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Biomedical subjects

H Uchiyama

Publications and source records attributed to H Uchiyama.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

CD40 ligand triggered interleukin-6 secretion in multiple myeloma.

Previous studies have suggested that interleukin-6 (IL-6) may mediate growth of multiple myeloma (MM) in either an autocrine or paracrine growth mechanism. However, those molecules which can trigger IL-6 secretion either by tumor cells or non-MM marrow cells are not well characterized. In the present study, we have examined the expression and functional significance of CD40 on MM and plasma cell leukemia (PCL) cells and derived cell lines, as well as long-term bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and derived cell lines. CD40 was expressed on the majority of MM cells (> 90%) and BMSCs (> 70%). Triggering via CD40 using NIH3T3 CD40 ligand transfectant (CD40LT) cells increased (> 30%) cell surface CD80, CD18, CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c expression on MM cell lines. Culture with either fresh or paraformaldehyde fixed NIH3T3 CD40LT cells upregulates IL-6 secretion in MM cells and MM-derived cell lines, as well as normal and MM bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs), BMSCs, and BMSC lines; this effect can be specifically blocked by anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody (MoAb). BMMCs and BMSCs from patients with MM secreted significantly more IL-6 than those from healthy donors (n = 3, P < .001); moreover, after stimulation using CD40L, IL-6 secretion was fourfold greater (n = 3, P < .001) from MM BMMCs and BMSCs than from normal BMMCs and BMSCs. Myeloma (CD38+CD45RA-) cells and non-MM (CD38+CD45RA+, CD38-CD45RA+, and CD38-CD45RA-) BMMCs were separated by dual fluorescence cell sorting. The latter secreted fourfold more IL-6 than the former (n = 2, P < .001). Increased IL-6 secretion (up to 28-fold) and proliferation (Stimulation index 10) by CD38+CD45RA-MM cells was triggered by culture with NIH3T3 CD40LT cells. Finally, anti-CD40MoAb partially (30%) blocked tumor cell to BMSC adhesion-induced IL-6 secretion. These studies support the view that CD40L may trigger IL-6 secretion by both MM cells and BMSCs and that IL-6-mediated autocrine and paracrine growth mechanisms may be possible in MM.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1995

Activin induces the expression of the Xenopus homologue of sonic hedgehog during mesoderm formation in Xenopus explants.

The Xenopus homologue of sonic hedgehog (Xhh) was detected in Xenopus embryos at stages 13 and 31 by RT-PCR, but it was not expressed in explants isolated from the animal hemisphere of Xenopus embryos at stage 8-9. Treatment of the animal cap with activin (1-100 ng/ml) induced the expression of Xhh. However, it was not induced by 100 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Whole mount in situ hybridization confirmed the expression of Xhh in the animal cap treated with activin. The expression of Xhh induced by activin was not inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide, suggesting that Xhh is an early response gene induced by activin.

Activins↗
PubMed1995

Sotalol facilitates spontaneous ventricular defibrillation by enhancing intercellular coupling. An entirely new mechanism for its antiarrhythmic action.

We have previously shown that sotalol, a class III antiarrhythmic agent, helps spontaneous ventricular defibrillation in various mammalian species. Since we hypothesized that self ventricular defibrillation depends on a high degree of intercellular synchronization, and since the major electrophysiological action of sotalol causing prolongation of action potential duration (APD), cannot fully explain its defibrillating property, we carried out a series of studies to examine the effect of sotalol on intercellular myocardial coupling. Guinea pig right ventricular muscle preparations were superfused in a tissue bath and the spread of intracellularly injected fluorescent dye (Lucifer yellow CH) to the neighboring cells was studied under various conditions. When either the Ca2+ concentration of Tyrode's solution was elevated to 6 mM or the solution was made hypoxic by not bubbling O2 (n = 3 each), no spread of the injected dye was observed. The addition of 1 microM sotalol to the high Ca2+ solution or 0.5 microM to the hypoxic superfusate (n = 3 each) caused a wide spreading of the dye, thus strongly suggesting a marked improvement in the intercellular coupling. These results show an entirely new property of sotalol, i.e., enhancement of cellular synchronization, which may better explain its ability to cause spontaneous ventricular defibrillation than its class III action. Our previous demonstration of successful spontaneous ventricular defibrillation by several other agents that are known to enhance intercellular coupling but have contrasting actions on APD further substantiates our hypothesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Activation of pp90rsk and early growth response-1 gene expression by pokeweed mitogen in human B cells.

The present studies have examined the effects of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) on the induction of early growth response-1 gene (EGR-1) in normal human B cells. PWM regulates EGR-1 gene expression by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Transient transfection assays with EGR-1 promoter fragments linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene demonstrated that PWM induced EGR-1 transcription is conferred by the CArG motif (C C[AT]6GG) in the EGR-1 promoter. The results further demonstrated the activation of S6 kinase (pp90rsk), evidenced by phosphorylation of S6 and serum response factor (SRF) peptides, in PWM treated B cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that PWM is able to initiate an intracytoplasmic signalling cascade and EGR-1 induction in normal human B cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

A morphological study of the retinal ganglion cells of the Afghan pika (Ochotona rufescens).

The distribution and morphology of the retinal ganglion cells was studied in a relative of the rabbit, the Afghan pika. The total number of retinal ganglion cells was approximately 170,000. The total number of optic nerve fibers was between 160,000 and 190,000, corresponding to the total number of retinal ganglion cells. Retinal ganglion cells were found to have a horizontal region of high-density. The maximum density was 5250 cells/mm2. This region was located in the central retina below the optic disc. This area contained numerous closely packed small ganglion cells, while the peripheral retina (especially in the dorsal periphery) contained large ganglion cells more loosely dispersed. The retinal ganglion cells labeled by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were morphologically classified into three types based on dendritic length and ramification pattern.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of amino acid substitutions in the hydrophobic core of alpha-lactalbumin on the stability of the molten globule state.

Five mutant alpha-lactalbumins, with one or two amino acid substitution(s) in the B helix, were engineered to examine the relation between the stability of the molten globule state and the hydrophobicity of these amino acids. The mutation sites (Thr29, Ala30 and Thr33) have been chosen on the basis of comparison of the amino acid sequences of goat, bovine and gunea pig alpha-lactalbumin, in which the guinea pig protein shows a remarkably more stable molten globule than the other proteins. The recombinant proteins were expressed Escherichia coli and then purified and refolded efficiently to produce the active proteins. The stability of the molten globule state of these engineered proteins has been investigated by urea-induced unfolding transition under an acidic condition (pH 2.0), where the molten globule state is stable in the absence of urea. The results show that the molten globule state is stabilized by the amino acid substitutions which raise the hydrophobicity of the residues, suggesting that the hydrophobic core in a globular protein plays an important role in the stability of the molten globule state. The change in stabilization free energy of the molten globule state caused by each amino acid substitution has been evaluated, and molecular mechanisms of stabilization of the molten globule state are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Alternation of QRS morphology and effect of radiofrequency ablation in idiopathic ventricular tachycardia.

UNLABELLED: We performed electrophysiological studies in 13 patients with idiopathic VT and attempted radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation in 4 of them. RESULTS: VT was induced by programmed stimulation in all patients and the mean cycle length was 363 +/- 58 msec. In 8 of 13 patients (62%), alternation of either the cycle length and/or morphology of VT was observed. Transient entrainment was achieved in all patients by rapid pacing from the right ventricular outflow tract so reentry was considered the underlying mechanism of VT. The site of earliest activation (EAS) during VT was located at the apicoposterior portion of the left ventricular septum and used as the target site for RF catheter ablation. Spikelike presystolic activity was detected 20-40 msec prior to the large deflection of the local electrogram in four patients. VT was terminated by a few seconds of RF current in all four patients, but subsequently new VTs with a slightly different morphology were induced in three of them and re-mapping showed a shift of the EAS. After additional RF ablation at the new EAS, VT was no longer induced. No complication was noted and VT did not recur during a follow-up period for a mean of 9.3 +/- 5.2 months. CONCLUSION: RF catheter ablation seems useful and safe for idiopathic VT. The alternation of QRS morphology and the findings at the time of catheter ablation suggest that an alternative pathway or multiple exists may be present in some patients with idiopathic VT, because the change in VT morphology was associated with a shift of the EAS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of mesoderm-inducing activity with monomeric and dimeric inhibin alpha and beta-A subunits on Xenopus ectoderm.

Activin possesses mesoderm-inducing activity, erythroid-differentiating activity, and follicle-stimulating hormone-releasing activity. The chemical structures of the activin molecule are formed by a combination of two beta-subunit peptides of inhibin. Inhibin is a dimer consisting of an alpha and beta subunit. To examine the mesoderm-inducing activity of these substances, we tested several configurations including: (1) two types of alpha-subunit peptide; (2) two types of inhibin A and B dimer; (3) beta A-subunit peptide monomer; (4) three types of activins A, AB and B, and (5) follistatin (activin-binding protein) by the animal cap assay using Xenopus laevis ectoderm, and by the erythroid-differentiating factor (EDF) test. Activins, which are composed of dimeric inhibin beta A- or beta B-subunit peptides, had the highest mesoderm-inducing and EDF activities. The monomeric beta A-subunit peptide exhibited mesoderm-inducing and EDF activities that were much lower than activin A. The inhibitory effect of follistatin on mesodermal induction by the beta A-subunit peptide was also lower than that of activin. Both inhibins A and B had very weak mesoderm-inducing activity and no EDF activity. The two types of inhibin alpha-subunit monomer had little mesoderm-inducing activity and no EDF activity. The mesoderm induction caused by activin A was not suppressed by the addition of the alpha-subunit monomer and inhibin. The mesoderm-inducing activity in relation to the chemical structures of the monomeric and/or dimeric inhibin alpha and beta A subunits is discussed.

Activins↗
PubMed1995

[Inhibitory effects of sepimostat mesilate (FUT-187) on the activities of trypsin-like serine proteases in vitro].

Inhibitory activities of FUT-187 on trypsin-like serine proteases were compared using camostat mesilate (camostat), and 4-(4-guanidino benzoyloxy)-phenyl acetic acid methanesulfonate (GBPA) known as an active metabolite of camostat in the blood. Ki values of FUT-187 on the competitive inhibition mechanism were 0.097 microM for trypsin, 0.029 microM for pancreatic kallikrein, 0.61 microM for plasma kallikrein, 0.57 microM for plasmin, 2.5 microM for thrombin, 20.4 microM for factor Xa and 6.4 microM for C1r. However, FUT-187 acted as a noncompetitive inhibitor for factor XIIa and an uncompetitive inhibitor for C1s, and Ki values for these proteases were 0.021 and 0.18 microM, respectively. Ki values of camostat for these proteases were in the range of 0.037 to 96.4 microM, and those of GBPA for the above proteases except trypsin and plasma kallikrein were higher than those of FUT-187. The inhibitory activity of FUT-187 on trypsin was not reduced by the addition of the serum at 10%, whereas, that of GBPA was reduced (4.3 fold) in terms of IC50 values. The concentration of FUT-187 required to double APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) was 1.09 microM, while GBPA, by concentrations up to 1 mM failed to double APTT. The kinin formation by glandular kallikrein in the rat plasma was inhibited by FUT-187 with IC50 value of 0.024 microM, while camostat revealed no inhibition by concentrations up to 1 microM. The complement-mediated hemolyses in the classical and alternative pathways were also inhibited by FUT-187 with IC50 values of 0.17 and 3.5 microM, respectively, the corresponding values for camostat being 350 and 150 microM, respectively. It is concluded that FUT-187 is a potent and selective inhibitor of trypsin-like serine proteases, and its inhibitory activities are stronger than those of camostat on glandular kallikrein, factor XIIa and C1s in complement pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the tulobuterol patch, HN-078, in childhood asthma.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a novel percutaneous adhesive tulobuterol preparation, HN-078, has been developed and tests using healthy adult subjects have indicated it to be effective for controlling exacerbations early in the morning if applied at bedtime. In children, percutaneous application is very important to eliminate side effects, including abdominal pain and appetite loss. OBJECTIVE: We report the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of tulobuterol patch, HN-078, in the treatment of childhood asthma. METHODS: Single applications of HN-078 were applied transdermally in six children with asthma who had been admitted to a hospital. Subjects weighing less than 30 kg received 1 mg of tulobuterol while subjects weighing 30 kg or above received 2 mg on the chest for 24 hours. Serum tulobuterol levels and peak expiratory flow rate were determined before and after each application. RESULTS: Cmax of tulobuterol was determined to be 1.33 +/- 0.21 ng/mL, Tmax was 14.0 +/- 2.0 hours, and AUCO-t was 27.1 +/- 4.2 ng.hr/mL. These pharmacokinetic parameters per body surface area of children were nearly equivalent to those of adults obtained in other studies. Peak expiratory flow rate values obtained after application of HN-078 significantly increased in comparison to those obtained before application. No significant changes were observed in pulse rate or blood pressure, and no side effects were found with regard to the subjective symptoms and skin conditions. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the patch formulation of tulobuterol, HN-078, will be very useful for the treatment of pediatric asthma. It is especially significant that no side effects were observed.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1995

[Investigation into the therapeutic efficacy of continuous isoproterenol inhalation in relation to respiratory infections in asthmatic children].

In our Department, continuous isoproterenol inhalation therapy has been conducted on status asthmatics over the last 10 years. In the present study, we investigated whether there are any differences in the therapeutic efficacy of continuous inhalation of isoproterenol in the presence or absence of respiratory infections which may induce or aggravate asthma attacks. The treatment period was significantly longer in patients with pneumonia. Further prolongation of the treatment period was noted in patients with atelectasis. However, there were no apparent differences in therapeutic efficacy according to age or the severity of attacks. These findings suggest that continuous inhalation of isoproterenol is very effective for status asthmatics if respiratory infections are thoroughly controlled.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1995

Regulation of interleukin 6 in multiple myeloma and bone marrow stromal cells.

We and others have shown that some freshly isolated multiple myeloma (MM) cells and derived cell lines express interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptors and proliferate in vitro in response to IL-6; a subset of MM cells also expresses IL-6 mRNA, is intracytoplasmic IL-6 positive and secretes IL-6. We have shown that MM cells express the cell surface adhesion molecules CD29/CDw49d(VLA-4), CD18/CD11a(LFA-1) and CD44, and may localize to marrow via specific adherence to both extracellular matrix proteins and to bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). MM cell adhesion triggers IL-6 secretion by normal and MM BMSCs and related IL-6-mediated tumor cell growth. Our attempts to block MM cell adhesion to BMSC-induced IL-6 secretion by using antibodies to CD29/CDw49d, CD18/11a, and/or CD44 demonstrated minimal effects, suggesting that another ligand-receptor interaction triggers IL-6 secretion when MM cells and BMSCs are juxtaposed. Both MM cells and BMSCs express CD40. Triggering of MM cells and BMSCs via CD40 upregulates IL-6 secretion in both MM cells and MM-derived cell lines, as well as BMSCs and BMSC lines, suggesting the possibility of both autocrine and paracrine MM cell growth triggered via CD40. Finally, experiments using the LP 101 BMSC line transiently transfected with IL-6 promoter fragments linked to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene demonstrate that adhesion of MM cells induces IL-6 gene transcription in BMSCs, which is conferred via the NF-kappa B binding motif.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1995

[Recent epidemiologic and clinical aspects of adolescent tuberculosis in workers].

The epidemiologic and clinical aspects of tuberculosis have been investigated on the young tuberculosis patients (less the 29 years old), utilizing the individual records of the periodic health examination in the JR railway workers. The results were as follows: 1) Following the gradual decline, the incidence rate of tuberculosis in working ages has remained at almost a constant level during last ten years. 2) The incidence rate of tuberculosis among young adults has been lower than that in elder adults (aged 30 years or older). 3) All young tuberculosis patients were detected by the periodic health examination. 4) The lower value of body mass index (BMI) was considered as a high risk factor associated with development of tuberculosis among young adults, as revealed by a case-control study. A case of an outbreak of tuberculosis in a office involving 10 young cases was presented. It is urgently needed to conduct the contact examination eagerly among young workers in order to prevent tuberculosis epidemic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Serum levels of endogenous and exogenous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor after autologous blood stem cell transplantation.

Although the administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) enhances myeloid engraftment and reduces infectious morbidity after autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantations, the effect of rhG-CSF on neutrophil recovery in autologous blood stem cell transplantation (ABSCT) is controversial. We previously demonstrated that a low dose, delivered subcutaneously, of rhG-CSF (50 micrograms/m2) accelerates neutrophil recovery in ABSCT, but the optimal dosage of rhG-CSF is not known. To elucidate the effect of rhG-CSF on neutrophil recovery, we determined serum levels of endogenous and exogenously administered G-CSF in 24 patients receiving ABSCT. Of these, five received bolus subcutaneous injection of 50 micrograms/m2 rhG-CSF, 10 received 150 micrograms/m2, and nine received no rhG-CSF. Endogenous G-CSF levels rose immediately after ABSCT, and an inverse correlation was found between the serum level of G-CSF and the absolute neutrophil count (r = -0.73, p < 0.01). The pre-dose level in patients receiving rhG-CSF rose gradually, reaching a maximum between days 3 and 6. The level gradually decreased as the neutrophil count began to rise, even through administration of the same dose of rhG-CSF continued. Pharmacokinetic data showed that the half-life of elimination of G-CSF (t1/2) exceeded 15 hours during severe neutropenia but decreased during the recovery of neutrophils. These observations suggest that neutrophils provide a negative feedback mechanism for clearing G-CSF from the circulation. Pre-dose levels of G-CSF in patients receiving 50 micrograms/m2 rhG-CSF reached 10 ng/mL, equivalent to the concentrations used in clonogenic assay in vitro to stimulate myeloid progenitor cells.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Detection of undegraded oligonucleotides in living sea urchin eggs by fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

A method was investigated for monitoring the integrity of oligonucleotides in solution and in cells using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between two different fluorochromes attached to a single oligonucleotide. A 10-meric oligodeoxynucleotide labeled with fluorescein at its 5'-end and with rhodamine X at its 3'-end (F-ODN-R) was used. The oligomer had a specific absorption spectrum with peaks at 497 nm and 586 nm, which corresponded to fluorescein and rhodamine X, respectively. When excited at 494 nm, F-ODN-R had a specific fluorescence spectrum with peaks at 523 nm and 610 nm. The digestion of F-ODN-R with an endonuclease caused the increase in light intensity at 523 nm and the decrease at 610 nm. To examine effects in vivo, living sea urchin eggs were injected with a solution of F-ODN-R and excited with blue light at 470-490 nm. Two fluorescent images, a green image at 520-560 nm and a red image at above 580 nm, were obtained when a single egg was viewed under a fluorescence microscope. Eggs injected with the digested F-ODN-R emitted only green fluorescence. These results indicated that the integrity of oligonucleotides can be estimated in living cells by monitoring FRET after double-labeling of the oligonucleotides with fluorescein and rhodamine X.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Identification of upstream signals regulating interleukin-6 gene expression during in vitro treatment of human B cells with pokeweed mitogen.

The present studies have characterized the regulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression during pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-driven human B-cell differentiation. PWM induced an early and transient increase in the expression of immediate-early response genes of the jun/fos leucine zipper family (c-jun, jun B, c-fos, and fos-B). The induction of c-jun mRNA by PWM was concentration dependent. Nuclear run-on assays showed that PWM treatment is associated with an increased rate of c-jun gene transcription. The induction of c-jun mRNA precedes the induction of IL-6 gene expression and IL-6 secretion by the B cells. c-Jun antisense, but not sense, oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) significantly decreases PWM-related B-cell (1) proliferation; (2) IL-6 mRNA induction; (3) IL-6 secretion; and (4) nuclear extract binding to AP-1 in electrophoretic mobility shift assay. In contrast, c-Fos anti-sense ODN did not effect either IL-6 mRNA induction or IL-6 secretion triggered in B cells by PWM. The results further show activation of c-Raf-1 kinase in PWM-treated B cells. Raf-1 acts upstream to mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase; therefore, studies were performed to assay for MAP kinase activation in these cells. The results show an increase in phosphorylation of myelin basic protein (MBP) and c-Jun "Y" peptide in PWM-treated B cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that PWM is able to initiate an intracytoplasmic signaling cascade in normal human splenic B cells, which, at least in part, involves serine/threonine protein kinases. These results show transient induction of immediate-early response genes in B cells and support a potential role for the c-jun gene product in regulation of IL-6 transcription and secretion.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1994

Localization of activin and follistatin proteins in the Xenopus oocyte.

We found a binding protein for activin and follistatin in serum from female Xenopus laevis and identified it as vitellogenin, which is synthesized in the liver and transported into yolk platelets. Then, we investigated the localization of activin and follistatin proteins in early Xenopus oocytes (stage 6) by electron microscopic immunolabeling with gold colloidal particles. The protein molecules were found to be localized uniformly in oocyte yolk platelets, but not in other cytoplasmic organelles. These findings suggest a novel role of yolk platelets as a reservoir for inductive signals transported by vitellogenin in the differentiation and patterning of cells in Xenopus embryos.

Activins↗