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Biomedical subjects

N Taniguchi

Publications and source records attributed to N Taniguchi.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources

Elevated level of serum Mn-superoxide dismutase in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis: possible involvement of free radicals in the pathogenesis in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Serum Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) was determined in patients with various liver diseases including 31 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), 46 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 17 with liver cirrhosis (LC), 23 with chronic hepatitis (CH) and 12 patients with obstructive jaundice with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a specific monoclonal antibody. The serum level in patients with PBC (407 +/- 35 ng/ml, mean +/- SEM; n = 31) was significantly increased (p less than 0.01) compared with those of other liver diseases. Mn-SOD level did not correlate with total bilirubin level, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, alanine aminotransferase activity, IgM, or with ceruloplasmin level in the sera of the patients. When the patients with PBC were histologically subdivided into four groups according to Scheuer's classification (Scheuer PJ. Primary biliary cirrhosis. In: Scheuer PJ, ed. Liver biopsy interpretation. 3rd ed. London: Bailliere Tindall, 1980:47-56), a high level of serum Mn-SOD was noticed in the early stage as well as in the advanced stage of the disease. Immunoblot analysis confirmed the reactivity and specificity of the monoclonal antibody to the enzyme protein in the patients' sera. Immunostaining of a liver biopsy specimen from the patients with PBC revealed increased expression of the enzyme protein in damaged epithelial cells of interlobular bile ducts, bile ductules, and degenerated hepatocytes. These data suggested that free radicals including superoxide anion are possibly involved in the pathogenesis of the disease and Mn-SOD may play some role in a protection against the superoxide anion.

Adult↗

High sensitivity to 5-azacytidine in LEC rats, a strain with a metabolic predisposition to hepatitis and hepatoma: possible involvement of DNA methylation in the expression of cytochrome P-450 and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.

The 5-methylcytosine (5-mCyt) content in hepatic DNA of LEC rats was measured in order to know the mechanism by which changes in the cytochrome P-450 content and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity occur. At the age of 10 or 16 weeks, there was no difference in the extent of DNA methylation as compared with that of control strain (LEA) rats. However, in the hepatoma tissues that developed later in LEC animals, the percentage of 5-mCyt in the liver of LEC rats was markedly reduced. A single i.p. dose of 5-azacytidine brought about a significant reduction of 5-mCyt content with a concomitant decrease of cytochrome P-450 and an increase in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in LEC rats, whereas no such changes occurred in the control LEA rats. These results suggest that LEC rats are highly sensitive to 5-azacytidine and that a reduction in hepatic DNA methylation may play some role in the predisposition of the rats to hepatitis or hepatoma.

5-Methylcytosine↗

Preferential expression of IL-2 receptor subunits on memory populations within CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

Using anti-Tac and anti-Mik-beta 1 monoclonal antibodies to alpha and beta subunits of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), respectively, a marked difference in expression of IL-2R subunits on blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was demonstrated between adults and newborns. In the adult blood, reciprocal expression of IL-2R alpha and IL-2R beta was observed in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Some CD4+ T cells expressing IL-2R alpha were often detected, but IL-2R beta + CD4+ cells were very few. On the other hand, CD8+ T cells expressed significant IL-2R beta but little IL-2R alpha. In marked contrast to adult individuals, both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from the newborns, which seemed to consist mainly of naive populations, showed only negligible expression of IL-2R subunits. It was found that IL-2R subunits appeared to be preferentially expressed on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with memory phenotypes in the adult blood. Isolated memory (CD45RO+) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, unlike naive (CD45RO-) ones, were able to proliferate in response to exogenous IL-2 as well as the recall antigen. The present results suggest that IL-2R subunits expressed on circulating T-cell subsets may play an important role in memory T-cell function.

Adult↗

Serum manganese-superoxide dismutase in patients with neuromuscular disorders as judged by an ELISA.

Manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) concentration was measured in sera from 37 healthy controls and 101 patients with 11 forms of neuromuscular diseases including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and polymyositis (PMS) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with the use of a monoclonal antibody against human liver Mn-SOD. Serum from patients with DMD had a significantly (P less than 0.05) lower concentration of Mn-SOD than control serum. On the other hand, the concentration of Mn-SOD was markedly higher in the serum of patients with untreated form of acute PMS. The enzyme appeared to provide a good index for monitoring of responses to treatment of acute PMS. Of other neuromuscular diseases Mn-SOD concentration decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and Kennedy-Alter-Sung syndrome but increased significantly (P less than 0.05) in human T-cell lymphotrophic viruses-I-associated myelopathy. This enzyme profile seems to be specific to each neuromuscular disease.

Adolescent↗

Human liver manganese superoxide dismutase. Purification and crystallization, subunit association and sulfhydryl reactivity.

Manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) has been purified with a high yield (320 mg) from human liver (2 kg) and crystallized. Low-angle laser light scattering of the enzyme has shown that native enzyme is a tetrametic form. Four of the eight cysteine residues in the tetramer reacted with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) or with iodoacetamide. The others were only reactive in protein heated with SDS or urea after reduction with dithiothreitol or 2-mercaptoethanol. The reactive sulfhydryl group was found to be located at Cys196 by amino acid sequence analysis of Nbs2-reactive peptides isolated by activated thiol-Sepharose covalent chromatography. Incubation of Mn-SOD in 1% SDS for 2 or 3 days at 25 degrees C or 5 min at 100 degrees C gave material showing two prominent components on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 0.1% SDS. The major component had a molecular mass of 23 kDa; the other, 25 kDa. Reduction of the protein by dithiothreitol or 2-mercaptoethanol heated in SDS produced only the 25-kDa monomer species. Essentially, no thiol groups were detected in the 23-kDa form, in which two cysteine residues appear to have been oxidized to form an intrasubunit disulfide. This indicates that Cys196 has a reactive sulfhydryl and appears to be a likely candidate for a mixed disulfide formation in vivo.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Modulation of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III, IV and V activities and alteration of the surface oligosaccharide structure of a myeloma cell line by interleukin 6.

The activity of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GnT) III, IV and V on a myeloma cell line, OPM-1, was examined after incubation with interleukin 6 (IL-6). While augmenting cell proliferation, IL-6 resulted in a decrease of GnT III activity and an increase of GnT IV and V activities. Consistent with this, OPM-1 cultured with IL-6 showed an increased affinity to Datura stramonium lectin, which recognizes asialo-tri- and asialo-tetraantenary N-linked oligosaccharides. These results indicate that IL-6 modulates glycosyltransferase activity and the oligosaccharide structure of target cells.

Cell Membrane↗

A simple enzyme-linked immunoassay of human carbonic anhydrase I for the study of developing erythroid cells.

A simple and rapid enzyme-linked immunoassay for human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase isozyme I was developed. The assay was found to be sensitive enough for the detection of nanogram amounts of the enzyme in incubation mixtures. The first incubation with anti-human carbonic anhydrase I IgG was carried out for 6 hours at room temperature. The second incubation of the enzyme was carried out in the presence of goat plasma C1q coupled with peroxidase for 1 h at room temperature. The enzymatic reaction was performed for 30 min using 2,2'-azino-di(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline sulfonate) as a substrate, and absorbance at 414 nm was recorded. Carbonic anhydrase I was assayed on the range of 1 to 200 ng/ml using this method. The levels of carbonic anhydrase I in K562 cells induced by erythropoietin and in other blood cells were determined. This enzyme-linked immunoassay has application for the study of developing erythroid cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Role of interleukin 6 for differential responsiveness of naive and memory CD4+ T cells in CD2-mediated activation.

The present study was undertaken to elucidate different requirements for CD2-mediated activation of naive (CD45RO-) and memory (CD45RO+) CD4+ T cells. A mitogenic combination of anti-CD2 (anti-T11(2) and anti-T11(3] mAbs could effectively induce the proliferation of memory CD4+ T cells even in the absence of monocytes. In marked contrast, naive CD4+ T cells did not disclose any proliferative responses to anti-CD2 mAbs, when monocytes were absent in culture. This differential responsiveness of naive and memory CD4+ T cells appeared to be related largely to a difference in IL-6-producing ability between both populations. IL-6 among monocyte-derived cytokines could correct unresponsiveness of naive CD4+ T cells to anti-CD2 stimulation. Unlike naive CD4+ T cells, memory CD4+ T cells produced IL-6 by themselves, with its mRNA being expressed on anti-CD2 stimulation. Anti-IL-6R mAb significantly inhibited proliferation of memory CD4+ T cells seen in the anti-CD2-stimulated cultures without monocytes, indicating the involvement of their own production of IL-6 in CD2-mediated activation. The results suggest an essential role of IL-6 for triggering of CD4+ T cells via the CD2 molecule.

Adult↗

Stimulation of Mn-superoxide dismutase expression by tumor necrosis factor-alpha: quantitative determination of Mn-SOD protein levels in TNF-resistant and sensitive cells by ELISA.

Marked increase in protein levels of Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) was found in TNF-resistant cell lines after treatment with Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). No such increase was observed in Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD) protein in either TNF-resistant or sensitive cells. These results support the data that the Mn-SOD is one of the rescue proteins required for resistance to TNF cytotoxicity in these cell lines (Wong et al., Cell 58, 923-931, 1990). Mn-SOD was also responsive to TNF stimulation in KURAMOCHI, a human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line. This may explain our previous result that Mn-SOD protein is highly expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer (Ishikawa et al. Cancer Res. 50, 2538-2542, 1990).

Adenocarcinoma↗

Determination of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases III, IV and V in normal and hepatoma tissues of rats.

N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase III, IV and V activities were assayed in various rat tissues and hepatomas using the same fluorescence-labeled sugar chain, GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-3-(GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-6)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc-2-aminopyridine as a substrate. The N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activity toward the substrate is the highest in most rat tissues including primary rat hepatoma. A relatively higher activity for GnT-V is found in small intestine, serum and hepatoma as compared to that of GnT-IV. Some kinetic properties of these enzymes in crude extracts were also determined.

Animals↗

Carbohydrate analysis of immunoglobulin G myeloma proteins by lectin and high performance liquid chromatography: role of glycosyltransferases in the structures.

The carbohydrate structures and the enzymatic basis for glycosylation of IgG by bone marrow plasma cells were determined in 7 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and 22 patients with IgG MM. Lectin-binding analysis showed that in all cases of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and normal controls the IgG heavy chains bound to Ricinus communis agglutinin more strongly than to concanavalin A. In contrast, the IgG in 11 of the 17 advanced cases of MM (stages II and III) studied reacted to concanavalin A more strongly. Structural analysis showed that the reduced R. communis agglutinin binding capacity of these MM IgGs was due to hypogalactosylation of IgG. The galactosyltransferase and N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activities of the bone marrow myeloma cells from 5 MM cases were found to have a low enzyme activity ratio of galactosyltransferase to N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III which reflects the hypogalactosylation. This indicates that the difference in the carbohydrate moieties observed in myeloma proteins is due to variations in the activities of the two glycosyltransferases.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Immunocytochemical localization of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) in the hippocampus of the rat.

The immunocytochemical distribution of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) was determined in the rat hippocampus. The enzyme was localized in the mitochondria. CA1 pyramidal cells were weakly immunostained, whereas CA3 pyramidal cells were strongly reactive. These differences in the intensity of the Mn-SOD immunostaining reactions may relate to variations in the sensitivity of subfields of the hippocampus to ischemia.

Animals↗

Differential expression of CD45RO (UCHL1) and its functional relevance in two subpopulations of circulating TCR-gamma/delta+ lymphocytes.

We examined the developmental profile of TCR-gamma/delta+ cells with respect to CD45RO expression. Although total TCR-gamma/delta+ cells were negligible in the neonatal blood and increased with advancing age, most blood TCR-gamma/delta+ cells markedly expressed CD45RO without a distinction of age, probably reflecting a different CD45RO expression of two subsets defined by BB3 and delta TCS1 mAbs. The vast majority of BB3+ cells expressed CD45RO, whereas expression of CD45RO was virtually absent in the delta TCS1+ population. Functional studies revealed that, while both TCR-gamma/delta+ cell subsets showed CD3-mediated activation, only BB3+ (or Ti gamma A+) cells, but not delta TCS1+ cells, appeared to proliferate in response to PPD in PPD-reactive individuals. The results suggested that the CD45RO+ (BB3+ or Ti gamma A+) subset among blood TCR-gamma/delta+ cells may be mainly involved in the memory or primed component of the immune system responding to some foreign antigens.

Adolescent↗

Structural heterogeneity of sugar chains in immunoglobulin G. Conformation of immunoglobulin G molecule and substrate specificities of glycosyltransferases.

The heterogeneous asparagine-linked sugar chains of bovine and human immunoglobulins G were separated into 12 components by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography, and their structures were determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Both immunoglobulin (Ig) G sources contained eight non-bisected biantennary complexes and four bisected biantennary complexes. In the non-bisected sugar chains of bovine IgG, galactosylation of the Man alpha 1-3 branch predominated over that of the Man alpha 1-6, whereas in the bisected complexes galactosylation of the Man alpha 1-6 branch predominated. This difference can be explained by the substrate specificities of the galactosyl-transferases and of the N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III involved in their synthesis. The sugar chains of human IgG1 differs in the distribution of its galactose residues from bovine IgG and human IgG2. The Man alpha 1-6 branch of all IgG1s was more highly galactosylated than the Man alpha 1-3 branch even in the non-bisected complexes. Such findings are in conflict with the substrate specificities of galactosyltransferases. Whereas these enzymes derivatized more of the Man alpha 1-6 branch of native human IgG1, in denatured protein more of the Man alpha 1-3 branch was galactosylated. Thus, protein conformation may influence the structure of its sugar chains.

Animals↗

Reactivity of a monoclonal antibody to manganese superoxide dismutase with human ovarian carcinoma.

A monoclonal antibody against manganese superoxide dismutase was assessed for its use in detecting a marker for epithelial ovarian carcinoma. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay indicated that less than 1% of normal individuals had serum levels over 150 ng per ml of serum, whereas over 50% of such patients showed elevated amounts. The serum levels of manganese superoxide dismutase correlated with the clinical stage of the disease and with the effects of therapy. The antibody used reacts with cryopreserved epithelial ovarian carcinomas but not with normal adult ovary or other normal tissues. Determination of the levels of this enzyme should provide a useful method for detection and monitoring of responses to treatment of epithelial ovarian carcinomas.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Synthesis of human gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) during the fetal development of liver.

We have determined expression of human GGT gene encoding gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) during fetal development of liver using the Northern-blot analysis with a cloned human GGT cDNA and immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody. GGT mRNA could be detected as early as the 12th week of gestation. It then increased gradually to a peak of approx. threefold the amount at week 12, at week 40, just before birth. The size of the mRNA in the fetal liver was 2.7 kb and mRNA of the same size was detected both in the human fetal kidney and human hepatocellular carcinoma as well as normal adult liver. Immunohistochemical analyses show that GGT increased as the fetal liver developed in parallel with the increase in mRNA. Histochemically, GGT was shown to be located in the wall of bile canaliculi when synthesis was low in early development, but to be distributed, in addition, all over the cell membrane of the fetal hepatocytes when synthesis was high at the later stage of development.

Blotting, Northern↗

Detection by in situ hybridization and phenotypic characterization of cells expressing IL-6 mRNA in human stimulated blood.

IL-6 has manifold biologic functions in immune and inflammatory responses and is produced by a variety type of cells. In this work, we used the whole blood culture to identify the cells expressing IL-6 gene/protein after various stimulation. When the whole blood was incubated with LPS or Con A, much IL-6 activity, measured by the growth promoting assay using a murine IL-6-dependent hybridoma clone, was detected in the plasma as early as 4 h of culture and continued to increase with time, reaching a plateau around 12 h. Immunocytochemical analysis with anti-rIL-6 antiserum revealed that a proportion of mononuclear cells (MNC) contained intracytoplasmic IL-6 in LPS- or Con A-stimulated blood. Northern blot analysis for MNC from the blood stimulated with these stimuli showed that their transcripts for IL-6 peaked at 4 h, then rapidly declined and was undetectable after 24 h of stimulation. In situ hybridization technique with radiolabeled antisense RNA probe for IL-6 demonstrated that a fraction of MNC from LPS- as well as Con A-stimulated blood expressed IL-6 mRNA. With the combined use of in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence by corresponding mAb, it was confirmed that IL-6 mRNA expressing cells in stimulated blood were exclusively monocytes. In the whole blood culture, it was shown that expression of IL-6 mRNA by monocytes was inhibited by dexamethasone, but not by cyclosporin A. These results suggest that monocytes are the major cells expressing IL-6 gene/protein in the circulation after exposure to external stimuli.

Antigens, CD↗

Effects of exercise stress and cold stress on glutathione and gamma-glutamyltransferase in rat liver.

Effects of acute and chronic stress (exercise and cold) on glutathione and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma GT) in the rat liver were investigated. Such stress, except for in the case of acute exercise, had no definite influence on the glutathione level. On the other hand, gamma GT activity in both the extramicrosomal and microsomal fractions varied substantially, suggesting that acute exercise increases the release ability of the microsomal membrane of the rat liver, and that swimming training and long-term cold exposure stabilize the membrane. Immunoreactive gamma GT, however, did not always correlate with the enzyme activity, especially in the extramicrosomal fraction. Cross-adaptation appeared to exist between swimming training and chronic cold exposure.

Animals↗