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Biomedical subjects

K Sakaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to K Sakaguchi.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Effects of endothelin-1 on Ca2+ signaling and secretion in parathyroid cells.

It has been previously reported that parathyroid cells express endothelin (ET) receptors and secrete ET-1 in an extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]e)-dependent manner. Here, we examined the effects of ET-1 on intracellular signaling and parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion in dispersed bovine parathyroid (bPT) cells, which comprise several cell types including epithelial and endothelial cells, in two cell lines, the rat parathyroid epithelial (PT-r) and the bovine parathyroid endothelial (BPE-1) cells. An RNA-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that both ETA and ETB receptors are expressed in bovine parathyroid tissue and BPE-1 cells, and only the ETA receptor is expressed in PT-r cells. PT-r cells also expressed an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins[1,4,5]P3) receptor, and ionomycin induced an increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in a Ca(2+)-deficient medium, indicating the presence of an operative intracellular Ca2+ pool in these cells. In cells bathed in 1 mM [Ca2+]e, ET-1 induced a rapid and transient increase in the Ins(1,4,5)P3 production, which was associated with a similar profile of increase in [Ca2+]i and with a peak response of about 800 nM. No changes in the profile of [Ca2+]i responses were observed in ET-1-stimulated cells in the presence of Ca2+ channel blockers, or in Ca(2+)-deficient medium, indicating that Ca2+ mobilization was not associated with Ca2+ entry. Furthermore, a sustained stimulation with ET-1 induced a decrease in [Ca2+]i below the prestimulatory level in a large population of cells, and the percentage of the cell population that shows the sustained decrease of [Ca2+]i increased in higher ET-1 concentrations. [Ca2+]i in PT-r cells was also controlled by a [Ca2+]e-dependent mechanism that changed [Ca2+]i from 28 to 506 nM in a 0.1-3 mM concentration range with an EC50 of 1.2 mM, which is comparable to that reported for bPT cells. In the same range of [Ca2+]e, PTH secretion from bPT cells was inhibited with an IC50 of 1 mM, and ET-1 increased PTH release in a dose-dependent manner but without affecting the IC50 for the [Ca2+]e-dependent inhibition. Thus, the parathyroid epithelial cells appear to respond to ET-1 in a unique way, and the ET autocrine system can be regarded as a possible mechanism to modulate the sensitivity of [Ca2+]e-dependent PTH release.

Animals↗

Backbone dynamics of the oligomerization domain of p53 determined from 15N NMR relaxation measurements.

The backbone dynamics of the tetrameric p53 oligomerization domain (residues 319-360) have been investigated by two-dimensional inverse detected heteronuclear 1H-15N NMR spectroscopy at 500 and 600 MHz. 15N T1, T2, and heteronuclear NOEs were measured for 39 of 40 non-proline backbone NH vectors at both field strengths. The overall correlation time for the tetramer, calculated from the T1/T2 ratios, was found to be 14.8 ns at 35 degrees C. The correlation times and amplitudes of the internal motions were extracted from the relaxation data using the model-free formalism (Lipari G, Szabo A, 1982, J Am Chem Soc 104:4546-4559). The internal dynamics of the structural core of the p53 oligomerization domain are uniform and fairly rigid, with residues 327-354 exhibiting an average generalized order parameter (S2) of 0.88 +/- 0.08. The N- and C-termini exhibit substantial mobility and are unstructured in the solution structure of p53. Residues located at the N- and C-termini, in the beta-sheet, in the turn between the alpha-helix and beta-sheet, and at the C-terminal end of the alpha-helix display two distinct internal motions that are faster than the overall correlation time. Fast internal motions (< or = 20 ps) are within the extreme narrowing limit and are of uniform amplitude. The slower motions (0.6-2.2 ns) are outside the extreme narrowing limit and vary in amplitude.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Computer Graphics↗

Analysis of MHC-specific peptide motifs. Applications in immunotherapy.

The structural features which underlie peptide binding to MHC molecules permit the binding of a diverse array of peptides. Polymorphic residues of class I, and to a lesser extent, class II molecules, determine the peptide selectivities associated with various allomorphs. The motifs which are described here and elsewhere in the literature mainly reflect peptide features which contribute to high affinity binding. While high affinity MHC binding is not an absolute prerequisite for the immunologic relevance of a peptide, motifs provide general guidelines for eliciting and characterizing cellular responses to epitopes presented by a given MHC allomorph or group of related allomorphs. The utility of motifs is underscored by emerging developments in the clinical application of peptides to elicit specific and effective cellular responses.

HLA-A2 Antigen↗

Refined solution structure of the oligomerization domain of the tumour suppressor p53.

The NMR solution structure of the oligomerization domain of the tumour suppressor p53 (residues 319-360) has been refined. The structure comprises a dimer of dimers, oriented in an approximately orthogonal manner. The present structure determination is based on 4,472 experimental NMR restraints which represents a three and half fold increase over our previous work in the number of NOE restraints at the tetramerization interface. A comparison with the recently solved 1.7 A resolution X-ray structure shows that the structures are very similar and that the average angular root-mean-square difference in the interhelical angles is about 1 degree. The results of recent extensive mutagenesis data and the possible effects of mutations which have been identified in human cancers are discussed in the light of the present structure.

Animals↗

Restraint stress enhances the gene expression of prolactin receptor long form at the choroid plexus.

Hormonal control of brain functions is considered to be important in the tolerance of stress, and it is now established that stress elevates serum PRL levels in male or cycling female rats. To investigate whether or how serum PRL acts on the brain during exposure to stress, we analyzed serum PRL levels and the gene expression of brain PRL receptors in rats subjected to restraint stress in the water (RSW). The serum PRL concentration was remarkably increased within 30 min in the rats by exposure to RSW and decreased to the initial level after 4 h of RSW, remaining at this level for up to 7 h of RSW. After the rats were released from the stress, the serum PRL level was significantly lowered in 6 h. Ribonuclease protection assay and in situ hybridization analysis revealed that messenger RNA (mRNA) expression for the long form PRL receptor [PRL-R(L)] was remarkably induced in the rat choroid plexus in 2 h of RSW. The high expression level of PRL-R(L) mRNA in the region was reduced after the rats were released from the stress. PRL-R(L) mRNA expression in the hypothalamus was at lower levels than those in the choroid plexus before and during the RSW treatment. The short form PRL receptor mRNA expression in the rat brain was considerably lower than expression of the long form receptor mRNA before or during RSW. The results indicated that the restraint stress caused a rapid increase in serum PRL and induced the gene expression for PRL-R(L) in the choroid plexus, suggesting stress-induced and choroid plexus PRL-R(L)-mediated transport of serum PRL into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Animals↗

Evaluation of liposomal erythropoietin prepared with reverse-phase evaporation vesicle method by subcutaneous administration in rats.

We encapsulated erythropoietin (Epo) in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes with soybean-derived sterols (SS-liposomes) and its glucoside (SG-liposomes) by reverse-phase evaporation vesicle method, and evaluated them by subcutaneous administration in rats. With 4 min of sonication, the damage to Epo activity was observed mainly in the non-encapsulated Epo in the liposomes. This study indicated that the bilayer of liposomes had the ability to protect the Epo activity, by reducing the aggregation that was caused by interaction between Epo molecules. The SG-liposomes had a higher retention of the Epo activity the SS-liposomes. 25.3% or 33.6% of activity was retained by SS-liposomes under the conditions of 4 min or 1 min of sonication, while 53.3% or 58.3% of the activity was retained by SG-liposomes under the same conditions. Shorter sonication was available to minimize the loss of the Epo activity. Epo in SG-liposomes appeared to increase the activity.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗

Retrospective analysis of the multidisciplinary treatment for 534 hepatocellular carcinoma patients over a 12-year period.

Multidisciplinary treatments for 534 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) over a 12-year period from 1981 to 1992 were retrospectively studied. Cumulative survival curve of all patients showed a fine hyperbolic curve, and 1-year, 3-year-, 5-year survivals were 66, 33, and 18%, respectively. Survival of female patients was better than male patients, and survival of HBsAg-negative patients was better than that of HBsAg-positive patients. Several background factors such as the Child-Pugh classification, liver function tests or factors, number of tumors, and the size of the main tumor were analyzed, and each factor was related to survival. Survival curves of 3 treatments, hepatectomy, percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE)+PEI, overlapped to a large degree. Also the survival curve of the more recent 6-year period from 1987 to 1992 was better than that of the earlier 6-year period from 1981 to 1986.

Aged↗

Acute aortic dissection, aortic insufficiency, and a single coronary artery in a patient with Turner's syndrome.

A rare case of acute aortic dissection and aortic regurgitation in a patient with Turner's syndrome is reported. A 25-year-old woman with a history of Turner's syndrome presented to our hospital with complaints of chest pain and dyspnea. Emergent surgery was performed after chest roentgenography and two-dimensional echocardiography. Intraoperatively, the patient was found to have a single coronary artery and a bicuspid aortic valve. The patient was treated successfully with a composite graft consisting of a 24 mm woven dacron graft, a 21 mm St. Jude Medical aortic prosthetic valve, and an equine pericardial skirt. The composite graft was inverted into the ascending aorta and connected to a small coronary artery graft. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. A cardiac catheterization was performed postoperatively and revealed a competent anastomotic site and no evidence of aortic regurgitation. We provide a brief review of coronary anomalies and aortic diseases associated with patients with Turner's syndrome. The most commonly associated complications include coarctation of the aorta and bicuspid aortic valve disease. The incidence of coronary anomalies in patients with Turner's syndrome is maybe rare.

Acute Disease↗

[Clinicopathological study on reported case for bronchogenic carcinoma].

After a primary operation for bronchogenic carcinoma, eight out of 253 patients (3.2%) underwent reoperation for local recurrence or intrathoracic metastasis. The histology was well or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma in all cases. The average interval between the first and second operation was 34 months (range: six to 63 months). There were three local recurrences, two lung metastases and one mediastinal lymph node metastasis (#3a) ipsilaterally two lung metastases contralaterally. Completion pneumonectomy was underwent in one, wedge or segmental resection in five and excision of lymph node in one case after an initial ipsilateral lobectomy. Two patients underwent contralateral wedge or segmental resection after initial lobectomy. Four of eight patients died of brain, liver, or bone metastases after reoperation, the time of survival averaging 63 months. Two patients died of pneumonia, the time survival averaging 92 months. Two patients are still alive, one in 52 months and another in 20 months after reoperation.

Adult↗

Synthetic antigenic peptides as a new strategy for immunotherapy of cancer.

Antigens presented by class I of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are recognised by the T cell receptor of CD8+ cytolytic effector cells (CTLs), while class II molecules present antigens to CD4+ helper T cells. For both class I and class II molecules, structure and function are linked through the binding of peptides. Consensus or individual sequences have been obtained for naturally processed peptides bound to a variety of class I and class II molecules, revealing the general features of peptides associated with MHC molecules. The interactions between peptides and MHC molecules have been more clearly defined by the characterization of the three dimensional structure of several different MHC molecules. CTLs have been implicated in immune responses against tumors and it is now well documented that some human tumors express specific antigens, which are recognised by CTLs and could potentially be used in immunotherapy protocols. The use of antigenic peptides to elicit a specific and effective CTL response in vivo offers several advantages over the use of other antigenic moieties. Emerging strategies for the safe and effective administration of peptides to humans may lead to their use in the immunological prevention and treatment of cancer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Grb2/Ash binds directly to tyrosines 1068 and 1086 and indirectly to tyrosine 1148 of activated human epidermal growth factor receptors in intact cells.

The activation of receptor tyrosine kinases generates tyrosine-phosphorylated recognition motifs for the binding of signaling proteins containing Src homology 2 domains. We determined the binding sites of Grb2/Ash, an Src homology 2 domain-containing adaptor protein, within epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, using Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing human EGF receptor mutants in which one of the autophosphorylation sites was retained. In intact cells, the amount of Grb2/Ash coimmunoprecipitated with mutant receptors retaining tyrosines 992, 1068, 1086, 1148, or 1173 was approximately 10, 85, 55, 50, or 20% of wild-type levels, respectively. The association of Grb2/Ash with in vitro autophosphorylated EGF receptor mutants was detectable in those retaining either tyrosines 1068 or 1086 but not in other mutants including those retaining tyrosine 1148. In peptide inhibition assay, phosphorylated peptides representing tyrosines 1068 and 1086 inhibited the binding of Grb2/Ash to in vitro autophosphorylated wild-type EGF receptors, whereas the other peptides representing tyrosines 992, 1148, and 1173 failed to inhibit the binding. Given that tyrosine 1148 of the activated EGF receptor is a major binding site of Shc (Okabayashi, Y., Kido, Y., Okutani, T., Sugimoto, Y., Sakaguchi, K., and Kasuga, M. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 18674-18678), these results indicate that tyrosines 1068 and 1086 of activated human EGF receptors are direct high affinity binding sites of Grb2/Ash and that tyrosine 1148 is an indirect binding site through Shc in intact cells.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Calcium modulates the cyclin D1 expression in a rat parathyroid cell line.

We have used a rat epithelial parathyroid cell line (PT-r) to study the expression and regulation of D-type cyclins. In PT-r cells the cyclin D1 gene is the most abundantly expressed, being transcribed in at least two mRNAs whose levels oscillate during the cell cycle. We also screened a cDNA library prepared from PT-r cells with the human cyclin D1 probe and isolated its rat homologue. Cyclin D2 and D3 mRNAs are both represented in PT-r cells but the former one is only barely detectable. Moreover, the oscillation of cyclin D3 transcript is slightly delayed when compared to cyclin D1 and D2. Since extracellular calcium inhibits parathyroid cell proliferation, we looked for the effect of the ion on the expression of cyclin D genes in PT-r cells. Increasing amounts of calcium in the incubation medium reduced the expression of rat cyclin D1 and D2. The effect appears to be cell-specific and probably mediated through the inhibition of mitogenic signalling pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel oncogene, ost, encodes a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that potentially links Rho and Rac signaling pathways.

Transfection of NIH3T3 cells with an osteosarcoma expression cDNA library led to the appearance of foci of morphologically transformed cells which were found to harbor a novel oncogene, ost. The ost product was activated by truncation of the N-terminal domain of the ost proto-oncogene and was highly tumorigenic in nude mouse assays. The proto-ost cDNA, isolated subsequently, encodes a predicted protein of 100 kDa containing DH (Db1 homology) and PH (pleckstrin homology) domains. Ost is mainly phosphorylated on serine and localized in the cytoplasm. Purified Ost protein catalyzed guanine nucleotide exchange on RhoA and Cdc42 among the Rho and Ras family members tested, indicating that Ost can activate these small GTP-binding proteins. Ost did not detectably associate with RhoA or Cdc42, but interacted specifically with the GTP-bound form of Rac1, suggesting that Ost can function as an effector of Rac1. These results suggest that Ost is a critical regulatory component which links pathways that signal through Rac1, RhoA and Cdc42. Of the tissues examined, expression of ost was the highest in brain and could be localized to neurons and alpha-tanycytes, suggesting that Ost may participate in axonal transport in these specialized cells.

3T3 Cells↗

Molecular cloning and expression of the acidic fibroblast growth factor receptors in a rat parathyroid cell line (PT-r). Parathyroid cell-specific calcium-dependent change of ligand accessibility and covalent attachment of heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan to the receptors.

We have previously identified two fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors with higher affinity for acidic FGF rather than basic FGF in a rat parathyroid cell line (PT-r). Carbohydrate analyses of the receptors suggested the presence of three different types of FGF receptors, a 150-kDa glycoprotein receptor, a approximately 150-kDa heparan sulfate-proteoglycan receptor, and a 130-kDa glycoprotein receptor (Sakaguchi, K., Yanagishita, M., Takeuchi, Y., and Aurbach, G.D. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 7270-7278). Here, we have cloned two isoforms of the FGF receptors from PT-r cells; one with two immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains (clone a), and the other with an additional Ig-like domain and an acidic box (clone b). They showed highest homology to the mouse and human keratinocyte growth factor receptors among the FGF receptors reported. Clones a and b had one and three possible glycosaminoglycan attachment sites, respectively. Heparitinase treatment of PT-r cells transfected with clone a suggested that the protein for the 130-kDa glycoprotein receptor was encoded by clone a, and that the same protein also served as a core protein for the approximately 150-kDa heparan sulfate-proteoglycan receptor. Heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan attachment to the 150-kDa receptor encoded by clone b was not detectable by the same enzyme treatment. Site-directed mutagenesis (from Ser to Ala) studies of the consensus sequence for the attachment of glycosaminoglycans further supported the presence of covalently attached heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan in the approximately 150-kDa heparan sulfate-proteoglycan receptor. These receptors overexpressed in PT-r cells changed ligand accessibility or apparently translocated after changing extracellular calcium concentrations in a manner similar to the native receptors in PT-r cells (Sakaguchi, K. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 24554-24562), whereas those expressed in CHO-K1 or NIH/3T3 cells did not. These findings strongly suggest that the two FGF receptor isoforms cloned here represent the acidic FGF receptors that we reported earlier. A subpopulation of the receptors carries heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan covalently attached to the core protein, and the change in ligand accessibility in response to the shift in ambient calcium concentration is specific to the parathyroid cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Specific sequences from the carboxyl terminus of human p53 gene product form anti-parallel tetramers in solution.

Human p53 is a tumor-suppressor gene product associated with control of the cell cycle and with growth suppression, and it is known to form homotetramers in solution. To investigate the relationship of structure to tetramerization, nine peptides corresponding to carboxyl-terminal sequences in human p53 were chemically synthesized, and their equilibrium associative properties were determined by analytical ultracentrifugation. Secondary structure, as determined by circular dichroism measurements, was correlated with oligomerization properties of each peptide. The sedimentation profiles of peptides 319-393 and 319-360 fit a two-state model of peptide monomers in equilibrium with peptide tetramers. Successive deletion of amino- and carboxyl-terminal residues from 319-360 reduced tetramer formation. Further, substitution of alanine for Leu-323, Tyr-327, and Leu-330 abolished tetramerization. Circular dichroism studies showed that peptide 319-351 had the highest alpha-helix content, while the other peptides that did not form tetramers had low helical structure. These studies define a minimal region and identify certain critical residues involved in tetramerization. Cross-linking studies between monomer units in the tetramer suggest that the helices adopt an anti-parallel arrangement. We propose that conformational shifts in the helical structure of the p53 tetramerization domain result in a repositioning of subunits relative to one another. This repositioning provides an explanation relating conformational changes at the carboxyl terminus with changes in sequence-specific DNA binding by the highly conserved central domain.

Circular Dichroism↗