[A case of consciousness disorder, convulsion, meningeal stimulation, ocular motility disorder and ataxia induced by cyclosporin].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Inuzuka.
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Immunohistochemical study on growth inhibitory factor (GIF) in rat brain has revealed that a glial cell layer on the surface of cerebral cortex and the cells surrounding Purkinje cells has been reported. In addition, neurons in gray matter were weakly immunostained for GIF. In situ hybridization using digoxigenin-labeled single-strand RNA probes also demonstrated that most of the neurons and small round cells, which were presumably astrocytes, expressed GIF mRNA in the cerebral cortex of rat brain. These findings indicate that GIF is produced in neurons as well as in astrocytes. The most prominent findings in this study are, a very strong reaction of GIF and GIF mRNA in the reactive astrocytes around the site of injury induced by stab wound or kainic acid injection. These results raised the possibility that GIF may act as an acute-phase protein in reactive astrocytes and have a role in tissue repair.
Recently, several missense mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene (SOD1) have been reported as a putative cause of chromosome-21q-linked familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS). We have discovered a novel missense mutation (substitution of Thr for Ala4) in exon 1 (GCC to ACC) in two FALS patients from one Japanese FALS family. No mutations were found in 17 cases of sporadic ALS. The enzyme activity of recombinant fusion protein containing the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) with the Ala4-to-Thr mutation was significantly reduced in E. coli. On the other hand, in the expression system in insect cells using Baculovirus, the mutant SOD expressed an enzyme activity as high as wild-type SOD. These results suggest that the stability of SOD with the Ala4-to-Thr mutation is disrupted especially in the fusion protein. Autopsy was carried out on one of the two patients, and the pathological findings were typical of FALS with posterior column involvement. These results raise the possibility that mutation of the SOD1 is responsible for FALS with broader pathological involvement.
We carried out a postmortem examination on two Japanese patients, 64- and 80-year-old men whose survival was prolonged with an artificial respirator. They had no family history of neuropsychiatric disorders and were suspected, clinically, as having a motor neuron disease that differed from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As well as upper and lower motor neuron impairment, they showed a variety of symptoms, such as sensory disturbances, hypohidrosis, impotence, ophthalmoparesis and/or atonic neurogenic bladder, and their protein content in cerebrospinal fluid was elevated markedly. Pathological examination revealed the following extensive nervous system involvement: (1) the upper and lower voluntary motor systems, including the IIIrd, IVth and VIth cranial nerve nuclei: (2) the reticular formation and its major afferent pathways; (3) the vestibulospinal and tectospinal systems; (4) the spinocerebellar system and the exteroceptive somatic afferent pathways; (5) the dentatorubral and pallidoluysian systems; and (6) the substantia nigra, locus ceruleus and intermediolateral and Onufrowicz's nuclei. Neither Bunina bodies, Lewy body-like hyaline inclusions nor ubiquitin immunoreactive skein-like structures were observed. The distribution of the lesions was quite different from that in patients with ALS and the other known related diseases. Recently, seven autopsied cases with clinical and histopathological similarities to our patients have been reported in Japan. Our conclusion is that our two and these seven patients should be classified as having a new motor neuron disease entity, which can be is differentiated from ALS.
Several missense mutations within exons 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the gene for Cu/Zn-binding superoxide dismutase (SOD1) have been discovered to be involved in the development of chromosome 21q-linked familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS). We describe here an autopsied patient with FALS, in whom we have recently identified a novel missense mutation in exon 1 of the SOD1 gene. The neuropathological findings were compatible with those described previously in patients with FALS with posterior column involvement. This suggests that mutations of the SOD1 gene may be responsible for this form of FALS.
An immunohistochemical method that uses two specific antisera-distinguishable myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) isoforms showed an expression of large MAG isoform (L-MAG) protein in the oligodendrocyte cytoplasms in the white matter around experimental cerebral infarcts produced by occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery in the rat. L-MAG protein also was detected in the white matter on the contralateral side. This protein appears prior to S-MAG protein in myelination and remyelination in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and is believed to function in myelin formation. Because L-MAG protein has been found in the oligodendrocyte cytoplasm only in the early development period, its appearance in this cytoplasm after ischemic insult is evidence of MAG regeneration.
The large myelin-associated glycoprotein isoform (L-MAG) protein and small myelin-associated glycoprotein isoform (S-MAG) protein were demonstrated after sciatic nerve crush injury in mice by an immunoblotting technique using specific antibodies to the L-MAG protein and the S-MAG protein, respectively. Immunoblots indicated a rapid decrease in expression of both isoform proteins in the crushed sciatic nerves to < 10% of the control side. By 13 d after injury, L-MAG protein expression had quickly recovered to 100% of the control level. Following the increase in L-MAG protein expression, S-MAG protein expression recovered to 100% by 20 d after injury. It has been reported that the developmental maximum expression of L-MAG protein precedes that of S-MAG protein in both central and peripheral nervous system (CNS and PNS). Our previous work demonstrated that L-MAG mRNA was characteristically induced at the time of most active myelination, including remyelination in the CNS. We here have shown the expression of L-MAG protein precedes that of S-MAG protein during active remyelination in the PNS. This suggests that it plays an important role in the early stage of myelin formation.
Circulating autoantibody to a 48-kD nuclear protein in neurons and astrocytes of the human and bovine cerebrum were present in the serum of a demented patient with an autoimmune disorder. Other human visceral organs, dorsal root ganglion cells, neuroblastoma and glioblastoma cell lines, and rat cerebrum did not react with the patient's serum. No sera from age-matched controls, including those with Alzheimer's disease, reacted with the 48-kD protein. Only the mature neurons and astrocytes of humans and some mammals express the 48-kD protein. This antibody may be responsible for the patient's demented condition.
A 16-year old woman with LGL leukemia developed peripheral neuropathy. She showed virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS)-like signs including high fever, liver dysfunction, huge splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and pancytopenia. The presence of chronic active EB virus infection was proved by marked high titers for IgG and IgA antibodies to the Epstein-Barr viral capsid and early antigens and low titers of antibody to Epstein-Barr nuclear antigens. She showed dysesthesia and paresthesia of bilateral lower extremities with marked swelling and tenderness, and later developed muscular weakness and atrophy with areflexia of lower extremities. Findings of the central nervous system dysfunction were not observed except for the acceleration of jaw jerk. Pleocytosis and increased protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid were found. Pulse therapy of methyl-prednisolone and high dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (20 g/day for 3 days) were effective for neurological findings. The increased neopterin in the cerebrospinal fluid suggested that peripheral neuropathy was caused by activated macrophages.
Serum IgG in a patient with chronic polyneuropathy after Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection reacted with ganglioside GM1, GD1b and asialo-GM1 on thin-layer chromatograms using an immunostaining technique as well as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, suggesting that the galactosyl (beta 1-3)N-acetylgalactosaminyl moiety could be a target antigen in this patient. Serum IgG reacting with these glycolipids may be involved in the pathogenesis of both motor and sensory neuropathies in this patient.
We describe a family with hereditary dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA). 4 patients through 3 successive generations showed a wide clinical variety. The female proband with onset in the elderly developed choreiform involuntary movement, dementia, hyperreflexia and, at the progressive stage, mild ataxia. However she had never displayed epilepsy and myoclonus. The 2 sons showed dementia, choreoathetoid movement and ataxia. The grandson developed typical signs and symptoms of progressive myoclonus epilepsy. The brain CT in the proband showed severe cerebellar and brain stem atrophy, moderate cerebral cortical atrophy and diffuse low density lesions in the deep cerebral white matter. Her neuropathological examination revealed the atrophy and gliosis of cerebral and cerebellar white matter concomitant with both dentatorubral and pallidoluysian system degeneration. The present study indicates that hereditary DRPLA can include multiple clinical variants even in the same family and the degeneration of cerebral and cerebellar white matter besides dentatorubral and pallidoluysian system.
A 70-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of rapidly progressive cerebellar ataxia. Neurological examinations showed saccadic eye movement, downbeat nystagmus, scanning speech, proximal dominant muscle weakness and severe truncal and limb ataxia. Based on these clinical features, she was suspected to have paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD), although the malignant tumor was not detected through clinical intensive surveys. Her serum and CSF revealed to have anti-Purkinje cell antibodies immunohistochemically, and western blot analysis showed that they reacted with 58 kd band. In view of previous reports of PCD, she was strongly suspected to have gynecological cancers. The trial laparotomy found early stage fallopian tubal cancer, which had not been detected by CT scan, ultrasonogram and MRI. It is important to detect and characterize these autoantibodies found in the PCD patients for early diagnosis and treatment of underlying cancer.
A patient, 50-year-old female, developed progressive weakness of lower extremities, and gait disturbance for 2 years. Neurological examination revealed hyperreflexia with pathological reflex, fasciculation in the limbs and tongue, muscle weakness and atrophy in distal limbs, but no sensory disturbance. Needle EMG showed neurogenic findings compatible with motor neuron disease (MND). Laboratory data showed polyclonal IgM hyperimmunoglobulinemia, positive several autoimmune antibodies including antisingle strand DNA antibody (Ab), ENAab, SS-A ab and RA. There were no antibodies for gangliosides and Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), but positive antibody for 54KD protein of cerebral gray and white matter. The clinical manifestations including gait disturbance and muscle weakness, and serum IgM level were moderately improved by plasmapheresis which is considered important for consideration of causes of MND.
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The developmental changes in localization of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) isoforms in the mouse brain were demonstrated by an immunohistochemical method using antisera specific to two MAG isoforms. The antiserum to the large isoform of MAG (L-MAG) stained the myelin sheaths and the cytoplasm of oligodendroglia in the active myelinating stage in the mouse central nervous system. However, the antiserum to the small isoform of MAG (S-MAG) stained only myelin sheaths in the adult stage. These findings suggest that L-MAG plays an important role in active myelination.
The developmental maximum expression of the large myelin-associated glycoprotein isoform (L-MAG) protein prior to that of the small myelin-associated glycoprotein isoform (S-MAG) in both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS, PNS) in mice was shown by immunoblotting techniques using specific antibodies to the L-MAG protein and the S-MAG protein. Both the L-MAG protein and the S-MAG protein were expressed earlier in the PNS than in the CNS, which reflects earlier myelination in the PNS. The peak of the L-MAG protein concentration was 8 days in the sciatic nerve and 15 days in the brainstem. The concentration of the S-MAG protein in the sciatic nerve reached a peak at 15 days, whereas in the brainstem it increased rapidly between 15 and 20 days and gradually thereafter. Thus, the preceding maximum expression of the L-MAG during active myelination in the PNS demonstrated here as well as in the CNS strongly suggests an important role for L-MAG in myelin formation.
In some patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD), autoantibodies against neural components have been identified. Here, we demonstrate a major 58 kd protein antigen in an immunoblot of human cerebellum by serum from a patient with PCD. Immunohistochemically, the serum recognized neural cells especially Purkinje cells in a human brain. To identify the details of the target antigens for the antibody, we isolated a cDNA clone from a human cerebellar library. Homology searches revealed a similarity with the zinc finger proteins. PCD related proteins reported here may be important to maintain neural cells especially those in the cerebellum, and further studies on this molecule may help us elucidate the causes of degenerative or autoimmune diseases in the cerebellum.