nucleotide sequences of 4 other subunits, rIOTA, rZETA, rDELTA, and rRING12, determined from cDNA clones isolated by screening a rat H4TG hepatoma cell cDNA library with the cDNAs of their human counterparts as probes. The polypeptides deduced from their nucleotide sequences consisted of 246, 241, 202, and 219 amino acid residues with calculated molecular weights of 27,399, 26,391, 21,649, and 23,324, and calculated isoelectric points of 6.37, 4.65, 4.84, and 4.70, respectively. These results and previous findings indicate that the primary structures of the subunits of rat proteasomes show considerably high inter-subunit homology, but can be classified into apparently distinct sub-groups, suggesting that rat proteasome genes form a multi-gene family with the same evolutionary origin, but have diverged during evolution to acquire possibly subunit-specific functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Depressor systems contribute to hypertension induced by glucocorticoid excess in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of depressor systems in glucocorticoid-induced hypertension. METHODS: The serial changes in cardiorenal hemodynamics, urinary excretions of kallikrein and prostaglandins (PGE2 and the prostacyclin derivative 6-keto-PGF1 alpha) before, and during the administration of both low and high doses of dexamethasone (9 alpha-fluoro-16 alpha-methylprednisolone) and after the cessation of dexamethasone were examined in conscious trained dogs. In addition, pressor responses to prostaglandin, bradykinin, bradykinin antagonist and indomethacin were studied during the administration of dexamethasone. RESULTS: High-dose dexamethasone induced a significant elevation in mean arterial pressure (MAP) that was accompanied by a significant reduction in the urinary excretion of kallikrein, PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. In contrast, low-dose dexamethasone treatment had no significant effect upon MAP but induced a transient elevation in the urinary excretion of kallikrein, PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Furthermore, additional oral administration of indomethacin produced a significant elevation in MAP in dogs treated with low-dose dexamethasone; but did not affect the hemodynamics of animals with high-dose dexamethasone. Whilst i.v. administration of either bradykinin or prostacyclin induced a significant reduction in MAP in high-dose but not low-dose dexamethasone-treated dogs, administration of a competitive bradykinin antagonist, D-Arg-[Hyp3, Thi5,8, D-Phe7]-bradykinin induced a significant elevation in MAP in low-dose but not high-dose dexamethasone-treated dogs. CONCLUSION: Depressor systems play an important role in regulation of blood pressure in glucocorticoid-treated dogs.

Animals↗