Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Okazaki.
Solid-state, room-temperature stability for silabenzene 1 is granted by the bulky silane rendering kinetic inertness. Silabenzene 1 is synthesized in good yield from the crowded chlorosilane 2 with tert-butyllithium. The delocalized, aromatic nature of 1 was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and the (1)J(Si-C) value, as well as calculations on an analogous silabenzene.
Thiazolidinedione (TZD), a new class of anti-diabetic agents, is known to promote adipocytic differentiation by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR gamma). In the bone marrow, osteoblasts and adipocytes are derived from common mesenchymal stem cells or stromal cells, which also play crucial roles in the generation of osteoclasts from their progenitor hematopoietic cells. Recent in vitro studies demonstrated that TZDs promote adipocytic differention of the stromal cells. However, whether or not this affects osteoblastic differentiation is unclear. On the other hand, TZDs clearly inhibit osteoclast-like cell formation and bone resorption in vitro. These results indicate that TZDs have direct effects on bone cells. However, little is known about their in vivo effects on bone. Our recent study demonstrated that troglitazone, a TZD, decreased bone resorption markers before it affected glycemic indices in type2 diabetics, suggesting TZDs affects bone in vivo and may be beneficial for bone health in type2 diabetics.
We performed animal experiments to test the hypothesis that active oxygen species (AOS) play a major role in adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats and to determine whether large-dose ascorbic acid administration would suppress the development of arthritis, reducing the level of damaging AOS in the same animal model. Arthritis was induced in male Lewis rats by adjuvant injection into the base of the tail. Ascorbic acid at doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg body weight (BW) was injected intraperitoneally twice each week for 3 weeks (9 rats per group). The BW, hind paw edema, and arthritis score of the extremities were monitored during the period. On day 21, synovial tissues obtained from the ankle joints were examined histologically and for the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The SOD activity in the red blood cells (RBC) was also measured. The arthritic control rats showed significant increases in paw volume and arthritis score from day 11. These changes were dose-dependently reduced by ascorbic acid administration. The infiltration of inflammatory cells into the synovial tissues was markedly decreased by ascorbic acid. The increases in SOD activities produced by the adjuvant injection were significantly reduced in both the synovium and the RBC at ascorbic acid doses of 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg BW. In conclusion, large-dose ascorbic acid administration reduced the increases in hind paw inflammatory edema, arthritis in the extremities, and infiltration of the inflammatory cells into the synovial tissue in the adjuvant-induced arthritis rats. Since these anti-arthritic effects were associated with a decrease in SOD activities in both the synovium and RBC, the decrease in SOD activity could be one of the mechanisms underlying the suppressive effects of large-dose ascorbic acid on the development of arthritis in this animal model, inhibiting the damaging AOS.
Osteoblasts and adipocytes are derived from common bone marrow stromal cells that play crucial roles in the generation of osteoclasts. Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) induces adipogenic differentiation of stromal cells; however, whether this would affect osteoblast/osteoclast differentiation is unknown. Thus, we examined the effects of the thiazolidinedione (TZD) class of antidiabetic agents that activate PPARgamma on osteoblast/osteoclast differentiation using mouse whole bone marrow cell culture. As reported, all TZDs we tested (troglitazone, pioglitazone, and BRL 49653) markedly increased the number of Oil Red O-positive adipocytes and the expression of adipsin and PPARgamma 2. 1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] did not affect adipogenic differentiation induced by TZDs. TZDs did not affect alkaline phosphatase activity, an early marker of osteoblastic differentiation, despite their marked adipogenic effects. TZDs decreased the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated osteoclast-like cells induced by 1,25-(OH)2D3 or PTH. Troglitazone dose dependently inhibited basal and 1,25-(OH)2D3- and PTH-induced bone resorption as assessed by pit formation assay. Interleukin-11 blocked the induction by troglitazone of adipogenesis, but had no effect on the inhibition of osteoclast-like cell formation. These results indicate that TZDs are potent inhibitors of bone resorption in vitro. Inhibitory effects of TZDs on osteoclastic bone resorption was not osteotropic factor specific and did not appear to be related to their adipogenic effects. Thus, TZDs may suppress bone resorption in diabetic patients and prevent bone loss.
Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH), caused by activating mutations of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), is characterized by hypocalcemia with an inappropriately low concentration of PTH. Among 11 missense mutations of CaSR reported to date in patients with ADH or sporadic hypocalcemia, functional properties of 8 mutant CaSRs were characterized. Here, we describe a novel mutation of CaSR and its functional property in a family with ADH. The 41-yr-old male proband had asymptomatic hypocalcemia with a history of recurrent nephrolithiasis. His father had asymptomatic hypocalcemia, but his mother was normocalcemic. PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing revealed that both the proband and the father had a novel heterozygous mutation in CaSR gene that causes lysine to asparagine substitution at codon 47 (K47N), which is in the extracellular domain of CaSR, like 6 of 11 known activating mutations. Using HEK293 cells transfected with wild-type or K47N CaSR complementary DNA, the intracellular Ca2+ concentration was assessed in response to changes in the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. The EC50 of the mutant CaSR for the extracellular Ca2+ concentration was 2.2 mmol/L and was significantly lower than that of wild-type (3.7 mmol/L). These results confirm that this mutation is responsible for ADH in this family. The fact that several inactivating mutations in familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia occur in amino acid around K47 suggests the importance of the N-terminal portion of the receptor in extracellular Ca sensing.
ddY mice, 6 weeks of age, were neurectomized (Nx) in the right hindlimbs and sham-operated (Sham) in the left limbs for evaluation of the effects of intermittent injections of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) on trabecular bone turnover and bone marrow cell development in unloaded and loaded limbs. Mice were given subcutaneous injections of hPTH(1-34) five times a week at a dose of 0 (vehicle), 4 (low dose), or 40 (high dose) microg/kg of body weight for 2, 4, or 6 weeks. Histomorphometric analyses of the trabecular bone of the proximal tibiae revealed that high-dose hPTH injections preserved the trabecular bone volume of the Nx limbs, which was reduced after neurectomy, at the same level as that of the contralateral Sham limbs. The mineral apposition rate in the Nx limbs was elevated to values above even that of the Sham limbs by high-dose hPTH injections. The bone formation rate reduced by neurectomy was maintained at the Sham level by low- and high-dose hPTH injections. The neurectomy-induced increase in osteoclast number was suppressed by high-dose hPTH injections. In the bone marrow cells, the numbers of nonadherent and adherent cells per tibia obtained from the Nx and Sham limbs did not change. The hPTH injections decreased the numbers of nonadherent cells and increased those of adherent cells in both the Nx and the Sham limbs, but the effects were less marked in the Nx than in the Sham limbs even at high-dose injections. The formation of osteogenic nodules in the marrow cultures obtained from the Nx limbs was decreased after surgery and was maintained at the level of the Sham limbs by high-dose hPTH injections. The number of osteoclast-like multinucleated cells was reduced in the Sham limbs by high-dose hPTH injections. The value was increased at 2 weeks after neurectomy, but it was maintained at the Sham level by high-dose hPTH injections through the experimental period. The numbers of colony forming units-fibroblastic, which were reduced by neurectomy, and those of colony forming units for granulocytes and macrophages were not altered by hPTH injections. These results demonstrate that intermittent high-dose hPTH administration in the Nx limbs as well as in the contralateral Sham limbs has similar anabolic effects, stimulating osteoblast cell lineage and suppressing osteoclast cell lineage. The anabolic effects at 4 microg were reduced, but the effects at 40 microg seemed to be less affected by unloading due to sciatic neurectomy.
Poorly controlled type 2 or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients exhibit high bone turnover, which decelerate with treatment according to the degree of improvement in glycemic control. In adults, higher bone turnover results in rapid bone loss. Therefore, deceleration of bone turnover is beneficial for bone. Troglitazone (Tro), a new anti-diabetic drug, is a thiazolidinedione (TZD) which promotes adipocyte differentiation by activating peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). Because, in the bone marrow, adipocytes and osteoblasts originate in common mesenchymal stem cells that are also essential for osteoclastogenesis, TZDs may directly affect bone metabolism. Thus, we examined the effects of Tro on metabolic bone markers in type 2 DM patients. Tro (400 mg/day) was administered to 33 type 2 DM patients for four weeks. The day before and four weeks after starting Tro, serum and urine samples were collected after overnight fasting. Metabolic bone markers and glycemic indices were assessed. As bone resorption markers, urinary free and total deoxypyridinoline as well as urinary collagen type I C-terminal telopeptide were measured; as bone formation markers, serum bone type and total alkaline phosphatase (BALP and ALP) levels along with osteocalcin (OC) were used. No significant changes in fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c levels were observed in our short-term treatment with Tro. All the bone resorption markers, BALP and ALP were significantly decreased. OC was not significantly changed. The discrepant changes of OC from all the other metabolic bone markers suggest limitation of the use of OC as a reliable bone formation marker in diabetics. Our results that Tro decreased metabolic bone markers before significantly improving glucose metabolism suggest that it has direct effects on bone and decreased bone turnover. TZDs may spare bone mass in NIDDM subjects through its dual effects on glucose and bone metabolism.
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Insulin-like growth factor-I and -II (IGF-I and IGF-II) are difficult to separate and measure as a result of their homology, both structurally and immunologically. A number of binding proteins (BPs) which interact with the IGFs with high affinity complicate the ability to measure the IGFs accurately and reproducibly. Current methodology for measuring IGF is immuno-based and involves dissociation from the IGFs and removal of the binding proteins through sample acidification and removal by solid-phase adsorption. However, the net result is an assay that is time-consuming and, at best, semiquantitative. In an attempt to improve the reproducibility and accuracy of IGF-I and -II measurement, electrophoretic systems employing dynamically coated and bare silica capillaries were evaluated. Separations in bare silica capillaries in the presence or absence of the cationic additive, decamethonium bromide were ineffective for resolving IGF-I and IGF-II. However, when the capillary was coated dynamically with polybrene, IGF-I and -II could be resolved in a BSA sample matrix using a low pH buffer. Despite the fact that the IGFs could be resolved in the presence of an IGF-I analog used as an internal standard, polybrene recoating was required after as few as 12 runs and poor coating-to-coating reproducibility was observed. Use of polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDMAC) as a dynamic cationic coating and a low pH buffer containing 0.5% PDMAC was found to be much more effective, providing reproducible separation of IGF-I and -II. It was found that PDMAC need not be included in the separation buffer to obtain reproducible analyses regarding IGF separation. Subsequently, functionality remained intact for as many as 35-40 consecutive analyses before recoating was required. Without the need for PDMAC in the buffer, on-line solid-phase extraction-capillary electrophoresis could be accomplished for detection of IGF-I and -II at concentrations as low 195 ng/ml.
Insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-I and IGF-II are produced by osteoblasts and are important paracrine/autocrine regulators of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Estrogen has been reported to increase gene expression of IGF-I in rodent osteoblasts. However, because species differences have been demonstrated in expression of various aspects of the IGF system in bone cells, it is not known whether this action also occurs in human osteoblasts. Thus, we assessed the effects of estrogen treatment on IGF-I and IGF-II gene expression in vitro in a recently developed human fetal osteoblast cell line that has high levels of estrogen receptors. As assessed by a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method, treatment of hFOB/ER9 cells with 17beta-estradiol (E2) increased steady state levels of IGF-I mRNA in a time- and dose- dependent fashion with a maximal increase of 319% +/- 33% (P < 0.01) of control occurring after treatment with 10(-7) M E2 for 48 hours. In contrast, E2 did not alter steady state levels of IGF-II mRNA. The pure (type 2) antiestrogens ICI 182,780 (10(-7) M) and ICI 164,384 (10(-6) M) blocked the E2- induced increase in IGF-I mRNA levels. Interestingly, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (10(-7) M), a documented pure antiestrogen in reproductive tissues, also increased IGF-I mRNA to levels similar to those observed in E2-treated cells. Since E2 was shown to mediate its effects on some target genes through a cAMP-dependent pathway, we studied the interaction between E2 and agents that are known to increase intracellular cAMP. Forskolin (10(-8) M) and dibutyryl cAMP (10(-3) M) increased IGF-I mRNA levels sixfold, and cotreatment with E2 did not affect these changes, consistent with a possible mediation of the estrogen effect on IGF-I gene expression by cAMP. We conclude that in human osteoblastic cells, the IGF-I gene is a target for estrogen action, suggesting that IGF-I may mediate part of the effects of estrogen in human bone.
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Patients with poorly controlled noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) are shown to have higher bone mass. However, the influence of changes in glycemic control on bone turnover is not known. To clarify whether metabolic improvement of poorly controlled NIDDM affects bone turnover, markers for glucose, mineral, and bone metabolism were assessed before and after glycemic control for 3 weeks in 78 poorly controlled NIDDM patients with initial hemoglobin A1c over 8%. Metabolic improvement caused a reduction in urinary calcium (Ca) and phosphate (Pi) and serum 1,25(OH)2D levels, and an increase in serum Pi without changes in serum Ca or parathyroid hormone levels. Bone resorption markers, urinary deoxypyridinoline (Dpd) and type I collagen carboxy-terminal telopeptide (CTx), as well as a bone formation marker, serum bone type alkaline phosphatase (BALP), were reduced. However, another bone formation marker, serum osteocalcin (OC), was low before treatment and was elevated after treatment. The decrease in Dpd, CTx and BALP, but not the increase in OC, correlated with each other and with the improvement in glycemic indices. In conclusion, metabolic improvement of poorly controlled NIDDM decreases bone turnover within a short period. Thus, glycemic control may protect NIDDM patients from bone loss. It is possible that serum OC is affected by hyperglycemia per se, and may not correctly reflect bone turnover.
We report a 64-year-old male with granulocytopenia and dermatitis due to cyanamide treatment. We administered cyanamide for alcoholism. After about one month he suffered from scaly erythema over his whole body and granulocytopenia (granulocyte; 140/microliter) with maturation arrest in bone marrow. After cessation of cyanamide and the start of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration, the skin eruption ameliorated gradually, and the peripheral blood granulocyte counts increased. Cyanamide showed positive results in the drug lymphocyte stimulation test (198%) and the patch test led to the diagnosis of granulocytopenia and dermatitis induced by cyanamide. After restarting glibenclamide and diazepam administration, his granulocytopenia did not reoccur. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case with granulocytopenia induced by cyanamide.
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