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Biomedical subjects

M Takayanagi

Publications and source records attributed to M Takayanagi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Microtopography of the dual corticothalamic projections originating from domains along the frequency axis of the cat primary auditory cortex.

Spatial relationships between clusters of corticothalamic (CT) large terminals originating from cortical domains tuned to different frequencies were examined by pair-injecting two different anterograde tracers. Large-terminal CT projection originating from layer 5 was highly divergent with each injection site producing, on average, 15 local clusters distributing throughout non-lemniscal thalamic nuclei following a single anterograde tracer injection in the cat primary auditory cortex. Paired injections in higher- and lower-frequency cortical domains, resulting in labeling of two independent sets of terminal clusters, showed five recognizable patterns of spatial interaction between them. (1) In the ventral division of the medial geniculate complex (vMGC), sheet-like plexuses of small terminals of different origins were situated in parallel, with minimal overlap. (2) Extensive overlap of two low-density plexuses of differently labeled small terminals was observed in the medial division of the medial geniculate complex (MGC). (3) At the transition zones between the vMGC and the superficial dorsal nucleus of the MGC dorsal division, and between the vMGC and the ventrolateral nucleus, there were relatively broad clusters of a high density of large-terminal structures from the two cortical domains, which overlapped extensively. (4) At multiple loci in the nonlemniscal nuclei, pairing of two small clusters of differently labeled large terminals was observed. (5) Small unpaired clusters of large terminals were also found in the nonlemniscal nuclei. For large terminals, approximately 14%, 59%, and 27% clusters per injection demonstrated patterns 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The results provide evidence for the precise topographical organization for the large-terminal CT system at the microscopic level despite its highly divergent projection. This microtopographical projection from the tonotopic cortical field to non-tonotopic thalamic nuclei may raise the possibility of presence of a map that has not been defined in auditory non-lemniscal thalamic nuclei yet.

Animals↗

Significant correlations between the flow volume of patent ductus venosus and early neonatal liver function: possible involvement of patent ductus venosus in postnatal liver function.

BACKGROUND: The biochemical features of portosystemic venous shunt with high flow volume are hypergalactosaemia, hyperammonaemia, prolonged blood coagulation time, and raised serum bile acid concentration. The ductus venosus remains open with shunt flow in most neonates for a certain period after birth. However, the effects of blood flow through the ductus venosus on neonatal liver function remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effect of patency of the ductus venosus on liver function in early neonates. METHODS: Subjects were divided into three groups by gestational age (group I, 29-32 weeks; group II, 33-36 weeks; group III, 37-41 weeks). The shunt flow volume through the ductus venosus was examined serially using ultrasonography, and correlations between flow volume and liver function in the respective groups were calculated during the first week after birth. RESULTS: Group I had a higher flow volume and later functional closure than the other two groups. Plasma ammonia and serum total bile acid concentrations correlated with flow volume in groups I and II, and blood galactose and galactose 1-phosphate concentrations correlated significantly with flow volume in group III. Percentage hepaplastin also correlated significantly with flow volume in all groups, but plasma vitamin K concentration did not in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Patent ductus venosus has a considerable effect on crucial liver functions such as ammonia detoxification, blood coagulation, and regulation of serum total bile acid concentration in early neonates.

Ammonia↗

Isofrequency band-like zones of activation revealed by optical imaging of intrinsic signals in the cat primary auditory cortex.

Neurons of similar frequency preference are arranged in isofrequency bands (IFBs) across the primary auditory cortex (AI) of many mammals. Across the AI of the cat, one of the most frequently studied species for auditory anatomy and function, we demonstrate IFB-like responses using optical imaging of intrinsic signals (OIS). Optically defined activations were extensively elongated along the dorsoventral axis of AI (the ratio of the major and minor axes was approximately 2:1), and systematically shifted as a function of stimulus frequency. The elongation of this IFB-like zone was more conspicuous at higher frequencies. In the ventral sector of the imaged field, the IFB-like zones of activation evoked at different pure tone frequencies tended to overlap extensively. Electrophysiological recording from loci within the optically defined zones of activation revealed matched responses to the frequencies used for optical imaging at 65% of these loci. The dorsoventral orientation of these zones of activation was also closely matched with the orientation of tangentially spreading intrinsic axon terminals, as revealed anatomically. The visualization of IFB-like architecture and tonotopic organization by OIS provides a basic framework for investigating the relationships of different spectral channels and between multiple acoustic parameters at a neuronal population level.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Cortical convergence from different frequency domains in the cat primary auditory cortex.

Primary auditory cortex (AI) has a tonotopic map consisting of orderly isofrequency (IF) bands, and cortical connections are commonly supposed to link domains preferring similar characteristic frequencies (CFs) within AI and in auditory association cortex. The interaction of different frequency channels, however, has not fully been understood in terms of anatomical substrates. Here, by injecting two anterograde tracers in different frequency domains of cat AI, without overlap of the injection cores, we attempted to relate the anatomical mapping of cortical outputs to physiologically defined fields in the auditory cortex. Consistent with previous studies, patches of labeled axon terminals were oriented largely along the IF axis. In regions distant from the injection sites, however, terminal patches were divergent in distribution. This divergence resulted in a complex geometry of partial overlap of projections originating from the two injection sites. The relative extent of the overlap tended to vary depending on the distance between the two injection sites. Physiological mapping for tonotopy across auditory fields revealed that projectional overlap was characteristic of dorsal AI and the dorsoposterior field and, to a lesser extent, in the secondary auditory field. Considering the differences in frequency representation in different AI IF bands, the anatomical convergence of projections tuned to different CFs could contribute to the spectral integration of sound components. Furthermore, the different extent of convergence in the functionally distinct fields might reflect field-specific processing of acoustic signals.

Animals↗

Myocardial infarction caused by rheumatoid vasculitis: histological evidence of the involvement of T lymphocytes.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic joint disease that can be complicated with extra-articular manifestations due to vasculitis. We describe a patient with RA who developed systemic vasculitis and died of myocardial infarction. Autopsy demonstrated vasculitis of the left anterior descendent and circumflex coronary arteries, which were narrowed or occluded with organizing thrombosis. Formation of granuloma with multinucleated giant cells was also observed in media of the circumflex artery. There was no microscopic evidence of atheroma formation in the coronary arteries. Of note, there was a follicle-like infiltration of CD45RO-positive T lymphocytes in interna of the left coronary arteries and the right renal artery. Although not frequently reported, coronary vasculitis as a cause of myocardial infarction should be considered in patients with RA. Moreover, our results suggest that infiltration of T lymphocytes might be involved in the development of rheumatoid vasculitis.

Aged↗

Effects of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester on endotoxin-induced leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and cytotoxicity in J774A.1 cells.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) on tissue injury or cytotoxicity caused by endotoxin challenge by assaying lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isozymes and cell viability in J774A.1 cells. In mice treated with L-NAME (10 mg kg(-1), i.v.), the activity of LDH in serum 18 h after endotoxin (6 mg kg(-1), i.p.) injection was not significantly different from that in mice treated with endotoxin alone. Mice injected with endotoxin exhibited leakage of LDH isozymes 3 and 5, but L-NAME did not protect against endotoxin-induced acute leakage of LDH isozymes. Treatment with L-NAME (10-1000 microM) significantly inhibited NO generation by endotoxin (1 microg ml(-1))-activated J774A.1 cells. However, L-NAME (10-1000 microM) did not affect endotoxin-induced cytotoxicity in J774A.1 cells. These findings suggested that endotoxin-induced NO formation may not contribute to tissue injury or cytotoxicity caused by endotoxin.

Animals↗

Use of two anterograde axon tracers to label distinct cortical neuronal populations located in close proximity.

In order to investigate converging projections originating from adjacent populations of cortical neurons, injections of two different anterograde tracers, biotinylated dextranamine (BDA) and Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L), were made in close proximity. When the two injection sites were separated by around 500 microm and the time between injections was 1--4 h, BDA-labeling of neuronal elements was found not only at the BDA injection site but also at the PHA-L injection site. This false-positive BDA labeling of neurons at the PHA-L injection site was so intense that labeled axons could be traced, both into the neighboring cortical gray matter and into white matter. Increasing the separation distance to 1000 microm resulted in much fewer falsely positive labeled neurons at the PHA-L injection site. Even more effective was extending the time interval between the two injections. Thus, if the BDA injection preceded the PHA-L injection by more than 12 h, virtually no false-positive labeling was associated with the PHA-L injection site. These procedures may be applied to other combinations of anterograde tracers, such as BDA with tetramethylrhodamine-conjugated dextran amine.

Animals↗

Mechanism of tonic spasms in West syndrome viewed from ictal SPECT findings.

To clarify the pathophysiology of tonic spasms, 21 patients with West syndrome were analyzed using ictal and interictal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). We focused on whether ictal perfusion changes were observed in the focal cortical region. Eight of the patients studied showed definite focal cortical ictal hyperperfusion, indicating that there is a unique subset of West syndrome that can be classified as infantile localization-related epilepsy. Of those eight patients, only two showed asymmetric spasms, suggesting that seizure symptomatology in infants gives only limited information on the localization-related nature of epilepsy. Furthermore, the activation of subcortical structures by focal cortical regions might be attributable to the symmetric seizure phenomena. Thirteen patients showed a diffuse pattern in their ictal SPECTs; this probably included patients with diffuse hyperperfusion and those with no changes. The following have yet to be determined: (1) whether West syndrome is divided into subgroups based on the origin of spasms, in that some patients have the origin in the cortical hemisphere and some have the origin in structures other than the cortical hemisphere, such as the brain stem; (2) whether differences in ictal SPECT patterns reflect a unique nature of tonic spasms in West syndrome, where tonic spasms appear in clusters and the interval of each spasm is different among each patient.

Brain↗

Apoptosis induced by doxorubicin and cinchonine in P388 multidrug-resistant cells.

Acquired drug resistance is a major factor in the failure of doxorubicin-based cancer chemotherapy. We determined the ability of cinchonine to reverse doxorubicin drug resistance in a doxorubicin-resistant leukaemia cell line (mouse P388/DOX). A non-cytotoxic concentration of cinchonine (10 microM) increased the sensitivity to doxorubicin of multidrug-resistant P388/DOX cells and significantly enhanced the doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in resistant cells, but had no effect in parent cells. Time-course studies demonstrated that DNA fragmentation was present 24 h after incubation with doxorubicin and cinchonine, indicating that DNA degradation was a preceding event. In cultured cells, cinchonine increased the intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin in the resistant cells in a dose-dependent manner. Using flow cytometry to measure the inhibition of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) dependent efflux of rhodamine 123, cinchonine was found to be considerably more effective than quinine. The results with cinchonine suggest that there may be quinine derivatives with a similar capacity to inhibit drug transport by P-gp. Additionally, the G2/M phase cell population in resistant cells is increased by doxorubicin/cinchonine treatment. Exposure of resistant cells to 1 microM doxorubicin and 10 microM cinchonine resulted in the expression of Fas (APO-1/CD95) in cells after 6 h. These studies demonstrate that the cell killing effects of doxorubicin and cinchonine in resistant cells

Animals↗

Circumvention of acquired resistance to doxorubicin in K562 human leukemia cells by oxatomide.

We studied the effect of oxatomide, an antiallergic drug, on the resistance of K562 cells to doxorubicin. Oxatomide synergistically potentiated the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in doxorubicin-resistant K562 cells (K562/DXR) at a concentration of 1-10 microM, but had hardly any synergistic effect on the parental cell line (K562) at the same concentration. Oxatomide inhibit P-glycoprotein pump-efflux activity and the binding of [3H]-azidopine to the cell-surface protein P-glycoprotein, in a dose-related manner. These results indicate that oxatomide reverses the multidrug-resistance phenotype through direct interaction with P-glycoprotein.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Mechanism of resistance to oxidative stress in doxorubicin resistant cells.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline drug widely used in chemotherapy for cancer patients, but it often gives rise to multidrug resistance in cancer cells. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of hydrogen peroxide in DOX-sensitive mouse P388/S leukemia cells and in the DOX-resistant cell line. Hydrogen peroxide induced a significant increase in dose- and time-response cell death in cultured P388/S cells. The degree of cell death in P388/DOX cells induced by hydrogen peroxide was less than that in P388/S cells treated with hydrogen peroxide. Parent cells exposed to 3 mM of hydrogen peroxide showed a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential correlated with cell death. Hydrogen peroxide at a concentration greater than 0.3 mM increased the intracellular Ca2+ of P388/S cells dose-dependently; however, no change following addition of hydrogen peroxide (0.3-1 mM) was observed in the resistant cells. Hydrogen peroxide (0.1 and 1 mM) treatment also induced the production of intracellular ROS in P388/S cells, while no such increase was produced by this substance in P388/DOX cells. Resistant cells also showed a significant level of glutathione (GSH) compared with the parent cells. In addition, N-acetyl-L-cysteine and reduced GSH antioxidants abolished death of P388/S cells caused by hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, it is believed that the reduced effect of oxidative stress towards the resistant cells may be related to an increase in intracellular GSH level.

Animals↗

Reversal of vinblastine resistance in human leukemic cells by haloperidol and dihydrohaloperidol.

Haloperidol, an antipsychotic, was investigated in cells overexpressing P-glycoprotein to detemine whether it was a clinically effective drug to reverse for reversing multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by P-glycoprotein. A nontoxic concentration of haloperidol (1-30 microM) enhanced the cytotoxic effects of vinblastine (VBL) concentration-dependently in VBL-resistant human leukemia (K562/VBL) cells, but had no effect in the parent cells. Haloperidol also enhanced the cytotoxicities of epirubicin, doxorubicin and actinomycin D in the K562/VBL cells, but not those of idarubicin or cisplatin; this enhancement was less than that of the VBL toxicity in the VBL-resistant tumor line. Haloperidol increased the intracellular accumulation of VBL in the K562/VBL cells, and the binding of [3H]-azidopine to the cell-surface protein, P-glycoprotein, was inhibited by haloperidol in a concentration-dependent manner. Haloperidol was less potent than verapamil. Thus, haloperidol appeared to potentiate anticancer agents through the reversal of MDR by competitively inhibiting drug-binding to P-glycoprotein. In contrast, the main metabolite of haloperidol, dihydrohaloperidol, without antipsychotic activity, had less of an effect. Therefore, haloperidol might be useful in reversing drug-resistance.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Roles of selenium in endotoxin-induced lipid peroxidation in the rats liver and in nitric oxide production in J774A.1 cells.

We examined the role of selenium (Se) in the mechanism of oxidative stress caused by endotoxin by feeding rats deficient a diet in this element. In rats fed the Se-deficient diet (concentration of Se, less than 0.027 microg g(-1)) for 10 weeks, Se level and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the liver were about 47 and 43% lower, respectively, than those in rats fed a Se-adequate diet (Se, 0.2 microg g(-1)). Rat fed the Se-deficient diet and given endotoxin (6 mg kg(-1), i.p.) showed a mortality rates of about 43% at 18 h. Nevertheless, no lethality was observed with endotoxin (4 mg kg(-1), i.p.) challenge. Levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase leakage were significantly higher in Se-deficient rats than those in Se-adequate diet 18 h after endotoxin (4 mg kg(-1), i. p.) challenge. Superoxide anion generation and lipid peroxide formation in the liver of Se-deficient rat were markedly increased 18 h after endotoxin (4 mg kg(-1), i.p.) injection compared with those in the endotoxin/Se-adequate diet group, whereas non-protein sulfhydryl level in the liver after administration of endotoxin to Se-deficient rats was lower than that in Se-adequate rats treated with endotoxin. We investigated whether Se can suppress nitric oxide (NO) generation and cytotoxicity in endotoxin-treated J774A.1 cells. Treatment with Se (10(-6) M) markedly inhibited endotoxin (0.1 microg ml(-1))-induced NO production in J774A.1 cells. Se induced an increased activity of GSH-Px in cells after 24 h of incubation, suggesting that the preventive effect of Se on NO production in endotoxemia is due to the induction of Se-GSH-Px activity. However, Se did not affect endotoxin-induced cytotoxicity in J774A.1 cells. These findings suggested that the oxidative stress caused by endotoxin may be due, at least in part, to changes in Se regulation during endotoxemia.

Animals↗

A strategy for the solution-phase parallel synthesis of N-(pyrrolidinylmethyl)hydroxamic acids.

Both five- and six-membered iminocyclitols have proven to be useful transition-state analogue inhibitors of glycosidases. They also mimic the transition-state sugar moiety of the nucleoside phosphate sugar in glycosyltransferase-catalyzed reactions. Described here is the development of a general strategy toward the parallel synthesis of a five-membered iminocyclitol linked to a hydroxamic acid group designed to mimic the transition state of GDP-fucose complexed with Mn(II) in fucosyltransferase reactions. The iminocyclitol 8 containing a protected hydroxylamine unit was prepared from D-mannitol. The hydroxamic acid moiety was introduced via the reaction of 8 with various acid chlorides. The strategy is generally applicable to the construction of libraries for identification of glycosyltransferase inhibitors.

Fucosyltransferases↗

Human glycine decarboxylase gene (GLDC) and its highly conserved processed pseudogene (psiGLDC): their structure and expression, and the identification of a large deletion in a family with nonketotic hyperglycinemia.

Mutations in the glycine decarboxylase gene (GLDC) cause nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH), an in-born error of metabolism characterized by severe neurological disturbance. We have determined the structure of GLDC and of its pseudogene (psiGLDC) and studied their expression for a molecular analysis of NKH. The GLDC gene spans at least 135 kb and consists of 25 exons. All donor and acceptor sites adhere to the canonical GT-AG rule, except for the donor site of intron 21, where a variant form GC is used instead of GT. The transcription initiation site has been assigned to a residue 163 bp upstream from the translation initiation triplet by primer extension analysis. The psiGLDC gene has no intron and shares 97.5% homology with the coding region of functional GLDC, suggesting that psiGLDC is a processed pseudogene that arose from the GLDC transcript about 4-8 million years ago. RNA blotting analysis has revealed that GLDC is expressed in human liver, kidney, brain, and placenta. We have also examined a patient with NKH with no detectable GLDC mRNA in his lymphoblasts. Exons 1-3 of the functional GLDC gene from this patient are not amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whereas those from control subjects are. These results suggest a large homozygous deletion (at least 30 kb) in the patient. Furthermore, we have devised a semi-quantitative PCR to estimate the number of GLDC alleles by using psiGLDC as an internal control and have confirmed the homozygosity and heterozygosity of the deletion in the patient and his parents, respectively. Structural information of GLDC and psiGLDC should facilitate the molecular analysis of NKH.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Identification of two novel mutations of the carnitine/acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) gene in a patient with CACT deficiency.

Carnitine/acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) transports acylcarnitines into mitochondria in exchange for free carnitine, and is therefore an essential component within the fatty acid beta-oxidation pathway. CACT deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease caused by a mutation of the CACT gene. We have identified two novel mutations of the CACT gene in a patient with CACT deficiency. The first, a deletion mutation (146 del T), leads to premature termination and results in a very immature CACT protein. The second, a splicing mutation (261-10T > G), results in either skipping of exons 3 and 4, or of exon 3 alone, and leads to truncation of the protein. Each of these mutations is hypothesized to destroy the function of the CACT protein. We propose that each of these mutations of the CACT gene play a causative role in the disease.

Carnitine Acyltransferases↗

Novel mutation of L718X in the ATP7A gene in a Japanese patient with classical Menkes disease, and four novel polymorphisms in the Japanese population.

Menkes disease is an X-linked recessive disorder of the copper membrane transport system caused by mutations in the ATP7A gene. While various mutations in the ATP7A gene have been reported, a genotype-phenotype correlation has not been clearly defined. A novel mutation in the ATP7A gene in a Japanese patient with classical Menkes disease was identified via analysis of reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction products and genomic DNA of the ATP7A gene. The nonsense mutation, L718X, was found to result in premature termination and immature ATP7A protein, unlikely to have normal functioning. Therefore, this nonsense mutation of the ATP7A gene is proposed to play a causative role in presenting the classical Menkes phenotype. Furthermore, four novel polymorphisms, C1535T (L464L), C2151T (T669I), G2253A (R703H), and C3677T (H1178Y) were also identified.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗