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Biomedical subjects

M Noda

Publications and source records attributed to M Noda.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

An adipogenic basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper type transcription factor (ADD1) mRNA is expressed and regulated by retinoic acid in osteoblastic cells.

ADD1 is a recently identified basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper-type transcription factor that acts as a positive regulator of adipocyte-specific gene expression. Since adipocytes may share their precursor with osteoblasts, we examined the expression of ADD1 mRNA in osteoblast-like cells. In osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, the level of the ADD1 mRNA expression was low at the early period of cultures while it subsequently increased with time up to more than 10-fold in the later period of cultures along with the expression of alkaline phosphatase, a differentiation marker of these cells. In ROS17/2.8 cells, which represent mature osteoblasts, ADD1 mRNA was expressed constitutively. Treatment with retinoic acid (RA) enhanced the ADD1 mRNA expression several fold in these cells within 4 h in a dose-dependent manner. This RA effect on the ADD1 mRNA expression was blocked by dichloro-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole but not by cycloheximide. RA treatment did not affect the ADD1 mRNA stability, suggesting the involvement of transcriptional control. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that proteins in the crude nuclear extracts prepared from ROS17/2.8 cells were bound to the E box-containing ADD1 recognition DNA sequence, E/C, and that this binding activity was enhanced by the RA treatment. Neither the E2A protein recognition sequence nor the Myo-D/E12 recognition sequence competed against the E/C sequence for the binding, indicating the sequence specificity of the binding activity. Furthermore, RA treatment enhanced the transactivation activity of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct containing the E/C sequence in the transient transfection assay in ROS17/2.8 cells. RA treatment also enhanced the ADD1 mRNA expression in another rat calvaria-derived cell line, RCT1, and in the primary cultures of newborn rat calvaria cells. Overexpression of ADD1 in ROS17/2.8 enhanced the level of the osteocalcin mRNA expression. These results indicated that the adipogenic basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper-type transcription factor (ADD1) mRNA was expressed in osteoblastic cells and that its expression was associated with the expression of an osteoblastic phenotype-related gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

6B4 proteoglycan/phosphacan is a repulsive substratum but promotes morphological differentiation of cortical neurons.

6B4 proteoglycan/phosphacan is one of the major phosphate-buffered saline-soluble chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans of the brain. Recently, this molecule has been demonstrated to be an extracellular variant of the proteoglycan-type protein tyrosine phosphatase, PTPzeta (RPTPbeta). The influence of the 6B4 proteoglycan, adsorbed onto the substratum, on cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth was studied using dissociated neurons from the cerebral cortex and thalamus. 6B4 proteoglycan adsorbed onto plastic tissue culture dishes did not support neuronal cell adhesion, but rather exerted repulsive effects on cortical and thalamic neurons. When neurons were densely seeded on patterned substrata consisting of a grid-like structure of alternating poly-L-lysine and 6B4 proteoglycan-coated poly-L-lysine domains, they were concentrated on the poly-L-lysine domains. However, 6B4 proteoglycan did not retard the differentiation of neurons but rather promoted neurite outgrowth and development of the dendrites of cortical neurons, when neurons were sparsely seeded on poly-L-lysine-conditioned coverslips continuously coated with 6B4 proteoglycan. This effect of 6B4 proteoglycan on the neurite extension of cortical neurons was apparent even on coverslips co-coated with fibronectin or tenascin. By contrast, the neurite extension of thalamic neurons was not modified by 6B4 proteoglycan. Chondroitinase ABC or keratanase digestion of 6B4 proteoglycan did not affect its neurite outgrowth promoting activity, but a polyclonal antibody against 6B4 proteoglycan completely suppressed this activity, suggesting that a protein moiety is responsible for the activity. 6B4 proteoglycan transiently promoted tyrosine phosphorylation of an 85x10(3) Mr protein in the cortical neurons, which correlated with the induction of neurite outgrowth. These results suggest that 6B4 proteoglycan/phosphacan modulates morphogenesis and differentiation of neurons dependent on its spatiotemporal distribution and the cell types in the brain.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

New hydrolyzable tannins, shephagenins A and B, from Shepherdia argentea as HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Two new hydrolyzable tannins, shephagenins A and B, were isolated along with hippophaenin A and strictinin from the leaf extract of Shepherdia argentea, which showed a remarkable inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 reverse transcriptase. Their structures, having a gluconic acid core, have been elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods. The inhibitory effect of the leaf extract on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase was found to be due to tannins, and their activities were stronger than that of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate as a positive control.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed1996

Isolation and characterization of the heat-responsive genes in Escherichia coli.

The ompC gene expression is induced by increasing temperature as well as osmotic pressure. In this study, a mutant (TD2) defective in this thermoresponse was isolated with transposon Tn10; the mutation was complemented by pMAN55 or pMAN56 containing micF and mapped at 48 min on Escherichia coli K-12. Furthermore, a new gene (hrsA) that suppressed the mutation was cloned. Its nucleotide sequence was analyzed and it was located close to the suc operon at 16.7 min corresponding to #18F11 (Kohara bank) on E. coli genome. In TD2 containing the hrsA on a multicopy plasmid, the ompC expression was induced and dependent on OmpR with increased temperature. The HrsA was found to have Enzyme IIA, IIB, and IIC domains that are homologous to Enzyme II, involved in the fructose-specific PTS (phosphotransferase system). The putative phosphorylation sites (His87 and Cys192) were also conserved in HrsA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Sclerotome-related helix-loop-helix type transcription factor (scleraxis) mRNA is expressed in osteoblasts and its level is enhanced by type-beta transforming growth factor.

Scleraxis is a recently identified transcription factor with a basic helix-loop-helix motif, which is expressed in sclerotome during embryonic development. We have examined the expression of scleraxis mRNA in rat osteoblastic cells and found that the scleraxis gene was expressed as a 1.2 kb mRNA species in osteoblastic osteosarcoma ROS17/2.8 cells. The scleraxis mRNA expression was enhanced by type-beta transforming growth factor (TGF beta) treatment. The TGF beta effect was observed in a dose-dependent manner starting at 0.2 ng/ml and saturating at 2 ng/ml. The effect was time-dependent and was first observed within 12 h and peaked at 24 h. The TGF beta effect was blocked by cycloheximide, while no effect on scleraxis mRNA stability was observed. TGF beta treatment enhanced scleraxis-E box (Scx-E) binding activity in the nuclear extracts of ROS17/2.8 cells. Furthermore, TGF beta enhanced transcriptional activity of the CAT constructs which contain the Scx-E box sequence. TGF beta treatment also enhanced scleraxis gene expression in osteoblast-enriched cells derived from primary rat calvaria. These findings indicated for the first time that the novel helix-loop-helix type transcription factor (scleraxis) mRNA is expressed in osteoblasts and its expression is regulated by TGF beta.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Visceral leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as malignant lymphoma.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a chronic infectious disease caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania, characterized by intermittent fever, monocytosis, hepatosplenomegaly and hypergammaglobulinemia. This morbid condition is rather difficult to diagnose correctly, especially at its early stage, because it is rarely encountered in Japan. Recently we treated a case of visceral leishmaniasis in which the patient was misdiagnosed as malignant lymphoma, and went through splenectomy and steroid administration, which made the diagnosis more difficult.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The betaHC-9 pancreatic beta-cell line preserves the characteristics of progenitor mouse islets.

betaHC-9 is a pancreatic beta-cell line that is derived from the hyperplastic islets of transgenic mice that express the simian virus 40 tumor antigen gene in the islets. This cell secretes insulin in response to glucose in a concentration-dependent manner. Maximal and half-maximal concentrations were approximately 20 and approximately 10 mmol/l, respectively, with a maximal fractional release that averaged 3.7% of the total cellular insulin content per 60 min. The cellular insulin content was 3-9% of the content of mouse islet cells. Under perifusion conditions, high glucose concentrations induced a sharp first phase that lasted approximately 10 min and a succeeding second phase of sustained release, as exhibited by mouse islets. The cells did not show a rising second phase as seen with rat islets. This biphasic response was obtained without the need for activators of protein kinase A such as forskolin or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. The dose-dependency and the phasic response to glucose were essentially invariable up to passage 38 but thereafter declined. The cells respond to various well-known stimulators of insulin secretion, including leucine and arginine; to modulators such as carbachol, glucagon-like peptide I, and pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide; and to the inhibitors norepinephrine, somatostatin, and galanin. The pharmacological agents glibenclamide, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, and KCl stimulate and forskolin potentiates insulin release. Mannoheptulose, 2-deoxyglucose, and nitrendipine inhibit glucose-stimulated insulin release from the cells. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration was raised by high glucose and by glibenclamide. In conclusion, this cell line preserves the fundamental characteristics of the progenitor normal mouse islets very well. Although several cell lines have been reported to have glucose-responsive insulin secretion, few demonstrate clear biphasic secretion as this cell line displays. In this context, this cell line should serve as a potent tool for studying the mechanisms of insulin secretion, especially the important phasic secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Mechanical force regulation of vascular parathyroid hormone-related peptide expression.

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) was originally identified as a factor responsible for the syndrome of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. PTHrP has a vasodilator activity and is produced in vascular smooth muscle. However, the exact physiological role of PTHrP and the regulation of its gene expression in the vascular system have not been understood. We found that the mechanical stretch of rat aortic smooth muscle cells in vitro induced a marked increase in PTHrP expression through a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism. We further examined whether PTHrP expression in blood vessels in vivo is regulated by mechanical forces. Mechanical stretch of isolated aortic strips increased the expression of PTHrP mRNA. The PTHrP mRNA expression levels in aortae from hypertensive 18-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was twofold higher than age-matched control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, while the PTHrP mRNA level in the aortae from normotensive 4-week-old SHR was not different from that of age-matched control WKY rats. Moreover, treatment of hypertensive SHR with an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist or hydralazine caused a decrease in PTHrP expression in the aortae with the lowering of blood pressure. These results indicate that the gene expression of the vasoleraxant PTHrP in blood vessels is under the regulation of mechanical forces, and suggest a modulatory role for PTHrP in the regulation of vascular tone.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Role of Na(+)-glucose cotransport in fluid absorption across alveolar epithelium in isolated rat lungs].

To evaluate the role of Na(+)-glucose cotransport in fluid absorption across alveolar epithelial walls in isolated rat lungs, we measured the inhibitory effects of amiloride (a Na+ channel blocker) and phlorizin (a Na(+)-glucose cotrasport blocker) on the fluid absorption rate in fluid-filled lungs. Amiloride (10(-5)-10(-4) M) reduced alveolar fluid absorption by 30%. This value was similar to that obtained in the presence of 10(-3) M phlorizin. The coefficient of Na(+)-glucose cotransport was estimated to be 2.5. The strong correlation between Na+ escape and fluid absorption (r = 0.907) was not affected by phlorizin. These findings suggest that the impact of Na(+)-glucose cotransport was similar to that of Na+ transport alone, and that glucose molecules transported by Na(+)-glucose cotransport do not play an important role in alveolar fluid absorption across rat alveolar epithelium.

Absorption↗
PubMed1996

A point mutation in glycoprotein IX coding sequence (Cys73 (TGT) to Tyr(TAT)) causes impaired surface expression of GPIb/IX/V complex in two families with Bernard-Soulier syndrome.

Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) is a rare inherited bleeding disorder which is caused by abnormal expression or function of the glycoprotein (GP) Ib/IX/V complex, a platelet major receptor for von Willebrand factor. We studied four BSS patients in two unrelated families in which the same and novel mutation was found. Flow cytometric analysis showed that GPIX was completely absent but residual amounts of GPIb alpha and GPV were detectable in these patients. We analyzed all coding regions of GPIb alpha, GPIb beta, GPV and GPIX which were amplified from the patients' genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In all four cases, we identified a point mutation in the GPIX coding region that changes the codon for cysteine 73 (TGT) to a codon for tyrosine (TAT). Furthermore, we confirmed by a transient expression study that the mutation caused the loss of adequate surface expression of GPIX. Since cysteine might be important for the secondary structure, this mutation of GPIX gene would lead to a dramatic conformational change of GPIX protein, resulting in the reduced surface expression. We concluded that this novel point mutation of the GPIX gene was responsible for BSS in these families.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[A study of surgical treatment in lung cancer over 75 years of age-effect of epidural anesthesia for protection of postoperative coughing disturbance].

29 patients over 75 years of age in 221 patients undergoing resection of lung cancer from January of 1990 through December of 1994 were studied for the occurrence of expectoration disturbance (atelectasis), the effect of epidural anesthesia for protection of it. Atelectasis was observed in 8 (27.6%) of 29. In a group received epidural anesthesia (EA) during the early postoperative phase, 1 of 5 patients developed atelectasis. In 192 patients below 75 years of age, atelectasis was observed in 40 (20.8%) of them, so in a group received epidural anesthesia (EA) during the early postoperative phase, only 2 of 42 patients (4.8%) developed atelectasis. This value was significantly lower than that value (25.3%) in a group without EA. In conclusion, in the group below 75 years of age, EA during the early postoperative phase may be useful in inhibiting the occurrence of atelectasis, an important one of the postoperative lung complications.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Neuroglycan C, a novel membrane-spanning chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan that is restricted to the brain.

Monoclonal antibodies were raised to membrane-bound proteoglycans derived from rat brain, and four monoclonal antibodies that recognized a 150-kDa chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan with a core glycoprotein of 120 kDa were obtained. Immunohistological study revealed that the proteoglycan was associated with developing neurons. We screened rat brain cDNA libraries using the four monoclonal antibodies and isolated overlapping cDNA clones that encoded the entire core protein of 514 amino acids plus a 30-residue signal peptide. The deduced amino acid sequence suggested an integral membrane protein divided into five structurally different domains: an N-terminal domain to which chondroitin sulfate chains might be attached, a basic amino acid cluster consisting of seven arginine and two lysine residues, a cysteine-containing domain, a membrane-spanning segment, and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of 95 amino acids. On Northern blots, the cDNA hybridized with a single mRNA of 3.1 kilobases that was detectable in brains of neonatal and adult rats but not in kidney, liver, lung, and muscle of either. The sequence of the proteoglycan did not exhibit significant homology to any other known protein, indicating that the proteoglycan, designated neuroglycan C, is a novel integral membrane proteoglycan.

Aggrecans↗
PubMed1995

50-kD integrin-associated protein does not detectably influence several functions of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex in human platelets.

A 50-kD integrin-associated protein (IAP) has been reported to be associated with beta 3 integrins and to modulate their function, especially vitronectin receptor in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells and leukocyte response integrin in neutrophils. We studied the involvement of IAP in the function of platelet beta 3 integrin, glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex. IAP was a widely distributed protein and was also expressed in the cells that do not have beta 3 integrin. Platelets from a patient with thrombasthenia, which lack GPIIb and IIIa, expressed IAP as well as normal platelets. Neither platelet aggregation nor intracellular Ca2+ elevation after stimulation was influenced by the anti-IAP antibody, B6H12, which was reported to be inhibitory for other beta 3 integrins. The expression level of GPIIb-IIIa complex was not influenced by coexpression of human IAP in the transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. IAP did not facilitate the binding of soluble fibrinogen to the CHO cells expressing GPIIb-IIIa complex. Furthermore, cell adhesion onto the immobilized fibrinogen via GPIIb-IIIa complex was not inhibited by B6H12 in HEL cells and was not altered by coexpression of human IAP in CHO cells. We concluded that expression of IAP is regulated independently with that of GPIIb-IIIa complex and that IAP does not influence the function of GPIIb-IIIa complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Identification of a Xenopus glutamine synthetase gene abundantly expressed in the embryonic nervous system but not in adult brain.

We used a PCR-based subtraction cloning procedure with concanavalin A-treated and -untreated animal caps from stage 9 Xenopus embryos to search for genes up-regulated during early neural development. One such gene was found to encode a protein homologous to several known glutamine synthetases, and we named it xGS. Molecular hybridization studies revealed that xGS mRNA is maternally transmitted and abundantly expressed in neuroectoderm-derived tissues during the gastrula and neurula stages. The expression of xGS mRNA in the nervous system continues until the larval stages, but declines thereafter and becomes undetectable in adult brain. Considering its metabolic activity and potential neuroprotective effect against the neurotoxic substances such as glutamate and ammonia, the glutamine synthetase may play an important role in the early stages of vertebrate neural development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

In vitro guidance of retinal ganglion cell axons by RAGS, a 25 kDa tectal protein related to ligands for Eph receptor tyrosine kinases.

The results of previous in vitro experiments indicate that a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein may play an important role in the guidance of temporal retinal axons during the formation of the topographically ordered retinotectal projection. We have purified and cloned a GPI-anchored, 25 kDa glycoprotein that is a good candidate for a molecule involved in this process. During the time of innervation by retinal ganglion cells, this protein is gradedly expressed in the posterior part of the developing tectum. In two different in vitro assay systems, the recombinant protein induces growth cone collapse and repulsion of retinal ganglion cell axons. These phenomena are observed for axons of temporal as well as nasal origin, indicating that an additional activity may be necessary to confer the nasotemporal specificity observed in previous assays. We named the protein RAGS (for repulsive axon guidance signal). The sequence of RAGS shows significant homology to recently identified ligands for receptor tyrosine kinases of the Eph subfamily.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Involvement of rho in GTP gamma S-induced enhancement of phosphorylation of 20 kDa myosin light chain in vascular smooth muscle cells: inhibition of phosphatase activity.

In beta-escin-permeabilized cultured pig aortic smooth muscle cells GTP gamma S dose-dependently enhances Ca(2+)-induced, wortmannin-sensitive phosphorylation of 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC20). GTP gamma S does not potentiate thiophosphorylation of MLC20, but does inhibit its dephosphorylation. Pretreatment with C. botulinum exotoxin C3, which specifically ADP-ribosylates and inactivates the rho family of the small molecular weight G proteins, completely abolishes the effects of GTP gamma S. These results indicate that rho is involved in the GTP gamma S-induced enhancement of Ca(2+)-dependent MLC20 phosphorylation in aortic smooth muscle cells, and strongly suggest that this effect of rho is due to inhibition of protein phosphatase activity toward MLC20.

Animals↗