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H Ide

Publications and source records attributed to H Ide.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Role of chondrogenic tissue in programmed cell death and BMP expression in chick limb buds.

In the developing chick leg bud, massive programmed cell death occurs in the interdigital region. Previously, we reported the inhibition of cell death by separation of the interdigital region from neighboring digit cartilage. In this study, we examined the relationship between cell death and cartilaginous tissue in vitro. First, cell fate was observed with DiI that was used to examine cell movement in the distal tip of leg bud. Labeled cells in the prospective digital region were distributed only in the distal region as a narrow band, while cells in the prospective interdigital region expanded widely in the interdigit. In coculture of monolayer cells and a cell pellet tending to differentiate into cartilage, monolayer cells migrated into the cell pellet. These results suggested that digit cartilage tends to recruit neighboring cells into the cartilage during limb development. Next, we observed the relationship between cell death and chondrogenesis in monolayer culture. Apoptotic cell death that could be detected by TUNEL occurred in regions between cartilaginous nodules in mesenchymal cell culture. More apoptotic cell death was detected in the cell culture of leg bud mesenchyme of stage 25/26 than that of leg bud mesenchyme of stage 22 or that of stage 28. The most developed cartilaginous nodules were observed in the cell culture of stage 25/26. Finally, we observed Bmp expression in vitro and in vivo. Bmp-2, Bmp-4 and Bmp-7 were detected around the cartilage nodules. When the interdigit was separated from neighboring digit cartilage, Bmp-4 expression disappeared near the cut region but remained near the digit cartilage. This correlation between cell death and cartilaginous region suggests that cartilage tissue can induce apoptotic cell death in the developing chick limb bud due to cell migration accompanying chondrogenesis and Bmp expression.

Animals↗

Formation of mineralized bone nodules by rat calvarial osteoblasts decreases with donor age due to a reduction in signaling through EP(1) subtype of prostaglandin E(2) receptor.

The effects of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) on the parameters for proliferation and differentiation were studied in calvarial osteoblast-like cells isolated from rats of various ages. In cells not treated with PGE(2), it was found that mineralized bone nodule (BN) formation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and the incorporation rate of [(3)H]thymidine into the cells sharply decreased with the age of the cell donor at 6-50 weeks and then remained at a relatively constant level up to 120 weeks. Before studying the effects of PGE(2) on these parameters, we determined the change in the levels of PGE(2) produced by the untreated cells during the culture period and found that the endogenous PGE(2) reached a maximum on the 4th day of the culture, regardless of the cell donor age, followed by a sharp decrease. The endogenous production was blocked by pretreatment with a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, NS-398, indicating the generation of PGE(2) through a COX-2 pathway. The area of BN was effectively suppressed by NS-398 in the cells from 10- to 35-week-old rats, whereas it was enhanced in the cells from 90- to 120-week-old rats. Treatment with PGE(2 )markedly increased the BN formation and the ALP activity in the cells from 4- to 35-week-old rats (defined as young rats). By contrast, PGE(2) decreased [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into the cells from young rats. The area of BN and the ALP activity decreased significantly, whereas [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into the cells increased by 60-80% in the cells of 80- to 120-week-old rats (defined as aged rats). The stimulatory effects on the cell differentiation and the inhibitory effect on the proliferation in the cells from young rats was mimicked by an EP(1) agonist, 17-phenyl-omega-trinor PGE(2), while an EP(2)/EP(4) agonist, 11-deoxy-PGE(1) and an adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin suppressed the differentiation and enhanced the proliferation regardless of the cell donor age. PGE(2), 11-deoxy-PGE(1) and forskolin, but not 17-phenyl-omega-trinor PGE(2) increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production. Generation of inositol 1, 4,5-triphosphate (IP(3)) was stimulated by 17-phenyl-omega-trinor PGE(2) or PGE(2), but not by 11-deoxy-PGE(1) or forskolin increased cAMP production in the cells from young rats. By contrast, PGE(2 )had little effect on IP(3 )generation in aged rats. From the overall results, we concluded that PGE(2) exerts stimulatory and inhibitory effects on differentiation through the EP(1)-IP(3) pathway and EP(2)/EP(4)-cAMP pathway, respectively, in the cells from young rats. The EP(1)-IP(3) pathway seems to be inactive in the cells from aged rats.

Age Factors↗

Enzymatic repair of 5-formyluracil. I. Excision of 5-formyluracil site-specifically incorporated into oligonucleotide substrates by alka protein (Escherichia coli 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase II).

5-Formyluracil (fU) is a major thymine lesion produced by reactive oxygen radicals and photosensitized oxidation. We have previously shown that fU is a potentially mutagenic lesion due to its elevated frequency to mispair with guanine. Therefore, fU can exist in DNA as a correctly paired fU:A form or an incorrectly paired fU:G form. In this work, fU was site-specifically incorporated opposite A in oligonucleotide substrates to delineate the cellular repair mechanism of fU paired with A. The repair activity for fU was induced in Escherichia coli upon exposure to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and the induction was dependent on the alkA gene, suggesting that AlkA (3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase II) was responsible for the observed activity. Activity assay and determination of kinetic parameters using purified AlkA and defined oligonucleotide substrates containing fU, 5-hydroxymethyluracil (hU), or 7-methylguanine (7mG) revealed that fU was recognized by AlkA with an efficiency comparable to that of 7mG, a good substrate for AlkA, whereas hU, another major thymine methyl oxidation products, was not a substrate. (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts of 5-formyl-2'-deoxyuridine indicated that the 5-formyl group caused base C-6 and sugar C-1' to be electron deficient, which was shown to result in destabilization of the N-glycosidic bond. These features are common in other good substrates for AlkA and are suggested to play key roles in the differential recognition of fU, hU, and intact thymine. Three mammalian repair enzymes for alkylated and oxidized bases cloned so far (MPG, Nth1, and OGG1) did not recognize fU, implying that the mammalian repair activity for fU resided on a yet unidentified protein. In the accompanying paper (Terato, H., Masaoka, A., Kobayashi, M., Fukushima, S., Ohyama, Y., Yoshida, M., and Ide, H., J. Biol. Chem. 274, 25144-25150), possible repair mechanisms for fU mispaired with G are reported.

Adenine↗

Enzymatic repair of 5-formyluracil. II. Mismatch formation between 5-formyluracil and guanine during dna replication and its recognition by two proteins involved in base excision repair (AlkA) and mismatch repair (MutS).

5-Formyluracil (fU), a major methyl oxidation product of thymine, forms correct (fU:A) and incorrect (fU:G) base pairs during DNA replication. In the accompanying paper (Masaoka, A., Terato, H., Kobayashi, M., Honsho, A., Ohyama, Y., and Ide, H. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 25136-25143), it has been shown that fU correctly paired with A is recognized by AlkA protein (Escherichia coli 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase II). In the present work, mispairing frequency of fU with G and cellular repair protein that specifically recognized fU:G mispairs were studied using defined oligonucleotide substrates. Mispairing frequency of fU was determined by incorporation of 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate of fU opposite template G using DNA polymerase I Klenow fragment deficient in 3'-5' exonuclease. Mispairing frequency of fU was dependent on the nearest neighbor base pair in the primer terminus and 2-12 times higher than that of thymine at pH 7.8 and 2.6-6.7 times higher at pH 9.0 with an exception of the nearest neighbor T(template):A(primer). AlkA catalyzed the excision of fU placed opposite G, as well as A, and the excision efficiencies of fU for fU:G and fU:A pairs were comparable. In addition, MutS protein involved in methyl-directed mismatch repair also recognized fU:G mispairs and bound them with an efficiency comparable to T:G mispairs, but it did not recognize fU:A pairs. Prior complex formation between MutS and a heteroduplex containing an fU:G mispair inhibited the activity of AlkA to fU. These results suggest that fU present in DNA can be restored by two independent repair pathways, i.e. the base excision repair pathway initiated by AlkA and the methyl-directed mismatch repair pathway initiated by MutS. Biological relevance of the present results is discussed in light of DNA replication and repair in cells.

Adenine↗

FGF7 and FGF10 directly induce the apical ectodermal ridge in chick embryos.

During vertebrate limb development, the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) plays a vital role in both limb initiation and distal outgrowth of the limb bud. In the early chick embryo the prelimb bud mesoderm induces the AER in the overlying ectoderm. However, the direct inducer of the AER remains unknown. Here we report that FGF7 and FGF10, members of the fibroblast growth factor family, are the best candidates for the direct inducer of the AER. FGF7 induces an ectopic AER in the flank ectoderm of the chick embryo in a different manner from FGF1, -2, and -4 and activates the expression of Fgf8, an AER marker gene, in a cultured flank ectoderm without the mesoderm. Remarkably, FGF7 and FGF10 applied in the back induced an ectopic AER in the dorsal median ectoderm. Our results suggest that FGF7 and FGF10 directly induce the AER in the ectoderm both of the flank and of the dorsal midline and that these two regions have the competence for AER induction. Formation of the AER of the dorsal median ectoderm in the chick embryo is likely to appear as a vestige of the dorsal fin of the ancestors.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of diazoate intermediate upon nitrous acid and nitric oxide treatment of 2'-deoxycytidine.

The intermediate produced from dCyd by HNO2 and NO treatments was isolated and characterized. When 10 mM dCyd was treated with 100 mM NaNO2 in 1.0 M acetate buffer (pH 3.7) at 37 degrees C, a previously unidentified product was formed. By spectrometric measurements, the product was identified as a diazoate derivative of dCyd, 1-(beta-D-2'-deoxyribofuranosyl)-2-oxopyrimidine-4-diazoate. The time course of the concentration change of the diazoate showed a profile characteristic of a reaction intermediate, and the maximum yield was 37 microM at the reaction time of 25 min. Up to the reaction time of 10 min, the diazoate concentration was greater than that of dUrd, a deamination product of dCyd. Addition of thiocyanate increased the yield of the diazoate in HNO2 treatment, whereas addition of ascorbate decreased the yield. When 10 mM dCyd in 100 mM phosphate buffer was treated with NO at 37 degrees C under aerobic conditions holding the pH (7.2-7.6), the diazoate was also generated. The yield of the diazoate was higher than that of dUrd up to 15 mmol of NO absorption. At pH 3.7 and 37 degrees C, the diazoate was converted to dUrd with the first-order rate constant k = 4.8 x 10(-)4 s-1 (t1/2 = 24 min). Under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C), however, it was fairly stable (k = 5.8 x 10(-)7 s-1, t1/2 = 330 h). In both cases, the diazoate was converted to dUrd exclusively and no other intermediates were detected by HPLC analysis. Uracil-DNA glycosylase did not remove the diazoate residue from an oligodeoxynucleotide containing this damage, [d(T6DT5), D = the diazoate]. The Tm value of a duplex containing the diazoate, d(T6DT5).d(A5GA6), was much lower than that of a duplex containing a correct C:G base pair, d(T6CT5).d(A5GA6). These results show that the diazoate is generated as a stable intermediate in the reactions of dCyd with HNO2 and NO and that the major product is the diazoate but not dUrd in the initial stage of the reactions. Thus, once formed in vivo, the diazoate persists for long time in DNA and may act as a major cytotoxic and/or genotoxic lesion with biologically relevant doses of HNO2 and NO.

DNA Glycosylases↗

Prostaglandin E2 stimulates the formation of mineralized bone nodules by a cAMP-independent mechanism in the culture of adult rat calvarial osteoblasts.

The effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic cells were studied in osteoblast-like cells isolated from adult rat calvaria. Treatment of the cells with PGE2 within the concentration range 10(-8)-10(-5) M resulted in a dose-dependent increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, [3H]proline incorporation into collagenase-digestible protein, and mineralized bone nodule (BN) formation, as well as a dose-dependent decrease in [3H]thymidine incorporation into the cells. PGE2 also caused a dose-dependent increase in the intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content, with a maximal effective concentration of 10(-5) M; this effect of PGE2 was mimicked by forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator. The treatment of adult calvarial cells with forskolin decreased BN formation, ALP activity, and collagen synthesis. These results suggested that cAMP does not have a stimulatory, but rather a suppressive, effect on the differentiation of adult rat calvarial cells. A time-course study of cAMP accumulation showed that both PGE2- and forskolin-induced cAMP reached a maximum at 5 min after the treatment, but the former rapidly returned to the basal level by 40 min, while the latter declined slowly and was still at 70% of the maximal level at 60 min, suggesting that PGE2 activates phosphodiesterase as well as adenylate cyclase. The presence of N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), a calmodulin antagonist, reduced the rate of degradation of cAMP formed after PGE2 treatment, suggesting the involvement of calmodulin in the activation of phosphodiesterase. However, PGE2 also caused the production of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) and an elevation of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), both of which peaked at 15 s and returned to the basal level within 1 min. Submaximal responses of the IP3 production and the [Ca2+]i elevation to PGE2 were obtained at 10(-5) M. W-7 decreased both basal and PGE2-induced ALP activity, collagen synthesis and BN formation, indicating the involvement of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in the PGE2-induced differentiation of calvarial cells. From these results, we concluded that PGE2 inhibits the proliferation and stimulates the differentiation of calvarial osteoblasts by elevating the [Ca2+]i through the activation of a phosphoinositide turnover, but not via an activation of adenylate cyclase. We also found that BN formation varies, depending on the time of PGE2 addition, suggesting that responsiveness of the cells to PGE2 may change during the culture period.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

In vitro selection of sequence contexts which enhance bypass of abasic sites and tetrahydrofuran by T4 DNA polymerase holoenzyme.

The influence of sequence context on the ability of DNA polymerase to bypass sites of base loss was addressed using an in vitro selection system. Oligonucleotides containing either an aldehydic abasic site or tetrahydrofuran surrounded by four randomized bases on both the 5' and 3' sides were used as templates for synthesis by phage T4 DNA polymerase holoenzyme proficient or deficient in the 3'-->5' proofreading exonuclease activity. Successful bypass products were purified, subcloned and the sequences of approximately 100 subclones were determined for each of the four polymerase/lesion combinations tested. Between 7 and 19 % of the bypass products contained deletions of one to three nucleotides in the randomized region. In bypass products not containing deletions, biases for and against certain nucleotides were readily noticeable across the entire randomized region. Template strands from successful bypass products of abasic sites had a high frequency of T in most of the randomized positions, while those from bypass products of tetrahydrofuran had a high frequency of G at the positions immediately to the 3' and 5' side of the lesion. Consensus sequences were shared by successful bypass products of the same lesion but not between bypass products of the two lesions. The consensus sequence for efficient bypass of tetrahydrofuran was over-represented in several frames relative to the lesion. T4 DNA polymerase inserted A opposite abasic sites 63 % of the time in the presence of proofreading and 79 % of the time in its absence, followed by G>T>C, while the insertion of A opposite tetrahydrofuran ranged between 93 % and 100 % in the presence and absence of proofreading, respectively. Finally, sequence context influenced the choice of nucleotide inserted opposite abasic sites and consensus sequences which favored the incorporation of nucleotides other than A were defined.

Bacteriophage T4↗

Role of N-cadherin in the sorting-out of mesenchymal cells and in the positional identity along the proximodistal axis of the chick limb bud.

Mesenchymal cells from different stages of chick limb buds sort out in monolayer culture, suggesting the presence of different cell affinities dependent on their positions along the proximodistal axis. However, it is still not clear which molecules are responsible for the sorting-out. Here, we propose that N-cadherin, a cell-adhesion molecule, is involved in the sorting-out and is likely to be a component of the mechanism of proximodistal patterning in the developing limb. N-cadherin proteins accumulate in the distal region of the chick limb bud as limb development proceeds. In monolayer culture of distal mesenchymal cells, the stage-dependent levels of N-cadherin proteins are maintained during cell sorting. The results of this study have also demonstrated that an anti-N-cadherin monoclonal antibody, NCD-2, clearly inhibits the cell sorting. Moreover, removal of the apical ectodermal ridge or retinoic-acid treatment of distal cells, which results in a change in the pattern of sorting-out, inhibits the accumulation of N-cadherin proteins, suggesting that the distribution of these proteins is related to the positional identity that gives rise to the different shape and number of cartilage elements along the proximodistal axis.

Animals↗

Biphasic regulation of the development of murine type II collagen-induced arthritis by interleukin-12: possible involvement of endogenous interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor alpha.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the dose-specific effects of interleukin-12 (IL-12) on the evolution of murine type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: From day 24 through day 33 following primary immunization, mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of murine recombinant IL-12. Measurements of anticollagen IgG, cytokines, and corticosterone were performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: CIA mice injected with a low dose of IL-12 (5 ng/day) exhibited accelerated onset and increased severity of arthritis. In contrast, administration of a high dose of IL-12 (500 ng/day) attenuated arthritic inflammation. The low dose of IL-12 induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) production, whereas the high dose induced production of both IL-10 and corticosterone and suppression of anticollagen antibody levels. Administration of neutralizing anti-TNFalpha and anti-IL-10 antibodies reversed the dose-specific effects of IL-12. CONCLUSION: IL-12 is an important immunomodulator during the pathogenesis of CIA. It appears to act by regulating humoral and cellular immune responses, as well as by mediating the expression of immunoregulatory cytokines and glucocorticoids.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Strategies for diagnosing and alleviating artifactual attenuation associated with large gradient pulses in PGSE NMR diffusion measurements.

The generation of phase-based artifacts resulting from mismatch in the effective areas (i.e., the time integrals) of sequential gradient pulses is discussed in the context of large gradient pulsed-gradient spin-echo (PGSE) NMR diffusion measurements. Such effects result in artifactual attenuation and distortion in the spectra which, in the first instance, are similar to (and commonly mistaken for) the effects of eddy currents. Small degrees of mismatch cause "unphysical" concave downward curvature in PGSE attenuation plots of freely diffusing species. However, larger mismatches can result in artifactual diffraction peaks in the plots which could easily be confused for true restricted diffusion effects. Although "rectangular" gradient pulses are preferable from a theoretical viewpoint, we found that shaped gradient (e.g., half-sine) pulses, which due to their slower rise and fall times were more tractable for the current amplifier, were more sequentially reproducible. As well as generating fewer phase-based artifacts such shaped pulses also decrease the likelihood of vibration problems.

Artifacts↗

Analysis of postoperative complications after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy.

Postoperative complications were investigated in 72 patients who received neoadjuvant therapy with esophagectomy. Preoperative chemotherapy consisted of 5-fluorouracil (700 mg/m2/day, on days 1 to 5), cisplatinum (70 mg/m2/day, on day 1) and leucovorin (20 mg/m2/day, on days 1 to 5). Preoperative chemoradiotherapy consisted of cisplatinum combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (total dosage of 30-70 Gy). The incidence of postoperative pneumonia (16%) and anastomotic leakage (24%) in the preoperative chemotherapy group was slightly higher than that in the control group (n = 506), and mortality (6.0%) after esophagectomy in the preoperative chemotherapy group was higher than that (2.4%) of the control group. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were observed more frequently in patients who received two cycles of the chemotherapy than those receiving only one cycle. Postoperative complications occurred more frequently in patients suffering high grade toxicities due to the preoperative chemotherapy. The highest preoperative serum creatinine value correlated to that of postoperative period (r = 0.6494). The use of the preoperative chemoradiotherapy with a total exposure dosage of 60 Gy or more significantly increased the postoperative pneumonia rate (67%; p < 0.05) compared to the group receiving 40 Gy or less. The mortality rate (33%) also increased. The second cycle of the preoperative chemotherapy should be cancelled if patients suffer high grade toxicities during or after the first cycle, and the total exposure dosage of the preoperative chemoradiotherapy should be limited to 40 Gy or less.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Cloning of bovine LYST gene and identification of a missense mutation associated with Chediak-Higashi syndrome of cattle.

An inheritable bleeding disorder with light coat color caused by an autosomal recessive gene has been reported in a population of Japanese black cattle. The disease has been diagnosed as Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (CHS) of cattle which correspond to a human inheritable disorder caused by mutation in LYST gene. To characterize the molecular lesion causing CHS in cattle, cDNAs encoding bovine LYST were isolated from a bovine brain cDNA library. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of bovine LYST had 89.6 and 90.2% identity with those of the human LYST gene, respectively. In order to identify the mutation within the LYST gene causing CHS in cattle, cDNA fragments of the LYST gene were amplified from an affected animal by RT-PCR and their nucleotide sequences were completely determined. Notably, a nucleotide substitution of A to G transition, resulting in an amino acid substitution of histidine to arginine (H2015R) was identified in the affected animal. The presence of the substitution was completely corresponding with the occurrence of the CHS phenotype among 105 members of pedigrees of the Japanese black cattle and no cattle of other populations had this substitution. These findings strongly suggested that H2015R is the causative mutation in CHS of Japanese black cattle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immunohistochemical demonstration of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor light chain (bikunin) in human mast cells.

We recently reported that the rat mast cell proteinase inhibitor trypstatin is genetically identical with the second half of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor light chain (ITI-LC), also known as bikunin or urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI). In this study, therefore, immunoreactivities of mast cells of various human tissues were examined with three antibodies, anti-human ITI-LC, anti-ITI, which recognizes mainly heavy chains or the sugar moiety of ITI, and anti-alpha 1-microglobulin (alpha1mG). ITI-LC immunoreactivity was strongly found in mast cells in the connective tissues of various organs except for those of the propria mucosae of small intestine. Neither anti-ITI antibody nor anti-alpha1mG antibody reacted with mast cells in various tissues. By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, alpha1mG/ITI-LC mRNA was not detected in the skin and tongue, and only weakly in small intestine, although ITI-LC immunoreactivity was strongly detected in these tissues. Furthermore, the mRNA was not expressed in cultured human mast cells. These results suggest that ITI-LC protein is stored in the granules of human connective tissue mast cells, though is not produced by them.

Alpha-Globulins↗

Evaluation of the accuracy of preoperative staging in thoracic esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Exact clinical staging before treatment of esophageal cancer has become increasingly important in the evaluation and comparison of the results of different treatment modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. METHODS: The accuracy of preoperative tumor staging by using an esophagography, esophagoscopy, percutaneous and endoscopic ultrasonography, and computed tomography was assessed in 224 patients with resectable esophageal cancer. The results of tumor staging by these tests were compared prospectively with the pathologic stage of the esophagectomy specimens with respect to the T and N categories defined by the International Union Against Cancer TNM classification. RESULTS: For the T category, the overall accuracy was 80%. For the N category, overall accuracy was 72%, with a sensitivity of 78%, a specificity of 60%, and a positive predictive value of 78%. Overall, the accuracy of stage grouping was 56%. CONCLUSIONS: Either the T or N categories can be predicted reliably by clinical staging techniques. However, the preoperative stage grouping might not be valid in resectable, localized esophageal cancer.

Adult↗

Retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst: report of a case and literature review.

A large cystic mass was found in the subdiaphragmatic region of a 46-year-old woman who had complained of continuous pain in the left flank . The cyst was located in the retroperitoneum just below the diaphragm and was adhered to the diaphragmatic skeletal muscle and abdominal aorta, but was separate from the spleen, pancreas, left adrenal gland and left kidney. The surgically resected cyst measured 8 x 8 x 7 cm and was filled with protein-rich fluid, which contained amylase and embryonal proteins such as carcinoembryonic antigen, CA125 and CA19-9. Histologically, the cyst wall was composed of a fibrovascular connective tissue containing thin smooth muscle layers and mucus-secreting glands and was lined by a ciliated pseudostratified or tall columnar epithelium without dysplastic changes. Thus, a diagnosis of bronchogenic cyst, which is usually discovered in the posterior part of the mediastinum, was made. A rare case of bronchogenic cyst and a literature review is presented.

Biomarkers↗

Cellular repair mechanism of 5-formyluracil.

5-Formyluracil (fU) is an oxidative DNA base damage. This damage has been suggested to be mutagenic and but enzymatic repair of the damage is little known. In this study, repair enzymes that recognize fU have been studied. Kinetic analysis of the repair activity of E. coli 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase II (AlkA) showed that fU was removed by AlkA with the efficiency comparable to 7-methylguanine. We also examined the participation of the methyl-directed mismatch repair system. The affinity of MutS to the fU:G mispair was essentially similar to that of the T:G mispair that was most efficiently recognized by the MutSLH system. These results suggest two distinct repair pathways of fU in E. coli.

Base Pair Mismatch↗