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M Nakamuta

Publications and source records attributed to M Nakamuta.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Selenoorganic compound, ebselen, inhibits nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by the modulation of jun-N-terminal kinase and the NF-kappab signaling pathway in rat Kupffer cells.

In response to the bacterial endotoxin, LPS, Kupffer cells are induced to express NO and TNF-alpha. These compounds are involved in hepatic inflammation/injury, especially that associated with endotoxic shock. In this study, we demonstrate that ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3[2H]one), a selenoorganic compound, blocks LPS-induced NO and TNF-alpha production by cultured rat liver Kupffer cells. LPS can activate both the NF-kappaB signaling pathway and MAPK signal transduction pathways such as JNK and p38 MAPK. We find that ebselen inhibits LPS-induced NF-kappaB nuclear translocalization, and also suppresses the LPS-induced phosphorylation of JNK, but not the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. This inhibition of signal transduction leads to a decrease in the transcription of TNF-alpha and the inducible isoform of NO. Furthermore, ebselen inhibits LPS-induced COX-2 expression, which is responsible for proinflammatory prostaglandin production, without affecting constitutive COX-1 expression. These data suggest the mechanism by which ebselen acts as an antiinflammatory agent, and also suggest that ebselen may be potent in preventing hepatic injury such as endotoxic shock, in which Kupffer cell activation has been implicated.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A p160ROCK-specific inhibitor, Y-27632, attenuates rat hepatic stellate cell growth.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: p160ROCK, a serine/threonine protein kinase, is a direct RhoA target mediating RhoA-induced assembly of focal adhesions and stress fibers. Recently, Rho signaling pathways were reported to play an important role in the activation of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC). The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of a p160ROCK-specific inhibitor, Y-27632, on cultured rat HSC. METHODS: HSC were isolated from normal rat livers and cultured on fibronectin-coated dishes. The cell morphology and actin cytoskeleton were studied with phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. Immunoblot analysis was used to examine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and the expression of cell cycle-associated proteins. HSC proliferation was measured by quantitating the percentage of cells that exhibited nuclear incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine. Type I collagen gene expression and accumulation in HSC culture media were evaluated by Northern blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. RESULTS: Y-27632 consistently blocked cell spreading and suppressed RhoA-induced formation of stress fibers in HSC. In addition, Y-27632 inhibited phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Cells treated with Y-27632 failed to proliferate, in contrast to untreated spread cells. This shape-dependent block in cell proliferation correlated with a failure to increase cyclin D1 protein level and to down-regulate the cell cycle inhibitor p27. Y-27632 decreased type I collagen gene expression and accumulation in HSC culture media. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that p160ROCK-mediated actin stress fiber assembly is involved in the pathophysiology of hepatic fibrogenesis and suggest that inhibitors of the RhoA-ROCK pathway might be useful therapeutically in liver fibrogenesis.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed2000

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG1295 attenuates rat hepatic stellate cell growth.

Enhanced activity of receptor tyrosine kinases such as the platelet-derived growth factor-receptorbeta (PDGF-Rbeta) has been implicated as a contributing factor in the development of hepatic fibrosis. In this study we have used tyrosine kinase inhibitors of the tyrphostin class (AG1295) to specifically block autophosphorylation of PDGF-Rbeta and proliferation of rat hepatic stellate cells. We also examined the effect of AG1295 on the PDGF-BB-induced activation of the 44 kd and 42 kd mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase isoforms (p44mapk/p42mapk). Rat hepatic stellate cells were treated with AG1295 (10 micromol/L) for 24 hours and stimulated with PDGF-BB for 5 minutes. AG1295 specifically inhibited autophosphorylation of PDGF-Rbeta and caused a 20% decrease in PDGF-BB-stimulated bromodeoxyuridine incorporation by rat hepatic stellate cells. Treatment of rat hepatic stellate cells with AG1295 resulted in an inhibition of the PDGF-BB-induced activation of MAP kinase isoforms. Quantification of the immunoprecipitated tyrosine-phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phospholipase C-gamma, and p21ras guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein by Western blotting revealed that AG1295 treatment effectively inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation of these kinases in hepatic stellate cells. Our findings demonstrate that AG1295 is a selective inhibitor of the tyrosine phosphorylation of PDGF-Rbeta and its downstream signaling pathway, and this compound could offer a strategy for the treatment of fibrotic liver diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Transforming growth factor-alpha induces the differentiation of sarcomatoid cholangiocarcinoma cells.

A sarcomatoid cholangiocarcinoma cell line, ETK-1, was established from a patient. Phenotypically, the cells corresponded to immature biliary epithelial cells. Because a small number of ETK-1 cells appeared to differentiate spontaneously along a biliary epithelial lineage in continuous culture, we examined the factors that initiate and/or promote the differentiation of the cells. Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) induced significant changes in ETK-1 cells. After stimulation with the factor, ETK-1 cells displayed morphologic transformation at a much higher frequency, with the appearance of many large cells with intracytoplasmic vacuoles, and the production of mucinous substances. These morphologically transformed cells were phenotypically similar to well-differentiated adenocarcinoma cells. The expression pattern of integrins after TGFalpha treatment also supported the maturation of the ETK-1 cells. The antibody against the receptor of TGFalpha inhibited these changes by TGFalpha. Moreover, the proliferation rate of ETK-1 cells was suppressed by TGFalpha. Our data suggest that TGFalpha can act as a differentiation factor along a biliary epithelial lineage.

Bile Duct Neoplasms↗
PubMed2000

Reversibility of serum NH3 level in a case of sudden onset and rapidly progressive case of type 2 citrullinemia.

A 48-year-old male presented with an acute change in mental status due to a marked elevation of plasma NH3 and was diagnosed with citrullinemia with amino acid analysis of blood. Hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration were performed, but serum chemical analysis did not show any improvement which led us to terminate dialysis following intensive care for 3 days. Surprisingly, NH3 level had decreased by 6 days after admission, coinciding with normalization of the size of the pupils. Since spontaneous remission had never been discussed, we discuss this relatively rare, but clinically significant entity with regard to its acute phase management and its potential reversibility.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1999

Liver-specific inactivation of the abetalipoproteinemia gene completely abrogates very low density lipoprotein/low density lipoprotein production in a viable conditional knockout mouse.

Conventional knockout of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein large subunit (lMTP) gene is embryonic lethal in the homozygous state in mice. We have produced a conditional lMTP knockout mouse by inserting loxP sequences flanking exons 5 and 6 by gene targeting. Homozygous floxed mice were born live with normal plasma lipids. Intravenous injection of an adenovirus harboring Cre recombinase (AdCre1) produced deletion of exons 5 and 6 and disappearance of lMTP mRNA and immunoreactive protein in a liver-specific manner. There was also disappearance of plasma apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 and marked reduction in apoB-48 levels. Wild-type mice showed no response, and heterozygous mice, an intermediate response, to AdCre1. Wild-type mice doubled their plasma cholesterol level following a high cholesterol diet. This hypercholesterolemia was abolished in AdCre1-treated lMTP-/- mice, the result of a complete absence of very low/intermediate/low density lipoproteins and a slight reduction in high density lipoprotein. Heterozygous mice showed an intermediate lipoprotein phenotype. The rate of accumulation of plasma triglyceride following Triton WR1339 treatment in lMTP-/- mice was <10% that in wild-type animals, indicating a failure of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein production. Pulse-chase experiments using hepatocytes isolated from wild-type and lMTP-/- mice revealed a failure of apoB secretion in lMTP-/- animals. Therefore, the liver-specific inactivation of the lMTP gene completely abrogates apoB-100 and very low/intermediate/low density lipoprotein production. These conditional knockout mice are a useful in vivo model for studying the role of MTP in apoB biosynthesis and the biogenesis of apoB-containing lipoproteins.

Abetalipoproteinemia↗
PubMed1999

Sequence elements required for apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enhancement activity from chicken enterocytes.

Mammalian intestinal apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA edits codon 2153 from CAA in apoB100 mRNA to a stop codon (UAA) in apoB48 mRNA. By contrast, chicken intestinal apoB mRNA contains a CAA codon at the corresponding site, but is not edited. Chicken enterocyte S100 extracts fail to edit mammalian apoB RNA, but contain factor(s) which enhance the mammalian enterocytes editing activity. By converting the chicken apoB mooring sequences to the conserved mammalian sequences, the study confirmed that this 11-nucleotide stretch was necessary and sufficient for minimal RNA editing. Using rat and chicken apoB chimeric constructs, the study revealed that mammalian apoB sequences were required for editing enhancement. In concert with the 29-nucleotide conserved cassette, the 5' rat apoB element (nucleotides 6615-6629) increased editing at C-6666, and was necessary for editing enhancement of chicken enterocyte S100 extracts. Similarly, the 3' rat apoB element (nucleotides 6726-6752) was required for editing enhancement of chicken enterocyte S100 extracts, but to a lesser extent in efficiency, compared to the 5' region. In conclusion, this study identified the sequences required for editing enhancement activity from chicken enterocyte S100 extracts.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Mouse very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR): gene structure, tissue-specific expression and dietary and developmental regulation.

The very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) is a multifunctional apolipoprotein (apo) E receptor that shares a common structural feature as well as some ligand specificity to apo E with members of the low density lipoprotein receptor gene family. We have isolated and characterized the mouse VLDLR gene. The mouse VLDLR gene contains 19 exons spanning approximately 50 kb. The exon-intron organization of the gene is completely conserved between mouse and human. Since the 5'-flanking region of the mouse VLDLR gene contains two copies of a sterol regulatory element-1 like sequence (SRE-1), we next studied regulation of the VLDLR mRNA expression in heart, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in C57BL/6, LDLR-/-, apo E-/- and LDLR-/-apo E-/- mice fed normal chow or atherogenic diet. The VLDLR mRNA expression was down-regulated 3-fold by feeding atherogenic diet in heart and skeletal muscle only in LDLR-/- mice. In contrast, VLDLR mRNA expression was up-regulated by atherogenic diet in adipose tissue in all animal models except double knockout mice. These results suggest that SRE-1 may be functional and VLDLR plays a role in cholesterol homeostasis in heart and skeletal muscle when LDLR is absent and that apo E is required for this modulation. Developmental regulation of the VLDLR mRNA expression was also tissue-specific. VLDLR mRNA expression in heart displayed significant up and down regulation during development. Maximal level was detected on post-natal day 3. However, the VLDLR mRNA levels in skeletal muscle remained relatively constant except a slight dip on post-natal day 7. In kidney and brain, VLDLR mRNA also peaked on post-natal day 3 but remained relatively constant thereafter. In liver, VLDLR mRNA expression was very low; it was barely detectable at day 19 of gestation and was decreased further thereafter. In adipose tissue, the VLDLR mRNA level showed an increase on post-natal day 13, went down again during weaning and then continued to increase afterwards. This developmental pattern as well as dietary regulation in adipose tissue supports the notion that VLDLR plays a role in lipid accumulation in this tissue. Although the primary role of VLDLR in heart, muscle and adipose tissue is likely in lipid metabolism, developmental pattern of this receptor in other tissues suggests that VLDLR has functions that are unrelated to lipid metabolism.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1999

Induction of apoptosis in rat hepatic stellate cells by disruption of integrin-mediated cell adhesion.

Cell-matrix adhesion is recognized as a physiologic determinant of cell growth and survival. Integrin occupancy seems to be a primary role. We sought to investigate the signal transduction pathways for integrin effects on cell survival in hepatic stellate cells. Integrin function was antagonized by the soluble integrin recognition sequence pentapeptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS) in primary cultures of rat hepatic stellate cells. Integrin antagonism with GRGDS peptide induced apoptosis. To investigate signal transduction mechanisms for the effect of integrins on cell survival in hepatic stellate cells, the expression of p53, Bcl-2, and Bax was analyzed. Incubation with soluble GRGDS peptide resulted in increased expression of p53 and decreased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the abrogation of cell adhesion with soluble GRGDS peptide plays a critical role in the induction of apoptosis of rat hepatic stellate cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Role of Rho small GTP binding protein in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton in hepatic stellate cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In the fibrotic response to liver injury, hepatic stellate cells are activated, leading to the myofibroblastic cell shape, with actin cytoskeletal reorganization and increased extracellular matrix production. The reorganization of actin cytoskeleton suggests that the small GTP binding protein Rho might modulate the process of this myofibroblastic change. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Rho in the phenotypic changes of hepatic stellate cells. METHODS: The phenotypic changes were investigated by the overexpression of Rho regulator, Rho GDI or dominant negative mutant of Rho in mouse hepatic stellate cell line, GRX cells. In activated rat hepatic stellate cells, the effects of microinjection of Botulinus toxin C3, which is the specific inhibitor for Rho, were analyzed. Furthermore, the effect of C3 on the type I collagen accumulation in hepatic stellate cells was investigated. RESULTS: Overexpression of Rho GDI or the dominant negative mutant of Rho caused the shrinkage cell shape and suppressed stress fiber formation. Microinjection of toxin C3 caused a markedly distorted cell shape and the disappearance of stress fibers in rat stellate cells. In addition, C3 strongly suppressed collagen accumulation in activated stellate cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Rho regulates the actin cytoskeletal reorganization, and may be implicated in the collagen accumulation in activated stellate cells. These findings provide evidence for the role of Rho in the myofibroblastic phenotype in hepatic stellate cells.

Actins↗
PubMed1999

Soluble Arg-Gly-Asp peptides reduce collagen accumulation in cultured rat hepatic stellate cells.

Hepatic stellate cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, both via production of extracellular matrix proteins and through secretion of matrix metalloproteinases. In this study, effects of soluble cell adhesion peptides on collagen type I accumulation and on expression of matrix metalloproteinases were analyzed. First, we revealed the expression of alpha5-integrin on hepatic stellate cells by immunostaining. Treatment with 100 microg/ml of soluble Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides was found to reduce accumulation of type I collagen without any effects on its transcriptional level in rat hepatic stellate cells, whereas a control peptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Glu-Ser (GRGES) had no such effect. Soluble RGD peptides also increased the secretion of collagenase by stellate cells. These data suggested that reduced accumulation of type I collagen caused by the RGD peptide ligation to integrins on hepatic stellate cells was partly due to stimulated expression of collagenase by stellate cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Phenotype interaction of apobec-1 and CETP, LDLR, and apoE gene expression in mice: role of apoB mRNA editing in lipoprotein phenotype expression.

Apolipoprotein (apo) B mRNA editing determines the amount of apoB-100 and apoB-48 produced. Surprisingly, apobec-1 knockout mice, which do not edit apoB, have an essentially normal lipoprotein phenotype. By selected cross-breeding of mice of different genotypes, we show in this report that inactivation of editing produces profound phenotypic effects in cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transgenic mice and in apoE and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) knockout mice. Compared with mice with an apobec-1+/+ background, CETP expression in apobec-1-/- mice caused a doubling of the plasma apoB-100 concentration (from 3.5+/-0.6 to 8.8+/-1.9 mg/dL, P<.01) and a much greater shift of plasma cholesterol from HDL to IDL/LDL as assayed by fast protein liquid chromatography analysis; the ratio of non-HDL to HDL cholesterol was 0.47, 0.46, 0.76, and 1.43 in apobec-1(+/+)/CETP-/-, apobec-1(-/-)/CETP-/-, apobec-1(+/+)/CETP+/-, and apobec-1(-/-)/CETP+/- animals, respectively. Feeding of a Western-type diet further exaggerated the shift in this ratio. In LDLR-/- mice, inactivation of apobec-1 caused an approximately 200% rise in plasma apoB-100 concentration, an approximately 60% increase in apoE concentration, and a 70% increase in total plasma cholesterol, which resulted exclusively from an increase in non-HDL cholesterol. The exaggerated hypercholesterolemia involving the VLDL+LDL fractions was further enhanced by a Western-type diet. In contrast, in apoE-/- mice, inactivation of apobec-1 caused a massive increase (from <0.5 to 55.5+/-16.4 mg/dL) in plasma apoB-100 concentration but an approximately 55% reduction in hypercholesterolemia due to partial amelioration of the marked VLDL+IDL elevation. However, the difference in lipid profiles between apobec-1(+/+)/apoE-/- and apobec-1(-/-)/apoE-/- mice was abolished in a time-dependent manner as further increases in total plasma cholesterol were induced by a Western-type diet. Whereas apobec-1 inactivation in wild-type mice produced little or no change in lipoprotein phenotype, giving rise to speculation that apoB mRNA editing does not have significant effect on lipoprotein dynamics, we show herein that there is important gene-gene interaction between apobec-1 and the CETP, LDLR, and apoE loci, which is subject to further substantial modulation by environmental factors such as a Western-type diet in mice.

APOBEC-1 Deaminase↗
PubMed1997

Apobec-1 and apolipoprotein B mRNA editing.

Apolipoprotein (apo)B mRNA editing is a novel mechanism for the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in mammals. It consists of a C-->U conversion of the first base of the codon CAA, encoding glutamine-2153, to UAA, an in-frame stop codon, in apoB mRNA. Since its initial description in 1987, substantial progress has been made in the last few years on the mechanism of editing. Apobec-1, the catalytic component of the apoB mRNA editing enzyme complex, has been cloned. This article begins with an overview of the general biology of apoB mRNA editing. It then provides an in-depth analysis of the structure, evolution and possible mechanism of action of apobec-1. ApoB mRNA editing is the prototype of RNA editing in mammals. What we learn from apoB mRNA editing will be useful in our understanding of other examples of RNA editing in vertebrates which are being described with increasing frequency.

APOBEC-1 Deaminase↗
PubMed1997

Cloning of an Apobec-1-binding protein that also interacts with apolipoprotein B mRNA and evidence for its involvement in RNA editing.

Apolipoprotein (apo)B mRNA editing is mediated by a multiprotein editosome complex. Apobec-1 is the catalytic component of this complex, but other proteins involved in editing have not been identified. We used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify an apobec-1-interacting protein, ABBP-1. ABBP-1 contains 331 amino acid residues and is identical to a previously reported human type A/B hnRNP except for a 47-residue insertion at its C-terminal region. It contains typical RNP motifs at its N-terminal half and glycine-rich motifs in the C-terminal region. Northern blot analysis indicates that ABBP-1 mRNA is distributed in multiple human tissues. By deletion analysis, we mapped the apobec-1-binding region to the glycine-rich domain. ABBP-1 also binds to apoB mRNA transcripts around the editing site and can be UV-cross-linked to them in vitro. Immnodepletion of ABBP-1 from an active apoB mRNA editing tissue extract inhibits its editing activity. Down-regulation of ABBP-1 in an apobec-1-expressing HepG2 cell line by transfection with an antisense ABBP-1 cDNA construct leads to inhibition of endogenous apoB mRNA editing. We conclude that ABBP-1 is an apobec-1-interacting protein that may play an important role in apoB mRNA editing.

APOBEC-1 Deaminase↗
PubMed1996

Complete phenotypic characterization of apobec-1 knockout mice with a wild-type genetic background and a human apolipoprotein B transgenic background, and restoration of apolipoprotein B mRNA editing by somatic gene transfer of Apobec-1.

We have produced gene knockout mice by targeted disruption of the apobec-1 gene. As recently reported by Hirano et al. (Hirano, K.-I., Young, S. G., Farese, R. V., Jr., Ng, J., Sande, E., Warburton, C., Powell-Braxton, L. M., and Davidson, N. O. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 9887-9890), these animals do not edit apolipoprotein (apo) B mRNA or produce apoB-48. In this study we have performed a detailed analysis of the lipoprotein phenotypic effects of apobec-1 gene disruption that were not examined in the previous study. We first analyzed the plasma lipoproteins in knockout animals with a wild-type genetic background. Although there was no difference in plasma cholesterol between apobec-1(-/-), +/-, or +/+ mice, there was a marked (176%) increase in plasma apoB-100, from 1.8 +/- 1.2 mg/dl in apobec-1(+/+) mice to 2.7 +/- 0.6 mg/dl in apobec-1(+/-) and 5.0 +/- 1.4 mg/dl in apobec-1(-/-) mice. Plasma apoE was similar in these animals. By fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) analysis, there was a significant decrease in plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in apobec-1(-/-) mice. We further fractionated the plasma lipoproteins into d < 1.006, 1.006-1.02, 1.02-1.05, 1.05-1.08, 1.08-1.10, and 1.10-1.21 g/ml classes, and found a marked (30-40%) reduction in the cholesterol and protein content in the (d 1.08-1.10 and 1.10-1.21) HDL fractions, corroborating the FPLC data. SDS-gel analysis revealed an absence of apoB-48, an increase in apoB-100 in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) fractions, and a small decrease in apoA-I in the HDL fractions in the apobec-1(-/-) samples. We next raised the basal plasma apoB levels in the apobec-1(-/-) animals by cross-breeding them with human apoB transgenic (TgB) mice. The plasma apoB-100 was 3-fold higher in apobec-1(-/-)/TgB+/- mice (26.6 +/- 18.3 mg/dl) than in apobec-1(+/+)/TgB+/- mice (9.8 +/- 3.9 mg/dl, p < 0.05). The apobec-1(-/-)/TgB+/- mice had a plasma cholesterol levels of 170 +/- 28 mg/dl and triglyceride levels of 106 +/- 31 mg/dl, which are 80% and 58% higher, respectively, than the corresponding values of 94 +/- 21 mg/dl and 67 +/- 11 mg/dl in apobec+/+/TgB+/- mice. By FPLC, the apobec-1(-/-)/TgB+/- animals developed markedly elevated plasma LDL cholesterol (518.5 +/- 329.5 microg/ml) that is 373% that of apobec1(+/+)/TgB+/- mice (139.0 +/- 87.0 microg/ml) (p < 0.05). The elevated plasma triglyceride was accounted for mainly by a 97% increase in VLDL triglyceride in the apobec1(-/-)/TgB+/- mice. We conclude that apobec-1(-/-) animals have a distinctive lipoprotein phenotype characterized by significant hyperapoB-100 and HDL deficiency in mice with a wild-type genetic background. Furthermore, the abolition of apoB mRNA editing elevates plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in apobec-1(-/-) animals with a TgB background. Finally, to exclude the possibility that absence of apoB mRNA editing was a secondary effect of chronic Apobec-1 deficiency, we treated apobec-1(-/-) mice with a replication-defective mouse Apobec-1 adenoviral vector and found that we could acutely restore apoB mRNA editing in the liver. These experiments indicate that Apobec-1 is an essential component of the apoB mRNA editing machinery and absence of editing in the knockout animals is a direct consequence of the absence of functional Apobec-1.

APOBEC-1 Deaminase↗