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Biomedical subjects

S Kojima

Publications and source records attributed to S Kojima.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources

Studies on carbohydrate-binding proteins using liposome-based systems--I. Preparation of neoglycoprotein-conjugated liposomes and the feasibility of their use as drug-targeting devices.

1. Five types of neoglycoprotein-coupled liposomes were prepared in order to investigate their potential utility as new types of drug-targeting devices which exploit cellular functions of carbohydrate-binding proteins. 2. These preparations were shown to be stable at 37 degrees C for 24 hr and at 7 degrees C over 4 months. 3. An inhibition assay in an in vitro system using human adenocarcinoma cells indicated the high affinity binding of neoglycoprotein-conjugated liposomes. The inhibitory potency correlated with both the type and the amount of immobilized neoglycoproteins on liposomes. 4. A tissue distribution assay in an in vivo system using Ehrlich solid tumor-bearing mice showed the feasibility of the application of [125I]neoglycoprotein-conjugated liposomes as drug-targeting devices, based on carbohydrate-protein interactions.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗

Increased leakage of calcium ion from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of the mdx mouse.

Using a single skinned muscle fiber, the function of the contractile system and the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were analyzed in the skeletal muscle of the mdx mouse. Activation of the contractile system by calcium ion and the maximum force generation was normal. Ca2+ uptake of the SR was normal as well as regulation of the Ca-induced Ca release (CICR) by Ca2+. However, contracture by caffeine was more prominent in mdx than in control mice. Ca2+ leaked more from the SR of mdx in the presence of EGTA and ATP or its analogue. These abnormalities are probably interrelated; increased leakage of Ca2+ might cause the enhanced response to caffeine, since Ca2+ itself facilitates Ca release by caffeine. The abnormal leakage of Ca2+ might also activate the Ca pump of SR in the resting state, which consume extra ATP and disturb energy metabolism.

Animals↗

Effects of dithiocarbamates on testicular toxicity in rats caused by acute exposure to cadmium.

N-Benzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (BGD), N-p-isopropylbenzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (PBGD), and diethyl-dithiocarbamate (DED) were compared for their protective effects against the testicular toxicity in rats induced by acute exposure to cadmium. Rats were injected subcutaneously with 109CdCl2 (3 mg Cd and 74 kBq of 109Cd/kg) and 30 min later, they were injected intraperitoneally with the chelating agents (0.4 or 3 mmol/kg). Cadmium injection increased lipid peroxidation and concentrations of hemoglobin and Ca in the testes, decreased the testicular weight, and caused sterility. The treatment with BGD (0.4 mmol/kg) did not satisfactorily protect against the testicular toxicity of cadmium. The administration of PBGD or DED at a dose of 3 mmol/kg significantly prevented the increase in the lipid peroxidation and hemoglobin concentration in the testes, the decrease in the testicular weight, and the sterility caused by cadmium. PBGD and DED significantly decreased the cadmium concentration in the testes, but DED increased the cadmium concentration in the kidney and brain. Only DED significantly prevented the increase in the testicular Ca concentration after cadmium. These results indicate that PBGD and DED protect against the sterility caused by cadmium in rats and that the effect of DED to increase the brain level of cadmium is more dangerous than the lack of effect of PBGD to prevent the increase in the testicular Ca level. The protective effects of PBGD and DED against the cadmium-induced testicular toxicity presumably result from a decrease in the cadmium concentration in the testes.

Animals↗

Relationship between cytosolic calcium and oxygen consumption in isolated rat hearts.

Maximum oxygen consumption was attained in isolated perfused rat hearts using high perfusate calcium and/or isoproterenol, or phenylephrine. The amplitude of calcium transients was directly related to oxygen consumption until oxygen consumed per beat reached maximum. At saturating oxygen consumption the amplitude of [Ca2+]i transients continued to increase, indicative of a calcium overload. In all cases +dP/dt correlated proportionately with +dCa2+/dt. Augmented developed pressure, related to isoproterenol-induced increase in cytosolic cAMP, cannot be attributed totally to elevated levels of [Ca2+]i transients. Adenosine (10(-5) M) added to the medium containing isoproterenol (10(-6) M) negated the isoproterenol-induced increase in cAMP and returned cardiac performance, oxygen consumption, and amplitude of [Ca2+]i transients to control state.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Characterization of gold in urine and bile following administration of gold sodium thiomalate with chelating agents to rats.

Gold was characterized in the urine and bile of rats treated with D-penicillamine (D-PEN), 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), 2,3-dimercaptopropane sulphonate (DMPS), or N-(2-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl)-L-cysteine (bucillamine) immediately after gold sodium thiomalate (AuTM) injection by both gel chromatographic and electrophoretic methods. It is suggested that the gold in the urine and bile after AuTM administration was predominantly bound to high molecular weight compounds. The characterization of gold in the urine after administration of AuTM with D-PEN, DMSA, or DMPS showed that most of the gold was bound to the chelating agents. In the treatment with the chelating agents such as D-PEN and DMPS, the gold was mainly excreted as a gold-chelating agent compound in the bile and a minor portion of the gold was present in the form of a gold-L-cysteine compound and high molecular weight compounds. DMSA treatment showed that a major portion of the gold was bound to high molecular weight compounds in the bile and a minor portion of the gold was present in the forms of gold-DMSA and gold-L-cysteine compounds. The administration of AuTM and bucillamine indicated that the gold was mainly present as a gold-Me-bucillamine compound in the urine and a gold-bucillamine compound in the bile.

Animals↗

Effect of L-cystine on toxicity of paraquat in mice.

The protective effect of L-cystine on the toxicity of paraquat (PQ) in mice was studied. Lipid peroxidation in the lung significantly increased after oral administration of PQ (200 mg/kg) and the increase in lipid peroxidation was prevented by L-cystine treatment (300 mg/kg). PQ administration produced an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and a decrease in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the lung at 24 h after PQ. L-Cystine treatment significantly prevented the changes in SOD and GSH-Px activity in the lung after PQ. L-Cystine treatment prevented the decrease in non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) content in the lung after PQ administration. The tissue distribution and excretion of PQ after PQ administration were not changed by L-cystine treatment. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase activity did not change after PQ administration. These results suggest that L-cystine protects against the toxicity of PQ by maintaining reduced glutathione levels in the cells.

Animals↗

Radioimmunodetection of human colon cancer using 99mTc-MDP-MoAb-A7 in mice.

Radioimmunoscintigraphy (RIS) using 99mTc-labeled A7, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) against a human colorectal cancer, was performed in nude mice bearing a human colon cancer, HCT-15. MoAb-A7 was labeled with 99mTc in the presence of methylene diphosphate (MDP). At 24 h post-injection of 99mTc-MDP-A7, colon cancer was clearly visualized, and the tumor-to-tissue ratio of 99mTc-MDP-A7 was higher than the ratio of 111In-DTPA-A7 which was described previously. These results suggest the possibility of the clinical application of 99mTc-MDP-A7 for RIS of a human colon cancer.

Animals↗

Control of transforming growth factor-beta activity: latency vs. activation.

Transforming growth factor-beta is a pluripotent regulator of cell growth and differentiation. The growth factor is expressed as a latent complex that must be converted to an active form before interacting with its ubiquitous high affinity receptors. This conversion involves the release of the mature growth factor through disruption of the non-covalent interactions with its pro-peptide or latency associated peptide. The mechanisms for this release in vivo have not been fully characterized but appear to be cell specific and might involve processes such as acidification or proteolysis. Although several factors including transcriptional regulation, receptor modulation and scavenging of the active growth factor have been implicated, the critical step controlling the biological effects of transforming growth factor-beta may be the activation of the latent molecule.

Animals↗

A protease inhibitor produced by Streptomyces lividans 66 exhibits inhibitory activities toward both subtilisin BPN' and trypsin.

A proteinaceous protease inhibitor was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces lividans 66 by a series of purification steps (salting out by ammonium sulfate, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, hydrophobic chromatography on Phenyl-Sepharose, and gel-filtration on Sephacryl S-200), and was named S. lividans protease inhibitor (SLPI). The purified SLPI existed in a dimeric form consisting of two identical subunits, each of which was composed of 107 amino acids. SLPI exhibited strong inhibitory activity toward subtilisin BPN'. These features were similar to those of protein protease inhibitors produced by other Streptomyces (SSI family inhibitor). In addition, SLPI was capable of inhibiting trypsin with an inhibitor constant (Ki) of about 10(-9) M. The primary structure of SLPI and location of two disulfide bridges were homologous to those of the other serine protease inhibitors of Streptomyces. The reactive site of SLPI was found to be Arg67-Glu68 from the sequence analysis of cleaved SLPI which was produced by acidification of subtilisin-SLPI complex. An Arg residue at the P1 site was consistent with the trypsin-inhibitory property of SLPI. Sequence comparison with other members of the SSI family revealed that amino acid replacements in SLPI were mainly localized on the surface of the SLPI molecule, and many of the amino acid residues in beta-sheets and hydrophobic core were well conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

IgM neutralizing antibody responses to human herpesvirus-6 in patients with exanthem subitum or organ transplantation.

The assay for detecting IgM neutralizing (NT) antibody activity to human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) was developed by using pretreatment of blood sample with staphylococcal protein A. The activity was mostly present in IgM fractions of serum but not in IgA fractions separated by ultracentrifugation. The assay was used for seroepidemiological studies for HHV-6 infection. In primary HHV-6 infection, IgM NT antibodies appeared 5 to 7 days after onset of exanthem subitum, reached maximum titers at 2 to 3 weeks, and tended to decline to undetectable levels after 2 months. In contrast, reactivation of HHV-6 observed in organ transplants showed somewhat greater degree of IgM NT antibody responses that persisted for 2 to 3 months and became undetectable 5 to 6 months after transplantation. The level and persistence of NT antibody titers measured by the conventional method was generally greater than those of the IgM titers. The prevalence of the IgM NT antibodies was examined in healthy individuals. The antibody was first detected at 4 to 7 months of age (5%), reached maximum level at 8 to 11 months (40%), and was detectable by 4 to 6 years (17%). A few (4 to 5%) of adolescents and adults were positive for the antibody.

Adolescent↗

Autotransplantation of peripheral blood stem cells mobilized by chemotherapy and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in childhood neuroblastoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Seven children with advanced neuroblastoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with myeloablative chemoradiotherapy (180 mg/m2 melphalan plus 12 Gy fractionated total body irradiation), followed by autotransplantation of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). Sufficient PBSC to restore bone marrow function were collected by a small number of leukaphereses during haematopoietic recovery after chemotherapy and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF). Furthermore, rapid recovery of neutrophils was found in all patients by the administration of rhG-CSF following transplantation: median 10 d (range 8-12) to attain more than 0.5 x 10(9)/l neutrophils, and 27 d (range 14-73) to attain more than 50 x 10(9)/l platelets, respectively. Haematopoietic reconstitution has been maintained throughout the follow-up period (median 15 months; range, 6-22). Peripheral blood stem cells mobilized by chemotherapy and rhG-CSF can induce complete haematopoietic reconstitution after myeloablative chemoradiotherapy.

Adolescent↗

Effects of recombinant tumour necrosis factor on antibody-dependent eosinophil-mediated damage to Schistosoma japonicum larvae.

Human recombinant tumour necrosis factor (rTNF) enhanced monoclonal IgE-dependent eosinophil-mediated cytotoxicity to schistosomula of Schistosoma japonicum in a dose-dependent manner. The enhancing effect of rTNF was also observed for the antibody-dependent cytotoxicity of a human eosinophilic leukemia cell line, EoL-3, but not of another cell line, EoL-1. Observation by a slow-motion movie camera demonstrated that activated EoL-3 cells adhered to the surface of schistosomula by 6 h after incubation, which triggered intracellular movement of eosinophil granules. The granules were concentrated toward the surface of the larvae and then degranulation started. The cell membrane was left as a balloon-like remnant. Cell sorting analysis by FACStar indicated that the expression of receptors for C3bi (CR3) and low affinity FcR for IgE (Fc epsilon RII) increased on the surface of EoL-3 cells after stimulation with rTNF, while this was not observed for EoL-1 cells.

Animals↗

Sodium and noradrenaline in cerebrospinal fluid and blood in salt-sensitive and non-salt-sensitive essential hypertension.

1. The effects of dietary sodium on blood pressure and levels of sodium, other electrolytes and noradrenaline (NA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood of 15 patients with essential hypertension were studied. The CSF and blood sampling was carried out after 7 days of a high salt intake (16-18 g/day) and after 7 days of a low salt intake (1-3 g/day). 2. Blood pressure and sodium concentrations in CSF and serum were significantly higher in the high salt period than the low salt period (CSF Na+ concentration: 147.7 +/- 0.4 mmol/L vs 145.3 +/- 0.5 mmol/L; P less than 0.001). Levels of CSF pressure and potassium or calcium concentrations were not different between the two periods. Plasma NA and plasma renin activity (PRA) were lower and CSF NA levels tended to be lower in the high salt period. 3. The levels and the changes in sodium and NA in CSF were not significantly different between the salt-sensitive (n = 8) and the non-salt-sensitive (n = 7) subjects, but the changes in plasma NA and PRA were smaller in the salt-sensitive subjects. 4. These results indicate that the sympathetic nervous system is less suppressed in salt-sensitive subjects during high salt intake. This may be due to altered neural responsiveness to sodium loading rather than being greater increases in sodium concentration in the central nervous system.

Adult↗

A method for identifying causative chemicals of allergic contact dermatitis using a combination of chemical analysis and patch testing in patients and animal groups: application to a case of rubber boot dermatitis.

A 63-year-old woman developed allergic contact dermatitis from rubber boots. Initial investigation, by patch testing in the patient and chemical analysis of the causative rubber boots, revealed that mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and dibenzothiazyl disulfide (MBTS) were the causative chemicals. Subsequent investigations were performed by patch testing in animal groups. An extract of the causative rubber boots, MBT and MBTS were used for sensitization of guinea pigs by the guinea pig maximization test (GPMT). 3 animal groups, A (with the boot extract), B (with MBT) and C (with MBTS) were successfully prepared. The boot extract was fractionated by column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Each fraction was subjected to patch testing in the animal groups. Positive reactions in all groups would show that the active fractions contained MBT-type compounds, whereas a positive reaction in group A but negative ones in group B and C would show that the active fractions did not contain any MBT-type compounds. Each fraction was then analyzed by gas chromatography (GC), GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), direct inlet-MS (DI-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). By this investigation, we found not only known allergens (MBT, MBTS), but also unknown allergens: S-substituted MBT-type compounds and styrenated phenol (SP). Thus, SP was shown to be a candidate as a human sensitizer even though the patient did not react to it.

Allergens↗

Binding of [3H]haloperidol to dopamine D2 receptors in the rat striatum.

The present study was designed to examine the properties of [3H]haloperidol binding to dopamine D2-receptors in rat striatum membranes, displacement potencies of various chemicals and differences between the affinities of various chemicals and two new 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT2) receptor antagonists, MCI-9042, (+/-)-2-(dimethylamino)-1-[[o-(m-methoxyphenetyl)phenoxy]methyl]et hyl hydrogen succinate hydrochloride and one of its metabolites. The plots of specific binding for the striatum membranes obtained from the Scatchard analysis using [3H]haloperidol were monophasic when non-specific binding was determined with 10 microM chlorpromazine, and the Kd and Bmax values were 7.42 +/- 1.03 nM and 1.58 +/- 0.20 pmol (mg protein)-1 (n = 10), respectively. The displacement potencies of D2 receptor, 5-HT2 receptor, histamine H1-receptor, and adrenoceptor antagonists were characterized by [3H]haloperidol binding to D2 receptors. The pKi values of a new antiplatelet agent, MCI-9042, and its metabolite were 5.02 and 5.53, respectively, and these values were lower than those of the D2-receptor antagonists, fluphenazine, spiperone, haloperidol, prochlorperazine, chlorpromazine, thioridazine, and sulpiride. They were also lower than the pKi values of the 5-HT2-receptor antagonists, pirenperone, ketanserin, methysergide, and mianserin. We conclude that the binding site of [3H]haloperidol in the rat striatum is the D2 receptor, that MCI-9042 and its metabolite have lower affinities for D2 receptors than for 5-HT2 receptors, and that this radioreceptor assay is useful for assessing the affinities of various agents.

Animals↗

High correlation in antibody titers between the Sabin-Feldman dye test and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detecting immunoglobulin G antibodies to the nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase of Toxoplasma gondii.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies against nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase, which is a specific and dominant antigen of Toxoplasma gondii, was developed, and the sensitivity and specificity of the test were compared with those of the Sabin-Feldman dye test. One hundred percent agreement was observed in comparative study between those tests on 37 positive and 50 negative human sera. Antibody titers in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, which were expressed as the reciprocal of the highest positive dilution of serum, were just 100 times those in the dye test on 81% (30 of 37) of the positive sera.

Animals↗