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Biomedical subjects

J Tanaka

Publications and source records attributed to J Tanaka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Chromosome 18q deletion and Smad4 protein inactivation correlate with liver metastasis: A study matched for T- and N- classification.

Smad4 protein, whose gene is coded at chromosome 18q21.1, is an important tumour suppressor that mediates transforming growth factor-beta. It has been reported that inactivation of the Smad4 gene and allelic loss of chromosome 18q correlate with liver metastasis and poorer prognosis in colorectal cancers. Utilising a recently developed method of immunohistochemical staining for Smad4 protein, we focused on the specific impact of Smad4 protein expression on liver metastasis in colorectal cancer. We also evaluated the association between chromosome18q deletion and liver metastasis. We selected 20 colorectal cancers with liver metastasis for the experimental group, and 20 cases without liver metastasis for the control. In order to exclude the influence of lymph node metastasis, all cases were lymph node negative. In addition, the two groups were matched for tumour depth, tumour differentiation and tumour location. We compared the expression level of Smad4 protein immunohistochemically in these 20 matched pairs. We also compared the loss of heterozygosity status at chromosome 18q in these 20 matched pairs. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a significant difference (P = 0.024) in the level of Smad4 protein between the two groups. We also observed a significantly different (P=0.0054) ratio of allelic deletion at chromosome 18q21. Smad4 protein expression level and allelic loss at 18q21 are associated with the process of liver metastasis in colorectal cancers evaluated when excluding clinical and pathological features except for liver metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Microkeratome assisted deep lamellar keratoprosthesis.

AIMS: To establish a keratoprosthesis (Kpro) surgical technique that maintains an intact superficial corneal layer. METHODS: A manual microkeratome (Moria LSK-1) was used to create a 130 mum flap of approximately 10 mm diameter in the right eye of Japanese white rabbits. The stoma beneath the flap area was dissected before the removal of a 5.0 mm stromal disc. A 5.0 mm collagen I immobilised poly(vinyl alcohol) (COL-PVA) disc was placed on the exposed posterior stroma close to Descemet's membrane. The flap was repositioned and fixed using 10-0 nylon sutures, which were removed 2 days following surgery. The corneas were followed clinically by slit lamp microscopy and photographs. Rabbits were sacrificed after 6 months, and the transplanted corneas were examined histologically by haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry against vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA). RESULTS: The transplanted COL-PVA discs remained transparent throughout the study, with no complications related to the flap or overlying epithelium. The interface between COL-PVA and Descemet's membrane remained clear without signs of opacification caused by scarring or cellular deposition. Pathology revealed the intact COL-PVA polymer in the posterior stroma, with minimal cellular infiltration along the anterior and posterior interfaces. Immunohistology shows vimentin and alpha-SMA staining at levels comparable to lamellar keratoplasty control. CONCLUSIONS: Microkeratome assisted deep lamellar keratoprosthesis may be a safe technique for the transplantation of artificial hydrogels for therapeutic purposes.

Animals↗

Analysis of donor-type chimerism in lineage-specific cell populations after allogeneic myeloablative and non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation.

We analyzed donor-type chimerism in CD3+, CD14.15+ and CD56+ cells from 36 patients who had undergone conventional-intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation (CST) and 34 patients who had undergone non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation (NST) for hematological malignancies. On day 28 after transplantation, all fractions in NST patients and CD3+ cells in CST patients who received a non-total body irradiation (TBI) regimen showed more frequent mixed chimerism (<90% donor cells) than those in patients who had received TBI. NST patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (grade II-IV) frequently showed more than 50% donor-type chimerism in CD3+ cells on day 14 (P=0.029). NST patients with <50% donor-type chimerism on day 14 and with <90% donor-type chimerism on day 28 in CD56+ cells had significantly poor 1-year overall survival (0 vs 91%, P<0.001 and 20 vs 74%, P=0.002, respectively). Both NST and CST patients with <90% donor-type chimerism in CD14.15+ cells on day 28 had significantly poor 1-year overall survival (14 vs 70%, P=0.005 and 0 vs 66%, P=0.002, respectively). Our data show that the extent of donor-type chimerism in lineage-specific cells appears to have an impact on outcome after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Adolescent↗

Abnormal expansion of naïve B lymphocytes after unrelated cord blood transplantation--a case report.

A 33-year-old woman underwent unrelated cord blood transplantation (U-CBT) for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-related secondary AML. She showed impressive increases in the number of CD19+ B cells in bone marrow and CD19+27-IgD+ B cells in peripheral blood from about 1 month to 3 months after U-CBT. The serum level of IL-6 temporarily increased after transplantation, and this increase seemed to be correlated with the expansion of CD19+ B cells. Although, compared with BMT, little is known about the kinetics of hematological and immunological reconstitution in U-CBT, there was initial B-cell recovery after CBT as some described. This B cell recovery may be associated with a high number of B-cell precursors present in cord blood (CB). The phenomenon of naïve B lymphocyte expansion that we found might be associated with a high number of B-cell precursors present in CB.

Adult↗

Inhibitory effect of hexamethylene bisacetamide on replication of human cytomegalovirus.

The effect of hexamethylane bisacetamide (HMBA), a hybrid polar compound, on gene expression and replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was studied. When HCMV-infected human thyroid papillary carcinoma (TPC-1) and human embryonic lung (HEL) fibroblast cells were maintained with medium containing 2.5 and 5 mM HMBA for 10 days, there was a greater than 2- to 3-log reduction in virus yield compared to that in untreated cells. Infection of TPC-1 cells with HCMV resulted in an establishment of persistent infection and the cells continuously produced virus with titer of over 10(5) PFU/ml, whereas HMBA prevented the infected cells from entering into the persistent infection. Moreover, treatment of the persistently infected cultures with HMBA reduced production of infectious HCMV more efficiently than did ganciclovir, and eventually ceased HCMV production. Western blotting analysis revealed that HMBA blocks accumulation of the immediate early 2 (IE2) protein in TPC-1 cells and delays synthesis of this protein in HEL cells, but has little effect on the level of the IE1 protein during the early times after infection. Synthesis of the viral early and late proteins in both cells was also substantially blocked by HMBA. The results indicate that the inhibition or the delay of the critical IE2 protein synthesis in the presence of HMBA would actually be a process that fails to proceed beyond the IE stages in HCMV replication cycle.

Acetamides↗

SUMO-1 modification of the major immediate-early (IE) 1 and 2 proteins of human cytomegalovirus is regulated by different mechanisms and modulates the intracellular localization of the IE1, but not IE2, protein.

We have previously shown that two proteins with apparent molecular masses of 91- and 102-kDa (p91 and p102, respectively) in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected cells are antigenically and structurally related to the major immediate-early (IE) 1 and 2 proteins (IE1p68 and IE2p80, respectively) of HCMV, respectively. In this study, we extended the characterization of p91 and p102 and our results were as follows; (i) Lysine at amino acid position 450 in IE1p68 and at amino acid position 175 or 180 in IE2p80, to which SUMO-1 has been shown to be covalently linked, are required for production of p91 and p102, respectively. (ii) A reversal of cycloheximide (CH) block in the presence of actinomycin D imposed at the time of infection inhibited production of p91, but not p102. (iii) The steady-state levels of p91, but not p102, were remarkably decreased by treatment with proteasome inhibitor MG132, but coincubation with CH inhibited this decrease of p91. (iv) Cell fractionation by differential detergent extraction demonstrated that p91 is preferentially found in detergent-insoluble fraction, although p102 as well as IE1p68 and IE2p80 distributes into all fractions. These results demonstrate that p91 and p102 correspond to SUMO-1-modified IE1p68 and IE2p80, respectively, that the production and degradation of SUMO-1-modified IE1p68 is regulated by mechanisms different from those of SUMO-1-modified IE2p80, and that SUMO-1 modification modulates the intracellular localization of IE1p68, but not IE2p80.

Cell Line↗

Myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults: significant roles of total body irradiation and chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Disease-free survival in Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL (Ph + ALL) is very poor, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is currently considered the only procedure with curative potential. To identify factors affecting transplant outcome, we analyzed the data from 197 Ph + ALL patients aged 16 years or older who had undergone allo-HSCT. The 5-year survival rates were 34% for patients in first complete remission (CR), 21% for those in second or subsequent CR, and 9% for those with active disease (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed four pre-transplant factors as significantly associated with better survival: younger age, CR at the time of transplantation, conditioning with total body irradiation, and HLA-identical sibling donor (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P = 0.0301, P = 0.0412, respectively). Severe acute GVHD increased the risk of treatment-related mortality (TRM) without diminishing the risk of relapse, whereas chronic GVHD reduced the risk of relapse without increasing the risk of TRM. Thus, patients who developed extensive chronic GVHD had better survivals (P = 0.0217), and those who developed grade III-IV acute GVHD had worse survivals (P = 0.0023) than did the others.

Adolescent↗

Transplantation of corneal endothelium with Descemet's membrane using a hyroxyethyl methacrylate polymer as a carrier.

AIMS: To evaluate the histology and function of Descemet's membrane transplanted with intact endothelium. METHODS: Japanese white rabbits and human eyebank eyes were used as donors and recipients of Descemet's membrane transplantation. Donor endothelium was hydrodissected by injecting indocyanine green from a limbal incision, and then processed as a corneal scleral button. A 6 mm diameter donor sheet was trephined, and folded in half using a 6 mm diameter polymer as a carrier. Recipient endothelium was also hydrodissected from the limbus using trypan blue to stain the Descemet's membrane. Continuous curvilinear descemetorhexis (CCD) was performed to remove a circular section of the Descemet's membrane using a 27 gauge cystotome. Donor tissue was inserted into the anterior chamber through a 5 mm limbal incision and apposed to the host stroma. Polymers were removed following transplantation. Similar surgical procedures were performed in both rabbits and eyebank eyes. Haematoxylin eosin stains were performed after 28 days in rabbits, and eyebank eyes were fixed immediately following surgery for endothelial cell counts. RESULTS: Rabbit control eyes demonstrated stromal oedema caused by loss of Descemet's membrane, whereas transplanted eyes had clear corneas. The mean (standard deviation) pachymetry of operated eyes was 376.6 (SD 32.5) mum compared with 389.6 (SD 25.1) mum in the unoperated eye. Mean endothelial density immediately following surgery in eyebank eyes was 2749 (SD 288) cells/mm(2). CONCLUSIONS: Transplantation of Descemet's membrane by CCD produces a functional graft with an optically clear interface similar to control cornea.

Animals↗

Protective effect of vitamin E against focal brain ischemia and neuronal death through induction of target genes of hypoxia-inducible factor-1.

Vitamin E has been shown to have protective effects against cerebral ischemia, possibly due to its anti-oxidant effects. However, its non-anti-oxidant, intracellular molecular mechanism remains elusive. For in vivo experiments in rats, orally administered vitamin E significantly reduced not only the brain infarct volume but also space navigation disability after permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. The level of anti-oxidant after MCA occlusion was significantly increased specifically in the ipsilateral brain tissues of vitamin E-treated rats. For in vitro experiments, posttreatment with vitamin E protected primary cultured neurons from nitric oxide-induced insult. Vitamin E induced the expression of the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and its target genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and heme oxygenase-1. The hypoxia response element on the VEGF promoter was responsible for this vitamin E-induced transcriptional activation of VEGF gene. Taken together, these results suggest that cerebral infarction increased the permeability of vitamin E across the blood-brain barrier, and this increased vitamin E in brain tissue elicited neuroprotective effects not only through scavenging oxidants, as are previously well reported, but also by transactivating HIF-1-dependent genes, which results in protection of brains from ischemic insults.

Animals↗

Differential expression of natural killer cell receptors (CD94/NKG2A) on T cells by the stimulation of G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and cytokines: a study in stem cell donors.

We investigated the expression of the inhibitory NKR (CD94/NKG2A) of the G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (G-PBMC) on T cells after stimulation for 7 days by immobilized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) with or without cytokines. We demonstrated increased expression of CD94/NKG2A on CD3+/CD8+ T cells. Also, addition of IL-12 induced significantly more CD94/NKG2A expression than addition of IL-15: CD94+CD3+/NKG2A+CD3+; 43.8 +/- 11.6%/33.7 +/- 11.4% by IL-12 versus 32.8 +/- 13.2%/21.3 +/- 9.6% by IL-15, respectively (n = 9, P < .05). However, >90% purified CD94+ cells CD94+ obtained from IL-15-treated G-PBMC by magnetic cell sorting (MACS) exhibited higher cytolytic (CTL) activity against K562 cells than that from IL-12-treated G-PBMC: E:T = 20:1, 40.7 +/- 18.4% vs 15.1 +/- 5.2% (n = 5, P < .05). Therefore, the cytokine effects on inhibitory NKR expression on T cells and CTL activity are differently regulated. Based on these findings, it may be possible to establish the effective strategy to expand inhibitory NKR-expressing T cells with CTL activity for cell therapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Monitoring of T-cell repertoire was useful for predicting graft-versus-host disease prognosis in a patient with chronic myelogeneous leukemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

We analyzed 24 T-cell receptor (TCR)beta chain subfamilies (Vbeta) and the chimerism of a patient with chronic myelogeneous leukemia who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT). The patient developed liver dysfunction at day 19 leading to worsening of his condition. He died on day 91 of hepatic failure. Complete donor chimerism was observed after day 19. The average complexity score of TCR-Vbeta, which was low on day 19 (5.50), because much lower on day 82 (3.77). The average value of normal volunteers is 7.69. Neither immunosuppressive therapy nor antiviral therapy was effective to treat his hepatic dysfunction. A liver specimen at autopsy showed necrotic tissue with invasion of lymphocytes under the endothelial cells of the bile ducts. These findings suggest that the liver dysfunction was due to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Careful monitoring of chimerism and TCR-Vbeta complexity may help to predict the prognosis of GVHD after allogeneic BMT.

Adult↗

Nano-scaled hydroxyapatite/polymer composite I. Coating of sintered hydroxyapatite particles on poly(gamma-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane)grafted silk fibroin fibers through chemical bonding.

The inorganic-organic composite consisting of nano-scaled hydroxyapatite (HAp) and silk fibroin (SF) fibers was prepared through covalent linkage to develop a novel biomaterial for a soft-tissue-compatible material. The preparation of the composite was conducted through the three-step procedure consisting of chemical modification using 2-methacryloxyethyl isocyanate (MOI) monomer to introduce vinyl groups on SF, poly(gamma-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane) (MPTS) graft-polymerization on SF, and coupling process between the surface of polyMPTS-grafted SF and HAp nano-particles. The amount of the graft-polymerization of polyMPTS through vinyl groups was well controlled by the reaction time. The nano-crystals were subsequently coated on the grafted fibers by heating at 120 degrees C for 2 h in a vacuum. The crystalline structure of the SF substrate did not change in the procedure. In the SEM observation of the composite surface, it was found that the bonded nano-crystals were separated and partially aggregated with several crystals attached on the SF fiber surface. The HAp particles adhered more strongly on the SF surface with separation or aggregation of several crystals than on the surface of the original SF after ultrasonic treatment.

Animals↗