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Biomedical subjects

N Suzuki

Publications and source records attributed to N Suzuki.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

Detection of serum factors enhancing cell mutability from lung cancer patients by application of hypermutable human RS cells.

A search for serum factors that modulate the mutability of human cells has been attempted in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients. Factors were separated by dye-ligand chromatography and first identified as those exhibiting the ability to enhance the frequency of drug-resistance mutations in human RSa cells. The frequency was assessed by estimation of the cloning efficiency of mutant cells resistant to ouabain-mediated cell killing (OuaR) after irradiation with far-ultraviolet light (UV, mainly 254-nm wavelength). Pre-culture of cells with medium containing the factors prior to UV irradiation led to about a 19- to 37-fold increase in the OuaR mutation frequency compared with that of cells irradiated but not treated with the factors. The enhancing activity was detected in the serum of all 7 lung cancer patients, although the serum itself, which had not been treated with chromatography, had little or no enhancing activity in all patients. No enhancing activity was detected in serum preparations from healthy donors. The enhancing activity of lung cancer serum factors on UV-induced mutagenicity was next confirmed by detecting an enhancement of K-ras codon 12 base substitution mutations in human RSb cells, as analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and differential dot-blot hybridization. Our results, together with previous findings on suppression of mutagen-induced mutagenicity by human interferons, suggest the existence of extracellular factors that modulate the mutability of human cells.

Adult↗

A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin induces radioresistant DNA synthesis and sensitizes cells to bleomycin and ionizing radiation.

ATM and DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) have been shown to have sequences homologous to the catalytic domains of mammalian phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase). In order to determine the contribution of ATM and DNA-PKcs to the increased sensitivity of cells to DNA-damaging agents observed in the presence of PI3-kinase inhibitors, we examined the effects of a PI3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, on cellular sensitivity to bleomycin (BLM), mitomycin C (MMC), X-irradiation and ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation using 2 human tumor cell lines (T98G and A172), a human fibroblast cell line (LM217), an ataxia telangiectasia (AT) cell line (AT3BISV), a scid murine cell line (SCF) and a control murine cell line (CBF). Wortmannin sensitized all of the cells, including AT3BISV and SCF, to BLM and X-irradiation, but not to MMC or UV-irradiation. Hypersensitivity to BLM and X-irradiation and normal sensitivity to MMC and UV-irradiation are characteristic phenotypes of both AT and scid mice. DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity was suppressed by wortmannin to 45-65% of the control values in all of the cells except SCF, in which DNA-PK activity was not detected. Wortmannin also induced radioresistant DNA synthesis, which is a cellular phenotype of AT, in T98G and SCF cells, but did not change the DNA synthesis rates after X-irradiation in AT3BISV. Our data suggest that wortmannin decreases the activities of both the ATM protein and DNA-PK, indicating that it might be of use as a sensitizing agent for radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Androstadienes↗

Ablation of cerebellar Golgi cells disrupts synaptic integration involving GABA inhibition and NMDA receptor activation in motor coordination.

The role of inhibitory Golgi cells in cerebellar function was investigated by selectively ablating Golgi cells expressing human interleukin-2 receptor alpha subunit in transgenic mice, using the immunotoxin-mediated cell targeting technique. Golgi cell disruption caused severe acute motor disorders. These mice showed gradual recovery but retained a continuing inability to perform compound movements. Optical and electrical recordings combined with immunocytological analysis indicated that elimination of Golgi cells not only reduces GABA-mediated inhibition but also attenuates functional NMDA receptors in granule cells. These results demonstrate that synaptic integration involving both GABA inhibition and NMDA receptor activation is essential for compound motor coordination. Furthermore, this integration can adapt after Golgi cell elimination so as not to evoke overexcitation by the reduction of NMDA receptors.

Animals↗

Geometrical analysis of hip and knee joint mobility in cerebral palsied children.

The present investigation attempted to define a geometrical hexagon model for representing the sagittal range of motion (ROM) of hip and knee joint. The effect of both monoarticular and biarticular muscles on joint mobility in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) were analyzed by this geometrical method. Photographic analysis was used to measure hip and knee joint angle at six different boundary positions. The ROM in normal children indicated age dependent reduction of maximal hip flexion and shortening of hamstring and rectus femoris muscles. A number of SCP children showed greater reduction of both hip flexion and extension and shortening of hamstring and rectus femoris muscles, whereas the ROM of knee joint was similar to that in normal children. The deteriorated hip joint mobility seems to be associated with shortening of muscle due to their intrinsic spasticity. The impaired ROM was more noticeable in SCP non-ambulator child than in independent ambulator. Thus, more extended range and frequent opportunity of joint motion may play an important role in improving the joint mobility in this patient group. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

Journal Article↗

Translesional synthesis on DNA templates containing an estrogen quinone-derived adduct: N2-(2-hydroxyestron-6-yl)-2'-deoxyguanosine and N6-(2-hydroxyestron-6-yl)-2'-deoxyadenosine.

Miscoding properties induced by estrogen quinone-derived DNA adducts were analyzed using an in vitro experimental system to quantify base substitutions and deletions. Site-specifically modified oligodeoxynucleotides containing a single N2-(2-hydroxyestron-6-yl)-2'-deoxyguanosine (2-OHE1-N2-dG) or N6-(2-hydroxyestron-6-yl)-2'-deoxyadenosine (2-OHE1-N6-dA) were prepared postsynthetically and used as templates in primer extension reactions catalyzed by mammalian DNA polymerases (pol) alpha, beta, and delta. The 2-OHE1-N2-dG adduct blocked primer extension reactions more strongly than 2-OHE1-N6-dA. Using pol alpha and delta, 2-OHE1-N2-dG promoted incorporation of dCMP (6.3 and 3.1%, respectively), the correct base, opposite the lesion: when pol delta was used, misincorporation of dTMP (0.52%) was detected. 2-OHE1-N6-dA also promoted incorporation of dTMP, the correct base, opposite the lesion, accompanied by misincorporation of dCTP (0.54% for pol alpha and 3.2% for pol delta) and one-base deletion (0.3-0.5%). Using pol beta, no miscoding was detected. The miscoding occurred only when replicative DNA polymerases were used. Kinetic data were consistent with those obtained from the analysis of fully extended products formed by pol alpha or pol beta. These results indicate that endogenous estrogen quinone-derived DNA adducts have miscoding potential: G --> A and A --> G transitions and deletions are predicted in mammalian cells.

Animals↗

Mutagenic specificity of (acetylamino)fluorene-derived DNA adducts in mammalian cells.

Site-specifically modified oligodeoxynucleotides were used to explore the mutagenic potential of dG-AAF and dG-AF adducts in mammalian cells. The miscoding properties of these arylamine adducts were established by analyzing fully extended products of primer extension reactions catalyzed by mammalian DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and delta. On DNA templates containing dG-AAF, pol alpha generated two-base deletions and promoted incorporation of small amounts of dCMP, dAMP, and dTMP opposite the lesion. Reactions with pol beta were associated exclusively with two-base deletions. Primer extension catalyzed by pol delta was strongly blocked by the adduct. On DNA templates containing dG-AF, all three DNA polymerases generated full-length products, preferentially incorporating dCMP opposite the lesion. A single-stranded shuttle vector containing 5'TCCTCCTCXCCTCTC (X = dG-AAF, dG-AF, or dG) was used to establish the frequency and specificity of dG-AAF- and dG-AF-induced mutations in simian kidney (COS-7) cells. Vectors containing a single dG-AAF or dG-AF adduct promote significant incorporation of dAMP and lesser amounts of dTMP opposite the lesion. dG-AAF also promoted some incorporation of dGMP and a two-base deletion. dG-AAF was 3.8 times more mutagenic than dG-AF (11% vs 2.9%) in COS cells. We conclude from this study that dG-AAF and dG-AF produce G --> T transversions and, to a much lesser degree, G --> A transitions in mammalian cells.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Farnesyltransferase inhibitors induce dramatic morphological changes of KNRK cells that are blocked by microtubule interfering agents.

Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) exhibit the remarkable ability to inhibit transformed phenotypes of a variety of human cancer cell lines and to block the growth of cancer cells in a number of animal model systems. In this paper, we report that the addition of FTI to v-K-ras- transformed NRK cells (KNRK) results in dramatic morphological changes. Within 24 h after the addition of FTI, the round morphology of KNRK cells was changed to an elongated (flattened and spread out) morphology resembling those of untransformed NRK cells. No morphological effects were seen when similar concentrations of FTI were added to NRK cells. Phalloidin staining showed that FTI treatment did not restore the disrupted actin cytoskeleton in KNRK cells. In contrast, FTI addition resulted in the appearance of extensive microtubule networks in KNRK cells. The addition of a low concentration (1.2 nM) of vincristine or vinblastine, agents that interfere with microtubule dynamics, blocked the FTI-induced morphological changes in KNRK cells. In contrast, cytochalasin B, which interferes with actin polymerization, did not block the morphological changes. The FTI-induced morphological changes were associated with a decrease in the percentage of cells in S-phase, and the addition of 1.2 nM vincristine did not have additional effects on cell cycle progression. A higher concentration (12 nM) of vincristine caused synergistic effect with FTI to enrich dramatically KNRK cells in G2/M phase. These results suggest that FTI affects cell morphology and that microtubule dynamics are involved in these processes.

Actins↗

Search for genes involved in UV-resistance in human cells by mRNA differential display: increased transcriptional expression of nucleophosmin and T-plastin genes in association with the resistance.

UVr-10 UV-resistant cells were established from UV-sensitive human RSb cells. We searched here for genes expressed differentially between UVr-10 and RSb cells using a differential display method to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the UV-resistance. Thirteen candidate cDNA fragments were obtained from 514 mRNA species first screened. Among the cDNA fragments, 3 revealed increased mRNA expression in UVr-10 cells compared with RSb cells by Northern analysis. Nucleotide sequence analysis identified 2 of the 3 cDNA fragments as encoding nucleophosmin (NPM) and T-plastin. The expression of NPM mRNA was induced after UV irradiation in UVr-10 cells but not in RSb cells, whereas irradiation did not affect the expression of T-plastin mRNA. UVr-10 cells transfected with antisense cDNA for NPM mRNA were partially sensitized to UV cell-killing. Thus, NPM and possibly T-plastin genes may contribute to the increased resistance to UV cell-killing, at least in the human cells tested.

Base Sequence↗

Protease activation following UV irradiation is linked to hypomutability in human cells selected for resistance to combination of UV and antipain.

In order to examine the relationship between activation of an antipain-sensitive protease and suppression of mutability in UV (UVC)-irradiated human cells, a human cell variant with the high protease activity induced by UV was established and characterized for its susceptibility to UV-induced mutagenicity. Cells of a hypermutable cell strain, RSa, were mutagenized with ethyl methanesulfonate and irradiated with 10 J/m2 UV, followed by exposure to 20 mM antipain for 34 h. Whereas the combined treatment was totally lethal to RSa cells not treated with ethyl methanesulfonate, one surviving clone was isolated from the mutagenized cells and designated UVAP-1. When fibrinolytic protease activity was measured from extracts of the cell, it was found that the protease activity was elevated promptly after UV irradiation, reaching the maximum at 10 min post-irradiation. This protease activity was inhibited by antipain. After UV irradiation the phenotypic mutation frequencies of UVAP-1 cells were much lower than those of the parent RSa cells, as evaluated by the generation of clones resistant to ouabain-killing. Furthermore, mutation at the K-ras codon 12 in genomic DNA was detected in RSa cells but not in UVAP-1 cells. Thus, the protease activation was correlated with the decreased levels of UV-mutagenicity in UVAP-1 cells, supporting the possible involvement of the antipain-sensitive protease activity in the regulation of cellular mutability following UV irradiation.

Antipain↗

Mutagenic specificity of model estrogen-DNA adducts in mammalian cells.

Site-specifically modified oligodeoxynucleotides were used to explore the mutagenic properties of the model estrogen-DNA adducts N2-[3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-6(alpha, beta)-yl]-2'-deoxyguanosine (dG-N2-3MeE) and N6-[3-methoxyestra-1,3, 5(10)-trien-6(alpha,beta)-yl]-2'-deoxyadenosine (dA-N6-3MeE) in simian kidney (COS-7) cells. Oligodeoxynucleotides (5'TCCTCCTCXCCTCTC; X = dG, dA, dG-N2-3MeE, or dA-N6-3MeE) containing an unmodified or model estrogen lesion were inserted into single-stranded (ss) phagemid vectors. These ss vectors were transfected into COS-7 cells. The progeny plasmid obtained were used to transform Escherichia coli DH10B. The transformants were analyzed by oligodeoxynucleotide hybridization and sequencing to determine the mutation frequency and spectrum. Preferential incorporation of dCMP, the correct base, was observed opposite the dG-N2-3MeE lesion. Targeted mutations showing G --> T transversions were detected, along with a small number of G --> C transversions. When a dA-N6-3MeE-modified oligodeoxynucleotide was used, preferential incorporation of dTMP, the correct base, was also observed. Targeted mutations representing A --> T transversions were detected, accompanied by a small amount of A --> G transitions. The frequency of mutation observed opposite dA-N6-3MeE (17.5%) was 2.3 times higher than that observed opposite dG-N2-3MeE (7.5%). These results indicate that estrogen DNA adducts have mutagenic potential in mammalian cells.

Animals↗

Bulbectomy of neonatal mice induces migration of basal cells from the olfactory epithelium.

Bulbectomy of neonatal mice induced cell migration from the olfactory epithelium in the nasal septum. We examined cell types of migrating clusters by immunohistochemistry using anti-keratin and anti-BrdU antibodies, and by electron microscopy. At 1-2 days after unilateral bulbectomy of P1 mice, cells migrated from the olfactory epithelium to the lamina propria of the septal olfactory mucosa. Horizontal basal cells that reacted specifically with anti-keratin antibody, and globose basal cells characterized by a round shape and poor content of organellae in their cytoplasm, were contained in the cluster. At 1 week, migrated clusters that contained keratin-positive horizontal basal cells were observed in both the lamina propria and olfactory bulb on the unoperated side. At 1 month, not only basal cells but also olfactory cells and presumed supporting cells were involved in the clusters in the lamina propria and olfactory bulb, suggesting that migrated cells do not transform to other phenotypes.

Animals↗

Physical map of the human chromosome 8p12-p21 encompassing tumor suppressor and Werner's syndrome gene loci.

Detailed physical maps of the human genome are important resources for identification and isolation of genes responsible for diseases and for the study of their structure and function. We constructed a 2.0-Mb high-resolution physical map within the human chromosome 8p12-p21 region extending from marker D8S131 to D8S283. The map comprises a series of contigs mostly P1/PAC clones, which span the loci of potential tumor suppressor genes and the Werner's syndrome gene. Each P1/PAC DNA was defined by its size, restriction sites, terminal sequences, intermarker distances and location relative to major genes and markers. The genes on these P1/PAC DNAs were analyzed by an exon amplification method to determine their locations. The genes newly found by the exon amplification method together with other known genes, including those of glutathion reductase, a general transcription factor, protein phosphatase 2A beta subunit and Werner's syndrome, were precisely mapped within the contigs. These P1/PAC DNAs are useful reagents for the generation of new microsatellite markers to narrow the candidate region of the tumor suppressor gene(s) and/or genes responsible for other diseases, which are believed to exist in this region by linkage analysis.

Animals↗

A cytoplasmic protein, bystin, interacts with trophinin, tastin, and cytokeratin and may be involved in trophinin-mediated cell adhesion between trophoblast and endometrial epithelial cells.

Trophinin and tastin form a cell adhesion molecule complex that potentially mediates an initial attachment of the blastocyst to uterine epithelial cells at the time of implantation. Trophinin and tastin, however, do not directly bind to each other, suggesting the presence of an intermediary protein. The present study identifies a cytoplasmic protein, named bystin, that directly binds trophinin and tastin. Bystin consists of 306 amino acid residues and is predicted to contain tyrosine, serine, and threonine residues in contexts conforming to motifs for phosphorylation by protein kinases. Database searches revealed a 53% identity of the predicted peptide sequence with the Drosophila bys (mrr) gene. Direct protein-protein interactions of trophinin, tastin, and bystin analyzed by yeast two-hybrid assays and by in vitro protein binding assays indicated that binding between bystin and trophinin and between bystin and tastin is enhanced when cytokeratin 8 and 18 are present as the third molecule. Immunocytochemistry of bystin showed that bystin colocalizes with trophinin, tastin, and cytokeratins in a human trophoblastic teratocarcinoma cell, HT-H. It is therefore possible that these molecules form a complex and thus are involved in the process of embryo implantation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes for the treatment of patients with EBV-positive relapsed Hodgkin's disease.

Adoptive transfer of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) is effective prophylaxis and treatment of EBV-positive immunoblastic lymphoma in immunocompromised patients. In 50% of patients with Hodgkin's disease, the tumor cells are EBV antigen-positive and may therefore also be suitable targets for treatment with virus-specific CTLs. However, Hodgkin's disease may produce several inhibitory effects on immune induction and effector function in vivo, which may preclude the generation or effector function of CTLs reactive against EBV viral proteins, including those expressed by the tumor cells. We have investigated whether EBV-specific CTLs could be generated ex vivo from 13 patients with Hodgkin's disease: nine with active relapsed disease and four who were in clinical remission after a first or subsequent relapse. CTL lines were successfully generated from nine of 13 patients (five active disease, four remission). Although these lines had an abnormal pattern of expansion comparable to EBV-specific CTLs generated from normal donors, their phenotype was normal except for reduced expression of the zeta chain of the T-cell receptor (TCR). Their cytotoxicity was also compared to EBV-specific lines generated from normal donors and included activity against LMP2a, one of the three weakly immunogenic viral antigens expressed by Hodgkin's tumor cells. To assess the activity of the CTLs in vivo, they were gene-marked and infused into three patients with multiply relapsed disease. The CTLs persisted for more than 13 weeks postinfusion and retained their potent antiviral effects in vivo, thereby enhancing the patient immune response to EBV. This approach may therefore have value in the treatment of EBV-positive Hodgkin's disease.

Adolescent↗

Molecular cloning of cDNAs and expression of mRNAs encoding alpha and beta subunits of soluble guanylyl cyclase from medaka fish Oryzias latipes.

Two cDNA clones encoding alpha and beta subunits of soluble guanylyl cyclase (GC) were isolated from medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) cDNA libraries and designated as OlGCS-alpha1 and OlGCS-beta1, respectively. The ORF of OlGCS-alpha1 encodes 678 amino acids and that of OlGCS-beta1 encodes 614 amino acids. Both subunits have a putative catalytic domain conserved with membrane GC and adenylyl cyclases. The amino acid sequences of OlGCS-beta1 and mammalian soluble GC subunits are highly conserved throughout the entire protein, suggesting that amino acid sequences outside the catalytic domain are important for the functioning of the beta subunit. On the contrary, amino acid sequences of alpha subunits outside the catalytic domain are fairly divergent between fish and mammals. Reverse transcription/PCR (RT/PCR) analysis showed that OlGCS-alpha1 and OlGCS-beta1 transcripts were abundant in the brain, eye, spleen and testis. RT/PCR analysis demonstrated that both transcripts were present in unfertilized eggs, were reduced immediately after fertilization, then increased again. In addition, our results suggest that expression patterns of OlGCS-alpha1 and OlGCS-beta1 genes are different from each other both during development and in adults.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Stable integration of human immunodeficiency virus-based retroviral vectors into the chromosomes of nondividing cells.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-based vectors are thought to be useful for gene transfer into nondividing cells. We examined whether HIV vectors can really integrate into the chromosomes of nondividing cells. CD4+HeLa cells arrested at the G2 or G1/S phase were incubated with the HIV vector pseudotyped with the HIV envelope. The transduction efficiency of the HIV vector in these nondividing cells was comparable to that in proliferating cells. Sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction-amplified fragments containing the junction sites showed that the HIV vector was stably integrated into the chromosomal DNA. It was also demonstrated that terminally differentiated human macrophages and nonproliferating NT neurons could be transduced by the HIV vector after adenovirus-mediated expression of CD4. These results suggest that the HIV vector may be useful not only for gene therapy of AIDS but also for a variety of gene therapy protocols targeting nondividing cells.

Adenoviridae↗