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Biomedical subjects

K Asakawa

Publications and source records attributed to K Asakawa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Human growth hormone-releasing hormone (hGH-RH; hGRF) treatment of four patients with GH deficiency.

Four patients with GH deficiency aged 6-14 years old were treated with hGRF for 6 months. Before the treatment maximal plasma GH responses to 50 micrograms iv hGRF administration were 48.6, 12.1, 24.3 and 13.0 ng/ml, respectively. Human GRF was administered at a dosage of 50-100 micrograms twice a day subcutaneously. In two patients, the growth rate was increased from 2.4 and 2.0 cm/year to 8.2 and 9.8 cm/year, respectively. In the other two patients, the growth rate did not change with hGRF treatment. Plasma somatomedin C levels increased in one patient but did not change in the other three. Antibody to hGRF was observed in two patients during the treatment, but the presence of antibody did not affect the growth rate.

Adolescent↗

Effects of glycosylation inhibitors on human growth hormone receptor in cultured human lymphocytes.

IM-9 cultured human lymphocytes were treated with N-linked glycosylation inhibitors, N-linked oligosaccharide processing inhibitors, or neuraminidase to study the effect of glycosylation modification on human growth hormone binding and molecular weight of surface hGH receptor. One mg/l tunicamycin and 20 mmol/l glucosamine decreased 125I-hGH binding to the cells to 46.3 +/- 2.4% (mean +/- SEM) and 21.9 +/- 0.2% of the controls, respectively. The hGH binding was 33.0 +/- 18.4% of the control value in the cells treated with monensin. The inhibition of binding was due to a decrease in the hGH receptor number without any affinity changes in these cells. Neither 1 mg/l swainsonine nor 100 mg/l castanospermine had any effect on the hGH binding. On the other hand, 125I-hGH binding to neuraminidase-treated cells was significantly enhanced with accompanying affinity changes. When 125I-hGH was cross-linked to IM-9 cells, there were no differences in the molecular weight of hGH receptor complexes (140 K) between untreated cells and cells treated with tunicamycin, glucosamine, monensin, or castanospermine. However, the 128 K hGH-receptor complex appeared in swainsonine-treated cells; this complex was sensitive to endoglycosidase H. These data show that the altered carbohydrate moiety changed hGH binding and the size of surface hGH receptor and suggest that glycosylation of receptor is important for the binding of hGH and for its physiological action.

Alkaloids↗

Urinary IGF-I measurement and its clinical application.

Immunoreactive and receptor-reactive IGF-I was found to be present in human urine; 30% of the IGF-I immunoreactivity in urine was in its free form and the remainder was a high molecular weight form (approximately 40,000 MW). Urinary IGF-I was quantified by radioimmunoassay after extraction by Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, a method that measures only the free form of IGF-I. Daily (24-hour) urinary IGF-I excretion was measured in 3 hypopituitary children and 16 short normal children. The IGF-I level in the 24-hour urine samples correlated with the plasma IGF-I level and the mean 24-hour plasma GH concentration. The mean 24-hour plasma GH concentration, however, correlated better with the GH level in the 24-hour urine samples and the plasma IGF-I level than with the urinary IGF-I value. The mean IGF-I levels in single urine samples from normal subjects lay between those from patients with acromegaly (which were high) and those from patients with hypopituitarism (which were low). There were overlaps, however, in individual values between the normal and hypopituitary patients. These data indicate that urinary IGF-I values are altered by the GH secretion state, though the clinical application of urinary IGF-I measurement may be limited.

Acromegaly↗

[A study of CDDP in the treatment of patients with gastric and esophageal cancers, with special reference to the evaluation of renal functions before and after CDDP administration].

Although CDDP has been widely used for cancer chemotherapy in recent years, the problem is that it causes a renal dysfunction as a side effect. As briefly reported here, we have currently used this drug for the treatment of stomach esophageal cancers as a part of multidepartmental therapy, and obtained a finding on the therapeutic usefulness, particularly for monitoring the renal function before and after administration. The subjects were 6 patients with stomach and 11 with esophageal cancer given CDDP at the dose of 50 mg 2 courses, in principle, a single course per week. Blood transfusion was carried out in an amount of 1,000 ml before administration, 2,500 ml on the day of treatment and 1,000 ml for 3 days after administration. When the effects of CDDP on urinary BUN, Na, K, Cl, Mg, NAG, beta 2 microglobulin, Ccr and FENa levels were measured for the determination of renal functions before and after administration, NAG and beta 2 microglobulin levels were conceivably found to be useful indices.

Adult↗

Demonstration of insulin-like growth factor I in human urine.

Immunoreactive and receptor-reactive insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) was demonstrated in human urine. Thirty percent of the IGF-I immunoreactivity in urine was free, and the remainder was a high mol wt form (approximately 43K). Urinary IGF-I was quantitated by RIA after extraction with octadecylsilyl silica cartridges (Sep-Pak C18 cartridge), a method that measures only free IGF-I. The mean urinary immunoreactive IGF-I levels in normal adults (n = 8) and patients with acromegaly (n = 10) or hypopituitarism (n = 9) were 72 +/- 7 (+/- SEM), 225 +/- 34, and 19 +/- 4 pg/mg creatinine, respectively; these mean values were significantly different from one another. The results indicate that IGF-I is present in human urine and that the quantity in urine is altered in patients with GH excess and deficiency.

Acromegaly↗

Characterization of insulin-like growth factor I receptors on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line.

Specific insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors on the Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line were identified and characterized. [125I]IGF-I specifically bound to the cells, but [125I]insulin bindings to the cells was minimal. Unlabeled IGF-I displaced both the IGF-I and insulin bindings with potencies that were 100 and 10 times as great as insulin. By an affinity labeling technique, IGF type I receptors were present in the MDCK cells. IGF-I stimulated DNA synthesis and cell proliferation at physiological concentrations. On the other hand, insulin had a little effect on DNA synthesis. These data suggest that IGF type I receptors as demonstrated in MDCK cells are involved in DNA synthesis and cell proliferation.

Animals↗

Decrease in IGF-I binding sites on human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60) with differentiation.

Specific insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors on human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60) were identified and characterized. [125I]IGF-I specifically bound to the cells, and [125I]IGF-I binding to the cells was displaced by unlabeled IGF-I in a dose dependent manner. [125I]IGF-I binding to the cells were displaced by multiplication stimulating activity (MSA) and porcine insulin, with potencies that were 10 and 100 times less than that of IGF-I, respectively. By an affinity labeling technique, IGF type I receptors were found to be present on the HL-60 cells. After the cells were differentiated to the macrophage-like cells by 12-o-tetra-decanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), [125I]IGF-I binding to the cells decreased significantly. By Scatchard analysis, it was found to be due to a decrease in the number of IGF-I receptors. Thus, the differentiation of HL-60 cells to the macrophage-like cells was accompanied by a decrease in IGF-I receptors.

Affinity Labels↗

Characterization of insulin-like growth factor I receptors on human erythroleukemia cell line (K-562 cells).

Specific insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors on a human erythroleukemia cell line (K-562 cells) were identified and characterized. [125I]-IGF-I specifically bound to K-562 cells and the binding was displaced by unlabeled IGF-I in a dose dependent manner, and half maximal inhibition of the binding was observed at 7 ng/ml IGF-I. [125I]IGF-I binding to the cells was displaced by multiplication stimulating activity (MSA) and by porcine insulin, with potencies that were 10, and 100 times less than that of IGF-I, respectively. By an affinity labeling technique, IGF type I receptors were found to be present in the K-562 cells. When the cells were differentiated by hemin (40 microM), specific binding of [125I]IGF-I to the cells was decreased to 56.8 +/- 5.0% of that for undifferentiated cells. Furthermore, at physiological concentration of IGF-I stimulated thymidine incorporation into DNA and increased the number of cells. These data demonstrate that K-562 cells have specific receptors for IGF-I which may be functionally important for these cells, and that the IGF-I binding sites decrease with cell differentiation. This system might be useful in studying the interaction of IGF-I receptors.

Cell Differentiation↗

The human growth hormone receptor of cultured human lymphocytes. Structural characteristics and glycosylation properties.

The structural characteristics and glycoprotein nature of the human growth hormone (hGH) receptor in cultured lymphocytes (IM-9 cell line) were studied with the use of a bifunctional reagent (disuccinimidyl suberate) to couple 125I-hGH covalently to intact cells. After cross-linking, the hormone-receptor complexes were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. A single band of Mr 140,000 was identified under reducing conditions. The labelling of this band was blocked by unlabelled hGH but not by insulin, ovine prolactin, bovine or ovine growth hormones. The Mr 140,000 band was immunoprecipitated by either anti-hGH antibody or by a monoclonal antibody against rat liver growth hormone receptor. In the absence of reductant two major bands of Mr 270,000 and 140,000 were found. On two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, with the first dimension in the absence of reductant and the second in its presence, the Mr 270,000 complex generated the Mr 140,000 band. The nature of the oligosaccharide chains of the receptor was studied by treatment with different glycosidases. The electrophoretic mobility of the Mr 140,000 receptor complex was markedly increased after digestion with endoglycosidase F but showed no or little change after digestion with endoglycosidase H. The Mr 140,000 band was also sensitive to neuraminidase treatment. In addition the 125I-hGH-receptor complex was adsorbed by immobilized wheat germ agglutinin and to a smaller extent by immobilized concanavalin A, lentil lectin, ricin I and ricin II. In conclusion, taking into account that hGH is a Mr 22,000 polypeptide, the binding subunit of the GH receptor in human IM-9 lymphocytes has an Mr of approx. 120,000. The native receptor may exist as a homodimer of the binding subunit formed by disulphide bonds. Furthermore, the GH receptor subunit contains asparagine N-linked type of oligosaccharide chains. Most, if not all, of these chains are of the complex type and appear to be sialylated whereas no high-mannose type chains are detectable in the mature form of the receptor.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Insulin-like growth factor I stimulates growth in normal growing rats.

The scarcity of purified somatomedin/insulin-like growth factor (SM/IGF) has prevented investigation of the mechanisms of SM/IGF action. Recently insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has been synthesized by recombinant DNA technology. The availability of large quantities of the biosynthetic IGF-I made it possible to study its effects by administering 120 micrograms/day via s.c. implanted minipump to rats for 7 days. After this 7 day administration of IGF-I, the body weight increased to 197.6 +/- 3.5% of initial values; the value was significantly greater than that of the control (179.4 +/- 3.7% of initial values, P less than 0.01). The body length and tibial epiphyseal width in IGF-I-treated rats were also significantly increased over those of control rats. The weights of kidneys, liver, testes and pituitary in IGF-I-treated rats were greater than those in control rats as well. These results provide a first demonstration that IGF-I stimulates growth in normal rats in vivo, and suggest that IGF-I might be useful in the treatment of growth retardation.

Animals↗

Effect of a single administration of somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995) on GH, TSH and insulin secretion in patients with acromegaly.

The effect of a long-acting somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 on GH secretion was investigated. Eleven acromegalic patients received a single dose of 50 micrograms SMS 201-995 administered subcutaneously, and plasma GH, IGF-I, GRF, TSH, IRI and blood glucose were determined at regular intervals. Nine of 11 patients had elevated basal plasma GH levels above 5 ng/ml. In all patients, plasma GH levels fell immediately from 39.5 +/- 17.3 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM) to 4.3 +/- 1.6 ng/ml (P less than 0.05) with a maximal inhibition of 82.9 +/- 3.3% of the basal levels and the suppression persisted for about 6 h of the observation period. IGF-I and GRF levels were not apparently altered. TSH and IRI levels also rapidly fell. Blood glucose levels fell slightly by 0.5 h. Ten of 11 patients had pain at injection sites. Except for this, no side effects were observed. Our results show that the new somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 may inhibit GH hypersecretion in acromegalic patients for significant periods, suggesting that this agent can be a useful clinical tool for the treatment of acromegaly.

Acromegaly↗

Polypeptide hormone receptor phosphorylation: is there a role in receptor-mediated endocytosis of human growth hormone?

To determine whether receptor phosphorylation is a critical step in the internalization of polypeptide hormones and their receptors, we have studied a model system wherein insulin stimulates phosphorylation of its receptor and is also internalized. Using insulin as a positive control, we found that it stimulated a partially purified plasma membrane preparation of IM-9 lymphocytes to autophosphorylate its receptor and to catalyze the phosphorylation of a tyrosine-containing substrate. The human GH (hGH) receptor of the IM-9 lymphocytes, when coupled to [125I]iodo-hGH, migrated as a 140,000-dalton protein on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This protein, in contrast to the insulin receptor, was not phosphorylated by the addition of hGH, nor did hGH stimulate this preparation to phosphorylate the tyrosine-containing substrate poly-(GluNa,Tyr)4:1, casein, or histone f2b under a variety of conditions. We conclude that receptor phosphorylation is not a critical intermediate in the receptor-mediated endocytosis of hGH and probably other polypeptide hormones and growth factors.

Animals↗

Plasma clearance of intravenously administered pituitary human growth hormone: gel filtration studies of heterogeneous components.

Both pituitary and plasma human GH (hGH) comprise heterogeneous components, exhibiting similar patterns when gel filtered on Sephadex G-100. To determine at what rate the components are cleared from the circulation, blood was obtained at specific intervals following a bolus injection of pituitary hGH in hypopituitary patients. Each sample was gel filtered to determine its component profile of RIA values, which, when plotted vs. the time interval it represented, yielded a means of monitoring its disappearance from the plasma. Total hGH was cleared with a t 1/2 of 21.5 min, the little component was cleared at 19.0 min, the big component was cleared at 26.5 min, and the pre-big component was cleared at 45 min. These data indicate that the larger the hGH component, the longer it takes to be cleared from the plasma.

Adolescent↗

Plasma growth hormone (GH) response to GH-releasing factor in normal children with short stature and patients with pituitary dwarfism.

Synthetic human pancreatic GRF (hpGRF-44) was administered as an iv bolus to 28 normal children with short stature and 27 patients with GH deficiency. After a dose of 1 or 2 micrograms hpGRF-44/kg BW, mean plasma GH levels peaked at 15 and 30 min, respectively, with corresponding values of 30.1 +/- 4.7 and 33.2 +/- 3.7 ( +/- SE) ng/ml in normal but short children. The overall plasma GH response was greater than that of other GH stimulation tests such as insulin-induced hypoglycemia, glucagon-propranolol or L-dopa administration. Plasma LH, FSH, TSH, PRL, and cortisol levels were not altered by hpGRF-44 injection. Sixteen of 27 patients with GH deficiency did not respond to a 2 micrograms/kg BW hpGRF-44. However, plasma GH increases to greater than 5 ng/ml occurred in the remaining 11 patients. Their GH levels reached peaks between 15 and 90 min, with values ranging between 5.8 and 17.8 ng/ml. Two of these responding patients were infused iv with hpGRF-44 at 2.5 micrograms/min for 90 min after receiving an iv bolus injection of 2 micrograms/kg BW. Their plasma GH levels increased and remained near peak values throughout the infusion period. However, no increase in plasma GH levels occurred after a second bolus injection of hpGRF-44 given at the end of the infusion. These results suggest that hpGRF-44 is useful for the diagnosis of GH deficiency in individuals with short stature and that some patients with GH deficiency, diagnosed on the basis of established tests, have GH responses to hpGRF-44.

Adolescent↗

Stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis by somatomedin and insulin in rat chondrocytes via somatomedin receptors.

Using cultured normal rat chondrocytes we have investigated 1) the effects of somatomedin and insulin on glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis and 2) somatomedin and insulin binding sites. We confirmed that somatomedin and insulin stimulate GAG synthesis in normal rat chondrocytes. The maximal responses of somatomedin and insulin in GAG synthesis were the same, but the stimulation of GAG synthesis by maximally effective concentrations of insulin plus somatomedin was not cumulative. Cultured rat chondrocytes had binding sites for somatomedin and insulin, and the binding was displaced by both somatomedin and insulin. Somatomedin is much more effective than even large amounts of unlabelled insulin in displacing both somatomedin and insulin binding. Anti-insulin receptor IgG, which inhibits insulin binding to human placental membrane, did not affect GAG synthesis stimulated by insulin nor did it inhibit insulin binding to chondrocytes. Somatomedin used for GAG synthesis and displacement was the partially purified somatomedin A with a biological activity of 80 U/mg. Therefore the possibility that substances other than somatomedin A, which was contaminated in this preparation, affected this result could not be excluded completely. However, these results suggest that somatomedin and insulin act on normal rat chondrocytes through a somatomedin receptor.

Animals↗

Quantitative differences between immunological and receptor binding activities of hGH in pituitary adenomas from patients with acromegaly.

Human growth hormone (hGH) in the pituitary extracts from patients with acromegaly and normal subjects was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and radioreceptor assay (RRA) using pregnant rabbit liver membrane, and the RRA to RIA ratios of hGH were calculated. The RRA to RIA ratio of hGH for acromegaly was higher than that for normal (0.90 +/- 0.03 vs 0.75 +/- 0.03, p less than 0.01). When the pituitary extracts were gel filtered on Sephadex G-100 column there were three immunoreactive hGH peaks ("pre-big", "big", and "little" hGH); there were no significant differences in gel filtration patterns of hGH between acromegaly and normal. The "little" hGH component (major component) had a higher RRA to RIA ratio than "pre-big" hGH and "big" hGH in both acromegaly and normal. "Little" hGH extracted from acromegaly had a higher RRA to RIA ratio than that from normal (1.14 +/- 0.09 vs 0.93 +/- 0.04, p less than 0.05). These data support the hypothesis that hGH synthesized in acromegaly may be different from normal.

Acromegaly↗

Effects of somatomedin and other factors on glycosaminoglycan synthesis in cultured rat chondrocytes.

We have investigated the effects of hormones and serum on glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis, using cultured rat chondrocytes isolated from growing cartilage. Somatomedin A stimulated GAG synthesis at a physiological concentration, however in the case of insulin the dose required to stimulate GAG synthesis was 500 times as great as the physiological concentration. Parathyroid hormone also increased GAG synthesis. In contrast, hydrocortisone inhibited GAG synthesis at a pharmacological dosage. None of the following had any effect on GAG synthesis: epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, triiodothyronine, growth hormone, sex steroid or vitamin D3. Human serum up to a concentration of 1% stimulated GAG synthesis. Serum from patients with acromegaly stimulated GAG synthesis more than that from those with hypopituitarism.

Animals↗