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M Iwai

Publications and source records attributed to M Iwai.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

[Three dimensional culture of human salivary gland using irradiated collagen gel embedding technique].

Embedding culture was performed on normal salivary gland cells from five subjects using 0.2% irradiated collagen gel. Collagen was collected from rat tail tendon and gelatinized at the final concentration of 0.2%. D-MEM added BSA (5mg/ml), insulin (10 micrograms/ml) and EGF (5 micrograms/ml) was used as a serum-free medium. Within the collagen gel, the cells were found to grow in a branch-like pattern, and then to form a lot of radial duct-like structures containing alcian blue positive secretions. Immunohistochemical observation of myoepithelial cells with monoclonal antibody from human mammalian cancer suggested that these cells play an important role in the process of glandular ducts formation. Salivary gland cells being able to grow in collagen gel in a very similar fashion to in-vivo condition, the present collagen gel embedding culture is useful for morphological or functional studies on salivary gland cells.

Animals↗

Lack of evidence for the involvement of type-C and type-B retroviruses in radiation leukemogenesis of NFS mice.

Southern blot analysis revealed no difference between the DNA from radiation-induced thymic lymphomas and DNA from normal NFS mice. The probes used in the Southern blot analyses used a murine leukemia virus (MuLV) env DNA probe (pXenv), which specifically hybridizes with xenotropic and recombinant viral env genes, and mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) DNA probes (MMTV gag-pol, MMTV env, and MMTV LTR). This suggests that radiation leukemogenesis was not associated with gross alteration of the organization of these retroviral genomes. In DNA from radiation-induced thymic lymphoma, there was no indication of gross rearrangement in the common integration site of MuLV, pim-1, or in the common integration sites of MMTV, int-1 and int-2. Dot blot analysis of RNA from radiation-induced thymic lymphomas and normal thymuses demonstrated that there was no substantial difference between them in the expression of retroviral sequences, pim-1, pvt-1, int-1, or int-2, although transcripts that could be hybridized to the retroviral sequences were slightly elevated in some radiation-induced thymic lymphomas. These results show that radiation leukemogenesis does not appear to involve the activation of endogenous type-C and type-B retroviruses.

Animals↗

Changes of intrahepatic localization of hepatitis B core antigen in HBeAg positive patients with chronic active hepatitis B treated with interferon.

The intrahepatic distribution of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) was studied in 14 HBeAg-positive patients with chronic active hepatitis B who were treated with interferon. Patients received 5 to 6 million units daily of human lymphoblastoid interferon or human diploid fibroblast interferon for 28 days. Intrahepatic HBcAg was detected by the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Before interferon therapy, the intrahepatic HBcAg was detected almost equally in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. The expression of nuclear HBcAg decreased significantly (p less than 0.001) after interferon therapy, irrespective of the outcome for DNA polymerase and/or HBeAg/anti-HBe status. The expression of cytoplasmic HBcAg decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) only in the patients who lost DNA polymerase after treatment, whereas it increased in patients with DNA polymerase and/or HBeAg in the serum. These findings suggested that a shift of intrahepatic HBcAg from the nucleus to the cytoplasm occurred in HBeAg-positive patients with chronic active hepatitis B receiving interferon therapy.

Adult↗

Protective effect of probucol on alloxan diabetes in rats.

The diabetogenic action of alloxan is known to be attenuated by several oxygen radical scavengers. The present study was conducted to see if probucol, a drug with strong free radical scavenger action, can reduce pancreatic B-cell damage induced by alloxan in male Wistar rats. After 2 weeks of a 1% probucol diet, 50 mg/kg alloxan was intravenously injected in rats (group PA, n = 34). Urine glucose of most of the injected rats not pretreated with probucol (group A, n = 22) was positive, while more than half of the rats of group PA failed to show urine glucose. The blood glucose level in group PA was significantly lower than that in group A (326 +/- 25 vs. 487 +/- 28 mg/dl, P less than 0.001). Histological examination revealed that most of the pancreatic islets of group A were degranulated, whereas a lot of islets remained unaffected in group PA. Thus, the in vivo diabetogenic action of alloxan was reduced by pretreatment with probucol, although the effect was incomplete. This effect can be explained by probucol's strong free radical scavenger action. Since accumulation of free radicals can be an initial step of B-cell damage in animal models of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, the drug can be useful for the prevention of type 1 diabetes with its long-term clinical history of safety.

Alloxan↗

Estimation of cholesterol loading of the low-density lipoprotein fraction in diabetic subjects without ultracentrifugation.

We report here a new formula for estimating apolipoprotein (apo) B concentration in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction from measurements of plasma triglyceride and apoB. ApoB in plasma and in the triglyceride-rich lipoprotein fraction (VLDL, d less than 1.019) and plasma triglyceride were measured in 112 subjects, including 56 diabetics. There was a significant correlation between VLDL-apoB and plasma triglyceride (Y = 0.07X + 1, r = 0.73, P less than 0.001). We calculated LDL-apoB according to this formula: LDL-apoB = total apoB - (0.07 x total triglyceride + 1). We found an excellent relationship between LDL-apoB (total apoB - VLDL-apoB) and calculated LDL-apoB (Y = 1.0X + 1, r = 0.96, P less than 0.001). This new formula will enable us to estimate the apoB concentration in the LDL fraction without ultracentrifugation.

Apolipoproteins B↗

Effects of dietary sucrose on age-related changes in VLDL-triglyceride kinetics in the rat.

The effects of sucrose feeding on in vivo kinetics of triglyceride metabolism were compared in rats aged 2 and 12 months. Sucrose was supplied as a 10% solution in their drinking water for 2 weeks. Although plasma triglyceride concentrations doubled with age, total triglyceride secretion rates for the whole rat (mg/min/rat) increased by 40%, suggesting a decrease in the efficiency of triglyceride removal from plasma with aging. The rate of triglyceride secretion per unit body mass (mg/min/kg body weight), however, decreased by 40% as the rats grew to 12 months of age. These age-related differences were statistically significant only in rats receiving supplementary sucrose. Feeding sucrose to rats of both ages doubled the secretion rates of triglyceride not only for the whole rat but also per unit body mass. However, it tripled triglyceride concentrations, implying that the sugar decreases the removal efficiency of plasma triglyceride equally in rats at either age. Fasting hypertriglyceridemia induced by sucrose supplement was much greater in old rats than in young rats (162 +/- 30 vs. 80 +/- 8 mg/dl). The present studies demonstrate that dietary sucrose enhances age-related changes in triglyceride kinetics in the rat.

Aging↗

Mechanism of action of cysteinyl leukotrienes on glucose and lactate balance and on flow in perfused rat liver. Comparison with the effects of sympathetic nerve stimulation and noradrenaline.

Rat livers were perfused at constant pressure via the portal vein with media containing 5 mM glucose, 2 mM lactate and 0.2 mM pyruvate. 1. Leukotrienes C4 and D4 enhanced glucose and lactate output and reduced perfusion flow to the same extent and with essentially identical kinetics. They both caused half-maximal alterations (area under the curve) of carbohydrate metabolism at a concentration of about 1 nM and of flow at about 5 nM. The leukotriene-C4/D4 antagonist CGP 35949 B inhibited the metabolic and hemodynamic effects of 5 nM leukotrienes C4 and D4 with the same efficiency, causing 50% inhibition at about 0.1 microM. 2. Leukotriene C4 elicited the same metabolic and hemodynamic alterations with the same kinetics as leukotriene D4 in livers from rats pretreated with the gamma-glutamyltransferase inhibitor, acivicin. 3. The calcium antagonist, nifedipine, at a concentration of 50 microM did not affect the metabolic and hemodynamic changes caused by 5 nM leukotriene D4. The smooth-muscle relaxant, nitroprussiate, at a concentration of 10 microM reduced flow changes, without significantly affecting the metabolic alterations. 4. Leukotriene D4 not only reduced flow; it also caused an intrahepatic redistribution of flow, restricting some areas from perfusion. Thus, leukotrienes increased glucose and lactate output directly in the accessible parenchyma and, in addition, indirectly by washout from restricted areas during their reopening upon termination of application. 5. The phospholipase A2 inhibitor, bromophenacyl bromide, but not the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, at a concentration of 20 microM reduced the metabolic and hemodynamic effects of 5 mM leukotriene D4. 6. Stimulation of the sympathetic hepatic nerves with 2-ms rectangular pulses at 20 Hz and infusion of 1 microM noradrenaline increased glucose and lactate output and decreased flow, similar to 10 nM leukotrienes C4 and D4. The kinetics of the metabolic and hemodynamic changes caused by the leukotrienes differed, however, from those due to nerve stimulation and noradrenaline. 7. The leukotriene-C4/D4 antagonist, CGP 35949 B, even at very high concentrations (20 microM) inhibited the metabolic and hemodynamic alterations caused by nerve stimulation or noradrenaline infusion only slightly and unspecifically.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Mechanisms of alpha-fetoprotein synthesis in hepatoma cells. Combined electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and autoradiography.

Immunoreaction of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was detected not only in well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma but also in hepatocytes forming foci in livers with hyperplastic nodules during 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene hepatocarcinogenesis. The subcellular location of AFP in hepatoma cells was in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, perinuclear space and well-developed Golgi apparatus around the nucleus. In livers with hyperplastic nodules it was also in some parts of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi regions in hepatocytes in the vicinity of submembranous areas or bile canaliculi. These findings suggest that the Golgi apparatus in hepatoma cells acts mainly as an organelle for glycosylation of AFP and that the Golgi complexes in the hepatocytes in livers with hyperplastic nodules are organelles for secretion of AFP. Combined light microscopic immunoperoxidase study and autoradiography with 3H-thymidine revealed a higher cumulative labeling index in AFP-positive hepatoma cells than in non-tumorous areas. Combined electron microscopic immunoperoxidase study and autoradiography showed that hepatoma cells with AFP immunoreactivity only in the rough endoplasmic reticulum had a significantly higher labeling index than did cells with AFP immunoreactivity in both rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. These findings suggest that AFP is synthesized in hepatoma cells before or during the stage of their DNA synthesis and is then transported to the Golgi apparatus.

Animals↗

Two different types of antimitochondrial antibodies (anti-M2 and anti-M4) may not differentiate primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) with prominent piecemeal necrosis from classical PBC.

Clinical and morphological features in 13 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) who had two different types of antimitochondrial antibodies (PBC-specific, anti-M2 and mixed-form, anti-M4) in serum tested, were studied. Patients were allocated to two groups purely on the basis of the presence or absence of prominent piecemeal necrosis (PN) to elucidate the clinical significance of PN for differentiating mixed forms of chronic active hepatitis and PBC from classical PBC. Histological staging showed 10 stage I and 3 stage II. All cases had histological features of chronic non-suppurative destructive cholangitis. Prominent PN was encountered in 8 and bridging hepatic necrosis in 6. Granulomas were present in all cases without PN, but only in 3 of 8 cases with PN. Antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) was positive in all cases and anti-M2 was also positive in all but one. On the contrary, anti-M4 was positive in 2. Both anti-M2 and anti-M4 were simultaneously positive in 2, of which PN was present in only one. Therefore, anti-M4 did not relate to the presence or morphological severity of PN in PBC. Simultaneous increases in IgG and IgM were prominent features in PBC with PN.

Acute Disease↗

Effect of dietary fructose on triglyceride turnover in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

The effects of fructose or glucose on plasma triglyceride kinetics in streptozotocin (40 mg/kg) diabetic rats were studied using Triton WR1339. To separate groups of diabetic rats fructose or glucose was supplied at 10% in drinking water. Diabetic rats without sugar supplementation (diabetic control) had significantly suppressed triglyceride secretion compared to non-diabetic controls. Neither fructose nor glucose supplementation increased the triglyceride secretion rate in diabetic rats. However, despite reduced secretion rates, plasma triglyceride levels in glucose-supplemented diabetic rats, diabetic controls and non-diabetic controls were essentially identical. This suggested that removal of triglyceride from the circulation was impaired in the diabetic rats. In contrast, fructose supplementation resulted in a more than 150% (significant) increase in the mean plasma triglyceride of diabetic rats. The observation of significant hypertriglyceridemia in spite of low triglyceride secretion rate in fructose-supplemented diabetic rats suggests that dietary fructose, but not glucose, interferes with triglyceride removal from the circulation of streptozotocin-diabetic rats. This impairment by dietary fructose is in addition to the impaired triglyceride removal associated with diabetes alone.

Animals↗

Long-term treatment of hypercholesterolemic non-insulin dependent diabetics (NIDDM) with pravastatin (CS-514).

We examined the long-term effect of pravastatin, a new potent inhibitor of endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis, on glucose and lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic NIDDM. Ten patients (5 on sulfonylurea, 5 on diet) were studied over 12 months. Five were WHO type IIa and 5 were type IIb. Blood was taken before and then 1, 6 and 12 months after initiating 10 or 20 mg daily of pravastatin. The cholesterol concentration in whole plasma and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), plasma triglyceride and apolipoprotein (apo) B were all significantly decreased within the first month. These changes lasted for 1 year. High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol increased in the first month but returned to base line thereafter. Low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol tended to decrease in the first month, and was suppressed significantly from the 6th month (11%) to the 12th month (16%). The effect of pravastatin on LDL-cholesterol in NIDDM was slower and weaker than that published for non-diabetic hypercholesterolemia. Therefore, the mechanism by which pravastatin suppresses plasma cholesterol levels in these two conditions may differ. After 1 year, no adverse effects were noted on hematopoietic, hepatic or renal function. Blood glucose level, hemoglobin A1c and the insulin response to oral glucose were unchanged. In addition, serum creatine phosphokinase showed no abnormal increase. Careful ophthalmological examinations before and after pravastatin treatment revealed no development of new lenticular opacities. Thus, pravastatin appears to be a safe and effective drug for the long-term treatment of NIDDM with hypercholesterolemia.

Adult↗

The role of insulin in triglyceride turnover in rats.

Exogenously induced hyperinsulinemia can increase in vivo triglyceride production in rats receiving dietary fructose, either as monosaccharide or as sucrose, but not in those receiving only glucose. Thus, in the presence of fructose, but not glucose, insulin stimulates triglyceride production. Dietary fructose can also impair the removal of circulating triglyceride. Exogenous insulin overcomes this fructose-associated impairment of triglyceride removal. On the other hand, streptozotocin-diabetic rats showed a suppressed triglyceride secretion rate (TgSR) but their plasma triglyceride level was unchanged. Therefore, insulin deficiency may result in not only decreased production of triglyceride but also impaired triglyceride removal from the circulation. Fructose-fed diabetic rats showed higher plasma triglyceride levels than chow-fed diabetic rats without a concomitant increase in TgSR, suggesting impaired triglyceride removal from the circulation induced by fructose in diabetic rats. Glucose-fed diabetic rats did not differ in TgSR or plasma triglyceride level from chow-fed diabetic rats. These observations indicate that circulating insulin and dietary fructose, but not glucose, have a key role in very-low-density lipoprotein triglyceride turnover in rats.

Animals↗

Antiulcerogenic compounds isolated from Chinese cinnamon.

Two active compounds that prevent serotonin-induced ulcerogenesis in rats were isolated from Chinese cinnamon (the stem bark of Cinnamomum cassia) and identified as 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid and its O-glucoside. The former compound, administered orally or parenterally to rats at a remarkably low dose (40 micrograms/kg body weight), also inhibited gastric ulcers induced by the other ulcerogens such as phenylbutazone, ethanol, and water immersion stress, although it failed to prevent indomethacin-induced ulcers. Pharmacological studies have shown that 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid hardly inhibited the secretion of gastric acid, but promoted the gastric blood flow. These results suggest that the antiulcerogenic effect of this compound is probably attributable to the potentiation of defensive factors through the improvement of the circulatory disorder and gastric cytoprotection.

Animals↗

Direct identification of disulfide bond linkages in human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) by chemical synthesis.

The primary structure of human IGF-I, except for the disulfide bond system, has been reported by Rinderknecht and Humbel. IGF-I afforded the corresponding characteristic peptide fragment on V8 protease digestion, which contained Cys6, Cys47, Cys48, and Cys52. Two possible fragments, Type I with Cys6-Cys47 and Cys48-Cys52, and Type II with Cys6-Cys48 and Cys47-Cys52, were synthesized. The disulfide bond system of IGF-I was unequivocally determined to be the Type II form along with Cys18-Cys61. Interestingly, the Type I system was included in the disulfide bond isomer produced as the main by-product in the refolding step on IGF-I synthesis by the recombinant DNA method.

Cysteine↗