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Biomedical subjects

N Satoh

Publications and source records attributed to N Satoh.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Structural organization and chromosomal assignment of the human obese gene.

The obese (ob) gene has been identified through a positional cloning approach; the mutation of this gene causes marked hereditary obesity and diabetes mellitus in mice. We report here the isolation and characterization of the human ob gene. Southern blot analysis demonstrated a single copy of the ob gene in the human genome. The human ob gene spanned approximately 20 kilobases (kb) and contained three exons separated by two introns. The first intron, approximately 10.6 kb in size, occurred in the 5'-untranslated region, 29 base pair (bp) upstream of the ATG start codon. The second intron of 2.3 kb in size was located at glutamine +49. By rapid amplification of 5'-cDNA ends, the transcription initiation sites were mapped 54-57 bp upstream of the ATG start codon. The 172-bp 5'-flanking region of the human ob gene contained a TATA box-like sequence and several cis-acting regulatory elements (three copies of GC boxes, an AP-2-binding site, and a CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-binding site). By the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique, the ob gene was assigned to human chromosome 7q31.3. This study should establish the genetic basis for ob gene research in humans, thereby leading to the better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the ob gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tokaracetin, a new platelet antagonist that binds to platelet glycoprotein ib and inhibits von Willebrand factor-dependent shear-induced platelet aggregation.

A new platelet antagonist, tokaracetin, was isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus tokarensis by ion-exchange chromatography, heparin-Sepharose chromatography and hydrophobic HPLC. The purified protein showed an apparent molecular mass on SDS/PAGE of 28.9 kDa under non-reducing conditions. On reduction, 16.1 and 15.4 kDa subunits were observed, suggesting that the molecule is a heterodimer. Tokaracetin inhibited the binding of 125I-labelled bovine von Willebrand factor (vWF) and 125I-labelled human vWF in the presence of botrocetin to fixed human platelets. It did not block ADP-, collagen- or thrombin receptor agonist peptide-induced platelet aggregation in human platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or induce platelet agglutination in PRP. On reduction, tokaracetin lost its inhibitory activity on the agglutination of fixed human platelets by bovine vWF. 125I-Tokaracetin specifically bound to washed human platelets with high affinity (Kd 3.9 +/- 1.4 nM) at 47,440 +/- 2780 binding sites per platelet. Binding of tokaracetin to fixed human platelets was reversible, and was inhibited by monoclonal antibody GUR83-35, which is directed against the N-terminal vWF-binding domain of human glycoprotein Ib (GPIb). Tokaracetin completely inhibited vWF-dependent shear-induced platelet aggregation in PRP at 3 micrograms/ml. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of tokaracetin subunits showed a high degree of identity with those of alboaggregin-B. These results suggest that this new platelet antagonist may be a useful tool in the development of specific inhibitors of the vWF-GPIb interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antithrombotic effect of a humanized anti-GPIIb/IIIa monoclonal antibody, YM207, in a photochemically induced thrombosis model in monkeys.

We investigated the antithrombotic effects of a F(ab')2 fragment of a humanized anti-platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa monoclonal antibody, YM207, in a platelet-rich thrombosis model. Thrombus was induced in a mesenteric venule of squirrel monkeys by irradiation with filtered light in combination with i.v. administration of a fluorescent dye (sodium fluorescein). Time to occlusive thrombus formation was significantly prolonged by i.v. bolus injection of 0.3 mg/kg of YM207. At doses of 1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg, complete occlusion did not occur during 60 min of the observation. Platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma was inhibited by YM207 at doses 0.3 mg/kg or more. A good correlation was obtained between inhibition of platelet aggregation and the percentage of GPIIb/IIIa receptors blocked by YM207. Bleeding time was significantly prolonged at a dose of 3 mg/kg. Platelet counts showed no significant change. These results suggest that YM207 is effective in preventing platelet-rich thrombus formation without inducing the prolongation of bleeding time or a significant decrease in platelet count. YM207 may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of thrombotic disorders.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Flavocetin-A and -B, two high molecular mass glycoprotein Ib binding proteins with high affinity purified from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom, inhibit platelet aggregation at high shear stress.

Two high molecular mass proteins, flavocetin-A and flavocetin-B, were purified from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, the apparent molecular mass of flavocetin-A and -B were 149 and 139 kDa, respectively, under nonreducing conditions. On reduction, flavocetin-A showed two distinct subunits (17 and 14 kDa), and flavocetin-B three distinct subunits (17, 15 and 14 kDa). At 1 microgram/ml, flavocetin-A and -B (flavocetins) inhibited the von Willebrand factor (vWF)-dependent aggregation of fixed human platelets. However, flavocetins (10 micrograms/ml) had no effect on ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in PRP. Flavocetins (3 micrograms/ml) also inhibited shear-induced platelet aggregation at high shear stress. Furthermore, flavocetin-A completely inhibited the aggregation of and ATP release from washed platelets stimulated with a low concentration of thrombin. Flavocetin-A specifically bound to platelet with high affinity (Kd = 0.35 +/- 0.13 nM) at 21,500 +/- 1760 binding sites per platelet. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the subunits of flavocetin-A show a high degree of homology with those of echicetin, botrocetin, alboaggregin-B and factor IX/factor X-binding protein. These results suggest that flavocetins may be a useful tool for further investigation of the GPIb-vWF interaction.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Electrophysiologic alterations in the rabbit nodal cells induced by membrane lipid peroxidation.

To investigate cellular electrophysiologic alterations due to lipid peroxidation of the cell membrane by free radicals as a possible cause of coronary reperfusion arrhythmias, we studied the effects of t-butyl hydroperoxide on the spontaneous action potential and membrane currents of the rabbit sinoatrial and atrioventricular node preparations (0.2 x 0.2 x 0.1 mm). 1-5 min of superfusion with t-butyl hydroperoxide (100-500 microM) caused a transient increase in the spontaneous firing frequency by 9%, accompanied by a 4% increase in the action potential amplitude and a 33% increase in the maximal rate of depolarization (P < 0.05, n = 6). t-Butyl hydroperoxide then gradually suppressed physiological automaticity, but induced abnormal repetitive firing due to early and delayed after-depolarizations. 15 min of superfusion with t-butyl hydroperoxide caused a complete standstill of nodal cells at a resting potential of -46 +/- 3 mV (n = 12). Such effects of t-butyl hydroperoxide on the spontaneous action potential were attenuated by pretreating the cells with butylated hydroxytoluene, a lipid peroxidation inhibitor. Voltage clamp experiments using double microelectrode methods revealed that t-butyl hydroperoxide transiently increased the Ca2+ current by 22% after 5 min of superfusion but subsequently reduced it to 46% of the control value after 15 min (P < 0.05, n = 6). Similar biphasic changes were observed in the delayed rectifying K+ current and hyperpolarization-activated inward current (n = 6). Background current was progressively increased without any change in its reversal potential (n = 6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗

Coexpression and promoter function in two muscle actin gene complexes of different structural organization in the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi.

During embryogenesis of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi, 42 unicellular striated muscle cells are formed in the tail of the tadpole larva. Isolation of cDNA clones demonstrated that multiple genes for larval muscle actin are expressed in this process. Among them, at least five muscle actin genes (HrMA2, HrMA4a, HrMA4b, HrMA5, and HrMA6) form a cluster (HrMA2/4 cluster) within about 30 kb of the genome. The 5' flanking sequences of the five actin genes resemble each other. When constructs in which 184 bp of the 5' flanking region of each of these genes fused with lacZ were introduced into fertilized eggs, the reporter gene was expressed in muscle cells of the tailbud embryo, suggesting that the 5' flanking region of each cluster gene has promoter activity. In addition, a pair of muscle actin genes, HrMA1a and HrMA1b (HrMA1 pair), was isolated from a genomic region different from that of the HrMA2/4 cluster. The HrMA1a and HrMA1b are linked in a head-to-head arrangement on opposite strands and share a 340-bp 5' flanking sequence containing two symmetrically located TATA boxes. HrMA1a showed basically the same expression pattern as that of HrMA4a. When constructs in which the shared upstream region of HrMA1 pair fused with lacZ in either direction were microinjected into eggs, the reporter gene was expressed in muscle cells of the larval tail, suggesting a bidirectional promoter that regulates muscle-specific transcription of the HrMA1 pair. The tandem cluster of HrMA2/4 genes and the bidirectional promoter of the HrMA1 pair could expedite utilization of muscle-specific trans-acting factors. The organization of genes in the genome may play an important role in the synthesis of a large amount of actins during the process of rapid differentiation.

Actins↗

Chasing tails in ascidians: developmental insights into the origin and evolution of chordates.

The ascidian tadpole larva is regarded as a prototype of the ancestral chordate. Here we consider recent studies on the development of the tadpole larva that provide new insights into chordate origins and evolution. The notochord of ascidian larvae and vertebrates appear to be homologous structures based on their induction by endoderm and expression of the Brachyury (T) gene. The muscle cells of ascidian larvae also appear homologous to those of vertebrates based on their expression of bHLH myogenic and muscle-type actin genes, although they are specified by cytoplasmic determinants localized in the egg as well as embryonic induction. Studies of the tailless larvae of anural ascidians have resulted in the identification of Manx, a gene that may control tail development and evolution. These and other results support the ascidian tadpole prototype for the ancestral chordate.

Actins↗

The effects of multiple administrations of sevoflurane to cynomolgus monkeys: clinical pathologic, hematologic, and pathologic study.

The effect of multiple administrations of sevoflurane was evaluated by several measures of toxicity. Cynomolgus monkeys assigned to a control group and three treatment groups were anesthetized with sevoflurane at 1.0, 1.6, and 2.0 times the minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) for 3 h/day, 3 days/wk for 8 wk. Reductions in total erythrocyte and leukocyte counts and increases in serum enzymes were the only changes noted. The increases in the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatinine kinase (CK), occurred at Week 1 at all three concentrations of sevoflurane. These increases were dose-related, and returned to baseline by Week 2 for 1.0 MAC. All serum enzyme concentrations had returned to baseline by the end of the study. There were no gross pathologic, histopathologic, or ultrastructural differences found in any of the four groups of monkeys. At 2.0 MAC, three deaths occurred. The multiple administrations of 1.0 and 1.6 MAC sevoflurane anesthesia were well tolerated by the monkeys. The techniques of this study did not detect adverse effects from the above enzyme changes.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Molecular cloning of rat obese cDNA and augmented gene expression in genetically obese Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats.

The obese (ob) gene has recently been isolated through a positional cloning approach, the mutation of which causes a marked hereditary obesity and diabetes mellitus in mice. In the present study, we isolated rat ob cDNA and examined the tissue distribution of the ob gene expression in rats. We also studied the gene expression in genetically obese Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats. The rat ob gene product, a 167 amino acid protein with a putative signal sequence, was 96 and 83% homologous to the mouse and human ob proteins, respectively. Northern blot analysis using the rat ob cDNA probe identified a single mRNA species of 4.5 kb in size in the adipose tissue, while no significant amount of ob mRNA was present in other tissues in rats. The ob gene was expressed in the adipose tissue with region specificities. The rank order of the ob mRNA level in the adipose tissue was epididymal, retroperitoneal, and pericardial white adipose tissue > mesenteric and subcutaneous white adipose tissue > or = interscapular brown adipose tissue. The ob gene expression occurred in mature adipocytes rather than in stromalvascular cells isolated from the rat adipose tissue. Expression of the ob gene was markedly augmented in all the adipose tissue examined in Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats at the stage of established obesity. The present study leads to the better understanding of the physiologic and pathophysiologic roles of the ob gene.

Adipose Tissue↗

A sea urchin homologue of the chordate Brachyury (T) gene is expressed in the secondary mesenchyme founder cells.

Chordates are thought to have emerged from some common ancestor of deuterostomes by organizing shared anatomical and embryological features including a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord and pharyngeal gill slits. Because the notochord is the most prominent feature of chordates and because the Brachyury (T) gene is essential for notochord formation, the T gene is a key molecular probe with which to explore the origin and evolution of chordates. We investigated whether the sea urchin (echinoderm) conserves the T gene and, if so, where the sea urchin T gene is expressed. A cDNA clone for the sea urchin T (HpTa) gene contained a long open reading frame that encodes a polypeptide of 434 amino acids. Although the overall degree of amino acid identity was not very high (52%, sea urchin/mouse), in the T domain of the N terminus the amino acid identity was 73% (sea urchin/mouse). The HpTa gene is present as a single copy per haploid genome. As with the chordate T gene, the expression of HpTa is transient, being first detected in the swimming blastula, maximally transcribed in the gastrula, decreasing at the prism larval stage and barely detectable at the pluteus larval stage. HpTa transcripts were found in the secondary mesenchyme founder cells, vegetal plate of the mesenchyme blastula, extending tip of the invaginating archenteron and, finally, the secondary mesenchyme cells at the late-gastrula stage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutational analysis of the putative substrate-binding site of 3C proteinase of coxsackievirus B3.

Single amino acid substitutions were introduced into the putative substrate-binding site of 3C proteinase (3Cpro) of coxsackievirus B3, a member of the picornavirus family. Mutations at either Thr142, His161, Gly164, Gly169, or Ala172 severely impaired or abolished the proteolytic activity except that a conservative Thr142 to Ser mutant had detectable activity. These results, which have shown the participation of the 5 residues in 3Cpro activity, are consistent with the earlier predictions that these residues might be involved in substrate binding.

Alanine↗

Kidney disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) of children--morphometric analysis of kidneys from autopsy cases.

We have investigated the histopathological changes of kidney from 16 autopsy cases of children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using morphometric and immunohistochemical methods. These 16 cases accounted for 61% of the child autopsy cases with SLE registered in the data base "Annual of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan" during the nine years from 1984 to 1992. Based on the histologic and morphometric findings, we divided the SLE-associated renal disease into three types: glomerular (3 cases), vascular (3 cases) and non-renal (10 cases) types. The glomerular and vascular types had renal lesions, while in the non-renal the main changes were found in extrarenal tissues. Of the 16 cases examined, three showed diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, with one of the three having crescentic formations in the glomeruli. Two of the three had wire-loop lesions. Recently the crescentic or wire-loop lesions are rarely experienced even in renal biopsy and autopsy of adult cases. The vascular type was characterized by necrotizing angiitis (1 case) and severe intimal thickening of interlobular arteries (2 cases), but they had no advanced glomerular lesion. Morphometric methods allowed us to demonstrate that the severity of arterial lesions, especially intimal thickening, does not correlate with that of glomerular lesions in children.

Adolescent↗

Studies on the phenotypic and functional characterization of peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with early-onset periodontitis.

Juvenile and rapidly progressive periodontitis are grouped under the heading of patients with early-onset periodontitis (EOP). Many studies have investigated host risk factors in the etiology of EOP patients but these remain inconclusive. This study was undertaken to assess the possibility that an abnormality in the systemic lymphocyte subpopulation or function is involved in the etiology of EOP patients. Fourteen (14) patients with juvenile periodontitis (JP), 18 with rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP), 22 with adult periodontitis (AP), and 33 with a healthy periodontium (HP) participated in this study. Lymphocyte subsets were determined by using panels of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and fluorescent flow cytometry. T cell blastogenesis was evaluated by [3H]-thymidine uptake. Pokeweed mitogen induced immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM synthesis were detected by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There were wide distributions of values in all examinations among subjects. No significant difference could be found between the periodontitis patients and HP groups with the exception of a high CD4/CD8 ratio in all patient groups (P < 0.0001) and the depressed percentages of CD3 positive cells noted in the AP patient group (P < 0.0001). These results suggest that the majority of EOP patients do not show significantly different lymphocyte profiles from AP patients and HP subjects, and that lymphocyte cell dysfunctions are not always seen, even in EOP patients.

Adolescent↗

Clinical and laboratory studies on a patient with early onset periodontitis and her family members. A case report.

Extensive clinical, microbiological, hematological, and immunological studies were performed on a patient with early onset periodontitis (EOP) and two other members of the family. The proband, a 27-year-old female, had early onset periodontitis and a high level of serum rheumatoid factors (RF) with no diagnosable medical disease. Her mother had lost all her teeth at the age of 50 because of advanced periodontitis, while her elder sister was unaffected by periodontitis. Neither the proband's periodontally-affected mother nor her unaffected sister exhibited a detectable level of RF. In this study, we examined: 1) serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titers against putative periodontal pathogenic bacteria; 2) peripheral neutrophil functions; 3) phenotypic analyses of peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations; and 4) peripheral lymphocyte functions (T cell proliferative activity, ability of cytokine [interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, IL-6 and IL-8] and IgG and IgM productivity). High antibody titers to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Campylobacter rectus were detected in the sera of the proband, as were high serum antibody titers to P. gingivalis in the mother and to C. rectus in the unaffected sister compared to the non-periodontitis affected subjects. The proband also showed enhanced neutrophil chemotaxis; a high percentage of pan-B cells; and high productivity of IL-6, IgG, and IgM compared to individuals who were not periodontally affected. The mother showed slightly low helper/induced T cells (Th/i) suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (Ts/c) ratios due to the elevated count of Ts/c, and high IFN-gamma productivity compared to control subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Human obese gene expression. Adipocyte-specific expression and regional differences in the adipose tissue.

The obese (ob) gene, the mutation of which results in severe hereditary obesity and diabetes in mice, has recently been isolated through positional cloning. In this study, we isolated a full-length human ob complementary DNA (cDNA) clone and examined the tissue distribution of ob gene expression in humans. The nucleotide sequences of the human ob cDNA coding region were 83% identical to those of the mouse and rat ob cDNA coding regions. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences revealed that the human ob protein is a 166-amino acid polypeptide with a putative signal sequence and is 84 and 83% homologous to the mouse and rat ob proteins, respectively. Northern blot analysis using the cloned human ob cDNA fragment as a probe identified a single messenger RNA (mRNA) species 4.5 kb in size found abundantly in the adipose tissues obtained from the subcutaneous, omental, retroperitoneal, perilymphatic, and mesenteric fat pads. However, no significant amount of ob mRNA was present in the brain, heart, lung, liver, stomach, pancreas, spleen, small intestine, kidney, prostate, testis, colon, or skeletal muscle. The ob mRNA level in the adipose tissue varied from region to region even in the same individual. Furthermore, in the human adipose tissue, ob gene expression occurred in mature adipocytes rather than in stromal-vascular cells. This study is the first report of the elucidation of ob gene expression in human tissues, thereby leading to better understanding of the physiological and clinical implications of the ob gene.

Adipocytes↗

[Dysarthria due to small cerebral infarction--the localization of lesion and clinical characteristics].

We compared locations of infarctions and clinical characteristics for patients with dysarthria and those without dysarthria. Subjects were 40 patients with a small infarction in the corona radiata or junctional zone to the capsule and 13 patients with infarctions in the internal capsule. Left corona radiata/junctional zone infarctions were significantly smaller than right sided lesions. Dysarthria was associated more frequently with the corona/junctional lesions on the left side than the right sided lesions. Asymptomatic infarctions on the contralateral side were seen in 41% of the patients with dysarthria. In these cases, dysarthria continued longer and dysphagia occurred more frequently than the cases without right sided lesions. Corona radiata/junctional zone infarctions with dysarthria were located significantly more anteriorly than those without dysarthria. The corona radiata/junctional zone infarctions presenting with dysarthria alone, upper limb dominant hemiparesis, and lower dominant hemiparesis were located in the anterior, middle, and posterior areas, respectively. In conclusion, dysarthria may occur with unilateral small cerebral infarctions, more frequently with left sided lesions than with right sided lesions. It is assumed that the left corona radiata/junctional zone infarction may interrupt simultaneously the corticobulbar pathway and callosal fibers to the right hemisphere which transmit motor information for speech to the right hemisphere. It is also possible that there are individual variations in the proportion of crossed and uncrossed corticobulbar innervation, which may explain dysarthria with unilateral cerebral lesions in some patients. It was suggested that there is an anterior-posterior somatotopy in the corona radiata/junctional zone as well as in the internal capsule.

Cerebral Infarction↗

[A case of so-called carcinosarcoma of the esophagus].

So-called carcinosarcoma of the esophagus is rare malignant tumors composed of carcinoma and sarcomataous components. We described a case of so-called carcinosarcoma and reviewed some literature. A 67-year-old man visited our hospital because of difficulty in swallowing, general fatigue, and sore throat. Barium swallow esophagogram showed a large polypoid lesion in the middle, lower thoracic esophagus. Endoscopy also demonstrated a pedunculated polypoid tumor. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed malignant findings. Thoracic esophagectomy with cervical, thoracic, abdominal dissection was performed. A polypoid tumor, 10.5 x 5.2 x 3.5 cm in size, was removed. In the polypoid lesion, spindle-shaped cells made interlacing bundles similar to sarcoma and surrounded nests of squamous cell carcinoma. Near the pedicle, squamous cell carcinoma invaded muscularis mocosae. And lymph node metastasis was detected. Epitherial membrane antigen (EMA) was detected in some parts of the polypoid lesion. So according to Guide Lines for Clinical and Pathological Studies on Carcinoma of the Esophagus, this case was diagnosed as so called carcinosarcoma.

Aged↗