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Biomedical subjects

K Tsukamoto

Publications and source records attributed to K Tsukamoto.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Purification and characterization of low density lipoprotein containing apolipoprotein B-48 from the plasma of an apoE-deficient patient.

The plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) of an apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient patient was reported to contain apoB-48 (D. Kurosaka et al., Atherosclerosis 1988;88:15), which is a structural protein of chylomicrons and is not present in the fasting plasma LDL of normal subjects. We separated the LDLs containing apoB-48 (apoB-48 LDL) and apoB-100 (apoB-100 LDL) from the plasma of this patient using heparin-sepharose column chromatography. The apoB-48 LDL contained apoA-I, apoA-IV, and apoCs besides apoB-48. There were no differences in size and lipid composition of the apoB-48 and the apoB-100 LDLs, both of which contained more triglyceride than LDL from normal subjects. After incubation with apoE, the apoB-48 LDL contained twice the amount of apoE than the apoB-100 LDL and showed a marked decrease in apoA-I and apoA-IV content. These results suggest that lipoproteins containing apoB-48 in normal subjects can be quickly taken up through an apoE-mediated receptor mechanism after receiving apoE in exchange for apoA-I and A-IV.

Apolipoprotein B-100↗

Evolution of the freshwater eels.

The freshwater anguillid eels have an unusual life history and world-wide distribution. Questions about the phylogenetic relationships of this group and how their long spawning migrations and larval phase may contribute to their global distribution have not been addressed. This paper is first presentation of molecular phylogeny of Anguilla species, and based on this phylogenetic tree we suggest new aspect of the evolution of this group. Namely, ancestral eels originated during the Eocene or earlier, in the western Pacific Ocean near present-day Indonesia. A group derived from this ancestor dispersed westward, probably by larval transport in the global circum-equatorial current through the northern edge of the Tethys Sea. This group split into the ancestor of the European and American eels, which entered into the Atlantic Ocean, and a second group, which dispersed southward and split into the east African species and Australian species. Thus the world-wide distribution of the eel family can be understood from knowledge of continental drift, ocean currents, a specialized larva and evolutionary forces favoring dispersal and speciation of segregated gene pool.

Anguilla↗

CD8 cytotoxic T-cell clone rapidly transfers autoimmune diabetes in very young NOD and MHC class I-compatible scid mice.

A CD8 T-cell clone (YNK1.3) generated from acutely diabetic NOD mouse islets, showed proliferation and cytotoxicity when challenged with NOD and BALB/c islet cells and NOD-derived insulinoma cells. When 1-2 x 10(7) YNK1.3 cells were administered to 7-10-day-old NOD mice, the cells transferred overt diabetes very rapidly in each of the 16 recipients within 4 days of cell transfer. However, of 14 recipients receiving YNK 1.3 cells above 14 days of age none became diabetic. Fluorescent dye-labelled YNK1.3 cells extensively accumulated in the islets by 36 h after transfer in 7-day-old NOD recipients, while no significant insulitis was seen in 21-day-old recipients. Over half of NOD-scid recipients (5/9) rapidly became diabetic within 5 days after transfer of 1-2 x 10(7) YNK1.3 cells at 7 days of age, whereas only one of 12 recipients over 14 days of age became diabetic. Furthermore, YNK1.3 cells also transferred diabetes to H-2Kd-matched very young BALB/c-scid and CB17-scid mice, but not to C57BL/6-scid mice. Thus, optimally activated islet-specific CD8 T-cell clones are able to rapidly transfer diabetes to NOD and MHC class I compatible scid mice when a large enough number is administered at 7 days of age. Administration of monoclonal antibodies against adhesion molecules involved in the trafficking of lymphocytes from the circulation into the inflammatory tissues, could not prevent the cellular infiltration of YNK1.3 cells into the islets in 7-day-old NOD recipients. The results indicate that islet cells in the mouse around 7 days of age are generally susceptible to cytotoxic CD8 T cells, suggesting, therefore, that CD8 T cells may play an important role in the initiation of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Expression of aromatase cytochrome P450 protein and messenger ribonucleic acid in human endometriotic and adenomyotic tissues but not in normal endometrium.

To determine whether local estrogen production takes place in endometriotic or adenomyotic tissues, in eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis, and in normal endometrium, tissue specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry, catalytic activity, and mRNA expression for aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom). P450arom was immunohistochemically localized in the cytoplasm of glandular cells of endometriotic and adenomyotic tissues, and of eutopic endometrium from patients with the respective diseases, whereas estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors were localized in the nuclei of the glandular cells and stroma. Aromatase activity in the microsomal fraction of adenomyotic tissues was inhibited by the addition of danazol, aromatase inhibitors, and anti-human placental P450arom monoclonal antibody (mAb3-2C2) in a manner similar to such inhibition in other human tissues. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis also revealed P450arom mRNA in these tissues. However, neither P450arom protein activity nor mRNA was detected in endometrial specimens obtained from normal menstruating women with cervical carcinoma in situ but without any other gynecological disease. These results suggest that at a local level, endometriotic and adenomyotic tissues produce estrogens, which may be involved in the tissue growth through interacting with the estrogen receptor.

Adult↗

Adenoviral vector-mediated overexpression of serum amyloid A in apoA-I-deficient mice.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute phase reactant that can become the predominant apolipoprotein of high density lipoprotein (HDL) during severe inflammatory states. However, the function of SAA is unknown. To study the ability of SAA to form HDL in the absence of apolipoprotein A-I, we expressed the mouse SAA pI 6.15 (CE/J) isoform in apolipoprotein A-I knock-out (apoA-I (-/-)) mice using a recombinant adenovirus. As a control, apoA-I (-/-) mice were injected with an adenovirus expressing human apoA-I. High level expression of plasma SAA was obtained in the absence of any endogenous acute phase SAA production. SAA expression increased plasma HDL cholesterol levels about 2-fold, but to a lesser extent than the expression of apoA-I (about 10-fold). The HDL particles isolated by density ultracentrifugation from SAA-expressing mice were heterogeneous in size and composition and rich in free cholesterol as well as apoE and apoA-IV. Of the SAA expressed in the plasma, only a small fraction (4%) was associated with HDL particles in contrast to expressed apoA-I, of which 62% was associated with HDL. We conclude that SAA is unable to substitute for apoA-I in HDL particle formation.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

Comparison of human apoA-I expression in mouse models of atherosclerosis after gene transfer using a second generation adenovirus.

Gene transfer and expression of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major protein component of high density lipoproteins (HDL), is a potentially attractive method for investigating the effects of apoA-I on atherosclerosis. We constructed a second generation recombinant adenovirus encoding the human apoA-I cDNA. This adenoviral vector or a control vector was injected intravenously into apoE-deficient mice fed a chow diet and low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR)-deficient mice fed Western diet, as well as control wild-type C57BL/6 mice. The mean peak plasma human apoA-I concentrations were 235, 324, and 276 mg/dL in apoE-deficient, LDLR-deficient, and wild-type mice, respectively. Human apoA-I concentrations decreased rapidly in apoE-deficient mice and were barely detectable 6 weeks after injection. In contrast, substantially higher levels of human apoA-I were sustained in LDLR-deficient mice. In wild-type mice, human apoA-I levels decreased more rapidly than in LDLR-deficient mice, but could still be detected in plasma for up to 8 months after virus injection. In apoE-deficient mice a substantial fraction of human apoA-I was found associated with triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins; in contrast, in LDLR-deficient and wild-type mice the majority of human apoA-I was found in the HDL fraction. Finally, expression of human apoA-I caused a transient but significant increase in triglyceride levels in all three mouse models. In summary: 1) a second generation recombinant adenovirus resulted in high-level expression of human apoA-I in mice; 2) significantly higher levels of human apoA-I persisted for a longer time in LDLR-deficient mice compared with apoE-deficient mice; and 3) substantial human apoA-I was found associated with TG-rich lipoproteins in apoE-deficient but not LDLR-deficient mice.

Adenoviridae↗

[Prediction of outcome after acute exacerbation of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia].

Some patients with chronic idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) experience acute exacerbations (AE). Because the precise mechanisms of AE in patients with IIP remain unclear, the treatment for AE is not established and the efficacy of steroids is controversial. Consequently, it is difficult to predict outcomes in patients with AE of IIP. We therefore studied the relationship between clinical findings, efficacy of treatment, and clinical outcome in patients with AE of IIP. Thirty-two patients were enrolled, and were divided into two groups: 10 who were alive more than one year after the onset of the AE survivors, 8 men and 2 women, and 22 who died within one year of the AE (non-survivors, 17 men and 5 women). Survivors were significantly younger than non-survivors (59.7 +/- 9.9 vs 67.5 +/- 8.2 years, respectively, p < 0.05). The values of PaCO2 measured before the AE were higher in survivors than in non-survivors (43.0 +/- 3.7 vs 38.4 +/- 4.0 torr, respectively, p < 0.05). At the onset of the AE the levels of C-reactive protein in serum were higher in survivors than in non-survivors (13.9 +/- 7.9 vs 7.3 +/- 5.8 mg/dl, respectively, p < 0.05). Chest X-ray films showed progression of ground-glass shadows in both groups when the AE occurred; the radiographic findings did not differ markedly between groups. Of the 22 non-survivors, 7 had received medication before the AE; none of the survivors had received medication before the AE. At the time of the AE all patients were treated with steroid pulse therapy, and the dose of methylprednisolone used, did not differ significantly between groups. These data suggest that three factors are closely related to responsiveness to steroid therapy and to clinical outcomes after AE in patients with IIP: 1) age at the onset on IIP, 2) respiratory status before the AE, and 3) disease activity as reflected by inflammatory reactions.

Age Factors↗

Two distinct commonly deleted regions on chromosome 13q suggest involvement of BRCA2 and retinoblastoma genes in sporadic breast carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: Frequent allelic losses on the long arm of chromosome 13 in sporadic breast carcinomas suggest that a tumor suppressor gene(s) on 13q is involved in this type of carcinoma. The presence of a familial breast carcinoma susceptibility gene, BRCA2, and the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (RB) on the same chromosomal arm implies that one or the other, or both, of these genes may be critically affected by those allelic losses. METHODS: To investigate the possible involvement of BRCA2 and RB in sporadic breast carcinomas, the authors examined allelic losses in 246 breast carcinomas with 14 polymorphic microsatellite markers on 13q12.q14. RESULTS: Allelic loss was observed in 95 of the 246 sporadic breast carcinomas (39%). Detailed deletion mapping identified two commonly deleted regions. The more proximal of these two segments was located in a 6-cM interval flanked by marker loci D13S289 and D13S267 and containing the BRCA2 gene; the more distal region was located in a 9-cM interval flanked by marker loci D13S328 and D13S172 and containing the RB gene. Allelic loss on 13q was found more frequently in tumors of the solid tubular histologic type (36 of 66; 55%) than in other types (52 of 146; 36%) (P = 0.0096). Furthermore, a significant association was observed between allelic loss on 13q and the absence of progesterone receptor (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that BRCA2 and RB are independent targets of allelic loss and that inactivation of either of these genes may play a role in the development of some sporadic breast carcinomas, particularly those of the solid tubular type.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Induction of tolerance in murine autoimmune diabetes by transient blockade of leukocyte function-associated antigen-1/intercellular adhesion molecule-1 pathway.

The present study demonstrated that a short-term administration of mAbs against leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) at critical periods resulted in complete protection of autoimmune diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. When these mAbs were administered for only 6 days at 2 wk of age, neither diabetes nor insulitis was observed at 30 wk of age. It appears that the tolerance against beta cell Ag(s) was induced by this transient blockade of the LFA-1/ICAM-1 pathway. Protective suppressor activity was not enough to prevent diabetes because co-transfer of splenocytes from female NOD mice, which had received these mAbs at 2 wk of age, resulted in only a short delay of the diabetic onset caused by adoptive transfer of splenocytes from acutely diabetic NOD mice. Transfer of these splenocytes to young NOD mice could not also abrogate the spontaneous diabetes and insulitis. Furthermore, cyclophosphamide treatment could not abrogate the protection. When splenocytes from the treated NOD mice were transferred to NOD-SCID mice, none of the recipient mice developed significant insulitis and subsequent overt diabetes, suggesting the absence or the inactivation of diabetogenic effector T cells. However, splenic T cells from the insulitis-free NOD mice that had received the mAb treatment preserved proliferative responses to both islet cells and 65-kDa glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) in vitro. These results suggest that a unique peripheral tolerance was induced by the transient blockade of the LFA-1/ICAM-1 pathway in an early age of NOD mice.

Adoptive Transfer↗

A distant evolutionary relationship between bacterial sphingomyelinase and mammalian DNase I.

The three-dimensional structure of bacterial sphingomyelinase (SMase) was predicted using a protein fold recognition method; the search of a library of known structures showed that the SMase sequence is highly compatible with the mammalian DNase I structure, which suggested that SMase adopts a structure similar to that of DNase I. The amino acid sequence alignment based on the prediction revealed that, despite the lack of overall sequence similarity (less than 10% identity), those residues of DNase I that are involved in the hydrolysis of the phosphodiester bond, including two histidine residues (His 134 and His 252) of the active center, are conserved in SMase. In addition, a conserved pentapeptide sequence motif was found, which includes two catalytically critical residues, Asp 251 and His 252. A sequence database search showed that the motif is highly specific to mammalian DNase I and bacterial SMase. The functional roles of SMase residues identified by the sequence comparison were consistent with the results from mutant studies. Two Bacillus cereus SMase mutants (H134A and H252A) were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. They completely abolished their catalytic activity. A model for the SMase-sphingomyelin complex structure was built to investigate how the SMase specifically recognizes its substrate. The model suggested that a set of residues conserved among bacterial SMases, including Trp 28 and Phe 55, might be important in the substrate recognition. The predicted structural similarity and the conservation of the functionally important residues strongly suggest a distant evolutionary relationship between bacterial SMase and mammalian DNase I. These two phosphodiesterases must have acquired the specificity for different substrates in the course of evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Glioblastoma multiforme in the left frontal lobe subsequent to malignant lymphoma in the right orbit.

A 62-year-old male presented with glioblastoma multiforme in the left frontal lobe manifesting as motor aphasia, subsequent to a malignant lymphoma in the right orbit. He underwent subtotal removal of the right orbital mass presenting as right exophthalmos which was shown by histological examination to be non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He received 30 Gy Lineac irradiation to the right orbit. His post-operative course was satisfactory. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) 7 months later demonstrated a small spotty enhanced lesion in the left frontal lobe. He developed motor aphasia 1 year after irradiation. MR imaging disclosed an enhanced mass in the left frontal lobe, which was totally removed. Histological examination revealed glioblastoma multiforme. Patients with malignant lymphoma may develop a subsequent second malignant tumor. MR imaging with Gd-DTPA is quite useful for early detection of a second brain tumor.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Iodine-123-MIBG imaging in pheochromocytoma with cardiomyopathy and pulmonary edema.

We encountered a patient with pheochromocytoma associated with a catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy that developed recurrently bilateral and unilateral pulmonary edema. The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was made by elevated plasma catecholamine levels and the intense tumor [123I]MIBG uptake and was confirmed at the time of surgery. The patient showed reduced myocardial [123I]MIBG uptake with left ventricular dysfunction, and endomyocardial biopsy findings were consistent with the diagnosis of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy. After tumor resection, plasma levels of catecholamine were normalized, and pulmonary edema never recurred, although cardiac dysfunction did not show an improvement on echocardiography. Myocardial and lung [123I]MIBG uptake increased when compared to uptake levels on preoperative scans, but myocardial uptake was still below normal. These findings indicated that over-secreted catecholamines influenced both the heart and lungs. Pheochromocytoma can induce cardiac and lung injuries, and [123I]MIBG scanning may contribute not only to tumor characterization but also to assessing and monitoring the influence of catecholamines on the heart and lungs.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

[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↗

[Cytogenetic abnormalities, genetic alterations, and applications for genetic diagnosis in breast cancer].

The etiology of breast cancer involves a complex interplay of exogenous and endogenous factors, including genetic factors. The identification of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and human mismatch repair genes has helped to refine the characterization of breast carcinogenesis. The major types of genetic alterations in breast cancer are amplification of protooncogenes (ERBB2 and MYC) and DNA from chromosome band 11q13; mutation of p53; and loss of heterozygosity on 1p, 3p, 8p, 11p, 13q, 16q, 17p, 17q, 18q. The latter may imply inactivations of tumor suppressor genes. Recently, two distinct familial breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, have been isolated. These findings enable to use these genes for genetic diagnosis in clinical oncology.

Breast Neoplasms↗