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Biomedical subjects

R Kato

Publications and source records attributed to R Kato.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Isolation and characterization of four cytochrome P450 isozymes from untreated and phenobarbital-treated beagle dogs.

Four different forms of cytochrome P450 (P450) were purified from liver microsomes of untreated or phenobarbital (PB)-treated male beagle dogs using HPLC techniques, and designated as DUT-1, DPB-1, DPB-2 and DPB-3, respectively. Specific contents of the purified DUT-1, DPB-1, DPB-2 and DPB-3 were 13.3, 9.6, 15.6 and 12.2 nmol/mg protein, respectively. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the monomeric molecular weights of DUT-1, DPB-1, DPB-2 and DPB-3 were estimated to be 57.5, 50.0, 47.0 and 50.0 kDa, respectively. The absolute spectra of the oxidized forms indicated that they exist in the low-spin state of heme in their oxidized forms. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of DUT-1 was unique and different from that of any other P450 so far reported. DUT-1 was active in the omega-hydroxylation of lauric acid. The amino-terminal sequences of DPB-1, DPB-2 and DPB-3 suggested that they belong to the P450 3A, 2C and 2B gene families, respectively. DPB-3 was a major form of P450 in PB-treated dog liver microsomes. Purified DPB-1 catalyzed nifedipine and (+)- and (-)-nilvadipine oxidations, as well as testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation in the reconstituted system. These activities were enhanced 3- to 5-fold by the addition of cytochrome b5. DPB-2 and DPB-3 catalyzed aminopyrine N-demethylation, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation, biphenyl 4-hydroxylation and testosterone 16 alpha-hydroxylation. We believe that DUT-1 is a new form not purified previously.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Two applications of in vivo brain microdialysis: administration of high-molecular-weight drugs through a microinjection tube and measurement of nitric oxide production].

A brain microdialysis technique has made it possible to determine neurotransmitter levels in the targeted region of the brain of a freely moving rat. In this article, two kinds of application of the brain microdialysis are demonstrated. First, to study central nervous effects of large molecular weight substances that cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, we used a microdialysis probe equipped with a microinjection tube for administering the substance in the same region into which the probe had been inserted. We proved that interleukin-1 beta (1 ng) injected directly into the anterior hypothalamus elicited releases of NE, DA and 5-HT, as well as increases in their metabolites. Second, using a new method combining a brain microdialysis technique with measurement of nitrite/nitrate by the Griess reaction, we demonstrated that activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the cerebella of rats induces the release of nitric oxide (NO). Since L-NG-monomethyl-arginine (L-NMMA), which competitively blocks NO synthesis from L-arginine, significantly inhibited the release of nitrite/nitrate from the rat cerebellum, these results indicate that this new method is capable of measuring NO formation from L-arginine following the stimulation of NMDA receptors.

Animals↗

Beneficial circulatory effect of L-arginine.

L-Arginine is an essential amino acid for infants and growing children. This amino acid is a substrate for at least five enzymes identified in mammals, including arginase, arginine-glycine transaminase, kyotorphine synthase, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and arginine decarboxylase. L-Arginine exerts antihypertensive and antiproliferative effects on vascular smooth muscles. NOS and arginine decarboxylase appear to be important for the effect of L-arginine on the circulatory system, since each produces nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator, and agmatine, an endogenous noncatecholamine ligand for central alpha-2 adrenoceptors, from L-arginine. Several issues must be clarified before the mechanisms by which L-arginine exerts its effects on the circulatory system can be fully understood.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Characterization and expression of hepatic sulfotransferase involved in the metabolism of N-substituted aryl compounds.

An aryl sulfotransferase, whose cDNA was isolated from the rat liver library, was found to catalyze bioactivation of minoxidil through N-O-sulfation and N-sulfation of a carcinogenic heterocyclic amine, IQ, by expression in COS-1 cells. cDNA of a human ortholog also was isolated and characterized as a major minoxidil-activating enzyme in human liver. Another group of aryl sulfotransferases catalyzing O-sulfation of carcinogenic N-hydroxyarylamines was separated from livers of rats and humans. These sulfotransferases have been shown to possess similar functional properties and also to relate immunochemically with each other. Current understanding on the primary structure of these sulfotransferases also is discussed.

Amines↗

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) concentration and PAF acetylhydrolase activity in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The authors studied the sequential changes in platelet-activating factor (PAF) and PAF acetylhydrolase in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Levels of PAF in CSF showed a gradual increase after the onset of SAH, with a subsequent decrease. The PAF concentration between 5 and 9 days after SAH was greater in patients with cerebral infarction due to vasospasm than in patients without infarction. Conversely, PAF acetylhydrolase activity decreased gradually after SAH, then increased. The enzyme activity for the same period was smaller in patients with cerebral infarction than in patients without infarction. The distribution of the days of maximum PAF concentration and minimum PAF acetylhydrolase activity did not differ significantly between the two groups. The CSF as a source of PAF acetylhydrolase activity gave an apparent Michaelis constant value of 90.8 microM and a maximum velocity of 0.2 nmol/min/mg. The optimum pH level for the PAF acetylhydrolase activity obtained from CSF was 6.5. The enzyme activity of CSF increased, depending on the incubation temperature, ranging from 25 degrees to 45 degrees C. Ethylene-glycol tetra-acetic acid (1 mM) was found to inhibit PAF acetylhydrolase activity in CSF obtained from patients with SAH. Unaltered PAF acetylhydrolase activity was inhibited by adding an aliquot of CSF and minimum PAF acetylhydrolase activity decreased following SAH. Two peaks of inhibitory activity were detected on Sephacryl S-200 HR gel filtration: one was eluted in void volume and the other with an apparent molecular mass of 13 kD. The inhibitory activity was very labile and was lost completely within 3 days of incubation at 4 degrees C. The regulation of the PAF concentration in the CSF of SAH patients is discussed.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

[Effect of hormone replacement therapy on lipid metabolism in patients with premature ovarian failure and Turner's syndrome].

Premature ovarian failure (POF) and Turner's syndrome patients who are also hypoestrogenomic, like postmenopausal women, are considered to be a high risk group for hyperlipemia. Our long-term study was conducted to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on lipid metabolism in 16 POF and 10 Turner's syndrome women. 1. The initial average total cholesterol (TC) of the untreated and treated POF patients (209, 196mg/dl) and that of untreated and treated Turner's syndrome patients (213, 240mg/dl) were significantly higher than those in the control group (175mg/dl) except treated POF patients. LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of the untreated and treated POF patients (135, 113mg/dl) and that of untreated and treated Turner's syndrome patients (142, 144mg/dl) were significantly higher than those in the control group (108mg/dl) except treated POF patients. In comparison to healthy women of a similar age, POF and Turner's syndrome patients were at high risk of hyperlipemia because of higher serum TC and LDL-C levels. 2. After HRT for 2 years, LDL-C decreased by 18% and 13%, and HDL cholesterol increased by 38% and 41% in POF and Turner's syndrome patients, respectively. Hence AI decreased by 40% and 50% respectively. The younger the hyperlipemic patients are, the higher the relative risk for atherosclerosis is. The results of this study suggest that, because of the beneficial effects of HRT on serum lipid metabolism, it can help to prevent the development of coronary heart disease.

Adult↗

Measurement by in vivo brain microdialysis of nitric oxide release in the rat cerebellum.

Using a new method which combines a brain microdialysis technique and measurement of nitrite/nitrate levels by the Griess reaction, it has been proven that activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the cerebelli of rats which had been under non-anesthetic and freely moving conditions induces the release of nitric oxide (NO). Since L-NG-monomethylarginine (L-NMMA), which competitively blocks NO synthesis from L-arginine, significantly inhibited the release of nitrite/nitrate from the rat cerebellum, these results indicate that the new method is capable of measuring NO formation from L-arginine following the stimulation of NMDA receptors. This method should prove useful for investigating the relation between brain functions such as behavior, learning and memory and NO in the central nervous system.

Animals↗

Recurrence of cystic adventitial disease in an interposed vein graft.

A case of cystic adventitial disease (CAD) of the popliteal artery with intermittent claudication in the left calf is reported. This patient was first treated by total excision of the cyst and the involved artery followed by graft interposition with an autogenous saphenous vein. Recurrence of CAD in the interposed vein graft was noted after 6 months, and excision of the cyst with the involved graft and graft interposition with an autogenous saphenous vein was again required. We consider that the definitive evidence from early recurrence in the interposed vein graft shown in this case will close the discussion of the cause of CAD. The cystic lesion is thought by some to originate from the adventitia; traumatic, embryologic, or systemic abnormality theories were proposed. We assume that the mucin-secreting synovial cells originating from the neighboring joint capsule, tendon sheath, or, in some cases, from the ganglion itself, directly invade the adventitia through any rough or injured crack caused by trauma to the adventitia or simply attach to and encircle the adventitia. Total resection of the lesion with grafting is the recommended treatment for CAD because of the excellent results. However, as shown in our case, complete removal of the synovial cells even by resection technique may be difficult; therefore intensive follow-up is fundamentally necessary in this disease.

Adult↗

[Comparative trial of granisetron versus granisetron plus methylprednisolone for the prevention of nausea and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapy].

Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of granisetron in preventing emesis induced by antineoplastic chemotherapy. This comparative study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy and safety of granisetron (40 micrograms/kg) and granisetron plus methylprednisolone (MPL; 10 mg/kg). Sixty-eight patients were given granisetron 170 times and thirty-nine patients were given a combination of granisetron and MPL 81 times. Sixty-one patients received the treatment in crossover fashion during the same chemotherapy regimens. The emetic and nausea episodes were counted during the 24 hours following each chemotherapy treatment. Complete response, no emesis or less than two episodes, were obtained in 75.3% (128/170 times) of patients receiving granisetron alone compared to 85.2% (69/81 times) of patients receiving the combination of granisetron plus MPL. There were no significant differences in complete responses between the two groups, male and female, and each age group. However, 11 of eighteen patients receiving granisetron alone who responded mildly, if at all, with respect to nausea and vomiting, showed a complete or major response when MPL was added to granisetron. There were two patients who developed temporal paresthesia of the both hands as an adverse effect, but there was spontaneous recovery after 3 hours. Our data suggested that granisetron plus MPL was slightly more effective than granisetron alone and a safe antiemetic drug.

Adolescent↗

Isolation and expression of a cDNA encoding a male-specific rat sulfotransferase that catalyzes activation of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene.

A cDNA (ST1C1 cDNA) encoding a N-hydroxyarylamine sulfotransferase (HAST-I) was isolated from a liver cDNA library of a male adult rat and was expressed in COS-1 cells. ST1C1 cDNA (1363 base pairs) encoded a protein of 304 amino acids with a molecular mass of 35,768 daltons, which shared 50.7 and 46.1% sequence identity with rat aryl (ST1A1 (PST-1)) and estrogen (rOST) sulfotransferases, respectively. N-terminal amino acid sequences of three digested polypeptide fragments of HAST-I were completely identical with two portions of the ST1C1 amino acid sequence. The profile of age- and sex-related expression of ST1C1 mRNA was quite consistent with changes in the sulfating activity of N-hydroxyarylamine and HAST contents in rat livers. ST1C1 expressed in COS-1 cells catalyzed a sulfation of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) at a rate of 4.98 nmol/mg of protein/min and mediated PAPS (3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate)-dependent DNA binding of N-OH-AAF. Although ASTIV was believed to be responsible for the activation of N-OH-AAF, ST1A1 encoding an arylsulfotransferase ASTIV, showed only a marginal activity in a sulfation and covalent binding of N-OH-AAF. These data clearly indicate that ST1C1 cDNA codes a new form of a male-dominant sulfotransferase (HAST) responsible for the bioactivation of N-hydroxyarylamines in rat livers.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Increase in inositol tris-, pentakis- and hexakisphosphates by high K+ stimulation in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells.

Effects of high K+ stimulation on inositol polyphosphate accumulations and intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) were investigated in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells. When the [3H]inositol-labelled cells were stimulated with KCl, concentration-dependent accumulations of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3, [3H]InsP5 and [3H]InsP6 were observed. Nifedipine (3 microM), a calcium channel antagonist, inhibited the high (KCl, 90 mM) K(+)-induced accumulations of these inositol polyphosphates. In Ca(2+)-depleted and EGTA-containing (0.1 mM) medium, the high K(+)-induced inositol polyphosphate accumulation were completely inhibited. Similar results were also observed in the case of [Ca2+]i. These results suggest that the rise in [Ca2+]i caused by activation of voltage-dependent calcium channels plays an important roles in the high K(+)-induced accumulation of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3, [3H]InsP5 and [3H]InsP6 in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells.

Animals↗

Role of basic residues for the binding of omega-conotoxin GVIA to N-type calcium channels.

Each of four basic residues of omega-conotoxin GVIA was replaced with alanine to study the role of basic residues for the binding of this toxin to N-type calcium channels. The activities of these analogs were estimated from the inhibitory action on 125I-omega-conotoxin GVIA binding to chick brain synaptic plasma membranes. The replacement of Arg17, Lys24 and Arg25 resulted in no significant change in the activity and all of the analogs gave the same IC50 value (0.15 nM) as that of native omega-conotoxin GVIA. The inhibitory action of [Ala2]omega-conotoxin GVIA (K2A) was 40-times less potent (IC50 = 5.5 nM); however, full inhibition was achieved at a concentration above 0.1 microM. These results indicate that the Arg residue is not essential for the activity of omega-conotoxin GVIA. The nature of association to ion channels may be different between omega-conotoxin GVIA and mu-conotoxin GIIIA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Suppressive effect of transforming growth factor-beta on the phosphorylation of endogenous substrates by conventional and novel protein kinase C in primary cultured mouse epidermal cells.

The effect of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on the endogenous protein phosphorylation caused by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a potent activator of protein kinase C (PKC), was examined in primary cultured mouse epidermal cells. PMA markedly stimulates phosphorylation of endogenous proteins, i.e. KP-1 and KP-2, through Ca(2+)-dependent conventional PKC (cPKC), and KP-10 through Ca(2+)-independent novel PKC (nPKC) in intact epidermal cells. TGF-beta strongly suppressed the PMA-stimulated phosphorylation of these three proteins. Rate of dephosphorylation of these phosphorylated proteins was not affected by TGF-beta. Treatment of epidermal cells with TGF-beta decreased cPKC activity both in cytosolic and particulate fractions, but not nPKC activity. These results indicate that TGF-beta suppresses cPKC- and nPKC-mediated endogenous protein phosphorylation in intact epidermal cells, but the mechanisms of suppression are different.

Animals↗