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Biomedical subjects

K Ando

Publications and source records attributed to K Ando.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

AS-186 compounds, new inhibitors of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase from Penicillium asperosporum KY1635.

AS-186a, b, c, d, and g were isolated from the cultured broth of Penicillium asperosporum KY1635 as inhibitors of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT). IC50 values for the effect of AS-186a, b, c, d, and g against ACAT activity of the microsomes from cholesterol-fed rabbit liver were calculated to be 22.9, 8.2, 11.5, 12.4, and 13.9 microM, respectively. Although AS-186a, and b were identical to penicillide and purpactin A, respectively, AS-186c, d, and g were found to be new compounds.

Animals↗

Signal transduction of steel factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor: differential regulation of transcription factor and G1 cyclin gene expression, and of proliferation in the human factor-dependent cell line MO7.

Steel factor (SF) synergizes with a variety of hemopoietins to support the growth and differentiation of human progenitor cells. The human factor-dependent cell line MO7 has been used as a model to study the interaction of SF with other growth factors such as GM-CSF, because both factors support the proliferation of this cell line and are synergistic in combination. Previous studies have shown that this effect is not readily explained by the synergistic activation of early, cytosolic signal transduction intermediates such as tyrosine kinases, Raf-1, MAP2 kinase, or phospholipase C gamma. In an attempt to further explore the biological and biochemical mechanisms of the synergy between SF and GM-CSF, we examined the effects of these growth factors on the regulation of nuclear proto-oncogenes, cell cycle control genes, and G1-->S transition of MO7 cells. Individually, GM-CSF was a much more potent growth factor for MO7 cells than SF, particularly under serum-free conditions. Only GM-CSF, but not SF, was able to stimulate G1-->S transition of MO7 cells after factor deprivation for 24 h. Northern blot analyses showed also differential effects of GM-CSF and SF on the expression of some nuclear proto-oncogenes and G1 cyclins. GM-CSF (10 ng/ml), but not SF (20 ng/ml) increased the expression of c-myc and cyclin D2 mRNA, whereas both factors caused transient increases of c-fos and cyclin D3 mRNAs. When added simultaneously, GM-CSF and SF induced an at least additive increase of c-fos mRNA expression; this effect required the presence of fetal calf serum. No additive effects of GM-CSF and SF on c-myc, cyclin D2 or D3 mRNA expression were observed. C-jun and c-myb mRNAs were constitutively expressed in the MO7 cell line, but not further increased after stimulation with GM-CSF or SF for 15 min to 48 h. The inability of SF to induce growth promoting genes such as c-myc and cyclin D2 may explain why this cytokine does not support sustained proliferation of MO7 cells. These observations suggest that SF and GM-CSF exert different effects on the expression of genes involved in regulatory pathways of cell proliferation, but the molecular mechanism of synergy remains to be elucidated.

Cell Division↗

Changes in molecular pattern of atrial natriuretic peptide in hemodialysis patients.

An attempt was made to clarify whether the molecular forms of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the plasma of stable hemodialysis patients differ from those of healthy volunteers, and whether the ANP molecular forms in plasma might change during hemodialysis treatment. Ten stable hemodialysis patients with no clinical signs of cardiac disease were treated for 4 hours by a hollow fiber-type dialyzer. Plasma ANP concentrations before dialysis were 210 +/- 101.6 pg/ml (mean +/- SD), which were significantly higher than that of volunteers (59.2 +/- 37.2 pg/ml, n = 25). They were significantly decreased to 71.6 +/- 60.1 pg/ml after dialysis. Molecular patterns of ANP were measured by gel permeation chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Immunoreactive alpha-ANP peaks of GPC, which co-migrated with authentic alpha-, beta-, and gamma-ANP, were supposed to be alpha-, beta-, and gamma-ANP. The plasma of four patients contained a beta-ANP peak before dialysis, and three of the four still contained a beta-ANP peak after dialysis. These results showed that the middle-molecular-weight ANP, which co-migrated with authentic beta-ANP and is supposed to be beta-ANP, may particularly be secreted in clinically stable hemodialysis patients.

Adult↗

Three cases of malignant hypertension: the roles of endothelin-1 and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

We experienced three cases of malignant hypertension. Plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) was extremely high in all patients on admission (12.1 +/- 1.0 pg/ml, normal 1.5 +/- 0.5 pg/ml), and changed in parallel with the serum creatinine level. In one patient, during the recovery period, serum creatinine increased 1 mg/dl over a one-week period just after the increase of plasma ET-1 (14.2 pg/ml), while plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were stable. In contrast, the decline of renal dysfunction was larger in patients with high PRA and PAC. These data suggest that increased plasma ET-1 and an enhanced renin-aldosterone-angiotensin system act together in a vicious cycle to deteriorate renal function in patients with malignant hypertension.

Adult↗

[Rotational behavior induced by methamphetamine and cocaine in rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nigrostriatal dopamine system].

The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of intravenously administered methamphetamine and cocaine to facilitate dopaminergic transmission, based on the ability of these drugs to induce rotational behavior in rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra. The doses of methamphetamine and cocaine ranged from 0.25 mg/kg to 4 mg/kg which was equivalent to 50% of the minimum dose which caused convulsion. Methamphetamine induced more marked ipsilateral rotational behavior than did cocaine. The present results suggest that methamphetamine produces longer duration of the facilitation of dopaminergic transmission both in the nucleus accumbens and in the striatum than does cocaine.

Animals↗

Mechanisms of class I restricted immunopathology. A transgenic mouse model of fulminant hepatitis.

The molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-induced immunopathology are not well defined. Using a model in which hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-specific CTL cause an acute necroinflammatory liver disease in HBsAg transgenic mice, we demonstrate that class I-restricted disease pathogenesis is an orderly, multistep process that involves direct as well as indirect consequences of CTL activation. It begins (step 1) almost immediately as a direct antigen-specific CTL-target cell interaction that triggers the HBsAg-positive hepatocyte to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis). It progresses (step 2) within hours to a focal inflammatory response in which antigen-nonspecific lymphocytes and neutrophils amplify the local cytopathic effect of the CTL. The most destructive pathogenetic function of the CTL, however, is to secrete interferon gamma when they encounter antigen in vivo, thereby activating the intrahepatic macrophage and inducing a delayed-type hypersensitivity response (step 3) that destroys the liver and kills the mouse. We propose that the principles illustrated in this study are generally applicable to other models of class I-restricted, CTL-induced immunopathology, and we suggest that they contribute to the immunopathogenesis of viral hepatitis during hepatitis B virus infection in humans.

Animals↗

Regulation of G1/S transition by cyclins D2 and D3 in hematopoietic cells.

Identification of the genes that control passage through the G1 phase of the cell cycle in mammalian cells is of particular interest because virtually all external events that regulate proliferation act primarily or exclusively during G1. Cyclins are likely to play a key role in controlling cell cycle progression, although their role during G1 in higher eukaryotic cells is unclear. In the hematopoietic cell line 32Dcl3, both cyclins D2 and D3 were expressed in proliferating cells, while cyclin D1 was undetectable. Expression of D2, and to a lesser extent D3, was interleukin 3 (IL-3) dependent and declined rapidly in the absence of this growth factor. To investigate the potential role of D cyclins in regulating cell growth, cell lines overexpressing either D2 or D3 were generated by transfection. Constitutive overexpression of either D2 or D3 did not affect cell viability, rate of cell proliferation, or dependence on IL-3 for growth. However, the distribution of cells through the cell cycle was dramatically altered, with both cyclins causing an increase in the fraction of cells in S phase, apparently related to a shortening of G1. Also, when deprived of IL-3, D3-overexpressing cells failed to arrest in G1, and apoptotic cell death in the absence of IL-3 was delayed. These results suggest a role for cyclins D2 and D3 in controlling passage of hematopoietic cells through G1 in the presence of growth factors and in effecting G1 arrest in the absence of growth factors.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning of the gene for bilirubin oxidase from Myrothecium verrucaria and its expression in yeast.

Myrothecium verrucaria bilirubin oxidase (EC 1.3.3.5) is an enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of bilirubin to biliverdin and other substrates. We have purified bilirubin oxidase from the medium of M. verrucaria and determined its partial amino acid sequence and isolated cDNA fragment amplified by polymerase chain reaction using oligonucleotide primers designed on the basis of the partial amino acid sequence. The gene for bilirubin oxidase has been cloned from a genomic library using the cDNA fragment as a probe. The gene encodes a precursor of bilirubin oxidase consisting of 572 amino acid residues, which comprises the prepro-region of 38 amino acid residues and the mature enzyme of 534 amino acid residues containing one cysteine. Five introns were found within the coding region. Sequence comparison of bilirubin oxidase with other blue copper proteins (laccase, ascorbate oxidase, human ceruloplasmin, plastocyanin, and azurin) revealed the presence of four domains corresponding to potential copper ligands. We have expressed this bilirubin oxidase gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the repressible acid phosphatase promotor and found an active recombinant bilirubin oxidase, establishing the functional identity of the gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Increased susceptibility of stored erythrocytes to anti-band 3 IgG autoantibody binding.

When human blood was stored in a citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) solution at 4 degrees C, the susceptibility of the erythrocytes to binding of autologous IgG increased. The autologous IgG binding was partially inhibited by purified Band 3 glycoprotein and its oligosaccharides. The susceptibility of the erythrocytes to binding of 125I-labeled anti-band 3 IgG autoantibody similarly increased. The results indicate that the anti-band 3 binding sites composed of Band 3 oligosaccharides were generated on the cell surface. The rate of the increase in the susceptibility of the stored cells to the antibody binding was lowered when blood was stored in a CPD solution containing L-ascorbic acid or erythorbic acid, suggesting involvement of an oxidative mechanism in the generation of the binding sites. The cytoplasmic glutathione level of erythrocytes gradually decreased during the blood storage. Storing blood in a CPD solution containing glutathione monoethylester or glutathione monoisopropylester resulted in partial prevention of the decrease in cytoplasmic glutathione level and of the increase in the IgG-binding ability of the cells. Similar preventive effect of glutathione monoethylester was observed in the binding of 125I-labeled anti-band 3 autoantibody to the stored erythrocytes. Thus, the increase in the susceptibility of the stored erythrocytes to anti-band 3 binding may be caused, at least partially, by an oxidative stress resulting in a decreased cytoplasmic glutathione level.

Adult↗

Independent regulation of human D-type cyclin gene expression during G1 phase in primary human T lymphocytes.

Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases are critically involved in controlling cell cycle progression in virtually all cells. The recent identification of candidate G1 cyclins in mammalian cells has been a major advance in this field, but the exact functions of these cyclins are unknown. The expression of three D-type cyclins (D1, D2, and D3) was investigated in primary human T lymphocytes as these cells were induced to leave G0, traverse G1, and enter S phase by T cell-specific mitogens. G0 phase T cells expressed low levels of cyclin D2, but not cyclin D3. Treatment of these cells with phytohemagglutinin and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in the presence of fetal calf serum resulted in rapid induction of cyclin D2 RNA in early G1 and slower induction of cyclin D3 in late G1. Cyclin D1 was not detected in T cells under any condition tested. Treatment of T cells with hydroxyurea to arrest cells at G1/S did not block induction of either D2 or D3. However, arrest of cells in mid G1 with deferoxamine blocked D3 expression without affecting D2. Cyclosporin A blocked the induction of both cyclin D2 and D3. Polyclonal antisera were prepared in rabbits against both cyclin D2 and cyclin D3 glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins and used to examine cyclin D2 and D3 proteins in [35S]methionine-labeled T cells. Protein levels were found to correlate closely with RNA levels for both cyclins. No detectable histone H1 kinase activity could be precipitated with either cyclin. However, several cellular proteins were observed to coprecipitate with the cyclins, including several proteins that were observed to associate only with D3. These results indicate that striking differences exist in the induction and regulation of two candidate G1 cyclins in human T cells and suggest that these cyclins could participate in multiple cell cycle checkpoints during G0, G1, or S phase.

Cell Division↗

[Clinical utility of Gd-DTPA subtraction MR imaging for spinal bone metastasis].

Based on reports that Gd-DTPA contributes to the detection of tumors, we used it in 31 cases (97 lesions) of spinal bone metastases. The result was that Gd-DTPA increased the intensity of tumors and the surrounding bone marrow to almost the same level in 53%. To show the metastases clearly, an existing subtraction command system was utilized. The technique included the pixel-by-pixel method, to obtain a Gd-DTPA T1-weighted image (T1WI) subtracted by the original T1WI. The detectability of the subtraction image was improved up to 96%, but was less than the original T1WI (99%). Because of the different imaging rationale between two methods, a means to assess the quality of diagnosis must be proposed. To check the normal background, the same kind of postprocessing was performed in 21 patients without malignancy. Gd-DTPA perfusion was highest in the paravertebral veins, moderate in muscles and epidural fat, and lowest in the spinal cord, intervertebral disk and bone cortex. Gd-DTPA enhanced subtraction MR imaging provides a new diagnostic tool to detect and to assess bone metastasis.

Adult↗

Differential induction of prostaglandin E2-dependent and -independent immune suppressor cells by tumor-derived GM-CSF and M-CSF.

Both prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-dependent (indomethacin-sensitive) and PGE2-independent (indomethacin-insensitive) suppressor cell activities that inhibited mitogenic T cell blastogenesis appeared in the bone marrow and spleen of mice on days 20 to 30 following transplantation of NFSA fibrosarcoma molecularly expressing mRNA for both macrophage (M) and granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colony-stimulating factors (CSFs). The present study was done to characterize the two different suppressor cells isolated from NFSA tumor-bearing mice and to verify a role of CSFs in the induction of suppressor cells in vitro. Whereas PGE2-releasing suppressor cells were found in bone marrow and spleen cells isolated from tumor-bearing mice, indomethacin-insensitive suppressor cells in both tissues were localized predominantly in adherent cell fractions. An increase in Mac-1+ and Mac-2+ spleen cell populations with two to three times larger cell volumes was observed, and both showed strong PGE2-releasing capacity and indomethacin-sensitive suppressor cell activity. However, after elimination of Mac-1+ or Mac-2+ cells, bone marrow cells still showed higher PGE2-releasing capacity and indomethacin-sensitive suppressor activity. The in vitro cultures of normal bone marrow and spleen cells with NFSA cell conditioned medium (NFSA-CM) induced heterogeneous mixtures of indomethacin-sensitive and - insensitive suppressor cells like those observed in cultures with the combination of M-CSF and GM-CSF. However, cultures with either GM-CSF or M-CSF resulted in the induction of indomethacin-sensitive suppressor cells by GM-CSF and of indomethacin-insensitive suppressor cells by M-CSF. In addition, NFSA-CM pretreated with anti-GM-CSF antibody induced indomethacin-insensitive suppressor cells in in vitro cultures of bone marrow and spleen cells. These results suggest that two distinctly different suppressor cells developed under hemopoiesis of myelomonocytic lineage cells are regulated differentially by the two macrophage growth factors, M-CSF and GM-CSF.

Animals↗

Role of pancreatic blood flow and vasoactive substances in the development of canine acute pancreatitis.

To study the role of pancreatic blood flow and vasoactive substances in the development of acute pancreatitis, we measured portal vein blood levels of bradykinin, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), histamine, serotonin, and pancreatic enzymes, and with an electromagnetic blood flowmeter we recorded gastroduodenal arterial flow (GDAF), superior mesenteric arterial flow (SMAF), and mean arterial blood pressure for 6 hr in dogs with acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis induced by the retrograde injection of autologous bile (0.5 ml/kg) into the pancreatic duct. GDAF and SMAF decreased immediately in the early phase of acute pancreatitis (-17.8 +/- 6.1%** at 10 min and -15.8 +/- 7.1%* at 20 min; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01); portal bradykinin concentration increased quickly (3.2 +/- 1.2 pM at 0 time, 16.2 +/- 5.2 pM* at 5 min, 30.4 +/- 4.8** pM** at 10 min, and 39.6 +/- 15.1 pM* at 20 min). Portal PGE2 concentration increased gradually after the induction of acute pancreatitis, and differences from the control group were significant at 20, 30, and 180 min (1426 +/- 175 pM at 0 time, 1956 +/- 273 pM* at 20 min, 2148 +/- 265 pM** at 30 min, and 3369 +/- 686 pM* at 180 min). Portal histamine and serotonin concentrations increased somewhat, but not significantly. These findings suggest that the injection of bile into the pancreatic duct causes the pancreas to quickly release a large amount of bradykinin into the portal vein, which immediately reduces the pancreatic blood flow in the early phase, thus accelerating the progress of acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

Antimetastatic activity of lipopolysaccharide against a NK-resistant murine fibrosarcoma.

An intravenous injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into mice exerted prominent antimetastatic activities against a NK-resistant weakly immunogenic NFSa fibrosarcoma. The number of visible metastases in the lung was increased by a pretreatment of anti-asialoGM1 (asGM1) antibody or silica, but pretreatment of asGM1 antibody or silica scarcely affected the antimetastatic activities of LPS. The pulmonary retention of radiolabeled tumor cells showed that LPS accelerated the detachment of the tumor cells from the lung, and that this acceleration was not suppressed by anti-asGM1 antibody. Sialic acids of lung endothelial cell surface, essential components of various receptors, was diminished by the i.v. injection of LPS. These results suggested that the antimetastatic effect of LPS against NK-resistant NFSa cells was partly the result of modulations of lung endothelial cell surface.

Animals↗