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Biomedical subjects

Hiroshi Matsui

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroshi Matsui.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Small cell bladder carcinoma with a high tumor mutational burden responding to sequential cisplatin-etoposide and pembrolizumab: a case report.

Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCCB) is a rare and aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. We present the case of a 63-year-old man who was initially diagnosed to have non-metastatic high-grade non-muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma with sarcomatoid subtype and later developed bone metastases. A bone biopsy confirmed small cell carcinoma, and retrospective review of the original tumor revealed mixed histology comprising small cell, sarcomatoid-like, and conventional urothelial carcinoma components. The patient was treated with six cycles of cisplatin and etoposide, during which genomic profiling identified a high tumor mutational burden (22 mutations/megabase). Based on this finding, pembrolizumab was administered sequentially as monotherapy. The patient achieved a complete response that lasted for more than 1 year, but subsequently developed lymph node metastases and recurrences in bone. This case highlights the role of genomic profiling test for clinical decision-making as tumor mutational burden predicts the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in SCCB. This case also underscores the urgent need for novel treatment approaches for SCCB.

Case report↗

Application of host-guest chemistry in nanotube-based device fabrication: photochemically controlled immobilization of azobenzene nanotubes on patterned alpha-CD monolayer/Au substrates via molecular recognition.

Azobenzene-functionalized nanotubes recognized and attached onto well-defined complementary regions of thiolated alpha-CD SAM/Au substrates via host-guest molecular recognition. The binding between the azobenzene nanotubes and the alpha-CD SAM/Au substrates was controlled by UV irradiation. The light-induced attachment-detachment of the azobenzene nanotubes on the alpha-CD SAMs was reversible. Some of the nanotubes were capable of interconnecting two Au substrates. This smart building block may be applied to build photoactive nanometer-sized mechanical switches in electronics.

Azo Compounds↗

Association of the genetic polymorphism in cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 with risk of familial prostate cancer in a Japanese population: a case-control study.

Association between genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1 and familial prostate cancer risk was examined by a case-control study of 185 individuals. Although the individual analysis of m1 or m2 genotype of CYP1A1 showed no significant association with prostate cancer risk, the presence of any mutated alleles significantly increased prostate cancer risk in comparison with wild-type genotypes by combination analysis (odds ratio [OR]=2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.72-3.29; P=0.0069). Furthermore, metastatic cancer had a significant association with mutated alleles of m1 and m2. These finding suggested that CYP1A1 polymorphisms has an association with prostate cancer risk, especially with progression of prostate cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Au nanocrystal growth on nanotubes controlled by conformations and charges of sequenced peptide templates.

A new biological approach to fabricate Au nanowires was examined by using sequenced peptide nanotubes as templates. The sequenced histidine-rich peptide molecules were assembled on nanotubes, and the biological recognition of the sequenced peptide selectively trapped Au ions for the nucleation of Au nanocrystals. After Au ions were reduced, highly monodisperse Au nanocrystals were grown on nanotubes. The conformations and the charge distributions of the histidine-rich peptide, determined by pH and Au ion concentration in the growth solution, control the size and the packing density of Au nanocrystals. The diameter of Au nanocrystal was limited by the spacing between the neighboring histidine-rich peptides on nanotubes. A series of TEM images of Au nanocrystals on nanotubes in the shorter Au ion incubation time periods reveal that Au nanocrystals grow inside the nanotubes first and then cover the outer surfaces of nanotubes. Therefore, multiple materials will be coated inside and outside the nanotubes respectively by controlling doping ion concentrations and their deposition sequences. It should be noted that metallic nanocrystals in diameter around 6 nm are in the size domain to observe a significant conductivity change by changing the packing density, and therefore this system may be developed into a conductivity-tunable building block.

Crystallography↗

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism in familial prostate cancer in a Japanese population.

AIM: Vitamin D acts as an antiproliferative agent against prostate cells. Epidemiological study has shown that a low level of serum vitamin D concentration is a risk factor for prostate cancer. Vitamin D acts via vitamin D receptor (VDR), and an association of genetic polymorphisms of the VDR gene has been reported. In the current study, we examined the association of VDR gene polymorphisms with familial prostate cancer in a Japanese population. METHODS: We performed a case-control study consisting of 81 familial prostate cancer cases and 105 normal control subjects. Three genetic polymorphisms (BsmI, ApaI and TaqI) in the VDR gene were examined by the restriction fragment restriction length polymorphism method. RESULTS: Overall, there was no significant association of the VDR gene polymorphisms with familial prostate cancer risk in the cases and control subjects. However, a weak association between BsmI or TaqI genotypes and cancer risk was observed in subjects under 70 years of age. Stratification of cases by clinical stage or pathological grade did not show significant association between the VDR gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk. CONCLUSION: In the present study, we could not confirm any significant association between VDR gene polymorphisms with familial prostate cancer risk in a Japanese population. Further large-scale case-control studies are warranted to confirm the importance of VDR gene polymorphisms in familial prostate cancer.

Adult↗

Secretion of active-form Streptoverticillium mobaraense transglutaminase by Corynebacterium glutamicum: processing of the pro-transglutaminase by a cosecreted subtilisin-Like protease from Streptomyces albogriseolus.

The transglutaminase secreted by Streptoverticillium mobaraense is a useful enzyme in the food industry. A fragment of transglutaminase was secreted by Corynebacterium glutamicum when it was coupled on a plasmid to the promoter and signal peptide of a cell surface protein from C. glutamicum. We analyzed the signal peptide and the pro-domain of the transglutaminase gene and found that the signal peptide consists of 31 amino acid residues and the pro-domain consists of 45 residues. When the pro-domain of the transglutaminase was used, the pro-transglutaminase was secreted efficiently by C. glutamicum but had no enzymatic activity. However, when the plasmid carrying the S. mobaraense transglutaminase also encoded SAM-P45, a subtilisin-like serine protease derived from Streptomyces albogriseolus, the peptide bond to the C side of 41-Ser of the pro-transglutaminase was hydrolyzed, and the pro-transglutaminase was converted to an active form. Our findings suggest that C. glutamicum has potential as a host for industrial-scale protein production.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Production of native-type Streptoverticillium mobaraense transglutaminase in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

We previously observed secretion of active-form transglutaminase in Corynebacterium glutamicum by coexpressing the subtilisin-like protease SAM-P45 from Streptomyces albogriseolus to process the prodomain. However, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the transglutaminase differed from that of the native Streptoverticillium mobaraense enzyme. In the present work we have used site-directed mutagenesis to generate an optimal SAM-P45 cleavage site in the C-terminal region of the prodomain. As a result, native-type transglutaminase was secreted.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of a helix-turn-helix motif of Bacillus thermoglucosidasius HrcA essential for binding to the CIRCE element and thermostability of the HrcA-CIRCE complex, indicating a role as a thermosensor.

In the heat shock response of bacillary cells, HrcA repressor proteins negatively control the expression of the major heat shock genes, the groE and dnaK operons, by binding the CIRCE (controlling inverted repeat of chaperone expression) element. Studies on two critical but yet unresolved issues related to the structure and function of HrcA were performed using mainly the HrcA from the obligate thermophile Bacillus thermoglucosidasius KP1006. These two critical issues are (i) identifying the region at which HrcA binds to the CIRCE element and (ii) determining whether HrcA can play the role of a thermosensor. We identified the position of a helix-turn-helix (HTH) motif in B. thermoglucosidasius HrcA, which is typical of DNA-binding proteins, and indicated that two residues in the HTH motif are crucial for the binding of HrcA to the CIRCE element. Furthermore, we compared the thermostabilities of the HrcA-CIRCE complexes derived from Bacillus subtilis and B. thermoglucosidasius, which grow at vastly different ranges of temperature. The thermostability profiles of their HrcA-CIRCE complexes were quite consistent with the difference in the growth temperatures of B. thermoglucosidasius and B. subtilis and, thus, suggested that HrcA can function as a thermosensor to detect temperature changes in cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characteristic effects of alpha1-beta1,2-adrenergic blocking agent, carvedilol, on [Ca2+]i in ventricular myocytes compared with those of timolol and atenolol.

Beta-adrenergic stimulation and the resultant Ca(2+) load both seem to be associated with progression of heart failure as well as hypertrophy. Because the alpha(1)-, beta(1,2)-blocker, carvedilol, has been shown to be outstandingly beneficial in the treatment of heart failure, its direct effects on intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), including antagonism to isoproterenol, in ventricular myocytes were investigated and then compared with a selective beta(1)-blocker, atenolol, and a non-selective beta(1,2)-blocker, timolol. At 1-300 nmol/L, carvedilol decreased the amplitude of [Ca(2+)] (i) by approximately 20% independently of its concentration, which was a similar effect to timolol. All the beta-blockers at 10 nmol/L decreased the amount of cAMP, but atenolol had the least effect. Carvedilol in the micromol/L order further diminished the amplitude of [Ca(2+)](i) transients, and at 10 micromol/L increased the voltage threshold for pacing myocytes. These effects were not observed with timolol or atenolol. L-type Ca2+ currents (I(Ca)) were decreased by carvedilol in the micromol/L order in a concentration dependent manner. As for the beta-antagonizing effect, the concentrations of carvedilol, timolol, and atenolol needed to prevent the effect of isoproterenol by 50% (IC(50)) were 1.32, 2.01, and 612 nmol/L, respectively. Furthermore, the antagonizing effect of carvedilol was dramatically sustained even after removal of the drug from the perfusate. Carvedilol exerts negative effects on [Ca(2+)](i), including inhibition of the intrinsic beta-activity, reduction of I(Ca) in the micromol/L order, and an increase in the threshold for pacing at > or =10 micromol/L. Data on the IC(50) for the isoproterenol effect suggest that carvedilol could effectively inhibit the [Ca(2+)](i) load induced by catecholamines under clinical conditions.

Adrenergic Antagonists↗

Au nanowire fabrication from sequenced histidine-rich peptide.

A new biological approach to fabricate Au nanowires was examined by using sequenced histidine-rich peptide nanowires as templates. The sequenced histidine-rich peptide molecules were assembled as nanowires, and the biological recognition of the sequenced peptide toward Au lead to efficient Au coating on the nanowires. Monodisperse Au nanocrystals were uniformly coated on the histidine peptide nanowires with the high-density coverage, and the crystalline phases of the Au nanocrystals were observed as (111) and (220). The uniformity of the Au coating on the nanowires without contamination of precipitated Au aggregates is advantageous for the fabrication of electronics and sensor devices when the nanowires are used as the building blocks. We believe this simple metal nanowire fabrication method can be applied to various metals and semiconductors with peptides whose sequences are known to mineralize specific ions.

Binding Sites↗

Crystal structure of microbial transglutaminase from Streptoverticillium mobaraense.

The crystal structure of a microbial transglutaminase from Streptoverticillium mobaraense has been determined at 2.4 A resolution. The protein folds into a plate-like shape, and has one deep cleft at the edge of the molecule. Its overall structure is completely different from that of the factor XIII-like transglutaminase, which possesses a cysteine protease-like catalytic triad. The catalytic residue, Cys(64), exists at the bottom of the cleft. Asp(255) resides at the position nearest to Cys(64) and is also adjacent to His(274). Interestingly, Cys(64), Asp(255), and His(274) superimpose well on the catalytic triad "Cys-His-Asp" of the factor XIII-like transglutaminase, in this order. The secondary structure frameworks around these residues are also similar to each other. These results imply that both transglutaminases are related by convergent evolution; however, the microbial transglutaminase has developed a novel catalytic mechanism specialized for the cross-linking reaction. The structure accounts well for the catalytic mechanism, in which Asp(255) is considered to be enzymatically essential, as well as for the causes of the higher reaction rate, the broader substrate specificity, and the lower deamidation activity of this enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genistein, a soy isoflavone, induces glutathione peroxidase in the human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3.

Genistein is a major component of soybean isoflavone and has multiple functions resulting in antitumor effects. Prostate cancer is 1 of the targets for the preventive role of genistein. We examined the effect of genistein on human prostate cancer (LNCaP and PC-3) cells. Proliferation of both cell lines was inhibited by genistein treatment in a dose-dependent manner. To obtain the gene expression profile of genistein in LNCaP cells, we performed cDNA microarray analysis. The expression of many genes, including apoptosis inhibitor (survivin), DNA topoisomerase II, cell division cycle 6 (CDC6) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MAPK 6), was downregulated. Expression levels were increased more than 2-fold in only 4 genes. The glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-1 gene expression level was the most upregulated. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed significant elevation of transcript levels of GPx-1 in both LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Upregulation of gene expression levels accompanied elevation of GPx enzyme activities. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in the gene expression levels and enzyme activities of the other antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase. GPx activation might be one of the important characteristics of the effects of genistein on prostate cancer cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations decrease during the day.

BACKGROUND: Homogenous assays for LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) are highly accurate, with little interference from triglyceride. Using these methods, we measured postprandial LDL-C and HDL-C. Earlier studies suggested a postprandial decrease in LDL-C. METHODS: To elucidate whether LDL-C and HDL-C decrease significantly during the day, we determined daily profiles of LDL-C and HDL-C using homogeneous assays in subjects with normal coronary arteries (N; n=10), and subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD; n=23). RESULTS: In both groups, LDL-C and HDL-C were significantly lower from after breakfast until midnight than they were before breakfast. The next morning, they returned to baseline levels. The mean reduction in LDL-C was 0.09-0.13 mmol/L in N and 0.05-0.20 mmol/L in CAD, while that in HDL-C was 0.02-0.06 mmol/L in N and 0.00-0.05 mmol/L in CAD. CONCLUSION: LDL-C and HDL-C decrease significantly over the course of the day.

Adult↗

A p53 codon 72 polymorphism associated with prostate cancer development and progression in Japanese.

An association between the Pro/Pro genotype of p53 codon 72 and a lower risk of prostate cancer in Caucasians was recently reported. However, the association of this polymorphism with prostate cancer risk in a Japanese population has not been clarified. We performed a case-control study consisting of 114 prostate cancer patients and 105 noncancer controls. Sixty-nine percent (79 of 114) of the patients had a positive family history. The genotypic frequencies in the controls were 39.0% for Arg/Arg, 54.3% for Arg/Pro and 6.7% for Pro/Pro; they were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. When a comparison of the distribution of the p53 codon 72 polymorphism was made between patients with a first-degree family history and all control subjects, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for prostate cancer associated with the Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro and Pro/Pro genotypes were 1.00, 0.99 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53-1.88] and 2.80 (95% CI 1.04-7.53), respectively. When stratification of cases was performed based on clinical stage (localized or metastatic cancer) and pathological grade (a Gleason score of <7 or > or =7), there tended to be a greater number of patients with localized cancers among those patients with the Arg/Pro genotype than among those with the Arg/Arg genotype (overall cases: age-adjusted OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13-1.00, p = 0.049; positive family history cases: age-adjusted OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.075-0.84, p = 0.025). In addition, there tended to be a greater number of patients with low-grade cancers among those with the Pro/Pro genotype than among those with other genotypes (overall cases: age-adjusted OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.13-1.30, p = 0.13; positive family history cases: age-adjusted OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.004-0.89, p = 0.035). The present findings suggest that the Pro/Pro genotype of p53 codon 72 played a role in prostate cancer susceptibility in a Japanese population. However, the Pro allele did not appear to worsen such clinical parameters as clinical stage or pathological grade.

Adult↗

Association of HPC2/ELAC2 polymorphism with prostate cancer risk in a Japanese population.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between two common variants (Ser217 and Ala541) of the HPC2/ELAC2 gene and prostate cancer risk in a Japanese population, we performed a case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases and controls consisted of 81 prostate cancer patients with a family history and 106 controls. Ser217 and Ala541 polymorphisms were analyzed by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: In controls, 94.5% and 100.0% had wild-type Ser217Ser and Ala541Ala genotypes, respectively. 5.7% of the controls had the Leu217 genotype. No Thr541 genotype was observed in the controls. 92.6% and 97.5% of the cases had the Ser217Ser and Ala541Ala genotypes. No significant differences were observed in the genotypic frequencies between controls and cases. We stratified prostate cancer cases according to the pathological grade (low- or high-grade) or the clinical stage (localized or metastatic). There was no statistical difference between the genotypic frequencies between the groups. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that the common variants in the HPC2/ELAC2 gene play a limited role in the risk of prostate cancer in the Japanese population.

Adult↗

Gene expression profiles of human BPH (II): Optimization of laser-capture microdissection and utilization of cDNA microarray.

Laser capture microdissection (LCM) enables the dissection of heterogeneous components of tissues, helping to investigate the molecular properties of these tissues. We have reported gene expression profiles in human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using LCM and quantitative real-time PCR. In the current work, we extended the previous observations. Firstly, we studied the relationship between the number of dissected acini and amplification by PCR, and found that androgen receptor (AR) and 18S rRNA transcripts were successfully amplified from total RNA obtained from one prostate acinus. Furthermore, LCM-dissected samples were applicable to methylation-specific PCR of E-cadherin promoter gene after bisulfite modification of genomic DNA. Next, we performed cDNA microarray analysis to screen gene expression profiles in the epithelium and stroma. RNA was amplified by T7-RNA polymerase and labeled with Cy3 and Cy5. Epithelium-related or stroma-related genes were identified through cDNA microarray. We confirmed true gene expression levels by quantitative real-time PCR. In epithelium, E-cadherin and serine protease 2, Kunitz-type gene expression levels were significantly elevated, while the connective tissue growth factor gene expression level was significantly elevated in stroma. Thus, LCM-dissected samples were applicable to various molecular examinations including methylation-specific PCR and cDNA microarray, and this will contribute to a precise understanding of the molecular profiles of prostate glands.

DNA↗

Association of genetic polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase genes (GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1) with familial prostate cancer risk in a Japanese population.

BACKGROUND: Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are active in the detoxification of a wide variety of toxins and carcinogens. The genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 genes have been studied to estimate the relative risk of various cancers. In the current study, we examined the association of the GST gene polymorphisms with familial prostate cancer in a Japanese population by performing a case-control study consisting of 81 familial prostate cancer cases and 105 normal controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: No significant association of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms with familial prostate cancer risk was found; however, the Val/Val genotype of the GSTP1 gene significantly increased risk (OR = 9.31, 95% CI = 0.47-184, p = 0.030). The combination analysis of genotypes of the three genes showed that presence of two high-risk genotypes, i.e., null genotype of the GSTM1 or GSTT1 gene, or any Val genotypes of the GSP1 gene, significantly increased the risk of prostate cancer (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.08-6.59, p = 0.03). Stratification of cases according to the pathological grade or the clinical stage showed no significant differences among categories. CONCLUSION: In the present study, we found that genotypes of GSTs, especially the Val-allele of the GSTP1 gene and the combination of three genotypes, were associated with familial prostate cancer risk.

Aged↗