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Biomedical subjects

N Taniguchi

Publications and source records attributed to N Taniguchi.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

Structure of serum transferrin in carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome.

The structure of the defective transferrin in carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome was characterized. Structurally abnormal sugar chains were not found in reversed phase chromatograms of pyridylaminated derivatives from the transferrin of two patients in different families. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of the whole transferrin molecules revealed an abnormal species that was smaller than normal tetrasialotransferrin by 2,200 daltons, just the size of the disialylated biantennary sugar chain. These data indicated that the disialotransferrin specifically found in this syndrome is missing either of two N-linked sugar chains, suggesting a metabolic error in the early steps of protein glycosylation.

Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Differential expression of apoptosis-related Fas antigen on lymphocyte subpopulations in human peripheral blood.

The Fas Ag is a newly defined cell-surface molecule that may mediate apoptosis. The antibody against Fas Ag can induce the apoptotic cell death in cell lines expressing this Ag. PBL subpopulations at various ages were here examined for Fas expression by two-or three-color flow-cytometric analyses using anti-Fas mAb. It was found that Fas Ag was appreciably detected on a proportion of T and B cells, whereas its expression was absent for NK cells. For CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, Fas Ag was expressed preferentially on CD45RO+ (memory or previously activated) populations, but not on CD45RO- naive ones. TCR-gamma/delta+ T cells, especially their CD45RO+ subsets, also expressed Fas Ag. Expectably, neonatal T cell subpopulations, most of which had the naive (CD45RO-) phenotype, expressed little Fas Ag. Fas-expressing B cells dominated in surface(s) IgD- populations, but neonatal B cells as well as adult sIgD+ B cells had little Fas Ag. The Fas Ag was inducible after in vitro mitogenic stimulation of naive T and B cells from neonatal blood. These observations suggested that expression of Fas Ag on T and B cells in the peripheral blood might reflect their in vivo Ag-activated status. In contrast to Fas-expressing cultured cell lines, however, viability of in vitro stimulated T and B cells as well as freshly isolated CD45RO+ T cells was not significantly changed after the treatment with anti-Fas mAb, indicating that additional cellular conditions to Fas expression might be required for anti-Fas-induced cell death.

Antigens, Surface↗

Total metabolic flow of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis is regulated by UDP-GlcNAc:lactosylceramide beta 1-->3N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase and CMP-NeuAc:lactosylceramide alpha 2-->3 sialyltransferase in human hematopoietic cell line HL-60 during differentiation.

We have previously reported that ganglioside GM3 was remarkably increased during monocytoid differentiation of human myelogenous leukemia cell line HL-60 cells and that neolacto series gangliosides (NeuAc-nLc) were enriched during granulocytoid differentiation. In addition, HL-60 was differentiated into monocytic lineage by exogenous GM3 and into granulocytoid by NeuAc-nLc. In the present report, the enzymatic bases of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis in HL-60 during differentiation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and all-trans-retinoic acid were investigated. The following results were of particular interest. (i) Lactosylceramide alpha 2-->3 sialyltransferase (GM3 synthase) was remarkably up-regulated during monocyte differentiation, while the GM3 synthase level did not change in granulocytic differentiation. (ii) By contrast, lactosylceramide beta 1-->3N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (Lc3Cer synthase) was down-regulated during monocytic differentiation, while the activity of Lc3Cer synthase was found to increase in granulocytic differentiation. (iii) The activities of four downstream glycosyltransferases (for synthesis of NeuAc-nLc) were found to increase or to remain unchanged during monocytic and granulocytic differentiation. These results strongly suggested the following. The dramatic GM3 increase and the decrease of NeuAc-nLc during monocytic differentiation are the consequences of the up-regulation of GM3 synthase and the down-regulation of Lc3Cer synthase, although the downstream enzymes are ready to catalyze their enzyme reactions. The notable increase of NeuAc-nLc and the relative decrease of GM3 during granulocytic differentiation are the results of the unchanged level of GM3 synthase and the up-regulation of Lc3Cer synthase together with the activation of the downstream glycosyltransferases. These results suggest that these two key upstream glycosyltransferases, GM3 synthase and Lc3Cer synthase, play critical roles in regulating the glycosphingolipid biosynthesis in HL-60 cells during differentiation. This switching mechanism of these two glycosyltransferases, together with our previous findings, might be one of the most important parts of the determining system of differentiation direction in human myeloid cells into monocytic or granulocytic lineages.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Site-specific and random fragmentation of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase by glycation reaction. Implication of reactive oxygen species.

Site-specific and random fragmentation of human Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) was observed following the glycation reaction (the early stage of the Maillard reaction). The fragmentation proceeded in two steps. In the first step, Cu,Zn-SOD was cleaved at a peptide bond between Pro62 and His63, as judged by amino acid analysis and sequencing of fragment peptides, yielding a large (15 kDa) and a small (5 kDa) fragment. In the second step, random fragmentation occurred. The ESR spectrum of the glycated Cu,Zn-SOD suggested that reactive oxygen species was implicated in the both steps of fragmentation. The same fragmentations were seen upon exposure of the enzyme to an H2O2 bolus. Catalase completely blocked both steps of the fragmentation process, whereas EDTA blocked only the second step. Incubation with glucose resulted in a time-dependent release of Cu2+ from the Cu,Zn-SOD molecule. The released Cu2+ then likely participated in a Fenton's type of reaction to produce hydroxyl radical, which may cause the nonspecific fragmentation. Evidence that EDTA abolished only the second step of fragmentation induced by an H2O2 bolus supports this mechanism. This is the first report that a site-specific fragmentation of a protein is caused by reactive oxygen species formed by the Maillard reaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification, cDNA cloning, and expression of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: beta-D-mannoside beta-1,4N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III from rat kidney.

UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: beta-D-mannoside beta-1,4N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III: EC 2.4.1.144) catalyzes the addition of N-acetylglucosamine in beta 1-4 linkage to the beta-linked mannose of the trimannosyl core of N-linked sugar chains. The enzyme has been purified over 153,000-fold in 1.5% yield from a Triton X-100 extract of rat kidney by fractionation procedures utilizing QAE-Sepharose, Cu(2+)-chelating Sepharose, and affinity chromatography on UDP-hexanolamine and substrate-conjugated Sepharose. The purified protein migrates as one major and one minor band with apparent molecular masses of 62 kDa and 52 kDa, respectively. The purified enzyme was digested with trypsin, and the amino acid sequences of four peptides were determined. Oligonucleotide primers were designed according to those amino acid sequences and used in the polymerase chain reaction. Screening for the cDNA for GnT-III was carried out by plaque hybridization using a rat kidney cDNA library (lambda gt10) and a polymerase chain reaction product as the probe. Rat kidney GnT-III has 536 amino acids and three putative N-glycosylation sites. There is no sequence homology to other previously cloned glycosyltransferases, but the enzyme appears to be a type II transmembrane protein like the other glycosyltransferases. The GnT-III activity in transiently transfected COS-1 cells was found to be about 500-3600-fold as compared to that in non- or mock-transfected cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Enhancement of hepatitis-B surface-antigen expression by 5-azacytidine in a hepatitis-B-virus-transfected cell line.

The human hepatoblastoma-derived cell line HB611 secretes hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis-B e antigen (HBeAg) into the medium. Hepatitis-B-virus (HBV) DNA integrated into the cellular genome was found to be hypermethylated. When the cells were treated with 5-azacytidine for 3 days, the level of HBsAg in the medium increased, while the level of HBeAg remained constant. The level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) decreased with the 5-azacytidine treatment. Southern blot analysis of DNA digested with HpaII or MspI showed that 5-azacytidine treatment resulted in hypomethylation of the integrated HBV DNA, suggesting that 5-azacytidine increased HBsAg production in the cells through hypomethylation of the HBV genomic DNA.

Azacitidine↗

Apoptotic cell death of primed CD45RO+ T lymphocytes in Epstein-Barr virus-induced infectious mononucleosis.

The expansion of activated T cells, characterized by the expression of CD45RO as well as HLA-DR antigens, is a central feature in acute infectious mononucleosis (IM) induced by primary infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). However, the fate of these activated T cells in this disease is not clearly understood. We found that, on simple culture, a large proportion of T cells isolated from acute IM patients died rapidly, but only a few T cells from normal individuals did. Morphologic observations and DNA fragmentation analysis showed that the loss of viability of IM T cells after incubation was mediated by apoptosis. IM T cells undergoing apoptosis resided exclusively in the CD45RO+ populations of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, most of which were shown to coexpress apoptosis-related Fas antigen. Some cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-5, and IL-6 could rescue IM T cells from apoptotic cell death. The results seemed to imply that most of primed (CD45RO+) T cells in acute IM might be subject to apoptotic cell death, possibly when leaving from the local sites actively producing certain soluble factors required for their survival. Our studies suggest the programmed cell death of peripheral mature T cells as a mechanism of antigen-driven selection.

Antigens, CD↗

Enzymatic basis of sugar structures of alpha-fetoprotein in hepatoma and hepatoblastoma cell lines: correlation with activities of alpha 1-6 fucosyltransferase and N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases III and V.

alpha-Fetoproteins (AFPs) were purified from 2 hepatoma cell lines (Hep G2 and HuH-7) and a hepatoblastoma cell line (HuH-6), and the structures of pyridylaminated (PA) derivatives of their sugar chains were analyzed by HPLC. Simultaneously, the activities of alpha 1-6 fucosyltransferase (alpha 1-6FT) and N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III), IV (GnT-IV) and V (GnT-V) were assayed in these cell lines. For all 3 cell lines the major sugar chain detected was a fucosylated biantennary structure. Hep G2 cells contained a high level of GnT-V, which catalyzes the formation of a tri'-antennary structure, and in fact a substantial percentage of the AFP sugar chains in these cells had the tri'-antennary structure. alpha 1-6FT was also high, and fucosylated tri' structures were detected, which suggests that high activities of transferases affect the AFP sugar chains. In HuH-6 cells, GnT-III, which catalyzes the formation of bisecting GlcNAc, was elevated. Correspondingly, a fucosylated, bisected biantennary structure was found as a major sugar chain. In the HuH-7 cell line, the contents of bisecting GlcNAc and tri' structure were low and neither GnT-III nor GnT-V was elevated. These data indicate that the sugar structures of AFP in these cell lines correlate well with the activities of alpha 1-6 FT, GnT-III and GnT-V.

Carbohydrates↗

Elevated serum manganese superoxide dismutase in acute leukemias.

We measured the serum levels of manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL). Serum Mn-SOD level for normal subjects was 94.1 +/- 23.5 ng/ml (mean +/- S.D.), the levels for AML and ALL patients were 159.6 +/- 77.1 ng/ml and 154.4 +/- 77.0 ng/ml, respectively. The serum Mn-SOD levels were unrelated to individual intracellular Mn-SOD levels, but correlated well with serum lactate dehydrogenase values. Regression of the leukemia was accompanied by decrease in the serum level of Mn-SOD. Serum Mn-SOD may thus serve as a measure of the activity of the disease.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗

Biosynthesis of blood group I and i antigens in rat tissues. Identification of a novel beta 1-6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase.

The beta-galactoside beta 1-6- and beta 1-3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases (beta 1-6GnT and beta 1-3GnT) that synthesize blood group I and i antigens were identified in rat tissues, using pyridylaminated lacto-N-neotetraose (Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-PA) as an acceptor. The products of the transferase reactions were separated on high performance liquid chromatography. The products of the transferase reactions were identified by 1H NMR as (formula; see text) and GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-PA. The product for beta 1-6GnT was also identified by methylation analysis. Kinetic experiments were carried out using rat serum for beta 1-3GnT and partially purified enzyme from rat intestine for beta 1-6GnT. beta 1-3GnT has a pH optimum of 7.5 and requires Mn2+ for optimal activity. beta 1-6GnT has a pH optimum of 7.0 and does not require Mn2+. Studies on the substrate specificity of each enzyme indicated that the preferred substrate for beta 1-3GnT had the general structure Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc-OR and, for beta 1-6GnT, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal-OR where R = sugar. This is the first demonstration that the beta 1-6GnT acts on an internal galactose of lacto-N-neotetraose and paragloboside, and the enzyme appears to be a novel enzyme in terms of substrate specificity.

Animals↗

Induction of Mn-superoxide dismutase by tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 in human hepatoma cells.

Effects of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), Interleukin-1 (IL-1), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the expression of Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) protein were investigated in human hepatoma cells, Hu-H1, which revealed resistance to the cytotoxicity of TNF and IL-1. Both TNF and IL-1 enhanced the Mn-SOD production to the level of 30- to 40-fold. IL-6 also increased the enzyme protein to 2- to 3-fold of the basal level without any cell proliferative effect. A specific antibody against IL-6 almost completely inhibited the induction of Mn-SOD. IL-6, as well as TNF and IL-1, appears to play some role in the Mn-SOD protein expression in human hepatoma cells.

Antibodies↗

High levels of Mn-superoxide dismutase in serum of patients with neuroblastoma and in human neuroblastoma cell lines.

Levels of serum manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) in normal children aged from 1 to 14 years and children with various hematological and malignant diseases were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the normal children, the serum Mn-SOD levels gradually increased in proportion to age. By 8 years of age, the Mn-SOD level was nearly at the adult level. The normal values of serum Mn-SOD (mean +/- SD) of children below 4 and above 8 years old were 48 +/- 10.2 ng/ml and 84 +/- 22.5 ng/ml, respectively. Assuming the upper limit of normal Mn-SOD level in serum to be the mean value +/- 2 SD of children at each age, high serum levels of Mn-SOD were found for 8 of 12 patients with neuroblastoma, three of four patients with Wilms tumor, and four of five patients with acute myeloid leukemia. The patients with neuroblastoma exhibited a transient increase in Mn-SOD following chemotherapy, but after 1 week the levels decreased markedly to the control levels. The changes in serum Mn-SOD levels in the patients with neuroblastoma correlated well with the levels of neuron-specific enolase. Mn-SOD was intensely stained in bone marrow cells of patients whose cancer cells had moved into the bone marrow. High levels of Mn-SOD were also found in cultured human neuroblastoma cells. These data indicate that Mn-SOD is expressed in neuroblastoma cells, may serve as one of the diagnostic and prognostic markers for the neuroblastoma, and may be useful to predict the effectiveness of chemotherapy for neuroblastoma and the recurrence of this disease.

Adolescent↗

High expression of manganese superoxide dismutase in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced ovarian cancer and increased serum levels in the tumor-bearing rats.

Manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) is strongly expressed in human ovarian cancer, and the serum level of the enzyme is a useful marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of human ovarian cancer. In the present study we found that Mn-SOD was highly expressed in primary and transplanted ovarian cancers in rats induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), as judged by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as well as by Northern blot analysis. The serum levels of Mn-SOD in the tumor-bearing rats were also higher than those in control rats. The antibody strongly reacted with rat ovarian carcinoma tissues. These data suggest that DMBA-induced ovarian cancer in rats is a good experimental model for human ovarian cancer, and that Mn-SOD is also a good marker for disease in the animal model.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Deficiency of beta 1-6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of blood group I antigen in the liver of LEC rats.

The activities of the beta 1-6 and beta 1-3 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, which synthesize blood group I and i antigens, respectively, were measured in various tissues of hepatitis- and hepatoma-predisposed rats (LEC rats). In LEC rats the beta 1-6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity was barely detectable in the liver, while substantial enzyme activity was found in other tissues. In the control LEA rats the enzyme was expressed in most tissues, including the liver. Immunochemical studies using a monoclonal antibody which recognizes I antigen indicated that the expression of I antigen was less prominent in hepatocytes of LEC rats than in hepatocytes of LEA rats. The level of beta 1-3 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity was constant in most of the tissues during the development. These results indicate that the biosynthesis of I antigen does not occur in the livers of the LEC rats.

Aging↗

T-cell-dependent production of IgG by human cord blood B cells in reconstituted SCID mice.

Reconstitution of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice with human lymphocytes has recently allowed the elucidation of abnormalities of immune responses in various immunological disorders. In the present study, mononuclear cells (MNC) from neonatal cord blood and adult peripheral blood were intraperitoneally injected into SCID mice to examine induction of human Ig in respective mice recipients. Human IgG was consistently detected in the serum of SCID transferred with adult MNC, but only a few SCID recipients of cord blood MNC showed detectable but low levels of IgG in the serum. The combination experiments of isolated B and T cells disclosed that some interactions between B and T cells might be necessary for IgG production in transferred SCID mice. Notably, transfer of cord blood B cells with adult but not cord blood T cells resulted in efficient induction of IgG, associated with a change in subclass distribution. The results suggest that inability of neonatal B cells to produce IgG can be overcome by transfer with adult mature T cells into SCID mice.

Animals↗

Gallbladder changes in neonatal hepatitis: markedly thickened wall and lack of contractility.

The gallbladder wall changes were observed on ultrasonography during the course of a patient with neonatal hepatitis. The gallbladder was not detected at 53 days of age, but on the next day its wall was observed to be markedly thickened and without contraction following the administration of cerulein. It had a thinner wall at 57 days of age and reacted to cerulein. The wall thickness and contractility went together with the improvement of jaundice and liver function tests. Histological diagnosis was compatible with neonatal hepatitis. Ultrasonographic detection of the gallbladder has been helpful to differentiate neonatal hepatitis from biliary atresia. It is reported to be compatible with neonatal hepatitis to detect a normal-sized gallbladder or its contraction following cerulein administration or feeding. Since this case did not meet these criteria initially, thickened wall of the gallbladder may be an additional finding indicating neonatal hepatitis. The importance of repeated ultrasonography and clinical correlation was stressed.

Biliary Atresia↗

Recombinant human granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of patients with chronic benign granulocytopenia and congenital agranulocytosis (Kostmann's syndrome).

Seven patients with chronic benign granulocytopenia and nine patients with congenital agranulocytosis, received consecutive seven-day courses of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor at a starting dose of 50 micrograms/m2/day, subcutaneously. If there was no response the doses were increased to 300 micrograms/m2. All patients with chronic benign granulocytopenia responded rapidly at the minimum dose within 1-3 days after administration. By contrast, only three of the nine patients with congenital agranulocytosis responded within 1-7 days at this dose. Four patients with congenital agranulocytosis showed a response between days 7-19 at a dose of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor 100-200 micrograms/m2 but in the remaining two cases no response was obtained. The administration of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor was shown to be safe and effective also in reducing infectious episodes in these patients. Previously it was reported that granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor 10-30 micrograms/kg/day was effective for patients with congenital agranulocytosis. These results indicate that patients with congenital agranulocytosis may require much higher doses of recombinant human granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor than patients with chronic benign granulocytopenia and that the response to ordinary doses of recombinant human granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor may be useful in differentiating between chronic benign granulocytopenia and congenital agranulocytosis.

Adolescent↗