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Biomedical subjects

H Hatanaka

Publications and source records attributed to H Hatanaka.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

WF14865A and B, new cathepsins B and L inhibitors produced by Aphanoascus fulvescens. I. Taxonomy, production, purification and biological properties.

WF14865A and B, novel cathepsins B and L inhibitors, were produced and isolated separately from the culture mycelium of a fungal strain Aphanoascus fulvescens No. 14865. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that both WF14865A and B were composed of trans-epoxysuccinyl moieties, 1-H-imidazole-2-ylamine, and isoleucine or leucine. These compounds inhibited human cathepsins B and L with IC50 values in the range of 8.4 approximately 72nM in vitro. Though their in vitro properties were typical as trans-epoxysuccinyl type inhibitors, they exerted strong bone resorption inhibitory effects in low-calcium-diet-fed mouse model at 3.2 approximately 10 mg/kg.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The crystal structure of coxsackievirus A9: new insights into the uncoating mechanisms of enteroviruses.

BACKGROUND: Coxsackievirus A9 (CAV9), a human pathogen causing symptoms ranging from common colds to fatal infections of the central nervous system, is an icosahedral single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the genus Enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae. One of the four capsid proteins, VP1, includes the arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) motif within its C-terminal extension. This region binds to integrin alpha v beta 3, the only receptor for CAV9 to be conclusively identified to date. RESULTS: The crystal structure of CAV9 in complex with the antiviral compound WIN 51711 has been solved to 2.9 A resolution. The structures of the four capsid proteins, VP1 to VP4, resemble those of other picornaviruses. The antiviral compound is bound in the VP1 hydrophobic pocket, and it is possible that the pocket entrance contains a second WIN 51711 molecule. Continuous electron density for the VP1 N terminus provides a complete picture of the structure close to the fivefold axis. The VP1 C-terminal portion is on the outer surface of the virus and becomes disordered five-residues N-terminal to the RGD motif. CONCLUSIONS: The RGD motif is exposed and flexible in common with other known integrin ligands. Although CAV9 resembles coxsackie B viruses (CBVs), several substitutions in the areas implicated in CBV receptor attachment suggest it may recognise a different receptor. The structure along the fivefold axis provides new information on the uncoating mechanism of enteroviruses. CAV9 might bind a larger natural pocket factor than other picornaviruses, an observation of particular relevance to the design of new antiviral compounds.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Neurotrophin-elicited short-term glutamate release from cultured cerebellar granule neurons.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been suggested to play an important role in neuronal plasticity. In this study, we investigated the effects of BDNF on short-term transmitter release from cultured CNS neurons. Rapid and transient glutamate and aspartate releases induced by BDNF were observed from cultured cortical, hippocampal, striatal and cerebellar neurons. We furthermore investigated the mechanism of release induced by neurotrophins from cerebellar granule cells, since granule cells represent a large homogeneous glutamatergic population. NGF and NT-3 elicited neurotrophin-induced release of glutamate as well as BDNF from the cerebellar granule neurons. The release was dependent on intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization. Pretreatment with K252a and also TrkB-IgG completely blocked the glutamate and aspartate release elicited by BDNF, but not by NGF. The cerebellar granule neurons expressed trkB and p75 mRNAs at high levels, but not trkA mRNA. These results suggested that while BDNF induced release via TrkB, NGF-elicited release was not mediated by Trks. Furthermore, in the experiment using the styryl dye FM1-43, which selectively labels synaptic vesicles, neither BDNF nor NGF evoked dye loss, suggesting that neurotrophin-induced excitatory amino acid release occurs through a non-exocytotic pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Solution structure of the SH2 domain of Grb2 complexed with the Shc-derived phosphotyrosine-containing peptide.

The solution structure of growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) SH2 complexed with a Shc-derived phosphotyrosine (pTyr)-containing peptide was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The pTyr binding site of Grb2 SH2 was similar to those of other SH2 domains. In contrast, the amino acid residues C-terminal to pTyr did not form an extended structure because of steric hindrance caused by a bulky side-chain of Trp121 (EF1). As a result, the peptide formed a turn-structure on the surface of Grb2 SH2. The asparagine residue at the pTyr+2 position of the Shc-peptide interacted with the main-chain carbonyl groups of Lys109 and Leu120. The present solution structure was similar to the crystal structure reported for Grb2 SH2 complexed with a BCR-Abl-derived phosphotyrosine-containing peptide. Finally, the structure of Grb2 SH2 domain was compared with those of the complexes of Src and phospholipase C-gamma1 with their cognate peptides, showing that the specific conformation of the peptide was required for binding to the SH2 domains.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1999

Synergistic effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and ciliary neurotrophic factor on cultured basal forebrain cholinergic neurons from postnatal 2-week-old rats.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), a member of the neurocytokine family, are known to have synergistic effects on motoneurons, but such synergistic effect has not been studied in detail especially in the brain. In the present study, we examined the synergistic effects of BDNF and CNTF on the survival of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons cultured from postnatal 2-week-old (P2w) rats. Although BDNF is well-known to promote the survival of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in P2w culture, CNTF had little effect on the survival of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-positive neurons and did not increase ChAT activity in the culture. However, CNTF enhanced BDNF-mediated promotion of cell survival of cholinergic neurons when added concomitantly. BDNF alone induced only a three-fold increase in ChAT activity in control cultures, but the concomitant addition of CNTF resulted in an eight-fold increase. CNTF did not enhance BDNF-mediated cell survival of total neurons from the basal forebrain, hippocampus or cerebellum, suggesting that the synergistic effects of CNTF on the BDNF-mediated increase of viability might be strong in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. CNTF also enhanced the neurotrophin-4/5-mediated increase of ChAT activity, but not the nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated one. Furthermore, the BDNF-mediated increase was also enhanced by leukemia inhibitory factor but not by interleukin-6. Similar synergistic pattern between neurotrophins and cytokines were also observed in the induction of ChAT activity in embryonic basal forebrain culture. These results suggest that TrkB, a functional high-affinity receptor of BDNF and NT-4/5, and LIFR beta, a receptor component contained in CNTF and LIF receptor complex, might be involved in the observed synergistic effects.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1999

Generation of reactive oxygen species, release of L-glutamate and activation of caspases are required for oxygen-induced apoptosis of embryonic hippocampal neurons in culture.

Oxygen-induced cell death in embryonic neurons is a useful in vitro model of neuronal apoptosis to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the cell death induced by oxidative stress. In the present study, we examined the involvement of reactive oxygen species and glutamate in the high (50%) oxygen-induced death of cultured hippocampal neurons. During the course of cell death, increases in O2- and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels were observed. On the other hand, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and deferoxamine (DFX), which have inhibitory effects on the generation of O2-, H2O2 and hydroxyl radicals, respectively, protected the neurons. These results suggested that both O2- and H2O2 play important roles in this apoptosis. Antagonists of NMDA and AMPA/kinate (AMPA/KA) receptors and an inhibitor of glutamate release partially prevented the apoptosis, suggesting that exposure to high oxygen enhances glutamate release, which results in activation of NMDA receptor and AMPA/KA receptor. In addition, specific nitric oxide (NO) scavenger and NO synthetase inhibitors blocked the apoptosis, indicating that NO and/or peroxynitrite are involved in this mechanism of cell death. Caspase inhibitors also blocked the neuronal apoptosis. These results suggested that multiple effectors including generation of reactive oxygen species, release of L-glutamate and activation of caspases are activated during the death induced by high oxygen.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor prevents low-frequency inputs from inducing long-term depression in the developing visual cortex.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is reported to enhance synaptic transmission and to play a role in long-term potentiation in hippocampus and neocortex. If so, a shortage or blockade of BDNF might lead to another form of synaptic plasticity, long-term depression (LTD). To test this possibility and to elucidate mechanisms if it is the case, EPSCs evoked by test stimulation of layer IV were recorded from layer II/III neurons in visual cortical slices of young rats in the whole-cell voltage-clamp mode. LTD was induced by low-frequency stimulation (LFS) at 1 Hz for 10-15 min if each pulse of the LFS was paired with depolarization of neurons to -30 mV but was not induced if their membrane potentials were kept at -70 mV. Such an LTD was blocked by exogenously applied BDNF, probably through presynaptic mechanisms. Suppression of endogenous BDNF activity by the anti-BDNF antibody or an inhibitor for BDNF receptors made otherwise ineffective stimuli (LFS without postsynaptic depolarization) effective for LTD induction, suggesting that endogenous BDNF may prevent low-frequency inputs from inducing LTD in the developing visual cortex.

Aging↗
PubMed1999

Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity elevates c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity in apoptosis of cultured cerebellar granule neurons.

Cerebellar granule neurons maintained in medium containing 26 mM potassium or in medium (5 mM potassium) with 50 ng/ml brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) undergo an apoptotic cell death when exposed to 10 microM LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K). To investigate the intracellular signaling mechanism of LY294002-induced apoptosis, the activities of Akt and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were measured in cells in HK (26 mM potassium) medium or LK+ (5 mM potassium) medium containing BDNF, with or without 10 microM LY294002. Akt activity decreased following the addition of 10 microM LY294002. In addition, we found that LY294002 increased the JNK activity, which is known to mediate some types of cell death in PNS neurons. We also observed elevated expression of c-Jun by LY294002 in HK+ BDNF. These findings demonstrated that apoptosis induced by inhibition of PI3-K activity involves suppression of the Akt activity and elevation of the JNK activity in cerebellar granule neurons. Our results suggested that the PI3-K-Akt pathway suppresses the activation of JNK and c-Jun expression, and as a result prevents the neuronal cell death in cerebellar granule neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Inhibition of elastase-induced acute inflammation and pulmonary emphysema in hamsters by a novel neutrophil elastase inhibitor FR901277.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: A neutrophil elastase inhibitor FR901277 was examined for its inhibitory effect on degradation of natural substrate elastin in vitro, and on acute inflammatory states and pulmonary emphysema in vivo. MATERIAL AND TREATMENT: Elastin-congo red was used as a substrate for elastin degradation assay. Paw edema in male C57BL mice (6 weeks old) and pulmonary hemorrhage in female golden hamsters (5 weeks old) were induced by topical injection of human neutrophil elastase (HNE). Pulmonary emphysema in male golden Syrian hamsters (10 weeks old) was provoked by intratracheal instillation of porcine pancreatic elastase. In all in vivo experiments. FR901277 was administered prior to elastase treatment. METHODS: Elastin degradation by HNE was monitored spectrophotometrically with elastin-congo red. Foot swelling was measured by calipers. Pulmonary hemorrhage was assessed by hemoglobin concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. As emphysematous parameters, quasi-static lung compliance and vital capacity were measured. RESULTS: FR901277 inhibited HNE-induced elastin degradation. Systemic treatment with FR901277 significantly inhibited paw edema and pulmonary hemorrhage. Intratracheal treatment with FR901277 significantly ameliorated changes in pulmonary function. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that FR901277 inhibits the elastase activity potently both in vitro and in vivo, and that elastase may play a role at least in part in pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema.

Amides↗
PubMed1999

BDNF and NT-3 but not CNTF counteract the Ca2+ ionophore-induced apoptosis of cultured cortical neurons: involvement of dual pathways.

The effect of neurotrophic factors on apoptosis induced by ionomycin, a potent Ca2+ ionophore, was investigated using cultured cortical neurons from embryonic rats. Brain-derived neurotophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) prevented the ionomycin-mediated cell death in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast to the neurotrophins, cilliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) did not rescue neurons from cell death induced by ionomycin. The protective effect of BDNF was partially blocked by wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, and by PD98059, a MAP kinase kinase inhibitor. However, the addition of both compounds together completely inhibited the survival promoting effect of BDNF. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of BDNF requires activation of both phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and the Ras/MAP kinase cascade and that CNTF signaling through other pathways is without an effect in this system.

Androstadienes↗
PubMed1999

Analysis of human IgE epitope of Der f 2 with anti-Der f 2 mouse monoclonal antibodies.

Der f 2 is one of the major mite allergens recognized by human IgE antibodies of allergic patients. Using five anti-Der f 2 mouse monoclonal antibodies, human IgE epitopes of Der f 2 were analyzed. Among them, two monoclonal antibodies 15E11 and 13A4 inhibited the binding between Der f 2 and human IgE antibodies. To determine major IgE epitopes of Der f 2, epitopes for the monoclonal IgG antibodies were analyzed using 43 single site Der f 2 mutants constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. Binding ability of 13A4 and 15E11 was decreased by the amino acid replacement around the C-terminus, and around 73rd, respectively. These results suggest that the C-terminal portion and the central portion around 73rd of Der f 2 were recognized by human IgE antibodies as major epitopes. The location of the putative IgE epitopes on 3-D structure of Der f 2 is also discussed.

Allergens↗
PubMed1999

Brain-derived neurotropic factor prevents superoxide anion-induced death of PC12h cells stably expressing TrkB receptor via modulation of reactive oxygen species.

In our previous report (Satoh et al., 1999. Regulation of reactive oxygen species by nerve growth factor but not by Bcl-2 as a novel mechanism of protection of PC12 cells from superoxide anion-induced death. J. Biochem. 125, 952-959), we reported that nerve growth factor (NGF) protected PC12 cells from superoxide anion (O2-)-induced cell death through a novel regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which increased O2- and decreased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), indicating that decreasing conversion from O2- to H2O2 is a critical process for the protection by NGF. In the present study, we performed a comparative study on protective mechanisms between NGF and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using TrkB-expressing PC12h cells. When compared with NGF, BDNF induced a weaker but significant protective effect on the cells from O2- induced death. BDNF did not seem to change the total amount of ROS in the cells treated with xanthine and xanthine oxidase. On the other hand, BDNF increased O2- and decreased H2O2- levels in the same cells, although not so strongly as NGF. These results suggest that decreasing conversion from O2- to H2O2 is also critical for the protection by BDNF, which is considered to play a central role in survival and differentiation of CNS neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) expression is correlated with expression of aberrant p53 protein in colorectal cancer.

Multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) is one of the major factors responsible for non-P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-mediated multidrug resistance of human tumour cells. In this study, we examined MRP and aberrant p53 expression in 54 colorectal cancers (CRC), 35 carcinoma in adenomas (CIA) and 40 adenomatous polyps by immunohistochemical procedures. 38 of 54 (70%) CRCs, 16 of 35 (46%) CIAs and 3 of 40 (8%) adenomatous polyps were MRP positive (chi 2 test, P < 0.0001). 36/54 (67%) CRCs, 10/35 (29%) CIAs and 0/40 adenomatous polyps were p53 positive. 30 of the 36 p53-positive CRCs were also MRP positive and 8/10 CIAs were both p53 and MRP positive. MRP overexpression correlated with aberrant p53 accumulation in CRCs and CIAs (chi 2 test, P < = or 0.01). Coexpression of MRP and p53 in the same cells was confirmed in the CRCs and CIAs by double staining procedures. These results suggested that MRP overexpression is related to aberrant p53 expression in CRC.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1999

Solution structure of human acidic fibroblast growth factor and interaction with heparin-derived hexasaccharide.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) bind to extracellular matrices, especially heparin-like carbohydrates of heparan-sulfate proteoglycans which stabilize FGFs to protect against inactivation by heat, acid, proteolysis and oxidation. Moreover, binding of FGFs to cell surface proteoglycans promotes to form oligomers, which is essential for receptor oligomerization and activation. In the present study, we determined the solution structure of acidic FGF using a series of triple resonance multi-dimensional NMR experiments and simulated annealing calculations. Furthermore, we prepared the sample complexed with a heparin-derived hexasaccharide which is a minimum unit for aFGF binding. From the chemical shift differences between free aFGF and aFGF-heparin complex, we concluded that the major heparin binding site was located on the regions 110-131 and 17-21. The binding sites are quite similar to those observed for bFGF-heparin hexasaccharide complex, showing that both FGFs recognize heparin-oligosaccharides in a similar manner.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Thrombospondin 2 expression is correlated with inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis of colon cancer.

Two subtypes of thrombospondin (TSP-1 and TSP-2) have inhibitory roles in angiogenesis in vitro, although the biological significance of these TSP isoforms has not been determined in vivo. We examined TSP-1 and TSP-2 gene expression by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in 61 colon cancers. Thirty-eight of these 61 colon cancers were positive for TSP-2 expression and showed hepatic metastasis at a significantly lower incidence than those without TSP-2 expression (P = 0.02). TSP-2 expression was significantly associated with M0 stage in these colon cancers (P = 0.03), whereas TSP-1 expression showed no apparent correlation with these factors. The colon cancer patients with TSP-2 expression showed a significantly low frequency of liver metastasis correlated with the cell-associated isoform of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-189) (P = 0.0006). Vascularity was estimated by CD34 staining, and TSP-2(-)/VEGF-189(+) colon cancers showed significantly increased vessel counts and density in the stroma (P < 0.0001). TSP-2(-)/VEGF-189(+) colon cancer patients also showed significantly poorer prognosis compared with those with TSP-2(+)/VEGF-189(-) (P = 0.0014). These results suggest that colon cancer metastasis is critically determined by angiogenesis resulting from the balance between the angioinhibitory factor TSP-2 and angiogenic factor VEGF-189.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1999

CNS-specific prostacyclin ligands as neuronal survival-promoting factors in the brain.

Prostacyclin (PGI2) is a critical regulator of the cardiovascular system, via dilatation of vascular smooth muscle and inhibition of platelet aggregation (Moncada, S. 1982, Br. J. Pharmacol., 76, 3). Our previous studies demonstrated that a novel subtype of PGI2 receptor, which is clearly distinct from a peripheral subtype in terms of ligand specificity, is expressed in the rostral region of the brain, e.g. cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus and striatum, and that (15R)-16-m-17,18,19,20-tetranorisocarbacyclin (15R-TIC) and 15-deoxy-16-m-17,18,19,20-tetranorisocarbacyclin (15-deoxy-TIC) specifically bind to the central nervous system (CNS)-specific PGI2 receptor. Here, we report that these CNS-specific PGI2 receptor ligands, including PGI2 itself, prevented the neuronal death. They prevented apoptotic cell death of hippocampal neurons induced by high (50%) oxygen atmosphere, xanthine + xanthine oxidase, and serum deprivation. IC50s for neuronal death were approximately 30 and 300 nM for 15-deoxy-TIC and 15R-TIC, respectively, which well correlated with the binding potency for the CNS-specific PGI2 receptor. 6-Keto-PGF1alpha (a stable metabolite of PGI2), peripheral nervous system-specific PGI2 ligands and other prostaglandins (PGs) than PGI2 did not show such neuroprotective effects. In vivo, 15R-TIC protected CA1 pyramidal neurons against ischaemic damage in gerbils. These results indicate that CNS-specific PGI2 ligands have neuronal survival-promoting activity both in vitro and in vivo, and may represent a new type of therapeutic drug for neurodegeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor stimulates interactions of Shp2 with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Grb2 in cultured cerebral cortical neurons.

Shp2, a protein tyrosine phosphatase possessing SH2 domains, is utilized in the intracellular signaling of various growth factors. Shp2 is highly expressed in the CNS. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, which also shows high levels of expression in the CNS, exerts neurotrophic and neuromodulatory effects in CNS neurons. We examined how BDNF utilizes Shp2 in its signaling pathway in cultured cerebral cortical neurons. We found that BDNF stimulated coprecipitation of several tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins with anti-Shp2 antibody and that Grb2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) were coprecipitated with anti-Shp2 antibody in response to BDNF. In addition, both anti-Grb2 and anti-PI3-K antibodies coprecipitated Shp2 in response to BDNF. The BDNF-stimulated coprecipitation of the tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, Grb2, and PI3-K with anti-Shp2 antibody was completely inhibited by K252a, an inhibitor of TrkB receptor tyrosine kinase. This BDNF-stimulated Shp2 signaling was markedly sustained as well as BDNF-induced phosphorylation of TrkB and mitogen-activated protein kinases. In PC12 cells stably expressing TrkB, both BDNF and nerve growth factor stimulated Shp2 signaling similarly to that by BDNF in cultured cortical neurons. These results indicated that Shp2 shows cross-talk with various signaling molecules including Grb2 and PI3-K in BDNF-induced signaling and that Shp2 may be involved in the regulation of various actions of BDNF in CNS neurons.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗