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Biomedical subjects

T Andoh

Publications and source records attributed to T Andoh.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Development of cholecystokinin and pancreatic polypeptide endocrine systems during the larval stage of Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus.

To understand the developmental process of the endocrine system, which controls the pancreatic exocrine function in Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, the expression patterns of cholecystokinin (CCK) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) during the larval stage were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Expression of CCK in the intestinal epithelia started at 2 days posthatching (dph), 1 day prior to the first feeding. Endocrine pancreatic cells containing insulin were present in the pancreas primodium at hatching, and these endocrine cells formed an islet at 3 dph and developed into the principle islet neighboring gallbladder at 20 dph. However, PP cells were not contained in the principle islet even after metamorphosis. PP cells were contained in the accessory islets differentiated around the proximal part of the pyloric appendages at 30 dph (early metamorphosis stage). Therefore, we infer that the stimulative regulation of pancreatic enzyme secretion by CCK starts to function at the first feeding, whereas the restrictive regulation by PP develops about 1 month later in flounder larvae. In addition, we observed that CCK immunoreactive cells appeared in the accessory islets at 30 dph, similar to PP cells, even though CCK mRNA expression could not be detected in cells from the islets. This indicates the possibility that a peptide that is cross-reacted with the CCK antibody, i.e., gastrin, is synthesized in the flounder islets.

Animals↗

Eicosapentaenoic acid reduces pulmonary edema in endotoxemic rats.

BACKGROUND: Recently, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was found to have an anti-inflammatory effect attributable to diminished synthesis of arachidonic acid metabolites that initiate acute lung injury. We evaluated the ability of dietary EPA supplementation to prevent endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats fed a standard diet were divided randomly into two groups: for 2 weeks one group additionally was fed 1000 mg/kg/day of EPA ethyl ester emulsion (EPA rats), while in the other group the diet was supplemented with vehicle alone (control rats). Fatty acid components of alveolar macrophages (AM) were measured, as well as leukotriene (LT) B(4) and LTB(5) production by AM exposed in vitro to calcium ionophore A23187. Plasma concentrations of thromboxane (Tx) B(2), a stable metabolite of TxA(2), were examined 1 h after inducing lung injury with endotoxin (2 mg/kg iv). At 6 h, wet/dry (W/D) weight ratios were calculated for the lungs to assess pulmonary edema, and neutrophils were counted in pulmonary parenchyma and peripheral blood. RESULTS: Arachidonic acid content and LTB(4) generation in AM were significantly lower in EPA rats than in controls; conversely, EPA content and LTB(5) generation in AM were significantly higher in the EPA group. Neutrophil counts in lung parenchyma and peripheral blood did not differ between groups, but W/D and plasma TxB(2) concentrations were significantly lower in EPA rats. CONCLUSIONS: EPA supplementation depressed arachidonic acid content and LTB(4) generation in AM and plasma TxB(2) in our model, leading to decreased pulmonary edema.

Animals↗

Multiple molecular forms of glucagon and insulin in the kaluga sturgeon, Huso dauricus.

Five molecular forms of glucagon and two molecular forms of insulin were characterized from the kaluga sturgeon. Substitutions occurred at two to thirteen internal amino acid residues among the five molecular forms of glucagons, indicating that these glucagons were encoded by five distinct genes. The amino acid sequences of two insulins from the kaluga sturgeon were identical to those of paddlefish insulin-II and Russian sturgeon insulin except that kaluga sturgeon insulin-I had an extension of five residues at the B-chain N-terminus. This is the first demonstration that more than two molecular forms of glucagon have been characterized from a single animal species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Allodynia and hyperalgesia induced by herpes simplex virus type-1 infection in mice.

Human subjects infected with herpes or varicella-zoster viruses complain of pain, such as allodynia, in or near the region with vesicles. However, the mechanisms of the pain are unclear. We show for the first time that infection with herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) induces allodynia and hyperalgesia in mice. When HSV-1 was inoculated on the hind paw of the mouse, eruption appeared on the back on day 5 post-inoculation, and zosteriform skin lesions were developed on the inoculated side. Allodynia and hyperalgesia became apparent in the hind paw on the inoculated side on day 5 and persisted until at least day 8. HSV-1 DNA was detected in the dorsal root ganglia from days 2 to 8 post-inoculation, with a peak effect on day 5. The application of heat-inactivated HSV-1 induced no allodynia, hyperalgesia and skin lesion. When started from days 0 or 2, repeated treatment with acyclovir, anti-HSV-1 agent, inhibited the appearance of allodynia, hyperalgesia, eruption and the viral proliferation in the dorsal root ganglia. In contrast, when started from days 5 or 6, acyclovir treatment slightly inhibited the development of skin lesions and the viral proliferation, but not allodynia and hyperalgesia. These results suggest that the propagation of HSV-1 in the dorsal root ganglia produces allodynia and hyperalgesia as a result of functional abnormality of the sensory neurons in mice. This may be a useful model for studying the mechanisms of herpetic pain.

Acyclovir↗

Dynorphins directly inhibit neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in PC12 cells.

The authors have previously reported that dynorphin A (1-17), an endogenous kappa opioid agonist, inhibits the current mediated through neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) without the involvement of opioid receptors or G-proteins. We have further characterized this action to elucidate the mechanisms. The nicotine-induced current was studied in PC12 cells using patch-clamp techniques. In the whole-cell configuration, four kinds of dynorphins with different lengths, dynorphin A (1-17) (1-13) (2-13) and (1-8), similarly inhibited the nicotine-induced inward current at 1 microM and accelerated the current decay. The inhibition by dynorphin A (1-17) was not antagonized by the increasing concentrations of nicotine. The current-voltage relationship revealed that dynorphin's inhibition was voltage independent at the membrane potentials from -30 to -70 mV. The inhibition was not affected by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) or inclusion of staurosporine into the pipette solution. The inhibitory effect of dynorphin A (1-17) was well preserved in the outside-out patch configuration. Analysis of the nicotine-induced noise and single-channel kinetics revealed that dynorphin A(1-17) reduced open time without changing the amplitude of the unitary current. We found that the inhibitory effect on neuronal nAChRs is shared by all four dynorphins studied. The inhibition appears to be non-competitive and voltage independent. The outside-out recording together with other experiments indicated that a major part of this inhibition is not mediated through cytoplasmic messengers, but based on the direct action of dynorphins on neuronal nAChRs leading to the reduction of open time.

Animals↗

Preconditioning regulation of bcl-2 and p66shc by human NOS1 enhances tolerance to oxidative stress.

Preconditioning stress induced by a transient ischemia may increase brain tolerance to oxidative stress, and the underlying neuroprotective mechanisms are not well understood. In a series of experiments, we found that endogenous nitric oxide (NO), S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), and antioxidants blocked serum deprivation-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells. Similar to nuclear redox factor-1 (Ref-1), mRNA of human neuronal nitric oxide synthase (hNOS1) was maximally up-regulated within 2 h after oxidative stress and down-regulated by NO/GSNO and hydroxyl radical (OH) scavenger. A brief preconditioning stress induced by serum deprivation for 2 h caused a delayed increase in the expression of hNOS1 protein and the associated formation of NO and cGMP, which in turn decreased OH generation and stress-related cell death. In addition to inhibiting caspase-3 through a dithiothreitol-sensitive S-nitrosylation process, preconditioning stress concomitantly up-regulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein and down-regulated the p66shc adaptor protein. This beneficial cytoprotective process of preconditioning stress is mediated by newly synthesized NO because it can be suppressed by the inhibition of hNOS1 and guanylyl cyclase. Therefore, the constitutive isoform of hNOS1 is dynamically redox-regulated to meet both functional and compensatory demands of NO for gene regulation, antioxidant defense, and tolerance to oxidative stress.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Nonstereoselective inhibition of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by ketamine isomers.

UNLABELLED: We have found that racemic ketamine strongly inhibits the current mediated through neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs) in PC12 cells, a rat pheochromocytoma cell line. Ketamine stereoisomers have different potencies for the anesthetic action, with the S-enantiomer being about 3 times as potent as the R-enantiomer. The purpose of this study was to clarify if the inhibitory effects of ketamine on neuronal nAchRs contribute to their anesthetic effect. We compared potencies of ketamine enantiomers for neuronal nAchR inhibition with those for the anesthetic action. S(+) and R(-) ketamine inhibited the nicotine-induced whole-cell current in a dose-dependent manner at the membrane potential of -60 mV. They accelerated the current decay, resulting in the larger effects on the nondesensitized current than on the peak current. There was no significant difference in the concentrations for 50% inhibition between the stereoisomers. The ketamine isomers exerted the same effects on single-channel properties estimated from analysis of the nicotine-induced current noise. These results indicate that the inhibitory action of ketamine isomers on neuronal nAchRs is not stereoselective. Although our findings do not deny possible involvement of these receptors in ketamine anesthesia, they suggest that inhibition of neuronal nAchRs is not primarily responsible for the anesthetic action of this anesthetic. IMPLICATIONS: We found that inhibition of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by ketamine is not stereoselective in PC12 cells. The result suggests that this effect does not directly correlate with the anesthetic action of ketamine.

Algorithms↗

Identification and characterization of a deletion mutant of DNA topoisomerase I mRNA in a camptothecin-resistant subline of human colon carcinoma.

In previous studies, we established two camptothecin (CPT)-resistant sublines, HT-29 / CPT and St-4 / CPT, from the human colon cancer cell line HT-29 and the human stomach cancer cell line St-4, respectively. Cellular contents of DNA topoisomerase I (topo I) in the resistant cells were eight-fold less than those in the corresponding parental lines. In this study, we have shown expression of two species of the TOP1 mRNA in HT-29 / CPT. The longer mRNA (4.0 kb) is the wild-type TOP1 mRNA, and the shorter mRNA (3.3 kb) proved to have a deletion of 672 bp (nucleotides 58 - 729 or 59 - 730) that caused the in-frame deletion of amino acids 20 - 243 of human topo I. The deleted region is identical to exons 3 - 9 of the TOP1 gene. The expression level of the 3.3-kb mRNA was similar to that of the wild-type mRNA in HT-29 / CPT. St-4 / CPT expressed only the wild-type TOP1 mRNA in lesser amounts than did St-4. Mouse NIH3T3 cells transfected with the wild-type TOP1 cDNA showed higher sensitivity to CPT than the parental cells, whereas those transfected with the deleted TOP1 cDNA showed levels similar to those of the parental cells. Expression of the exogenous TOP1 mRNA was confirmed; however, expression of the truncated topo I was not detected in cells transfected with the deleted TOP1 cDNA. These results suggest that the expression of the deleted TOP1 mRNA led to the low expression of CPT-sensitive topo I in the resistant cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Yeast glycogen synthase kinase 3 is involved in protein degradation in cooperation with Bul1, Bul2, and Rsp5.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has four genes, MCK1, MDS1 (RIM11), MRK1, and YOL128c, that encode glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) homologs. The gsk-3 null mutant, in which these four genes are disrupted, shows temperature sensitivity, which is suppressed by the expression of mammalian GSK-3beta and by an osmotic stabilizer. Suppression of temperature sensitivity by an osmotic stabilizer is also observed in the bul1 bul2 double null mutant, and the temperature sensitivity of the bul1 bul2 double null mutant is suppressed by multiple copies of MCK1. We have screened rog mutants (revertants of gsk-3) which suppress the temperature sensitivity of the mck1 mds1 double null mutant and found that two of them, rog1 and rog2, also suppress the temperature sensitivity of the bul1 bul2 double null mutant. Bul1 and Bul2 have been reported to bind to Rsp5, a hect (for homologous to E6-associated-protein carboxyl terminus)-type ubiquitin ligase, but involvement of Bul1 and Bul2 in protein degradation has not been demonstrated. We find that Rog1, but not Rog2, is stabilized in the gsk-3 null and the bul1 bul2 double null mutants. Rog1 binds directly to Rsp5, and their interaction is dependent on GSK-3. Furthermore, Rog1 is stabilized in the npi1 mutant, in which RSP5 expression levels are reduced. These results suggest that yeast GSK-3 regulates the stability of Rog1 in cooperation with Bul1, Bul2, and Rsp5.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Inhibition of DNA topoisomerases by nidulalin A derivatives.

Three cytotoxic dihydroxanthone derivatives, nidulalin A(1), F390B(2), and F390C(3) were evaluated for inhibitory activity against DNA topoisomerases. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited DNA topoisomerase II with IC50 values of 2.2 microM and 16 microM, and 3 inhibited DNA topoisomerase I with an IC50 value of 5.9 microM.

Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Pharmacological and immunohistochemical characterization of a mouse model of acute herpetic pain.

We have recently found that the infection with herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) of primary sensory neurons induces nociceptive hypersensitivity to noxious mechanical (hyperalgesia) and tactile stimulation (allodynia) in mice. In the present experiments, we determined the distribution of HSV-1 in the dorsal root ganglia and examined the effects of four analgesic agents on hyperalgesia and allodynia. HSV-1 was inoculated on the unilateral shin. HSV-antigen-positive cells were detected in the L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglia on days 5 and 7, but not day 3, post-inoculation. About 80% of the positive cells were small in size. Allodynia and hyperalgesia appeared on day 5 post-inoculation. Antinociceptive effects of analgesic agents were examined on day 6 post-inoculation. Morphine (1-5 mg/kg, subcutaneous) and gabapentin (10-100 mg/kg, peroral) dose-dependently inhibited both allodynia and hyperalgesia. Diclofenac (10-100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) also produced antinociceptive effects, but there was a ceiling for the effect on hyperalgesia. Amitriptyline (3, 10 mg/kg, subcutaneous) did not affect allodynia and hyperalgesia. The results suggest that mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia appeared when HSV-1 proliferated in the sensory neurons. This mouse model may be useful for studying the mechanisms of acute herpetic pain and anti-neuropathic pain agents.

Acetates↗

Inhibitory effect of Ephedrae herba, an oriental traditional medicine, on the growth of influenza A/PR/8 virus in MDCK cells.

Using several herbal extracts, we investigated whether certain Kampo medicines exert an inhibitory effect on the acidification of intracellular compartments such as endosomes and lysosomes (referred to as ELS), and thereby inhibit the growth of influenza A virus in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. The vital fluorescence microscopic study showed that the extract of Ephedrae herba (EHext) among five herbal extracts inhibited acidification of endosomes and lysosomes in a concentration-dependent manner (100-400 microg/ml). Moreover the growth of influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) (PR8) virus was inhibited when the cells were treated with EHext for 1 h immediately after infection, or treated as early as 5-10 min after infection. Conversely, virus growth resumed concomitantly with the reappearance of acidified ELS after removal of EHext. The fact that the inhibitory effect of EHext was completely or partially reversed by FeCl3, a tannin-reactive agent, strongly suggests that tannin is one of the active components in the extract.

Animals↗

Up-regulation of Lewis enzyme (Fuc-TIII) and plasma-type alpha1,3fucosyltransferase (Fuc-TVI) expression determines the augmented expression of sialyl Lewis x antigen in non-small cell lung cancer.

Sialyl Lewis a and x antigens are well-known tumor-associated antigens expressed in many cancer tissues. The expression of the genes encoding 5 alpha1,3fucosyltransferases, which are able to synthesize the sialyl Lewis antigens, was examined in normal and cancerous lung tissues of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma. In all 20 cases examined, the transcripts only for the Lewis gene, encoding the Lewis enzyme (alpha1,3/4fucosyltransferase, Fuc-TIII), were abundantly expressed in lung tissue, and interestingly they were markedly up-regulated in the lung cancer tissues of all 20 cases in comparison with normal lung tissues. Myeloid-type alpha1,3fucosyltransferase (Fuc-TIV) was expressed at an intermediate level but was not up-regulated in lung cancer tissues. The transcripts for plasma-type alpha1,3fucosyltransferase (Fuc-TVI) gene were detected at a very low level but were apparently up-regulated in cancer tissues. Fuc-TVI was found to exhibit stronger relative activity for sialyl Lewis x synthesis (almost 6. 4-fold that of Fuc-TIII). The amount of sialyl Lewis x antigen on mucins in the lung cancer tissues was found to be determined by both enzymes, the Lewis enzyme (Fuc-TIII) and Fuc-TVI. However, the amount of the sialyl Lewis a antigens was not determined by any of the alpha1,3-fucosyltransferases, although the expression of sialyl Lewis a antigens definitely required the Lewis enzyme.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Two forms of vitellogenin, yielding two distinct lipovitellins, play different roles during oocyte maturation and early development of barfin flounder, Verasper moseri, a marine teleost that spawns pelagic eggs.

Two forms of vitellogenin (Vg), Vg A and Vg B, were identified in serum from estrogen-treated barfin flounder (Verasper moseri). Structural changes of lipovitellins (Lvs) derived from the two Vgs were examined during vitellogenesis and oocyte maturation. Two Lvs, vLv A and vLv B, were identified electrophoretically and immunologically in postvitellogenic oocytes. Each appeared to be composed of distinct heavy chains (vLvH A, M(r) 107,000, and vLvH B, M(r) 94,000) and light chains (vLvL A, M(r) 30,000, and vLvL B, M(r) 28,000) when analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Results from N-terminal amino acid sequencing and Western blotting using antisera to vLvH A and vLvH B verified that there are two Vg polypeptides in serum from estrogen-treated fish, Vg A (M(r) 168,000) and Vg B (M(r) 175,000), which give rise to vLvH A-vLvL A and vLvH B-vLvL B, respectively. N-terminal sequencing revealed two sequences for both phosvitin and beta'-component, supporting the concept of duality for all three classes of Vg-derived yolk proteins. During oocyte maturation, native dimeric vLv B was dissociated into a native M(r) 170,000 monomer (oLv B). Meanwhile, vLv A was extensively cleaved including complete degradation of vLvH A into free amino acids. We propose that the quantitative ratio of vLv A to vLv B in postvitellogenic oocytes regulates the buoyancy of the spawned pelagic eggs by controlling availability of free amino acids which function as osmotic effectors during oocyte hydration. The vLv A/vLv B ratio likely also controls the proportional availability of different types of nutrients, free amino acids versus Lv, for use during embryonic development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Potent antitumor activity of MS-247, a novel DNA minor groove binder, evaluated by an in vitro and in vivo human cancer cell line panel.

We synthesized a novel anticancer agent MS-247 (2-[[N-[1-methyl-2-[5-[N-[4-[N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl) amino] phenyl]] carbamoyl]-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl] pyrrol-4-yl] carbamoyl] ethyldimethylsulfonium di-p-toluenesulfonate) that has a netropsin-like moiety and an alkylating residue in the structure. We evaluated antitumor activity of MS-247 using a human cancer cell line panel coupled with a drug sensitivity database and subsequently using human cancer xenografts. The average MS-247 concentration required for 50% growth inhibition against a panel of 39 cell lines was 0.71 microM. The COMPARE analysis revealed that the differential growth inhibition pattern of MS-247 significantly correlated with those of camptothecin analogues and anthracyclins, indicating that MS-247 and the two drug groups might have similar modes of action. MS-247 exhibited remarkable antitumor activity against various xenografts. A single i.v. injection of MS-247 significantly inhibited the growth of all 17 xenografts tested, which included lung, colon, stomach, breast, and ovarian cancers. In many cases, MS-247 was more efficacious than cisplatin, Adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, VP-16, and vincristine and was almost comparable with paclitaxel and CPT-11; these are the most clinically promising drugs at present. MS-247 was noticeably more effective than paclitaxel (in HCT-15) and CPT-11 (in A549, HBC-4, and SK-OV-3). The toxicity of MS-247, indicated by body weight loss, was reversible within 10 days after administration. The MS-247 mode of action showed DNA binding activity at the site where Hoechst 33342 bound, inhibited topoisomerases I and II (as expected by the COMPARE analysis) blocked the cell cycle at the G2-M phase, and induced apoptosis. These results indicate that MS-247 is a promising new anticancer drug candidate to be developed further toward clinical trials.

Animals↗