Biomedical subjects

K Onozaki

Publications and source records attributed to K Onozaki.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Molecular analysis of constitutive IL-1alpha gene expression in human melanoma cells: autocrine stimulation through NF-kappaB activation by endogenous IL-1alpha.

Constitutive production of/and acquired resistance to anti-proliferative cytokines are implicated in pathogenesis and progression of human melanoma cells. Human melanoma cells A375-C6 are sensitive to interleukin 1 (IL-1) anti-proliferative effect and do not produce IL-1. After long period of culture we have obtained cells which acquired resistance to IL-1. The resistant cells exhibited constitutive production of IL-1α. To analyse the mechanisms that lead to the expression of IL-1α in the cells, we transfected of the resistant clone A375-R8 with CAT (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) expression plasmids linked to a 5'-flanking deletion mutants of the human IL-1α gene. Two nucleotide regions (--103 to --70 bp) and (--70 to --47 bp) from the start of the first exon appeared to contain a positive regulatory element(s) while the one --421 to --103 bp contained a negative regulatory element(s).The --103 to --70 bp region contained the consensus NF(-k)B (nuclear factor-kB) binding motif.(Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that NF-kB is activated in A375-R8 cells. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) decreased the level of IL-1α mRNA and production of IL-1α. IL-1Ra also inhibited the localization of p65 in the nuclei and CAT activity in transfectants with the plasmids containing NF-kB binding motif. These results indicate that endogenous IL-1α stimulates the gene expression and production of IL-1α in an autocrine manner through activation of NF-kB.

Autocrine Communication↗

PubMed1998

Development of glycosylated human interleukin-1alpha, neoglyco IL-1alpha, by coupling with D-galactose monosaccharide: biological activities in vitro.

In the previous study, galactose with C9 spacer was chemically coupled to human recombinant (rh) IL-1alpha in order to study the effect of glycosylation on its activities, and to develop IL-1 with less deleterious effects. In this study we examined a variety of IL-1 activities in vitro, including proliferative effect on T cells, antiproliferative effect on myeloid leukemic cells and melanoma cells, stimulatory effects on IL-6 synthesis by melanoma cells and PGE2 synthesis by fibroblast cells Galactose-introduced IL-1alpha (Gal-IL-1alpha) exhibited reduced activities from 10 to 10000 times compared with unmodified IL-1alpha in all the activities performed in vitro. The competitive binding of 125I-IL-1alpha to mouse T cells and pre-B cells with unlabeled IL-1alpha s suggests a decrease in binding affinities of Gal-IL-1alpha to both type I and type II IL-1 receptors. Therefore, reduced activities of Gal-IL-1alpha are due, at least partially, to the decrease in their receptor binding affinities.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Development of glycosylated human interleukin-1alpha, neoglyco IL-1alpha, coupled with D-galactose monosaccharide: biological activities in vivo.

In our previous study, a galactose monosaccharide with C9 spacer was chemically coupled to recombinant human interleukin 1alpha (rhIL-1alpha) in order to study the effect of glycosylation on its activities, and to develop IL-1 with less deleterious effects. The glycosylated IL-la exhibited reduced activities in vitro by 10 to 10000-fold depending upon different aspects of activities addressed. The affinity to type I and II IL-1 receptors were also reduced. In this study we examined a variety of IL-1 activities in vivo, including upregulation of serum levels of IL-6, alpha1-acid glycoprotein, NOx, corticosterone, downregulation of serum level of glucose, and recovery of peripheral white blood cells (WBCs) from myelosuppression in 5-fluorouracil-treated mice. In contrast to the biological activities in vitro, these activities in vivo were uniformly reduced by only about 10 to 20-fold compared to untreated IL-1alpha.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Development of glycosylated human interleukin-1alpha, neoglyco IL-1alpha, by coupling with D-galactose monosaccharide: synthesis and purification.

In order to develop glycosylated cytokine, recombinant human IL-1alpha was chemically modified with galactose monosaccharide. Galactose with C9 spacer, 8-(hydrazinocarbonyl)octyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (3), was synthesized by glycosylation of C9 spacer, methyl 9-hydroxynonanoate, with acetobromogalactose, followed by deacetylation and hydrazidation. Total yield of 3 was 43.6% in three steps. Compound 3 was coupled to IL-1alpha by the acyl azide method. The glycosylated IL-1 was purified by anion-exchange chromatography, and galactose coupled to IL-1 was confirmed by R. communis lectin blotting. Based on the molecular weight, the average number of carbohydrate molecules introduced per molecule of IL-1alpha was estimated to be 9.1.

Galactose↗

PubMed1998

Serotonin derivative, N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, inhibits the production of TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 by endotoxin-stimulated human blood monocytes.

We have reported that N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin (CS) and its derivatives with antioxidative activity are present in safflower seeds. As reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in the signaling of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we examined whether CS has a suppressive effect on inflammatory cytokine generation from human monocytes in vitro. CS at 50-200 microM reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6 activities in the culture supernatants from LPS-stimulated human blood monocytes without cytotoxicity. ELISA assay revealed that the production of TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 was inhibited by CS. Northern blot analysis showed that LPS-induced expression of these cytokine mRNA in monocytes was suppressed by CS. NF-kappaB activation was also inhibited by CS. These findings indicate that CS has a suppressive effect on proinflammatory cytokine production from monocytes, and this effect is based in part on the suppression of cytokine mRNA expression through inhibition of NF-kappaB activation.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed1997

Apamin-sensitive Ca2+-dependent K+ current and hyperpolarization in human endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial cells have several types of Ca2+-dependent K+ current (I(K-Ca)). Here, we describe apamin-sensitive I(K-Ca) which is activated by treatment with histamine (His) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In 65 % of HUVECs examined, 100 nM apamin potently inhibited I(K-Ca) and hyperpolarization induced by His (19 and 7 % of control, respectively). In contrast, application of 5 mM tetraethylammonium, a non-selective K channel blocker, or 100 nM iberiotoxin, a selective K channel blocker for a large conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ channel, had small (78 % of control) or no effects (102 % of control) on I(K-Ca), respectively. These findings suggest that apamin-sensitive Ca2+-dependent K+ channels are expressed in HUVECs and activated by receptor stimulation.

Apamin↗

PubMed1997

Resistance to IL-1 anti-proliferative effect, accompanied by characteristics of advanced melanoma, permits invasion of human melanoma cells in vitro, but not metastasis in the nude mouse.

We reported earlier that IL-1 inhibits the growth of human melanoma cells (A375-6), and that these cells become resistant to IL-1 after prolonged periods of culture. The resistant cells constitutively produce IL-alpha and IL-6 with IL-6 production was induced by endogenous IL-1 in an autocrine manner. The cells are also resistant to IL-6 anti-proliferative effects. In the present study, we show that the resistant clones exhibited up-regulated expression of intercellular-adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vitronectin receptor (integrin alpha(v)beta3) when compared with the IL-1-sensitive clone, A375-6. Moreover, these IL-1-resistant clones exhibited many other metastatic characteristics, such as expression of IL-8 mRNA, production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), and augmented invasion activity. However, contrary to our expectations, the IL-1-resistant cells did not exhibit experimental metastasis in a nude-mouse model, similarly to the IL-1-sensitive parental A375-6 cell line. In contrast, the highly metastatic clone A375-SM exhibited alpha(v)beta3 expression at a level comparable to that of the IL-1-resistant cells, but expressed low or no ICAM-1, metalloproteinase and displayed little in vitro invasion activity. These results show that the metastatic characteristics of IL-1-resistant cells are not sufficient to produce metastasis in vivo and suggest that these resistant clones may provide a good model system for characterizing the molecular mechanisms of metastasis.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Interleukin-1-induced growth inhibition of human melanoma cells. Interleukin-1-induced antizyme expression is responsible for ornithine decarboxylase activity down-regulation.

Interleukin (IL)-1 is a multi-functional cytokine and regulates cell growth either positively or negatively. Previous studies have shown that IL-1-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity down-regulation is involved in the anti-proliferative effect of IL-1 on human A375 melanoma cells. In this study, we examined the IL-1alpha-induced molecular events resulting in ODC activity down-regulation in C2-1, a A375 cell line stably transfected with human type I IL-1 receptor. Recombinant human (rh) IL-1alpha inhibited the growth and down-regulated the ODC activity of C2-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Kinetics studies showed that both the DNA synthesis and ODC activity of C2-1 cells progressively decreased from 12 h after IL-1 addition. Northern hybridization showed that IL-1 had no influence on ODC mRNA level. However, rhIL-1 induced both a decrease of ODC protein and an ODC-inhibiting activity in IL-1-treated C2-1 cells. IL-1 specifically up-modulated the mRNA level of antizyme, a protein essential for ODC regulation, but had little effect on its stability. IL-1-induced antizyme up-modulation preceded IL-1-induced down-regulation of ODC protein, ODC activity, and DNA synthesis in C2-1 cells. Run-on transcription analysis confirmed that the increased antizyme mRNA expression was due to elevated antizyme gene transcription. Furthermore, the action of IL-1 to inhibit the ODC activity and growth of C2-1 cells was blocked by expressing the antisense RNA of human antizyme in C2-1 cells. These results suggest that IL-1-induced antizyme expression is responsible for IL-1-induced ODC activity down-regulation in human melanoma cells.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1997

Molecular cloning of a novel gene involved in serotonin receptor-mediated signal transduction in rat stomach.

In Xenopus oocytes injected with small size mRNAs (500-700 b), obtained from rat stomach by fractionation, application of 10 microM 5-HT induced a substantial Ca2+-activated Cl- current (I(Cl-Ca)). I(Cl-Ca) was not elicited by 5-HT in native oocytes. Consistent results from this assay in the oocyte expression system motivated cDNA cloning experiments. A novel cDNA (named rat stomach serotonin receptor-related cDNA: RSS cDNA) which encodes a small protein involved in specific 5-HT receptor-mediated I(Cl-Ca) activation was identified. The molecular weight of RSS protein in the reticulocyte lysate translation system (approximately 10 kDa) is identical to that calculated from the amino acid sequence. Computer-aided analysis of the predicted protein does not show any obvious sequence homologies (< 18%) to any other proteins including G protein-coupled receptors. Northern analysis revealed that RSS mRNA is ubiquitously expressed at varying levels in a number of different tissues. Furthermore, the binding of [3H]spiperone, a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, was examined in CHO cells, which highly expressed RSS transcripts (named CHO-RSS). Specific binding of [3H]spiperone was not clearly observed in native CHO but was detected in CHO-RSS. The dissociation constant was 10.3 nM in CHO-RSS. These results suggest that RSS protein may be a factor which facilitates 5-HT receptor expression or, alternatively, an enhancer of the affinity of native 5-HT receptor to 5-HT.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Human follicular dendritic cells in vitro and follicular dendritic-cell-like cells.

Human follicular dendritic cell (FDC)-like cells (FLC) have been utilized for the in vitro analysis of germinal center reactions. However, there is no consensus whether FLC represent FDC in vitro. The purpose of the present study has therefore been to determine distinguishing features of FDC and FLC in vitro. The expression of CD40, CD54, CD49d, cytokine (gamma-IFN and IL-4)-dependent MHC-class II, and CD106 was observed to be specific for the determination of FDC in long-term culture. The cytokine-dependent emperipolesis of germinal center B cells was establised as another discriminating property for FDC in vitro. In 2 out of 72 long-term cultures of FDC, we encountered dividing cells among the non-dividing population of FDC. The dividing cells expressed accessory molecules similar to those of FDC but showed emperipolesis only for the initial few days of their growth. FDC did not enhance the CD40-dependent proliferation of germinal center B cells; in contrast, FLC augumented it. Both types of cells produced a significant amount of cytokine-dependent IL-6. Further studies are needed to determine whether FLC originate from FDC in vitro.

Cell Adhesion↗

PubMed1997

Role of glucocorticoid in the upregulation of type I interleukin-1 receptor mRNA expression in hepatocytes of endotoxin-administrated mice.

The interleukin-1 (IL-1) signal is transduced through type I IL-1 receptor (IL-1RI). We have recently reported that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) upregulated IL-1RI mRNA expression in mouse liver in vivo and that IL-1 and IL-6 directly upregulated IL-1RI mRNA expression in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. Glucocorticoid (GC) has been reported to increase IL-1 binding to the cell surface and the expression level of IL-1R mRNA in a variety of cell types. As serum GC level is elevated in an inflammatory response, we evaluated the role of GC in LPS-induced upregulation of IL-1RI mRNA in the mouse liver. When LPS was administered to adrenalectomized (ADX) mice, IL-1RI mRNA was upregulated at a level comparable to those of untreated or sham-operated mice. A high dose of dexamethasone (Dex), however, caused upregulation of the mRNA. When primary cultured mouse hepatocytes were treated with Dex, only a weak upregulation of IL-1RI mRNA was observed. However, Dex in combination with IL-1 or IL-6 markedly enhanced the IL-1RI mRNA expression. A marked upregulation of the mRNA was also induced by treatment with a combination of IL-1 and IL-6 in the absence of Dex, reflecting the observation in ADX mice. These results suggest that the upregulation of IL-1RI mRNA in response to LPS is induced by the interaction of IL-1 and IL-6 and that GC augments their effect.

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMed1997

Endotoxin-induced upregulation of type I interleukin-1 receptor mRNA expression in hepatocytes of mice: role of cytokines.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) signal is transduced through the type I IL-1 receptor (IL-1RI). Although regulation of IL-1R expression has been extensively studied in vitro, little is known about it in vivo. By using RT-PCR analysis, we investigated the regulation of the IL-1RI mRNA expression level in various organs of mice at 2, 6, and 24 h following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. IL-1RI mRNA expression in response to LPS appeared to be different in various organs. As a marked and sustained increase of IL-1RI mRNA expression in the liver was observed, we investigated the mechanism of the upregulation. IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) all increased the mRNA expression in the liver when administrated in vivo. In situ hybridization revealed that upregulation of IL-1R mRNA was observed in parenchymal liver cells (hepatocytes) in response to LPS administration. When primary cultured hepatocytes were treated in vitro, IL-1, IL-6, conditioned medium from LPS-treated mouse macrophages, and serum from LPS-treated mouse upregulated IL-1RI mRNA expression, but LPS, TNF, and prostaglandin E2 failed to do so. Therefore, these results suggest that the upregulation of IL-1RI mRNA in the hepatocytes by LPS administration is mediated by cytokines, especially by IL-1 and IL-6. The results also indicate that the regulation is different in different organs, and microenvironmental factors may be important.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Acquired resistance to the anti-proliferative effect of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 is a recessive phenotype in A375 human melanoma cells.

The proliferation of human melanoma cell line A375-6 is inhibited by several cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). However, during a long period of culture, the cells progressively acquire resistance to IL-1 irrespective of functional IL-1 receptor expression. These cells constitutively produce IL-1alpha and IL-6, and also acquire resistance to IL-6. In order to investigate the mechanism of the acquired resistance to these cytokines, we performed somatic cell hybridization experiments. Parental cells for the construction of hybrid cells were rendered G418- or hygromycin B-resistant by transfection with expression vectors containing drug-resistant genes. Hybridization was conducted using IL-1-resistant subclones A375-R8 and R19 and an IL-1 highly sensitive clone C2-1, which was originally resistant but became sensitive to IL-1 upon transfection with a human type I IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) expression plasmid. Cells produced by hybridization of resistant cells and C2-1 cells appeared to be sensitive to IL-1 and IL-6. In contrast, production of IL-1 was augmented in the hybrid cells. These results suggest that resistance to IL-1 and IL-6 is a recessive phenotype, while production of IL-1 is dominant in melanoma cells.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1997

Dharmendra antigen but not integral M. leprae is an efficient inducer of immunostimulant cytokine production by human monocytes, and M. leprae lipids inhibit the cytokine production.

Killed integral Mycobacterium leprae, Mitsuda antigen, and chloroform-treated M. leprae, Dharmendra antigen (Dh-Ag), have been used for the classification of leprosy patients based on cell-mediated immunity. Heat-killed M. leprae also were used as a component of the Convit vaccine. Human blood monocytes were stimulated with M. leprae or Dh-Ag and their cytokine-inducing ability was compared. Monocytes were cultured in the presence of fresh human serum because of the efficiency of cytokine induction and the phagocytosis of M. leprae have been shown to be optimal in the presence of fresh serum. M. leprae and Dh-Ag were equally phagocytosed by monocytes. Dh-Ag was more potent than M. leprae in the induction of immunostimulatory/proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In contrast, a comparable level of IL-1ra, an immunosuppressive cytokine, was induced by M. leprae and Dh-Ag. The lipids extracted from M. leprae induced none of these cytokines by monocytes. Nevertheless, when monocytes were pretreated with the lipids followed by stimulation with Dh-Ag, productions of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF were all inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. However, the lipids did not inhibit the cytokine production induced by other stimuli including BCG and lipopolysaccharide. Moreover the lipids did not affect the production of IL-1ra. These results suggest that the lipids from M. leprae are responsible for the poor cytokine-inducing ability of M. leprae, thus favoring their infection. These results also suggest that Dh-Ag rather than integral M. leprae may be useful as a vaccine candidate because Dh-Ag is able to induce a large amount of cytokines from monocytes.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

PubMed1996

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) production is not essential for acquired resistance of human A375 melanoma cells to anti-proliferative effect of IL-1.

The proliferation of human melanoma cell line A375-6 is inhibited by interleukin l (IL-l). However, the cells acquired resistance to IL-l after a long period of culture. We have reported that 2 resistant subclones, A375-R8 and -R19, produced IL-l alpha constitutively and that IL-l induced IL-6 production in an autocrine manner. Therefore, we supposed that IL-l alpha production renders the cells resistant to IL-l. To investigate the relationship between IL-l alpha production and IL-l resistance, we transfected the IL-l alpha expression plasmid to the IL-l-sensitive clone, A375-6, and the anti-sense mRNA expression plasmid to IL-l-resistant cells, A375-R8 and -R19. A375-6MS, a transfectant of mature IL-l alpha expression plasmid, expressed IL-l alpha mRNA and produced IL-l activity at a level comparable to the resistant cells. The transfectant also produced IL-6 and exhibited augmented expression of Mn-SOD mRNA. However, IL-l sensitivity of this transfectant was not affected. With respect to sensitivity to anti-proliferative effects of other cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF alpha, there was no difference between the transfectant and parent cells. Although A375-R8PH10 and -R19PH10, transfectants of IL-l alpha anti-sense mRNA expression plasmid, exhibited a decrease in the level of IL-l production, their IL-l sensitivity did not differ from parent cells. These results, therefore, suggest that IL-l alpha production is not essential or sufficient for the acquisition of resistance to the anti-proliferative effect of IL-l.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1996

D-mannose dimer introduced human recombinant interleukin- 1 alpha, NEO IL-1 alpha, exhibits altered tissue distribution in mice.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the carbohydrate-introduced recombinant human IL-l alpha exhibited impairment in both biologic activities in all the experiments in vitro and receptor binding capacity compared with intact IL-l alpha. However, the glycosylated IL-l alpha exhibited selective activities in vivo. In this study, we compared the tissue distribution of IL-l alpha and IL-l alpha coupled with D-Mana (l-6)Man [Man2 alpha) (l-6)IL-l alpha] in mice. Mice were injected by intravenous and intraperitoneal routes with 2.0 mu g radiolabeled IL-l alpha. At 1 and 2 h after IP injection, the level of Man2 alpha) (l-6)IL-l alpha decreased twofold compared with that of IL-l alpha in kidney. In contrast, at 1 hour after administration, Man2 alpha) (l-6)IL-l alpha exhibited higher levels than IL-l alpha in blood, heart, and liver. No significant difference was observed in brain at each time point. IV injection demonstrated that Man2 alpha)(l-6)IL-l alpha decreased to approximately one-half the level of rhIL-l alpha in kidney. In contrast, Man(2 alpha) (l-6)IL-l alpha increased twofold over that of IL-l alpha in liver at 1 h after dosing. These findings are consistent with the result of IP injection. There was no significant difference between IL-l alpha and glycosylated IL-l alpha at 4 h after IV administration. These differences in tissue distribution may contribute to the selective activities of glycosylated IL-l alpha in vivo. The results also suggest that by coupling with mannose dimer, it is possible to develop neocytokines prone to liver distribution.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Identification of a novel growth-promoting factor with a wide target cell spectrum from various tumor cells as catalase.

We have previously reported the purification from human erythrocyte extracts of a novel growth-promoting factor with a wide target cell spectrum. The factor has been identified as catalase. As cell extracts from a variety of tumor cell types exhibited both growth-promoting and catalase activities, the relationship between the two activities was examined using cell extracts from three different cell types, human myeloid cells (U937), human melanoma cells (A375-C6), and human B cells (Daudi). The growth-promoting and catalase activities were well correlated in these cell extracts. The antibody against human catalase absorbed not only catalase activity, but also the growth-promoting activity of extracts from these cell types. Treatment of the cell extracts from these cells with an irreversible catalase inhibitor, aminotriazole, abolished both the catalase and growth-promoting activities. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was neither absorbed with the anti-catalase antibody, nor inhibited by aminotriazole. In addition, GSH-Px exhibited growth-promoting activity only in the presence of glutathione (GSH). These results, in conjunction with the effect of aminotriazole on the growth-promoting activity of catalase, suggest that catalase is the major growth-promoting molecule in the cell extracts, and H2O2-decomposing activity is important. Northern blot analysis revealed that these cells contained authentic catalase mRNA, and the mRNA level was compatible with the catalase and growth-promoting activities in the cell extracts. These results suggest that the growth-promoting activity in the tumor cell extracts is due to catalase.

Amitrole↗

PubMed1996

Molcecular cloning of human antizyme cDNA.

We have cloned the cDNA encoding the human ornithine decarboxylase antizyme from a 5'-stretch cDNA library of human B-cell lymphoma Daudi. The cloned human antizyme cDNA fragment consists of 1063 bp, has 80% homology to the rat antizyme cDNA, but shows almost no homology to the E. coli antizyme gene. Northern hybridization analysis shows that this gene is expressed in a number of human cell lines with an estimated mRNA transcript size of about 1.1 kb. The size of the mRNA suggests that the cloned cDNA fragment probably represents the full length of human antizyme mRNA transcript. Comparison of the human and rat antizymes demonstrates that they are highly conserved at both nucleotide and peptide levels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗