Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Miki

Publications and source records attributed to T Miki.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources

Keratinocyte growth factor as a cytokine that mediates mesenchymal-epithelial interaction.

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a member of the heparin-binding fibroblast growth factor family (FGF-7) with a distinctive pattern of target-cell specificity. Studies performed in cell culture suggested that KGF was mitogenically active only on epithelial cells, though from a variety of tissues. In contrast, KGF was produced solely by cells of mesenchymal origin, leading to the hypothesis that it might function as a paracrine mediator of mesenchymal-epithelial communication. Biochemical analysis and molecular cloning established that the KGF receptor (KGFR) was a tyrosine kinase isoform encoded by the fgfr-2 gene. Many detailed investigations of KGF and KGFR expression in whole tissue and cell lines largely substantiated the pattern initially perceived in vitro of mesenchymal and epithelial distribution, respectively. Moreover, functional assays in organ culture and in vivo and analysis of agents regulating KGF expression reinforced the idea that KGF acts predominantly on epithelial cells. While the data do not implicate a KGF autocrine loop in neoplasia, paracrine sources of factor or ligand-independent signaling by the KGFR might contribute to malignancy. Alternatively, because of its differentiation-promoting effects, KGF may retard processes that culminate in uncontrolled cell growth.

Animals↗

A quantitative study of the effects of prenatal X-irradiation on the development of cerebral cortex in rats.

Pregnant rats were exposed to a single whole body X-irradiation on day 15 of gestation at a dose of 1.0 Gy. The offspring showed microcephaly at 7 weeks of age. Their body weight, brain weight, cortical thickness and the numerical density of neurons and synapses in the somatosensory and visual cortex were examined. Significant decreases in cortical thickness in both somatosensory (25%) and visual (16%) cortex were observed. However, there were no significant changes in the numerical density of neurons and synapses, nor in synapse-to-neuron ratios in both cortical regions between control and X-irradiated groups. These results suggest that prenatal X-irradiation can decrease the number of neurons, and the neurons which survive X-irradiation proliferate and elaborate connections in a normal fashion. This is in contrast to the animals exposed to ochratoxin A, in which numerical density of neurons in the somatosensory cortex is increased, with normal numerical density of synapses, resulting in low synapse-to-neuron ratios. The discrepancy in the synapse-to-neuron ratios between the X-irradiation and ochratoxin A-treatment might derive from a different effect on the developing neurons.

Animals↗

Assignment of the human TIM proto-oncogene to 7q33-->q35.

The human transforming gene TIM has been mapped to human chromosome 7 region q33-->q35 by fluorescence in situ hybridization with R-banded chromosomes. Rearrangements within this region have been reported to occur in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Acute Disease↗

Posterior interosseous nerve paralysis with multiple constrictions.

We report four cases of posterior interosseous nerve paralysis with multiple constrictions. At surgery the constrictions were found between the arcade of Frohse and a point of bifurcation of the supinator motor branch. External neurolysis with epineurotomy using the microscope was performed in all cases, and full recovery was obtained.

Adult↗

Anatomical study on valves of human facial veins.

The valves of the facial veins of 39 sides from 20 cadavers, aged 54-95 years, were investigated. Anatomical study of the valves is important, because the facial veins can be used for microvascular anastomosis in reconstruction in the head and neck. The present study confirmed that valves existed in the human facial veins, and were most frequently observed around the lower border of the mandible. When valves were classified into 5 types according to the morphology of the lobules, bicuspid valves were the most common (93.5%), followed by traced valves (4.1%), valve preparation (1.3%), and unicuspid valves (0.9%). However, no tricuspid valves were observed. Valves appeared most often (82.9%) at confluences with the facial veins. The length of valves in the trunk of the facial veins was twice the size of the inner diameter of the vessels in 78.4% of the cases. Therefore, when valves were observed at the anastomosis sites, the present results indicated that these valves could be avoided by resecting a length of about twice the inner diameter.

Aged↗

Congenital myotonic dystrophy: molecular diagnosis and clinical study.

Recently, an unstable DNA fragment specific to myotonic dystrophy (MyD) was discovered. In affected individuals, a DNA fragment is found that is larger than in normal siblings. Our objectives were to show whether the results of DNA analysis agree with the disease severity and prognosis in congenital myotonic dystrophy (CMyD) by DNA analysis. We investigated three pregnancies (two studied retrospectively) in three families. We genotyped the family members with the Southern blots and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. In one case a prenatal diagnosis was carried out using chorionic villus sampling. This report also presents the three cases of affected mothers and CMyD babies with their growth courses. We clarify four main problems in CMyD, namely, respiratory distress, delayed motor development, feeding difficulty, and delayed mental development. The allele size in the range of 10 to 13 kb tended to be present as the adult form of MyD, and 14 to 15 kb as the CMyD. The three CMyD cases whose alleles size in the range of 14 to 15 kb showed various forms of disease and prognosis. We reached the following conclusions: the disease severity and prognosis in babies with CMyD did not correlate with the result of DNA analysis. The DNA analysis is a useful test for prenatal diagnosis. However, it is impossible to predict the disease severity and prognosis in babies with CMyD.

Adult↗

Inhibitory effects of 1-O-hexyl-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone (HTHQ), green tea catechins and other antioxidants on 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1)-induced rat hepatocarcinogenesis and dose-dependent inhibition by HTHQ of lesion induction by Glu-P-1 or 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx).

The effects of 1-O-hexyl-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone (HTHQ), green tea catechins (GTC), alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, chlorophyllin, phenylethylisothiocyanate (PEITC), 3-O-ethylascorbic acid (EAsA), 3-O-dodecylcarbomethyl ascorbic acid (DAsA), n-tritriacontane-16,18-dione (TTAD) and d-limonene on 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1)- or dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, and the dose dependence of HTHQ inhibition of Glu-P-1- or 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx)-influence on lesion development were examined in a rat medium-term liver bioassay system featuring diethylnitrosamine initiation and partial hepatectomy. At the end of week 8, the number and total area of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive liver foci in rats treated with 0.03% Glu-P-1 alone were increased significantly (46.8 +/- 11.0 and 12.0 +/- 5.6 respectively) as compared to the control values (3.8 +/- 1.6 and 0.4 +/- 0.2). Combined treatment with 1% HTHQ remarkably reduced both of these parameters (8.1 +/- 2.1 and 0.6 +/- 0.2). GTC (1%), PEITC (0.1%), beta-carotene (0.1%) and DAsA (1%) also demonstrated inhibition but less than HTHQ. On the other hand, these antioxidants did not influence development of foci initiated by 0.002% DMN. In the dose-response study, up to 0.125% HTHQ significantly reduced the effects of 0.02% Glu-P-1 or 0.03% MeIQx on the number and area of foci. These results indicate that several antioxidants exert chemopreventive effects against heterocyclic amine (HCA)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, and particularly HTHQ which thus deserves further attention as a chemopreventor in the contest of the environmentally important HCA group of carcinogens.

Animals↗

Possible anti-tumour-promoting activity of components in Japanese soybean fermented food, Natto: effect on gap junctional intercellular communication.

In order to detect any protective agent against tumor formation, we examined the anti-tumor-promoting effect of a Japanese traditional soybean fermented food, Natto. Dye transfer was employed as an assay method. When fluorescent dye was microinjected into cultured BALB/3T3 cells, the dye was transformed into the neighboring cells through the gap junction. This dye transfer was blocked by the treatment with the tumor promoters 12-O-tetra-decanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a high concentration of NaCl and lithocholic acid (LCA). This reduction of the dye transfer by TPA treatment was not observed when the cells were pretreated with retinoic acid, an anti-tumor promoter. Thus, the recovery of the dye transfer in TPA-treated BALB/3T3 cells was proven to ge a good indicator for detecting some possible anti-tumor promoters. After extraction and fractionation of Natto, we obtained an active fraction (H1) which showed recovery of the dye transfer in TPA-treated cells. The fraction contained straight-chain saturated hydrocarbons. A comparison of the fraction and the authentic samples by GC analysis suggests that the H1 fraction contained straight-chain saturated hydrocarbons from around C30 to C32. Among these hydrocarbons, hentriacontane (C31) was found at the highest concentrations, and was shown to have the highest activity. Hentriacontane at a very low concentration of 0.65 ng/ml was shown to recover the dye transfer inhibited by the treatment with TPA as well as with NaCl and LCA.

3T3 Cells↗

Strong anti-mutagenic activity of the novel lipophilic antioxidant 1-O-hexyl-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone against heterocyclic amine-induced mutagenesis in the Ames assay and its effect on metabolic activation of 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d] imidazole (Glu-p-1).

Antimutagenic effects of a novel lipophilic antioxidant, 1-O-hexyl-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone (HTHQ), and other known antioxidants against heterocyclic amine- or other mutagen-induced mutagenesis were examined in the Ames assay using Salmonella strain TA 98 to access the chemo-preventive effects of antioxidants on heterocyclic amine-induced carcinogenesis. Further the mechanisms of inhibition by HTHQ were accessed. HTHQ was shown to potently inhibit mutagenesis induced by all of 8 different heterocyclic amines at rates between 100% and 63% in the presence of S9 mix. When the protection of HTHQ against 2-amino-6- methyldipyrido[1,2-alpha:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1)-induced mutagenesis was compared with known antioxidants t-butylhydroquinone, propyl gallate, BHA, BHT and alpha-tocopherol, HTHQ showed the greatest effect. Among hexyl, butyl, ethyl and methyl derivatives of 1-O-alkyl-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone, HTHQ was the most effective in inhibiting Glu-P-1-, 3-amino-1-methyl-5-H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2)- or 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ)-induced mutagenesis. On the other hand, HTHQ did not inhibit mutagenic activity induced by other mutagens such as N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide (AF-2) and benzo[a]pyrene. HTHQ weakly inhibited that due to direct mutagen 2-nitro derivative of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) only in the presence of S9 mix. No such influence on a 2-nitro derivative of 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) or 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)-induced mutagenesis, was observed with or without the S9 mix. HTHQ slightly inhibited mutagenesis induced by activated Glu-P-1, a direct acting proximate metabolite of Glu-P-1, in the absence of the S9 mix. HPLC analysis revealed activated Glu-P-1 to be formed by incubating Glu-P-1 with the S9 mix, but this was considerably decreased by the addition of HTHQ. These results indicate that HTHQ is a powerful antimutagenic compound and specifically acts against heterocyclic amines. Its antimutagenic activity appeared to exert by both inhibiting metabolic activation of heterocyclic amines and action on activated N-hydroxy species.

Amines↗

Glibenclamide, a blocker of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, abolishes infarct size limitation by preconditioning in rabbits anesthetized with xylazine/pentobarbital but not with pentobarbital alone.

The role of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) in the mechanism of ischemic preconditioning (PC) is controversial, partly because descriptions of inhibition of PC by KATP blockers in the literature are inconsistent. We sought a reason for the discrepant findings regarding the effects of glibenclamide (Glib), a specific blocker of KATP, in preventing the reduction of infarct size (IS) induced by PC. The effect of Glib pretreatment (0.3 mg/kg i.v.) on PC was examined in three conditions: (a) when PC was performed with 3- and 5-min ischemia (i.e., potency of PC differs), (b) when rabbits were pretreated with prazosin and metoprolol (0.15 mg/kg i.v. each) to reduce myocardial O2 consumption, and (c) when xylazine was added to pentobarbital anesthesia. In rabbits under pentobarbital anesthesia, the left coronary artery was occluded for 30 min and then reperfused. The area at risk (AAR) and IS were determined 72 h after reperfusion in the first series of experiments and 3 h after reperfusion in the second and third series. IS as a percentage of AAR (%IS/AR) were 31.7 +/- 2.8 and 19.6 +/- 2.5% (SEM) after PC with 3- and 5-min ischemia, respectively, values significantly smaller than %IS/AR in the untreated control group (49.2 +/- 3.3%). The limitation of IS observed with 3- or 5-min PC was not prevented by Glib. Glib also failed to block %IS/AR reduction by PC, even when rate-pressure product (RPP) was reduced to approximately 65% by prazosin/metoprolol (Praz/Met) pretreatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗