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Biomedical subjects

N Kataoka

Publications and source records attributed to N Kataoka.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Specific cellular immunity in immunocompetent children with herpes zoster.

We investigated whether specific immunity is low in immunocompetent children with zoster. Specific cellular immunity was found to be significantly lower in 13 otherwise normal children with zoster than it was in 8 matched controls by a lymphoproliferative assay. However, there was no significant difference between them with regard to the antibody response. Therefore, even in the immunocompetent children, decreased specific cellular immunity may play an important role in the mechanism of virus reactivation.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1998

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulate progesterone production by luteal cells derived from pregnant and non-pregnant women: possible involvement of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 in corpus luteum function and differentiation.

Human luteal cells have been reported to express human leukocyte antigen-DR and lymphocyte functional antigen-3 on the cell surface, suggesting physiological interaction between luteal cells and T-lymphocytes through the menstrual cycle into early pregnancy. To elucidate the role of peripheral lymphocytes on corpus luteum differentiation, the effect of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) on steroidogenesis by luteal cells was investigated. The production of Th-2 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 by the co-cultured cells was also examined, and the effects of these cytokines on progesterone production by luteal cells were investigated. Corpora lutea were obtained from eight non-pregnant women in the luteal phase and five women in early pregnancy for luteal cell culture. PBMC were isolated from unrelated women in the follicular phase, secretory phase, and early pregnancy. After coculture with allogenic PBMC for 48 h, progesterone production was significantly enhanced by PBMC from the secretory phase and early pregnancy in the non-pregnant luteal cell culture. In the pregnant luteal cell culture, a significant increase in progesterone production was also observed by the co-culture with PBMC from women in early pregnancy, showing that PBMC have a luteotrophic effect. The stimulatory effects of PBMC were also observed in co-culture conditions which prevented direct cell-to-cell interaction with luteal cells, showing the minor influence of mixed lymphocyte reaction. By co-culture with PBMC, the production of IL-10, but not IL-4, was significantly augmented in luteal cell culture derived from non-pregnant women, whereas the production of both IL-4 and IL-10 was significantly enhanced in the luteal cell culture derived from pregnant women. Moreover, IL-4 and IL-10 promoted progesterone production by cultured luteal cells, especially in the luteal cell culture derived from corpora lutea of early pregnancy. These findings indicate that PBMC stimulate progesterone production by luteal cells and suggest the involvement of PBMC in corpus luteum function and differentiation probably via the Th-2-type lymphocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Stage-specific uptake of apolipoprotein-B in ovarian follicles and corpora lutea of the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.

A monoclonal antibody (mAb), HCL-2, was raised which reacts with apolipoprotein-B, and it was shown by immunohistology that HCL-2 can be used to analyse the uptake of apolipoprotein-B by steroid-producing cells in vivo. In this study we have investigated the dynamic utilization of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in human ovary by immunohistological localization of apolipoprotein-B and LDL receptors using HCL-2 and anti-LDL receptor mAb. In antral follicles, including those of <1 mm in diameter, both apolipoprotein-B and LDL receptors were localized to theca interna cells, but not granulosa cells. In pre-ovulatory follicles, the LDL receptor was expressed on all granulosa cells. Apolipoprotein-B was also detected in granulosa cells located at the basal layer, suggesting that they utilize LDL through the basal lamina before ovulation. In mid-luteal phase, large luteal cells seemed to stain more intensely for apolipoprotein-B than did small luteal cells, suggesting that large lutal cells are the main sites of LDL utilization. In regressing corpora lutea, the expression of LDL receptor was weak, and apolipoprotein-B was rarely detected. In corpora lutea of early pregnancy, LDL receptor and apolipoprotein-B were localized to both luteal cells. These findings show the precise dynamic changes in LDL uptake by human ovarian cells during their differentiation in vivo.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Possibility of prevention of herpes zoster by use of varicella vaccine].

It has been considered that a decline in specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) for the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) could be responsible for a high incidence of herpes zoster in the elderly. If the strength of CMI for VZV could be increased by immunization of the elderly with a varicella vaccine, herpes zoster might be preventable. We compared the CMI for VZV (using a lymphoproliferative assay and a varicella skin test) and VZV-IgG antibodies in serum before and after 2-3 months of vaccination in 15 subjects more than 40 years old. When the CMI for VZV was measured by the lymphoproliferative assay, a stimulation index (SI) of more than 2.0 was estimated to be positive in this study. The SIs (mean +/- SD) before and after the vaccination were 2.7 +/- 1.8 and 2.7 +/- 1.9, respectively, and no significant difference was noted. On the other hand, the diameter of erythema in the varicella skin test after the vaccination became larger than that before the vaccination in the 10 of 13 subjects. In addition, serum VZV-IgG antibodies increased after vaccination in 6 of 14 subjects. There were no obvious reasons for the discrepancy in the results of the lymphoproliferative assay and the varicella skin test. However, because of the poor response indicated by the assay, only one vaccination for the elderly might not be enough to increase the CMI for VZV. The appropriate age for vaccination should also be considered. Lastly, further investigation of the CMI for VZV before and after vaccination on larger scale is required.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Physiological roles of integrin alpha 6 beta 1 in ovarian functions.

We previously reported that human ovarian cells express integrin beta 1 families. The physiological role(s) of integrins was investigated using in vitro human granulosa cell culture and in vivo mouse ovulation model. In human luteinizing granulosa cell culture obtained from the patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment, laminin, which is a ligand for integrin alpha 6 beta 1, suppressed the production of progesterone by granulosa cells. On the other hand, the anti-alpha 6 monoclonal antibody (mAb) GoH3, which partially inhibits the interaction between integrin alpha 6 beta 1 and laminin, enhanced production of progesterone by 2-fold of the control under the culture with laminin, indicating that integrin alpha 6 beta 1 regulates the luteinization of human granulosa cell during the periovulatory phase. In an immature superovulated 13-day-old ICR (CD-1) mice model, intraperitoneal administration of GoH3 induced successful ovulation, whereas no ovulation was observed in the GoH3-nontreated groups, showing that integrin alpha 6 beta 1 is related to gonadotropin-induced follicular growth. These findings suggest that the interaction between integrin alpha 6 beta 1 and laminin plays an important role in the corpus luteum formation and follicular growth.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Oligonucleotide synthesis using the 2-(levulinyloxymethyl)-5-nitrobenzoyl group for the 5'-position of nucleoside 3'-phosphoramidite derivatives.

A comparative study on the utility of 2-(levulinyloxymethyl)-5-nitrobenzoyl (LMNBz) and 2-(levulinyloxymethyl)benzoyl (LMBz) protecting groups for the 5'-positions of nucleoside 3'-phosphoramidite derivatives in the oligonucleotide synthesis is presented in terms of the syntheses of TpTpT, TpTpTpT, and UpCpApGpUpUpGpG. In addition we describe the synthesis, using the LMNBz protecting group, of the CpCpA terminus triplet of tRNAs bearing exocyclic amino groups with 15N-labeling, and the trimer Gp[A*]pG containing 2'-O-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)adenosine ([A*]), the latter of which is found at position 64 in the yeast initiator tRNA(Met).

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1998

Detection of varicella-zoster virus DNA in peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome or zoster sine herpete.

On the basis of alterations in varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antibody titers, it appears that Bell's palsy in some patients could be associated with VZV reactivation, that is, zoster sine herpete. To obtain stronger evidence of this association, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect VZV DNA in auricular lesions or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from Bell's palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome patients. VZV DNA was detected in the auricular lesions of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, in PBMCs from 2 Ramsay Hunt syndrome patients, and in 4 of 17 samples from 16 Bell's palsy patients. Three of these four positive patients were thought to have zoster sine herpete because of hearing difficulty, vertigo, and pain. VZV IgM antibodies were positive in 1 of the 2 patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and in 2 of the 17 samples from the Bell's palsy patients. VZV IgG antibody titers during the acute phase were significantly higher in the patients positive for the PCR or VZV IgM antibody than in those negative for them. These findings provide evidence that Bell's palsy in some patients could be associated with VZV reactivation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Transportin-mediated nuclear import of heterogeneous nuclear RNP proteins.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1 is an abundant nuclear protein that plays an important role in pre-mRNA processing and mRNA export from the nucleus. A1 shuttles rapidly between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and a 38-amino acid domain, M9, serves as the bidirectional transport signal of A1. Recently, a 90-kD protein, transportin, was identified as the mediator of A1 nuclear import. In this study, we show that transportin mediates the nuclear import of additional hnRNP proteins, including hnRNP F. We have also isolated and sequenced a novel transportin homolog, transportin2, which may differ from transportin1 in its substrate specificity. Immunostaining shows that transportin1 is localized both in the cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm, and nuclear rim staining is also observed. The nuclear localization of A1 is dependent on ongoing RNA polymerase II transcription. Interestingly, a pyruvate kinase-M9 fusion, which normally localizes in the nucleus, also accumulates in the cytoplasm when RNA polymerase II is inhibited. Thus, M9 itself is a specific sensor for transcription-dependent nuclear transport. Transportin1-A1 complexes can be isolated from the cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm, but transportin1 is not detectable in hnRNP complexes. RanGTP causes dissociation of A1-transportin1 complexes in vitro. Thus, it is likely that after nuclear import, A1 dissociates from transportin1 by RanGTP and becomes incorporated into hnRNP complexes, where A1 functions in pre-mRNA processing.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Integrin alpha6 is involved in follicular growth in mice.

We previously reported that integrin alpha6 is expressed on granulosa cells in the inner layers of the human and porcine ovarian follicles, where granulosa cells have no direct contact with basal lamina. In this study, we examined the physiological role of integrin alpha6 on follicular growth with an immature superovulated mice model using the anti-integrin alpha6 monoclonal antibody, GoH3. In the ovaries of 9- to 20-day-old mice, integrin alpha6 was detected on all the layers of granulosa cells in the primordial, primary, and secondary follicles by immunohistochemistry. The 13-day-old female mice were superovulated by pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin with the treatment of intraperitoneal administration of GoH3, or a control antibody, or PBS. In the group of GoH3 treatment, successful ovulation was observed in 57+/-25.7% of the animals, whereas no ovulation was observed in the control groups (p<0.01). These findings indicate that integrin alpha6 is involved in gonadotropin-induced follicular growth.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Extraovarian sex cord-stromal tumor: case report and review of the literature.

A 45-year-old woman was found at laparotomy to have a multinodular solid tumor within the broad ligament, which was removed by total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Both ovaries were unremarkable. Three years after the operation, retroperitoneal tumor was detected, which was associated with clinical evidence of estrogen production. Histological examination of the primary and retroperitoneal tumors showed histological features that resembled those of granulosa cell tumors. Previously reported sex cord-stromal tumors arising in extraovarian sites were reviewed with respect to the histogenesis of these tumors.

Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1997

[A case of hemolytic uremic syndrome documented co-infection of vertoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 and other pathogens].

We reported a case of a 3-year-old girl with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which showed hemolytic anemia (Hemoglobin 8.2 g/dl, lactate dehydrogenase 1277 IU/l and total bilirubin 0.6 mg/dl), small purpura on the skin (platelet 7.3 x 10(4)/microliter) and slightly decreased output of urine (creatinine 0.4 mg/dl and blood urea nitrogen 27.2 mg/dl). Verotoxin producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157 was not isolated, but Salmonella agona and E. coli O125, which is one of the enteropathogenic E. coli, were detected from her stool culture. However, the IgM antibody against verotoxin producing E. coli (VTEC) O157 lipopolysaccharide was detected in both serum of the acute and convalescent phase by immunoblot assay. In addition verotoxin DNA was demonstrated in the stool by PCR method. Therefore, we think this HUS might be due to VTEC O157, which must have been co-infected with Salmonella agona and E. coli O125. There have been four cases including the present case of co-infection with VTEC O157 so far, and the other three cases were of the Salmonella species. Although the reason of co-infection was unknown, we may infer that food might be contaminated with some pathogens including Salmonella species or that these patients might be already infected with Salmonella species prior to VTEC infection. Even when some other pathogens were detected by a stool culture from a patient with HUS, we should pay attention to demonstrate associated of VTEC and HUS by the specific antibodies and PCR for verotoxin DNA.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1996

A case of male-limited precocious puberty caused by a point mutation in the second transmembrane domain of the luteinizing hormone choriogonadotropin receptor gene.

We describe a Japanese patient with male-limited precocious puberty who has a heterozygous thymine to cytosine (T to C) transition at nucleotide 1193; the mutation encodes a methionine to threonine substitution in residue 398 (M398T) of transmembrane helix 2 of the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor. Transfected into COS-7 cells, M398T exhibited constitutively high basal cAMP levels but retained an agonist-induced cAMP response. The constitutively higher cAMP levels caused by M398T are consistent with Leydig cell activation and precocious puberty in the patient. By comparison to wild type receptor, M398T transfectants have significantly lower agonist-induced inositol phosphate (IP) levels at > 10(-10) M hCG concentrations and a higher apparent affinity for binding hCG. These data suggest that the M398T substitution alters Gq coupling and phospholipase-C activation, as well as Gs, coupling and adenylyl cyclase activity, and changes the conformation of the extracellular domain of the receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Alteration of T cells and natural killer cells during chickenpox in infancy.

To determine the reasons for the low immune response and the mild morbidity of chickenpox in infancy, we investigated alteration of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells during chickenpox in children < 1 year and > or = 2 years old using flow cytometry. The CD4/CD8 ratio decreased only in the < 1-year-old group from the acute to the convalescent phase (P < 0.05). The CD3-CD16+CD56+ and CD57-CD16+ counts increased in the < 1-year-old group, but those in the > or = 2-year-old group did not increase from the acute to the convalescent phase. The CD3-CD16+CD56+ counts and the CD57-CD16+ counts and percentage were larger in the < 1-year-old group than those in the > or = 2-year-old group (P = 0.001, P = 0.002, and P < 0.05) in the convalescent phase. These results seem to indicate that the low immune response in infancy after chickenpox are related to the small number of CD8 in contrast with CD4 and that increased subsets of NK cells during chickenpox may correlate to the mild morbidity of chickenpox in infancy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

[Double infection of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children].

There have been fewer reports on Chlamydia pneumoniae infection during childhood than those in adults, although many of the C. pneumoniae infections occurred during childhood based on prevalence of the antibody. And there have been no reports concerning the double infection of C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae. We reported three cases of children with the double infection. We diagnosed this from significant alteration of these antibodies from the acute to convalescent phases. We omitted the cases without significant alteration of the antibodies, even diagnosed from isolation or detection of the antigens in the samples by direct fluorescent antibody. Case 1 was an 8-year-old-boy who was admitted to our hospital because of fever, cough with vomiting and erythema multiforme. The symptoms did not subside after administration of clindamycin but subsided after minocycline. Case 2 was an 1-year-old-boy who was admitted because of fever, cough, rhinorrhea and vomiting. C. pneumoniae organisms were isolated from the pharyngeal swab specimen, the symptoms subsided after administration of clindamycin. Case 3 was a 9-year-old boy who was admitted because of fever and a cough followed by erythema multiforme. The symptoms did not decrease after administration of clindamycin but after minocycline. The characteristic of these cases are a strong cough with vomiting, weak response of acute reactants on the laboratory data, and skin eruption similar with that due to M. mycoplasmae in two of the three cases. We suspect that these double infections may induce the eruption, about which there have been no previous reports.

Child↗
PubMed1996

[A case with petechiae due to human parvovirus B19].

We reported a case of 10-year-old girl with petechiae mainly on the truncus, although who had more than 10 x 10(4)/microliter of platelets. Smears of her bone marrow demonstrated extreme reduction of erythroblasts with giant proerythroblast like cells, which does not consist with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Human parvovirus B19 (B19) DNA was detected in her serum and throat swab using PCR and significant alterations of B19 specific IgM and IgG antibody titers were demonstrated. The petechiae subsided on the 8th day after her admission. She had not shown anemia less than Hb 10 g/dl, but her reticulocytes counts had increased up to 3.5% on the 11th day after her admission. Smears of her bone marrow on the 17th day became normal with moderate erythroblasts. It is demonstrated that the cellular receptor of this virus is an antigen of the blood group P recently. P antigen is presented not only on erythrocytes and on erythroblasts but also on megakaryocytes and endotherial cells. Therefore, it is suggested that direct injury by B19 to endothelial cells could cause petechiae in this case.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Seroepidemiology of five major zoonotic parasite infections in inhabitants of Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia.

We conducted a seroepidemiological survey of zoonotic parasite infection in inhabitants of East Java, Indonesia. The subjects of the survey were 244 persons selected from visitors to Sidoarjo City Hospital in East Java between May 1992 and October 1993. Ninety-seven had diarrhea and the rest came to the hospital for routine check-ups. All serum samples were tested for antibodies against five zoonotic parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytica, Toxocara canis. Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and Anisakis species. Tests used were enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), latex agglutination (LA) test, indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA) test, hemagglutination (HA) test, and gel diffusion precipitation (GDP) test. Some 64% of the subjects had antibodies to T. gondii. The prevalence of antibodies to E. histolytica varied from 2 to 15% depending on the test, but the true rate was probably the 7% or 8% obtained by the HA and IFA tests. The proportions of subjects with positive results were 63% for T. canis, 17% for A. cantonensis, and 11% for the Anisakis spp. The prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii and T. canis was lower in subjects aged 1 to 9 years than in older subjects, probably because the persons in this group had less time to be infected. Antibody titers to A. cantonensis and the Anisakis spp. were high in the juvenile group, perhaps because recent changes in eating habits have increased opportunities for infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Identification of the factors that interact with NCBP, an 80 kDa nuclear cap binding protein.

It has been shown that the monomethylated cap structure plays important roles in pre-mRNA splicing and nuclear export of RNA. As a candidate for the factor involved in these nuclear events we have previously purified an 80 kDa nuclear cap binding protein (NCBP) from a HeLa cell nuclear extract and isolated its full-length cDNA. In this report, in order to obtain a clue to the cellular functions of NCBP, we attempted to identify a factor(s) that interacts with NCBP. Using the yeast two-hybrid system we isolated three clones from a HeLa cell cDNA library. We designated the proteins encoded by these clones NIPs (NCBP interacting proteins). NIP1 and NIP2 have an RNP consensus-type RNA binding domain, whereas NIP3 contains a unique domain of Arg-Glu or Lys-Glu dipeptide repeats. We also show that NCBP requires NIP1 for binding to the cap structure. Possible roles of NIPs in cap-dependent nuclear processes are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗