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Biomedical subjects

T Noguchi

Publications and source records attributed to T Noguchi.

At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Antithymic antibodies in schizophrenic sera.

Sera from normal controls and schizophrenics were examined for antithymic activity, employing a cytotoxicity test with C3H mouse thymocytes. The average level of antithymic activity in schizophrenics was considerably higher than that of controls, i.e., 50.3 +/- 27.1 (n = 54) and 35.3 +/- 19.5 (n = 33), respectively (p less than 0.01), in a fourfold serum dilution. The antithymic activity in newly admitted unmedicated patients was not statistically different from that of hospitalized medical patients. There was no difference in antithymic activity within the subdivisions of schizophrenia, such as hebephrenic, catatonic, and paranoid types. The antithymic titer also did not correlate with the psychopathological status as assessed by the BPRS total score. The antithymic activity against C3H mouse thymocytes in both the schizophrenic and control sera was completely adsorbed with mouse brain tissue homogenate (where Thy-1 antigen was present) and liver homogenate (where Thy-1 was absent), but not with human brain and liver. It seems unlikely therefore that antithymic factor in human sera contains antibodies against Thy-1 (brain-associated thymic) antigen. Antithymic activity is not considered specific for schizophrenic illness, and the high antithymic activity found in schizophrenics might be produced against unknown xenoantigens, probably as a result of a nonspecific dysfunction of the immunological system in such patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Expression in Escherichia coli of chemically synthesized gene for a human immune interferon.

A 450 base pair fragment of double stranded DNA consisting of a gene for a human immune interferon (146 amino acid residues), initiation and termination signals plus appropriate restriction endonuclease sites was totally synthesized. The synthesis involved preparation of 62 oligodeoxyribonucleotides by rapid, solid phase procedures, and enzymatic ligation of the oligonucleotides. This synthetic gene was expressed in E. coli under the control of the lac UV5 promoter. Molecular weight of IFN-gamma produced by E. coli was estimated to be about 32,000 and 17,000 dalton by gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis respectively, suggesting that a dimer-form molecule was expressed in E. coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1982

Primordial germ cell proliferation in fetal testes in mouse strains with high and low incidences of congenital testicular teratomas.

The development of genital ridges in mouse strains were compared with high and low susceptibility to teratocarcinogenesis. The number of dividing primordial germ cells (PGC) was low at 12 days of gestation. The number increased sharply at 13 days and decreased precipitously by 15 days of gestation. The period of high mitotic activity closely paralleled the period of susceptibility to experimentally induced teratocarcinogenesis. Testes that had a long proliferative period had a higher incidence of teratomas than those that had a short proliferative period. A group of fetuses was identified that had markedly fewer than normal PGC. The incidence of teratomas in this group was very high, and nearly all growths were bilateral.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Superoxide dismutase in various tissues from rabbits bearing the Vx-2 carcinoma in the maxillary sinus.

Distribution profiles of superoxide dismutase isoenzymes in various tissues of rabbits with the Vx-2 carcinoma in the maxillary sinus were compared with those of control rabbits. Copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) activity in the liver of rabbits decreased significantly 3 weeks after transplantation. Manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activity did not decrease significantly within 5 weeks after transplantation. In other tissues from the tumor-bearing rabbits, Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD activities were not changed within 5 weeks. No Mn-SOD activity and low Cu,Zn-SOD activity were detected in the Vx-2 carcinoma. These results suggest that the Vx-2 carcinoma has lost most of its ability to defend against oxygen toxicity and this ability decreased only in the liver of rabbits bearing the Vx-2 carcinoma in the maxillary sinus.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Localization of receptors for Dolichos biflorus agglutinin in early post implantation embryos in mice.

The distribution of receptors for Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) was studied by histochemical staining of paraffin sections with HRP- or FITC-DBA in mouse embryos at stages ranging from 4.5 to 12.5 days post coitum. Preimplantation blastocysts did not express DBA receptors. The receptors first appeared in primitive endoderm cells in 5-day embryos. In 5.5- to 7.5-day embryos, both the parietal and extraembryonic visceral endoderm cells expressed the receptors. Reichert's membrane was negative for DBA receptors. The columnar cells of the embryonic visceral endoderm (EVE) strongly expressed the receptors, while the flat cells at the antimesometrial pole of the EVE were negative or patchily positive. In 8- to 9-day embryos, the receptors were expressed in the epithelium of the fore- and hindgut. In 9.5- to 12.5-day embryos, the epithelial cells of various regions of the gut expressed the receptors, although the endodermal cells of the liver and the pancreas, both derived from the foregut, did not express them. In 8- to 12.5-day embryos both the visceral and parietal yolk sac endoderm were positive in DBA receptors. The receptors were localized exclusively on the free surface facing the yolk cavity or on the luminal surface and subjacent cytoplasm. All endodermal cells which were positive are known to have absorptive activity. All other tissues in these stages were negative in DBA receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Biosynthesis of porphyrin precursors in mammals. Identity of alanine: gamma, delta-dioxovalerate aminotransferase with alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase.

Alanine: gamma, delta-dioxovalerate aminotransferase had been purified from bovine liver mitochondria, and the capacity of this enzyme to form delta-aminolevulinic acid had been suggested to be far greater than that of delta-aminolevulinate synthase (EC 2.3.1.37) from the same mitochondria (Varticovski, L., Kushner, J. P., and Burnham, B. F. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 3742-3747). In the present study, alanine: gamma, delta-dioxovalerate aminotransferase and alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.44) were co-purified to homogeneity from bovine liver mitochondria. The ratio of the two activities remains constant during purification and is unchanged by a variety of treatments of the purified enzyme. Alanine: gamma, delta-dioxovalerate aminotransferase activity is competitively inhibited by glyoxylate. Some kinetic data are presented. These results show that the two activities are associated with the same protein. The enzyme is much higher in the glyoxylate aminotransferase activity than in the dioxovalerate aminotransferase activity. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight of approximately 240,000 with four identical subunits and an isoelectric point of 5.4. The ratio of the gamma, delta-dioxovalerate aminotransferase activity to the glyoxylate aminotransferase was determined with alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase preparations from various mammalian liver and kidney.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1981

Plant leaf alanine: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase. Peroxisomal localization and identity with glutamate:glyoxylate aminotransferase.

The distribution of alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) leaf homogenates was examined by centrifugation in a sucrose density gradient. About 55% of the total homogenate activity was localized in the peroxisomes and the remainder in the soluble fraction. The peroxisomes contained a single form of alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, and the soluble fraction contained two forms of the enzyme. Both the peroxisomal enzyme and the soluble predominant form (about 90% of the total soluble activity) were co-purified with glutamate:glyoxylate aminotransferase to homogeneity; it had been reported to be present exclusively in the peroxisomes of plant leaves and to participate in the glycollate pathway in leaf photorespiration [Tolbert (1971) Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 22, 45-74]. The evidence indicates that alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase and glutamate:glyoxylate aminotransferase activities are associated with the same protein. The peroxisomal and soluble enzyme preparations had nearly identical properties, suggesting that the soluble predominant alanine aminotransferase activity is from broken peroxisomes and about 96% of the total homogenate activity is located in peroxisomes.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1981

Regional, cellular, and subcellular distribution of Thy-1 antigen in rat nervous tissues.

The regional, cellular, and subcellular distribution of Thy-1 antigen in rat nervous tissues was investigated with rabbit and anti-rat thymus antiserum. Thy-1 antigen was found most abundantly in the cerebrum, including the cerebral cortical layer, caudate nucleus, thalamus, and hypothalamus, and in the midbrain. It was found in lower amounts in the pons, medulla oblongata, cerebellum, and spinal cord. The content of Thy-1 antigen, however, was low in the retina, cervical sympathetic ganglion, and sciatic nerve, and there was little in the pineal body and adrenal medulla. Thy-1 antigen was present in the neuronal cell-enriched fraction, whereas the glial cell-enriched fraction lacked Thy-1 antigen. In a subcellular fractionation study, Thy-1 antigen was found to occur mainly in the synaptosomal membrane and microsomes and was low in the highly purified myelin fraction. The amount of Thy-1 antigen in the cerebral synaptosomal fraction was much higher than those in the cerebellar synaptosomal fraction. The distribution of Thy-1 antigen among the respective areas within the cerebrum was not significantly different, and it is suggested that Thy-1 antigen may be present evenly in the neuronal membranes of the cerebrum. Based on these results, Thy-1 antigen is considered to represent a useful marker of cerebral neuronal membranes, especially in the synaptic region, regardless of the kind of neurotransmitters.

Adrenal Medulla↗
PubMed1981

Role of pancreatic hormones in dietary induction of ornithine decarboxylase of rat liver.

1. Although the mean ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity induced by feeding in alloxan-diabetic rats was 60% of that in normal rats, it was markedly suppressed in pancreatectomized rats depending on the degree of pancreatectomy. 2. There was a correlation between plasma glucagon concentration and hepatic ODC activity under various dietary conditions. 3. When glucagon or insulin was given to pancreatectomized rats, dietary induction of ODC was restored to a level found in normal rats. The effects of glucagon and insulin were not additive, suggesting that these hormones act with a similar mechanism. Feeding 75% casein diet resulted in a considerable induction of ODC even in pancreatectomized rats. The enzyme was only slightly induced, however, when pancreatic hormones were given to starved rats. 4. Findings from amino acid analysis indicated that the influx of some amino acids into liver was stimulated by administration of glucagon. 5. These results suggest that increased influx of amino acids into liver is a critical factor for dietary induction of ODC and that both glucagon and insulin play a role in stimulating amino acid influx.

Adrenalectomy↗