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Biomedical subjects

M Yoshimura

Publications and source records attributed to M Yoshimura.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

[LEOPARD syndrome].

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Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Effects of age on messenger RNA expression of glucocorticoid, thyroid hormone, androgen, and estrogen receptors in postmortem human hippocampus.

We studied messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of receptors for glucocorticoid (GR), thyroid hormone (TR), androgen (AR), and estrogen (ER) and their changes with age in the hippocampal subregions in postmortem human brain. In situ hybridization was done with biotin-labeled antisense synthetic oligonucleotide probes. About 80% or more of the pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal subregions expressed mRNAs for individual receptors in the brains of subjects younger than 65. The ratio of mRNA-containing neuron density to total neuron density significantly decreased with age for GR in CA1 and CA3, and for AR in CA1. Non-significant trends in the reduction with age in the ratio of ER mRNA-containing neurons in CA1 and the ratio of GR mRNA-containing neurons in the hilus also were found. Age-related reductions in nuclear receptor protein mRNA expression in neurons in the hippocampal subfields may be important in the impairments of cognition, emotion, and responses to acute stress in the aged.

Adult↗

Desensitization by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase of GABAB receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Involvement of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in the desensitization of GABAB receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes was studied. GABA produced an outward current in the presence of bicuculline, under voltage-clamp conditions. Baclofen mimicked the effect of GABA, thereby indicating that the response to GABA in the presence of bicuculline is mediated by stimulation of GABAB receptor. The GABAB receptor-mediated response was suppressed by dibutyric cyclic AMP and forskolin, but not by 1,9-dideoxy-forskolin, and the effect of dibutyric cyclic AMP was inhibited by H-8. Application of GABA for 1 min at 20-min intervals induced a reliable response, while that at 10-min intervals produced a desensitization. The desensitization was also partially prevented by H-8. Dibutyric cyclic GMP, 8-bromo-cyclic GMP and Na-nitroprusside did not affect the GABAB receptor-mediated response. Thus, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, but not cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase participates in desensitization of the GABAB receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Animals↗

Suppression of lung metastasis of B16 mouse melanoma by N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III gene transfection.

The beta 1-6 structure of N-linked oligosaccharides, formed by beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GnT-V), is associated with metastatic potential. We established a highly metastatic subclone, B16-hm, from low metastatic B16-F1 murine melanoma cells. The gene encoding beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GnT-III) was introduced into the B16-hm cells, and three clones that stably expressed high GnT-III activity were obtained. In these transfectants, the affinity to leukoagglutinating phytohemagglutinin was reduced, whereas the binding to erythroagglutinating phytohemagglutinin was increased, indicating that the level of beta 1-6 structure was decreased due to competition for substrate between intrinsic GnT-V and ectopically expressed GnT-III. Lung metastasis after intravenous injection of the transfectants into syngeneic and nude mice was significantly suppressed, suggesting that the decrease in beta 1-6 structure suppressed metastasis via a mechanism independent of the murine system. These transfectants also displayed decreased invasiveness into Matrigel and inhibited cell attachment to collagen and laminin. Cell growth was not affected. Our results demonstrate a causative role for beta 1-6 branches in invasion and cell attachment in the extravasation stage of metastasis.

Agglutination↗

Role of A delta afferent fibers in modulation of primary afferent input to the adult rat spinal cord.

To address the question of whether fine myelinated and unmyelinated primary afferent fibers contribute to the mechanism of presynaptic inhibition in the spinal cord, we studied dorsal root-evoked dorsal root potentials (DR-DRPs) using a newly developed longitudinal spinal cord slice preparations in the adult rat. Single stimuli applied to the L6 dorsal root elicited a DR-DRP in the L5 dorsal root which had an amplitude of 50-150 microV and had a half decay time of 20-66 ms. The DR-DRP was depressed by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX, 10-20 microM), while DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV, 50-100 microM) had no significant effect. DR-DRP was markedly depressed by bicuculline or picrotoxin. The evoked DR-DRP was unchanged in rats treated with capsaicin which eliminated the majority of unmyelinated C afferent fibers. Taken together with the higher voltages (> or = 1.9 V) required to elicit DR-DRP, this observation strongly suggests that the A delta afferent fibers are primarily responsible for producing and receiving the DR-DRP. The present study shows that the DR-DRP mediated by the A delta fibers in the slice preparation is analogous to those described for larger myelinated fibers in vivo. This pathway may contribute importantly to synaptic modulation of somatosensory information, including nociception at the superficial dorsal horn through an interneuronal connection which are mediated by the non-NMDA and GABAA receptors.

Afferent Pathways↗

Heat-shock cognate 70 messenger RNA expression in postmortem human hippocampus: regional differences and age-related changes.

In situ hybridization of postmortem human brain tissue showed that constitutive heat-shock cognate 70 (hsc 70) mRNA was expressed in more than 50% of the pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal subfields. The ratio (%) of the hsc 70 mRNA-expressing neurons to the total neurons was significantly greater in CA3 and the hilus than in CA1 and CA2. The lower ratio in CA1 may be related to its vulnerability to various stresses. The ratio of hsc 70 mRNA-expressing neurons in CA1 was significantly greater in the older subjects than in the younger ones. This may reflect the up-regulated hsc 70 mRNA induction in response to a reduction in free hsc 70 because the binding of hsc 70 to aberrant proteins may be increased in aged persons.

Adult↗

The characterization of a novel human adenylyl cyclase which is present in brain and other tissues.

We characterized a human cDNA clone which encodes a novel adenylyl cyclase. Data from Southern and Northern blot analysis, and analysis of sequence similarity with a recently cloned mouse adenylyl cyclase (10), indicated that the human adenylyl cyclase was a species variant of type VII adenylyl cyclase. The sequence of the novel human adenylyl cyclase indicated it was a member of the type II adenylyl cyclase family, and we compared the regulatory characteristics of the novel human enzyme with those of type II adenylyl cyclase. The human type VII and rat type II adenylyl cyclases, expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, were activated by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), but only type VII was activated by isoproterenol. The stimulation of type VII adenylyl cyclase by PGE1 and isoproterenol was attenuated by pretreatment of the cells with staurosporine. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate synergistically enhanced the stimulation of both type VII and type II enzyme activity by PGE1 and by the constitutively active Gs mutant Gs (Q227L). The human type VII adenylyl cyclase activity was unresponsive to capacitatively induced changes in intracellular Ca2+. The functional characteristics of human type VII adenylyl cyclase resemble those of the rat type II enzyme, but the enzymes may respond differently to in vivo phosphorylation conditions. While the mRNA for adenylyl cyclase type II was found in several brain areas, the message for type VII adenylyl cyclase was localized primarily to the cerebellar granule cell layer.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Differential mechanism of peptide YY and neuropeptide Y in inhibiting motility of guinea-pig colon.

The effect of peptide YY on contractility, acetylcholine release and noradrenaline release was examined in the isolated guinea-pig colon, and findings were compared with those for neuropeptide Y. Peptide YY and neuropeptide Y inhibited the twitch contractions mediated by the stimulation of cholinergic neurons. Peptide YY, neuropeptide Y, [Leu31,Pro34]neuropeptide Y and neuropeptide Y-(13-36) inhibited the electrically stimulated release of acetylcholine. Neuropeptide Y, but not peptide YY, inhibited the high K(+)-stimulated tetrodotoxin-resistant release of acetylcholine, while the inhibitory effect of neuropeptide Y disappeared after treatment with yohimbine. Neuropeptide Y, but not peptide YY or neuropeptide Y analogues, evoked the release of noradrenaline. After desensitization to the effects of neuropeptide Y, peptide YY inhibited electrically stimulated acetylcholine release. Thus, peptide YY inhibits acetylcholine release through stimulation of a receptor, distinct from the site of action of neuropeptide Y, located on cholinergic neurons as well as the neuropeptide Y Y1 and Y2 receptors in the guinea-pig colon. Neuropeptide Y inhibits acetylcholine release due to the noradrenaline release mediated by stimulation of a receptor distinct from neuropeptide Y Y1 and Y2 receptors, located on adrenergic neurons.

Acetylcholine↗

Expression and secretion of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin by bladder carcinoma in vivo and in vitro.

Expression and secretion of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by bladder carcinoma cell lines were investigated in vitro and in vivo. As an in vitro study, immunoreactive hCG beta (IR-hCG beta) secreted into the culture media of two bladder transitional cell lines (KoTCC-1 and HT-1197) was analyzed using three kinds of enzyme immunoassays which were specific for intact hCG, free hCG beta, and beta core fragment (beta-CF). Both of the cell lines were determined to secrete IR-hCG beta into the media, which consisted principally of free hCG beta, but detectable levels of intact hCG and beta-CF were not present in the media. Northern blot analysis revealed that the hCG beta gene was expressed in both KoTCC-1 and HT-1197 cells where the sizes of mRNA from these cells were smaller than those from placental and NJG choriocarcinoma cells. As an in vivo study, distribution of IR-hCG beta was analyzed in the tumor tissues, sera, and urine of the mice and the rats transplanted with KoTCC-1 cells. By the immunohistochemical study, the IR-hCG beta was clearly observed in transitional cell carcinoma cells of the transplanted tumor. High levels of IR-hCG beta were detected in both the serum and urine from the animals, but there were quantitative and qualitative differences between serum and urinary IR-hCG beta. Quantitatively, the concentrations of IR-hCG beta in the urine were consistently much higher than those in the serum. Qualitatively, free hCG beta was exclusively detected in the serum whereas high levels of beta-CF in addition to free hCG beta were found in the urine. Intact hCG could not be detected in the serum and urine. These distributions of IR-hCG beta in the animals transplanted with KoTCC-1 cells were completely analogous to those in a patient with hCG beta-producing bladder carcinoma. The present study shows that the same metabolic pathway of IR-hCG beta is operating in mice and rats as in humans, indicating that IR-hCG beta found in patients with bladder carcinoma originates from the tumor and it may be recognized as a tumor marker when beta-CF is measured in the patient's urine.

Animals↗

High expression of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: beta-D mannoside beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) in chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis.

The activity and mRNA expression of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: beta-D mannoside beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase III (GnT-III: EC 2.4.1.144) were investigated in hematological malignancies. GnT-III activity was elevated in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in blast crisis and patients with multiple myeloma (MM), as compared to normal healthy subjects and patients with other hematological malignancies including CML in chronic phase. The GnT-III transcript was the same size in leukemic cells from various hematological diseases and cell lines, while expression of the transcript was not found to correlate significantly with enzyme activity, implying that post-translational modification might regulate the activity of GnT-III. Southern-blot analysis showed no significant variation in the structure and position of the GnT-III genome, indicating that the gene is present as a single copy without isoforms. Furthermore, analyses by immunoprecipitation and Western blot revealed that high GnT-III activity in KU812 cell, a CML cell line, resulted in an increase in E4-PHA binding to CD45, a major surface glycoprotein of the leukocyte, indicating that more bisecting GlcNAc was added to CD45 catalyzed by elevated GnT-III.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Cell spreading in Colo 201 by staurosporin is alpha 3 beta 1 integrin-mediated with tyrosine phosphorylation of Src and tensin.

Staurosporin, a broad-spectrum kinase inhibitor, induced cell spreading in a human colon cancer cell line, Colo 201. On collagen and laminin, cell spreading was induced in more than 90% of the cells and was dependent on very late activation antigen-3, as shown by an antibody inhibition assay. Cell spreading required divalent cations and showed the order of preference Mn2+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+. On fibronectin, only about 30% of the cells were observed to spread, and spreading occurred via a non-integrin, RGD-independent pathway. Staurosporin-induced spreading was inhibited by treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin A and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamate. Despite the presence of staurosporin, seven proteins (220, 175, 150, 98, 62, 58, and 45 kDa) showed increased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation in association with cell adhesion. Two of these (58 and 220 kDa) were identified by immunoprecipitation as Src product and tensin, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the Colo 201 cells expressed the alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6, and beta 1 chains of integrin, but expression of these chains was not influenced by staurosporin. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the alpha 3 chain, diffusely expressed on the cell surface in the absence of staurosporin, was concentrated at focal adhesion plaques after staurosporin treatment. Neither alpha 2 nor alpha 6 was focalized by the treatment.

Alkaloids↗

Ethanol inhibition of Ca2+ and Na+ currents in the guinea-pig heart.

The effects of ethanol on L-type Ca2+ and fast Na+ currents (ICa and INa, respectively) were examined using the whole-cell patch-clamp experiments on guinea-pig ventricular cells. At a clinically relevant concentration of 24 mM, ethanol slightly but significantly shortened the action potential duration, and reduced the ICa by 7 +/- 4% (mean +/- S.D.). This concentration of ethanol did not affect INa, but a lethal concentration of ethanol (80 mM) significantly inhibited INa by 13 +/- 5%. The voltage dependence of INa activation was not affected by ethanol, whereas the inhibitions of ICa by 80 mM ethanol and INa by 240 mM were both accompanied by a several mV shift in the channel availability curve toward more negative potentials, suggesting that the channels in the inactivated state are more susceptible to ethanol. The ICa inhibition by ethanol at clinically relevant concentrations could contribute to a negative inotropic effect, action potential shortening and development of arrhythmias, while the pathophysiological significance of ethanol inhibition of INa seems less important.

Action Potentials↗

Primary afferent-evoked glycine- and GABA-mediated IPSPs in substantia gelatinosa neurones in the rat spinal cord in vitro.

1. The possible roles of glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as inhibitory transmitters in the spinal dorsal horn were studied by intracellular recordings from substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurones in transverse slices of the adult rat spinal cord which retained an attached dorsal root. 2. Stimulation of primary afferent A delta fibres evoked an initial excitatory postsynaptic potential (fast EPSP) followed by a short and/or long inhibitory postsynaptic potential (short and long IPSP). The short IPSP, observed in twenty-nine SG neurones (37%) which received inhibitory inputs, had a mean latency of 3.6 ms and a half-decay time of 11 ms, while the long IPSP had a mean latency of 3.7 ms and a half-decay time of 42 ms and was observed in thirty-seven SG neurones (47%). The remaining twelve neurones (16%) exhibited both short and long IPSPs. Both IPSPs reversed polarity at a membrane potential of -70 +/- 4 mV. The short IPSP was reversibly blocked by the glycine receptor antagonist strychnine (0.5-2 microM), while the long IPSP was reversibly blocked by the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (10-20 microM). 3. In the majority of SG neurones, the short and long IPSPs appeared to be disynaptic and were blocked by the non-N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (non-NMDA) receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 5-10 microM). Both IPSPs were less sensitive (depressed by less than 30%) to the NMDA receptor antagonist DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV; 50-100 microM). 4. In ten SG neurones (13%), bath-applied glutamate (0.5-2 mM) increased the amplitude and frequency of IPSPs, which had a similar time course to that of the short IPSP evoked by afferent A delta fibres. The glutamate-induced short IPSPs were blocked by tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM) or strychnine (0.5-1 microM). In twelve neurones (16%), glutamate hyperpolarized the membrane or increased the amplitude and frequency of IPSPs that had a similar time course to that of the A delta fibre-evoked long IPSPs. The glutamate-induced membrane hyperpolarization and long IPSPs decreased in amplitude with membrane hyperpolarization and reversed polarity at -70 +/- 6 mV. These hyperpolarizing responses were blocked by tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM) or bicuculline (10 microM). 5. These observations suggest that primary afferent A delta fibres activate glycinergic and/or GABAergic interneurones primarily through the non-NMDA receptor subclass and result in inhibition of nearby SG neurones in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Amyloid beta-proteins 1-40 and 1-42(43) in the soluble fraction of extra- and intracranial blood vessels.

To investigate the process of amyloid beta-protein (A beta) accumulation in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the levels of A beta were determined in the soluble fraction of extra- and intracranial blood vessels and leptomeninges obtained at autopsy. Two enzyme immunoassays were employed that are known to sensitively and specifically quantify two A beta species, A beta 1-40 and 1-42(43). A beta was detectable in the intracranial blood vessels and leptomeninges with the latter containing the highest levels, while it was undetectable in the extracranial blood vessels. Thus the levels of soluble A beta correlated well with the predilection sites for CAA. Among individuals aged 20 to 90, the A beta levels in the leptomeninges increased sharply in those aged 50 to 70 and thereafter tended to decline. However, only slight degrees of CAA were detected by immunocytochemistry, even when those leptomeninges contained high levels of A beta comparable with those in Alzheimer's disease. The level of A beta 1-42 was almost always severalfold that of A beta 1-40 in the soluble fraction of leptomeninges. This is in good agreement with the immunocytochemical result showing the presence of A beta 40-negative, A beta 42(43)-positive meningeal vessels. These results indicate that A beta 1-42 is the initially deposited species in CAA and that the disruption of A beta homeostasis precedes A beta deposition in the meningeal vessels.

Adult↗

Changes of beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) in patients with leukaemia.

Changes in the activity and transcription of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: beta-D-mannoside beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase III (GnT-III: EC 2.4.1.144) were investigated in haematological malignancies. GnT-III activity was elevated in patients with chronic myelogeneous leukaemia in blast crisis (CML-BC) and patients with multiple myeloma (MM); whereas most of the normal healthy subjects and patients with other haematological malignancies, including CML in its chronic phase, showed negligible activity. The GnT-III transcript of leukaemic cells from various haematological diseases showed a single band with a similar size. The ratio of GnT-III activity per normalized transcript in CML-BC was considerably higher than in the other conditions, which provided the possibility that in CML-BC the transcript or the enzyme protein might be more stable, or that a post-translational modification of the enzyme might enhance its activity. Furthermore, a lectin blot analysis of patient specimens and a lectin fluorescence study of CML cell lines revealed that E4-PHA binding to surface glycoproteins correlated with GnT-III activity, indicating that more bisecting GlcNAc was added to these glycoproteins, catalysed by elevated GnT-III in CML-BC.

Blast Crisis↗