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Biomedical subjects

N Hosoya

Publications and source records attributed to N Hosoya.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Secretion of tetrain, a Tetrahymena cysteine protease, as a mature enzyme and its identification as a member of the cathepsin L subfamily.

A protease in the culture medium of Tetrahymena pyriformis was purified to homogeneity. The purified protease had an apparent molecular mass of 28 kDa on SDS/PAGE. The amino acid sequences of the N-terminal and internal peptides of the protease showed complete identity with those of tetrain, an enzyme previously reported as a Tetrahymena cysteine protease but not characterized in detail. Two overlapping cDNA clones for tetrain were sequenced, and the nucleotide sequence predicts that these clones encode a 330-amino acid protein composed of a 16-residue N-terminal signal sequence followed by a 103-residue propeptide and a 211-residue mature protease. The primary structure and enzymatic properties support the conclusion that tetrain belongs to the cathepsin L subfamily. Immunoblotting analyses showed that mature tetrain was found exclusively in the culture medium. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that tetrain was concentrated in or around the food vacuoles of cells in the late logarithmic phase, but the staining of food vacuoles was not obvious in the stationary phase. These results suggest that tetrain is synthesized at the logarithmic phase and is secreted into the culture medium as a mature form.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Frameshift mutations of the hMSH6 gene in human leukemia cell lines.

Defects in DNA mismatch repair mechanisms, including frameshift mutations of the hMSH6 and hMSH3 genes at their (C)8 and (A)8 tracks, respectively, have been shown to be associated with human malignancies. To clarify the possible involvement of these mutations in hematopoietic malignancies, we screened a total of forty-four human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines for mutations in the hMSH6 and hMSH3 genes, as well as in other genes required for DNA replication or repair, by polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing analysis. Frameshift mutations at the (C)8 track of the hMSH6 gene were detected in two cell lines established from lymphoid leukemias. These two cell lines had no wild-type alleles, and both of them showed microsatellite instability. This is the first report that describes mutations and inactivation of the hMSH6 gene in hematological malignancies, suggesting that defects of the hMSH6 gene may be associated with development of hematological malignancies.

Base Sequence↗

Mutation analysis of the WT1 gene in myelodysplastic syndromes.

The WT1 tumor suppressor gene was examined for mutations in a panel of 44 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) including acute myelogenous leukemias (AML) secondary to MDS, using polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis and sequencing analysis. A WT1 mutation was detected in one out of 17 cases of AML secondary to MDS. This mutation exists upstream of the zinc finger region and is predicted to produce a truncated WT1 protein lacking the zinc finger region. No mutations were detected in 27 MDS patients who had not progressed to AML. This is the first report of analysis for WT1 mutations in a large number of MDS patients, suggesting that WT1 mutations are uncommon in MDS. Abnormalities in this gene may, however, contribute to a small proportion of cases showing progression from MDS into AML.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Clinical efficacy of fosfomycin in combination with sulbactam/cefoperazone in the treatment of severe infections complicated to blood dyscrasia. Working Group of Kanto Combination Therapy for FOM + SBT/CPZ].

In the treatment of severe infections complicated to blood dyscrasia, the efficacy and usefulness of fosfomycin (FOM) in combination with sulbactam (SBT)/cefoperazone (CPZ) were compared between patients receiving FOM in the first followed by SBT/CPZ (Group A) and those receiving both drugs simultaneously (Group B). The following results were obtained. 1. The efficacy rate was 56.3% for Group A and 47.9% for Group B, with no significant difference. 2. The efficacy for patients suspected of the presence of septicemia, the efficacy rate was 57.9% for Group A and 54.3% for Group B, with no significant difference. 3. As for underlying disease, patients with acute myelogenous leukemia were most prevailing. In these patients, the efficacy rate was 57.1% for Group A and 27.3% for Group B, with no statistically significant difference. However, the efficacy rate tended to be higher in Group A. 4. The administration of antibiotics was effective to restore the neutrophil count to 501/microliters or higher in 77.8% and 45.5% of the cases for Groups A and B, respectively, with significantly higher efficacy for Group A. 5. In the safety evaluation a total of 115 cases were included. Side effects and laboratory abnormalities were seen in 3 cases each, but none of them were serious in degree. From these results, it was confirmed that the combination therapy consisting of administration of FOM followed by SBT/CPZ with some interval is effective for severe infections complicated to blood dyscrasia.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Mutations and loss of expression of a mismatch repair gene, hMLH1, in leukemia and lymphoma cell lines.

Defects in genes involved in DNA mismatch repair have been detected in both hereditary and sporadic tumors of colon, endometrium, and ovary and suggested to be associated with tumorigenesis. To investigate disruptions of the mismatch repair system in hematological malignancies, we examined alterations of the human mutL homologue 1 (hMLH1) gene, a member of the mismatch repair gene family, in a total of 43 human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines, by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing analyses. Mutations of the hMLH1 gene were detected in three cell lines established from lymphoid leukemias. Moreover, Northern and Western blot analyses showed that expression of hMLH1 transcript or protein was abrogated in these three leukemia cell lines. Further studies for microsatellite loci showed that these cell lines without hMLH1 expression showed microsatellite instability. This is the first report that describes mutations and inactivation of the hMLH1 gene in human leukemia cells, suggesting that disruption of DNA mismatch repair system may play an important role in the development of human lymphoid leukemias.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Malignant hyperthermia induced by general anesthesia for bone marrow harvesting.

We present a case of a bone marrow donor who developed rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure and pulmonary edema following an apparently uneventful general anesthesia for bone marrow harvesting. Because malignant hyperthermia (MH) was suspected, he was treated with dantrolene, fluid loading, and continuous hemodiafiltration along with symptomatic supportive care. He made a full recovery and was discharged 3 weeks after harvest. Although the incidence of MH is low, marrow donation involves the risks of anesthesia as is seen in this case. Close monitoring is required to prevent life-threatening complications associated with the bone marrow harvesting procedure.

Adult↗

Release of a newly-identified cysteine protease, tetrain, from Tetrahymena into culture medium during the cell growth.

Protease activity in the culture medium of Tetrahymena pyriformis markedly increased during the growth of the ciliate. The protease activity in the culture medium was purified by sequential column chromatographies. The purified protease had an apparent molecular mass of 28 kDa. N-terminal amino acid sequencing analysis suggested that the protease is a mature form of cysteine protease. Requirements of free sulfhydryl groups for activity and sensitivity to N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone and Na-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone also indicated that the protease is a member of the papain family of cysteine proteases. The protease was designated as tetrain. Immunoblotting analyses showed that tetrain was present in higher amount in the culture medium in the stationary phase than in the logarithmic phase. Tetrain has high activities at neutral to alkaline pH values. This suggests that tetrain has functional roles in the culture medium in the stationary phase, because the pH of the culture medium became alkaline with the progress of Tetrahymena growth.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A study of the apical microleakage of a gallium alloy as a retrograde filling material.

The feasibility of utilizing mercury-free Gallium alloy GF for retrograde filling was investigated by comparing apical microleakage in 184 extracted human teeth. The teeth were divided into four experimental and two control groups. Three experimental groups were apical cavity retrofillings with the Gallium alloy GF, a mercury-containing amalgam, and a glass ionomer. The fourth experimental group was filled with gutta-percha and heat-burnished after apicoectomy. After 24 h, 1 wk, 4 wk, and 12 wk immersion in dye solution, the roots were vertically sectioned, and the deepest point of dye penetration was recorded. The glass ionomer showed the least leakage, followed by the amalgam group and the gallium group (no significant difference). The gutta-percha heat-burnished group displayed the greatest leakage. Gallium alloy GF was shown to have an equivalent sealing potential to dental amalgam for a retrograde filling material.

Analysis of Variance↗

Dietary maltitol increases calcium content and breaking force of femoral bone in ovariectomized rats.

Maltitol is a disaccharide alcohol generated by hydrogenation of maltose and exhibiting resistance to intestinal disaccharidases. We demonstrated previously that maltitol stimulates transepithelial transport of calcium in the ileum, accompanied by an elevation of intestinal calcium absorption as well as calcium retention in the body. In this study, we examined whether the maltitol-induced increase in intestinal calcium absorption leads to an alteration of the physical properties of bones in rats subjected to ovariectomy. We used this study as a simulation model for postmenopausal females who are at risk for osteoporosis. Following the intake of a low-calcium diet for 28 d ovariectomized rats were fed diets containing either 10% maltose (control) or 10% maltitol, together with increased amounts of calcium (0.3% in Experiment 1 and 1.2% in Experiment 2) for 21 d. Balance studies performed during the final 5-d (Experiment 1) or 2-d (Experiment 2) period of the experiments showed that maltitol increased intestinal calcium absorption and retention. The breaking force of femoral bones was significantly elevated (by 5-7%) in animals fed the maltitol diet compared with that in rats fed the maltose diet. The calcium content in the femoral bones as well as the mineral bone density of the tibial metaphysis was also elevated in rats fed the maltitol diet. These results indicate that maltitol stimulates the intestinal absorption of dietary calcium leading to an increase in calcium content in the bone, and coinciding with the elevation of the breaking strength of the bone in ovariectomized rats.

Analysis of Variance↗

A rare case of cardiac sarcoidosis in a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, and polymyositis.

A 56-year-old woman with overlap syndrome of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), Sjogren's syndrome, and polymyositis is reported. She developed complete atrioventricular (AV) block and progressive bilateral hilar adenopathy, and was diagnosed as having sarcoidosis by histological examination of the hilar lymph nodes biopsied thoracoscopically. Although coexistence of one or two autoimmune diseases with sarcoidosis is not uncommon, coexistence of three or more autoimmune diseases with sarcoidosis is rare. To our knowledge, the described case is the first case in which the three above-mentioned autoimmune diseases were accompanied by myocardial sarcoidosis.

Cardiomyopathies↗

Localization of caldesmon and its dephosphorylation during cell division.

Mitosis-specific phosphorylation by cdc2 kinase causes nonmuscle caldesmon to dissociate from microfilaments during prometaphase. (Yamashiro, S., Y. Yamakita, R. Ishikawa, and F. Matsumura. 1990. Nature (Lond.). 344:675-678; Yamashiro, S., Y. Yamakita, H. Hosoya, and F. Matsumura. 1991. Nature (Lond.) 349:169-172). To explore the functions of caldesmon phosphorylation during cytokinesis, we have examined the relationship between the phosphorylation level, actin-binding, and in vivo localization of caldesmon in cultured cells after their release of metaphase arrest. Immunofluorescence studies have revealed that caldesmon is localized diffusely throughout cytoplasm in metaphase. During early stages of cytokinesis, caldesmon is still diffusely present and not concentrated in contractile rings, in contrast to the accumulation of actin in cleavage furrows during cytokinesis. In later stages of cytokinesis, most caldesmon is observed to be yet diffusely localized although some concentration of caldesmon is observed in cortexes as well as in cleavage furrows. When daughter cells begin to spread, caldesmon shows complete colocalization with F-actin-containing structures. These observations are consistent with changes in the levels of microfilament-associated caldesmon during synchronized cell division. Caldesmon is missing from microfilaments in prometaphase cells arrested by nocodazole treatment, as shown previously (Yamashiro, S., Y. Yamakita, R. Iskikawa, and F. Matsumura. 1990. Nature (Lond.). 344:675-678). The level of microfilament-associated caldesmon stays low (12% of that of interphase cells) when some cells start cytokinesis at 40 min after the release of metaphase arrest. When 60% of cells finish cytokinesis at 60 min, the level of microfilament-associated caldesmon is recovered to 50% of that of interphase cells. The level of microfilament-associated caldesmon is then gradually increased to 80% when cells show spreading at 120 min. Dephosphorylation appears to occur during cytokinesis. It starts when cells begin to show cytokinesis at 40 min and completes when most cells finish cytokinesis at 60 min. These results suggest that caldesmon is not associated with microfilaments of cleavage furrows at least in initial stages of cytokinesis and that dephosphorylation of caldesmon appears to couple with its reassociation with microfilaments. Because caldesmon is known to inhibit actomyosin ATPase and/or regulate actin assembly, its continued dissociation from microfilaments may be required for the assembly and/or activation of contractile rings.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Changes in the cytoskeletal structure of cultured smooth muscle cells induced by calyculin-A.

Changes in the cytoskeletal structure of cultured A10 smooth muscle cells induced by calyculin-A (CL-A), a potent inhibitor of types 1 and 2A protein phosphatases, were analyzed using indirect fluorescence techniques. In the presence of 1 x 10(-7) M CL-A the cells became round and subsequently detached from the substratum. The effect of CL-A was inhibited by a non-selective kinase inhibitor, K-252a, but not by EGTA. In rounded cells stress fibers were absent and staining for F-actin appeared in patches. Vinculin, one of the components of focal contacts, was localized at the periphery of control cells. CL-A treatment moved the focal contacts towards the inside of the cell along the stress fibers, and this was followed by the rounding up of the cell. In addition, rapid and marked changes in microtubule structure were observed in CL-A-treated cells. Many 'nicks' or 'gaps' were observed along the microtubules in the attached, spread cells. A filamentous network of microtubules was not observed in the detached cells, i.e. after longer exposure to CL-A. These results suggest that CL-A may change the structure of focal contacts, resulting in the rounding up of the cell, and inducing a microtubule-severing activity. These effects were independent of the external Ca2+ concentration. The changes in cytoskeletal structure may be caused by disturbing the balance of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in the cell.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Maltitol-induced increase of transepithelial transport of calcium in rat small intestine.

To gain an insight into a mechanism whereby maltitol increases intestinal absorption of calcium, we evaluated transepithelial calcium transport of everted segments of rat small intestine by comparing the values in the presence of maltitol with the values in the presence of maltose. In jejunal segments, no significant difference in the rate of calcium transport was seen between the incubations in the medium containing 100 mM maltitol and in the medium containing 100 mM maltose, regardless of the calcium concentrations in the mucosal-side medium. By contrast, the everted ileal segments incubated in the presence of maltitol exhibited two-fold greater transepithelial calcium transport than did the segments incubated in the presence of maltose at a high (10 mM) concentration of calcium, whereas at a low (0.5 mM) concentration of calcium, maltitol did not produce a significant effect. With the conditions in which intestinal alpha-glucosidases were inhibited using the medium containing Tris or acarbose, a slight (40%) but significant increase of calcium transport was again observed in the segments incubated in the medium containing maltitol as compared with the medium containing maltose. The results suggest that maltitol enhances the rate of transepithelial calcium transport in the lower part of small intestine by modulating the passive diffusion of calcium, and that not only the nature of low digestibility, but also some other nature(s) of maltitol might be responsible for the maltitol-induced increase of ileal calcium transport.

Animals↗

Activation of ATPase activity of 14S dynein from Tetrahymena cilia by microtubules.

The ATPase activity of 14S dynein was activated by the presence of microtubule-associated-protein-free microtubules. The activation was 2.5-3.5 fold at 10 mg microtubule/ml, and the activity increased further with increasing microtubule concentration. The microtubule-14S-dynein complex, microtubule bundles with 14S dynein, was treated with a zero-length chemical cross-linker, 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide (EDC). The ATPase activity of the complex responded to EDC in a biphasic, concentration-dependent manner and, at most, it was enhanced 5-10 fold. The complex treated with EDC was no longer unbundled by addition of ATP, as revealed by electron-microscopic observation. Several ATP analogues, which support in vitro microtubule translocation mediated by 14S dynein, were turned over faster by this mechanochemical enzyme in the presence of microtubules than in their absence. However, some ATP analogues which do not support the translocation were also turned over faster in the presence of microtubules. Thus, microtubule-dynein motility and substrate-turnover activation are not tightly coupled, which indicates that all three major motor systems, actin- heavy-meromyosin, microtubule-kinesin [Shimizu, T., Furusawa, K., Ohashi, S., Toyoshima, Y. Y., Okuno, M., Malik, F. & Vale, R. D. (1991) J. Cell Biol. 112, 1189-1197] and microtubule-dynein, have this characteristic property in common.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Effect of maltitol intake on intestinal calcium absorption in the rat.

To examine whether sugar alcohol affects intestinal calcium absorption, 5-week-old male Wistar rats were fed a basal diet (66% starch) or the diets containing either 10% maltitol, 10% sorbitol or 10% lactose. At 2 and 6 weeks after the start of feeding, the animals were subjected to 5-day-period calcium balance study. Feeding maltitol diets as well as sorbitol diet led to a significantly elevated intestinal calcium absorption and calcium retention. Lactose diet did not produce an increased intestinal calcium absorption in the condition used in the present study. To explore whether maltitol can exert its effect in a short period of time, the rats were starved for 16h and were fed by a polyethylene tube the diet containing 0.44% calcium together with either 10% maltitol or 10% glucose. The total calcium remaining in the gastrointestinal tract at 6h after feeding was significantly decreased in the rats given maltitol diet as compared to the rats given glucose diet. When 10 microCi of 45CaCl2 was given orally with the diets containing maltitol or glucose, the amount of 45Ca remaining in the gastrointestinal tract at 6h after its administration was smaller in the rats fed maltitol diet than in the rats fed glucose diet. These results suggest that both di- and monosaccharide alcohols might affect intestinal epithelium, resulting in an enhanced intestinal calcium absorption.

Algorithms↗

Nutritional status and daily physical activity of handicapped students in Tokyo metropolitan schools for deaf, blind, mentally retarded, and physically handicapped individuals.

Heights, weights, and skinfold thicknesses of 2222 handicapped students aged 3-22 y were measured in the 1984 nutritional survey for handicapped students in Tokyo metropolitan schools for deaf, blind, mentally retarded, and physically handicapped individuals. Although delayed growth was most obvious in physically handicapped students, obesity was already prevalent in many different types of handicapped students, especially those who were mentally handicapped. To estimate daily physical activity, 473 males and 329 females wore a pedometer for 24 h. There were considerable differences in the mean pedometer scores among the four groups of students: deaf greater than blind = mentally retarded greater than physically handicapped. In the female students who could walk normally, pedometer scores were negatively related with both body mass index and percent body fat. The nutritional status in the handicapped students is discussed in relation to daily physical activity.

Activity Cycles↗