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K Chida

Publications and source records attributed to K Chida.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

The recessive phenotype displayed by a dominant negative microphthalmia-associated transcription factor mutant is a result of impaired nucleation potential.

In the DNA binding domain of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), four mutations are reported: mi, Mi wh, mi ew, and mi or. MITFs encoded by the mi, Mi wh, mi ew, and Mi or mutant alleles (mi-MITF, Mi wh-MITF, Mi ew-MITF, and Mi or-MITF, respectively) interfered with the DNA binding of wild-type MITF, TFE3, and another basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper protein in vitro. Polyclonal antibody against MITF was produced and used for investigating the subcellular localization of mutant MITFs. Immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting revealed that more than 99% of wild-type MITF and Mi wh-MITF located in nuclei of transfected NIH 3T3 and 293T cells. In contrast, mi-MITF predominantly located in the cytoplasm of cells transfected with the corresponding plasmid. When the immunoglobulin G (IgG)-conjugated peptides representing a part of the DNA binding domain containing mi and Mi wh mutations were microinjected into the cytoplasm of NRK49F cells, wild-type peptide and Mi wh-type peptide-IgG conjugate localized in nuclei but mi-type peptide-IgG conjugate was detectable only in the cytoplasm. It was also demonstrated that the nuclear translocation potential of Mi or-MITF was normal but that Mi ew-MITF was impaired as well as mi-MITF. In cotransfection assay, a strong dominant negative effect of Mi wh-MITF against wild-type MITF-dependent transactivation system on tyrosinase promoter was observed, but mi-MITF had a small effect. However, by the conjugation of simian virus 40 large-T-antigen-derived nuclear localization signal to mi-MITF, the dominant negative effect was enhanced. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the interaction between wild-type MITF and mi-MITF occurred in the cytoplasm and that mi-MITF had an inhibitory effect on nuclear localization potential of wild-type MITF.

3T3 Cells↗

Bronchiolar disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

The pulmonary manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include bronchiolar diseases such as follicular bronchiolitis (FB) and bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). In this study, we investigated the clinical and pathologic features of FB and BO, as well as the effect of erythromycin (EM) on these diseases. The subjects included 15 RA patients with biopsy-proven bronchiolar disease (eight with FB, seven with BO). None of the patients had Sjögren's syndrome. Eleven patients (73%) had chronic sinusitis, and 14 (93%) had a chronic cough with sputum. Bacterial culture of sputum was positive in 50% and 71% of the FB and BO patients, respectively. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) revealed small nodular shadows in the centrilobular regions (FB and BO), patchy areas of low attenuation (BO), and peribronchial thickening (FB and BO). Eleven patients who received EM therapy showed a significant improvement of symptoms. In addition, none of the 15 patients died of the bronchiolar disease during follow-up. In conclusion, RA patients with FB or BO basically have a chronic clinical course with main complaint of productive cough, and EM may be useful for the management of these diseases.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Cellular distribution of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in rheumatoid arthritis.

Bronchus-associated Lymphoid tissue (BALT) has been reported to be present in the lungs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, little is known about the structure and cellular distribution of BALT in this disease, so we investigated these points using immunohistochemical methods. The subjects were eight RA patients with BALT in biopsy specimens and a histologic diagnosis of follicular bronchiolitis. Seven patients had cough and purulent sputum, and four patients had positive sputum cultures. BALT was histologically composed of four distinct regions, which were the lymphoepithelium, the dome area, the follicular area, and the parafollicular area. Surface IgM+ B cells were predominant in the follicular area, whereas IgA+ cells were scattered in the dome and parafollicular areas. T cells were mainly found in the parafollicular area (CD4+ > CD8+), and most of them expressed the T Cell receptor alpha beta (alpha beta TCR). These findings were similar to those described previously for BALT in diffuse panbronchiolitis, which manifests as a chronic respiratory infection. The present study indicated that extrinsic stimulation as well as alterations of the immune response are involved in the development of BALT in RA, although the exact mechanism requires further clarification.

Adult↗

A clinical study of minocycline-induced pneumonitis.

We studied the clinical features of minocycline-induced pneumonitis in seven patients. Acute symptoms included fever, dry cough and dyspnea, indicating acute respiratory failure. Diffuse ground glass shadows with Kerley's B lines, bronchial wall thickening, swelling of vascular bundles and pleural effusion were visible on radiography. Bronchoalveolar lavage or transbronchial lung biopsy confirmed pulmonary eosinophilia. Cessation of minocycline led to rapid remission with no treatment or only short-term steroid therapy. The lymphocyte stimulation test for minocycline with peripheral blood lymphocytes was not found to be useful for diagnosis.

Acute Disease↗

[Clinicopathologic study of mitral regurgitation due to abnormal chordae tendineae].

Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) due to abnormal chordae tendineae as a primary cause is rare. This clinicopathologic study included four such cases which occurred among 6,500 consecutive autopsies on persons older than 60 years. This paper describes three of these cases. Case 1 was a 76-year-old woman with congestive heart failure, MR and atrial fibrillation. She died of acute myocardial infarction. The heart weighed 360 g. Mitral regurgitation was caused by a thick and long abnormal chorda originating from the posteromedial papillary muscle and protruding into the atrial surface of the middle scallop of the posterior mitral leaflet associated with prolapsed anterior mitral leaflet. Case 2 was an 81-year-old woman with MR and congestive heart failure. She died of acute myocardial infarction. The heart weighed 480 g. There were abnormal chordae tendineae with very few branches at the posterior commissure. Parts of both mitral leaflets on the sides of posterior commissure were also prolapsed. Case 3 was a 91-year-old man with MR and atrial fibrillation. He died of congestive heart failure. The heart weighed 530 g. Abnormal chordae tendineae with reticular structures originated from the anterolateral papillary muscle and protruded into the anterior mitral leaflet, which induced severe MR. These cases had abnormally protruding chordae tendineae, abnormal branching, and abnormal structures of the chordae tendineae, respectively. These abnormal chordae tendineae were considered to be congenital anomalies. Clinically all patients had a holosystolic murmur (Levine III-IV degrees), refractory congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The etiology of the MR in these three patients was suspected to be ruptured chordae tendineae demonstrated on echocardiograms. These patients had heavy hearts (mean 457 g) with enlarged left atria and thickened mitral valves, which corresponded to the appearance of severe MR.

Aged↗

[Immunoadsorption therapy for Fisher's syndrome: analysis of the recovery process of external ophthalmoplegia and the removal ability of anti-GQ1b antibodies].

The beneficial effect of plasma exchange, plasmapheresis or immunoadsorption therapy on Fisher's syndrome, suggested previously, has not been proved since no controlled studies have been conducted. In order to assess the effect of any treatment on Fisher's syndrome, simple and reasonable grading scales for evaluating the major neurological signs are needed. We tried immunoadsorption therapy in four patients with Fisher's syndrome, whose sera had anti-GQ1b antibodies. The clinical course was observed, with assessment of the severity of the major neurological signs based on grading scores; ranging from 0 to 30 for external ophthalmoplegia, from 0 to 10 for ataxia, and from 0 to 16 for areflexia. Tryptophan- or phenylalanine-linked polyvinyl alcohol gel column (TR-350, PH-350) was used as an adsorbent. In a patient who had IgG anti-GQ1b antibody and another patient who had both IgG and IgM anti-GQ1b antibodies, we compared the effectiveness of TR-350 and PH-350 to remove the anti-GQ1b antibody during the therapy. Two patients underwent immunoadsorption therapy at the height of clinical manifestations: in one patient, the therapy was discontinued because of critical hypotension and arrhythmia; the other was given only three sessions of therapy. The other two patients received six or seven sessions during the early recovering stage. All patients recovered without major neurological sequelae. Since ataxia was improved earlier than external ophthalmoplegia, the duration of hospitalization and the time of return to social life depended upon the recovery of external ophthalmoplegia. Analysis of the time course of external ophthalmoplegia score indicated that the improving period and the 50%-recovery day came earlier in the patients who were given a sufficient number of sessions than those who received an insufficient number of sessions. The treatment with TR-350 reduced the IgG anti-GQ1b antibody titer more than that with PH-350, but reduced the IgM anti-GQ1b antibody titer similarly. Immunoadsorption therapy using TR-350 has a probable beneficial effect on Fisher's syndrome even though it is carried out after the height of illness. The evaluation method for the severity of external ophthalmoplegia that we used in the present study is useful for assessing the effect of therapy on Fisher's syndrome.

Adult↗

[Follicular bronchiolitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis].

A 52-year-old man with an 8-year history of rheumatoid arthritis was admitted to the hospital because of coughing and purulent sputum. A chest X-ray film obtained on admission showed small nodular shadows without overinflation in both lower lung fields, and a high-resolution CT scan showed many micronodular shadows in the centrilobular regions. Follicular bronchiolitis was diagnosed from the results of an open-lung biopsy, and prednisolone therapy was started at a dosage of 40 mg/day. Sinusitis developed 4 years later. Five years after the start of steroid therapy, dilation of bronchi and thickening of bronchial walls appeared on a CT scan, which also showed areas of low attenuation that were presumed to be bronchiolitis obliterans. These findings suggest that the pattern of airway disease can vary during the course of rheumatoid arthritis.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

The SH2 domain of Shc suppresses EGF-induced mitogenesis in a dominant negative manner.

Recently, we have shown that an EGF-R-mutant lacking the autophosphorylation sites phosphorylates Shc and retains mitogenic activity. In this report, we have shown that in these cells, in response to EGF, Ras is fully activated with formation of the tyrosine-phosphorylated Shc-Grb2-mSOS complex without the receptor. This pointed out the importance of Shc in EGF-induced Ras activation. To investigate the mechanism of tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc by EGF-R, we carried out in vitro kinase assays using immunoprecipitated EGF-R and bacterially-expressed Shc proteins as substrates. The EGF-R phosphorylated Shc, but not the Shc SH2 mutant, lacking binding ability for phosphotyrosine. This suggests that intact Shc SH2 is essential for the full-length Shc to become phosphorylated, probably by inducing a conformational change in Shc. Thus a Shc SH2 peptide may inhibit competitively Shc phosphorylation. We microinjected the Shc SH2 domain into NIH3T3 cells overexpressing the EGF-R. Microinjected Shc SH2 greatly suppressed EGF-induced DNA synthesis. But microinjection of neither the Shc SH2 mutant nor PLC-gamma 1 SH2 had any effect. This suppressing effect was rescued by comicroinjection of the full-length Shc, suggesting Shc SH2 specifically suppressed the Shc pathway. Thus we concluded Shc phosphorylation is crucial, whereas receptor autophosphorylation is dispensable, in EGF-induced mitogenesis.

3T3 Cells↗

Cholesterol sulfate, a second messenger for the eta isoform of protein kinase C, inhibits promotional phase in mouse skin carcinogenesis.

Cholesterol sulfate is a second messenger for the eta isoform of protein kinase C mediating squamous differentiation. We found that cholesterol sulfate inhibited the promotional phase of skin carcinogenesis in female CD-1 mice, which was initiated by 100 micrograms 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene and promoted by a single application of 10 micrograms 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, followed by repeated applications of 10 micrograms mezerein once a week for 19 weeks. Cholesterol sulfate, when applied topically at a dose of 400 micrograms (820 mumol) 10 min before treatment with the promoters, markedly suppressed tumor formation, resulting in decrease of 56% in the incidence of tumor-bearing mice, 81% in the number of tumors/mouse, and 60% in the size of tumors at 20 weeks of the promotion. This inhibition was not due to elimination of the initiated cells. Treatment with the parental cholesterol at a dose of 320 micrograms (820 mumol), which does not activate the eta isoform, did not inhibit tumor promotion. Repeated treatment with cholesterol sulfate induced scaling of skin at the site of application. Cholesterol sulfate, unlike most inhibitors of tumor promotion, did not inhibit induction of ornithine decarboxylase and hyperplasia in mouse epidermis caused by topical treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. These findings suggest that cholesterol sulfate inhibits tumor promotion by stimulating a differentiation pathway mediated by the eta isoform of protein kinase C.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Effects of chemical stimulation of the rostral and caudal ventrolateral medulla on cerebral and renal microcirculation in rats.

We investigated the effects of neurons in the rostral and caudal ventrolateral medulla (RVL and CVL) on cerebral and renal microcirculation in rats. Rats were anesthetized with chloralose, paralyzed with tubocurarine, and artificially ventilated. Cerebral and renal blood flows (CBF and RBF) were measured simultaneously using laser-Doppler flowmetry. Chemical stimulation of the RVL neurons by microinjection of the excitatory amino acid L-glutamate increased arterial pressure (AP), whereas that of the CVL neurons decreased AP. Stimulation of the RVL neurons also elicited a stimulus-locked increase in CBF and a decrease in RBF. The percent change in CBF and RBF was dose-dependent as stimulus intensity was increased. Cerebral and renal vascular resistance (CVR and RVR) levels were calculated from changes in CBF or RBF and changes in mean AP. The percent reduction in CVR and percent elevation in RVR were also dose-dependent. Chemical stimulation of the CVL neurons elicited a stimulus-locked decrease in CBF and an increase in RBF. The percent reduction in CBF and percent elevation in CVR were dose-dependent. The percent reduction in RVR was also dose-dependent, while the percent elevation in RBF was not significant. Blood withdrawal reduced AP by a similar degree to CVL stimulation, but did not significantly decrease CBF. The results suggest that RVL and CVL neurons integrate cerebral and systemic microcirculation.

Animals↗

Induction of MHC class II antigens on rat bronchial epithelial cells by interferon-gamma and its effect on antigen presentation.

Recent studies have found aberrant expression of class II antigens by bronchial epithelial cells (BECs), suggesting that these cells may also be involved in airway mucosal immunity. However, the regulation of class II antigen expression on BECs by cytokines and the functional capacity of such cells bearing class II molecules remain unknown. We investigated the effect of IFN-gamma on class II antigen expression by cultured rat BECs, as well as the ability of these cells to present intact protein antigens to specifically sensitized T cells. Although primary BECs did not express class II antigens, IFN-gamma readily induced their expression in a dose-dependent manner. More than 85% of the BECs treated with 1000 U/ml of IFN-gamma were positive for class II antigens. In addition, when IFN-treated BECs bearing class II molecules were pulsed with ovalbumin (OVA), they significantly stimulated the proliferation of OVA-sensitized T cells, whereas cells that were not treated with IFN-gamma but were pulsed with OVA did not do so. Our findings indicate that BECs bearing class II molecules are capable of presenting OVA to OVA-sensitized T cells. These results suggest that various pathological conditions causing the local production of IFN-gamma may increase class II antigen expression on BECs, which in turn may modulate the airway mucosal immune response by the presentation of antigens to T cells.

Animals↗

Clinicopathologic characteristics of elderly patients with persistent ST segment elevation and inverted T waves: evidence of insidious or healed myocarditis?

OBJECTIVES: We sought to clarify the clinicopathologic characteristics of insidious or healed myocarditis in the elderly. BACKGROUND: Myocarditis is the cause of unexplained congestive heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy. However, acute myocarditis of the Fiedler type is rare, and the incidence and implication of insidious or healed myocarditis in the elderly are not yet known. METHODS: In an autopsy study of 3,000 patients aged > or = 60 years, there were 12 (0.4%) with insidious or healed myocarditis, showing extensive and circumferential fibrosis and scattered lymphocytic infiltration of both ventricular walls without acute necrosis of the myocardial fibers. RESULTS: Unexplained congestive heart failure was found in seven cases. In all cases, electrocardiography had demonstrated upward elevation of the ST segment and inverted T waves for durations ranging from 1 month to 12.7 years (mean 5.7 years). Mean (+/- SD) heart weight was 338 +/- 81 g (range 220 to 470). In nine cases, fibrous lesions, which were scattered but extensive and circumferential, were located in the subepicardial and middle layers of the left ventricle. In the remaining three cases, the fibrous lesions were located predominantly in the subepicardial and middle layers, but the subendocardial layer was also locally involved. Fibrous lesions of the right ventricle were predominant in the subepicardial layer and involved the subendocardial layer in four cases. Scattered lymphocytic infiltration was found in the fibrous lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In more than half of the aged cases with insidious or healed myocarditis, unexplained congestive heart failure was also present. Fibrous lesions due to myocarditis were located predominantly in the subepicardial and middle layers and led to persistent upward elevation of the ST segment and inverted T waves.

Aged↗

The cell cycle-dependent nuclear import of v-Jun is regulated by phosphorylation of a serine adjacent to the nuclear localization signal.

Cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation and nuclear import of the tumorigenic transcription factor viral Jun (v-Jun) were investigated in chicken embryo fibroblasts. Nuclear accumulation of v-Jun but not of cellular Jun (c-Jun) is cell cycle dependent, decreasing in G1 and increasing in G2. The cell cycle-dependent regulation of v-Jun was mapped to a single serine residue at position 248 (Ser248), adjacent to the nuclear localization signal (NLS). Ser248 of v-Jun represents an amino acid substitution, replacing cysteine of c-Jun. It was shown by peptidase digestion and immunoprecipitation with antibody to the NLS that v-Jun is phosphorylated at Ser248 in the cytoplasm but not in the nucleus. This phosphorylation is high in G1 and low in G2. Nuclear accumulation of v-Jun is correlated with underphosphorylation at Ser248. The regulation of nuclear import by phosphorylation was also examined using NLS peptides with Ser248 of v-Jun. Phosphorylation of the serine inhibited nuclear import mediated by the NLS peptide in vivo and in vitro. The protein kinase inhibitors staurosporine and H7 stimulated but the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid inhibited nuclear import mediated by the NLS peptide. The cytosolic activity of protein kinases phosphorylating Ser248 increased in G0 and decreased during cell cycle progression, reaching a minimum in G2, whereas phosphatase activity dephosphorylating Ser248 was not changed. These results show that nuclear import of v-Jun is negatively regulated by phosphorylation at Ser248 in the cytoplasm in a cell cycle-dependent manner.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Enhanced migration of fibroblasts derived from lungs with fibrotic lesions.

BACKGROUND: The migration and proliferation of fibroblasts may be important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Considerable data are available on the proliferation of fibroblasts, but very few on their migration. METHODS: The migratory activity of fibroblasts obtained from lung biopsy specimens from 11 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was studied using a 96-well chemotaxis chamber. Fibroblasts from eight normal controls, seven patients with interstitial fibrosis associated with a collagen vascular disease (IP-CVD), and 13 patients with sarcoidosis were also examined. Migratory activity was tested in a serum-free medium in the presence and absence of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), 30 ng/ml, as a chemoattractant. RESULTS: Migration of fibroblasts from patients with IPF was enhanced in serum-free maintenance medium alone (mean (SD) controls v IPF: 183 (86) v 689 (491) cells/field), and was also enhanced when cells were stimulated by PDGF (controls v IPF: 829 (222) v 1928 (600) cells/field). Fibroblasts from tissues with dense fibrosis had a greater capacity for migration than those from an earlier stage of fibrosis. No correlation was found between migratory activity and proliferative capacity of the individual cells. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that fibroblasts from fibrotic lungs migrate faster than those from controls suggests that migration is related to the initiation of the pulmonary fibrotic process. These in vitro studies suggest that fibroblasts derived from the lungs of patients with pulmonary fibrosis have a migratory phenotype. Such a change in fibroblast phenotype, if it occurred in vivo, may be important in the context of the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.

Adult↗

The influence of ovarian hormones on the granulomatous inflammatory process in the rat lung.

This study was initiated to clarify the relationship between ovarian hormones and the granulomatous inflammatory process in the lung. To assess whether ovarian dysfunction influences the granulomatous inflammatory process, we compared immunological alterations in ovariectomized rats and in sham-operated rats. After a heat-killed, bacilli Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-elicited granulomatous reaction, the lung-body weight ratios, the number of lymphocytes and activated T-cells, and the interferon-gamma levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from the ovariectomized rats were significantly higher than those of the sham-operated rats. Moreover, exogenous ovarian steroids supplemented in vivo suppressed not only the granulomatous inflammatory process in the lungs, but also the parameters measured in the bronchoalveolar fluid. These results indicate that ovarian dysfunction may adversely affect the formation of granulomas in the lung.

Animals↗

An autopsy case of incomplete left atrial rupture following left atrial infarction associated with left ventricular myocardial infarction.

We report a 78-year-old woman with incomplete left atrial rupture following left atrial infarction associated with left ventricular myocardial infarction. An autopsy revealed a hemopericardium. A large hematoma was observed in the posterior wall of the left atrium and a few small tears were found on the same wall. Near its origin, the left circumflex artery was severely sclerotic and completely occluded by fresh thrombus. Histologic examination revealed that large intramural hematoma longitudinally dissected the inner third of the posterior wall of the left atrium, and transversely dissected through the necrotic tissue to the pericardial sac to result in rupture. Coagulation necrosis and intramyocardial hemorrhage were also observed throughout the entire left atrium and the postseptolateral wall of the left ventricle.

Aged↗