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Biomedical subjects

M Matsuda

Publications and source records attributed to M Matsuda.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Galectin-12, an Adipose-expressed Galectin-like Molecule Possessing Apoptosis-inducing Activity.

Galectins constitute a family of proteins that bind to beta-galactoside residues and have diverse physiological functions. Here we report on the identification of a galectin-like molecule, galectin-12, in a human adipose tissue cDNA library. The protein contained two potential carbohydrate-recognition domains with the second carbohydrate-recognition domain being less conserved compared with other galectins. In vitro translated galectin-12 bound to a lactosyl-agarose column far less efficiently than galectin-8. Galectin-12 mRNA was predominantly expressed in adipose tissue of human and mouse and in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Caloric restriction and treatment of obese animals with troglitazone increased galectin-12 mRNA levels and decreased the average size of the cells in adipose tissue. The induction of galectin-12 expression by the thiazolidinedione, troglitazone, was paralleled by an increase in the number of apoptotic cells in adipose tissue. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that galectin-12 was localized in the nucleus of adipocytes, and transfection with galectin-12 cDNA induced apoptosis of COS-1 cells. These results suggest that galectin-12, an adipose-expressed galectin-like molecule, may participate in the apoptosis of adipocytes.

3T3 Cells↗

Requirement for C3G-dependent Rap1 activation for cell adhesion and embryogenesis.

C3G is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rap1, and is activated via Crk adaptor protein. To understand the physiological role of C3G, we generated C3G knockout mice. C3G(-/-) homozygous mice died before embryonic day 7.5. The lethality was rescued by the expression of the human C3G transgene, which could be excised upon the expression of Cre recombinase. From the embryo of this mouse, we prepared fibroblast cell lines, MEF-hC3G. Expression of Cre abolished the expression of C3G in MEF-hC3G and inhibited cell adhesion-induced activation of Rap1. The Cre-expressing MEF-hC3G showed impaired cell adhesion, delayed cell spreading and accelerated cell migration. The accelerated cell migration was suppressed by the expression of active Rap1, Rap2 and R-Ras. Expression of Epac and CalDAG-GEFI, GEFs for Rap1, also suppressed the accelerated migration of the C3G-deficient cells. This observation indicated that Rap1 activation was sufficient to complement the C3G deficiency. In conclusion, C3G-dependent activation of Rap1 is required for adhesion and spreading of embryonic fibroblasts and for the early embryogenesis of the mouse.

Animals↗

Spatio-temporal images of growth-factor-induced activation of Ras and Rap1.

G proteins of the Ras family function as molecular switches in many signalling cascades; however, little is known about where they become activated in living cells. Here we use FRET (fluorescent resonance energy transfer)-based sensors to report on the spatio-temporal images of growth-factor-induced activation of Ras and Rap1. Epidermal growth factor activated Ras at the peripheral plasma membrane and Rap1 at the intracellular perinuclear region of COS-1 cells. In PC12 cells, nerve growth factor-induced activation of Ras was initiated at the plasma membrane and transmitted to the whole cell body. After three hours, high Ras activity was observed at the extending neurites. By using the FRAP (fluorescence recovery after photobleaching) technique, we found that Ras at the neurites turned over rapidly; therefore, the sustained Ras activity at neurites was due to high GTP/GDP exchange rate and/or low GTPase activity, but not to the retention of the active Ras. These observations may resolve long-standing questions as to how Ras and Rap1 induce different cellular responses and how the signals for differentiation and survival are distinguished by neuronal cells.

Animals↗

Autoantibody against prothrombin aberrantly alters the proenzyme to facilitate formation of a complex with its physiological inhibitor antithrombin III without thrombin conversion.

Acquired coagulation factor inhibitors include pathologic immunoglobulins that specifically bind to coagulation factors and either neutralize their procoagulant activity, accelerate their clearance from the circulation, or have proteolytic activity to degrade them into inactive polypeptides. Here, an autoantibody against prothrombin is described in a patient with serious hemorrhagic diatheses. The autoantibody exerts its influence by a previously unknown mechanism in which it inhibits coagulation through aberrant activation of the proenzyme in a catalytic manner. The antibody-bound prothrombin formed a stable stoichiometric complex with antithrombin III, consisting of intact prothrombin and an antithrombin III molecule cleaved at the (393)Arg-(394)Ser bond. The antibody dissociated from prothrombin after the complex formation with antithrombin III. Although the bound antibody elicited protease activity from prothrombin, the complex was not able to convert fibrinogen to fibrin or to activate protein C. Thus, this is the first description of an autoantibody that induces protease-like activity from a human proenzyme, permitting subsequent neutralization by its physiological inhibitor. (Blood. 2001;97:3783-3789)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A pair of fluorescent resonance energy transfer-based probes for tyrosine phosphorylation of the CrkII adaptor protein in vivo.

An adaptor protein, CrkII, which is involved in a variety of signaling cascades such as cell growth, migration, and apoptosis, becomes phosphorylated on Tyr(221) upon stimulation. Here, we report on a fluorescent resonance energy transfer-based sensor, which consists of CrkII sandwiched with cyan- and yellow-emitting variants of green fluorescent protein. This protein enabled us to monitor rapid and transient phosphorylation of CrkII upon epidermal growth factor stimulation in a living cell. However, rapid diffusion of the probes prevented us from specifying where the phosphorylation started within the cell. To overcome this problem, we fused the CAAX box of Ki-Ras to the carboxyl terminus of this probe and restricted its localization mostly to the plasma membrane. With this modified probe, we found that epidermal growth factor-induced phosphorylation of CrkII was initiated at the peripheral plasma membrane, moving toward the center of the cell. Moreover, this CAAX box-fused probe showed improvement in sensitivity and time resolution of the monitoring of CrkII phosphorylation. Thus, this pair of CrkII probes visualizes dynamic changes in the total and local levels of the tyrosine phosphorylation of CrkII in a living cell.

3T3 Cells↗

Simultaneous determination of the histamine H1-receptor antagonist ebastine and its two metabolites, carebastine and hydroxyebastine, in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Ebastine (CAS 90729-43-4) is an antiallergic agent which selectively and potently blocks histamine H1-receptors in vivo. A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is described for the simultaneous determination of ebastine and its two oxidized metabolites, carebastine (CAS 90729-42-3) and hydroxyebastine (M-OH), in human plasma. After a pretreatment of plasma sample by solid-phase extraction, ebastine and its metabolites were analyzed on an HPLC system with ultraviolet detection at 254 nm. Chromatography was performed on a cyano column (250x4.0 mm I.D.) at 40 degrees C with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol-0.012 M ammonium acetate buffer (20:30:48, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min. Accurate determinations were possible over the concentration range of 3-1000 ng/ml for the three compounds using 1 ml plasma samples. The intra- and inter-day assay accuracy of this method were within 100+/-15% of nominal values and the precision did not exceed 12.4% of relative standard deviation. The lower limits of quantitation were 3 ng/ml for ebastine and its metabolites in human plasma. This method was satisfactorily applied to the determination of ebastine and its two oxidized metabolites in human plasma after oral administration of ebastine.

Butyrophenones↗

A locus for female discrimination behavior causing sexual isolation in Drosophila.

The genetic basis of sexual isolation that contributes to speciation is one of the unsolved questions in evolutionary biology. Drosophila ananassae and Drosophila pallidosa are closely related, and postmating isolation has not developed between them. However, females of both species discriminate their mating partners, and this discrimination contributes to strong sexual isolation between them. By using surgical treatments, we demonstrate that male courtship songs play a dominant role in female mate discrimination. The absence of the song of D. pallidosa dramatically increased interspecies mating with D. ananassae females but reduced intraspecies mating with D. pallidosa females. Furthermore, genetic analysis and chromosomal introgression by repeated backcrosses to D. pallidosa males identified possible loci that control female discrimination in each species. These loci were mapped on distinct positions near the Delta locus on the middle of the left arm of the second chromosome. Because the mate discrimination we studied is well developed and is the only known mechanism that prevents gene flow between them, these loci may have played crucial roles in the evolution of reproductive isolation, and therefore, in the speciation process between these two species.

Animals↗

Neuronal microdysgenesis and acquired lesions of the hippocampal formation connected with seizure activities in Ihara epileptic rat.

The present study was designed to examine the morphological features of the hippocampal formation in the Ihara epileptic rat (IER), and to characterize genetically programmed lesions and acquired lesions connected with seizure activities. Neuropathological investigation of the hippocampal formation was performed in four separate groups, 2-month-old IERs with neither abnormal behaviors nor any seizure activity, and 12-month-old IERs of both sexes with abnormal behaviors, circling seizures or generalized tonic-clonic convulsions. In every IER examined, there were invariable and fundamental neuropathological findings consisting of abnormal neuronal clusters in the CA1 of the hippocampal formation. Moreover, disarrangement of neuronal cells, such as dispersion and gaps in lamination of pyramidal neurons, were observed. These changes were thought to represent genetically programmed lesions, neuronal microdysgenesis, because they were common findings in 2-month-old and 12-month-old IERs of both sexes. An enlargement of the dentate gyrus was also found in rats that experienced generalized tonic-clonic convulsions or circling seizures. This enlargement of the dentate gyrus, on the other hand, was categorized as a secondary and acquired lesion connected with seizure activities. It is suggested that the neuronal microdysgenesis in the hippocampal formation of IER has an intimate relationship with epileptogenesis and/or an enhancement of seizure susceptibility.

Animals↗

SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) is required for increased lipid synthesis in liver induced by cholesterol deprivation and insulin elevation.

In liver, the synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids increases in response to cholesterol deprivation and insulin elevation, respectively. This regulatory mechanism underlies the adaptation to cholesterol synthesis inhibitors (statins) and high calorie diets (insulin). In nonhepatic cells, lipid synthesis is controlled by sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), membrane-bound transcription factors whose active domains are released proteolytically to enter the nucleus and activate genes involved in the synthesis and uptake of cholesterol and fatty acids. SCAP (SREBP cleavage-activating protein) is a sterol-regulated escort protein that transports SREBPs from their site of synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum to their site of cleavage in the Golgi. Here, we produced a conditional deficiency of SCAP in mouse liver by genomic recombination mediated by inducible Cre recombinase. SCAP-deficient mice showed an 80% reduction in basal rates of cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis in liver, owing to decreases in mRNAs encoding multiple biosynthetic enzymes. Moreover, these mRNAs failed to increase normally in response to cholesterol deprivation produced by a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor and to insulin elevation produced by a fasting-refeeding protocol. These data provide in vivo evidence that SCAP and the SREBPs are required for hepatic lipid synthesis under basal and adaptive conditions.

Animals↗

Real time fluorescence imaging of PLC gamma translocation and its interaction with the epidermal growth factor receptor.

The translocation of fluorescently tagged PLC gamma and requirements for this process in cells stimulated with EGF were analyzed using real time fluorescence microscopy applied for the first time to monitor growth factor receptor--effector interactions. The translocation of PLC gamma to the plasma membrane required the functional Src homology 2 domains and was not affected by mutations in the pleckstrin homology domain or inhibition of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. An array of domains specific for PLC gamma isoforms was sufficient for this translocation. The dynamics of translocation to the plasma membrane and redistribution of PLC gamma, relative to localization of the EGF receptor and PI 4,5-biphosphate (PI 4,5-P(2)), were shown. Colocalization with the receptor was observed in the plasma membrane and in membrane ruffles where PI 4,5-P(2) substrate could also be visualized. At later times, internalization of PLC gamma, which could lead to separation from the substrate, was observed. The data support a direct binding of PLC gamma to the receptor as the main site of the plasma membrane recruitment. The presence of PLC gamma in membrane structures and its access to the substrate appear to be transient and are followed by a rapid incorporation into intracellular vesicles, leading to downregulation of the PLC activity.

Animals↗

Multiple sclerosis with secondary syringomyelia. An autopsy report.

We report an elderly woman with multiple sclerosis who showed an extensive cavity formation in the midthoracic cord in addition to multiple abnormal intensity signals in the central nervous system on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cavity decreased in size in response to corticosteroid therapy with an improvement in neurological symptoms. The autopsy demonstrated a slit-like cavity lined with no ependymal cells on the luminal surface in the lower cervical to midthoracic cord, with circumferentially distributed demyelinative lesions, leading to the pathological diagnosis of secondary syringomyelia. In this patient a limited necrosis formed in the spinal cord might have developed into a cavity formation with edematous fluid leading to subsequent episodes of neurological exacerbation.

Aged↗

Heterobifunctional ligands: practical chemoenzymatic synthesis of a cell adhesive glycopeptide that interacts with both selectins and integrins.

An efficient and practical synthesis of cell adhesive glycopeptides exhibiting unique properties as a novel type of modulator of cellular recognition is described. A nonnatural glycopeptide 1 composed of sialyl Lewis x and Lys-Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser that interacts with both selectins and integrins has been systematically synthesized by combined chemical and enzymatic strategy. It is suggested that glycopeptide 1 showed much higher affinity with P-selectin (K(a) = 6.6 x 10(7) M(-1)) and E-selectin (K(a) = 4.5 x 10(5) M(-1)) than sialyl Lewis x. This compound also inhibited a specific interaction between human integrin beta(1) and its monoclonal antibody more effectively than the tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser. Interestingly, it was demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance analysis that this heterobifunctional glycopeptide exhibited a capacity to form stable complexes with P-selectin and integrin beta(1) concurrently. It is also suggested that this activity can be used for the inhibition of integrin-mediated adhesion of activated helper T cells onto collagen-coated plates as a cell migration model. These results indicate that the chemoenzymatic hybridization strategy of different biological functions of carbohydrates and peptides is a new concept for designing potent glycoconjugates as antiinflammatory and anticancer metastasis reagents.

Animals↗

Membrane recruitment of DOCK180 by binding to PtdIns(3,4,5)P3.

DOCK180 was originally identified as one of two major proteins bound to the Crk oncogene product and became an archetype of the CDM family of proteins, including Ced-5 of Caenorhabditis elegans and Mbc of Drosophila melanogaster. Further study has suggested that DOCK180 is involved in the activation of Rac by the CrkII-p130(Cas) complex. With the use of deletion mutants of DOCK180, we found that the C-terminal region containing a cluster of basic amino acids was required for binding to and activation of Rac. This region showed high amino-acid sequence similarity to the consensus sequence of the phosphoinositide-binding site; this led us to examine whether this basic region binds to phosphoinositides. For this purpose we used PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)-APB beads, as reported previously [Shirai, Tanaka, Terada, Sawada, Shirai, Hashimoto, Nagata, Iwamatsu, Okawa, Li et al. (1998) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1402, 292-302]. By using various competitors, we demonstrated the specific binding of DOCK180 to PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3). The expression of active phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K) did not enhance a DOCK180-induced increase in GTP-Rac; however, the expression of PI-3K translocated DOCK180 to the plasma membrane. Thus DOCK180 contained a phosphoinositide-binding domain, as did the other guanine nucleotide exchange factors with a Dbl homology domain, and was translocated to the plasma membrane on the activation of PI-3K.

Cell Line↗

Molecular cloning of a novel ubiquitin-like protein, UBIN, that binds to ER targeting signal sequences.

To identify proteins that interact with HSP47, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident molecular chaperone, a yeast two-hybrid screening was performed using mouse full-length HSP47 including an N-terminal signal sequence as a bait. Analysis of several positive clones led to the identification and cloning of a novel gene, ubin, encoding a ubiquitin-like protein. Unlike other ubiquitin-like proteins, UBIN was shown to interact with signal sequences of various secretory and ER-luminal proteins, including HSP47, but not interact with signal sequences of mitochondrial targeting in two-hybrid system. The possible function of UBIN will be discussed with regards to novel characteristics of binding to signal sequences for ER targeting.

3T3 Cells↗

Brain SPECT with 123I-IMP for the early diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

We performed brain CT and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using N-isopropyl-p-[123I] iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) as a tracer in the early stage of seven patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). In four of the patients, we determined absolute values of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes, thalamus and cerebellum using an autoradiographic method with a single blood sample. Brain CT demonstrated no abnormal findings other than a mild age-related atrophy in all patients except for one patient with a low-density area in the left cerebellar hemisphere due to an old hemorrhage, whereas SPECT revealed a decreased uptake of the tracer in various parts of the cerebral cortex of all patients, sometimes in an asymmetrical pattern. Absolute values of rCBF showed a significant decrease in all examined regions of the patients as against healthy controls (P<0.0001). In three patients, SPECT demonstrated a decreased uptake throughout the cerebral cortex on visual inspection, whereas absolute values of rCBF revealed an obvious decrease of the uptake also in the thalamus and cerebellum. These results suggest that SPECT with quantification of rCBF using 123I-IMP might be a sensitive and useful technique not only for detecting a focal metabolic dysfunction but also for diagnosis in the early stage of CJD.

Aged↗

Gadolinium chloride prevents mortality in hepatectomized rats given endotoxin.

The purpose of this study was to determine if inhibition of Kupffer cells by gadolinium chloride (GdCl(3)) affects the arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR), liver injury, and mortality in hepatectomized rats administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Rats treated with or without GdCl(3) received a 70% hepatectomy. Either LPS (5 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline) was administered 48 h after hepatectomy. Further, hepatectomized rats were administered superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, 9 x 10(4) U/kg) before and every 3 h after LPS injection up to 9 h to assess involvement of superoxide in liver injury in this model. All hepatectomized rats with saline died within 24 h after LPS administration. In contrast, GdCl(3) prevented this mortality completely. Serum AST levels were about 160 IU/L in hepatectomized rats with vehicle; however, values were increased approximately 25-fold by LPS administration. In contrast, these increases were blunted significantly by about 90% by GdCl(3). Further, GdCl(3) also prevented decreases in AKBR caused by LPS. LPS caused severe liver injury, which was stopped almost completely by GdCl(3). LPS-induced increases in superoxide production by isolated Kupffer cells were stopped by about 90% by GdCl(3). Importantly, SOD administration prevented decreases in AKBR, liver injury, and mortality significantly as well as GdCl(3). These results indicated that GdCl(3) prevented liver injury and mortality caused by LPS most likely by inhibiting superoxide production by Kupffer cells. Thus, inhibition of activation of Kupffer cells could be useful for preventing liver dysfunction in postoperative endotoxemia.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Effect of rosiglitazone on glucose and non-esterified fatty acid metabolism in Type II diabetic patients.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to examine the mechanisms by which rosiglitazone improves glycaemic control in Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. METHODS: Altogether 29 diet-treated diabetic patients were assigned at random to rosiglitazone, 8 mg/day (n = 15), or placebo (n = 14) for 12 weeks. Patients received 75 g OGTT and two-step euglycaemic insulin (40 and 160 mU/m(2)min) clamp with 3-(3)H-glucose, (14)C-palmitate and indirect calorimetry. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, rosiglitazone reduced fasting plasma glucose (195 +/- 11 to 150 +/- 7 mg/dl, p < 0.01), mean plasma glucose (PG) during OGTT (293 +/- 12 to 236 +/- 9 mg/dl, p < 0.01), and HbA1 c (8.7 +/- 0.4 to 7.4 +/- 0.3 %, p < 0.01) without changes in plasma insulin concentration. Basal endogenous glucose production (EGP) declined (3.3 +/- 0.1 to 2.9 +/- 0.1 mg/kg FFM. min, p < 0.05) and whole body glucose metabolic clearance rate increased after rosiglitazone (first clamp step: 2.8 +/- 0.2 to 3.5 +/- 0.2 ml/kg FFM. min, p < 0.01; second clamp step: 6.7 +/- 0.6 to 9.2 +/- 0.8, p < 0.05) despite increased body weight (86 +/- 4 to 90 +/- 4 kg, p < 0.01) and fat mass (33 +/- 3 to 37 +/- 3 kg, p < 0.01). Fasting plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) (735 +/- 52 to 579 +/- 49 microEq/l, p < 0.01), mean plasma NEFA during OGTT (561 +/- 33 to 424 +/- 35, p < 0.01), and basal NEFA turnover (18.3 +/- 1.5 to 15.5 +/- 1.2 microEq/kg FM. min, p < 0.05) decreased after rosiglitazone. Changes in EPG and mean plasma glucose (PG) during OGTT correlated with changes in basal EGP (r = 0.54; r = 0.58), first EGP (r = 0.36; r = 0.41), first MCR (r = -0.66; r = -0.68), second MCR (r = -0.49; r = -0.54), fasting plasma NEFA (r = 0.53; r = 0.49), and NEFA during OGTT (r = 0.66; r = 0.66). CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: Rosiglitazone increases hepatic and peripheral (muscle) tissue insulin sensitivity and reduces NEFA turnover despite increased total body fat mass. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of rosiglitazone on glycaemic control are mediated, in part, by the drug's effect on NEFA metabolism.

Adult↗