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Biomedical subjects

M Ono

Publications and source records attributed to M Ono.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Metastasizing uterine leiomyoma. A case with cardiac and pulmonary metastasis.

A case of histologically benign cardiac and pulmonary metastases from a uterine leiomyoma in a 45-year-old woman is reported. The solitary cardiac tumor consisted of five lobules with a stalk attached to the anterior papillary muscle of the right ventricle, which occupied the right ventricular cavity and almost completely obstructed the pulmonary main trunk in the systolic cycle. Multiple small nodules were found throughout both lungs. The cardiac tumor was resected at open heart surgery and open lung biopsy of the pulmonary lesion was simultaneously performed. Both of them were histologically identical to the apparently histologically benign uterine leiomyoma which had been resected five years previously. Based on the clinical and laboratory findings, it is postulated that antegrade metastases via the venous system resulted in the cardiac metastasis from the uterine leiomyoma and the secondary pulmonary metastasis from the cardiac tumor. In contrast to the light microscopic findings, ultrastructural examination suggested the possibility of malignancy associated with the presence of immature smooth muscle cells. This is the first reported case of a so-called benign metastasizing leiomyoma occurring in the heart.

Female↗
PubMed1996

Nitric oxide concentrations in the follicular fluid and apoptosis of granulosa cells in human follicles.

To study the relationship between follicular atresia, apoptosis, and nitric oxide (NO) generation in follicular development, steroidogenesis, NO levels in follicular fluid and apoptosis were analysed in the various sized follicles of women receiving ovarian stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG)-human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) treatments for in-vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer. The follicles were divided into three groups by diameter: large follicle, > or = 18 mm; medium follicle, > or = 12 and < or = 15 mm; small follicle, < or = 10 mm. Follicular fluid was obtained from 20 women 34 h after HCG administration, and the concentrations of oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone, and nitrite, nitrate, arginine and citrulline were measured. Granulosa cells obtained from each group of follicular fluid were stained with Hoechst dye, and nuclear morphology was examined by a fluorescence microscopy. Oestradiol and progesterone concentrations in large follicles were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those in medium or small follicles, and testosterone concentrations in small follicles were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those in large follicles. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of nitrite, nitrate, arginine and citrulline among three groups. The percentage of apoptotic cells with nuclear fragmentation was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in small follicles than in large follicles. The present results suggested that small follicles with poor response to HMG may undergo atresia through apoptosis. No significant difference in the follicular NO level between large and small follicles led us to speculate on a different responsiveness to NO in these two types of follicles.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Changes in activity of superoxide dismutase in the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy.

To investigate the possible role of the superoxide radical and its scavenging system in the human endometrium, the immunohistochemical distribution of superoxide dismutase (SOD), activities of SOD and lipid peroxide concentrations were studied in the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. The endometrial epithelium showed a positive immunostaining for Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD throughout the entire menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. In the stroma, weak immunostaining for Cu,Zn-SOD and moderate immunostaining for Mn-SOD were observed in the predecidual cells in the late secretory phase. Decidual cells in early pregnancy showed strong immunostaining for Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD. Total SOD activity in the endometrium increased from early proliferative phase to mid-late proliferative phase and further increased in the mid-secretory phase, and decreased in the late secretory phase. The total SOD activity in the endometrium of of early pregnancy was the same level as that in the mid-secretory phase. Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD activities changed in a similar manner to total SOD activity throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. Lipid peroxide concentration in the endometrium increased from early proliferative phase to mid-late proliferative phase and further increased in the late secretory phase. However, lipid peroxide concentration in the endometrium of early pregnancy was the same as that in the mid-secretory phase. These results suggested that the superoxide radical and its scavenging system may play an important role in the regulation of human endometrial function.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Significance of the chromatin structure in expression of the rat prolactin gene.

To elucidate the mechanisms underlying cell type-specific expression of the growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) genes, we used rat pituitary-derived cell lines producing exclusively GH (GC cells) or PRL (235 cells), and examined the following: expression of transcription factors essential for GH and/or PRL gene expression; promoter/enhancer activity of the GH and PRL genes transiently introduced by transfection; and chromatin structures of the GH and PRL genes. Even in PRL-nonproducing GC cells, the PRL promoter/enhancer was more active than the GH promoter, and the transcription factors, Pit-1 and estrogen receptor (ER), essential for PRL gene expression were functional. The PRL promoter/enhancer of GC cells was normal. On DNase I sensitivity analysis of the chromatin structure, two hypersensitive sites were detected in PRL gene chromatin of PRL-producing 235 cells but none in that of GC cells. It thus follows that the major reason for absence of the expression of the endogenous PRL gene in GC cells is neither the lack of transcription factors necessary for PRL gene expression nor an anomaly of the PRL gene itself, but that the chromatin structure of the PRL gene differs in PRL-nonproducing and -producing cells. It was shown in this study that neither Pit-1 nor ER is required for conversion of the structure of PRL gene chromatin to a DNase I-hypersensitive state.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Transient increase in the level of mRNA for a germin-like protein in leaves of the short-day plant Pharbitis nil during the photoperiodic induction of flowering.

A cDNA corresponding to an in vivo labeled protein whose level increased during flower-inductive darkness in the cotyledon of the short-day plant Pharbitis nil Choisy cv. Violet was isolated and characterized. The deduced amino-acid sequence of the protein (designated PnGLP; P.nil germin-like protein) showed homology to that of a GLP of Sinapis alba, a leaf protein, the mRNA accumulation of which showing circadian oscillations. PnGLP mRNA was detected specifically in the cotyledon and leaf, in particular, in the young expanded cotyledon and leaf. Accumulation of PnGLP mRNA increased transiently during flower-inductive darkness and peaked at a time that corresponded approximately to the critical night length. This mRNA peak was reduced by a brief exposure to red light at the 8th hour of darkness. The level of PnGLP mRNA peaked about 10 h from the beginning of the dark period, whereas it was reported that the level of mRNA for GLP of a long-day plant S. alba increased about 14 h from the beginning of the light period. Thus, the different time courses of accumulation of the mRNAs for leaf-specific GLPs appear to reflect the differences in photoperiodic responses of each plant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor: p91 activation induction of plasminogen activator/inhibitor, and tubular morphogenesis in human microvascular endothelial cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) or transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) stimulates cell migration, proliferation and the formation of tube-like structures of human microvascular endothelial cells in culture. Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor(HB-EGF), which shows 35% homology with EGF/TGF-alpha, is a member of the EGF family, and it is ubiquitous in many tissues and organs. We examined whether or not HB-EGF induced angiogenic responses in human microvascular endothelial cells. HB-EGF inhibited the binding of (125) I-EGF to the EGF receptor and induced autophosphorylation of the receptor on endothelial cells. Exogenous HB-EGF induced the loss of more than 70% of the EGF receptor from the cell surface within 30 min, with similar kinetics to that of EGF. The level of c-fos mRNA markedly increased at 30 min in response to HB-EGF as well as EGF. A gel shift assay demonstrated the activation of the transcription factor p91 by HB-EGF and EGF. This factor directly interacts with EGF receptor and mediates the activation of c-fos gene promoter. HB-EGF enhanced the mRNA expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) mRNA. However, the enhancement of t-PA and PAI-1 by HB-EGF was less than that by EGF. Heparitinase/chlorate, which digests the heparan sulfate proteoglycan of the endothelial cell surface, restored both t-PA and PAI-1 mRNA levels in response to HB-EGF in a manner similar to that by EGF. HB-EGF at 10 ng/ml developed tube-like structures in type I collagen gel at similar levels to that of EGF at 10 ng/ml, suggesting that HB-EGF is also a potent angiogenic factor in the model system for angiogenesis. The tubulogenesis activity of HB-EGF is discussed in relation to the expression of the t-PA and PAI-1 genes.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Involvement of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in tubular morphogenesis of human microvascular endothelial cells by oxidative stress.

Oxygen radicals are induced under various pathologic conditions associated with neovascularization. Oxygen radicals modulate angiogenesis in cultured human microvascular endothelial cells by an unknown mechanism. Treatment of human microvascular endothelial cells for 15 min with 0.1 to 0.5 mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or 100 U of tumor necrosis factor alpha per ml induced tubular morphogenesis in type I collagen gels. Gel shift assays with nuclear extracts demonstrated that H2O2 increases the binding activities of two transcription factors, NF-kappaB and AP-1, but not of Spl. Tumor necrosis factor alpha increased the binding activities of all three factors. A supershift assay with specific antibodies against JunB, JunD, and c-Jun (Jun family) showed that the antibody against c-Jun supershifted the AP-1 complex after H2O2 treatment. Coadministration of the antisense sequence of NF-kappaB inhibited H2O2-dependent tubular morphogenesis, and the antisense c-Jun oligonucleotide caused partial inhibition. The angiogenic factor responsible for H2O2-induced tubular morphogenesis was examined. Cellular mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-8 (IL-8), but not those of transforming growth factor alpha, were increased after treatment with 0.5 mM H2O2. Coadministration of anti-IL-8 antibody inhibited tubular morphogenesis enhanced by H2O2, and IL-8 itself also enhanced the formation of tube-like structures. Treatment with antisense NF-kappaB oligonucleotide completely blocked H2O2-dependent IL-8 production by endothelial cells. The tubular morphogenesis of vascular endothelial cells after treatment with oxidative stimuli and its possible association with NF-kappaB and IL-8, is examined.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Immunohistological analysis of tumour growth factor beta 1 expression in normal and inflamed salivary glands.

AIM: To determine whether transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) has a pathogenetic role in disease of the salivary glands. METHODS: An indirect immunohistochemical technique was used to analyse TGF-beta 1 expression in six specimens of normal salivary gland and 23 surgical specimens. RESULTS: TGF-beta 1 was strongly expressed in the ductal epithelial cells of normal salivary gland tissues (six of six cases) and in inflammatory conditions (eight of 11 cases). In contrast, TGF-beta 1 was not detectable in ductal epithelial cells expressing HLA-DR around infiltrating CD4+ CD45RO+ activated T cells, in the salivary gland tissue of patients with Sjögren's syndrome. CONCLUSION: Because TGF-beta 1 has an essential role in the mucosal immunity of salivary glands, abnormal expression of this cytokine must be regarded as a candidate in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Paraumbilical vein aneurysm. Case reports.

Two cases of paraumbilical vein aneurysm are reported. The patients were diagnosed as having cirrhotic liver with portal hypertension. Angiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a dilated paraumbilical vein arising from the left branch of the portal vein. Furthermore, localized dilatation of a paraumbilical vein was demonstrated. The focal aneurysmal dilatation of the dilatated paraumbilical vein is rare.

Aneurysm↗
PubMed1996

Progesterone inhibits superoxide radical production by mononuclear phagocytes in pseudopregnant rats.

This study investigated the changes in superoxide radical production by mononuclear phagocytes in the corpus luteum (CL) during pseudopregnancy in rats. Activity of superoxide radical production was determined by the conversion of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) to blue formazan deposit. Rats received 10 mg NBT via the abdominal aorta on day 3, 7, or 13 of pseudopregnancy and were autopsied 1 min later to prepare the histological sections. The cells with blue formazan deposits (NBT-positive cells) in the CL were scarce on days 3 and 7 of pseudopregnancy and significantly increased on day 13 of pseudo-pregnancy. On the other hand, simultaneous administration of 100 micrograms phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which activates mononuclear phagocytes to produce superoxide radical, significantly increased the numbers of NBT-positive cells in the CL on day 7 of pseudopregnancy, but not in the CL on day 3 or 13 of pseudopregnancy. To study the possibility that superoxide radical production by mononuclear phagocytes is inhibited by progesterone on day 7 of pseudopregnancy, peritoneal mononuclear phagocytes prepared on day 7 or 13 of pseudopregnancy were preincubated with 10, 50, or 100 ng/ml progesterone for 6 h and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Superoxide radical production was measured by the cytochrome c reduction method. One hundred nanograms per ml progesterone significantly inhibited superoxide radical production by mononuclear phagocytes, and this inhibitory effect of progesterone was significantly blocked by the simultaneous addition of RU486 (10(-7) M). These results suggested that progesterone inhibited superoxide radical production by the mononuclear phagocytes in the CL during midpseudopregnancy in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Properties of glycyrrhizin in Kampo extracts including licorice root and changes in the blood concentration of glycyrrhetic acid after oral administration of Kampo extracts].

We investigated in vitro the properties of glycyrrhizin (GL), such as dissolution, absorption and resolution, using a Sho-Seiryu-To extract, a Sho-Saiko-To extract, both including a licorice root, and licorice extract. The dissolution of GL differed with the pH of the solvent. The absorption (partition coefficient) of GL decreased with an increase in pH, and increased in the presence of other active constituents, such as baicalin, baicalein, and ephedrine. In the case of the Sho-Saiko-To extract, the conversion from GL to glycyrrhetic acid (GA) by beta-glucuronidase originated from E. coli occurred slowly. It was also suppressed by adding baicalin. We determined in vivo the pharmacokinetics of GA after oral administration of Kampo extracts in healthy volunteers. In each Kampo extract, the time of administration had no influence on the mean maximum blood concentration (Cmax) and the area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC). Tmax was delayed in the case of the administration after meal (p < 0.05).

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Variations in glutelin and high molecular weight endosperm proteins among subspecies of rice (Oryza sativa L.) detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Variations in endosperm polypeptides among 16 cultivars of rice were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. One glutelin alpha-subunit (alpha 8) with a molecular mass of 32.5 kDa was exclusively present in indica cultivars. By contrast, the glutelin alpha 3 subunit, with a molecular mass of 32 kDa, was present only in japonica and javanica cultivars. Glutelin alpha-subunits alpha 5a and alpha 5b, which have a molecular mass of 32 kDa and slightly different isoelectric points, differed among rice subspecies, i.e. the former was detected in japonica cultivars and the latter was detected in indica cultivars. Internal amino acid sequences of the indica-specific glutelin alpha-subunits alpha 5b and alpha 8, were analyzed with a gas-phase protein sequencer. Of 46 amino acid residues determined, only two residues differed, and they corresponded with the sequences deduced from type I and type II cDNAs of glutelin subfamily A, respectively. Nine polypeptides of higher molecular mass (35-90 kDa) also differed. In particular, two of these polypeptides designated B and C which were identical to Wx proteins with molecular masses of 58 kDa were strongly expressed in indica endosperms, but only weakly expressed in japonica and javanica. F1 seeds obtained from a cross between japonica and indica cultivars showed an intermediate intensity of Wx proteins and contained all nine glutelin alpha-subunits including both the japonica and indica types. In this experiment, Wx proteins designated B and C and glutelin alpha-subunits could be used to identify differences between japonica and indica cultivars.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Pericytes from microvessel fragment produce type IV collagen and multiple laminin isoforms.

In the microvascular system, pericytes are located at the abdominal side of capillary endothelial cells. To discover the role of pericytes in the microvascular system, we have analyzed the extracellular proteins secreted from pericytes isolated from microvessel fragments of rat epididymal fat pads and found that they synthesize substantial amounts of basement membrane components such as type IV collagen and laminins. Secretion of type IV collagen was markedly stimulated by ascorbic acid phosphate. Reducing and nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis showed that pericytes produce six laminin chains assembled into different trimeric isoforms. Two of them were similar to laminin variants produced by aortic and pulmonal endothelial cells but others were suggested to be novel variants.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1996

Marek's disease virus serotype 2 glycoprotein I gene: nucleotide sequence and expression by a recombinant baculovirus.

In the Marek's disease virus (MDV) serotype 2 (MDV2) genome, a gene equivalent to the glycoprotein I (gI) of other alphaherpesviruses was identified and sequenced. The primary translation product comprises 355 amino acids with a M(r) of 38.4 kDa. The predicted amino acid sequence possesses several characteristics typical of membrane glycoproteins, including a N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence, C-terminal transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, and extra-cellular region containing three potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Compared to other MDV serotypes, MDV2 gI showed 49% identity with MDV1 gI, and 36% identity with HVT gI at the amino acid level. In transcriptional analyses, a 3.5 kb mRNA which starts between 56 and 147 bps upstream of the potential translational initiation codon of gI was identified as the gI-specific transcript. By a recombinant baculovirus, this potential gI encoding region was expressed as two specific products 45 and 43 kDa. Both products were susceptible to tunicamycin treatment, indicating that they were glycoprotein. Further, the expressed gI reacted with all chicken-antisera raised to each of the three serotypes of MDV (strains GA, SB-1, and FC126), suggesting that gI is expressed by all three serotypes of MDV in infected cells and conserves common antigenic epitope(s) beyond serotypes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Characterization of the feline herpesvirus type 1 immediate early gene expression.

We analyzed the mechanism for feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) immediate early (IE) gene expression. We demonstrated that (i) the transcription initiation site of the FHV-1 IE transcript lies in the putative FHV-1 ICP4 binding site, (ii) the FHV-1 IE transcript is spliced to remove 906 bp intron from the leader region, (iii) cis-acting elements of the FHV-1 IE promoter map both down- and upstream of the transcription initiation site, and (iv) a deletion of a 58 bp sequence which includes the putative FHV-1 ICP4 binding site in the IE promoter resulted in significant induction of promoter activity by a FHV-1 IE gene product although the FHV-1 IE gene product slightly stimulates the FHV-1 IE promoter, indicating that the FHV-1 IE gene product down-regulates its own promoter via the region.

Alphaherpesvirinae↗
PubMed1996

Detection of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1) glycoprotein D in MDV1-infected chick embryo fibroblasts.

Chick embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) infected with three strains of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1), GA, Md5 and JM, were subjected to indirect immunofluorescence assay with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against MDV1 homolog of glycoprotein D (MDV1 gD) of herpes simplex virus. By the MAbs, a number of MDV1 gD-positive cells were detected in CEFs infected with GA, whereas only a few and no positive cells were detected in CEFs infected with Md5 and JM, respectively. The MDV1 gD in GA-infected CEFs was recognized as the band of 64 kDa in immunoblot analysis using one of the MAbs. This is the first report that the MDV1 gD was detected in MDV1-infected cell cultures.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Changes in interleukin-1 production of peritoneal macrophages during estrous cycle in golden hamsters.

The present study demonstrated the change in interleukin-1 (IL-1) production of peritoneal macrophages during the estrous cycle in golden hamsters and discussed its possible roles in ovarian function. Macrophages were collected from the peritoneal cavity at 0900 h on various days of the estrous cycle and incubated for 6 h in the presence of ovine pituitary LH (500 ng/ml). The IL-1 concentration in the media was measured by bioassay with the A375S2 human melanoma cell line. The number of macrophages significantly (P < 0.01) increased on estrus and proestrus compared with diestrus 1 or diestrus 2. LH-induced production of IL-1 was also greater (P < 0.01) on proestrus (292 +/- 36 pg/10(6) cells/ ml) and estrus (222 +/- 30 pg/10(6) cells/ml) than on diestrus 1 (34 +/- 15 pg/10(6) cells/ml) or diestrus 2 (117 +/- 16 pg/10(6) cells/ml). To clarify the factor inducing the changes in peritoneal macrophages, hamsters were ovariectomized on diestrus 1, and 3 weeks later the animals were treated with s.c. injections of progesterone (200 micrograms/day), testosterone (100 micrograms/day), estradiol (10 micrograms/day) or sesame oil for three days. The hamsters were killed 24 h after the last injection, and the number and IL-1 producing capacity of macrophages were determined. The number of macrophages and their response to LH to produce IL-1 were increased significantly (P < 0.01) by estradiol treatment but not by progesterone or testosterone treatment. It was concluded that the peritoneal macrophages became more sensitive to LH to produce IL-1 on proestrus and estrus in cyclic hamsters, and that these changes in macrophages, probably induced by estradiol, would play important roles in ovarian function.

Animals↗