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Biomedical subjects

K Hiwada

Publications and source records attributed to K Hiwada.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

The role of hypothalamic glutathione in hypertensive animals.

The role of brain glutathione metabolism in hypertensive animals was studied. In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) from prehypertension to established hypertension, the content of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and the ratio of GSSG to GSH in the hypothalamus were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than those in age-matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Hypothalamic glutathione reductase (GR) activities in prehypertensive and established hypertensive SHR were significantly (p less than 0.05) lower than those in WKY. DOCA-salt hypertensive rats (DSR) also had a significantly (p less than 0.05) higher content of GSSG and GSSG/GSH ratio and a significantly (p less than 0.05) lower GR activity in the hypothalamus than the normotensive control. There were no significant differences in these values in the brain stem between hypertensive and normotensive rats. These results suggest that the increased GSSG/GSH ratio due to reduced activity of GR in the hypothalamus may have an important role in the development of hypertension in SHR and DSR.

Animals↗

Occurrence of anti-gizzard P34K antibody cross-reactive components in bovine smooth muscles and non-smooth muscle tissues.

In our previous paper (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 141, 20-26 (1986) we reported the isolation of a 34000-dalton protein (p34K) which binds to calmodulin and F-actin from chicken gizzard smooth muscle. We examined the distribution of the immunoreactive component of gizzard p34K in bovine tissues by immunoblot analysis using a rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against gizzard p34K. The immunoreactive components with molecular weights of 33000-35000 were detected in all smooth muscles from aorta, esophagus, stomach, trachea and uterus. In non-smooth muscle tissues, a 36000-dalton cross-reactive protein was present in adrenal medulla and cortex. The immunoreactive form of gizzard p34K occurred in large amounts in smooth muscles from various bovine tissues.

Animals↗

In vitro inhibition of human renin by statine-containing tripeptide renin inhibitor (ES-1005).

Dipeptide and tripeptide derivatives containing a statine residue were synthesized as human renin inhibitors. ES-305, bis[(1-naphthyl)methyl]acetyl-histidyl-statine-2(S)-methylbutylami de, was found to be a highly potent human renin inhibitor that is species-specific and enzyme-specific. The replacement of the methylbutylamide of ES-305 with the leucyl-lysinol (ES-1005) showed similar high potency against human renin (Ki value of 2.4 x 10(-9) M) and monkey renin (Ki value of 7.9 x 10(-9) M) as ES-305. ES-1005 competitively inhibited human renin. The compound was about one order of magnitude less potent against pig, dog, and rabbit renins. It had moderate inhibitory potencies against cathepsin D and pepsin (IC50 of cathepsin D and pepsin of 1.6 x 10(-5) and 8.0 x 10(-6) M, respectively). ES-1005, a newly synthesized tripeptide derivative containing statine, is a highly potent inhibitor of not only primate renin but also a wide variety of nonprimate renins.

Animals↗

Angiotensin converting enzyme in sarcoidosis and in silicosis.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activities of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum in patients with sarcoidosis and with silicosis were measured. Serum ACE was measured by enzymic assay and radioimmunoassay. There was a close relationship between ACE activity and content (r = 0.78). Serum ACE activities in patients with active sarcoidosis (37.5 +/- 11.1 nmol/min/ml, mean +/- SD) and with silicosis (25.5 +/- 9.3) were significantly elevated from the control (18.6 +/- 6.0). BALF ACE activities in the control, patients with active sarcoidosis and with silicosis were 0.23 +/- 0.19 nmol/min/ml, 0.94 +/- 0.97 and 0.38 +/- 0.05, respectively. BALF ACE in patients with active sarcoidosis and with silicosis were significantly different from the control. When BALF ACE was corrected by the cell count of alveolar macrophage (per 10(6) cells), activity was significantly different from control only in the patients with sarcoidosis. Moreover, only the alveolar macrophages in sarcoidosis were stained by immunofluorescence and immunocytochemistry using rabbit antihuman ACE antibody. Induction of ACE in alveolar macrophage might have an important role for the activity or progression of sarcoidosis.

Adult↗

Brain glutathione and blood pressure control.

The role of glutathione in the central nervous system in regulating blood pressure (BP) and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) was investigated in rats. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of glutathione disulfide (GSSG: 1.7-33 nmol) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in BP [delta mean BP: 17 +/- 1 mm Hg (n = 7) for 33-nmol dose] together with a marked increase in SNA [163 +/- 13 to 672 +/- 70 spikes/10 s (n = 7), p less than 0.001]. Intracerebroventricular administration of its reduced form (GSH, 33 nmol) produced a vasodepressor response (delta mean BP: -9 +/- 2 mm Hg) accompanied by a corresponding decrease in SNA [192 +/- 15 to 54 +/- 22 spikes/10 s (n = 6), p less than 0.01]. These responses were not due to a leakage into the systemic circulation, since intravenous injection of GSSG or GSH (33 nmol) did not show any cardiovascular effects. Electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus induced hypertension with a significant decrease of GSSG in the brain stem. The results indicate that GSSG has a stimulatory control over the sympathetic nervous system while GSH has an inhibitory effect on SNA. Glutathione disulfide and GSH may act within the central nervous system to modulate the tone of the sympathetic nervous system.

Adrenergic Fibers↗

Isolation and characterization of a 34,000-dalton calmodulin- and F-actin-binding protein from chicken gizzard smooth muscle.

We isolated a 34,000-dalton protein from the heat-soluble fraction of avian smooth muscle using the procedures of ammonium sulfate fractionation, cation exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The amount of 34,000-dalton protein in the muscle homogenate was as much as tropomyosin. The 34,000-dalton protein bound to F-actin and F-actin-tropomyosin in a Ca2+-independent manner, but it Ca2+-dependently interacted with calmodulin. We tentatively named the 34,000-dalton protein gizzard p34K.

Actins↗

Statine-containing dipeptide and tripeptide inhibitors of human renin.

Dipeptide and tripeptide derivatives containing a statine residue were synthesized as inhibitors of human renin. ES-305, bis[(1-naphthyl)methyl]acetyl(BNMA)-histidyl-statine 2(S)-methylbutylamide was found to be a highly potent inhibitor of human renin with a Ki value of 1.7 X 10(-9) M. Dipeptide derivatives with the BNMA group at the N-terminal (BNMA-Val-Sta-isoleucinol [ES-313], BNMA-Leu-Sta-isoleucinol [ES-316], and BNMA-Nle-Sta-isoleucinol [ES-317]) had potencies against human renin that were similar to the potency of ES-305. All these dipeptide derivatives competitively inhibited human renin. The inhibitors were also potent against monkey renin but were less effective against renins from pig, goat, dog, rabbit, and rat. ES-305 had little effect on cathepsin D and pepsin at the concentration of 10(-5) M. The other derivatives showed detectable inhibition of cathepsin D (IC50, 10(-6) - 10(-7) M) and pepsin (10(-5) - 10(-6) M). All the compounds had little or no effect on trypsin, chymotrypsin, angiotensin converting enzyme, and urinary kallikrein at the concentration of 10(-5) M. Our results indicate that ES-305 is a highly potent and specific inhibitor of human renin. This compound is superior to other, previously described statine-containing renin inhibitors with respect to molecular size and enzyme specificity.

Amino Acids↗

Pulmonary arterial pressure and plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in patients with heart disease.

To study the factors controlling the release of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), we analyzed the peripheral plasma ANF concentration in 34 patients with heart disease who underwent cardiac catheterization. A significant positive correlation between plasma ANF concentration and pulmonary arterial pressure (systolic, r = 0.87; diastolic, r = 0.75; mean, r = 0.85; each p less than 0.001) was found in all the patients examined. There were significant positive correlations between plasma ANF concentration and systolic right ventricular pressure (r = 0.86, p less than 0.001), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r = 0.50, p less than 0.01) and mean right atrial pressure (r = 0.39, p less than 0.05). A weak but significant negative correlation was found between plasma ANF concentration and stroke volume index (r = -0.43, p less than 0.05). The correlation coefficient between plasma ANF concentration and mean pulmonary arterial pressure was significantly stronger than those between plasma ANF concentration and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and between plasma ANF concentration and mean right atrial pressure (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively). In 10 patients with mitral valvular disease, significant correlations with plasma ANF concentration were also found for pulmonary arterial pressure (systolic, r = 0.80; diastolic, r = 0.82; mean, r = 0.82; each p less than 0.01). These findings suggest that pulmonary arterial pressure may play an important role in the mechanism of release of ANF from atrial cardiocytes.

Adult↗

Physicochemical characteristics of human high molecular weight angiotensinogen.

A high molecular weight angiotensinogen (Mr. 332,000 daltons) was prepared from plasma of pregnant women by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. The molecular weight was reduced to 81,000 by treatment with dithiothreitol (DTT), but not by treatment with SDS. DTT-treated high molecular weight (HMW) angiotensinogen was very similar to low molecular weight (LMW) angiotensinogen with respect to molecular weight, pH profile for angiotensin formation by human kidney renin, thermostability, Km value and isoelectric point. The antibody against LMW-angiotensinogen completely cross-reacted with HMW-angiotensinogen. These results suggest that HMW-angiotensinogen is probably a complex of LMW-angiotensinogen and other protein(s) which might be bound by disulfide bond.

Angiotensinogen↗

Angiotensin converting enzyme. A possible histologic indicator for human renal cell carcinoma.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was studied in specimens of human renal cell carcinoma by indirect immunofluorescence using rabbit antibody to human kidney ACE and fluorescein-labeled goat antibody to rabbit immunoglobulin. ACE was demonstrated in the cells of all renal cell carcinomas from 10 patients and in the cultured cells set up from 4 of them, but not in any cells of 12 extrarenal carcinomas of prostate, lung, and alimentary tract. These results suggest that immunohistologic detection of ACE is of value in the histologic diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

Clinical significance of measurements of serum apolipoprotein A-I, A-II and B in hypertriglyceridemic male patients with and without coronary artery disease.

To examine the relationship of hypertriglyceridemia to coronary artery disease (CAD), we measured serum cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoproteins (apo) A-I, A-II and B in 82 male patients with angiographically defined CAD and 140 age-matched healthy controls. The CAD patients had significantly lower apo A-I and A-II and HDL-C levels, but had higher apo B and triglyceride levels than the controls. After adjustments of apolipoproteins for serum triglyceride, CAD patients had significantly higher apo B and lower apo A-I and A-II levels than the controls. Discriminant analysis showed that apo B was the best discriminator and that apo A-I was next. In the normotriglyceridemic subgroup HDL-C also had a sufficient power for discrimination between CAD patients and the controls, but in the hypertriglyceridemic subgroup HDL-C had no discriminative power. Both apo A-I and B had significant discriminative power between CAD patients and the controls, independently of the serum triglyceride level. These results indicate that measurements of serum apo A-I and apo B are useful for the study of coronary risk factor in hypertriglyceridemic subjects. Finally, it is necessary to sub-classify dyslipoproteinemia by serum apolipoprotein levels for predicting the future occurrence of CAD in the general population.

Adult↗