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Biomedical subjects

H Seo

Publications and source records attributed to H Seo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB activation confers sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor-alpha by impairment of cell cycle progression in human glioma cells.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has been shown to exert cytotoxic or cytostatic effects on tumor cells, but susceptibility to TNF-alpha varies among different types of cells. TNF-alpha activates a transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), which induces a wide variety of genes and causes pleiotrophic responses. In this study, the relationship between susceptibility to TNF-alpha and activation of NF-kappaB was investigated in six human malignant glioma cell lines. Cell proliferation analysis revealed that only one cell line, SK-MG-1, was sensitive to TNF-alpha and that the other five, including U-251MG, were resistant. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assay showed that TNF-alpha strongly activated a subtype of NF-kappaB, the p50-p65 heterodimer, in all of the resistant cell lines tested. However, this activation was weak in the sensitive cell line, SK-MG-1. Activation of NF-kappaB by TNF-alpha in the resistant cell lines resulted in a significant increase of a reporter gene expression driven by NF-kappaB site, suggesting a possibility that activation of p50-p65 confers resistance to TNF-alpha. To test this hypothesis, we established a stable cell line that expresses an inducible dominant negative NF-kappaB (p65 DN) protein in one of the TNF-alpha-resistant cell lines, U-251MG. In the established clone, induction of p65 DN protein decreased TNF-alpha-dependent increase in the DNA binding of p50-p65 heterodimer and NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene activity. Although no growth inhibition of this clone was observed by TNF-alpha treatment, induction of p65 DN together with TNF-alpha resulted in a significant decrease in cell number. Cell cycle analysis revealed that this growth inhibition was due to the impairment of cell cycle progression. These results indicate that an active NF-kappaB complex, such as the p50-p65 heterodimer, plays a crucial role in the progression of cell cycle in malignant glioma cells. Refractoriness to TNF-alpha treatment could be prevented by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation.

Cell Cycle↗

9-cis-retinoic acid decreases the level of its cognate receptor, retinoid X receptor, through acceleration of the turnover.

In this study, we investigated the ligand-mediated regulation of retinoid X receptor (RXR) in two human cell lines (HepG2 and JEG-3 cells), which have been reported to express RXRalpha predominantly. Western blot analysis revealed that a treatment with 1 microM 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis RA) for 24 h decreased RXRalpha protein level to 72 +/- 9 and 75 +/- 7% in HepG2 and JEG-3 cells, respectively, when the levels in the non-treated cells were expressed as 100%. The decrease was not due to the changes in steady-state level of RXRalpha mRNA or its stability as revealed by Northern blot analysis. However, the 9-cis RA treatment decreased the half-life of RXRalpha protein as determined by pulse-chase analysis. It was thus demonstrated that 9-cis RA downregulates RXRalpha by increasing the turnover of the protein in the two cell lines. The ligand-dependent downregulation of RXRalpha protein may be important for several hormonal signalings, in which the receptors heterodimerize with RXR.

Alitretinoin↗

A DNA unwinding factor involved in DNA replication in cell-free extracts of Xenopus eggs.

BACKGROUND: Alteration of chromatin structure is a key step in various aspects of DNA metabolism. DNA unwinding factors such as the high mobility group (HMG) proteins are thought to play a general role in controlling chromatin structure and a specific role in controlling DNA replication. For instance, in the in vitro simian virus 40 replication system, minichromosomes containing HMG-17 replicate more efficiently than those without it, suggesting that HMG-17 enhances the rate of replication of a chromatin template by unfolding the higher-order chromatin structure. At present, however, only limited data suggest an involvement of DNA unwinding factors in DNA replication. RESULTS: We purified from Xenopus eggs a novel heterodimeric factor, termed DNA unwinding factor (DUF), that consists of 87 kDa and 140 kDa polypeptides. DUF unwinds closed-circular duplex DNA in the presence of topoisomerase I, but it does not possess a DNA gyrase activity: it does not introduce negative supercoils into DNA at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. Cloning and sequencing of the cDNAs encoding the two polypeptides revealed that the 87 kDa polypeptide is homologous to a mammalian HMG protein, T160/structure-specific recognition protein. The 140 kDa polypeptide is homologous to yeast Cdc68, a protein that controls the expression of several genes during the G1 phase of the cell cycle by modulating chromatin structure. Immunodepletion of DUF from Xenopus egg extracts drastically reduced the ability of the extract to replicate exogenously added sperm chromatin or plasmid DNA. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that DUF plays a role in DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cleavage of RXRalpha by a lysosomal enzyme, cathepsin L-type protease.

In this study, we characterized a protease responsible for the cleavage of RXRalpha in two human derived cell lines, HepG2 and JEG-3 cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) combined with antibody supershift analysis suggested that contamination of cytoplasmic components during nuclear extract preparation could result in complete cleavage of RXRalpha at its N-terminus in JEG-3 cells, while such proteolytic activity was much less evident in HepG2. When the nuclei were purified in the presence of leupeptin, only full-length RXRalpha was found in the extracts prepared from both JEG-3 and HepG2 cells, suggesting a member of cysteine protease family is responsible for the cleavage. The presence of the protease in the cytoplasm, but not in the nucleus, was confirmed by incubating full-length 35S-labeled RXRalpha with each fraction. The cytoplasmic fraction from JEG-3 and HepG2 cells cleaved RXRalpha into smaller sizes with molecular mass of 45, 43, and 31 kD. Immunoprecipitation with antibodies recognizing distinct epitopes indicated that the cleaved RXRalpha with the size of 45 and 43 kD were truncated at N-terminus in which most of the A/B domain was absent. Using a series of protease inhibitors, the enzyme cleaving RXRalpha was characterized as cathepsin L-type protease. The enzyme activity in JEG-3 cells was much higher than that in HepG2 cells. This is the first demonstration that RXRalpha is cleaved by a lysosomal enzyme, cathepsin L-type protease.

Cathepsin L↗

A Japanese family with autosomal dominant growth hormone deficiency.

UNLABELLED: We report a 1-year-old Japanese boy and his father with isolated growth hormone deficiency II. In both cases, a G-->A transition of the first base of the donor splice site of intron 3 of the growth hormone-1 gene was detected. All unaffected family members were homozygous normal. CONCLUSION: This is the fourth reported case of autosomal isolated growth hormone deficiency II with a G-->A transition. The CG dinucleotide at the exon 3-intron 3 junction of the growth hormone-1 gene appears to be a hot spot for point mutations.

Adult↗

Hereditary isolated growth hormone deficiency caused by GH1 gene mutations in Japanese patients.

Most patients with hereditary isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) are either heterozygous or homozygous for a growth hormone (GH) gene abnormality. GH1 gene deletions (6.7 and 7.6 kb) from eight Japanese families with IGHD type IA has been detected by Southern blot analysis or polymerase chain reaction and Smal digestion. Heterozygous point mutations at the donor splice site of intron 3 in the GH1 gene have been identified among autosomal dominant IGHD type II patients. Recently, we have identified two kinds of splicing mutations in intron 3 in four Japanese families with IGHD type II. We believe a newly diagnosed G to A mutation at the fifth base of intron 3 in a Japanese family is responsible for the IGHD type II phenotype.

Base Sequence↗

Mutations in intron 3 of GH-1 gene associated with isolated GH deficiency type II in three Japanese families.

OBJECTIVE: Isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) type II is a disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Three mutations at the donor splice site of intron 3 of the GH-I gene have been identified in five families. In this report, we describe a novel mutation also at the donor splice site of intron 3 in patients with IGHD type II. PATIENTS: Five individuals diagnosed as IGHD: two sporadic cases and one family with three affected individuals (two siblings and their father). MEASUREMENT: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral mononuclear cells. All the exons and introns of the GH-I gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subjected to sequence analysis. RESULTS: A guanine to adenine transition at the fifth base of intron 3 (mutE), which has not been reported, was identified in the familial case but not in unaffected members of the family including the paternal grandparents. In the other two families with sporadic cases, a guanine to adenine transition at the first base of intron 3 (mutA) was identified in the affected subjects but not in other members of the families. CONCLUSION: MutE has not been previously reported and is the fourth mutation associated with IGHD type II. The guanine residue mutated in mutA was the second nucleotide of a CpG dinucleotide, which is regarded as a hot spot for mutations by a methylation-deamination mechanism. Since mutA has previously been identified in three type II IGHD kindreds belonging to different ethnic backgrounds, this appears to be the most frequent GH-I gene mutation in IGHD with a dominant inheritance. Because de novo mutations appeared to have occurred in all three families analyzed in the present study and the presence or absence of these mutations can easily be tested by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion, not only the familial cases but also sporadic cases with IGHD should be examined for a possible mutation at the donor splice site of intron 3 in the GH-1 gene.

Adolescent↗

A novel mutation at the donor splice site of intron 3 of the GH-I gene in a patient with isolated growth hormone deficiency.

A G - C transversion at the fifth nucleotide of intron 3 of GH-I gene was identified in a sporadic case of isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD). The mutation was absent in both of the parents, indicating that the mutation occurred de novo. An abnormal hGH mRNA lacking a region encoded by exon 3 was spliced when the mutant GH-I gene was expressed in cultured cells. Since skipping of exon 3 is a common feature for four different mutant GH-I genes identified in patients with autosomal dominantly inherited IGHD, we conclude that the mutation causes IGHD in this case.

Cell Line↗

Responsiveness to thyroid hormone is enhanced in rat hepatocytes cultured as spheroids compared with that in monolayers: altered responsiveness to thyroid hormone possibly involves complex formed on thyroid hormone response elements.

We previously reported that the expression of type I iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase (5'DI) gene was increased by 3,3,',5-triiodothyronine (T3) in isolated rat hepatocytes when cultured as spherical aggregates (spheroids), whereas this effect was greatly attenuated in conventional monolayer cultures. In the current study, we examined whether the enhanced T3 responsiveness in spheroid cultures extends to other T3-responsive genes. As observed for 5'DI, T3 increased spot 14, malic enzyme and fibronectin messenger RNAs (mRNAs) by fourfold to fivefold in spheroid cultures, while the effect in monolayer cultures was blunted. This difference in T3 responsiveness was also observed when T3-responsive reporters consisting of the luciferase gene under the control of triiodothyronine response element (TRE) were introduced into hepatocytes using a replication-defective adenovirus vector. These results suggest that the factors required for T3-dependent transcriptional activation are preserved in spheroid cultures and that they must exert their effect by interacting with TRE. Maximal binding capacity of nuclear T3 receptor was not different between monolayer and spheroid cultures while the expression of retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXR alpha) mRNA was higher in spheroid cultures compared with that in monolayers. The difference in RXR alpha mRNA expression, together with enhanced proteolytic cleavage in monolayers that we demonstrated recently, may account for the difference in T3 responsiveness between the two hepatocyte culture systems.

Animals↗

Downregulation of voltage-gated K(+) channels in rat heart with right ventricular hypertrophy.

The effects of myocardial hypertrophy on mRNA expression levels of voltage-gated K(+) channels were investigated using monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats. The ratio of right ventricle weight to left ventricle plus septum weight on day 28 was increased significantly compared with control rats [control vs. MCT: 0.27 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.58 +/- 0.03 ms (n = 8-13); P < 0.05]. Electrocardiograms showed that QRS duration [control vs. MCT: 26.4 +/- 2.6 ms vs. 31.5 +/- 5.8 ms (n = 6); P < 0.05], Q-T interval [control vs. MCT: 100.8 +/- 8.9 ms vs. 110.0 +/- 4.2 ms (n = 6); P < 0.05] and corrected Q-T interval [Q-T(c); control vs. MCT: 8.4 +/- 0. 7 ms vs. 10.2 +/- 0.4 ms (n = 6); P < 0.05] were prolonged significantly on day 28. mRNA levels of Kv1.2, 1.5, 2.1, 4.2, and 4. 3 for day 28 assessed by ribonuclease protection assays were decreased significantly from control by 60 +/- 10, 76 +/- 3, 58 +/- 5, 81 +/- 5, and 45 +/- 12%, respectively (n = 3; P < 0.005), and Kv1.4 mRNA level for day 28 was unaffected [Kv1.4, control vs. MCT: 1.0 +/- 0.28 vs. 0.88 +/- 0.44 (arbitrary units) (n = 3); not significant (NS)]. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between control and MCT rats in mRNA levels of these Kv channels for day 14 [Kv1.2 (control vs. MCT): 1.0 +/- 0.25 vs. 0.87 +/- 0.18 (n = 3), NS; Kv1.4: 1.0 +/- 0.22 vs. 1.27 +/- 0.37 (n = 3), NS; Kv1.5: 1.0 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.91 +/- 0.28 (n = 3), NS; Kv2.1: 1.0 +/- 0.26 vs. 0.99 +/- 0.25 (n = 3), NS; Kv4.2: 1.0 +/- 0.15 vs. 1.22 +/- 0.28 (n = 3), NS; Kv4.3: 1.0 +/- 0.20 vs. 1.21 +/- 0.28 (n = 3), NS]. These findings suggest that altered ventricular repolarization at the advanced stage of hypertrophy may be the result of an inhibition of gene expression of multiple types of voltage-gated K(+) channels.

Animals↗

Inhibition of growth hormone (GH) secretion by a mutant GH-I gene product in neuroendocrine cells containing secretory granules: an implication for isolated GH deficiency inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

Isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) type II is a disease inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Although point mutations at the donor splice site of intron 3 of the GH-I gene have been identified in patients, the mechanism of how such mutations result in severe GH deficiency is unclear. Recently, we identified two mutations in Japanese patients with IGHD type II, G to A substitutions at the first (mutA) and fifth (mutE) nucleotides of intron 3. Messenger ribonucleic acids skipping exon 3 were transcribed from both mutant GH-I genes. We studied in this report the synthesis and secretion of GH encoded by the mutant GH-I genes and tested whether inhibition of wild-type GH secretion by mutant products could be demonstrated in cultured cell lines. A metabolic labeling study in COS-1 cells revealed that a mutant GH with a reduced molecular mass was synthesized from the mutant messenger ribonucleic acid and retained in the cells for at least 6 h. On the other hand, the wild-type GH was rapidly secreted into the medium. Coexpression of mutant and wild-type GH did not result in any inhibition of wild-type GH secretion in COS-1 or HepG2 cells. However, coexpression of mutant GH resulted in significant inhibition of wild-type GH secretion in somatotroph-derived MtT/S cells as well as in adrenocorticotroph-derived AtT-20 cells, without affecting cell viability. We conclude that the dominant negative effect of mutant GH on the secretion of wild-type GH is at least in part responsible for the pathogenesis of IGHD type II. Our results also suggest that neuroendocrine cell type-specific mechanisms, including intracellular storage of the secretory proteins, are involved in the inhibition.

Animals↗

Determinants of exercise-induced ST-segment displacement in the aVL lead in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

Although the aVL lead in exercise electrocardiography is reported to be helpful in identifying a significant narrowing of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), its role in exercise testing has not been fully evaluated. Accordingly, 821 patients who underwent both standard exercise testing and coronary angiography were evaluated. In patients with aVL lead ST elevation, the incidence of a significant narrowing of the LAD (124/165 vs 348/656; p<0.001) was higher than in those without. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the 2 most important variables that correlated with aVL lead ST elevation were a greater number of leads with ST depression in the inferior leads and a smaller amplitude of R wave in the aVL lead. In contrast, variables correlating with aVL lead ST depression in the majority of cases were a greater number of leads with ST depression in all leads and the presence of inferior lead ST elevation. The results of this study indicate that although aVL lead ST elevation could be a marker for LAD narrowing, more important factors such as inferior lead ST-segment depression and the R-wave amplitude of the aVL lead should be taken into consideration. In contrast, ST depression in the aVL lead mostly represents exercise-induced myocardial ischemia of greater extent and severity.

Adult↗

Functional recovery after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and preserved myocardial viability in the left anterior descending arterial territory as assessed by thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging.

To evaluate the functional recovery after coronary bypass surgery in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (ejection fraction (EF) < or = 35%), 100 consecutive patients with viable myocardium in the territory supplied by the left anterior descending artery (LAD) underwent coronary bypass grafting. In addition, cardiac catheterization and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) perfusion imaging with thallium-201 were repeated 1-year postoperatively. Although 12 patients with severe LV dysfunction were preoperatively in a worse New York Heart Association functional class (3.1+/-0.7 vs 2.4+/-0.8; p<0.01), had a higher incidence of heart failure (10/12 vs 14/88; p<0.001) and had a worse LVEF (29+/-5 vs 61+/-14%; p<0.001) compared with 88 patients without severe LV dysfunction, the operative mortality was similar in the 2 groups (1/12 vs 2/88; p=NS). The postoperative NYHA functional class in the patients with severe LV dysfunction was similar to that in the patients without such dysfunction (1.6+/-0.7 vs 1.3+/-0.6; p=NS). In addition, the 1-year postoperative study revealed a significant improvement in the thallium defect score in both the LAD territory (1.7+/-1.2 to 0.7+/-1.0, p=0.01) and all the territories (5.2+/-2.2 to 3.2+/-1.9, p=0.002) in patients with severe LV dysfunction, whereas no improvement in defect score was found in either of these territories in those without severe LV dysfunction (LAD: 0.6+/-1.4 to 0.4+/-1.2, p=NS; All: 1.9+/-2.2 to 1.8+/-2.0, p=NS). Furthermore, a marked 1-year postoperative improvement (15-24%; 95% confidence interval) in LVEF (29+/-5 to 48+/-10%, p<0.001) was demonstrated in patients with severe LV dysfunction, but not in those without such dysfunction (60+/-13 to 61+/-11%, p=NS). These results indicate that myocardial viability in the LAD territory, as demonstrated by thallium-201 SPECT perfusion imaging, predicts a significant improvement in functional class and LVEF of at least 10% or more after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with severe LV dysfunction.

Adult↗

Polymorphism of homopolymeric glutamines in coactivators for nuclear hormone receptors.

Some of the recently identified coactivators which interact with members of nuclear hormone receptors contain a stretch of homopolymeric glutamines (poly-Q). Length of poly-Q in several genes are known to be polymorphic in healthy subjects, and extraordinary expansion of poly-Q in specific genes is known to cause neurodegenerative disorders. In the present study, we investigated whether such polymorphism can be observed in two coactivators, CBP (CREB [cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein]-binding protein) and AIB1/ACTR (amplified in breast cancer-1/ACTR, also called RAC3/TRAM-1). The genomic regions encoding the poly-Q were amplified by means of PCR using fluorescence labeled primer and analyzed by an automatic sequencer. While contiguous glutamine residues inAIB1/ACTR ranged from 26 to 32 with a heterozygosity of 54%, no polymorphism could be observed in poly-Q of CBP among 54 unrelated subjects. These results suggest that the residue in CBP may play a critical role in the function so that individuals with CBP containing different sizes of poly-Q might have been eliminated. It has been reported that AIB1/ACTR is overexpressed in some of the cell lines derived from breast cancer. If the length of poly-Q alters the stability of AIB1/ACTR and/or potency to enhance hormone action through nuclear receptors, the length of poly-Q is likely to be one of the genetic factors affecting not only susceptibility to breast cancers but also the sensitivity to hormones. This polymorphism should also be tested in patients with neurodegenerative disorders of unknown cause.

Acetyltransferases↗

Glucocorticoids increase retinoid-X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) expression and enhance thyroid hormone action in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.

We have previously demonstrated that dexamethasone (DEX) enhances the T3-dependent increase in type I 5'-deiodinase (5'DI) mRNA in primary cultured rat hepatocytes grown as spheroids. Here we report that DEX-enhanced T3-responsiveness also occurs in two other T3-regulated hepatic genes, Spot 14 and malic enzyme. This enhancement was inhibited by pretreatment with cycloheximide and the stability of 5'DI and Spot 14 mRNAs was not affected by DEX. We thus hypothesized that a factor(s) that augments T3-responsiveness is induced by DEX. Among the possible candidates examined, retinoid-X receptor alpha (RXRalpha), which is a main heterodimer partner with T3 receptor, appeared to be involved. Whereas DEX increased the amount of RXRalpha mRNA, it did not affect the expression of other possible factors such as steroid receptor coactivator-1 and the binding protein of cAMP response element-binding protein. Northern and Western blot analysis, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that DEX increased RXRalpha expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Maximal increase in RXRalpha protein was achieved with the addition of physiological concentrations of DEX (10(-8) M). To test whether the DEX-induced increase in RXRalpha affects ligand-dependent transcriptional activation through other receptors that form heterodimer with RXR, we examined its effect on the retinoic acid (RA)/RA receptor (RAR) system. Indeed, DEX also enhanced the RA-dependent increase in RARbeta mRNA in a cycloheximide-sensitive manner. Increase in the level of RXRalpha in hepatocytes by infection with the RXRalpha-expressing adenovirus resulted in enhancement of the T3-dependent increase in 5'DI mRNA. These results strongly suggest that the DEX-induced augmentation of T3-responsiveness in cultured hepatocytes is mediated, in part, by the increased expression of RXRalpha.

Animals↗

Virilizing adrenocortical adenoma: in vitro steroidogenesis, immunohistochemical studies of steroidogenic enzymes, and gene expression of corticotropin receptor.

BACKGROUND: No reports have yet precisely determined corticotropin (ACTH) responsiveness in virilizing adrenocortical adenoma. METHODS: Five women with an androgen-secreting adrenal adenoma were reviewed. Three of them were examined by in vitro steroidogenesis. Two of these 3 patients were studied by immunohistochemistry of steroidogenic enzymes and for the gene expression of ACTH receptor by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: In preoperative hormonal determinations plasma and urine androgens had increased. Dexamethasone did not suppress plasma and urinary androgens, nor did ACTH increase them. In vitro steroidogenesis revealed that the adenoma cells produced mainly dehydroepiandrosterone and a small amount of testosterone. ACTH did not increase the in vitro production of androgens. In immunohistochemical staining 5 enzymes involved in adrenal steroidogenesis were all expressed, especially 17 alpha-hydroxylase, which was strongly expressed in tumor cells. ACTH receptor messenger RNA was not detected in virilizing tumor tissues, whereas it was expressed in attached adrenal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of response to ACTH is the result of a deficiency of ACTH receptor expression in the virilizing tumor cells. Androgens were autonomously produced in adrenal adenoma cells without ACTH regulation.

17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone↗

[A case of traumatic dissecting aneurysm of the C1-2 portion of the internal carotid artery].

The authors report a case of traumatic dissecting aneurysm of the C1-2 portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in a 54-year-old woman. She suffered from traumatic SAH due to closed head trauma as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Twenty-five days after this accident, traumatic dissecting aneurysm of the C1-2 portion of the ICA that was caused by closed head trauma was ruptured and increased in size, as revealed by serial angiographic studies. In intraoperative finding, dissection involved the entire circumference of the C1-2 portion of the ICA. Clipping procedures were impossible, so internal carotid ligation and STA-MCA anastomosis was performed. To our knowledge, this traumatic dissecting aneurysm of the C1-2 portion of the ICA was the first case that presented with SAH. We discussed the mechanism of dissection of the ICA and operative strategy suitable for this aneurysm.

Aortic Dissection↗