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Biomedical subjects

N Kitamura

Publications and source records attributed to N Kitamura.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Successful control with bromide of two patients with malignant migrating partial seizures in infancy.

A 3-month-old male and a 4-month-old female infant with intractable seizures were diagnosed as having malignant migrating partial seizures in infancy (MMPSI) with developmental arrest on the basis of characteristics of symptoms, clinical courses and EEGs. We treated these two patients with potassium bromide (80 mg/kg) after conventional antiepileptic drugs failed to adequately control the seizures. The potassium bromide therapy resulted in complete control of seizures in one patient, and more than 95% reduction in seizure frequency in the other.

Bromides↗

Distribution of capsaicin-sensitive substance P- and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerves in bovine respiratory tract.

The distribution of nerve fibers immunoreactive for substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was examined by means of immunohistochemical methods in the respiratory tract from nose to lung of normal and capsaicin-treated cattle. SP- and CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers with varicosities were detected in all portions. They were more numerous in calves than in cows. They were abundant in the nasal and laryngeal mucosae and tracheal bronchus, and few in number in the lung. SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers were mainly seen in the epithelium, in connective tissue beneath the epithelium and around blood vessels, and in the glands throughout the respiratory tract. In contrast, SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers were sparse in the smooth muscle layer. Capsaicin treatment of neonates caused a remarkable reduction in the number of SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers in the respiratory tract of calves. Double immunofluorescence experiments showed the colocalization of SP and CGRP in most of the nerve fibers. The present findings suggest that SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers are involved in the regulation of the bovine respiratory tract, and that capsaicin-sensitive SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers are sensory neurons of the bovine respiratory tract.

Aging↗

Recurrent nerve nodal involvement is associated with cervical nodal metastasis in thoracic esophageal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Because three-field dissection for esophageal carcinoma is one of the most invasive operations, this procedure should be selected only when strictly indicated; but there are no useful criteria for it. The goal of this study was to identify the useful clinicopathologic factors for indicating three-field dissection. STUDY DESIGN: In this study, we reviewed the survival of patients after three-field dissection and identified factors associated with metastases in cervical nodes (CN), especially internal jugular nodes and supraclavicular nodes. Eighty-six patients who underwent curative esophagectomy with three-field dissection for squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus were enrolled in this study. Survival rates were compared with respect to the presence of nodal metastasis. The relationship between recurrent nerve nodal (RNN) involvement and CN metastasis (bilateral internal jugular nodes, supraclavicular nodes, or both) was examined. Clinicopathologic factors possibly influencing CN metastasis were studied by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 45.1%. The 5-year survival rate for patients without metastatic nodes was 67.5%, for patients with one to four metastatic nodes it was 53.1%, and for patients with five or more it was 9.1 %. The prognosis of those with five or more metastatic nodes was significantly poorer than those of the other two groups. In the positive-node group, the 5-year survival rate for patients with RNN metastasis was 21.7%, and for patients with negative RNN it was 47.0% (p = 0.2). In the positive-node group, the 5-year survival rate for patients with positive CN was 13.7% and for patients with negative CN it was 45.8% (p = 0.01). Fifty-six (88.9%) of 63 patients without RNN metastasis had no CN metastasis in contrast to 13 of 23 patients (56.5%) with RNN metastasis who had no CN metastasis (p = 0.001). The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity were 43.5%, 88.8%, 58.8%, and 81.2%, respectively. The number of metastatic nodes (5 or more versus 0-4) (odds ratio: 2.9, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.6-5.5, p = 0.0008) and RNN involvement (odds ratio: 4.5, 95% CI = 1.3-15.9, p = 0.02) were the significant factors associated with CN metastasis in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: RNN involvement is associated with CN metastasis as is the number of metastatic nodes and may be an indicator for the selection of three-field dissection in thoracic esophageal carcinoma.

Adult↗

High collagenolytic activity in spontaneously highly metastatic variants derived from a human pancreatic cancer cell line (SUIT-2) in nude mice.

Cell lines with high metastatic capacity to the lung were established by sequential passage of a human pancreatic cancer cell line (SUIT-2) through the lung of a nude mouse, via the lateral tail vein and from a subcutaneous inoculum. Cells of the parental SUIT-2 and sublines S2-VPx (x-cycle selection from SUIT-2 cells, by Vein-Pulmonary metastasis-culture) and S2-CPx (x-cycle selection, by Cutis-Pulmonary metastasis-culture) were injected intravenously or subcutaneously into nude mice to produce experimental or spontaneous lung metastasis. The S2-VP10 cell line produced pulmonary metastases in 100% of the nude mice, when injected intravenously. It failed, however, to produce more lung colonies than its parent cell line, when injected subcutaneously. The S2-CP8 cell line produced extensive pulmonary metastases in 100% of the nude mice, when injected either intravenously or subcutaneously. This study indicates that the nude mouse provided a good model for in vivo selection of metastatic cells from SUIT-2 cells both experimentally and spontaneously, and that the SUIT-2, S2-VPx, and S2-CPx cell lines will be valuable in the study of human cancer metastasis. We previously reported high levels of ezrin expression in the S2-VP10 and S2-CP8 cell lines. Here we show that these cell lines exhibit a greater capacity to invade or attach to various extracellular matrix components than the parent SUIT-2 cells. The S2-CP8 cell lines also exhibit greater level of type-I and type-IV collagen-degrading activity than the parent SUIT-2 cell line and the S2-VP10 cell line, which shows similar collagen-degrading activity to the parent SUIT-2 cells. In RT-PCR studies, SUIT-2, S2-CP8 and S2-VP10 cell lines constitutively expressed many matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP7, MMP-9, MMP-10 and MMP-14). These results suggest that some parameters that enhance adhesion and invasion are important to both experimental and spontaneous metastasis and the collagen degrading enzymes are predicted to play a key-role during spontaneous metastasis.

Animals↗

Abnormal expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor in the corticolimbic system of schizophrenic patients.

Previous neuropathological studies have revealed that the corticolimbic system of schizophrenic patients expresses abnormal levels of various synaptic molecules, which are known to be influenced by the neuronal differentiation factors, neurotrophins. Therefore, we determined levels of neurotrophins and their receptors in the postmortem brains of schizophrenic patients and control subjects in relation to molecular impairments in schizophrenia. Among the neurotrophins examined, levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were elevated specifically in the anterior cingulate cortex and hippocampus of schizophrenic patients, but levels of nerve growth factors and neurotrophin-3 showed no change in any of the regions examined. In parallel, the expressions of TrkB receptor and calbindin-D, which are both influenced by BDNF, were reduced significantly in the hippocampus or the prefrontal cortex. However, neuroleptic treatment did not appear to mimic the neurotrophic change. Neither withdrawal of drug treatment in patients nor chronic administration of haloperidol to rats altered levels of BDNF. These findings suggest that neurotrophic abnormality is associated with the corticolimbic structures of schizophrenic patients and might provide the molecular substrate for pathological manifestations of the illness.

Adult↗

Cultured human monocytes secrete fibronectin in response to activation by proinflammatory cytokines.

We studied the effects of the cytokines IL-1alpha, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on fibronectin (FN) production by cultured-human monocytes. IL-1alpha, IL-6 and TNF-alpha all increased FN production, an indicator of monocyte activation. These cytokines increased FN production in a dose-dependent fashion, with a 4-h treatment being sufficient to measure FN production by radioimmunoassay. Conversely, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 strongly inhibited cytokine-induced FN production, while TGF-beta only partially inhibited FN production. The combination of suboptimal doses of cytokines (IL-1alpha + IL-6, IL-1alpha + TNF-alpha, IL-6 + TNF-alpha), which could not singly induce substantial amounts of FN, were able to induce FN production by cultured monocytes. Northern blot analysis with a cDNA specific for FN confirmed the expression of FN mRNA in cultured monocytes stimulated with a single cytokine or a combination of cytokines. Our data demonstrate that monocytes may not always require high concentrations of cytokines for activation in vitro, and that the synergistic or additive action of low levels of cytokines on monocyte activation may be sufficient to promote immune or inflammatory reactions. Our data also suggest that certain T cell cytokines may regulate monocyte activation.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

A hrs binding protein having a Src homology 3 domain is involved in intracellular degradation of growth factors and their receptors.

BACKGROUND: Hrs (hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate) is an early endosomal protein that is rapidly tyrosine-phosphorylated in cells stimulated with growth factors. Hrs is thought to play a regulatory role in the endocytosis of growth factor/receptor complexes through early endosomes. In this study, we searched for Hrs-interacting molecules which may regulate the function of Hrs, using a yeast two-hybrid system. RESULTS: We isolated a cDNA clone encoding a novel Src homology 3 (SH3)-containing protein, and named it 'Hrs binding protein' (Hbp). Hbp was co-immunoprecipitated with Hrs, and its intracellular localization was similar to that of Hrs. The association between Hbp and Hrs was mediated through the coiled coil motifs in Hbp and Hrs. Deletion mutants of Hbp lacking either the SH3 domain or the Hrs binding domain showed dominantly negative effects on the intracellular degradation of a growth factor and its receptor, but not on the internalization of growth factor/receptor complexes. CONCLUSIONS: Hbp is thought to be closely associated with Hrs on early endosomes. Hbp, together with Hrs may play a regulatory role in the vesicular transport of growth factor/receptor complexes through early endosomes, for their degradation.

3T3 Cells↗

Genomic structure and chromosomal localization of the human hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 1 and 2 genes.

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 1 (HAI-1) and type 2 (HAI-2) are recently discovered Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors which can be purified and cloned from human stomach cancer cell line MKN45 as specific inhibitors against hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA). HAI-2 was identical with the protein originally reported as placental bikunin. Both proteins contain two Kunitz inhibitor domains (KDs), of which the first domain (KD1) is mainly responsible for the inhibitory activity against HGFA, and are expressed ubiquitously in various tissues. In this study, we cloned the genes coding for these two structurally similar proteins by screening of human genomic bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library and their genomic structures were compared. HAI-1 and -2 genes consist of 11 and 8 exons spanning 12 kbp and 12.5 kbp, respectively. Three exons were inserted between KD1 and KD2 of each gene, of which the middle one was the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-like domain (HAI-1) and the testis specific exon (HAI-2). Apparently homologous regions between HAI-1 and -2 were not found in 5'-flanking region and neither TATA nor CAAT box was present. The genes were mapped to chromosome 15q15 (HAI-1) and 19q13.11 (HAI-2). These results suggested that although HAI-1 and -2 genes might be derived from same ancestor gene, they acquired distinctive in vivo roles during their evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential localization of immunoreactive alpha- and beta-subunits of S-100 protein in feline testis.

This study investigates the differential localization of the alpha-subunit (S100-alpha) and the beta-subunit (S100-beta) of the S-100 protein in the feline testis, using immunohistochemistry with polyclonal antibodies to bovine S-100 protein (S-100) and monoclonal antibodies to bovine S100-alpha and S100-beta. Appreciable differences were observed in the cellular localization of the immunoreactivity of each subunit. S-100 was observed in the Sertoli cells, the epithelial cells of the transitional segment of the seminiferous tubules, Leydig cells and the peritubular cells of the seminiferous tubules, but was not observed in the epithelial cells of straight tubules and the rete testis or in the endothelial cells of blood and lymph vessels. S100-alpha immunoreactivity was localized in Sertoli cells, peritubular cells and the epithelial cells of the terminal segment of the tubules, whereas S100-beta immunoreactivity was localized in Leydig cells. The differential localization of the alpha- and beta-subunits of the S-100 protein in the feline testis suggests that this protein is multifunctional and be useful as an investigative tool in studying feline testis function.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical localization of neuropeptides in bovine pancreas.

The occurrence and density of distribution of nerves and endocrine cells that are immunoreactive for neuropeptides in the bovine pancreas were studied by immunohistochemistry. The six neuropeptides localized were galanin (GAL), substance P (SP), methionine-enkephalin (MENK), neuropeptide Y (NPY), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). The exocrine pancreas was shown to have an appreciable number of GAL- and SP-immunoreactive nerve fibres but few fibres showing immunoreactivity for VIP and CGRP. Numerous MENK-, GAL-, SP-, and NPY-immunoreactive nerve fibres were seen in the endocrine portion of the pancreas. Nerve cell bodies in the intrapancreatic ganglia showed immunoreactivity for all of the neuropeptides except CGRP. Endocrine cells showing immunoreactivity for GAL and SP were observed in the large islets and islets of Langerhans, respectively. The present results indicate a characteristic distribution of neuropeptides in the bovine pancreas, which may regulate both exocrine and endocrine secretions of pancreas.

Aging↗

Immunohistochemical study on the distribution of endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the babirusa, Babyrousa babyrussa (Suidae).

The distribution and relative frequency of endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the babirusa were studied immunohistochemically using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Thirteen types of gut endocrine cells were detected; they were immunoreactive for chromogranin, serotonin, somatostatin, gastrin, bovine pancreatic polypeptide (BPP), glucagon, secretin, cholecystokinin (CCK), methionine-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 (MENK8), motilin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY). Cells that were immunoreactive for chromogranin, serotonin, somatostatin and glucagon were found in all portions of the gastrointestinal tract. MENK8-immunoreactive cells were observed in the stomach and small intestine. Gastrin-immunoreactive cells were detected in the pyloric region and duodenum. PYY-immunoreactive cells were found in the small and large intestine. Cells immunoreactive for motilin, CCK, GIP, and secretin were observed in the proximal small intestine and those immunoreactive for neurotensin were found only in the ileum. Although the distribution pattern of endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of babirusa was similar to those reported for pig, restricted distribution of several endocrine cells, gastrin, BPP, MENK8, motilin, CCK, GIP, secretin and neurotensin and wider distribution of glucagon and PYY were observed in the babirusa. The unexpected presence of MENK8 in all glandular regions of the stomach and PYY in the small intestine was also noted. The distribution of gut endocrine cells might be related to the regulatory characteristics of the babirusa digestive tract.

Animals↗

Galanin-like immunoreactive endocrine cells in bovine pancreas.

Pancreata of fetal, neonatal and adult cattle were studied immunohistochemically for galanin. The results revealed galanin-like immunoreactivity both in the endocrine cells and in the neural elements. The galanin-like immunoreactive endocrine cells (Gal-LIEC) were confined to the large islets, and were not observed in the islets of Langerhans and exocrine pancreas. They were first detected at the third prenatal month. Their developmental profile showed an increase from fetal to early neonatal stage with a subsequent decrease towards adulthood. The considerable number of Gal-LIEC from late prepartum to early postpartum stage may imply functional significance of galanin during the perinatal development of cattle. Coexistence of galanin and insulin was also observed which may suggest autocrine interaction between the 2 hormones.

Animals↗

Prognostic value of mitotic metaphase rate in oesophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic value of the mitotic metaphase rate in patients with oesophageal cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Japan. SUBJECTS: 41 patients with oesophageal cancer. INTERVENTIONS: We calculated the ratio of mitotic metaphase to anaphase cells among tumour cells in sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin, a ratio that shows the status of mitotic metaphase-anaphase transition. The DNA ploidy pattern was examined by flow cytometry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Correlation between survival and mitotic metaphase rate. RESULTS: A high mitotic metaphase rate was correlated with vascular invasion and is expected to be a useful prognostic factor. DNA diploidy combined with a low rate was an independent favorable prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: Mitotic metaphase rate is a useful index of malignant potential, independent of DNA ploidy. It can distinguish high malignant potential from low in a diploid tumour, which has a poor prognosis that is equal to that of the aneuploidy tumour.

Aged↗

Improvement of portal flow and hepatic microcirculatory tissue flow with N-acetylcysteine in dogs with obstructive jaundice produced by bile duct ligation.

OBJECTIVE: To find out if N-acetylcysteine (NAC) would improve hepatic circulation in dogs with obstructive jaundice. DESIGN: Open laboratory study. SETTING: University hospitals, Japan and France. MATERIALS: 14 male beagle dogs and 10 male Wistar rats. INTERVENTIONS: Obstructive jaundice was produced by ligation of the common bile duct (CBD) for 7 days in both dogs and rats. Either 5% dextrose (control group, n = 7) or NAC (NAC group, n = 7) was given to dogs. Sinusoidal endothelial cells were obtained from rats after ligation by elutriation, and varying amounts of NAC were given. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The volumes of portal blood flow and hepatic microcirculatory tissue flow were reduced after ligation of the CBD, but those increased after NAC had been given to dogs with obstructive jaundice. NAC increased the concentrations of plasma cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). It also increased concentrations of serum and hepatic-reduced glutathione, and hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cholestatic dogs, and secretion of cGMP from sinusoidal endothelial cells from rats with obstructive jaundice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that NAC given intravenously effectively improves hepatic circulation and hepatic function in dogs with obstructive jaundice.

Acetylcysteine↗

Activated protein C reduces the ischemia/reperfusion-induced spinal cord injury in rats by inhibiting neutrophil activation.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether activated protein C (APC) reduces spinal cord injury in rats by inhibiting neutrophil activation after the transient ischemia. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Ischemic spinal cord injury is an important pathologic mechanism leading to the paraplegia observed after surgery to repair aortic aneurysms. Activated neutrophils play a pivotal role in the development of ischemia/reperfusion-induced tissue injury. Recently, the authors have reported that APC, a physiologic anticoagulant, prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary vascular injury by inhibiting neutrophil activation. These observations strongly suggest that APC reduces ischemia/reperfusion-induced spinal cord injury by inhibiting neutrophil activation. METHODS: In rats, spinal cord ischemia was induced by using a balloon catheter placed into the aorta. After the transient ischemia, survival and motor function were evaluated, and histologic examination of the spinal cord was performed by using both hematoxylin-and-eosin staining and 2,3,5, -triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining 24 hours after the ischemia. Tissue levels of myeloperoxidase and cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and rat interleukin-8, were measured in six experimental groups: sham-operated, control, APC (100 microg/kg, intravenous), dansyl glutamyl-glycyl-arginyl chloromethyl ketone-treated activated factor X (DEGR-F.Xa), a selective inhibitor of thrombin generation (1 mg/kg, intravenous), nitrogen mustard-induced leukocytopenia, and diisopropyl fluorophosphate-treated APC (DIP-APC), active site-blocked APC (100 microg/kg, intravenous). APC, DEGR-F.Xa, and DIP-APC were administered intravenously 30 minutes before aortic occlusion. Control and leukocytopenic rats received saline instead of other drugs. RESULTS: Pretreatment with APC significantly reduced motor disturbances compared with those in control animals. In contrast, neither DEGR-F.Xa nor DIP-APC had any effect. Microinfarctions, evidenced by the absence of TTC staining and histologic change, were markedly reduced in animals given APC. The increases in the tissue levels of TNF-alpha, rat interleukin-8, and myeloperoxidase in the ischemic part of the spinal cord were significantly reduced in animals that received APC. These levels were not reduced in rats given DEGR-F.Xa or DIP-APC. Leukocytopenia produced effects similar to those of APC. CONCLUSIONS: APC reduced the ischemia/reperfusion-induced spinal cord injury by inhibiting neutrophil activation. The therapeutic mechanisms of APC might depend on its inhibitory effect on the production of TNF-alpha, which is a potent activator of neutrophils. Although the anticoagulant effects of APC might not be related to its ability to inhibit TNF-alpha production, its serine protease activity appears to be essential in the therapeutic mechanism. APC appears to have potential as a therapeutic agent for prevention of spinal cord injury in patients undergoing aortic aneurysm repair.

Animals↗

Nicotinamide increases biosynthesis of ceramides as well as other stratum corneum lipids to improve the epidermal permeability barrier.

BACKGROUND: Stratum corneum lipids, particularly ceramides, are important components of the epidermal permeability barrier that are decreased in atopic dermatitis and aged skin. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of nicotinamide, one of the B vitamins, on biosynthesis of sphingolipids, including ceramides and other stratum corneum lipids, in cultured normal human keratinocytes, and on the epidermal permeability barrier in vivo. METHODS: The rate of sphingolipid biosynthesis was measured by the incorporation of [14C]-serine into sphingolipids. RESULTS: When the cells were incubated with 1-30 micromol L-1 nicotinamide for 6 days, the rate of ceramide biosynthesis was increased dose-dependently by 4.1-5. 5-fold on the sixth day compared with control. Nicotinamide also increased the synthesis of glucosylceramide (7.4-fold) and sphingomyelin (3.1-fold) in the same concentration range effective for ceramide synthesis. Furthermore, the activity of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), the rate-limiting enzyme in sphingolipid synthesis, was increased in nicotinamide-treated cells. Nicotinamide increased the levels of human LCB1 and LCB2 mRNA, both of which encode subunits of SPT. This suggested that the increase in SPT activity was due to an increase in SPT mRNA. Nicotinamide increased not only ceramide synthesis but also free fatty acid (2.3-fold) and cholesterol synthesis (1.5-fold). Topical application of nicotinamide increased ceramide and free fatty acid levels in the stratum corneum, and decreased transepidermal water loss in dry skin. CONCLUSIONS: Nicotinamide improved the permeability barrier by stimulating de novo synthesis of ceramides, with upregulation of SPT and other intercellular lipids.

Acyltransferases↗

Endosomal localization and receptor dynamics determine tyrosine phosphorylation of hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate.

Hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (Hrs) is a prominent substrate for activated tyrosine kinase receptors that has been proposed to play a role in endosomal membrane trafficking. The protein contains a FYVE domain, which specifically binds to the lipid phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-phosphate (PI 3-P). We show that this interaction is required both for correct localization of the protein to endosomes that only partially coincides with early endosomal autoantigen 1 and for efficient tyrosine phosphorylation of the protein in response to epidermal growth factor stimulation. Treatment with wortmannin reveals that Hrs phosphorylation also requires PI 3-kinase activity, which is necessary to generate the PI 3-P required for localization. We have used both hypertonic media and expression of a dominant-negative form of dynamin (K44A) to inhibit endocytosis; under which conditions, receptor stimulation fails to elicit phosphorylation of Hrs. Our results provide a clear example of the coupling of a signal transduction pathway to endocytosis, from which we propose that activated receptor (or associated factor) must be delivered to the appropriate endocytic compartment in order for Hrs phosphorylation to occur.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Upregulation of HGF activator inhibitor type 1 but not type 2 along with regeneration of intestinal mucosa.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) activator inhibitor type 1 (HAI-1) and type 2 (HAI-2) are new Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors that were recently purified and cloned from the human stomach cancer cell line MKN45 as specific inhibitors against HGF activator. Both proteins contain two Kunitz inhibitor domains and are expressed abundantly throughout the gastrointestinal tract, in addition to the placenta, pancreas, and kidney. In this study, to assess the possible roles of HAI-1 and HAI-2 in the intestinal mucosa, we examined the expression of HAI-1 and HAI-2 during regeneration of the intestinal mucosa. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that HAI-1 but not HAI-2 was detected more strongly in regenerative epithelium than in normal epithelium, although both proteins were detected throughout the human gastrointestinal tract. During the course of acetic acid-induced experimental colitis in an in vivo mouse model, HAI-1 but not HAI-2 was upregulated in the recovery phase, suggesting that HAI-1 but not HAI-2 is associated with the regeneration of damaged colonic mucosa. Upregulation of HAI-1 may serve to downregulate the proliferative response after initial activation of MET receptor by HGF/scatter factor after an injury.

Acetic Acid↗