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Biomedical subjects

K Asai

Publications and source records attributed to K Asai.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Substrate-bound fibrinogen, fibrin and other cell attachment-promoting proteins as a scaffold for cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

We have previously reported that fibrinogen/fibrin can induce the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. In this study, we examined the effect of substrate-bound fibrinogen/fibrin and other cell attachment-promoting proteins on the adhesion of vascular smooth muscle cells. The amount of fibrinogen/fibrin adsorbed to plastic wells and the adhesion of smooth muscle cells to the wells were found to depend on the concentration of fibrinogen used for coating the wells. The effect of fibrinogen/fibrin was comparable to that of so-called cell attachment-promoting proteins (fibronectin, vitronectin, and type I collagen). Adhesion of smooth muscle cells to fibrinogen/fibrin-coated wells was inhibited by the synthetic peptide GRGDS, but not by a control peptide, GRGES. Vitronectin, fibronectin, type I collagen, denatured type I collagen and commercial gelatin also induced smooth muscle cell adhesion. The adhesion induced by vitronectin, denatured type I collagen, and commercial gelatin was inhibited by GRGDS. However, the adhesion induced by type I collagen was not influenced and that induced by fibronectin was only slightly inhibited. These observations suggest that fibrinogen/fibrin deposited extracellularly in the arterial intima may act as a scaffold in the process of smooth muscle cell migration.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A novel glial growth inhibitory factor, gliostatin, derived from neurofibroma.

Neurofibroma tissue was investigated for the presence of glial growth modulators that would suppress the proliferation of glial cells. A novel endogenous polypeptide inhibitor of proliferation and DNA synthesis in glial cells, gliostatin, was purified from the extracts of neurofibroma by a procedure comprising dye and anion-exchange column chromatography, and HPLC. A monoclonal antibody raised against partially purified gliostatin showed no cross-reactivity with known cytokines, but adsorbed the growth inhibitory activity of gliostatin and immunochemically visualized the putative gliostatin bands on western blot analyses. Although the product showed an apparent M(r) of 100,000 accompanied by an inhibitory activity on gel filtration column chromatography, it migrated at a lower apparent M(r) of 50,000 under the reducing conditions on western blotting, indicating that a homodimeric structure of native gliostatin consisted of 50-kDa subcomponents. Gliostatin was a potent growth inhibitor acting at nanomolar concentrations against all glial tumor cells and glia maturation factor-stimulated astroblasts, but not neuronal cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A novel prodrug of salicylic acid, salicylic acid-glycylglycine conjugate, utilizing the hydrolysis in rabbit intestinal microorganisms.

The hydrolysis of salicylic acid-glycylglycine conjugate (salicyl-glycylglycine) following oral, intravenous, intracaecal and rectal administration (434, 72, 36 and 36 mumol kg-1, respectively: equivalent to salicylic acid) was examined in rabbits to develop a novel prodrug of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid was detected in the blood 2 h after oral administration of salicyl-glycylglycine and it reached a maximum level (55.6 micrograms mL-1) at 15 h, whereas a small amount of salicyl-glycylglycine was found in the blood. In contrast, unchanged salicyl-glycylglycine was found mainly in the blood following its intravenous administration, suggesting the involvement of presystemic deconjugation in the hydrolysis of salicyl-glycylglycine. Immediate and very extensive salicyclic acid formation in the caecum was observed following intracaecal administration of salicyl-glycylglycine, suggesting that the intestinal microorganisms were responsible for the biotransformation of this compound. In-vitro incubation of salicyl-glycylglycine with caecal content showed that salicyl-glycylglycine was hydrolysed efficiently in the caecum. Consequently, the blood concentration of salicylic acid was prolonged extensively following rectal administration of salicyl-glycylglycine, indicating the usefulness of salicyl-glycylglycine as a prodrug of salicylic acid.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

A novel prodrug of salicylic acid, salicylic acid-glutamic acid conjugate utilizing hydrolysis in rabbit intestinal microorganisms.

The fate of salicylic acid-glutamic acid conjugate (salicyl-glutamic acid) following oral, intravenous, intracecal and rectal administration (60, 10, 5 and 5 mg/kg, respectively: salicylic acid equivalent) was examined in rabbits. Salicylic acid was detected in the blood 2 h after oral administration of salicyl-glutamic acid and it reached the maximum level (69.4 micrograms/ml) at 18 h after the dose. A high blood concentration of salicylic acid (24.8 micrograms/ml) was observed up to 36 h. But only a small amount of salicyl-glutamic acid was detected in the blood (less than 2.5 micrograms/ml, as salicylic acid). In contrast, unchanged salicyl-glutamic acid was found mainly in the blood following intravenous administration of salicyl-glutamic acid, suggesting that presystemic de-conjugation of salicyl-glutamic acid predominantly occurred. The intestinal mucosal de-conjugation of salicyl-glutamic acid was negligible in the in situ intestinal sac preparation with complete mesenteric venous blood collection. Immediate and very extensive salicylic acid formation in the cecum was found following intracecal administration of salicyl-glutamic acid. After oral pretreatment of rabbits with kanamycin sulfate (6 x 400 mg), a significant inhibition of salicylic acid formation following intracecal administration of salicyl-glutamic acid was observed, indicating that the intestinal microorganisms were responsible for the biotransformation of salicyl-glutamic acid. Also, in vitro incubation of salicyl-glutamic acid with gut contents showed that the primary location of hydrolysis was the hind gut.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical significance of measuring glycated fibrinogen in plasma in diabetes mellitus].

The clinical significance of measuring glycated fibrinogen (G Fbg) in plasma was studied using a simple, rapid method for determining plasma G Fbg developed by the authors. This method is based on modified fibrin clot formation for purification of plasma Fbg, and G Fbg was estimated by improved colorimetric fructosamine assay. The values of plasma G Fbg were expressed as glycated polylysine equivalents (mumol/l). In this clinical study, 106 examinees who underwent a screening test for diabetes mellitus (DM) because of glycosuria or hyperglycemia were investigated. According to the WHO diagnostic criteria, they were divided into 3 groups: non DM group (n = 35), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) group (n = 31) and DM (non-treated) group (n = 40). In addition, healthy controls (n = 40) and treated diabetic patients (DM treated) were involved. Plasma G Fbg/Fbg, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were also analyzed in subjects of the 5 groups. Non-treated DM patients showed high levels of plasma G Fbg, which were significantly higher than those of any other groups. G Fbg levels in IGT group were significantly higher than those in healthy controls or the non-DM group. Together with a significant positive correlation between G Fbg and FPG, these results indicate that the levels of plasma G Fbg depend on plasma glucose levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effects of dexamethasone on experimental atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits.

We studied the effects of a synthetic adrenocortical steroid, dexamethasone, on the development of experimental atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Daily intramuscular injection of dexamethasone (0.125 mg/day) remarkably inhibited the aortic atherosclerosis induced by feeding a 1% cholesterol-rich diet for 8 weeks, although it aggravated diet-induced hyperlipidemia. Histologically, less foam cell accumulation was observed in the atherosclerotic lesions of the dexamethasone-treated rabbits as compared with the control animals. When rabbits were fed a normal chow diet for 10 weeks after receiving the 1% cholesterol-rich diet for 8 weeks, no regression of atherosclerotic lesions was observed with the daily injection of dexamethasone (0.125 mg/day); however, the drug again tended to inhibit further progression of atherosclerosis. The anti-atherogenic mechanism of dexamethasone may involve an inhibition of recruitment of blood monocytes and the insudation of atherogenic lipoproteins, mainly beta-very low density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL) in the present experiments, into the aortic intima, or it may involve a change in the size and structure of the lipoproteins, resulting in their decreased passage through the aortic endothelium into the intima.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Antitumor effect of thermosensitive CDDP-liposomes on human osteosarcoma cells in culture.

We have administered cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) containing thermosensitive liposome and simultaneous hyperthermia into human osteosarcoma cells (OST) and studied the antitumor effects. Experiments were conducted under the following three different culture conditions as follows, (1) drug treatment alone, (2) hyperthermia after drug treatment, and (3) simultaneous hyperthermia and drug treatment. Antitumor effects were estimated by inhibition of DNA synthesis and decrease in cell growth rates. The antitumor action of simultaneous hyperthermia and drug treatments was the most dominant and synergistic among three experimental conditions. Accumulation of cellular platinum from thermosensitive CDDP-liposomes was markedly enhanced by hyperthermia. Flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle indicated that CDDP-liposomes only under the simultaneous application of hyperthermia released free CDDP, and evoked cell accumulation in S and G 2/M phase. The results suggested that thermosensitive CDDP-liposomes were not taken up into cells by endocytosis, and released free CDDP into culture media under hyperthermia at 42 degrees C. From these, we have concluded that administration of thermosensitive CDDP-liposomes and simultaneous local hyperthermia could be a promising method for the treatment of osteosarcoma especially in the extremities.

Cisplatin↗
PubMed1992

HDL does not promote cholesterol efflux from macrophages of hypercholesterolemic rabbit: efflux differences between species.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference between species (mouse and rabbit) and the effect of hypercholesterolemia on the ability of their peritoneal macrophages to release unesterified cholesterol to an exogenous acceptor. The macrophages from mouse, normocholesterolemic rabbits and hypercholesterolemic rabbits (Mm, Mnr, Mhr) were loaded with cholesterol esters by incubation with oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein or plasma lipoprotein (beta-migrating very low density lipoproteins). When human HDL was used as cholesterol acceptor for 24 h of incubation, the Mm Cells, the Mnr cells and Mhr cells retained about 40%, 70%, and more than 90% of their cholesterol esters. The difference between species of lipoproteins were not effective for the ability to release cholesterol esters. ACAT (acylcoenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase) inhibitor 58-035 increased these capacities. These data suggest that the limited capacity of macrophages from hypercholesterolemic rabbits to release cholesterol may be related to the progression and resistance to regression of atherosclerosis, and that ACAT activity might influence this capacity.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

von Recklinghausen neurofibroma produces neuronal and glial growth-modulating factors.

Two kinds of novel neural trophic factors were currently detected in von Recklinghausen neurofibroma (NF1) extracts. One of the two was a growth factor, neuroblastoma growth factor (Mr less than 5 kDa), which promotes the proliferation of human neuroblastoma cell and survival and neurite-extension of rat cortical neurons, but differently from nerve growth factor (NGF) or NGF-like factors. The other one was a glial growth inhibitor (Mr = 100 kDa), which suppresses the growth of glioma cell lines, astrocytoma, glioblastoma, oligodendroglioma and Schwannoma. These factors do not appear to be previously identified cytokines or growth factors such as interleukins, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, NGF and fibroblast growth factor. There was also detectable ciliary neurotrophic factor-like activity in the extracts. The primary cause of high contents of these factors in NF1 is not known, but may relate to fundamental mechanisms controlling growth and differentiation of neurons and glias during development of nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein by copper and iron in phosphate buffer.

We examined the effect of phosphate buffer on the iron- and copper-catalyzed peroxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The incubation of LDL with CuSO4 in 0.15 M NaCl led to the peroxidation of LDL as evidenced by the detection of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and lipid hydroperoxides (LPO). The peroxidation of LDL was also observed with FeSO4 and FeCl3 in 0.15 M NaCl, although there was a lag phase with FeCl3. In 10 mM phosphate buffer, the peroxidation of LDL was observed with CuSO4 to an extent similar to that in 0.15 M NaCl. However, the peroxidation induced by incubation with FeSO4 and FeCl3 was significantly inhibited in phosphate buffer. Iron and copper each formed a complex with lipoprotein during incubation with LDL in 0.15 M NaCl. Although no effect on the formation of copper-LDL complex was observed in phosphate buffer, the formation of iron-LDL complex was reduced in the buffer. These observations suggest there are marked differences in the peroxidation of LDL and in the formation of complexes with LDL between iron and copper in phosphate buffer.

Buffers↗
PubMed1991

Lipid peroxide and transition metals are required for the toxicity of oxidized low density lipoprotein to cultured endothelial cells.

The toxicity of oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) to cultured vascular endothelial cells was investigated. The modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) by copper led to the production of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substance (TBARS) and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO). TBARS was distributed not only in lipoprotein, but also in the aqueous phase, whereas LPO was observed only in the lipoprotein particle. During the incubation of LDL with copper, the copper bound to lipoprotein and formed a complex. The toxicity of products resulting from the oxidation of LDL to endothelial cells was recognized in Ox-LDL particles, not in the aqueous phase. Following dialysis of Ox-LDL against EDTA, copper which had bound to the Ox-LDL particle was released and the toxicity of Ox-LDL disappeared. The addition of copper to the dialyzed Ox-LDL restored the cytotoxicity. To a lesser extent this effect was also observed with the addition of iron. A study of the time-course of LDL oxidation showed that the toxicity of Ox-LDL depends upon the level of LPO, not upon the content of TBARS, the extent of negative charge or the protein adduct of aldehydes. These results demonstrate that transition metal is required for Ox-LDL toxicity and that the toxic moiety of the products resulting from LDL oxidation is LPO associated with the Ox-LDL particle.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A comparative study of atherosclerosis and osteopenia in elderly and young hemodialysis patients.

The effects of aging on atherosclerosis and osteopenia in hemodialysis patients were investigated. Eighty patients on maintenance hemodialysis were subdivided according to age into old (greater than or equal to 65 years old, N = 40) and young (less than 65 years old, N = 40). Biochemical, radiologic, and biophysical studies were performed in each patient to assess the degree of atherosclerosis and osteopenia. Compared to age-matched controls, patients in the old group exhibited a significantly higher aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), and old female patients had a significantly lower bone mineral content/bone width (BMC/W). Elderly patients also had a significantly higher aortic PWV and higher grade of aortic calcification as assessed radiologically; in contrast, the BMC/W was lower. Concerning sex differences, elderly male patients had the highest average grade of aortic calcification, the lowest serum Pi, [Ca] x [Pi], and immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentrations, while elderly female patients had the lowest BMC/W and highest incidence of osteopenia. These observations suggest that elderly male hemodialysis patients are more prone to develop atherosclerosis and elderly female hemodialysis patients to develop advanced osteopenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Vitronectin-induced haptotaxis of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro.

Vitronectin, a multifunctional glycoprotein present in the plasma and interstitial tissues, has recently been found to be localized in atherosclerotic lesions. In this study we examined the effects of vitronectin on the migration of cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells using a modified Boyden chamber assay. The cells migrated to fluid-phase vitronectin in a concentration-dependent fashion. The cells also migrated to membrane filter surfaces precoated with vitronectin for a few minutes in the absence of additional vitronectin in the fluid phase, suggesting that this substance binds easily to the filters and stimulates cell migration by haptotaxis under the conditions described. These observations suggest that vitronectin deposited in the intima may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by recruiting smooth muscle cells from the media into the intima.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Low level hyperlipidemia impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation of porcine coronary arteries by two mechanisms. Functional change in endothelium and impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation by two mediators.

We evaluated the effect of a low level of hyperlipidemia and the effects of in vitro exposure to atherogenic lipoproteins (LDL, VLDL) on the vascular responsiveness of isolated porcine coronary arteries. Firstly we studied the change in vascular responsiveness induced by feeding a cholesterol-rich diet to pigs for 4 and 9 weeks (C4 and C9 pigs). The serum cholesterol level in pigs fed a cholesterol-rich diet reached 218.5 +/- 32.9 mg/dl compared with 85.5 +/- 8.4 mg/dl in the controls. Segments of the left descending coronary artery were examined. The contraction induced by KCl or prostaglandin F2 alpha was not altered significantly by hypercholesterolemia nor was the relaxation induced by the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, or by nitroglycerin. Endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) evoked by high, but not low, concentrations of bradykinin was reduced in the C4 pigs as compared with those in normal animals. EDRs evoked by bradykinin, substance P, and serotonin were significantly reduced in C9 pigs. Histologically, as observed by light and electron microscopy, fatty changes or intimal thickenings were not seen in the coronary arteries of the C4 pigs. Minimal changes (intimal thickening and fragmentation of internal elastic lamina) were observed only in parts of arteries of the C9 pigs. Secondly, the direct effects of LDL and VLDL on vascular responsiveness were studied. Although preincubation with LDL inhibited the EDR caused by exposure to bradykinin and A23187 in the coronary arteries of normal and cholesterol-fed pigs, preincubation with LDL inhibited the arterial relaxation induced by exposure to substance P or serotonin in both the C4 and the C9 pigs, but not in the control animals. The degree of inhibition was especially marked in the C9 pigs. The inhibitory effect of VLDL on EDR was weaker than that of LDL. Indomethacin (5 microM) did not alter this inhibitory effect of lipoproteins. Neither LDL nor VLDL had any effect on the vascular relaxation induced by nitroglycerin. These results are consistent with the idea that endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation is attenuated even at the very early stage of cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis. Atherogenic lipoproteins may further impair the decreased EDR in the arteries of hyperlipidemic pigs by two factors: one released on stimulation with bradykinin and the calcium ionophore A23187, the other released on stimulation with substance P and serotonin.

Animals↗