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Biomedical subjects

S Kasakura

Publications and source records attributed to S Kasakura.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Source of increased plasminogen activators during pregnancy and puerperium.

We investigated the increase of plasminogen activators (tPA and uPA) in the plasma during pregnancy. Both tPA and uPA antigens were found to increase after the third trimester of pregnancy and high levels of PAs persisted through the first stage of labor. The tPA antigen levels rose further for the first few hours post-partum, while the level of uPA antigen returned to normal immediately following childbirth. To clarify whether the uterus and/or placenta are involved in the increased levels of plasma PAs, the levels were measured in uterine venous blood in cases of caesarean sections. During the ante-partum period, the level of uPA antigen in the uterine venous blood was higher than that in the peripheral venous blood, while there was no significant difference between the levels of tPA antigen in peripheral blood and uterine venous blood. The level of tPA antigen in the uterine venous blood rose after delivery. In contrast, the level of uPA antigen declined immediately after delivery. These results suggest that (1) the placenta is the major source of the increased uPA antigen during pregnancy, (2) entire vascular system is involved in the increased tPA antigen during pregnancy, (3) a further increase in tPA after delivery is due to the release of this enzyme from the involuting uterus.

Antigens↗
PubMed1989

Detection of immunoregulatory factors in retroplacental serum in human pregnancy.

Retroplacental serum (RPS) obtained from pregnant women at term deliveries was studied for regulatory effects on T-lymphocyte proliferation and for pregnancy-associated substances and compared with peripheral serum (PS) of the same donor. Proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin and alloantigens in RPS was lower than that in PS. RPS contained higher levels of human placental lactogen, progesterone, estradiol, and prostaglandin E2 than of PS. However, there were no differences in concentrations of pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein, pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein, prostaglandin F2 alpha, alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, cortisol, carcinoembryonic antigen, and immunoglobulins between RPS and PS. The amounts of human placental lactogen, progesterone, or prostaglandin E2 seen in RPS did not inhibit T-cell proliferation. Mixtures of various doses of these three substances were still not inhibitory. Thus, the suppressive activity of RPS could not be explained by these pregnancy-associated substances, but a possible involvement of unknown immunoregulatory factors at fetomaternal interface might be suggested.

Dinoprostone↗
PubMed1989

Immunodeficiency associated with selective loss of helper/inducer T cells and hypogammaglobulinaemia in a child with intestinal lymphangiectasia.

A patient with intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL) was studied for his immunological abnormalities. The patient had hypoproteinaemia with severe hypogammaglobulinaemia. The results of lymphocyte subpopulation studies revealed a decrease of CD4+ cells and a decrease of surface immunoglobulin (sIg)-positive B lymphocytes. T cell functions determined by the proliferative responses against Concanavalin A (Con A) or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and by delayed type cutaneous hypersensitivity (DTH) response to purified protein derivatives (PPD) and PHA were normal. No immunoglobulin (Ig)-secreting cells were induced when his peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were cultured with pokeweed mitogen (PWM). His T cells showed suppressor function to the PWM-induced differentiation of normal B cells. This suppressor activity was sensitive to 3000 rads irradiation. His B cells also failed to differentiate into Ig-producing cells with the help of normal T cells and PWM. Thus, in this patient, the decrease of Ig-synthesis in vitro could be attributed to suppressor T cells, lack of T helper cells and an intrinsic B cell defect. Therefore, this patient appears to have immunological abnormalities which differ from previously reported IL patients.

Agammaglobulinemia↗
PubMed1989

[Evaluation of a modified latex agglutination inhibitory reaction method for the quantitation of urinary estriol in pregnant women].

This study evaluated a modified latex agglutination inhibitory reaction method for the quantitation of urinary estriol in women during normal and abnormal pregnancy. The urinary levels of estriol in pregnant women measured by this method correlated with urinary and serum levels measured by radioimmunoassay. The urinary level of estriol rose during pregnancy and reached a peak at the time of delivery, after which it returned to the control level in a few days. In contrast, the urinary level of estriol in women with abnormal pregnancy did not rise during pregnancy. This method is useful to detect impaired function of the placenta in pregnant women.

Estriol↗
PubMed1989

[Significance of the confirmatory test of enzyme immunoassay and western blotting method in detection of anti-HTLV-1 in sera].

In this study, we directly compared the sensitivity of the detection of anti-human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (anti-HTLV-1) antibody in serum by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), gelatin particle agglutination method (PA), and Western blotting method (WB). Of 69 cases studied, 6 cases positive by WB were negative by both PA and EIA methods. Of these 6 cases, 5 cases were interpreted to be positive by the confirmatory test of EIA (inhibitory rates of greater than 50%). Thus, the results of the confirmatory test were most consistent with those of WB methods. We also determined the levels of anti-HTLV-1 antibody in sera from the babies born of anti-HTLV-1 positive mothers at various months of age by the above three methods. As ages progressed, a parallel decline in the levels of anti-HTLV-1 antibody was shown by the three methods. However, at the time when sera became negative by both PA and EIA methods, the antibody was still detected by WB method. The study concludes that both WB and confirmatory test of EIA are more sensitive indicators of HTLV-1 infection.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1988

Hyporeactivity to mitogens of retroplacental blood lymphocytes in human pregnancy.

Retroplacental blood lymphocytes (RPL) obtained from women without complications at the term delivery were studied for proliferative response to mitogens and surface phenotype and were compared with autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Proliferation of RPL induced by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was significantly lower than that of PBL in 11 of 13 cases. Also RPL proliferated poorly in response to concanavalin A (Con A) in 8 of 10 cases. On the other hand, flow cytometry analysis of T cell subsets revealed that RPL contain comparable or higher number of CD3+ cells and CD4+ cells and similar numbers of CD8+ cells as compared with PBL in most cases. These results indicate that T cell proliferative response in retroplacental space is impaired, which could be due to a functional defect of RPL.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1988

Depression of proliferative response to fetal lymphocytes of retroplacental blood lymphocytes in human pregnancy.

Retroplacental blood lymphocytes (RPL) in human pregnancy were studied for proliferative response to related fetal lymphocytes and it was compared with that of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of the same donor. RPL proliferated poorly to related cord blood lymphocytes in 9 of 10 cases when compared with autologous PBL. RPL also showed lower proliferative response to unrelated adult lymphocytes in 7 of 12 cases. Proliferation of RPL was weaker to related cord blood lymphocytes than to allogeneic adult lymphocytes. These results indicate that the response of T cells at feto-maternal interface is impaired, especially to fetal antigens.

Female↗