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Biomedical subjects

S Suga

Publications and source records attributed to S Suga.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Comparison of severity of viremia and antibody responses between infants and children with measles.

Severity of viremia and neutralizing antibody responses were compared between nine young infants (less than or equal to 10 months) with measles and 18 infants and children (greater than or equal to 11 months) with ordinary measles. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-associated viremia was detected between the first day of elevation of fever (day 0) and day 5 of the disease in the former group, whereas PBMC-associated and cell-free viremia were detected between day 0 and day 14 in the latter group. The number of infected PBMC during the first 7 days of the disease was 3.22 +/- 1.07 (log10, mean +/- s.d.) per 10 million PBMC in the former group, which was significantly smaller (P = 0.02) than that of the latter group (4.21 +/- 1.18). The former group reached the maximum level of antibody earlier than the latter group.

Age Factors↗

Fatal encephalitis/encephalopathy in primary human herpesvirus-6 infection.

An encephalitic illness with a fatal outcome occurred in a 9 month old girl with virologically confirmed exanthem subitum. Human herpes-virus-6 (HHV-6) DNA was found in the cerebrospinal fluid at the acute stage of the disease by the polymerase chain reaction, but the virus antigen was not detected in her brain tissue. This suggests that HHV-6-induced encephalitis/encephalopathy may be due to a non-infectious process.

Antigens, Viral↗

Characterization of natriuretic peptide receptors in cultured cells.

To elucidate physiological and clinical implications of the natriuretic peptide family, the expression of receptors for natriuretic peptides has been examined in cultured cells (a rat pheochromocytoma cell line [PC12], bovine endothelial cells, rat aortic smooth muscle cells, human mesangial cells, and a porcine kidney epithelial cell line [LLC-PK1]) by Northern blot analysis and cyclic GMP production method for the ANP-A and ANP-B receptors and by Northern blot analysis and binding assay for the clearance receptor. The ANP-A receptor was predominantly expressed in PC12 cells, bovine endothelial cells, and LLC-PK1 cells but was barely expressed in rat aortic smooth muscle cells and human mesangial cells. By contrast, the ANP-B receptor was the major subtype of the biologically active receptors in rat aortic smooth muscle cells and human mesangial cells. Only a small amount of the ANP-B receptor was detected in PC12 cells, bovine endothelial cells, and LLC-PK1 cells. The clearance receptor was abundantly expressed in rat aortic smooth muscle cells and human mesangial cells and was also present in bovine endothelial cells, but it was undetectable in PC12 cells and LLC-PK1 cells. These results demonstrate that the expression of three natriuretic peptide receptors varies from cell to cell, which is relevant to cell- or tissue-specific action of the natriuretic peptide family.

Animals↗

Human C-type natriuretic peptide. Characterization of the gene and peptide.

We isolated the human C-type natriuretic peptide gene and identified the peptide in the brain. The human C-type natriuretic peptide gene appeared to be composed of at least two exons and one intron. In the 5'-flanking region, there is an array of cis elements (an inverted CCAAT box, two GC boxes, and a cyclic AMP response element-like sequence) that is not present in upstream sequences of the atrial and brain natriuretic peptide genes. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that human prepro C-type natriuretic peptide comprises 126 amino acids and that the C-terminal 22-residue peptide (G-L-S-K-G-C-F-G-L-K-L-D-R-I-G-S-M-S-G-L-G-C) preceded by Lys-Lys is identical to the porcine counterpart. However, replacement of two amino acids took place in the C-terminal 53-residue sequence, corresponding to another endogenous form of the peptide. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a radioimmunoassay for C-type natriuretic peptide demonstrated that it occurs in the human brain. C-type natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity was detected in discrete regions of the human brain, and its level was 10-fold higher than the atrial and brain natriuretic peptide levels, raising the possibility that C-type natriuretic peptide is the major natriuretic peptide in the human brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Phenotype-related alteration in expression of natriuretic peptide receptors in aortic smooth muscle cells.

To elucidate the physiological and pathophysiological roles of the natriuretic peptide family in vascular smooth muscle cells, in which the natriuretic peptide family is implicated in growth inhibition as well as vasorelaxation, we have examined the phenotype-related expression of three kinds of natriuretic peptide receptors in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. The expression of natriuretic peptide receptors at the mRNA level was studied by Northern blot hybridization, and the expression at the protein level was determined by the cGMP production method and receptor binding assay. In intact aortic media, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-A receptor mRNA and ANP-B receptor mRNA were detected, and the potency of cGMP production by ANP was at least two orders of magnitude stronger than that by C-type natriuretic peptide. Clearance receptor mRNA was undetectable, and only a small amount of the clearance receptor was detected by the binding assay in intact aortic media. By contrast, in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells at the first, fifth, and 17th passages, the ANP-B receptor mRNA level markedly increased; meanwhile, the expression of the ANP-A receptor mRNA became undetectable. C-type natriuretic peptide was one order of magnitude more potent than ANP in cGMP production in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells. The clearance receptor density and its mRNA level increased tremendously in these cultured cells. These results demonstrate that the marked phenotype-related alteration occurs in the expression of natriuretic peptide receptors in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

Actins↗

Endothelial production of C-type natriuretic peptide and its marked augmentation by transforming growth factor-beta. Possible existence of "vascular natriuretic peptide system".

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), the third member of the natriuretic peptide family, is thus far known to be distributed mainly in the central nervous system and is considered to act as a neuropeptide, in contrast to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), which act as cardiac hormones. Recently, we and others have demonstrated that the ANP-B receptor, which is selectively activated by CNP, is localized not only in the central nervous system but in peripheral tissues, including blood vessels. This finding has made us speculate regarding the peripheral production of CNP. In the present study, cultured endothelial cells were examined for CNP production by RIA and Northern blot analysis. CNP-like immunoreactivity was detected in the conditioned media of endothelial cells. Northern blot analysis detected CNPmRNA with a size of 1.2 kb. In addition, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, one of the key growth factors for vascular remodeling, markedly stimulated the expression of CNPmRNA and induced a tremendous increase in CNP secretion. We could also detect CNP transcript in the bovine thoracic aorta using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. The present study demonstrates the endothelial production of CNP and suggests that a member of the natriuretic peptide family may act as a local regulator in vascular walls. Since evidence for the pathophysiological importance of the vascular renin-angiotensin system has been accumulating and the natriuretic peptide system is known to be antagonistic to the renin-angiotensin system, the possible existence of "vascular natriuretic peptide system" may prove to be of physiological and clinical relevance.

Animals↗

Iron in the enameloid of perciform fish.

It is known that a high concentration of iron is deposited in the enameloid of some teleostean fish. Previously, Suga et al. (1989) pointed out that the iron concentration in the enameloid is related to the phylogeny of fish rather than to the feeding habits, according to the results of quantitative iron analyses on the teeth of marine teleost fish of the Tetraodontiformes. In the present study, in order for the previous idea to be verified, quantitative iron analysis was made with an electron microprobe on the enameloid of fish belonging to the Perciformes, which is the largest group of teleostean fish in the world and consists of both marine and freshwater species. The enameloid of all the fish examined (57 species) contained high iron concentrations ranging from 0.2% to 10.2% at the surface or middle layer, whereas that of an advanced suborder, Tetraodontoidei, of the Tetraodontiformes was very low in iron, at a level which could not be discriminated from the background value of the emission intensity. The distribution pattern of iron in the enameloid was classified into at least two types, namely, type A, in which a high iron concentration was observed mainly in the surface layer, and type B, in which iron was deposited throughout the entire layer, although there were differences in concentration. There were some differences in the concentration and distribution of iron in the enameloid for the families; for example, those of the Scaridae had a type A distribution, with about 0.2% iron only at the surface layer, whereas those of the Cichlidae, Centrarchidae, and Acanthuridae, which showed a type B distribution, contained iron ranging from 2.9% to 10.5% at the surface or middle layer of enameloid. Such differences seemed to be associated with the difference in timing of the commencement of the iron deposition into the developing enameloid, which is probably related to the phylogeny of fish. There was no evidence to support the idea that the iron concentration in the enameloid is associated with the feeding habits of fish, as proposed by previous investigators.

Africa↗

Receptor selectivity of natriuretic peptide family, atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, and C-type natriuretic peptide.

To elucidate the ligand-receptor relationship of the natriuretic peptide system, which comprises at least three endogenous ligands, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), and three receptors, the ANP-A receptor or guanylate cyclase-A (GC-A), the ANP-B receptor or guanylate cyclase-B (GC-B), and the clearance receptor (C-receptor), we characterized the receptor preparations from human, bovine, and rat tissues and cultured cells with the aid of the binding assay, Northern blot technique, and the cGMP production method. Using these receptor preparations, we examined the binding affinities of ANP, BNP, and CNP for the C-receptor and their potencies for cGMP production via the ANP-A receptor (GC-A) and the ANP-B receptor (GC-B). These analyses revealed the presence of a marked species difference in the receptor selectivity of the natriuretic peptide family, especially among BNPs. Therefore, we investigated the receptor selectivity of the natriuretic peptide family using the homologous assay system with endogenous ligands and receptors of the same species. The rank order of binding affinity for the C-receptor was ANP greater than CNP greater than BNP in both humans and rats. The rank order of potency for cGMP production via the ANP-A receptor (GC-A) was ANP greater than or equal to BNP much greater than CNP, but that via the ANP-B receptor (GC-B) was CNP greater than ANP greater than or equal to BNP. These findings on the receptor selectivity of the natriuretic peptide family provide a new insight into the understanding of the physiological and clinical implications of the natriuretic peptide system.

Animals↗

Human herpesvirus-6 DNA in cerebrospinal fluid of a child with exanthem subitum and meningoencephalitis.

The involvement of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and herpes simplex virus infections was evaluated virologically and serologically in a 13-month-old girl with meningoencephalitic illness occurring in the pre-eruptive stage of exanthem subitum. An isolation of HHV-6 from blood and seroconversion to the virus confirmed the primary infection with the virus. HHV-6 gene sequences were detected in cerebrospinal fluid of acute stage of the disease by polymerase chain reaction. There was no evidence of herpes simplex virus infection in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The patient recovered from the disease without any sequelae, although abnormal electroencephalography and cerebral computed tomography findings were observed temporally in the acute stage of the disease. These findings strongly suggest that HHV-6 invades the central nervous system and causes meningoencephalitis.

Antibodies, Viral↗

[Molecular biology of the natriuretic peptide system].

The natriuretic peptide system is composed of at least three distinct endogenous peptides: atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), and three receptors: ANP-A receptor/GC-A, ANP-B receptor/GC-B and the clearance receptor. This system influences the control of body fluid and blood pressure as cardiac hormones and local regulators. Recent advances in molecular biology have unravel the molecular mechanism of the natriuretic peptide system and have facilitated our understanding of it. The present review gives the current knowledge of the molecular biology of the natriuretic peptide system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Augmented secretion of brain natriuretic peptide in acute myocardial infarction.

In order to elucidate biosynthesis and secretion of natriuretic peptides in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), we measured the plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a novel cardiac hormone secreted from the ventricle, in patients with AMI and compared with that of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). The plasma level of BNP increased rapidly (within hours from the onset of AMI) and markedly (greater than 100 times the normal level) as compared to that of ANP. The plasma ANP level correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), whereas the plasma BNP level did not correlate with PCWP but highly correlated inversely with cardiac index. These results indicate that BNP is secreted from the heart much more acutely and prominently than ANP in the early phase of AMI, in association with left ventricular dysfunction.

Adult↗

Human herpesvirus-6 infection in bone marrow transplantation.

Twenty-five pediatric patients who received bone marrow transplantation (BMT) were studied prospectively to determine the relationship between BMT and human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection by the virus isolation from peripheral blood and/or bone marrow and by determining neutralizing antibodies to HHV-6 during the 2 months following BMT. All of the 25 donors and the recipients were immune to HHV-6 at the time of BMT and the virus was not isolated from them. HHV-6 was isolated from peripheral blood and/or bone marrow mononuclear cells in ten (40%) of the 25 recipients between day 14 and day 22 of BMT, but not from any other day. Two additional recipients showed a significant increase in the antibody titer. Thus, infection with HHV-6 was confirmed in 12 (48%) of the 25 recipients. Four of the 12 developed skin rashes; three of these four had a febrile episode when the virus was isolated, whereas none of the remaining 13 developed the skin rash. These results suggest a frequent infection with HHV-6 only a few weeks after BMT and a close association between the infection with the virus and the development of skin rashes.

Adolescent↗

Cloning and expression of human endothelin-1 receptor cDNA.

We isolated a human endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor cDNA from a human placenta cDNA library. The cDNA encodes a 427-amino acid protein with seven putative transmembrane domains. The rank order of the binding to the receptor expressed in COS-7 cells was: ET-1 greater than or equal to ET-2 much greater than ET-3. The receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes showed a potent electrophysiological response to 1 x 10(-7) M ET-1 under voltage clamp at -60 mV, while a much weaker response was produced by 1 x 10(-7) M ET-3. Northern blot analysis with RNA from human tissues revealed a single band with a size of 4.3 kb in a wide variety of human tissues, especially highly in the blood vessel.

Amino Acid Sequence↗