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Biomedical subjects

A Ichihara

Publications and source records attributed to A Ichihara.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Mechanism of stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by epinephrine in primary culture of adult rat hepatocytes.

Addition of epinephrine to primary cultured adult rat hepatocytes stimulated their DNA synthesis dose-dependently, especially in presence of insulin and epidermal growth factor. This effect of epinephrine was strongly inhibited by an alpha 1-antagonist, prazosin, but not by a beta-antagonist, propranolol, and was also slightly inhibited by an alpha 2-antagonist, yohinbin. These results indicate that the stimulation of DNA synthesis of hepatocytes by epinephrine is mediated predominantly by an alpha 1-action. 12-o-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or Ca2+-ionophore A-23187 stimulated DNA synthesis of Swiss 3T3 cells, but did not induce DNA synthesis of hepatocytes either singly or in combination. The fact that pretreatment of hepatocytes with TPA caused down-regulation of the stimulatory effect of epinephrine on DNA synthesis of hepatocytes within 15 min suggested that the effect of epinephrine on hepatocytes is mediated by its alpha 1 receptor and that TPA activated protein kinase c in the hepatocytes. Addition of dibutyryl cGMP did not induce DNA synthesis of hepatocytes. Therefore, the alpha 1-action of epinephrine that induce stimulation of DNA synthesis of primary cultured adult rat hepatocytes was apparently not mediated by either activation of phospholipid-dependent protein kinase or Ca2+ mobilization. Possible alternative mechanism was discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Purification and subunit structure of hepatocyte growth factor from rat platelets.

A hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) that stimulates DNA synthesis of adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture was purified as a homogeneous material from platelets of 1000 rats by a four-step procedure: stimulation of its release from platelets by thrombin, cation-exchanger fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) on a Mono S column, heparin-Sepharose CL-6B chromatography, and reverse-phase HPLC on a C4 column. The purified HGF stimulated DNA synthesis of adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture at 1 ng/ml and was maximally effective at 5 ng/ml, being about twice as potent as EGF at this concentration. HGF did not stimulate DNA synthesis of Swiss 3T3 cells. It was found to be a heat- and acid-labile protein that was inactivated by reduction with dithiothreitol. The purified HGF had a molecular mass of 82 kDa, as estimated by SDS-PAGE, and was found to be a heterodimer which dissociated into a large subunit of 69 kDa and a small one of 34 kDa by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. These biological and chemical properties showed that HGF was not identical with any known growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Multihormonal regulation of transcription of the tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase gene in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes with special reference to the presence of a transcriptional protein mediating the action of glucocorticoids.

For study of hormonal regulation of gene expression of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (EC 1. 13. 11. 11, TO), a DNA clone containing a sequence complementary to TO mRNA was prepared with TO mRNA from rat liver enriched 62-fold by immunoadsorption. Primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes were treated with dexamethasone, and the amount of TO mRNA was measured by RNA dot-blot hybridization with this TO cDNA. Dexamethasone induced this TO mRNA 7-fold, while their treatments with dexamethasone plus glucagon induced the TO mRNA 18-fold. This induction of TO mRNA by dexamethasone plus glucagon was inhibited by insulin or epinephrine. Studies on transcription in isolated nuclei showed that these hormonal changes in the level of TO mRNA were caused by changes in the rate of transcription of the TO gene. Thus, expression of TO in the liver is regulated multihormonally at the transcriptional step. There was a long lag period before stimulation of transcription of the TO gene by dexamethasone in hepatocytes cultured for 20 h: the maximal rate was attained after 6-8 h. The lag time depended on the culture time without dexamethasone and was shorter after shorter culture of the cells. This finding suggested that a transcriptional factor that was lost during culture mediated the action of glucocorticoids. Consistent with this idea, cycloheximide or puromycin almost completely blocked enhanced transcription of the TO gene by dexamethasone after a 20-h culture, but not after a 2-h culture. These findings indicate that a short-lived transcriptional protein, which is also regulated by glucocorticoids, mediates their effect on expression of the TO gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Stimulation of growth of primary cultured adult rat hepatocytes without growth factors by coculture with nonparenchymal liver cells.

DNA synthesis of adult rat parenchymal hepatocytes alone in primary culture can be stimulated only by the addition of humoral growth factors to the culture medium. However, when parenchymal hepatocytes were cocultured with nonparenchymal liver cells from adult rats, their DNA synthesis was markedly stimulated in the absence of added growth factors or calf serum. DNA synthesis of parenchymal hepatocytes was not stimulated by conditioned medium from nonparenchymal liver cells and was greatest when the parenchymal cells were plated on 24-h cultures of nonparenchymal liver cells. A dead feeder layer of nonparenchymal cells was almost as effective as a feeder layer of viable nonparenchymal cells. These results suggest that the stimulation of DNA synthesis in parenchymal hepatocytes was not due to some soluble factors secreted by nonparenchymal liver cells but to an insoluble material(s) produced by the nonparenchymal liver cells. This insoluble material(s) was collagenase- and acid-sensitive, suggesting that it was a protein containing collagen. The effect of nonparenchymal liver cells was specific: coculture with hepatoma cells, liver epithelial cells, or Swiss 3T3 cells did not stimulate DNA synthesis in parenchymal hepatocytes. Added insulin and epidermal growth factor showed additive effects with nonparenchymal cells in the cocultures. These results suggest that DNA synthesis in parenchymal hepatocytes is stimulated not only by various humoral growth factors but also by cell-cell interaction between parenchymal and nonparenchymal hepatocytes, possibly endothelial cells. This cell-cell interaction may be important in repair of liver damage and liver regeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

In vitro induction of terminal differentiation of neonatal rat hepatocytes by direct contact with adult rat hepatocytes [corrected].

Immunocytochemical staining of tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase (TO, EC 1.13.11.11), which is a typical marker of terminal differentiation of rat hepatocytes, showed that TO was expressed as early as the first day after birth by a few hepatocytes, and that the number of hepatocytes expressing TO gradually increased during early neonatal development. In contrast, immature hepatocytes grew actively in culture even without growth factors and serum, showing a labelling index with [3H]thymidine of over 80% just after birth, but their ability to show autonomous growth decreased rapidly during postnatal development. Double staining of hepatocytes from neonatal rats indicated that hepatocytes showing DNA synthesis were distinct from those expressing TO, suggesting that immature cells proliferate, but do not express TO, and then become fully differentiated expressing TO, but not proliferating any more. On the contrary, albumin was fully expressed in most hepatocytes of 0-day-old rats, in which the hepatocytes were still growing. When immature hepatocytes without TO from 0-day-old rats were cultured on a feeder layer of adult rat hepatocytes for 3.5 days, their expression of TO increased rapidly to almost the adult level (over 70% of the cells became TO-positive). Conversely, this feeder layer strongly inhibited autonomous growth of the neonatal rat hepatocytes. Other feeder layers, such as non-parenchymal liver cells of adult rats, Reuber hepatoma, and Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, had no effect on the reciprocal changes of terminal differentiation and autonomous growth of immature rat hepatocytes. A feeder layer of dead adult rat hepatocytes, obtained by treating the cells with cytosine arabinoside for 24 h or drying them at 37 degrees C, had the same ability as a feeder layer of living cells to induce cytodifferentiation of immature cells. When the dead feeder layer was treated with 1 N HCl or digested with 0.1% trypsin, its ability to induce differentiation was almost completely lost. These results suggest that a cell surface component of adult rat hepatocytes, probably an acid-labile protein, controls terminal differentiation and growth of immature hepatocytes.

Aging↗
PubMed1987

Altered drug metabolizing potential of acinar cell lesions induced in rat pancreas by hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide.

Foci of atypical acinar cells observed in male rats 1 year after a single injection of hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide (HAQO) were assessed immunohistochemically for altered expression of a number of enzyme forms considered to play important roles in drug metabolism. The pancreatic lesions, classified as of either basophilic or eosinophilic type on histological appearance, demonstrated distinctive patterns of altered enzyme phenotype. On the one hand, the basophilic foci composed of enlarged cells/nuclei with very prominent nucleoli were characterized by increase in GST-P, G6PD and P450 PB1 and MC2 forms. The eosinophilic type, in contrast, comprised smaller cells demonstrating elevated P450 MC1 and PB1 but not MC2, normal G6PD and strong GST-P binding limited only to a proportion of the nuclei. Both shared decreased GGT and almost total lack of GST-B positive connective tissue and ductular elements. Apparent islet cell lesions and normal islet tissue were characterized by a distinct enzyme phenotype strongly positive for all P450 species investigated. The results indicate that HAQO-induced putative preneoplastic pancreatic lesions, like equivalent carcinogen associated with focal populations in liver, kidney and ductular pancreas, demonstrate a non-random altered expression of specific drug metabolizing enzyme species.

4-Hydroxyaminoquinoline-1-oxide↗
PubMed1986

Glucocorticoid-dependent expression of the albumin gene in adult rat hepatocytes.

In primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes, transcription of the albumin gene, measured as incorporation of [alpha-32P]UTP into mRNA in isolated nuclei, decreased dramatically during culture without addition of serum and hormone, becoming almost negligible 10 h after plating. Of the hormones tested, dexamethasone (0.1 microM) prevented this decrease and restored the transcription within 2 h to the same level as that before culture. The half-maximum dose of dexamethasone for induction of transcription of the albumin gene was about 30 nM. The in vitro finding that expression of the albumin gene is strictly regulated by glucocorticoid was confirmed by an in vivo experiment in adrenalectomized rats showing that the transcription decreased markedly 14 days after adrenalectomy, but was restored rapidly by administration of hydrocortisone. This finding was also supported by identification of a glucocorticoid regulatory sequence from -50 to -62 base pairs between the TATA box and CAT box upstream of the 5'-end of the albumin gene. Cycloheximide inhibited the induction of transcription of the albumin gene by dexamethasone, suggesting that a rapidly induced mediator protein, which is also regulated by glucocorticoid, is involved in the induction of albumin gene expression by glucocorticoid. The albumin gene was also regulated by various other hormones besides glucocorticoid. Glucagon markedly enhanced the transcription induced by dexamethasone, although glucagon alone had no effect. Conversely, epinephrine suppressed stimulation of expression of the albumin gene by dexamethasone. Insulin and triiodothyronine had no effect on transcription of the albumin gene. From these findings we conclude that expression of the albumin gene depends strictly on glucocorticoid, and this dependence is modulated by other hormones.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1986

Partial purification and characterization of masking protein for beta-type transforming growth factor from rat platelets.

beta-Transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) is stored in platelets and secreted as a high molecular weight latent form associated with a carrier protein of about 440 KD. This carrier protein could be separated from TGF-beta in 1 N acetic acid and could again mask the activity of TGF-beta under neutral conditions. Therefore, it was named the masking protein of TGF-beta. The masking protein was separated from TGF-beta by gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-300 column or by anion-exchanger FPLC on a Mono Q column in the presence of 6 M urea. Partially purified masking protein from rat platelets neutralized the activity of TGF-beta dose-dependently and was effective at 0.3 microgram/ml. This masking protein could also mask the activity of human TGF-beta, suggesting that it was not species specific. The masking protein was a heat- and acid-stable protein, but was inactivated by treatment with dithiothreitol. The Physiological role of the masking protein in the mechanisms of wound healing and liver regeneration is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A high molecular weight protease in the cytosol of rat liver. I. Purification, enzymological properties, and tissue distribution.

Rat liver cytosol has low hydrolytic activity against [3H]methylcasein at neutrality, but activity increases greatly on addition of various compounds such as poly-L-lysine, N-ethylmaleimide, and sodium dodecyl sulfate, suggesting that it contains latent proteolytic activity. The latent enzyme was found to be stabilized in the presence of 20% glycerol and to be activated by addition of poly-L-lysine. The latent enzyme was purified from a crude extract of rat liver to apparent homogeneity in the presence of 20% glycerol by conventional chromatographic techniques. The purified enzyme showed endoproteolytic activity toward various proteins when it was activated by the compounds listed above. It preferentially degraded N-substituted tripeptide substrates with a basic amino acid at the carboxyl terminus, as well as peptides containing neutral hydrophobic amino acids. It did not require activation for these peptidase activities, in contrast to its activity toward large proteins. Interestingly, a proteinase and a trypsin-like and a chymotrypsin-like peptidase activity could not be separated by customary chromatographic methods but were distinguishable by their sensitivities to various inhibitors, activators, and covalent modifiers, suggesting that the enzyme has three distinct active sites within a single protein. The enzyme seems to be a seryl endopeptidase showing maximal activity at neutral and weakly alkaline pH values. Thus, the enzyme is a unique protease with latent multifunctional catalytic sites. The distribution of the protease in soluble extracts of various rat tissues and cells was examined quantitatively by an enzyme immunoassay. The enzyme level was highest in liver and also in spleen, stomach, lung, small intestine, and kidney, but was low in heart, diaphragm, skeletal muscle, brain, and skin. The concentrations of enzyme in some established cell lines including hepatoma and rat kidney cells were comparable to that in normal liver hepatocytes. The enzyme was found mainly in the cytosol fraction, although a small amount was associated with microsomal membranes, suggesting that it is an extralysosomal protease. Immunohistochemical staining of the liver and skeletal muscles showed that the protease is distributed diffusely in panlobular hepatocytes with slight centrilobar predominance and is present in Kupffer cells, vascular endothelial cells, and bile duct epithelial cells in the liver and also diffusely in the intermyofibrillar spaces and vascular endothelial cells in skeletal muscle. The quantitative data obtained in the present study indicate the presence of the protease in the cytosol fraction of all rat tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A high molecular weight protease in the cytosol of rat liver. II. Properties of the purified enzyme.

The properties of a soluble endoprotease from rat liver were studied. The enzyme was purified in a latent form. It sedimented as a single component with a sedimentation coefficient (S(0)20,w) of 19.8 S. Measurement by quasi-elastic light scattering gave a diffusion coefficient (D(0)20,w) of 2.5 X 10(-7) cm2 X s-1 and an effective hydrodynamic radius of 85 A. The enzyme had an unusually high molecular weight, estimated as 743,000 by sedimentation equilibrium and 722,000 by sedimentation velocity and diffusion measurements and as 760,000 by a recently developed low-angle laser light scattering method. Judging from electron microscopic observation and the calculated frictional and axial ratios, the enzyme molecule is disc-shaped. Analysis of the far-ultraviolet circular dichroic spectrum showed that the enzyme contains 50% alpha-helical, 25% beta-sheet, and 15% unordered structures with 10% beta-turns. The isoelectric point of the enzyme is 5.0. These properties indicate that the purified enzyme is a homogeneous molecule. In addition, the enzyme is a simple protein since it contains no measurable amounts of nucleic acid carbohydrate or lipid.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1986

Developmental control of gene expression of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase in neonatal rat liver.

The developmental change in gene expression of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.11) in rat liver was studied by dot-blot hybridization with cDNA of the enzyme as a probe. The mRNA of tryptophan oxygenase is not expressed in fetal liver, but is expressed very slightly 1 day after birth. Its expression increases first gradually until 12 days after birth and then rapidly, and reaches the adult level about 22 days after birth. On the other hand, mRNA of albumin in the liver, measured with its cDNA, increases rapidly in the late fetal period and reaches almost the adult level at the time of birth. Studies on in vitro transcription by the nuclear run-off technique showed that the developmental increases in the mRNAs of tryptophan oxygenase and albumin are caused by an increase in the rates of transcription of their genes. Treatment of rats with cortisol significantly increased the amount of tryptophan oxygenase mRNA in the liver from soon after birth. This treatment did not increase mRNA of albumin. It is suggested from these findings that the gene of tryptophan oxygenase is switched on as early as the first day after birth in the few differentiated hepatocytes present in the liver and that the number of these differentiated cells gradually increases during early postnatal development. Although injected glucocorticoid stimulated transcription of the gene of tryptophan oxygenase precociously during this period, presumably in vivo the activity of tryptophan oxygenase normally increases about 2 weeks after birth, because this is when the plasma concentrations of glucocorticoid and glucagon increase sufficiently to be effective.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

A unique trypsin-like protease associated with plasma membranes of rat liver.

One way in which serum promotes survival of primary cultured hepatocytes is by inhibiting plasma membrane protease (Nakamura, T., Asami, O., Tanaka, K., and Ichihara, A. (1984) Exp. Cell Res. 155, 81-91). One of these proteases was solubilized from the plasma membranes of rat liver with 4% octyl glucoside and purified to a homogeneous state by affinity chromatography on bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor linked to Sepharose 4B. The protease had an apparent Mr = 120,000 by Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration and the Mr of its subunits was 30,000, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. It appeared to be a glycoprotein. A high concentration of detergent was necessary to keep the protein soluble. The purified enzyme readily hydrolyzed synthetic tripeptide nitroanilides at sites adjacent to Arg or Lys residues, but did not degrade synthetic substrates of chymotrypsin, elastase, or aminopeptidase. It showed endopeptidase activity, hydrolyzing various proteins such as casein, hemoglobin, and denatured albumin. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, leupeptin, antipain, and alpha 1-antitrypsin, but not by chymostatin, elastatinal, or inhibitors of carboxyl, thiol, or metallo proteases, suggesting that it is a seryl trypsin-like protease. This protease was found in plasma membranes of rat and mouse liver and in small amounts in those of kidney, but not in those of brain, red cells, Ehrlich ascites tumor, or two Morris hepatomas, suggesting that it may be involved in differentiated functions of normal hepatocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Two types of growth inhibitor in rat platelets for primary cultured rat hepatocytes.

Rat platelets contain two types of growth inhibitor of adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture. One, named platelet derived growth inhibitor (PDGI)-alpha, is a heat- and acid-labile protein with a molecular weight of over 200 KD that is not released on thrombin treatment. The other, named PDGI-beta, is a heat- and acid-stable factor with a molecular weight of 24 KD that is released by thrombin. Both PDGI-alpha and -beta were inactivated by treatment with dithiothreitol. They both caused dose-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis stimulated by insulin plus epidermal growth factor. These inhibitions were closely correlated with marked decrease in the labeling index. Neither PDGI-alpha nor -beta had a cytotoxic effect as judged by phase-contrast microscopic examination of the cells nor inhibition of protein synthesis. The properties of PDGI-beta suggest that it may be identical with transforming growth factor-beta. These results indicate that rat platelets contain not only a growth factor (HGF), but also growth inhibitors that affect adult rat hepatocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Intestinal metaplasia and altered enzyme expression in propylnitrosamine-induced Syrian hamster cholangiocellular and gallbladder lesions.

Intrahepatic bile duct and gallbladder preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions induced in Syrian golden hamsters by propylnitrosamine treatment were investigated for the presence of polysaccharides and assayed immunohistochemically for expression of the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) molecular forms. On the basis of an increase in G6PD and the GST-placental form, a sequence of altered cell populations ranging from simple ductular proliferation through dysplasia and cholangiofibroma to cholangiocellular carcinoma could be established, the latter three lesions being characterized by marked increase in polysaccharide production. While similar goblet cell (intestinal) metaplasia and increased polysaccharide storage were also evident in carcinogen-induced gallbladder lesions G6PD and GST-P expression was decreased when compared with control epithelium.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Purification and characterization of a growth factor from rat platelets for mature parenchymal hepatocytes in primary cultures.

A growth factor (HGF) stimulating DNA synthesis of adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture was found in rat platelets. HGF was purified from rat platelets to homogeneity by a three-step procedure: stimulation of its release from platelets by thrombin, cation-exchanger fast protein liquid chromatography on a Mono S column, and heparin-Sepharose chromatography. HGF was clearly distinguishable from the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) by fast protein liquid chromatography. HGF was a heat- and acid-labile cationic protein that was inactivated by reduction with dithiothreitol. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 27 kDa by NaDodSO4/PAGE and its amino acid composition was very different from that of PDGF. The purified HGF stimulated DNA synthesis in adult rat hepatocytes at 2 ng/ml and was maximally effective at 20 ng/ml; its effect was additive or synergistic with those of insulin and EGF, depending on their combinations. HGF did not stimulate DNA synthesis of Swiss 3T3 cells, while PDGF did not stimulate that of hepatocytes. Thus, HGF showed clearly different cell specificity from PDGF in its growth-promoting activities. These findings indicate that HGF is a growth factor in platelets for mature hepatocytes.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1986

Modifying influence of dehydroepiandrosterone on the development of dihydroxy-di-n-propylnitrosamine-initiated lesions in the thyroid, lung and liver of F344 rats.

Following initial treatment of F344 rats with dihydroxy-di-n-propylnitrosamine, exposure to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) administered in the diet at a concentration of 0.6% brought about significant decrease in weight gain, independent of food consumption, and inhibited the development of thyroid tumors and hepatocyte-altered enzyme foci. In addition to inducing a diffuse increase in glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase (G6PD) and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase in the liver. DHEA treatment was associated with development of small numbers of basophilic hepatocellular foci which differed markedly in enzyme phenotype from the clear cell (glycogen storing) lesions predominating in the carcinogen-treated animals maintained on basal diet. The results are consistent with the concept that DHEA-modification of neoplastic development, as reported earlier in a number of different organs and here in the liver and thyroid, may be in some way partly mediated by changed expression of the key enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, G6PD, and related metabolic systems. Heterogeneity in the quality of initiated hepatocytes with regard to capacity for inhibition or promotion indicated by the present data point to the existence of more than one pathway to tumour development in the rat liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Influence of dehydroepiandrosterone, diaminopropane and butylated hydroxyanisole treatment during the induction phase of rat liver nodular lesions in a short-term system.

The effects of concomitant treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone, an inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), diaminopropane (DAP), an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase or the microsomal drug detoxifying enzyme inducer butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) during the induction phase of rat liver nodular lesion development were investigated. Clear reductions in both number and size of foci and nodules as assayed quantitatively with the aid of marker enzymes G6PD, glutathione S-transferase P form or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were established for treatment with either DHEA or BHA. DAP in contrast did not exert influence on the number of lesions, but brought about a significant reduction in size. The quantitative data taken together with the finding that increased labelling of tritiated thymidine occurred in extrafocal hepatocyte populations in BHA-treated animals, give direct support to the view that alteration in enzyme phenotype within putative pre-neoplastic lesions plays a central role in their generation with this short-term model. In particular, a physiological adaptive significance of G6PD elevation is suggested.

Animals↗