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Biomedical subjects

S Kuno

Publications and source records attributed to S Kuno.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Prostaglandin E2, a seminal constituent, facilitates the replication of acquired immune deficiency syndrome virus in vitro.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated virus is thought to be transmitted effectively through semen during sexual activities from male to male or from male to female. Prostaglandin (PG) E2 is one of the immunosuppressive compounds present in high concentrations in human semen. We, therefore, investigated direct effects of PGE2 and other PGs on AIDS-associated virus infection and replication in vitro. First, type III human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-III) was used to infect a T-cell line (MT-4) in culture. PGE2 (10 nM to 10 microM) added to the culture medium enhanced the production of infectious virus in a dose-dependent fashion. In the presence of 5 microM PGE2, 2.5-fold more virus were released from the infected MT-4 cells as compared to untreated control cells on day 3 after infection. Second, when we used an HTLV-III continuous-producer cell line (Molt-4/HTLV-III), PGE2 and PGD2 added to the culture medium increased the number of viruses released from Molt-4/HTLV-III cells. Other PGs such as PGF2 alpha and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGE2 did not affect the replication of HTLV-III in this system. These results indicate that some PGs including seminal PGs enhance the AIDS-associated virus replication in vitro. We propose that PGE2 in human semen might directly facilitate the infection of AIDS-associated virus and cause the efficient transmission of the virus during sexual activities.

Cell Transformation, Viral↗
PubMed1986

Prostaglandin E2 administered via anus causes immunosuppression in male but not female rats: a possible pathogenesis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome in homosexual males.

To explain a possible pathogenesis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in homosexual males, we propose the following hypothesis. Prostaglandin E2 in human semen given via anus during anal intercourse may cause an immune dysregulation in the male semen recipients; this immunosuppressive effect of prostaglandin E2 may be one of the underlying factors that stimulate AIDS-associated virus infection or that trigger the latent AIDS-associated virus. This hypothesis is supported by the following experimental results. Anal infusion of prostaglandin E2 or D2 into male rats reduced in vitro responses of T lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin. However, the T-cell response of female rats was not reduced significantly by the anal infusion of seminal prostaglandins.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

The polymorphism linked to the human insulin gene: its lack of association with either IDDM or NIDDM in Japanese.

Polymorphism of 5' portion of the human insulin gene was examined in 188 unrelated Japanese subjects (49 normal, 71 with IDDM, and 68 with NIDDM) using restriction endonuclease analysis. Restriction fragments were classified according to the insertion size: Class 1 (600 base pairs), Class 2 (1300 base pairs), and Class 3 (2000 base pairs). We found a very high frequency of Class 1 alleles (96.8%) and a low frequency of both Class 2 (0.8%) and Class 3 alleles (2.4%) and that approximately 94% of the genotypes were Class 1/Class 1 homozygote. In addition, there was no correlation of allelic or genotypic frequency with NIDDM or IDDM. We conclude that length polymorphism of the human insulin gene cannot be a useful marker for diabetes in Japanese.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMed1985

[Anti-triiodothyronine antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis].

Anti-triiodothyronine antibody was found in a case of rheumatoid arthritis associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The patient was a 40 year-old woman who had complained of polyarthralgia, joint-swelling and stiffness for seven years. She had a rheumatoid nodule and showed a positive RA test. Radiographic changes of hands and wrists showed osteoporosis, erosions and narrowing of joint space. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs had been used for seven years. The diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis had been made by open biopsy of the thyroid gland seven years before. Serum T4, TSH, TBG, free T4, free T3 and r-T3 were all normal. On the other hand, serum T3 level was almost unmeasurable by radioimmunoassay. Binding of 125I-T3 to the patient's serum was studied by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and column chromatography. By using the PEG method, the binding of 125I-T3 to the patient's serum was tenfold compared to control serum. Sephadex G-25 column chromatography (0.9 X 1.5 cm) of 125I-T3 with the patient's serum in the presence of 0.1% ANS showed an early radioactive peak, while control serum did not show an early peak. In the next experiments, the patient's serum was labelled with 125I-T3, mixed with human anti-IgG, IgM, IgA, lambda, kappa, incubated at 4 degrees C for 20 hours and centrifuged for 20 min. Strong binding to the anti-IgG and anti-lambda was detected. The presence of this abnormal T3-binding globulin in the patient's serum may have produced an undetectable T3 level.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Temperature-sensitive mutations causing reversible paralysis in Caenorhabditis elegans.

A method has been developed for the isolation of temperature-dependent paralytic mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, based on a screening procedure using short-time exposure to 30 degrees C. Of ten mutants isolated, eight lose their motilities between 30 degrees C and 33 degrees C without prominent changes in body forms. The other two strains that are mainly described in this report are accompanied by alterations in body forms. One mutation, cn101, is recessive and an allele of cha-1. The cn101 mutant shows reversible paralysis at 30 degrees, accompanied by a hypercontracted and coiled body form. At the restrictive temperature, the strain is resistant to all tested inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Another mutation, designated mah-2 (cn110), is a sex-linked semidominant that is mapped as 0.6 map units left of dpy-6. The cn110 mutant is rapidly paralyzed at the restrictive temperature and has a straight and rigid body form; the mutant rapidly recovers when the temperature is lowered. No disorganization of the muscle structure was detected by polarized light and electron microscopic inspection.

Alleles↗
PubMed1985

Islet cell antibodies in the Japanese population and subjects with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.

Islet cell antibodies were studied in 1,112 non-diabetic adults, 473 normal school children and 162 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients in a Japanese population. The prevalence of islet cell antibodies was 0.5%, 0.4% and 32%, respectively. Most islet cell antibodies positive subjects with Type 1 diabetes had short duration of the disease. No patients who had over 10 years from the onset had islet cell antibodies. Six non-diabetic adults with islet cell antibodies were followed for 4 years. Only one with Hashimoto's thyroiditis showed a diabetic pattern in her oral glucose tolerance test. However, none developed overt insulin-dependent diabetes until 1984. Two out of these six subjects continued to be positive for both islet cell antibodies and antithyroid antibodies or antinuclear antibodies. Islet cell antibodies in the remaining four patients disappeared during the second year. It is difficult to predict the onset of Type 1 diabetes by islet cell antibodies in non-diabetic individuals because they may be transient.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Effect of TSH on conversion of T4 to T3 in perfused rat kidney.

This study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of thyrotropin (TSH) on the conversion of thyroxine (T4) to 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) in the isolated perfused rat kidney. The kidney was perfused with a synthetic medium containing 20 micrograms/dL T4 and the effect of constant infusion of bovine TSH (125 or 250 microU/mL) on the conversion of T4 to T3 was investigated. T4 uptake in the perfused kidney was not changed by the addition of TSH. However, the release of T3 (89 +/- 11 ng/g/30 min, mean +/- SD), tissue T3 (190 +/- 23 ng/g/30 min), net T3 production (227 +/- 37 ng/g/30 min), and the conversion rate of T4 to T3 (9.5 +/- 1.6%) in the kidney perfused with 250 microU/mL TSH were significantly (P less than 0.005) greater than those in controls (63 +/- 9, 143 +/- 15, 152 +/- 36 ng/g/30 min, and 6.3 +/- 1.9%), respectively. Degradation rate of T3 in perfused rat kidney was not changed by the addition of 250 microU/mL TSH. These results suggest that TSH may directly affect renal iodothyronine-monodeiodinating activity in rats in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Relationship between hypoglycemic symptoms and blood glucose levels due to self-monitoring in summer camp for diabetic children in Japan.

In a summer camp for 47 diabetic children in Kinki district, Japan, in 1984, the relationship between hypoglycemic symptoms and blood glucose levels by self-monitoring was analyzed. During the 7-day camp, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) was carried out 599 times in total, 12.7 times per camper. SMBG due to hypoglycemic complaints amounted to 371. 154 measurements out of 371 indicated blood glucose levels under 80 mg/dl, but 78 monitorings were found to be over 200 mg/dl. Fatigue or weakness were the most frequent hypoglycemic symptoms, as was hunger sensation, each reaching approximately 40% in frequency. In most complaints of tremor, the blood glucose level was critically low. Prompt measurement of blood glucose is indeed necessary to properly treat diabetic children with 'hypoglycemic' symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Enhanced intestinal insulinotropic effect in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

To study the intestinal insulinotropic effects in the diabetic state, an investigation was made into the release of insulin from isolated rat pancreas perfused with portal venous effluent (PVE) obtained from the isolated perfused intestine of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Rat intestine was perfused with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium for 1 h, and the PVE was collected from both untreated and glucose-treated intestines of control and diabetic rats. The PVE, after adjusting its glucose concentration to the desired level, was used as the perfusing medium for the pancreas of a different rat. Glucose concentration in the perfusion medium was maintained at 5.5 mM for 20 min and at 16.7 mM for the next 30 min. Insulin output from pancreas perfused with PVE from untreated intestine of diabetic rats (252 +/- 45 ng/30 min, mean +/- SD) was similar to that of controls (269 +/- 72 ng/30 min). Pancreatic insulin output with PVE from glucose-treated intestine of diabetic rats (579 +/- 100 ng/30 min) was significantly greater compared with either that using PVE from untreated intestine of diabetic rats (P less than 0.01) or that from glucose-treated intestine of control rats (368 +/- 57 ng/30 min) (P less than 0.02). These results indicate that the insulinotropic effect is markedly enhanced in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Structure of enoate reductase from a Clostridium tyrobutyricum (C. spec. La1).

Enoate reductase from Clostridium tyrobutyricum was purified by a rapid novel procedure. Chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose and on hydroxyapatite resulted in a high yield of about 90% pure enzyme in less than 10 h. A purity greater than 98% could be obtained by additional chromatography on Sephacryl S-300. The enzyme sediments in the analytical ultracentrifuge as a single, symmetrical boundary with a velocity of S(0)20,w = 24.9 S. Equilibrium ultracentrifugation yielded a molecular mass of 940 000 +/- 20 000 Da. The enzyme contains one type of subunit as shown by dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis and partial sequence determination. A subunit molecular mass of about 73 000 Da was established by dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis and by sedimentation equilibrium analysis in guanidine hydrochloride. In addition to FAD, iron and labile sulfur, the enzyme purified by the new method showed approximately 0.7 mol of FMN per mol of subunit. A dissociation product sedimenting at a velocity of S(0)20,w = 9.8 S can be obtained by various experimental protocols. The fragment was obtained in pure form by gel permeation chromatography. The molecular mass was 230 000 +/- 10 000 Da as shown by sedimentation equilibrium analysis. Thus it appears that the dissociation product is a trimer of the 73 000-Da subunit. The formation of the 10-S fragment by dissociation of the native enzyme is accompanied by the loss of most of the FMN, whereas the FAD content is not changed. The fragment catalysed the reduction of acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide by NADH. However, enoate reductase activity with NADH or methylviologen as cosubstrate was low. Electron micrographs of negatively stained enoate reductase show trigonal symmetry. The data suggest that enoate reductase is a dodecamer (tetramer of trimers) with tetrahedral symmetry.

Clostridium↗