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Biomedical subjects

N Yamaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to N Yamaguchi.

At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources

The role of interleukin-5 in protective immunity to Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in mice.

We depleted or neutralized interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IL-5 receptor of C57BL/6 mice, using rat anti-murine IL-5 monoclonal antibody (NC17) and anti-murine IL-5 receptor monoclonal antibody (H7). Mice treated with these monoclonal antibodies were infected with Strongyloides venezuelensis larvae. The time-course of faecal egg output and peripheral eosinophilia were monitored. In a primary infection, anti-IL-5 treatment did not affect faecal egg output, although the eosinophil count in peripheral blood was markedly reduced. There was no difference in intestinal worm burden or faecal egg output between anti-IL-5 treated and non-treated mice. In a secondary infection, worms were expelled from the small intestine of anti-IL-5-treated mice as well as from non-treated mice. Worm recovery from the lungs of mice treated with either anti-IL-5 or anti-IL-5 receptor monoclonal antibody was the same as that of normal controls. However, a marked reduction in worm recovery was observed in re-infected mice that had not been treated with monoclonal antibodies. Treatment with anti-IL-5 or anti-IL-5 receptor monoclonal antibody suppressed blood and tissue eosinophilia. Thus the results suggested that the host's protective immunity against tissue-migrating larvae was IL-5-dependent but intestinal immunity was not.

Animals↗

Interleukin 5 and interleukin 3 induce serine and tyrosine phosphorylations of several cellular proteins in an interleukin 5-dependent cell line.

Murine interleukin 5 (IL-5), a lymphokine produced by helper T cells, is involved in the regulation of growth and differentiation of B cells and eosinophils. To elucidate the intracellular events via the IL-5 receptor, we have investigated IL-5-induced protein phosphorylation in an IL-5-dependent murine early B-lineage cell line (T88-M). The rapid phosphorylation of a 60-kDa protein at serine residues and of 140-, 92-, 53-, 48-, and 45-kDa proteins at tyrosine residues were induced by the stimulation of T88-M cells with IL-5. T88-M cells were found to proliferate in response to IL-3 as well as IL-5, and the phosphoproteins in T88-M cells could be induced by IL-3 stimulation in a similar manner of those induced by IL-5. Thus, these results suggest that the protein phosphorylation events in T88-M cells may be shared by both pathways via the IL-5 receptor and the IL-3 receptor.

Animals↗

Characterization of new human pancreatic cancer cell lines which propagate in a protein-free chemically defined medium.

Many human cancer cell lines which have been maintained in fetal bovine serum (FBS)-supplemented medium produce and secrete many substances such as transferrin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-macroglobulin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, creatine kinase, carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, carbohydrate antigen 19/9, and cytokines including colony-stimulating factors and transforming growth factor, and further they may produce small amounts of unknown substances. Usually, small amounts of substances have to be concentrated as highly as possible for detection, but FBS interferes with this procedure. A protein-free culture system is an ideal method for detecting small quantities of substances which originate from cancer cells without interference by FBS. However, we were concerned that protein-free culture may interrupt the production of the substances which have been produced in FBS-supplemented medium. In this study, we investigated the productibility of 46 kinds of well-known substances in ten newly established cell lines derived from human pancreatic cancer. These cell lines were propagated in a protein-free non-FBS-supplemented medium. Of the ten cases, one cell line alone that was derived from acinal cell carcinoma propagated as a semisuspension; on the other hand, nine cell lines that were derived from ductal cell carcinoma propagated as monolayers without piling up. This method prolongs the doubling time, which is not affected by the addition of FBS. The spent media of these cell lines were collected aseptically after the removal of cell debris and concentrated by ultrafiltration using a Pericon cassette followed by lyophilization. Using 46 kinds of available antibodies, we investigated whether or not the substances which react to these antibodies could be detected in the spent media and in the cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analysis, and immunocytochemistry. Among these cell lines, HPC-Y11 produced and secreted the most kinds of substances, and the production of those substances was lowest in HPC-Y0. In conclusion, our protein-free culture system can be available in every laboratory, since this is not only an economical method, but also an effective method for the saving of purification procedures. Moreover, this is a most suitable method for surveying unknown substances derived from cancer cell lines.

Antibodies↗

MK-801 (non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist)-induced blockade of the 'burst response' in the dentate gyrus after perforant path kindling in acutely prepared rabbits.

Effects of MK-801, a non-competitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, were observed on the 'burst responses' elicited in the dentate gyrus by single shocks to the perforant path after kindling to the pathway in acutely prepared rabbits. The intracortical injection of 10 microM of an MK-801-containing solution almost completely blocked the previously induced burst responses, suggesting that activation of the NMDA receptor or the receptor-linked ion channel greatly contributes to the manifestation of the burst responses.

Animals↗

Use of the human elongation factor 1 alpha promoter as a versatile and efficient expression system.

We have characterized the promoter region of the human elongation factor 1 alpha-encoding gene (EF-1 alpha) and developed a versatile expression system which has a wide host range and a high efficiency of gene expression. To identify the promoter region of the EF-1 alpha gene necessary for efficient gene expression, we constructed four pEF-CAT plasmids that have the bacterial cat gene fused to four different sites of the human EF-1 alpha gene: (i) ligated to the end of the TATA box (pEF220-CAT); (ii) ligated in exon 1 (pEF204-CAT and pEF233-CAT), and (iii) ligated in exon 2 (pEF321-CAT). All the pEF-CAT plasmids were highly expressed in all the cell types tested, including fibroblasts and lymphoid cells. Plasmid pEF321-CAT, which contains the first exon and the first intron, gave the highest level of cat expression. Plasmids pEF204- and pEF233-CAT, which contain part of the first exon but do not contain the first intron, were less efficient in cat expression than was pEF321-CAT. Plasmid pEF220-CAT, which lacks both the first exon and the first intron, was the least efficient. Plasmid pEF321-CAT was several- to 100-fold more efficient in cat expression than plasmid pSV2-CAT depending on the recipient cell types. The promoter of pEF321 plasmid also directed the stable expression of the bacterial neo gene more efficiently than the promoter of the simian virus 40 (SV40) early gene or the long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus. Using this system, the SV40 early gene and the cDNA encoding human CD4 were also expressed efficiently.

Animals↗

Distribution of IL-5 receptor-positive B cells. Expression of IL-5 receptor on Ly-1(CD5)+ B cells.

mAb to murine IL-5R were prepared by means of fusion between mouse myeloma cells and spleen cells from a rat immunized with membrane-enriched fractions of IL-5-dependent early B cell line (T88-M). Two mAb (H7 and T21) were selected for their competitive inhibition of receptor binding by 35S-labeled IL-5 and of IL-5 biologic activities. The number of binding sites recognized by the mAb on different cell lines correlated with IL-5 responsiveness. Most surface IgM+ peritoneal B cells were H7+ and more than 70% were also Ly-1(CD5)dull+, and responded to IL-5 for polyclonal IgM production in a high frequency. A significant proportion of splenic B cells reacted with these mAb, although lower number (one-log less) than peritoneal B cells and a small proportion of H7dull+ splenic B cells seems to be Ly-1(CD5)dull+, 1 of 200 splenic B cells responded to IL-5 for IgM production. These results suggest that IL-5R+ B cells may consist of a subpopulation of B cells. Intriguingly, lymphoid populations of bone marrow cells were stained with H7 and T21, whereas myeloid populations were brightly stained with only T21. Finally, both H7 and T21 mAb specifically precipitated a protein of a Mr 60,000 from 125I-labeled cell lysates of IL-5R+ T88-M cells. The IL-5R with similar size (Mr 55,000 to 60,000) was precipitated from the cell lysates of peritoneal B cells. T21 mAb but not H7 mAb precipitated a protein of a Mr 110,000 from the cell lysates of bone marrow cells.

Animals↗

[Quantitative assessment of mineral content in metacarpal bone with Fuji computed radiography].

A new microdensitometry method for quantitative assessment of bone mineral content using Fuji computed radiography (FCR) was developed and the results were compared with those obtained by the conventional film-screen method. Using both methods, X-ray pictures of the 2nd metacarpal bone were taken with a reference aluminum step wedge in nine normal subjects and nine parameters representing the width and density of bone marrow and cortex were calculated in the middle of the bone shaft. Interobserver reproducibility assessed for three parameters was significantly higher in the FCR method than the conventional one. The value of sigma GS computed by the FCR method, that is equivalent to the net bone density of the transverse section of the shaft, showed higher correlation with the one obtained by computed tomography in comparison with the conventional method. In our FCR method, moreover, interobserver reproducibility and accuracy was improved by employing automatic manipulation as much as possible in the process of calculation. The exposure dose in the FCR method could be reduced to half of the one in the conventional method without deteriorating the accuracy. In conclusion, our new microdensitometry method with FCR provides high accuracy and good reproducibility for the measurement of bone mineral content with small exposure dose and is likely to be useful for the long-term follow-up of the osteoporotic patients from the variety of causes.

Adult↗

[Quantitative evaluation of screening programs for chronic diseases].

This paper addresses an epidemiologic approach to the quantitative evaluation of screening programs for chronic diseases. A new formula is advanced for the quantitative relationship between the yield of a screening program and the natural history of chronic disease, based on the two stage model of disease progression. The formula was applied to follow-up data of the participants and the proportions of cases detected by the screening were estimated as 15.3% for all diseases and 43.8% for hypertensive disorders. The formula is useful for continuous monitoring of ongoing screening programs as well as for potential impact evaluation of hypothetical programs.

Adult↗

Role of carbohydrate moiety of IL-5. Effect of tunicamycin on the glycosylation of IL-5 and the biologic activity of deglycosylated IL-5.

IL-5 is a T cell-derived lymphokine that induces B cell growth and differentiation in murine systems. In this study, we examined the role of carbohydrate moiety of IL-5 in the expression of biological function. IL-5 polypeptides translated in Xenopus oocytes were heterogeneous in terms of isoelectric point (pI 4.7 to 8.0) and m.w. (45,000 to 60,000 under nonreducing conditions) and yielded m.w. of 25,000 to 30,000 under reducing conditions. Treatment of rIL-5 with N-glycanase under reducing conditions yielded an IL-5 monomer of m.w. 12,000 to 14,000. Furthermore, deglycosylated rIL-5 that had been translated in the presence of tunicamycin showed very limited heterogeneity by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (first dimension, nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis; second dimension, SDS-PAGE). The m.w. was 27,000 to 28,000 under non-reducing conditions and migrated to m.w. 13,000 to 14,000 under reducing conditions. These results indicate that IL-5 is a glycoprotein carrying the N-glycosidically-linked carbohydrates. Treatment of IL-5 with sialidase caused the decrease in the heterogeneity in isoelectric point of IL-5. Deglycosylated rIL-5 that had been obtained from tunicamycin-treated oocytes could bind to IL-5-responding cells (T88-M), which express both high- and low-affinity IL-5 receptors, as efficient as intact rIL-5 under high-affinity conditions. Scatchard plot analysis of equilibrium binding of 35S-labeled rIL-5 to T88-M cells revealed that the dissociation constants (Kd) of glycosylated rIL-5 and deglycosylated rIL-5 were 127 pM and 110 pM, respectively. IL-5 activities determined by both B cell growth and differentiation assays were not affected by deglycosylation. These results indicate that N-linked glycoside moiety of IL-5 molecules may not play an essential role in the expression of its activity.

Animals↗

Normal bronchial mucus contains high levels of cancer-associated antigens, CA125, CA19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen.

The presence of cancer-associated antigens CA125, CA19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in apparently normal respiratory system was demonstrated histochemically and immunochemically. Epithelial cells lining central airways (trachea, bronchi, and bronchioli) and respiratory glands were specifically stained by antibodies recognizing CA125, CA19-9, and CEA. Most, if not all, bronchial mucus obtained from patients without pulmonary diseases during general anesthesia contained remarkably high levels of CA125, CA19-9, and CEA ranging from 190 to 41,000 U/ml (594-4803 U/mg protein), 210 to 95,000 U/ml (294-197,917 U/mg protein), and 6 to 940 ng/ml (14-209 ng/mg protein), respectively, whereas serum antigen levels were normal in all cases examined. These results suggest that CA125, CA19-9, and CEA are synthesized and secreted by normal epithelial cells of central airways and/or respiratory glands and that these substances are not specific indicators of abnormal cellular activity.

Adolescent↗

Characterization of a cathepsin L-like enzyme secreted from human pancreatic cancer cell line HPC-YP.

Spent culture medium from the human pancreatic carcinoma cell line HPC-YP, which can propagate in a protein-free, chemically defined medium without any other supplements, was analyzed for the presence of the cysteine protease, cathepsin L. The secreted form of cathepsin L was distinguished from the lysosomal form by its increased stability at alkaline pH, by its strong thermostability, and by its larger molecular size. HPC-YP cathepsin L was still stable at pH 7.4 and at 56 degrees C after 60-min preincubation. The molecular weight of this enzyme was estimated to be 68,000, compared with a molecular weight of 29,000 for normal liver cathepsin L. By Western blot analysis, HPC-YP enzyme was found to be composed of two components, one with a molecular weight of 37,000 and the other of 31,000. This result suggests that HPC-YP enzyme in the spent medium may be a complex of the proenzyme (in the case of liver proenzyme; Mr 39,000) and the mature enzyme (in the case of liver mature enzyme; Mr 29,000). Interestingly, an intrinsic inhibitor was also separated from the spent medium by gel filtration. The molecular weight of this inhibitor was estimated to be approximately 13,000. The cathepsin L of HPC-YP proved more resistant toward leupeptin than did liver cathepsin L. On the other hand, the former was more sensitive than the latter toward the diazomethane inhibitors, Z-Phe-Phe-CHN2 and Z-Phe-Ala-CHN2. These results indicate that cathepsin L secreted from cancer cell lines may play a role in the destruction of basal lamina, invasion of tissue, and formation of metastasis.

Blotting, Western↗

Selective expression of the p70 subunit of the interleukin-2 receptor on lymphocytes from patients with infectious mononucleosis.

The lymphocytosis manifested in infectious mononucleosis (IM) during acute phase is ascribed to a reactive expansion of CD8+ T lymphocytes caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected B lymphocytes. Expression of HLA-DR antigen on IM lymphocytes suggests that these T lymphocytes are somehow activated in vivo. In the present study, we analyzed the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor expression on lymphocytes from six patients with acute IM. Radiolabeled IL-2 binding assay revealed that IM lymphocytes from all patients examined had a considerable number of IL-2 binding sites with an intermediate affinity, although they did not express the IL-2 receptor recognized by anti-Tac antibody (p55). The number of binding sites (1,070 to 4,600 sites per cell) was larger than that of a normal, resting T lymphocyte-enriched population (650 sites per cell). Furthermore, IM lymphocytes showed marked proliferative responses to higher concentrations of IL-2, which were almost completely blocked by an anti-p70 IL-2 receptor antibody, indicating that their IL-2 receptor is a functional receptor. The results of an affinity cross-linking study seem to indicate that the IL-2 receptor expressed on IM lymphocytes is p70, the second chain of the IL-2 receptor distinct from p55. Flow cytometric analysis following immunofluorescent staining with anti-p70 IL-2 receptor antibody confirmed p70 expression on CD8+ HLA-DR+ lymphocytes. These data suggest that p70 IL-2 receptor expression is involved in the immune response triggered by EBV infection.

Acute Disease↗

Histidine-rich glycoprotein as a negative acute phase reactant.

Serum histidine-rich glycoprotein was determined by the Laurell method in patients with acute inflammation, which negatively correlated with C-reactive protein (P less than 0.005). In sequential observations, this negative relationship was apparently confirmed. Thus histidine-rich glycoprotein acts as a negative acute phase reactant.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Retroviral interleukin 5 gene transfer into interleukin 5-dependent growing cell lines results in autocrine growth and tumorigenicity.

Two interleukin 5 (IL5)-specific retroviral expression vectors have been constructed containing the neomycin gene as selectable marker and either the mouse IL5 cDNA region or the rat genomic IL5 gene under the control of the thymidine kinase promoter. High viral titer supernatants derived from the transfected or infected packaging cell line psi 2 were used to infect the two cell lines B13 and T88M whose growth is dependent on exogenous IL 5. Infection resulted in G418 resistance and IL 5-independent growth with a high frequency. Clones were established which secrete between 2 and greater than 1000 U IL5. The proliferation of the IL5 autocrine growing cells could be inhibited by an antibody directed against the IL5 receptor indicating that they grow as a result of the endogenously produced IL5. Regardless of the amount of IL5 they produced, all of the clones were highly tumorigenic in nucle mice. The phenotype of the tumors was indistinguishable from that of the injected cells. T88M or B13 cells infected with a control virus neither produced IL5, nor became factor independent, nor produced tumors. Together, the IL5 gene transfer and expression into IL5-dependent growing cells are in accordance with the "autocrine growth" hypothesis and contrast analogous experiments with IL4.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning and expression of the murine interleukin-5 receptor.

Murine interleukin-5 (IL-5) is known to play an essential role in Ig production of B cells and proliferation and differentiation of eosinophils. Here, we have isolated cDNA clones encoding a murine IL-5 receptor by expression screening of a library prepared from a murine IL-5 dependent early B cell line. A cDNA library was expressed in COS7 cells and screened by panning with the use of anti-IL-5 receptor monoclonal antibodies. The deduced amino acid sequence analysis demonstrates that the receptor is a glycoprotein of 415 amino acids (Mr 45,284), including an N-terminal hydrophobic region (17 amino acids), a glycosylated extracellular domain (322 amino acids), a single transmembrane segment (22 amino acids) and a cytoplasmic tail (54 amino acids). COS7 cells transfected with the cDNA expressed a 60 kd protein that bound IL-5 with a single class of affinity (KD = 2-10 nM). FDC-P1 cells transfected with the cDNA for murine IL-5 receptor showed the expression of IL-5 binding sites with both low (KD = 6 nM) and high affinity (KD = 30 pM) and acquired responsiveness to IL-5 for proliferation, although parental FDC-P1 cells did not show any detectable IL-5 binding. In addition, several cDNA clones encoding soluble forms of the IL-5 receptor were isolated. Northern blot analysis showed that two species of mRNAs (5.0 kb and 5.8 kb) were detected in cell lines that display binding sites for murine IL-5. Homology search for the amino acid sequence of the IL-5 receptor reveals that the IL-5 receptor contains a common motif of a cytokine receptor family that is recently identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fluctuations of interictal brain imaging in repeated 123I-IMP SPECT scans in an epileptic patient.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain scans with N-isopropyl-(iodine 123) p-iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) were performed three times in interictal periods in a 35-year-old man with intractable frontal lobe epilepsy and normal X-ray CT findings. The first scan showed decreased 123I-IMP uptake in the right frontal lobe. This abnormal image was regarded as the primary focus of his epilepsy on the basis of its regional agreement with focal epileptic discharges on EEGs. In the second scan, he showed normal imaging, while the third scan showed the same abnormal image as before, in the right frontal lobe. The frequency of his clinical seizures was almost unchanged during the intervals between scans and further EEGs recorded soon after each scan showed almost no changes in the basic activities and frequency of the epileptic discharges. Such fluctuations in SPECT brain imaging suggest that the severity of functional inactivation underlying the focal hypoperfusion image as an epileptic focus may fluctuate considerably in the interictal state with no relation to the clinical features of epilepsy.

Adult↗

Augmentation of various immune reactivities of tumor-bearing hosts with an extract of Cordyceps sinensis.

In order to enhance general reactivity of immune system in the tumor-bearing host, we employed extract of Cordyceps sinensis (CSE) as a biological response modifier. Cordyceps sinensis is an interesting material produced by a kind of mushroom parasitic to larval moths and was used to hasten recovery from exhaustion in ancient China. In this experiment, C57BL/6 mice implanted subcutaneously with syngeneic EL-4 lymphoma cells were employed as the host. Oral administration of the extract leads to a reduction of tumor size and prolongation of the host survival time. As judged by plaque-forming cells against T-dependent (sheep erythrocytes) and T-independent (bacterial lipopolysaccharide) antigens, CSE showed to augment the antibody responses. As for the activities of peritoneal macrophages, chemotaxis was dramatically depressed within a few days after EL-4 transplantation up to the end of life, but treatment with CSE at -14, -7, -4, +4, +7 and +10 days after the tumor transplantation augmented the activity about four times stronger than that of control. Phagocytic activity of macrophages was also decreased in tumor-bearing mice treated with cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg) 3 and 5 days after tumor transplantation. But administration of CSE restored the activity to more than the normal level. The overall efficacy of CSE was tested with protective activity against systemic infection by Salmonella enteritides. The tumor-bearing mice receiving this medicine lived significantly longer than any other groups without CSE.

Administration, Oral↗