[Some biochemical changes in renal impairment].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Hirata.
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We measured the production of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and prostaglandin by adherent cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Compared to normal subjects, IL-1 production in the patients was lower but prostaglandin E1 production was higher. Furthermore, examination of monocyte subsets in patients with SLE using monoclonal anti-monocyte/granulocyte antibodies disclosed abnormal expression of membrane antigens on monocytes. It is speculated that aberration of monocyte function is related to impaired monokine production and that membrane antigens play a role in immunodysregulation in patients with SLE.
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Serum lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) was estimated by enzymatically measuring the decrease in unesterified cholesterol after incubation of serum with liposomes. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) study showed the uptake of the lipids of liposomes by serum high density lipoprotein. Of all the examined liposomes prepared from cholesterol and various synthetic phosphatidylcholines, liposomes with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) were found to be the most reactive in the LCAT reaction. When serum was used as an enzyme source, addition of purified apolipoprotein A-I, which is known to be an endogenous activator of LCAT, to the assay mixture resulted in a slight decrease in enzyme activity. Using DMPC-cholesterol liposomes as the substrate, the LCAT activities in 120 human sera showed a mean value of 485.4 +/- 64.6 nmol/hr per ml (mean +/- SD), which is 4.4- to 5.4-fold higher than the values obtained by self-substrate methods. LCAT activity was a linear function of the serum sample volume up to 670 nmol/hr per ml and coefficients of variation (CV) less than 4% were obtained under the standardized conditions. Moreover, when partially purified LCAT was added to various heat-inactivated sera, the activity was efficiently recovered. These results suggest that this method is sensitive, reproducible, and not greatly influenced by serum components.
An assay of apolipoproteins (Apo) C-II, C-III and E in human sera by single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) is described. The procedure involves pretreatment of the serum sample with surfactant to facilitate diffusion of very low density lipoproteins in agarose. This allowed measurement of apolipoproteins in lipidemic sera by SRID in agarose gel. The intraplate coefficient of variation was less than 2.5%, and the interplate coefficient of variation, less than 3.0%. Correlation with double-antibody radioimmunoassay produced the following coefficients of correlation: gamma = 0.9931 (n = 17) for Apo C-II, gamma = 0.9221 (n = 33) for Apo C-III, and gamma = 0.9340 (n = 17) for Apo E.
When rats were treated with phenobarbital (PB), the activity of CBA reductase, which catalyzes the conversion of 2-carboxybenzaldehyde (CBA) to 2-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid (HMB), in the liver was markedly enhanced. Likewise, addition of PB to the primary culture of rat hepatocytes increased the activity of CBA reductase. The enzyme recovered from cell lysate of cultured cells showed the same characteristics in molecular and catalytic properties as the enzyme purified from the livers of the rats treated with PB. Experiments with cycloheximide suggest that de novo synthesis of the enzyme protein is enhanced by PB in primary culture.
The origin and amount of mobilized Ca2+ in chemotactic peptide-stimulated guinea pig neutrophils were examined using biochemical techniques. The total amount of releasable Ca2+ by 20 microM A23187 from the unstimulated intact cells was 0.91 nmol/4 X 10(6) cells, as assessed by change in absorbance of the antipyrylazo III-Ca2+ complex. Two types of internal vesicular Ca2+ pool, mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial pool were identified in the saponin-permeabilized cells. The total amount of releasable Ca2+ was comparable to that accumulated by the non-mitochondrial pool at (1-2) X 10(-7) M of a free Ca2+ concentration. The mitochondrial uncoupler, capable of releasing Ca2+ from the mitochondrial pool, neither modified the basal cytosolic free Ca2+ in quin 2-loaded cells nor caused a Ca2+ efflux from the intact cells. These results suggest that the releasable Ca2+ may be located in the non-mitochondrial pool of unstimulated intact cells, and the mitochondrial pool contains little releasable Ca2+. The addition of fMet-Leu-Phe increased the cytosolic free Ca2+ by two processes: Ca2+ mobilization from internal stores and Ca2+ influx through the surface membrane. The Ca2+ mobilized and effluxed from the intact cells by stimulation with the maximal doses of fMet-Leu-Phe was estimated to be 0.27 nmol/4 X 10(6) cells. Almost equal amounts were released by the maximal doses of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate from the non-mitochondrial pool of saponin-treated cells that had accumulated Ca2+ at a free Ca2+ concentration of 1.4 X 10(-7) M. The mechanism related to the Ca2+ influx by fMet-Leu-Phe stimulation was also examined. The addition of nifedipine or phosphatidic acid did not affect the change in the cytosolic free Ca2+ induced by fMet-Leu-Phe, thereby suggesting that the receptor-mediated Ca2+ channel may be involved in the Ca2+ influx.
In an attempt to identify the nature of guanine nucleotide binding protein(s) (G-protein) involved in the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced (muscarinic) response of pig coronary-artery smooth muscle, we studied the effect of ADP-ribosylation of specific membrane protein(s) catalysed by islet-activating protein (IAP; pertussis toxin). The ACh-stimulated and guanine nucleotide-dependent activities of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) phosphodiesterase (PDE), assessed by the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) from exogenously applied PIP2, were not modified, in either IAP-treated or non-treated cell homogenates used as the enzyme source. In intact tissues, pretreatment with up to 100 ng of IAP/ml inhibited neither the ACh-induced decrease in the amount of inositol phospholipids nor the increase in the amounts of phosphatidic acid and of inositol phosphates. IAP treatment increased the amount of cyclic AMP accumulated by isoprenaline. These observations suggest that G-protein which couples the muscarinic receptor to PIP2-PDE is insensitive to IAP. Such being the case, the nature of this protein(s) probably differs from that required for the regulation of adenylate cyclase activities (Ni or Gi).
Effects of human recombinant interleukin 1 (IL-1) on the synthesis of glycosaminoglycan were examined with cultured rat costal chondrocytes. Incorporation of [35S]sulfate into glycosaminoglycan was strikingly diminished by the addition of IL-1 in a dose- and time- dependent manner. When the cells were cultured with 340 micrograms/ml of IL-1 for 72 hr, the synthesis of glycosaminoglycan was inhibited to 10% of the control. On the other hand, IL-1 had no effect on the morphology and proliferation of the chondrocytes. The suppression of glycosaminoglycan synthesis remained unchanged after the addition of indomethacin, indicating that the effect of IL-1 is independent of the enhanced synthesis of prostaglandins.
The requirement of Ca2+ for the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdInsP2) or the accumulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) in macrophages stimulated with fMet-Leu-Phe was examined using [32P]Pi or [3H]inositol-labeled cells. The dependence on Ca2+ of inositol-trisphosphate phosphatase was also examined. The application of 1 X 10(-8) M fMet-Leu-Phe caused a rapid decrease in the amount of PtdInsP2 to 70% of the control within 10 s, and the decrease was reverted to the control level by prolonged incubation. The decrease in the amount of PtdInsP2 accompanied the accumulation of phosphatidic acid and of InsP3, indicating that the loss of PtdInsP2 is due to phosphodiesteric breakdown. The dose-dependence of fMet-Leu-Phe or its analog on the hydrolysis of PtdInsP2 was much the same as that of the increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in macrophages. The loss of PtdInsP2 as induced by fMet-Leu-Phe was similarly observed in macrophages treated with ionophore A23187 in the absence of external Ca2+ for 10 min. InsP3 was degraded by the particulate or cytosol fraction prepared from macrophages, and the activity of inositol-trisphosphate phosphatase in the particulate fraction was higher than that in the cytosol fraction. The enzyme in the cytosol fraction required Mg2+ for activity, and was activated by free Ca2+ concentrations ranging from 10(-7) to 10(-6) M in the presence of 1 mM MgCl2.
Transient increase in Factor VIII clotting (F.VIIIc) activity was observed by infusion of kallikrein or bradykinin (BK) to the isolated dog leg or heart preparation which was perfused with physiological solution, but the increase in Factor IX activity was not observed, suggesting that the increase in F.VIIIc activity was not due to contaminated plasma components of the perfusate. The increase coincided with the increase in prostacyclin (PGI2) which was determined by immunoassay of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and by platelet aggregation inhibiting activity. Although increase in PGI2 by BK was inhibited by the pretreatment of the preparations with indomethacin or tranylcypromine, the increase in F.VIIIc activity was not inhibited, suggesting that the increase in F.VIIIc activity was not mediated by PGI2.
The effect of acetazolamide (A.A.) on the antineoplastic activity of 1-phthalidyl 5-fluorouracil (PH-FU) against rat and mouse solid tumors was examined. A.A., an inhibitor of liver PH-FU hydrolase, had no antitumor activity but greatly enhanced the activity of PH-FU when coadministered. The potentiation was evaluated in terms of suppression of tumor growth and prolongation of the life-span of tumor-bearing animals. Studies also revealed that A.A. elevated the concentration of PH-FU in tumor tissues, where 5-fluorouracil is slowly liberated from PH-FU. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that A.A. prevents enzymic degradation of PH-FU in the liver and promotes its distribution into target organs.
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To clarify the nature of the noradrenaline (NA)-induced contraction, the effects of NA on inositol phospholipid metabolism and the actions of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) on skinned muscle of the rabbit mesenteric artery were investigated. NA, in concentrations over 1 nM, reduced the amount of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI-P2) and increased the amount of phosphatidic acid (PA). The maximum reduction in the amount of PI-P2 and the maximum increase in the amount of PA were observed in the presence of 1 microM-NA. With prolonged application of NA, the PI-P2 was gradually restored to near the control level, but with repeated applications of NA separated by rinses with Krebs solution, there was a consistent reduction of PI-P2. The NA-induced PI-P2 breakdown was inhibited by the alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking agent, prazosin. After incubation of the tissue with radioactive inositol-containing solution, NA transiently increased the amount of radioactive InsP3 which was followed by increases in the amount of inositol 1,4-bisphosphate (InsP2) and inositol monophosphate (InsP). After accumulation of Ca by saponin-treated muscle cells of the dog mesenteric artery dispersed by collagenase, InsP3 released Ca stored in cells but InsP2 did not. A23187 (5 microM) but not InsP3 (up to 10 microM), depleted Ca accumulated in the presence of ATP. In saponin-treated skinned muscle tissues, InsP3 in concentrations over 0.3 microM, produced contraction following accumulation of Ca into the store site. InsP3 released Ca from the same source as caffeine. The release of Ca by InsP3 appeared in a concentration-dependent manner and this release also depended on the amount of Ca stored in cells (the median effective dose (ED50) was 3.0 microM in 0.1 microM-Ca and 1.0 microM in 0.3 microM-Ca). We concluded that NA activates alpha 1-adrenoceptors, thus hydrolysing PI-P2 and synthesizing InsP3. This product can release Ca stored in cells as estimated from the contraction in skinned muscle tissues, and also reduces the residual amount of Ca stored in skinned dispersed muscle cells. Contraction evoked by NA through pharmacomechanical coupling can be explained as a function of InsP3.
The effect of several antibiotics on rat platelet membrane fluidity was examined by ESR spectrometry using 5-doxyl stearate as the spin probe. Latamoxef, cefamandole, cefotaxime and carbenicillin had negligible effects on the order parameters, the indices of membrane fluidity, of platelet-rich plasma or washed platelets at high concentrations that would inhibit ADP-induced rat platelet aggregation in vitro. A further in vivo study with one of these antibiotics, latamoxef, showed no significant effect on the fluidity based on ESR data.
We investigated which activity of myosin B (natural actomyosin), super-precipitation or ATPase, is better suited as a parameter for measuring in vitro contraction with emphasis on the response of myosin B to Sr2+. The Sr2+ concentration giving half-maximum (KSr2+) binding of Sr2+ to cardiac troponin was not different from that to skeletal troponin, whether the troponins were contained in the actomyosin system or in the isolated state. However, KSr2+ for the ATPase activity of cardiac myosin B is slightly smaller than that of skeletal myosin B. This difference in KSr2+ is more marked when superprecipitation was used as the indication for in vitro contraction. If the above results were compared with those of Kitazawa (1976) using glycerinated fibers of cardiac and skeletal muscle, the differences in KSr2+ between cardiac and skeletal muscle increased in the order: Sr-binding to troponin less than ATPase activity less than superprecipitation less than contraction of glycerinated fibers. The increase in the effect of pH on Ca2+-related properties is also in the order: Ca-binding to troponin less than or equal to ATPase activity less than superprecipitation less than contraction of glycerinated fibers. All the results coincide with one another that the results with super-precipitation are invariably more akin to those with glycerinated fibers than to those with the ATPase activity. It is concluded that superprecipitation is a better parameter for representing in vitro contraction than ATPase activity.
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The modifying effects of amiloride on the thermosensitivity of Chinese hamster V-79 cells were examined under both neutral (pH 7.3) and acidic (pH 6.6) conditions. Amiloride, a diuretic drug, is known to inhibit the Na+/H+ exchange activity. Under the extracellular pH of 7.3, amiloride (0.1-0.5 mM) enhanced the thermal cell killing powers of 42 degrees C hyperthermia with increasing concentration and exposure time of the drug. The age response of cells to 42 degrees C hyperthermia in the presence or absence of amiloride (0.5 mM) showed that amiloride sensitized cells to heat, especially those at G1-S boundary through middle S phases. On the other hand, the lowering of extracellular pH to 6.6 enhanced cell killing by 42 degrees C hyperthermia. When cells were exposed to 42 degrees C hyperthermia in the presence of amiloride at pH 6.6, cell survival decreased still more. The thermosensitizing effects of the lowered pH at 6.6 and amiloride appeared to be additive. From these results, it is suggested that the thermosensitization by amiloride is probably due, in part, to the inhibition of cellular Na+/H+ exchange activity. The present study proposes the possibility that amiloride may be useful as a hyperthermic sensitizer in a clinical treatment of cancer.