Biomedical subjects

N Ura

Publications and source records attributed to N Ura.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

A sensitive method for differential determination of kininase I, II and neutral endopeptidase (NEP) in human urine.

In order to clarify the significance of NEP in human renal kallikrein-kinin system, an assay system was developed for the simultaneous determination of kininase I, II and NEP activities in human. Each kininase activity was determined by measuring the hydrolysis of bradykinin in the presence of specific inhibitors of kininase I (2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid), kininase II (captopril) and NEP (phosphoramidon) in 8 normal subjects. The effects of the different assay buffers on kininase activities were also investigated by using a phosphate buffer. Total kininase, kininase I, II and NEP activities were 499 +/- 65 ng/min/ml (mean +/- S.E.), 55 +/- 8, 141 +/- 21 and 299 +/- 42, respectively in our method using a tris buffer, while a phosphate buffer brought about activities of 358 +/- 43, 45 +/- 5, 156 +/- 21 and 135 +/- 25 ng/min/ml. The relative contributions of kininase I, II and NEP to total kininase activity were 11, 29 and 59% in our assay system, while they were 13, 44 and 35% when a phosphate buffer was used. From these results it was suggested that 1) phosphate may inhibit urinary NEP activity, so that a tris buffer should be used as the incubation buffer, 2) NEP is the major component of human urinary kininases, and 3) NEP may play an important role in the renal kallikrein-kinin system.

Buffers↗

PubMed1989

Localization of neutral endopeptidase in the kidney determined by the stop-flow method.

Recently, the existence of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) as a new kininase in the kidney has been reported. In this study, the localization of NEP in the nephron was investigated and compared with other components of the renal kallikrein-kinin (K-K) system by using a stop-flow method in dog kidneys. The stop-flow method was performed according to the procedures previously reported by Scicli et al and Malvin et al. Five mongrel dogs (weighing 15-20 kg) were used in this study. Kininase I, II and NEP were measured by the modified procedure of Ura et al. Kallikrein and kinin were found in the distal tubules, and kininase I and II were observed in both the distal and proximal tubules. NEP was localized mainly in the proximal tubules. A small peak was also recognized in the distal tubules. From these results, it was suggested that, not only kininase I and II but also NEP existing in the proximal tubules may destroy kinin filtered from the glomeruli, and these kininases existing in the distal tubules may play an important role in connection with kinin producing enzymes on the regulation of activity in the renal kallikrein-kinin system.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Mechanisms of suppression of renal kallikrein activity in low renin essential hypertension and renoparenchymal hypertension.

The mechanism of suppression of renal kallikrein activity in low renin essential hypertensive and renoparenchymal hypertensive patients was investigated in this study. From Sephadex G-200 column chromatography studies, a single kallikrein peak was observed in both kallikrein radioimmunoassay and kininogenase activity in all samples from normal subjects, low renin essential hypertensive and renoparenchymal hypertensive patients, and in purified kallikrein solution. The enzyme-specific activity around the kallikrein peak in all urine samples from each group was significantly lower than that in purified kallikrein, and a significantly lower specific activity was found in both patient groups than was found in normal subjects. Moreover, it was also recognized that the specific activity of kallikrein decreased in all cases with the increase of the molecular weight of kallikrein, and this tendency was observed more obviously in the low renin essential hypertensive and renoparenchymal hypertensive patients than in the normal subjects. These results suggest the presence of a kallikrein-specific inhibitor with a low molecular weight in human urine, although the possibility of a variant form of kallikrein cannot be excluded.

Female↗

PubMed1989

A case of primary aldosteronism with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis treatment.

A 56-year-old man with primary aldosteronism and chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis is described. He complained of numbness of the extremities and showed persistent hypopotassemia in spite of anuria. In the endocrinological examination, a very high plasma aldosterone concentration was observed, while plasma renin activity was within the normal range. From the abdominal Computed Tomography (CT), adrenal scintigraphy, and segmental venous sampling data, he was diagnosed as primary aldosteronism due to left adrenocortical adenoma. In this case, hypopotassemia could not be explained by potassium loss through the kidneys, which suggests potassium excretion in the gastrointestinal tract as the mechanism of hypopotassemia. This was clearly shown from a potassium-balance study and the results of spironolactone administration. Our report is on the first case showing hypopotassemia due to primary aldosteronism in spite of anuria. If a patient treated with maintenance dialysis should have persistent hypopotassemia, as in the present report, it is necessary to consider an association with primary aldosteronism.

Humans↗

PubMed1989

Effects of norepinephrine and angiotensin II on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration in humans.

To clarify the effects of norepinephrine and angiotension II (Ang II) on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), both pressor substances were infused into normal volunteers, and plasma ANP levels and venous return were determined. When norepinephrine infusion elevated mean arterial pressure by 15 mm Hg, a transient increase of plasma ANP was observed. However, Ang II infusion showed no effect on plasma ANP levels, even though it also elevated arterial pressure. Superior vena cava flow and left atrial area, which were determined echocardiographically as the index of venous return, increased in the norepinephrine infusion study. However, in the study of Ang II infusion, there was no significant change in either superior vena cava flow or left atrial area. From these results, it was concluded that increased left atrial volume due to increased venous return is the major factor inducing ANP release in norepinephrine infusion.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

The pathophysiological role of digitalis-like substance in essential hypertension.

In order to investigate the role of digitalis-like substance in patients with essential hypertension, levels of plasma digitalis-like substance were measured in nine normotensive, 12 normal-renin and seven low-renin essential hypertensive subjects. The level of plasma digitalis-like substance was determined by using two different methods, the digoxin radio-immunoassay established by our laboratory and Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitory activity (modified Hamlyn's method). There was a significant positive correlation between plasma immunoreactive digitalis-like substance and Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitory activity in plasma samples. Both values were significantly higher in hypertensives than in normotensives. Moreover, Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitory activity was significantly higher in low-renin hypertensives than in normal-renin hypertensives or normotensives. These findings suggest (1) digoxin radio-immunoassay may be able to determine the level of plasma digitalis-like substance; (2) digitalis-like substance is increased in essential hypertensives, especially in low-renin hypertensives; (3) the level of digitalis-like substance might be related to plasma renin activity, and mediated by a change in plasma volume; and (4) the activity of the digitalis-like substance may contribute to the pathophysiology of essential hypertension.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

The pathophysiological role of renal dopamine, kallikrein kinin and prostaglandin systems in essential hypertension.

In order to clarify the relationship and the pathophysiological role of renal dopamine, kallikrein-kinin and prostaglandin systems in essential hypertensives, the effects of dopamine on these systems and renal sodium handling were investigated. Basal levels of kallikrein, kinin and prostaglandin E2 in essential hypertensives were significantly lower than those in normotensives. Those of kallikrein and kinin were obviously more suppressed in the low renin group than in the normal renin group, but no significant difference in prostaglandin E2 was found in either subgroup. Urinary dopamine excretion was significantly lower in the low renin essential hypertensives, while no significant difference was found between normotensives and normal renin essential hypertensives. Kallikrein activity and prostaglandin E2 were significantly increased in essential hypertensives by dopamine infusion, and no significant difference was found in kallikrein-quantity and kinin between normotensives and essential hypertensives after the infusion. These increases of kallikrein and kinin were significantly higher in the low renin group than in normal renin group, but those of prostaglandin E2 were not. Urine volume, urinary sodium excretion and fractional excretions of sodium and inorganic phosphorus were all increased in both normotensives and essential hypertensives after dopamine infusion. The increases of these were significantly greater in essential hypertensives than in normotensives, and greater in the low renin group than the normal renin group. From these results, it was suggested that the dopamine, kallikrein-kinin and prostaglandin E2 system have a close relationship with each other, and the suppression of these systems may contribute to the pathophysiology of essential hypertension, especially in the low renin group.

Dinoprostone↗

PubMed1987

Role of renal endopeptidase 24.11 in kinin metabolism in vitro and in vivo.

The relative contributions of three kininases to total urinary kininase activity were determined by measuring the hydrolysis of kinins in the presence and absence of inhibitors of kininase I (2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid; MGTA), kininase II (captopril) and neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP or enkephalinase A; phosphoramidon). Surprisingly, NEP was responsible for 68 +/- 2% (N = 18) of the total kininase in the rat while kininase I and II contributed only 9 +/- 0.4% and 23 +/- 1%, respectively. To study the effects of NEP inhibition on renal function, phosphoramidon (110 or 330 micrograms/hr/kg; N = 6) or saline (0.1 microliter/min; N = 6) was infused into rats. Urinary kinins, kininases, renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), UNaV, UKV and UV were measured during control, experimental and recovery periods. Phosphoramidon at the higher dose decreased total urinary kininase activity from 284 +/- 49 to 58 +/- 5 ng/min/kg (77%, P less than 0.01), and increased kinin excretion from 74 +/- 9 to 128 +/- 21 pg/min/kg (73%, P less than 0.02), UV from 72 +/- 10 to 82 +/- 10 microliters/min/kg (15%, P less than 0.01) and UNaV from 12 +/- 2 to 17 +/- 3 microEq/min/kg (37%, P less than 0.02), while BP, RBF, GFR and UKV did not change. 125I-Tyr0-bradykinin infused into the aorta did not appear in the urine intact during simultaneous phosphoramidon and captopril administration. This is the first demonstration of NEP having a major role in the catabolism of kinins. The increase in UNaV and UV after phosphoramidon administration may be due to the inhibition of intrarenal kinin destruction.

3-Mercaptopropionic Acid↗

PubMed1987

Plasma levels of human atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with hypertensive diseases.

Three types of antihuman atrial natriuretic peptide antiserum were obtained. From the study of cross-reactivity to human atrial natriuretic peptide fragments, it was suggested that antisera-1, -2, and -3 are mostly specific to 1-28, 5-25, and the ring structure, respectively. The estimated values of this hormone were significantly lower in the order of antisera-1, -2, and -3. Moreover, high performance liquid chromatographic study showed that various types of fragments of atrial natriuretic peptide exist in human plasma. These findings suggested that the highly specific antiserum to 1-28 human atrial natriuretic peptide such as antiserum-1 should be used to estimate the 1-28 human atrial natriuretic peptide levels in human plasma. From the study by using antiserum-1, it was concluded that the plasma human atrial natriuretic peptide increased in essential hypertensives, and in patients with primary aldosteronism, chronic renal failure, and malignant hypertension. Regarding the pathophysiological significance of increased plasma atrial natriuretic peptide, it is unlikely that this plays an important role in the etiology of essential hypertension or other hypertensive diseases, because the plasma level of this hormone is elevated in these patients. The increase of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide level in these patients should be considered to be a secondary or compensatory reaction to high blood pressure.

Aldosterone↗

PubMed1987

Role of renin-angiotensin and kallikrein-kinin systems on the mechanism of the hypotensive effects of converting enzyme inhibitor, alacepril.

In four patients with essential hypertension and one patient with renovascular hypertension, decreases in blood pressure and plasma angiotensin II levels, and increases in plasma renin activity and plasma kinin levels were observed during eight days of alacepril treatment. Significant correlations between the changes in mean arterial pressure and those in plasma angiotensin II or kinin levels were observed positively or negatively, respectively, in the essential hypertensives. These findings suggest that the hypotensive effect of alacepril might be caused mainly by a decrease in plasma angiotensin II levels and, at least in part, by an increase in plasma kinin levels.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

The role of renal kallikrein-kinin system and prostaglandins in diuresis and natriuresis following saline infusion in normotensives and essential hypertensives.

In order to clarify the significance of the renal kallikrein(KAL)-kinin(KIN) system and prostaglandins (PG) in exaggerated natriuresis in essential hypertensives, the effect of acute sodium load on urinary KAL, KIN, PG, and renal water and sodium handling were investigated in normotensives (NT) and patients with essential hypertension (EHT). Nine NT and seven EHT were studied following acute physiological saline infusion (1000 ml/2 hrs). Urine volume (UV), urinary sodium excretion (UNaV), fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), and fractional excretion of inorganic phosphorus (FEP) were measured by the clearance method. Urinary KAL and KIN were determined by direct-RIA. Urinary kininase (total, I and II) activities were measured by the kinin destroying capacity. Urinary PGE was measured by RIA. Following saline infusion, UV, UNaV, FEP, KAL, KIN and PGE significantly increased in both NT and EHT. The increases of UV, UNaV, FENa, FEP and KAL were remarkably greater in EHT than each in NT, while no significant difference was found in the increment of PGE between NT and EHT. Significantly positive correlations were observed between PGE and KAL or KIN in NT (r = 0.889, p less than 0.005; r = 0.574, p less than 0.05, respectively), but not in EHT. From these results, it was concluded that the exaggerated natriuresis observed in EHT following infusion may be significantly related to the augmentation of renal KAL-KIN system, but was not directly related to PGE.

Diuresis↗

PubMed1986

The method of urinary total kallikrein and prekallikrein measurement, and their urinary excretions in the patients with essential hypertension.

The method of measurement for urinary total kallikrein (KAL) and preKAL in human was developed, and daily excretions of urinary total KAL, KAL and preKAL were investigated in patients with essential hypertension. Forty microliter of urine samples were incubated with or without 120 micrograms of chymotrypsin-free trypsin for total KAL or KAL, respectively. KAL was measured with direct radioimmunoassay and kininogenase assay. PreKAL was calculated by the subtraction of KAL from total KAL. The subjects of this study included 7 normotensives (NT) and 8 essential hypertensives (EHT). Daily excretions of total KAL, KAL and preKAL were significantly lower in EHT than those in NT. KAL/total KAL ratio, which reflects the conversion rate from preKAL to KAL in the kidney, was not significantly different between EHT and NT. From these results, it is suggested that decreased urinary KAL excretion in EHT is mainly caused by reduced preKAL production rather than the impaired conversion from preKAL to KAL in the kidney. It is emphasized that this method of measurement for urinary total KAL and preKAL may be a very useful tool for research of the renal kallikrein-kinin system.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Comprehensive studies on the renal kallikrein-kinin system in essential hypertension.

In order to investigate the role of the renal kallikrein-kinin (K-K) system in normal (NRH) and low renin (LRH) subgroups of essential hypertension (EHT), daily urinary excretions of renal K-K system components including kallikrein (KAL), total KAL, pre-KAL, kinin (KIN) and kininase (total, I and II), were measured in 21 normotensives (NT) and 45 patients with EHT (NRH: 29, LRH: 16). Urinary KAL and KIN quantities, KAL activity, total and pre-KAL, and kininase (total, I and II) were measured by direct RIA, kininogenase assay, direct RIA of KAL after trypsin treatment, and KIN destroying capacity, respectively. The daily excretions of KAL quantity and activity, total and pre-KAL, and KIN were significantly lower in EHT than in NT. That of total kininase and kininase I were significantly higher in EHT than in NT while no significant difference was found in kininase I between EHT and NT. In comparing NRH and LRH, the urinary KAL activity and KIN were lower in LRH than in NRH, and kininase I was higher in LRH than in NRH. No significant difference, however, was found in total and pre-KAL, KAL quantity and kininase II between NRH and LRH. The ratio of KAL quantity/total KAL which reflects the conversion rate from pre-KAL in the kidney, did not show any significant difference among NT, NRH and LRH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗

PubMed1986

A comparative study of the measurement of urinary kallikrein by various methods in patients with essential hypertension and patients with proteinuria.

In order to investigate the validity of urinary kallikrein (KAL) measurement, comparative studies were performed among the values obtained by various methods of urinary KAL measurements. Daily urine samples were collected from 37 hospitalized normal subjects (NS, 21 essential hypertensives without complications (EHT) and 20 patients with renal diseases associated with proteinuria (PU). Urinary KAL excretions were determined by direct radioimmunoassay (RIA), kininogenase assay (K-genase), TAMe esterase assay (TAMe), and PPA-MCA (MCA) and PPA-NE amidase assay (NE). By the desalting procedure, urinary KAL levels showed significant changes in TAMe, MCA and NE, but not in d-RIA and K-genase in all three groups. In TAMe, MCA and NE, the recovery of added KAL in urine was significantly lower in non-desalted samples in both EHT and PU, but not in NS. Impaired recovery and correlations between d-RIA or K-genase and TAMe, MCA or NE in non-desalted samples were improved by desalting. Although good correlations were observed between d-RIA or K-genase and TAMe, MCA or NE in desalted samples, the slopes of curves were steeper in EHT and PU than in NS, suggesting that the synthetic substrate methods still have some problems in the KAL measurement in these pathological states, KAL inhibitor, aprotinin and gabezate mesilate did not suppress the esterclytic and amidolytic activities completely, but suppressed K-genase activity completely in PU urine samples, suggesting that certain kinds of non-KAL esterases might remain in PU urine samples. Thus, d-RIA and K-genase appear to be the most reliable methods in the measurement of urinary KAL quantity and activity, respectively.

Humans↗

PubMed1986

Purification of human low molecular weight kininogen and its application for a simple ND sensitive method for determination of human urinary kallikrein activity.

Human plasma low molecular weight kininogen was purified with ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose, CM-Sephadex C-50 and aprotinin-agarose affinity column chromatography, after which this was further purified with Sephadex G-150 and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatographies. Kallikrein activity was measured as the kininogenase activity reflecting the kinin-producing capacity from kininogen. The purification factor from crude plasma to purified substrate was 44-fold, and the recovery was 18%. The purified human substrate did not contain kinin-generating or destroying enzymes which would interfere with kininogenase activity, and showed a cross-reactivity of less than 0.1% against kinin antiserum. In the kininogenase assay, all kininogen was removed by adding ethanol to terminate the enzyme reaction. Because of the high sensitivity of kinin radioimmunoassay, the kinin levels in urine could be determined in very small amounts of samples (0.5 to 2.0 nl of the original urine). These findings indicated that kinin levels in incubation solution could be measured directly, and the control tubes are unnecessary in this assay procedure. In a comparison among human, dog and bovine low molecular weight kininogen as the substrate for human urinary kallikrein, the enzyme activity was 5 and 80 fold higher in the human low molecular weight kininogen, respectively, suggesting that a human substrate is the best for human enzymes. This simple, specific, sensitive and homologous kininogenase assay system seems to be very useful investigating the physiological or pathophysiological role of the renal kallikrein-kinin system in hypertensive and renal diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Localization of renal kallikrein-kinin system components in the kidney.

In a study using a stop-flow technique in dog kidney, the existence of kallikrein and kinin was recognized in distal tubules. The presence of kininase I was seen in both distal and proximal tubules, and also partly in the distal tubules. The presence of kininase II in the distal tubules was again confirmed by pretreatment with SQ14225. No evidence of kinin formation, however, was obtained in the proximal nephrons in stop-flow method. From these results, it was suggested that kininase I and II localized in proximal tubules may destroy the kinin filtered from glomeruli at the proximal level, while kallikrein and kininogen and also kininase I and II in the distal tubules may regulate the activity of the renal kallikrein-kinin system in the distal nephrons.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Urinary excretions of kininase I and kininase II activities in essential hypertension. A sensitive and simple method for its kinin-destroying capacity.

To further clarify the role of the renal kallikrein-kinin system in essential hypertension, a sensitive and simple method for the determination of both human urinary kininase I and kininase II was established, and the system components were determined in patients. In the measurement of kininase activity, desalted urine samples were incubated with synthetic bradykinin, and the reaction was terminated with kininase inhibitors, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and phenanthroline. Thus, kininase activity was determined as the kinin-destroying capacity. Moreover, the specific inhibitor for kininase II, SQ14225, was applied for the separation of kininase I and kininase II activities. Daily urinary excretions of total kininase and kininase I activities were significantly higher in essential hypertensive patients than those in normotensive subjects, whereas no difference was observed in kininase II activity. As reported previously, daily excretions of urinary kallikrein and kinin simultaneously determined in these patients were significantly lower than excretions in normotensive subjects. From these results, it was suggested that not only decreased renal kallikrein, but also increased kininase activity, may play an important role in the suppression of the renal kallikrein-kinin system through the reduction of active kinin level in essential hypertension.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

A simple and sensitive method for determination of human urinary kallikrein activity (kininogenase activity), using human low molecular weight kininogen.

Human low molecular weight kininogen was partially purified and applied to the measurement of human glandular kallikrein as a substrate. The prepared human low molecular weight kininogen did not contain any significant amounts of kinin generating or destroying enzymes. When ethanol was added to the assay tube to stop the enzyme reaction, the substrate was almost completely removed from the incubation solution. Moreover, less than 1.25% ethanol had no effect on the kinin radioimmunoassay. These data suggest that the measurement of generated kinin can be done directly after the addition of ethanol. In this assay system, control tubes were unnecessary since the small volume of the urine samples (0.5 to 2.0 nl) contained negligible amounts of endogenous kinin. In a comparison of the availability as a substrate for human urinary kallikrein among human, dog and bovine low molecular weight kininogens, the enzyme activity was 5 or 100 times as high in the human substrate as in the dog and bovine substrates, suggesting that a human substrate is best for the human enzyme. A significant correlation was found between our previous method using bovine substrate and this method for human urinary kallikrein activity. In both methods, urinary kallikrein excretions were significantly lower in patients with essential hypertension and higher in those with primary aldosteronism, respectively. This simple, specific and sensitive kininogenase assay system seems to be very useful for investigating the physiological or pathophysiological role of the renal kallikrein-kinin system in hypertensive and renal diseases.

Animals↗