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Biomedical subjects

T Nakanishi

Publications and source records attributed to T Nakanishi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Target preparation by the precipitation method for nuclear reactions.

A technique for preparing nuclear reaction targets of various thicknesses was developed by using common filtration technique of hydroxide precipitates with a porous Al(2)O(3) membrane filter. Uniformity was found to be within a few % in each thickness. Durability for beam irradiation was also confirmed. The preparation procedure is convenient and the method is appropriate for several target materials, including not only precious materials but also radioactive materials with low contamination.

Aluminum Oxide↗

Characteristics of transcription-regulatory elements for gene expression from plasmid vectors in human trophoblast cell lines.

Nonviral gene delivery systems are useful for basic research in trophoblasts. In these systems, gene expression is regulated by a cassette of regulatory elements within the plasmid, and the transcriptional activity differs among cell lines. In the present study, we used BeWo and JAR human trophoblast cell lines to systematically compare the transcriptional activities of several expression cassettes and those of a control plasmid made up of a simian virus 40 (SV40) promoter, a polyadenylation (PA) signal, and an enhancer. We also found that insertion of intron elements enhanced transcriptional activities in the following order: intron A>hybrid beta-globin-immunoglobin intron>no intron. Of several PA signals tested including those from SV40, bovine growth hormone, and the minimal rabbit beta-globin, the latter had the highest transcriptional activities (3.9- and 26-fold over control plasmid in BeWo and JAR cells, respectively). Addition of a second enhancer increased the transcriptional activity in these cells. We also found that gene expression level can be controlled by selecting the expression cassette. These results should be useful for further transgene experiments in BeWo and JAR cells.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

cDNA cloning of nine S alleles and establishment of a PCR-RFLP system for genotyping European pear cultivars.

Nine full-length cDNAs of S ribonucleases (S-RNases) were cloned from stylar RNA of European pear cultivars by RT-PCR and 3' and 5' RACE. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences between the nine S-RNases cloned and 13 putative S alleles previously amplified by genomic PCRs revealed that seven corresponded to Sa, Sb, Sd, Se, Sh, Sk and Sl alleles, and the other two were new S alleles (designated as Sq and Sr alleles). Genomic PCR with a set of a8FTQQYQa9 and a8EP-anti-IIWPNVa9 primers was used to amplify nine S alleles; 1,414 bp (Sl), ca. 1.3 kb (Sk and Sq), 998 bp (Se), 440 bp (Sb) and ca. 350 bp (Sa, Sd, Sh and Sr). Among these, S alleles of similar size were discriminated by digestion with BaeI, BglII, BssHII, HindIII, EcoO109I and SphI. The PCR amplification of S allele following digestion with the restriction enzymes provided a PCR-RFLP system for rapid S-genotyping European pear cultivars harboring nine S alleles. The PCR-RFLP system assigned a total of 63 European pear cultivars to 25 genotypes. Among these, 14 genotypes were shared by two or more cultivars, which were cross-incompatible. These results suggested that the genes cloned represented the S-RNases from European pear, and that there were many cross-incompatible combinations among European pear varieties.

Alleles↗

Rapid disease progression correlates with instability of mutant SOD1 in familial ALS.

Studies on the clinical course of familial ALS suggest that the duration of illness is relatively consistent for each mutation but variable among the different mutations. The authors analyzed the relative amount of mutant compared with normal SOD1 protein in the erythrocytes from 29 patients with ALS with 22 different mutations. Turnover of mutant SOD1 correlated with a shorter disease survival time.

Adult↗

Expression of fractalkine (CX3CL1) and its receptor, CX3CR1, in periodontal diseased tissue.

The regulatory role of chemokines and chemokine receptors on specific leucocyte recruitment into periodontal diseased tissue is poorly characterized. We observed that leucocytes infiltrating inflamed gingival tissue expressed marked levels of CX3CR1. In periodontal diseased tissue, the expression of fractalkine and CX3CR1 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and further, fractalkine was distributed mainly on endothelial cells, as shown by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, we can detect CX3CR1-expressing cells infiltrated in periodontal diseased tissue by immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, fractalkine production by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was up-regulated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), including Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Thus, these findings suggested that CX3CR1 and the corresponding chemokine, fractalkine may have an important regulatory role on specific leucocyte migration into inflamed periodontal tissue.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Are food advanced glycation end products toxic in biological systems?

Model food advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were prepared as glycated casein (GC) and glycated soy protein (GS) by the reaction of casein or soy protein with glucose at 50 degrees C, relative humidity 75% for seven days in a powder state. These browned proteins were used as materials for animal experiments. A mixture of 20% glycated proteins (GC:GS = 1:1) diet was fed to streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats for 11 weeks. The results showed that: (1) fructoselysine was observed in the hepatic portal veins, arteries, and femoral veins of rats fed with glycated proteins after 2 h of feeding; (2) blood sugar of glycated protein-fed rats was lower than that of diabetic rats fed with intact protein, while HbA1C in blood and glucose in urine of both groups were similar; (3) lipid peroxidation status in serum, liver, and kidney of both groups was similar; (4) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzymatic activity in serum and liver of both groups were also similar; (5) there were no differences in degree of cataract formation and concentration of glucose, fructose, sorbitol, and lipid peroxide in the lenses of both groups. From the above results, it can be estimated that food AGEs are not toxic in biological systems, and reactive oxygen species increase in diabetic rats is not caused by glycated proteins but by other pathways.

Animal Feed↗

Comparison of transgene expression mediated by several Fiber-modified adenovirus vectors in trophoblast cells.

The transfer of genes of interest is a useful method for studying placental biology. Recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vector is an efficient vector for transgene expression. An interaction between the fiber of Ad and the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor on the cell membrane is the first step in infection. We previously developed fiber-modified Ad vectors and showed that they improved transgene activity in several cell lines when compared to wild-type vector. In the present study, we examined the ability of three fiber-modified Ad vectors to transduce human choriocarcinoma cell lines (JEG-3, JAR and BeWo) and rat trophoblast cell lines (Rcho-1, TR-TBT 18d-1 and TR-TBT 18d-2). We compared the transgene efficacy of wild-type Ad-L2 vector, Ad-RGD(HI)-L2 vector containing an Arg-Gly-Asp motif, Ad-K7(C)-L2 vector containing a 7-tandem lysine motif, and Ad-RGD(HI)K7(C)-L2 vector containing both motifs in the fiber. We used the luciferase gene as a reporter gene. In the human and rodent trophoblast cell lines, Ad-RGD(HI)-L2 had the greatest infectious potential, followed by Ad-RGD(HI)K7(C)-L2, Ad-K7(C)-L2 and Ad-L2. Compared to the amount of luciferase produced by wild-type vector, Ad-RGD(HI)-L2 mediated 8.1-fold the amount of luciferase in JEG-3 cells, 13.5-fold in JAR cells, 76.8-fold in BeWo cells, 5.0-fold in Rcho-1, 19.4-fold in TR-TBT 18d-1 and 15.0-fold in TR-TBT 18d-2. These results indicate that Ad-RGD(HI) is a potential recombinant Ad vector for transgene expression in some trophoblast cell lines.

Adenoviridae↗

Plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) inhibitor fumitremorgin C in SCID mice bearing T8 tumors.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a major obstacle in the treatment of human cancers. The recently discovered breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) has been found to be an important mediator of chemotherapeutic MDR. Fumitremorgin C (FTC) is a selective and potent inhibitor of BCRP that completely inhibits and reverses BCRP-mediated resistance at micromolar concentrations. We report a study of the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of FTC when administered intravenously (IV) at a dose of 25 mg/kg to female SCID mice bearing the BCRP-overexpressing human ovarian xenograft Igrov1/T8 tumors. Plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of FTC in various organs and tissues were studied. In addition, the effect of FTC administration on the expression of BCRP in T8 tumors was also assessed by RT-PCR. Administration of a single FTC IV dose did not appear to cause any major toxicities. The resulting pharmacokinetic data were fit to a two-compartment model using NONMEM and the FTC clearance was determined to be 0.55 ml/min (25.0 ml/min/kg) with a 56% inter-animal variability. Area under the plasma concentration time curve was determined by Bailer's method and was calculated to be 1128+/-111 microg min/ml. FTC was widely distributed in all tissues assayed with highest concentrations found in lungs, liver and kidney in decreasing order, respectively. FTC did not appear to have any effect on the expression of BCRP in T8 tumors. Less than 2% of the administered dose was recovered in the urine and feces after 24 h, suggesting hepatic metabolism as a primary mechanism of elimination. The current study can be used as a basis for future animal or in vivo studies with FTC designed to further understand the impact of BCRP on drug resistance.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Mem↗

Effect of mutated transporters associated with antigen-processing 2 on characteristic major histocompatibility complex binding peptides: analysis using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A novel allele of transporters associated with the antigen-processing (TAP) 2 gene, TAP2*Bky2 (Val(577)), is significantly increased in Japanese patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and has a strong association with SS-A/Ro autoantibody production in SS and autoantibody including anti-SS-A/Ro and anti-U1 RNP antibody in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To determine the influence of this natural mutated TAP on peptides loaded onto MHC class I, we analyzed the repertoire of peptides loaded onto MHC class I on transfectants with TAP1 and TAP2 or mutated TAP2 by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). After comparison of the peptide profiles we identified three peptides from only mutated TAP transfectants. Moreover, one of these peptides is derived from snRNP A, which is a target for anti-U1 RNP antibody. To our knowledge this is the first report to show that the natural mutation of TAP2 changes the peptide profile loaded onto MHC class I molecules.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/MXR/ABCG2) in acute myeloid leukemia: discordance between expression and function.

Data on breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP, MXR, ABCG2) expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been inconsistent, possibly due to use of different assays in different studies. BCRP mRNA was studied by the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and BCRP protein expression (BXP-21, BXP-34 or anti-ABCG2 antibody, with anti-CD34 and anti-CD33) and function (fumitremorgin C modulation of mitoxantrone retention) by flow cytometry in eight cell lines and in pretreatment blasts from 31 AML patients. BCRP mRNA levels, antibody staining and function correlated strongly in cell lines (Pearson r values, 0.73-0.97), but not in AML samples. AML sample BCRP mRNA levels were between those in parental 8226 and 35-fold mitoxantrone-resistant 8226/MR20 cells in all but one case, and BCRP mRNA had the wild-type sequence at codon 482 in all. In AML, unlike in cell lines, BCRP protein expression or function, when present, was only detected in small subpopulations. BCRP mRNA and protein expression did not correlate, nor did staining with different BCRP antibodies, and function did not correlate with mRNA nor protein expression. Presence of BCRP only in subpopulations and discordance among BCRP measurements suggest complex biology of BCRP in AML and incomplete modeling by cell lines.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Mem↗

First case of a single heterozygote of an abnormal hemoglobin, Hb Stanmore, [beta111(G13)Val-->Ala].

We describe a hemoglobin beta-chain mutant detected incidentally in an unusual profile of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measured by ion-exchange HPLC. Analysis of intact globin by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and peptide analysis by on-line HPLC-ESI-MS-MS revealed the substitution, [beta111(G13)Val-->Ala], which was confirmed by DNA analysis. This was the second case of Hb Stanmore. As the first case combined beta(0)-thalassemia, and the family study in that case showed no case of Hb Stanmore without combined thalassemia, the case presented here is the first case of single heterozygote, and the first Japanese case. Hb Stanmore is isoelectrophoretically silent with only mild clinical symptoms, although stability by isopropanol test was positive.

Adult↗

Effect of Garcinia cambogia extract on serum leptin and insulin in mice.

In this study we examined the effects of 3.3% Garcinia cambogia extract on 10% sucrose loading in mice for 4 weeks. Treatment was found to have no effect on body weight, fat pad weight or serum glucose level. On the other hand, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, NEFA were observed. Levels of serum insulin and leptin, as well as the leptin/WAT ratio, were lower in the treated mice than in the control. These findings suggested that G. cambogia extract efficiently improved glucose metabolism and displayed leptin-like activity.

Animals↗

Impact of aging on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus infection in Japan.

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to study the long-term outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection because chronic infection is often asymptomatic and duration of the disease is prolonged. The clinical outcome of HCV infection remains unclear in patients of advanced age. METHODS: Among 575 patients consecutively diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from 1988 to 1999 at Hiroshima University, we examined 430 with HCV. We studied the differences between males and females in the following characteristics: age at first diagnosis of HCC, Child grade, various tumour factors, history of blood transfusion, duration to development of HCC, and history of alcohol intake. RESULTS: The incidence of HCC patients with HCV increased in elderly persons, including female patients. Background liver function was significantly better for female patients (P < 0.001). In both genders, the duration between blood transfusion and diagnosis of HCC was significantly shorter when the patients received blood transfusion at an older age (P < 0.001). In habitual drinkers, the average age at first diagnosis of HCC was significantly younger (P < 0.001), and duration to development of HCC significantly shorter (P < 0.05). The percentage of atomic bomb survivors among HCV-positive HCC patients was significantly higher than that among HCV-negative HCC patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HCV might exhibit slow disease progression and develop HCC finally with aging regardless of gender. Patients of advanced age with HCV, even female patients, should therefore be closely followed.

Adult↗

Pharmacokinetics of nateglinide and its metabolites in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and renal failure.

AIMS: We evaluated the benefits and safety of nateglinide, a novel oral hypoglycemic agent, in type 2 diabetes patients with renal failure. METHODS: Single-dose pharmacokinetics were studied in 8 patients with type 2 diabetes and a low creatinine clearance (range 1.8-16.5 ml/min/1.73 m2) up to 6 hours after 90 mg nateglinide administration. Next, we treated another group of 8 patients undergoing regular hemodialysis with nateglinide 90 mg/day for 1-3 months. The effect of hemodialysis on metabolite accumulation was then tested. RESULTS: After a single 90 mg dose, nateglinide significantly increased the post-prandial secretion of insulin and thereby reduced plasma glucose levels. Mean pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC(0-6) 10.45 mg/l/h; t(1/2) 1.89 h, Cl/F 10.19 l/h) were comparable with those reported in healthy subjects. A much larger AUC value than those previously reported of M1, a major metabolite in the urine of healthy subjects, was observed, and the plasma concentration of M1 did not decline up to 6 hours after. In patients treated on a regular basis, there was marked accumulation of M1, while nateglinide could not be detected 24 hours after the last dose. Plasma M1 levels were significantly reduced by the hemodialysis sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Single 90 mg dose of nateglinide was safe and effective in patients with renal failure. However, repeated administrations could cause prolonged hypoglycemia due to accumulation of M1, which is known to have a modest hypoglycemic activity. Hemodialysis may help to eliminate excessive accumulation of M1.

Adult↗

Associations between tumor diameter and prognostic variables of epithelial ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: Associations of tumor diameter in epithelial ovarian cancer with clinical and pathological prognostic variables were investigated. METHODS: The clinical and pathological records of 233 patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer and treated at Aichi Cancer Center were studied. RESULTS: Tumor diameters of 44 patients (18.9%) were < 5 cm, 90 (38.6%) were 5-10 cm, and 99 (42.5%) were > 10 cm. While 90.9% (40/44) of < 5 cm tumors presented with FIGO stage III-IV, 40.4% (40/99) of > 10 cm tumors were advanced. Intra-abdominal disease was also significantly associated with tumor diameter, although differences among lymph-node status were not significant. The incidence of serous and endometrioid adenocarcinoma in < 5 cm tumors were 75.0% (33/44) and 11.4% (5/44), respectively, while those of > 10 cm tumor were 32.3% (32/99) and 17.2% (17/99). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor diameter was not an independent prognostic variable. CONCLUSION: Tumor diameter of ovarian cancer is associated closely with histological subtypes and stage of disease, especially intra-abdominal disease.

Aged↗

Graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) in clonal amago salmon, Oncorhynchus rhodurus.

The graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) was demonstrated in a salmonid model system of clonal diploid and triploid amago salmon. Triploid operculum grafts on clonal diploid evoked an acute rejection within 12 days. Grafts exchanged among triploid amago salmon exhibited prolonged survival for 18 days. In contrast, diploid grafts on triploid, and allografts among clonal diploid amago salmon were accepted. A typical GVHR was induced in triploid recipients by intraperitonal injection of head kidney cells from sensitised diploid donors. The clinical signs of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were observed in the recipients after 1 week of cell injection as a loss of appetite and appearance of solid faeces, followed by haemorrhage, local swelling of ventral skin and an enlarged spleen. Three of six fish died within 1 month. Water temperature and frequency of sensitisation are critical to induce GVHR. Diploid donors had to be sensitised three times at 20 degrees C to induce the typical GVHR. GVHR was most effectively induced by head kidney cells, followed by peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) and spleen cells. Ploidy analysis by flow cytometry revealed that the donor head kidney cells greatly increased in the recipient liver, head kidney and spleen, and reached the peak after 9 days of donor cell injection. The results in the present study are quite similar to the findings in ginbuna and ginbuna-gold fish hybrid system, suggesting the presence of T cells in salmonid as well as cyprinid fish.

Animals↗

Cytotoxic T cell function in fish.

Fish possess immunoglobulins, major histocompatibility complex (MHC), T-cell receptors, and lymphocyte populations analogous to B and T cells and can evoke specific immune responses against a variety of antigens. However, T-cell subsets have yet to be demonstrated and the information on cell-mediated immunity is limited. Here we briefly review our recent studies on specific cell-mediated immunity, particularly on cytotoxic T-cell function employing isogeneic fish and cell lines. Analyses of the graft-versus host reaction (GVHR) and cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) against allogeneic erythrocytes or cell lines show alloantigen-specific cytotoxicity in clonal ginbuna crucian carp. We also describe specific cytotoxicity against virus-infected cells using clonal ginbuna and a syngeneic cell line. Lastly, we report MHC-restriction in CMC against virus-infected cells using homozygous clonal rainbow trout and trout cell line which share the same MHC class I allele. These studies on CMC strongly suggest the presence of antigen specific cytotoxic T cells in teleosts and functional similarities between the immune systems of fish and higher vertebrates. Experimental model systems established in these studies can be applied to the investigation of protective antigens to induce cell-mediated immunity for the development of fish vaccines.

Animals↗