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Biomedical subjects

N Murayama

Publications and source records attributed to N Murayama.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Suppression in the expression of a male-specific cytochrome P450, P450-male: difference in the effect of chemical inducers on P450-male mRNA and protein in rat livers.

Hypophysectomy of male adult rats caused a 70% decrease in the hepatic level of mRNA hybridized to two specific oligonucleotide probes for the sequence of coding and 3'-noncoding regions of P450(M-1) (H. Yoshioka et al., (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 1706-1711), which corresponds to P450-male. Treatment of hypophysectomized male and female rats with subcutaneous injection of human growth hormone twice a day for 7 days increased the mRNA to a level similar to that of normal male rats. In contrast, the mRNA was decreased by treatment with continuous infusion. These results correlated well with those on the amounts of P450-male protein, indicating that growth hormone regulates the hepatic level of P450-male protein mainly by acting at the pretranslational step. Treatment of adult male rats with phenobarbital (PB), dexamethasone (Dex), or 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) decreased the content of P450-male protein by 68, 36, and 46%, respectively. The content of P450-male protein was also decreased to 65% in Dex-treated hypophysectomized male rats, but was not changed by treatment of hypophysectomized male rats with PB or MC, suggesting that PB and MC decrease P450-male protein through a pituitary growth hormone-mediated process. However, the level of mRNA hybridizable to the P450-male oligonucleotide probe was not decreased, but rather it increased in PB- or Dex-treated hypophysectomized male rats. A similar inconsistent change in protein and mRNA was also observed in PB-treated normal rats. These results indicate that PB and Dex have an additional effect of increasing the hepatic level of the specific mRNA of P450-male/(M-1) or a closely related form. Noncoordinate changes in the level of P450-male protein and mRNA also suggest that the hepatic level of P450-male protein is regulated by plural mechanisms: pretranslational and translational regulation in which pituitary growth hormone and/or other endocrine factors are involved.

Animals↗

Thyroid hormone suppression of hepatic levels of phenobarbital-inducible P-450b and P-450e and other neonatal P-450s in hypophysectomized rats.

Mechanism of developmental suppression of cytochrome P-450 (P-450) in rat livers was studied using Western blots. The contents of phenobarbital (PB)-inducible P-450b and P-450e, expressed constitutively in livers, were higher in neonate than in adult rats. The contents were also 10 approximately 50 fold higher in hypophysectomized than in intact adult male rats. Administration of L-triiodothyronine (T3, 50 micrograms/kg) or human growth hormone (4 U/kg) reversed almost completely the increased amounts of P-450b and P-450e. T3-induced suppression was also observed on two other neonatal P-450s (P-450 6 beta-1 and P-448-H), which are expressed in neonatal periods in livers. The postnatal developmental profiles of hepatic P-450b were correlated inversely with that of serum free T3 level in rats reported (Walker et al. (1980) Pediat. Res. 14, 249). These results suggest, in addition to pituitary growth hormone (Yamazoe et al. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 7423), the possible involvement of T3 on the suppressive regulation of PB-inducible and other neonatal P-450s.

Animals↗

Cytochrome P450 in livers of diabetic rats: regulation by growth hormone and insulin.

The effects of pituitary and pancreatic hormones on the change in hepatic cytochrome P450s were studied in alloxan- or streptozotocin-induced male rats. In two major sex-specific forms, P450-male and P450(6 beta-1), the former was decreased in chronic (5 week) diabetes to only less than one-third of controls and the latter was also reduced in early (1 week) diabetes. In contrast, a main phenobarbital-inducible form, P450b, was enhanced 25- to 30-fold in these diabetic rats. 3-Methylcholanthrene-inducible P448H was also elevated 3-fold in alloxan-induced diabetes. These changes in hepatic contents of P450-male, P450-6 beta-1, and P450b, which are under the regulation of pituitary growth hormone, associated well with the reported results of time-dependent changes in growth hormone levels in diabetes (G.S. Tannenbaum (1981) Endocrinology 108, 76-82), suggesting that the change in growth hormone level is a factor responsible for alterations in hepatic cytochrome P450s. Normalizing effects of insulin on these forms were also studied. Treatment of diabetic rats with insulin reversed the decreased amounts of both P450-male protein and mRNA. Insulin also normalized hepatic contents of P450b, P4506 beta-1, and P448H. However, the treatment of hypophysectomized rats with insulin had no effect, and treatment of diabetic rats with growth hormone or a suppressing agent of somatostatin, cysteamine, showed trivial effects on P450-male and P450b. These results suggest that insulin does not act directly as a substitute of growth hormone, but exerts its effect indirectly through the normalization of a growth hormone-mediated process(es) in diabetic rats.

Alloxan↗

Disturbances of micturition in patients with a spinal arteriovenous malformation.

Neuro-urological studies were performed on 9 patients with a spinal arteriovenous malformation (S-AVM). The micturitional history revealed that all 9 patients had voiding symptoms, obstructive in 9 and irritative in 3 patients. All patients still had obstructive symptoms after treatment of S-AVM. Six of the 9 patients had a large volume of residual urine before treatment; 5 showed urinary retention. Four of the 5 patients (80%) for whom urodynamic studies were performed before treatment had micturitional dysfunction; 2 patients had detrusor hyperreflexia, 1 with detrusor external urethral sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) and 1 with a normal sphincter, 1 patient had an autonomous bladder with DSD and 1 patient had an atonic bladder with DSD. Only 1 patient had a normal bladder and sphincter. Findings of the urodynamic studies after treatment in 9 patients showed detrusor hyperreflexia in 3 patients (2 with DSD and 1 with normal sphincter), autonomous bladder in 1 patient with DSD, atonic bladder in 4 patients (2 with DSD, 1 with incompetent sphincter and 1 with normal sphincter) and normal bladder with normal sphincter in 1 patient. Lower urinary function after treatment of S-AVM was improved in 2 patients, unchanged in 4 patients and worsened in 3 patients. The above results showed 80% of S-AVM had a severe neuropathic bladder manifested mainly by disturbance of micturition. Treatment of S-AVM does not necessarily improve the lower urinary tract function.

Adult↗

Role of growth hormone in modulating the constitutive and phenobarbital-induced levels of two P-450(6)beta (testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase) mRNAs in rat livers.

The role of growth hormone in the expression of two forms of hepatic cytochrome P-450(P-450), P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3), and P-450(6)beta-4, was investigated using RNA blots. The level of P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) mRNA was twenty times higher than that of P-450(6) beta-4 mRNAs in untreated male rat livers. The levels of P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs were increased two fold and three fold, respectively, by hypophysectomy of adult male rats. By intermittent injection of human growth hormone (hGH) into hypophysectomized male rats, both mRNAs were decreased to the level of normal rats, and almost disappeared after continuous infusion of hGH. In female rats, these two mRNAs were not detected, but were increased remarkably by hypophysectomy. The increases in these mRNAs were almost abolished after continuous infusion of hGH in hypophysectomized female rats. The effect of hGH on PB-mediated induction of P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs was also examined. The PB-mediated increases in P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs were higher in hypophysectomized male rats (2.5-fold and 10.9-fold, respectively) than in normal male rats (1.5-fold and 5.2-fold, respectively). Thus, the levels of P-450(6)beta-1(6-beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs were 4.1-fold and 7.3-fold, respectively, higher in PB-induced hypophysectomized rats than in normal male rats. Concerning the postnatal developmental profiles, P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) mRNA was detectable at neonate and reached a maximal level at around 17 days of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗

A simple and rapid method for HLA-DQA1 genotyping by digestion of PCR-amplified DNA with allele specific restriction endonucleases.

The second exon of the HLA-DQA1 genes was selectively amplified from genomic DNAs of 72 HLA-homozygous B cell lines by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplified DNAs were digested with HaeIII, Ddel, ScrFI, FokI and RsaI, which recognize allelic sequence variations in the polymorphic segments of the DQA1 second exon, and then subjected to electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. Eight different polymorphic patterns of restriction fragments were obtained, and seven were identical to patterns predicted from the known DNA sequences, correlating with each HLA-DQw type defined by serological typing. The remaining one pattern cannot be explained from the sequence data, suggesting the presence of a novel DQA1 allele at the nucleotide level. This PCR-RFLP method provides a simple and rapid technique for accurate definition of the HLA-DQ types at the nucleotide level, eliminating the need for radioisotope as well as allele specific oligonucleotide probes and can be extended and applied to HLA-DR, -Dw DP typing.

Alleles↗

Enhancement of heparin-binding ability of fibronectin by S-carboxamide-methylation.

Human plasma fibronectin (FN) was reduced and carboxamidemethylated, and its binding ability to several matrices was analyzed in vitro. The binding of S-carboxamidemethyl (Cam)-FN to heparin-Sepharose was not influenced by either 4 M urea, 0.5 M NaCl or 0.5% heparin, but was disrupted by the coexistence of urea and NaCl or heparin. S-Cam-FN, compared with intact FN, obviously had a more potent ability to bind heparin, while it had little or no binding ability to gelatin, fibrin and thrombin-stimulated platelets. A conformational change of S-Cam-FN by heparin-binding has been proposed as a possible mechanism from the result of circular dichroic spectrum measurement.

Binding Sites↗

[Health care of workers engaged in waste water treatment. 1) The exposure conditions to organic solvents in workers engaged in waste water treatment].

In the investigation of the exposure conditions to organic solvents of workers in 35 waste water treatment facilities, it was found that these workers treated various kinds of solvents. Almost all of the facilities treated chloroform, acetone, n-hexane, methanol and carbon tetrachloride. The average exposure concentration of the workers was, however, low. Exposure concentration to organic solvents (chloroform, xylene and carbon tetrachloride) was evaluated in one of the facilities. The average concentration of the respective solvents in the workers did not exceed the threshold limit value of Japan, but the concentration calculated on the basis of combined exposure exceeded the threshold limit value. On the other hand, high concentrations of organic solvents were detected in the room where the solvents were introduced but not in the working rooms, indicating that the workers engaged in waste water treatment were mainly exposed to organic solvents in the former room where they sorted and mixed the solvents and placed them in the incinerator. In conclusion, improvement in working conditions and health care for workers engaged in waste water treatment facilities should be made in order to prevent workers from becoming intoxicated by organic solvents.

Acetone↗

[Randomized controlled study on adjuvant immunochemotherapy with PSK in curatively resected colorectal cancer. The Cooperative Study Group of Surgical Adjuvant Immunochemotherapy for Cancer of Colon and Rectum].

To evaluate of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with PSK in curatively resected colorectal cancer, randomized controlled study by 35 institutions in Kanagawa prefecture was conducted. From March 1985 till February 1987, 462 patients were assigned one of two different regimens. 448 patients (97.0%) of them satisfied the eligibility criteria. Control group received mitomycin C intravenously on the day and the day after the operations respectively followed by 5-FU orally over for 6 months. PSK group received in addition to mitomycin C and 5-FU as in control group, PSK orally for over 3 years. By February 1989, follow up studies of the patients after their operations had been carried out for two years to four years. The disease free curve and the survival curve of PSK group were higher than those of control group, differences between the two groups were statistically significant (Disease free curve: P = 0.0096, survival curve: p = 0.0391). From these results, adjuvant immunochemotherapy with PSK was considered beneficial for curatively resected colorectal cancer.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Suppression of hepatic levels of an ethanol-inducible P-450DM/j by growth hormone: relationship between the increased level of P-450DM/j and depletion of growth hormone in diabetes.

The mechanism of the suppression of an ethanol-inducible cytochrome P-450 (P-450DM/j) by pituitary hormone has been studied in rats. The hepatic content of P-450DM/j protein quantitated by Western blots was low but was 2-fold higher in male than female untreated rats (75 and 34 pmol/mg of protein, respectively). The content was increased 2.6-fold (male) and 5.6-fold (female) by hypophysectomy and the sex-related difference was abolished. Treatment of hypophysectomized rats with human growth hormone (hGH), but not with prolactin, reversed the increased amounts of P-450DM/j protein. The hGH-induced suppression was more effective with the continuous infusion than intermittent injection. The hepatic level of P-450DM/j mRNA, determined by the use of a 23-mer oligonucleotide probe, was also changed by hypophysectomy and/or hGH-treatment, largely in parallel with the changes in the content of P-450DM/j protein and microsomal p-nitrophenol and aniline hydroxylations. These results suggest that growth hormone exerts the suppressive effect on P-450DM/j through a somatogenic receptor-mediated process. In another growth hormone-depleted condition, diabetes, the hepatic level of P-450DM/j mRNA was also increased to a level similar to that in hypophysectomized rats, but the protein content was 2- to 3-fold higher in diabetic than hypophysectomized rats. These results indicate, in addition to the reduction of serum growth hormone level, the presence of another stimulatory factor, which acts translationally or posttranslationally in livers of diabetic rats. On the other hand, coordinate changes in the level of P-450DM/j protein and the mRNA in hypophysectomized rats indicate that growth hormone acts rather directly and suppresses the level of P-450DM/j mainly at a pretranslational step in rat livers.

Animals↗

Expression of a human P-450IIC gene in yeast cells using galactose-inducible expression system.

A cDNA of a human liver cytochrome P-450, corresponding to P-450 human-2, was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells by the use of a galactose-inducible expression vector containing the GAL7 promoter and terminator. In Western blots using anti-P-450 human-2 IgG, a single band, which exhibited mobility identical to that of authentic P-450 human-2 purified from human liver, was detected in microsomes of the yeast cells. The amount synthesized in yeast was estimated to be approximately 1% of the total cell protein, and approximately 25% of the cytochrome existed in the holoenzyme state. Microsomes from the P-450 human-2-producing yeast showed a catalytic activity towards benzo(a)pyrene, and the activity was significantly enhanced by the addition of purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. The yeast microsomes also catalyzed (S)-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation but not the demethylation. The present results indicate that the yeast cells containing P-450 human-2 cDNA synthesize a functionally active form of the enzyme, the chemical and catalytic properties of which are identical to those of the human liver preparation.

Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗

Regulation of hepatic cortisol sulfotransferase in rats by pituitary growth hormone.

Cytosolic sulfating activities of 4-pregnen-11 beta, 17 alpha, 21-triol-3,20-dione (cortisol) to the 21-sulfate were 4 to 5 times higher in livers of female than male adult rats. The activity was decreased by administration of testosterone propionate (TP) to ovariectomized, but not to intact, female rats. In male rats, the rate of cortisol sulfation was elevated by neonatal castration and was restored in part by the administration of TP to the castrated rats. In addition, the sulfating activity in adult male rats was increased by the treatment with estradiol benzoate. Hypophysectomy almost completely decreased cytosolic cortisol-sulfating activity in male rats. The activity in hypophysectomized male rats was not increased by the treatment with hydrocortisone, TP, estradiol benzoate, or somatomedin C but was restored by the intermittent injection of human growth hormone (hGH). Further, the continuous infusion of hGH, to mimic the female secretory pattern, increased more efficiently the rate of cortisol sulfation. Hypophysectomy of female rats also decreased, but not completely, the sulfating activity. Treatment of female hypophysectomized rats intermittently with hGH had no appreciable effect, but the continuous infusion increased the activity effectively. The involvement of pituitary growth hormone in the hepatic cortisol sulfation was also supported by the experiment using neonatally glutamate-treated rats and by the observation of developmental changes in the cortisol-sulfating activity. These results indicate that pituitary growth hormone is one of the major factors regulating hepatic levels of cortisol sulfation in rats and that the higher activity in the female than the male is due mainly to the difference in the secretory pattern of growth hormone in the adult animals.

Age Factors↗

Alteration of hepatic drug metabolizing activities and contents of cytochrome P-450 isozymes by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment.

By the treatment of newborn male rats with monosodium glutamate (MSG), microsomal benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation, propoxycoumarin O-depropylation, and testosterone (T) 6 beta- and 2 beta-hydroxylations in the adult rats were decreased significantly, while microsomal aniline and T 7 alpha-hydroxylations were increased. However, the treatment of newborn female rats did not significantly alter any of the drug-metabolizing activities examined, except that T 6 beta-hydroxylation and androstenedione formation were slightly increased. The hepatic contents of male-specific cyt. P-450, P-450-male and P-4506 beta, which show high catalytic activities on respective T 16 alpha/2 alpha-, and T 6 beta/2 beta-hydroxylations, decreased in MSG-treated male rats. The level of the female specific enzyme, P-450-female, slightly decreased in the MSG-treated female rats, whereas higher phenobarbital (PB)-induction of PB-inducible isozymes, P-450b and P-450e, was observed in MSG-treated than in control female rats. These results are consistent with the idea that disruption of a pulsatile secretion of growth hormone, which is induced by the neonatal MSG treatment, leads to changes in drug metabolizing activities through the alteration of the levels of sex-specific cyt. P-450s, but also indicate that MSG-treated rats are not an animal model equivalent to hypophysectomized rats.

Animals↗

Interaction among different sensory units within a single fungiform papilla in the frog tongue.

The possible interaction among different sensory units in the frog tongue was studied using several single papillae dually innervated by the medial and lateral branches of the glossopharyngeal (IXth) nerve. The afferent activity in one branch exposed to NaCl stimulation of the papilla revealed marked inhibition after antidromic electrical stimulation (100 Hz, 30 s, and 3 V) of the other branch. The degree of inhibition depended on the number of sensory responses observed in the electrically stimulated branch as well as the nature of the stimulated sensory units. Statistical analysis suggested that antidromic activation of gustatory units conducting the responses to NaCl and quinine and slowly adapting mechanosensitive units produced a large antidromic inhibition amounting to 19-25%, but that of gustatory units conducting the responses to acetic acid and rapidly adapting mechanosensitive units gave rise to only a slight inhibition. To examine the differential effects of these sensory units in antidromic inhibition, antidromic impulses were evoked by chemical stimulation of the adjacent papilla neuronally connected with the dually innervated papilla under study. Antidromic volleys of impulses elicited by NaCl or quinine stimulation produced a large inhibition of the afferent activity in the other branch, as induced by NaCl stimulation of the dually innervated papilla. Plausible mechanisms of synaptic interaction in peripheral gustatory systems are considered.

Acetates↗

Cloning and expression of aminopeptidase P gene from Escherichia coli HB101 and characterization of expressed enzyme.

The aminopeptidase P gene in Escherichia coli HB101 was cloned into the plasmid pBR322. Introduction of the hybrid plasmid, pAPP01, into the E. coli DH1 resulted in an 8-fold increase of aminopeptidase P activity as compared with that of the host. The enzyme was purified by series of chromatographies on DEAE-Sephadex, QAE-Sephadex, and hydroxyapatite. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as judged by disc-gel and SDS-gel electrophoreses. the enzyme was inhibited strongly by EDTA and slightly by p-chloromercuribenzoate, but was not affected by diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate, E-64, or iodoacetic acid. The optimum pH of the enzyme was 8.5. The enzyme was stable at pH 8 to 9. After incubation for 30 min at pH 8.0, 50% remaining activity was observed at 50 degrees C. The enzyme was activated 3-fold by the addition of 5 microM Mn2+. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 50,000 and 200,000 by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration, respectively. The amino terminal amino acid was identified to be serine by Edman degradation, indicating that the enzyme is composed of a homo-tetramer. The enzyme hydrolyzed X-Pro bonds (X = amino acid) of peptides. These characteristics suggest that cloned aminopeptidase P is identical to APP-II reported by Yoshimoto et al. (Agric. Biol. Chem. 52(8), in press (1988].

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A sex-specific form of cytochrome P-450 catalyzing propoxycoumarin O-depropylation and its identity with testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase in untreated rat livers: reconstitution of the activity with microsomal lipids.

Characteristics of a typical male-dominant reaction, dealkylation of n-propoxycoumarin, in rat livers were studied in relation to microsomal testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase. The depropylation was more than 10-fold higher in the liver of male than female adult rats, but the sex-related difference was eliminated by neonatal castration. Hypophysectomy of adult male rats, which decreased the rates of male-specific P-450-male-dependent reactions, increased the depropylation of propoxycoumarin, while the rate was decreased by either intermittent injection or continuous infusion of human growth hormone to hypophysectomized rats. With regard to age-related difference, microsomal depropylation was detectable at neonate and reached a maximal level at 14 to 20 d of age, but was abruptly diminished only in female rats at puberty. These changes are in good agreement with those of testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation and the content of a male-specific P-450(6)beta-1/PB-1. In reconstituted systems using extracted microsomal lipids, P-450(6)beta-1/PB-1 and P-450-male catalyzed the depropylation of propoxycoumarin. However, the microsomal depropylation was inhibited by antibodies which recognize P-450(6)beta-1/PB-1, but not P-450-male. These results indicate that microsomal depropylation of propoxycoumarin is catalyzed mainly by a male-specific P-450(6)beta-1/PB-1 in livers of untreated rats.

7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase↗