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Biomedical subjects

K Takeda

Publications and source records attributed to K Takeda.

At least 865 records · Page 48Linked to original sources

Neuropeptide Y inhibits nicotinic cholinergic currents but not voltage-dependent calcium currents in bovine chromaffin cells.

The effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY; 1-36) and NPY fragment (16-36) on nicotinic currents (IACh) and voltage-dependent calcium currents (ICa) were studied in bovine chromaffin cells using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The peak amplitude of inward nicotinic currents was markedly depressed by both NPY (1-36) and NPY (16-36). In contrast, ICa was unaffected by either NPY (1-36) or NPY (16-36). Both pertussis toxin pretreatment and including GDP [beta-S] in the patch pipette solution completely abolished the inhibitory effect of NPY on IACh. It is concluded that inhibition of IACh probably represents the mechanism by which NPY decreases catecholamine release from adrenal medulla. This effect appears to be mediated by a G-protein-coupled Y2 receptor.

Animals↗

Changes of fluorescence lifetime and rotational correlation time of bovine serum albumin labeled with 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulfonyl chloride in guanidine and thermal denaturations.

The nanosecond fluorescence depolarization method was applied to measure the fluorescence lifetime (tau) and the rotational correlation time (phi) of bovine serum albumin (BSA) labeled with 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulfonyl chloride (dansyl-Cl). Changes of tau and phi of dansyl BSA in the guanidine denaturation and in the thermal denaturation were examined. In parallel, the secondary structural change of dansyl BSA was followed by circular dichroism measurements. The magnitude of tau was almost unchanged between 1 and 2M guanidine, where the secondary structure of the protein was predominantly disrupted; whereas that of phi began to increase before the disruption of secondary structure in the guanidine denaturation. In the thermal denaturation, in contrast, changes of both tau and phi occurred in a temperature range where the secondary structure was predominantly disrupted. The volume of equivalent sphere (Ve) and the axial ratio (rho) for the BSA were 3.6-3.8 x 10(-19) cm3 and 3.6 at 2 M guanidine as against 2.1 x 10(-19) cm3 and 2.2 in the absence of guanidine (25 degrees C), respectively. The magnitudes of Ve and rho were 4.9 x 10(-19) cm3 and 4.5 at 65 degrees C, respectively. Although the secondary structural change of dansyl BSA was irreversible in the thermal denaturation, Ve and rho were reversible.

Dansyl Compounds↗

Gene mapping of human bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyl transferase on 1q21-q23 by a cell sorter and in situ hybridization.

The human liver bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (bilirubin UDPGT) [EC 2.4.1.17] is responsible for the enzyme deficiency in Crigler-Najjar syndrome and/or Gilbert's syndrome. The UDPGT, former shows severe jaundice resulted from a complete absence of bilirubin while the latter has a mild manifestation due to a reduction of the enzyme activity. The gene locus of bilirubin UDPGT was mapped to chromosome 1 by spot-blot hybridization using a cell-sorter, and its regional locus was assigned to 1q21-q23 by high resolution in situ hybridization.

Cell Line↗

Dual effect of trimebutine on contractility of the guinea pig ileum via the opioid receptors.

Preparations of longitudinal muscle attached to myenteric plexus from guinea pig ileum were used to observe the effect of trimebutine on intestinal motility. Electrical stimulation at 0.2 Hz and 5 Hz produced contraction mediated by the release of acetylcholine in the preparations. The response to low-frequency stimulation (0.2 Hz) was inhibited by trimebutine (10(-8)-10(-5) mol/L), and the response to high-frequency stimulation (5 Hz) was enhanced by the drug at low concentrations (10(-8)-10(-7) mol/L) and inhibited by high concentrations (10(-6)-10(-5) mol/L). This enhancement was mimicked by [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin, and was antagonized by naloxone but not by MR2266. Enhancement by trimebutine was inhibited by yohimbine. Trimebutine (greater than or equal to 10(-8) mol/L) inhibited stimulation (5 Hz)-evoked release of norepinephrine, and the trimebutine effect was antagonized by naloxone but not by MR2266. Low concentrations of trimebutine inhibit norepinephrine release via the mu-opioid receptor and enhance intestinal motility by preventing the adrenergic inhibition of acetylcholine release. Inhibition by trimebutine was antagonized either by naloxone or MR2266. High concentrations of trimebutine may inhibit acetylcholine release via the mu- and kappa-opioid receptors, after which the intestinal motility is inhibited. Trimebutine at further high concentrations (greater than 10(-5) mol/L) contracted single smooth muscle cells from the circular muscle layers but not from the longitudinal muscle layers. The usual dose of trimebutine may exert dual effect on the intestinal motility indirectly through cholinergic and adrenergic neurons without direct effect on the smooth muscle.

Acetylcholine↗

Complete thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) deficiency caused by a single nucleotide deletion in the TBG gene.

Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) is the major thyroid hormone transport protein. Several inherited TBG variants resulting in partial and complete TBG deficiency have been shown to be caused by one or two nucleotide replacements in the coding regions of the TBG gene. Each manifests as a different change in the physical properties and/or biological function of the mature TBG protein. We now report sequencing of the entire coding region and exon-intron junctions of a TBG allele of a subject with inherited complete TBG deficiency, previously classified as TBG-CD6. A single nucleotide deletion was found in the codon for amino acid 165 of the normal TBG molecule. The shift in the reading frame due to this nucleotide deletion results in downstream encoding of two different amino acids followed by an early stop codon. This results in a mature protein of only 167 residues, as compared with the normal 395. Nine members of the TBG-CD6 family were tested for the presence of this mutation by allele-specific amplification. Seven of them were found to be carriers of the defect, with five hemizygous subjects manifesting complete TBG deficiency. The mutant allele correlated with the results of TBG analysis in serum. This defect was not present in affected subjects of any of seven unrelated families with complete TBG deficiency tested.

Base Sequence↗

Disposition of amino acid synaptic transmitters, acetylcholine and substance P in the LM-suprageniculate nuclear complex of the cat's thalamus.

Immunocytochemical analysis with antibodies raised against aspartate, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and substance P (SP) have allowed the transmitter characterisation and distribution of cells of the lateralis medialis-nucleus suprageniculatus (LM-SG) complex to be made at the level of the light microscope. We have found that the intranuclear distributions of aspartate and glutamate differed substantially from that of GABA, as well as there being specific and, in some cases, major differences in the respective populations of cells labelled with all three amino-acid-sensitive antibodies. ChAT-labelled elements were disposed very similarly to acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive subregions of the nuclear complex, while SP labelling was comparatively weak, albeit present, throughout the region. These data provide an important first step towards the further understanding of the details of the neurochemical and functional identity of the LM-SG complex.

Acetylcholine↗

The effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the growth and differentiation of cultured human outer root sheath cells from normal subjects and patients with vitamin D-dependent rickets type II with alopecia.

We examined the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) on the growth and differentiation of cultured human hair outer root sheath cells (ORSC) from normal subjects and patients with vitamin D-dependent rickets type II (DDR-II) with alopecia. 1,25(OH)2D3 dose-dependently suppressed the plating efficiency, clonal growth, and DNA synthesis of normal ORSC. It enhanced the cornified envelope formation and caused morphological changes in the cells. All results indicated the existence of specific receptors for 1,25(OH)2D3 in the ORSC, and suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 is a potent inhibitor of proliferation of ORSC as well as a stimulator of terminal differentiation. However, the cells from DDR-II patients with alopecia did not respond to 1,25(OH)2D3, suggesting a lack of the specific receptors in the cells. The differences in the cellular response to the hormone between the normal ORSC and those from the patients were apparent and easily distinguishable, therefore this experiment may be a rapid and simple diagnostic test for DDR-II patients with alopecia. Large number of hairs were difficult to obtain from patients with alopecia, and we developed a new culture method to accomplish these studies from a few plucked hair follicles. Our system may be useful in the culture of ORSC from limited number of follicles, and could be utilized to analyse the cellular characteristics of ORSC in patients with hair diseases.

Alopecia↗

Culture of human outer root sheath cells from plucked hair follicles in serum-free conditions.

We succeeded in culturing human outer root sheath cells (ORSC) in serum-free conditions without a biological feeder layer. The combination of collagen type IV substrate and modified MCDB 153 medium supplemented with bovine pituitary gland extract (K-GM medium) could support the growth of ORSC. These cells can be serially cultivated for at least 4 passages and stored in liquid nitrogen with good recovery. Thus, a large series of experiments using ORSC may be run simultaneously.

Cell Division↗

Comparison of indium-111 antimyosin antibody and technetium-99m pyrophosphate localization in reperfused and nonreperfused myocardial infarction.

Recent imaging studies suggest that technetium-99m (Tc-99m) pyrophosphate yields a considerably larger estimate of myocardial infarct size than does indium-111 (In-111) monoclonal antimyosin antibody. To determine whether Tc-99m pyrophosphate may be taken up by reversibly injured myocytes, particularly in the setting of coronary reperfusion, the tissue localization of Tc-99m pyrophosphate and antimyosin antibody was compared in 11 dogs 24 to 68 h after anterior descending coronary artery occlusion (4 dogs with permanent occlusion, 7 with reperfusion). Technetium-99m pyrophosphate and In-111 antimyosin antibody content was determined in serial 2 to 3 mm wide endocardial and epicardial samples taken through the infarct zone in multiple short-axis left ventricular slices. The number of samples with increased In-111 antimyosin antibody (defined as greater than or equal to mean + 2 SD of normal) was not significantly different from that with increased Tc-99m pyrophosphate. This was true in both reperfused and nonreperfused infarcts. However, the intensity of uptake of Tc-99m pyrophosphate exceeded that of In-111 antimyosin antibody, particularly in the border zones of reperfused infarcts, and the area with moderate to marked increase in tracer uptake (greater than or equal to 2 times normal) was significantly larger with Tc-99m pyrophosphate than In-111 antimyosin antibody (p less than 0.001). A specific zone of abnormal Tc-99m pyrophosphate with normal In-111 antimyosin antibody content could not be identified. Histologic evidence of myocardial necrosis was found in virtually every sample with increased In-111 antimyosin antibody, Tc-99m pyrophosphate, or both.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Comparative studies of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors with and without the SH-radical.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an SH-radical in an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor on PGI2 generation, intracellular cGMP, and Ca2+ kinetics in vascular endothelial cells. In the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the non-SH containing ACE inhibitors, delapril and enalapril, did not result in significant changes in cGMP concentrations. By comparison, captopril significantly (P less than .01) increased cGMP concentrations. Only captopril showed a significant (P less than .01) effect on 45Ca kinetics in cultured human vascular endothelial cells. Captopril also decreased PGI2 generation in vascular endothelial cells. These effects were not seen with delapril or enalapril. The significance of the SH moiety in ACE inhibitors remains controversial. However, these results suggest that there could be differences in the vascular actions of ACE inhibitors related to the presence or absence of SH radical.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Altered noradrenergic projection to hypothalamus via baroreflex in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To determine whether noradrenergic projections to the posterior hypothalamus via baroreflex are altered in the hypertensive state, the extracellular norepinephrine (NE) content of the posterior hypothalamus was measured in both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) after sinoaortic denervation (SAD) or sham operation. In WKY, blood pressure (BP) and extracellular NE content 24 h after SAD were significantly higher than those of sham-operated rats. Contrarily, SAD did not increase both BP and NE in the posterior hypothalamus of SHR. These results suggest that the noradrenergic pathway via the baroreflex is impaired in SHR. This mechanism may play an important role in the development and maintenance of hypertension in SHR.

Adrenergic Fibers↗

Characterization of v-sis protein expressed in silkworm larvae using the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus vector.

The v-sis oncogene of simian sarcoma virus encodes a protein which is homologous to the human platelet-derived growth factor B-chain. The v-sis protein undergoes a series of processing steps including dimer formation and proteolytic digestion to generate several molecular sizes of the protein. Two of these v-sis proteins were expressed alone or as polyhedrin-sis fusion proteins using the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus vector. The polyhedrin-sis fusion proteins contained a collagenase-sensitive site at the junction. The expression levels of the fusion proteins whose polyhedrin portions consisted of only 8 amino-terminal amino acids were 3-4 times higher than those of non-fusion proteins. One of these fusion proteins was expressed in silkworm larvae and the v-sis protein was isolated from the fusion protein by collagenolysis followed by chromatography. Because the purified v-sis protein exhibited the same molecular size on SDS-polyacrylamide gels under reducing and non-reducing conditions, it was concluded to be monomeric in structure. It possessed chemotactic activity but lacked mitogenic activity. In addition, a small amount (approximately 1%) of monomeric v-sis protein was converted in vitro to the mitogenically active v-sis protein, which could be a homo-dimer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Factor analysis of gated cardiac blood-pool data: application to patients with congenital heart disease.

Ventricular emptying was evaluated in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) with left-to-right (L-R) shunt by factor analysis of gated equilibrium radionuclide angiography. In 36 (95%) of 38 ventricular septal defect patients and 20 (95%) of 21 atrial septal defect patients with small L-R shunt (pulmonary to systemic blood flow, Qp/Qs less than or equal to 2.5), as well as all patent ductus arteriosus patients, two significant cardiac factors corresponding to the ventricles (ventricular factor) and the atria plus large vessels (atrial factor) were extracted. However, in all of nine ventricular septal defect patients with large L-R shunt (Qp/Qs greater than 2.5), two different ventricular factors were determined which corresponded to the right and left ventricles (RV and LV). The RV factor showed a delay of ejection phase compared with the LV factor, and the delay was correlated with the value of Qp/Qs (r = 0.82, P less than 0.01). In eight (80%) of 10 ASD patients with large L-R shunt (Qp/Qs greater than 2.5), RV was described by the two different ventricular factors located in the septal and free-wall regions. The LV was extracted in the same factor as that located in the septal region of RV. This study demonstrates the capability of factor analysis in the pathophysiological investigation of CDH with L-R shunt.

Adolescent↗

Culm Brittleness of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Mutants Is Caused by Smaller Number of Cellulose Molecules in Cell Wall.

The physicochemical nature of the cell wall was determined in the fourth internode of three isogenic brittle mutants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and corresponding nonbrittle strains. Cellulose contents of the brittle culms were 17.5 to 20.3% of those of corresponding nonbrittle strains. No major difference was found in lignin and noncellulose components (except glucose) between brittle and nonbrittle strains. Maximum bending stresses of brittle culms were 38.0 to 54.2% of those of corresponding nonbrittle strains. The degree of polymerization of cellulose, measured by viscometry, was similar between the brittle and the nonbrittle strains. Mole number of cellulose molecules in a unit length of brittle culms, calculated by dividing cellulose mass by molecular weight, was 7.7 to 17.3% of those of the nonbrittle strains. These results indicate that brittleness of mutant culms is due to fewer numbers of cellulose molecules in the cell walls.

Journal Article↗

Collagen metabolism in cutis laxa fibroblasts: increased collagenase gene expression associated with unaltered expression of type I and type III collagen.

Collagen metabolism was studied in cutis laxa by analyzing collagen and collagenase gene expression in three dermal fibroblast strains from patients with congenital cutis laxa and comparing them with fibroblasts obtained from age-matched healthy subjects. Normal collagen synthetic activity was observed in the cutis laxa fibroblasts. An increased level of collagenase mRNA and unaltered levels of alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) collagen mRNA were found in all cutis laxa cell strains by dot blot hybridization. Reduced levels of elastin mRNA were also detected in these strains. However, no qualitative differences in these mRNA transcripts were detected between the control and cutis laxa fibroblasts by Northern blot analysis. Collagenase activity in fibroblast culture supernatants was then measured using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled type I collagen. Increased collagenolytic activity in cutis laxa fibroblast culture supernatants was also found. These data suggest that increased collagenase expression of fibroblasts is related to the structural abnormality of dermal connective tissue in cutis laxa.

Collagen↗

Development of the hair in the rat: in vivo and in transplanted tissue.

Differentiation of the hair was examined in the head skin of rat embryos aged from days 12.5 to 18.5 of gestation. In 12.5-day-old embryos, the skin consisted of single layered epidermis and underlying loose connective tissue. On day 17.5 of gestation, the epidermis appeared to have a two or three layered epithelium, and the subepidermal connective tissue gave rise to an overlying dense tissue, into which blood capillaries arose from the deeper layer. The epidermis showed partial thickenings, where basal cells were arranged perpendicular to the surface of the epidermis. Beneath the epidermal thickenings, a number of connective tissue cells appeared to have accumulated and occasionally were accompanied by blood capillaries. In sequential development of the skin, the thickenings protruded as cords to the underlying dermal tissue and formed hair follicles covered with a connective tissue sheath. Skin obtained from 12.5-day-old embryos was transplanted singly or with cerebral cortex into the third ventricle of adult male rats. Thirty days after the transplantation, hairs and sebaceous glands had developed from the grafted skin. Hair growth tended to be more prominent in the cotransplanted skin grafts. However, no nerve fibers immunoreactive for substance P or calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were found in the grafted skin, although these fibers appeared in the dermis at the end of gestation in vivo. These results showed that the skin of 12.5-day-old embryos was able to induce hair growth in the third ventricle without accompanying peripheral neuronal fibers or blood capillaries, although the effects of connective tissue cells could not be ruled out.

Animals↗

Transcutaneous PO2 and PCO2 measurements in various skin lesions.

Low tcPO2 levels were observed in various skin lesions, indicating that most pathological changes in the skin induce such a reduction. In contrast, the tcPCO2 changed less, with the exception of marked elevations in bullous or prenecrotic lesions. This procedure may have practical applications in clinical dermatology, particularly in quantitating the response to therapy and in predicting a necrotic change.

Adolescent↗

Murine tumor cells metastasizing selectively in the liver: ability to produce hepatocyte-activating cytokines interleukin-1 and/or -6.

Increasing evidence suggests that an intimate correlation may exist between the production of a cytokine, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and the ability to metastasize spontaneously in the lungs in murine transplantable tumors. In the present study, we further examined the cytokine production by tumor cells with the ability to metastasize in the liver. Four out of 8 test tumors, which produced metastasis in the lungs but not in the liver, exhibited the ability to produce GM-CSF activity in culture. Three other tumors produced metastasis in the liver but not in the lungs. These tumor cells exhibited no ability to produce GM-CSF, but two of them expressed an interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA and also produced IL-6 activity in the culture fluids. One of the two IL-6-producing tumors and the remaining liver metastatic tumor produced interleukin-1 (IL-1) as revealed by bioassay and neutralization test. In the tumor cells producing pulmonary metastasis, neither IL-6 gene expression nor IL-1 production could be detected. The last test tumor, which produced no metastasis either in the lungs or liver, produced neither GM-CSF, IL-1 nor IL-6. Furthermore, injection of antisera reactive to recombinant murine IL-6 caused a marked decrease of the number of liver metastases of an IL-6-producing tumor, but not lung metastases of a GM-CSF-producing tumor, which could be markedly inhibited by injection of anti-recombinant murine GM-CSF sera. These results suggest the possibility that there may be a correlation between the cytokines produced by tumor cells and their organ specificity in spontaneous metastasis, and also indicate that these tumor models may provide a useful tool for studies on the role of cytokines in tumor metastasis.

Animals↗