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Biomedical subjects

M Ota

Publications and source records attributed to M Ota.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Susceptibility locus for non-obstructive azoospermia is localized within the HLA-DR/DQ subregion: primary role of DQB1*0604.

Non-obstructive azoospermia is a male infertility characterized by no or little sperm in semen as a result of a congenital dysfunction in spermatogenesis. Previous studies have reported a higher prevalence of particular human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antigens in non-obstructive azoospermia. As the expression of the RING3 gene located in the HLA class II region was predominant in the testis, mainly around spermatids and pachytene spermatocytes, it is tempting to speculate that RING3 is one of the strong candidate genes responsible for the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, the genetic polymorphism in the RING3 gene was investigated by the direct sequencing technique. As a result, a total of 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified. Among them, six were localized in the coding region but none of them was accompanied by an amino-acid substitution. No significant difference in the allelic distribution at these 14 polymorphic sites was observed between the patients and healthy controls, suggesting that the susceptible gene for non-obstructive azoospermia is not the RING3 gene. Then, in order to map the susceptibility locus for non-obstructive azoospermia precisely within the HLA region, 11 polymorphic microsatellite markers distributed from the SACM2L gene just outside the HLA class II region (187 kb telomeric of the DPB1 gene) to the OTF3 gene in the HLA class I region were subjected to association analysis in the patients. Statistical analysis of distribution in the allelic frequency at each microsatellite locus demonstrated that the pathogenic gene for non-obstructive azoospermia is located within the HLA-DR/DQ subregion. In fact, DRB1*1302 and DQB1*0604 were found to be strongly associated with non-obstructive azoospermia by polymerase chain reaction-based DNA typing. Further, haplotype analysis suggested that the DQB1*0604 allele may play a decisive role in the pathogenesis of non-obstructive azoospermia.

Alleles↗

Analysis of microsatellite polymorphism around the HLA-B locus in Iranian patients with Behçet's disease.

We have previously suggested that in a Japanese population the susceptible locus for Behçet's disease (BD) is HLA-B51 itself. To confirm this finding in another population, we performed HLA class I typing using the PCR-SSP method and analyzed eight polymorphic markers distributed within 1100 kb around the HLA-B gene using automated sequencer and subsequent automated fragment detection by fluorescent-based technology with the DNA samples of 84 Iranian patients with BD and 87 healthy ethnically matched controls. As a result, three microsatellite alleles (MICA-A6, MIB-348, C1-4-1-217) and HLA-B51 were found to be strongly associated with BD. Of these alleles HLA-B51 is the most strongly associated allele. There were no alleles that were increased in allele frequency at any microsatellite loci centromeric of MICA or telomeric of HLA-B51. Therefore, HLA-B51 was confirmed to be by far the most strongly associated gene with BD in an Iranian population.

Behcet Syndrome↗

Molecular genetic analysis of the Am phenotype of the ABO blood group system.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many sequences of variants in the ABO blood group system have been analysed, but genetic information is not available on the rare Am phenotype blood group. We isolated the Am phenotype in one family and performed molecular analysis on this allele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Exons 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were analysed using genomic DNAs from members of one family containing Am phenotype individuals via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: In the Am allele, two single base substitutions were detected compared with the A101 allele. Both were C --> T mutations at nucleotide positions 467 and 761. PCR-RFLP using the AccI restriction enzyme was performed to detect the Am allele in 214 samples that had already been determined as type A or O by serological tests, but no sample was found to contain an Am allele. CONCLUSIONS: In this study a new allele with a single-base substitution at nucleotide position 761 was identified in the Am phenotype. We designated this new allele as A112 (according to the guidelines for human gene nomenclature) and determined that PCR-RFLP analysis using the AccI restriction enzyme will be useful for detecting this allele.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction: a summary of responses to a questionnaire on adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and the esophagogastric junction in Japan.

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction is recognized as a distinct clinical entity; however, the choice of surgical approaches is controversial. To analyze the results of surgery among patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (type I) and the cardia (type II) based on Siewert's classification in Japan, surgical procedures, histopathologic characteristics, and outcome were re-evaluated according to the TNM classification in 1263 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (type I) and the cardia (type II) through a questionnaire sent to the members of the Japanese Society of Esophageal Diseases. One hundred and thirty-four (10.6%) patients had type I tumors and 1129 (89.4%) patients had type II tumors. There were significant differences in sex distribution and associated intestinal metaplasia in the esophagus between patients with type I and type II tumors. Although different surgical approaches were performed, the overall 5-year survival rate was 53% without any difference between the two groups. The significant prognostic factors in general linear models were R category, pN category, and differentiation, but not pT category. There was no difference in survival between patients with stage IIB and III disease. The survival rate of the patients who underwent a transhiatal approach was similar to that of those undergoing a transthoracic approach. The results suggest that Siewert's classification (type I and type II) is useful in planning treatment strategy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. Lymph node metastasis was the most important prognostic factor, and staging based on the number of lymph node metastases or the extent of lymph node metastasis is necessary.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The role of mast cells in the development of 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: The role of mast cells in Crohn disease (CD) remains to be established. The aim of this study was to elucidate this in the development of CD-like colitis in rats by the use of mast-cell-deficient Ws/Ws and their control W+/W+ rats. METHODS: CD-like colitis was induced in both groups by an enema of 10 mg of 2,4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in 50% ethanol. Colonic damage, adhesion and colonic weight were measured at 7 and 14 days after the TNBS/ethanol enema. Rat mast cell protease-2 (RMCP-2) in the colonic tissue was also measured at 7 days after the enema. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between W+/W+ and Ws/Ws rats in terms of colonic damage, adhesion or colonic weight. The tissue content of RMCP-2 in Ws/Ws rats treated with either saline or TNBS/ethanol was only maintained at a much lower level than that in W+/W+ rats with the corresponding treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that mast cells are not essential in the development of 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats.

Animals↗

Strain variation in renal carcinogenesis by N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine in F1 (Wistar-Fischer) rats.

The present study was conducted to compare the incidences of renal tumors in Wistar (W), Fischer (F) and F1 rats (WF: female Wistar rats x male Fischer rats; FW: female Fischer rats x male Wistar rats) induced by N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine (EHEN). Levels of 8-OHdG in renal DNA were also investigated in Wistar and Fischer rats. After 2000 ppm of EHEN was administered orally for 2 weeks, the animals were fed basal diet until week 32. Wistar males and females demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity regarding induction of renal lesions, while both WF and FW rats had similar incidences, generally intermediate between those for the two parent strains. The formation of 8-OHdG was maximal 60-180 min after an intraperitoneal dose of 750 mg/kg to Wistar and Fischer rats, which correlates with the increase tending to the incidence of renal tumors in male and female Wistar and Fischer rats. The results suggest that EHEN induction of renal tumors is related to oxygen radical damage and that the genes in the Wistar strain responsible for the sensitivity are not inherited in a sex-dependent fashion, despite the male being more susceptible.

Animals↗

Allelic structure and distribution of two STR loci, D8S580 and D22S442, in the Japanese population.

The allelic frequency and structural characteristics of two STR loci D8S580 and D22S442 were investigated using blood samples from 143 unrelated healthy Japanese individuals. Thirty-eight alleles in D8S580 locus and 13 alleles in D22S442 locus were identified. The discrimination power, heterozygosity, and the polymorphic information content of those loci displayed high values (0.98, 0.88, and 0.87 in D8S580 and 0.97, 0.86 and 0.85 in D22S442), and their frequency distributions met Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations. The allelic pattern of D8S580 was complex and differentiated into three groups (group I: alleles 184-194bp; group II: alleles 203-223, 235, 239, 243, 252 and 255bp; group III: alleles 227-286bp). Most of their alleles contained five categories of repeat units (A: aaaag; B: aaag; C: aagg; D: caag; E: agaa). On the other hand, D22S442 contained only two types of repeat units (A: agga; B: aggg). The present study, hence, proves that both D8S580 and D22S442 are highly polymorphic and represent stable genetic markers applicable to forensic investigations.

Alleles↗

A second susceptibility gene for developing rheumatoid arthritis in the human MHC is localized within a 70-kb interval telomeric of the TNF genes in the HLA class III region.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease with a multifactorial genetic basis. However, pathogenic genes for RA other than the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 gene have yet to be identified. Here, we investigated whether there is a second susceptibility locus for RA within the human major histocompatibility complex using 18 microsatellite markers distributed from the centromeric (HSET) to the telomeric end (P5-15) of the 3.6-Mb HLA region. Statistical studies of associated alleles on each microsatellite locus showed that one pathogenic gene for RA in the HLA region is localized in the DRB1 gene, as expected. Further, a second susceptibility gene of RA was suggested to be present in the HLA class III region, narrowed to 70 kb, that is just telomeric of the TNF gene cluster (TNFA and LTA) and that is located between the microsatellites TNFa and C1-2-A. In this critical segment, four expressed genes have been thus far identified, NFKBIL1 (IkappaBL), ATP6G, BAT1, and MICB, all of which are candidate genes for determining susceptibility to RA. These results exclude the possibility of involvement of the TNFA genes (TNF-alpha) in the development of RA, which was suggested previously to be a strong candidate for RA in the class III region.

Alleles↗

Carbohydrate-mediated adhesion of human colon carcinoma cells to human liver sections.

Clinicopathological observations have revealed that the expression level of a carbohydrate antigen recognized by the monoclonal antibody (mAb) FH6 in colorectal carcinomas is higher at advanced stages than at early stages. The present study aimed to elucidate whether human colon carcinoma cell surface glycans recognized by mAb FH6 determine the ability of these cells to adhere to sections of human liver. Variant human colon carcinoma cell lines selected for high and low binding of mAb FH6 were compared with respect to their adhesive capacity. The cells expressing the higher level of FH6 binding also showed a greater ability to adhere to liver sections. This adhesion was not blocked by anti-E-selectin monoclonal antibodies, but pretreatment of the carcinoma cells with endo-beta-galactosidase significantly reduced both cell surface binding of mAb FH6 and the ability of the cells to adhere to liver sections. Our observations suggest that endo-beta-galactosidase-sensitive carbohydrate chains containing an epitope recognized by mAb FH6 play an important role in the adhesion of human colon carcinoma cells to human liver sections. Whether these interactions have any relationship to the mechanism(s) of liver metastasis remains to be elucidated.

Animals↗

A comparative study of binding sites for diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate in membrane and cytosol preparations from spinal cord and brain of hens.

Biochemical events in the initiation of organophosphorus induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) are not well understood. To find new putative target(s) for OPIDN, we investigated the biochemical and pharmacological characteristics of [3H] diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP) binding to membrane and cytosol preparations from the brain and spinal cord of hens in vitro. [3H]DFP binding to both preparations was determined by the specific binding obtained by subtracting non-specific binding from total binding. The specific binding sites of [3H]DFP were found not only on membrane but also in cytosol. Kd values were higher and Bmax values were lower in cytosol than in membrane. Moreover, the Kd values in both membrane and cytosol preparations from spinal cord were lower than those of brain. The Bmax values in membrane and cytosol were similar between brain and spinal cord. The specific binding to both preparations was markedly displaced by unlabeled DFP. The specific binding of DFP to the membrane was highly or partly displaced by organophosphorus compounds (OPs) or a carbamate, respectively. However, both the OPs and the carbamate had considerably weaker blocking effects on the specific binding of DFP to cytosol. None of the compounds known to interact with neuropathy target esterase (NTE) had a strong blocking effect on the specific binding of DFP to either membrane or cytosol. These results show that the specific binding of DFP to the membrane may be binding with cholinesterase (ChE). However, cytosol, especially in spinal cord, may have DFP binding sites other than ChE and NTE.

Animals↗

Microsatellite mapping of a susceptible locus within the HLA region for Behçet's disease using Jordanian patients.

Behçet's disease (BD) has been established to be associated with HLA-B51. However, it has not been revealed whether the HLA-B51 gene itself or another gene located near the HLA-B gene is directly involved in the pathogenesis of BD. Previously, using Japanese BD patients, our group has narrowed down a BD-causative gene to 46 kb between the MICA and HLA-B genes by means of fine mapping analysis with eight microsatellite markers distributed within a 1100 kb segment around the HLA-B gene. To know whether this mapping result is generally observed in BD of another population we have investigated repeat polymorphisms of the same microsatellite markers in Jordanian BD patients. Furthermore, we have evaluated these data by Mantel-Haenzel stratified analysis to find out a primarily associated locus for BD. As a result, HLA-B51 was found to be the most strongly and primarily associated marker. This result suggests that the pathogenic gene of BD is HLA-B51 itself, but unlikely to be other genes located in the vicinity of HLA-B.

Adolescent↗

A close relationship of triplet repeat polymorphism in MHC class I chain-related gene A (MICA) to the disease susceptibility and behavior in ulcerative colitis.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A (MICA) has been found near the HLA-B gene. The MICA molecule is exclusively expressed on gastrointestinal epithelium and recognized by intestinal epithelial gamma delta T cells, where it exhibits a triplet repeat polymorphism in the transmembrane region. We investigated the possible correlation between MICA genetic polymorphism and ulcerative colitis (UC). Eighty-three patients with UC and 132 unrelated controls were included in this study. All subjects were Japanese. A triplet repeat polymorphism in the transmembrane region of the MICA was determined by direct sequencing procedures after amplification by a polymerase chain reaction. A significantly higher allele and phenotype frequencies of MICA A6 allele were observed in patients with UC than controls (allele frequency: P(c)=0.000011, phenotype frequency: P(c)=0.0049 odds ratio=2.62). A6 homozygous patients with UC showed significantly earlier onset of UC than patients without the A6 allele ((P)c=0.0042). Phenotypes of MICA A6 allele in Japanese are closely related to the disease susceptibility and behavior in UC. Examinations of MICA polymorphism in other ethnic groups may provide important information about the locus of primary responsible gene for UC.

Adolescent↗

HLA class I genotyping including HLA-B*51 allele typing in the Iranian patients with Behçet's disease.

It is well known that Behçet's disease (BD) is strongly associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B51 in many ethnic groups. However, there has been no published report as yet with respect to this association among the Iranian people. Furthermore, since it is now known that the B51 antigen can be encoded by 21 alleles, B*5101-B*5121, we performed HLA-B*51 allele typing as well as HLA class I genotyping of 48 Iranian patients with this disease. As a result, the frequency of the B*51 allele was significantly higher (62.1%) in the patient group as compared with the ethnically matched control group (31.8%) (Pc=0.067, R.R.=3.51). In the genotyping of B*51 alleles, 33 out of the 36 B*51-positive patients possessed B*5101 and the remaining 3 carried B*5108. This study revealed that Iranian patients with BD also had a strong association with HLA-B51. In addition, this significantly high incidence of HLA-B*51 was found to be caused by an increase in both the HLA-B*5101 and HLA-B*5108 alleles. However, there was no significant difference in the HLA-B*51 allelic distribution between the patient and control groups.

Alleles↗

Identification of MICA alleles with a long Leu-repeat in the transmembrane region and no cytoplasmic tail due to a frameshift-deletion in exon 4.

MHC class I chain-related gene A (MICA) is located close to HLA-B gene and expressed in epithelial cells. The MICA gene is reported to be highly polymorphic as are the classical class I genes. To further assess the polymorphism in the MICA gene, we analyzed a total of 60 HLA-homozygous cells for the sequences spanning exons 2-6. In the analysis, four new MICA alleles were identified and six variations were recognized in exon 6. MICA*017, which was identified in three HLA-B57 homozygous cells (DBB, DEM and WIN), differed from MICA*002 in exon 3 and had a guanine deletion at the 3' end of exon 4. MICA*015 identified in an HLA-B45 homozygous cell (OMW) also had the same deletion that causes a frameshift mutation resulting in complete change of the transmembrane region and premature termination in the cytoplasmic tail; these alleles have a long hydrophobic leucine-rich region instead of the alanine repeat in the transmembrane region and terminate at the second position in the cytoplasmic domain. The frameshift deletion was found only in HLA-B45- or -B57-positive panels tested, suggesting a strong linkage disequilibrium between the deletion and B45 or B57. MICA*048, which was different in exon 5 from MICA*008, was identified in an HLA-B61 homozygous cell (TA21), while MICA*00901 identified in HLA-B51 homozygous cells (LUY and KT2) was distinguished from MICA*009 by exon 6.

Base Sequence↗

Stratification analysis of MICA triplet repeat polymorphisms and HLA antigens associated with ulcerative colitis in Japanese.

We previously reported a conserved haplotype of HLA B52-DR2 and a significantly high frequency of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A (MICA) transmembrane-short tandem repeat (TM-STR) 6 allele in Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). To examine the predominance of the MICA TM-STR 6 allele as a marker of the susceptibility to UC within the susceptible haplotype, the association of each allele with UC was estimated following stratification of the patients to control for any possible confounding effects of other alleles positively associated with UC. Sixty-four patients with UC and 236 unrelated healthy controls were included in this study. All subjects were Japanese. HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DR antigens were determined serologically. A triplet repeat polymorphism of the MICA was determined by direct sequencing. To control for the effect of linkage disequilibrium, Mantel-Haenszel weighed odds ratios were calculated. Significantly higher phenotype frequencies of B52, MICA TM-STR 6, and DR2 were observed in patients with UC. Linkage disequilibria among alleles associated with UC revealed that a B52 - MICA TM-STR 6 - DR2 haplotype was conserved in patients with UC, as in controls. When the association of HLA-B52 was estimated after patient stratification for the possible confounding effect of MICA TM-STR 6 or DR2, a strong significant association of B52 with UC was still observed. In contrast, no association with UC was observed for MICA TM-STR 6 or DR2, after stratification of the possible confounding effect of HLA-B52. These results imply that the significant increase in MICA TM-STR 6 in Japanese patients with UC is attributable to linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B52.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗

HLA-B*51 allele analysis by the PCR-SBT method and a strong association of HLA-B*5101 with Japanese patients with Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease (BD) is known to be associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B51 in many different ethnic groups. An increased incidence of HLA-B51 in the patient group has also been reported in a Japanese population. Recently, the B51 antigen has been identified to comprise 21 alleles, B*5101-B*5121. Further, not only HLA-B*5101 but also HLA-B*5108 were found to be relatively increased in the patient groups among Italian and Saudi Arabian populations. Therefore, we performed HLA-B*51 allele genotyping by the polymerase chain reaction-sequencing based typing (PCR-SBT) method in order to investigate whether there is any correlation of one particular B51-associated allele with Japanese BD. Ninety-six Japanese patients with BD and 132 healthy Japanese volunteers were enrolled in this study. As a result, the phenotype frequency of the B51 antigen was confirmed to be remarkably increased in the patient group as compared to the ethnically matched control group (59.4% in patients vs. 13.6% in controls; Pc=0.0000000000098, R.R.=9.3). In the B*51 allele genotyping, 56 out of 57 B51-positive patients were defined as B*5101 and the remaining one was B*5102. In contrast, all of 18 B51-positive normal controls were B*5101. None of the Japanese patients and healthy controls carried the HLA-B*5108 allele. This study revealed that B*51 allelic distribution in Japanese was different from those in Italian and Saudi Arabian populations, and that the significantly high incidence of the HLA-B51 antigen in the Japanese BD patient group was mostly caused by the significant increase of the HLA-B*5101 allele.

Alleles↗

Exon 3 of tyrosine hydroxylase gene: lack of association with Japanese schizophrenic patients.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine (DA) biosynthesis. Exon 3 of the human TH gene encodes the sequence from Ser31 to Glu104 of type 1 enzyme, which contains the critical parts for regulation of the catalytic activity. The amino acid residues Gly36-Arg37-Arg38 were identified as a key sequence for DA to exert its inhibitory effect on catalytic activity. Therefore, we screened the nucleotide sequences of exon 3 from 201 Japanese patients with schizophrenia to explain the elevation in the synaptic or presynaptic DA concentrations in the schizophrenic brain, based on the hypothesis that any mutation changing the amino acid sequence Gly36-Arg37-Arg38 would result in the elevation of DA synthesis, due to a reduced inhibitory effect of DA on the catalytic activity. However, no mutated sequences of exon 3 and both exon-intron boundaries were detected in any of the patients examined. Polymorphisms generating Val81 and Met81 were compared of the distributions of genotype and allele between the patients and 175 Japanese healthy controls, which did not suggest an association between the polymorphism and schizophrenia. These results indicate that exon 3 of the human TH gene lacks association with schizophrenia in Japanese patients.

Adult↗