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Biomedical subjects

T Sakurai

Publications and source records attributed to T Sakurai.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Functions of brain chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans during developments: interactions with adhesion molecules.

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), including neurocan and phosphocan, are believed to be major components of brain extracellular matrix that interact with other matrix proteins and cell surface receptors. In addition, several brain CSPGs such as receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase beta are expressed as cell surface receptors that interact with proteins in the extracellular matrix and with receptors on neural cells. Recent in vitro studies demonstrate that, although the brain CSPGs neurocan and phosphocan can promote transient adhesion of neuronal cells, they inhibit stable cell adhesion and neurite growth promoted by the cell adhesion molecule Ng-CAM/L1. Neurocan and phosphocan bind with high affinity to Ng-CAM/L1 and N-CAM which may be their major receptors on neurons. These CSPGs also bind to other adhesion molecules, such as tenascin-C, and can differentially modulate adhesion of glia of tenascin-C. Both the glycosaminoglycan and the core glycoproteins contribute to the function of the brain CSPGs. When expressed in regions containing low levels of adhesion molecules, various CSPGs including phosphocan, neurocan, versican, aggrecan, and NG2 proteoglycan may act as barriers to cell migration and axonal growth. In regions containing high levels of adhesion proteins, brain CSPGs may still act to maintain certain boundaries while allowing selective axonal extension to proceed. There are numerous regions of overlap in the expression patterns of CSPGs and adhesion molecules in vivo, and the relative levels of these molecules as well as the organization of the extracellular matrix may be important factors that regulate the rate of axonal growth locally. Differential expression of CSPGs may be important for modulating cell adhesion as well as axonal growth and guidance during neural development, and continued expression may prevent these processes in the normal nature nervous system as well as following brain injury.

Aging↗
PubMed1995

Room temperature ESR spectra of Rhus vernicifera laccase and derivatives.

Although both the type 1 and type 2 coppers of Rhus vernicifera laccase are fully ESR detectable at 77 K, only 30% of the type 2 copper are in the cupric form at room temperature. The residual 70% of the type 2 copper was easily transformed into the ESR detectable form by irradiating the resting enzyme with microwave of 200 mW. The enzyme activity did not change by the irradiation with high-powered microwave, indicating that the type 2 copper can be in both the ESR detectable and ESR undetectable forms in solution. The room temperature ESR spectra of the type 2 copper-depleted laccase and of the azide-bound type 3 copper signals were also measured at room temperature and compared with those at 77 K.

Copper↗
PubMed1995

Immunochemical identification and differential phosphorylation of alternatively spliced forms of the alpha 1A subunit of brain calcium channels.

Biochemical properties of the alpha 1 subunits of class A brain calcium channels (alpha 1A) were examined in adult rat brain membrane fractions using a site-directed anti-peptide antibody (anti-CNA3) specific for alpha 1A. Anti-CNA3 specifically immunoprecipitated high affinity receptor sites for omega-conotoxin MVIIC (Kd approximately 100 pM), but not receptor sites for the dihydropyridine isradipine or for omega-conotoxin GVIA. In immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation experiments, anti-CNA3 recognized at least two distinct immunoreactive alpha 1A polypeptides, a major form with an apparent molecular mass of 190 kDa and a minor, full-length form with an apparent molecular mass of 220 kDa. The 220- and 190-kDa alpha 1A polypeptides were also specifically recognized by both anti-BI-Nt and anti-BI-1-Ct antibodies, which are directed against the NH2- and COOH-terminal ends of alpha 1A predicted from cDNA sequence, respectively. These data indicate that the predicted NH2 and COOH termini are present in both size forms and therefore that these isoforms of alpha 1A are created by alternative RNA splicing rather than post-translational proteolytic processing of the NH2 or COOH termini. The 220-kDa form was phosphorylated preferentially by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, whereas protein kinase C and cGMP-dependent protein kinase preferentially phosphorylated the 190-kDa form. Our results identify at least two distinct alpha 1A subunits with different molecular mass, demonstrate that they may result from alternative mRNA splicing, and suggest that they may be differentially regulated by protein phosphorylation.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1995

An inhibitory role for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in insulin secretion from pancreatic B cell line MIN6.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) has been implicated in the regulation of vesicular transport. We examined the roles of PI3-kinase in the glucose-induced insulin secretion from the pancreatic beta cell line MIN6 by using wortmannin, a potent inhibitor of PI3-kinase. Low concentrations of wortmannin markedly potentiated the glucose-induced insulin secretion. This effect was probably mediated by PI3-kinase inhibition. Furthermore, wortmannin completely canceled the suppressive effect of insulin-like growth factor-I on insulin secretion from MIN6 cells. On the basis of these results, we discuss a possible role of PI3-kinase in the negative feed-back regulation of insulin secretion.

Androstadienes↗
PubMed1995

Ultraviolet B irradiation increases endothelin-1 and endothelin receptor expression in cultured human keratinocytes.

The effect of ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation on endothelin-1 (ET-1) and ET receptor expression was examined using cultured normal human keratinocytes. Keratinocytes secreted ET-1 in the medium at a level of 2.1 pg/day/10(5) cells. UVB irradiation up to 10 mJ/cm2 increased ET-1 secretion 3-fold, and potentiated expression of mRNA for ET-1. Both ETA and ETB receptor mRNAs were detected in keratinocytes, and their expression was up-regulated by 5 mJ/cm2 UVB irradiation.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The carbonic anhydrase domain of receptor tyrosine phosphatase beta is a functional ligand for the axonal cell recognition molecule contactin.

Receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase beta (RPTP beta) is expressed in the developing nervous system and contains a carbonic anhydrase (CAH) domain as well as a fibronectin type III repeat in its extracellular domain. Fusion proteins containing these domains were used to search for ligands of RPTP beta. The CAH domain bound specifically to a 140 kDa protein expressed on the surface of neuronal cells. Expression cloning in COS7 cells revealed that this protein is contactin, a GPI membrane-anchored neuronal cell recognition molecule. The CAH domain of RPTP beta induced cell adhesion and neurite growth of primary tectal neurons, and differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. These responses were blocked by antibodies against contactin, demonstrating that contactin is a neuronal receptor for RPTP beta. These experiments show that an individual domain of RPTP beta acts as a functional ligand for the neuronal receptor contactin. The interaction between contactin and RPTP beta may generate unidirectional or bidirectional signals during neural development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

EPR spectra of type 3 copper centers in Rhus vernicifera laccase and Cucumis sativus ascorbate oxidase.

In order to reveal the detailed structure of the trinuclear site composed of type 2 copper and a pair of type 3 copper centers in multicopper oxidases, the action of inhibitors such as azide, thiocyanate, and fluoride on laccase and ascorbate oxidase has been investigated by absorption, CD, and EPR spectroscopies. Anaerobic reactions of inhibitor-treated laccase and ascorbate oxidase with pyrocatechol and L-ascorbate, respectively, gave EPR signals originating from the inhibitor-bound type 3 copper, except for the case of F(-)-laccase. The hyperfine splittings of these EPR signals (Az = 10.10(-3)-18.10(-3) cm-1) were smaller than those of type 2 copper centers (ca. 20.10(-3) cm-1), indicating that type 3 copper has a tetragonal geometry with tetrahedral distortion. The facile detection of a series of the inhibitor-bound type 3 copper centers indicates that the action of the exogenous anionic inhibitors is not only to interfere the access of dioxygen to the trinuclear site, but also to restrain the reduction of type 3 copper by lowering its reduction potential.

Ascorbate Oxidase↗
PubMed1995

Chronically administered 3-nitropropionic acid induces striatal lesions attributed to dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier.

3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NPA), an irreversible inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase, was administered to rats and the characteristics of the neuronal damage were investigated. Injections of 3-NPA (15 mg/kg s.c.) every 2 or 3 days for 1-2 weeks induced a mild neuronal loss and neutrophil invasions in the striatum (STR). The same administration for 4 weeks induced specific symmetric lesions in the lateral STR although the size was variable in each animal. Inside the lesions, strong neutrophil invasions and a strong immunoreaction for IgG, C3 as well as complement factor C3b/C4b receptor (C3b/C4br) were detected. Lesioned sites lost the immunoreaction for GFAP while the marginal areas contained abundant GFAP-labeled astrocytes around the vessels. In intoxicated animals, there was a weak but stout immunoreaction for IgG and C3b/C4br localizing around vessels in the STR even when there were no lesions or neuronal loss. The data suggest that the blood-brain barrier dysfunction is responsible for the specific vulnerability of the STR for the toxin.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Molecular identification of guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins which couple to endothelin receptors.

The coupling of two endothelin receptor subtypes (ET(A) and ETB) to several types of guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (G protein) was examined. Two subtypes of receptor cDNAs were transfected alone or together with four different G protein alpha subunit cDNAs in COS-7 cells. In ET(A) receptor-transfected cells, endothelin-1 (ET-1) activated phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C as measured by the production of phosphatidylinositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]. ETB-receptor-transfected cells also produced Ins(1,4,5)P3 on stimulation by ET-1. The ET-1-induced production of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was markedly higher in G alpha q-cotransfected or G alpha 11-cotransfected cells than in cells transfected with each receptor alone. ET-1 also stimulated production of cAMP in ET(A) or ETB receptor-transfected cells. The production of cAMP was synergistically amplified by G alpha s co-transfection with each receptor. In contrast, when G alpha i2 was co-transfected with the ET(A) or ETB receptor, ET-1 displayed an inhibitory action on forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Pertussis-toxin treatment of the G alpha i2-transfected cells resulted in abolition of the endothelin-induced inhibition of cAMP accumulation. These observations indicate that both ET(A) and ETB receptors are able to couple to Gq, G11, Gs and Gi2, and suggest that endothelin receptors stimulate multiple effectors via several types of G protein simultaneously. The overall effects induced by endothelin may differ in cell types depending on the level of expression of each G-protein subtype in the cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Chronically administered 3-nitropropionic acid produces selective lesions in the striatum and reduces muscle tonus.

Systemically administered 3-nitropropionic acid (3- NPA), irreversible inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase, produced characteristic bilateral lesions in the striatum (STR) in the rat. Inside the lesion, neutrophils invaded and strong immunoreaction for IgG as well as complement factor C3b/C4b receptor (C3b/C4br) were observed. The core of the lesion lost the immunoreaction for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) while the marginal area had abundant GFAP-labeled astrocytes around the vessels. Intoxicated rats often became somnolent and were awkward in cooperative movement on a pole climbing test, but they had a quite good memory retention in a passive avoidance learning. Muscle tonus in some of the intoxicated rats became hypotonic with low voltage electromyogram (EMG) activity, especially in lower limbs. In summary, 3-NPA intoxicated rats had selective bilateral lesions in the STR and exhibited disturbances in a cooperative movement owing to the impairment in muscle tonus, thus it would be a useful animal model to deduce the central pathogenesis of Huntington's disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor from the synthetic vascular prosthesis using hydroxypropylchitosan acetate.

We designed a model vascular prosthesis consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore Tex) loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and studied its in vivo bFGF release behavior. To control the release rate of bFGF, biodegradable hydroxypropylchitosan acetate (HPCHA) was also incorporated into the Gore Tex disks with bFGF. HPCHA was dissolved in bFGF solution (180 micrograms/ml) at a concentration of 4% (wt/vol). A Gore Tex tube was cut into a length of about 5 cm and one end was sealed with a vascular clamp. The tube was then filled with resulting solution under appropriate pressure until the solvents seeped through the pores. The tube loaded with bFGF solution was freeze-dried and was cut into disks (0.75 cm in diameter). bFGF content in a HPCHA-free Gore disk was 2.05 +/- 0.32 micrograms (SE, n = 5). bFGF content in a HPCHA Gore disk was 2.71 +/- 0.41 micrograms (SE, n = 5). In an in vivo study in which the bFGF loaded Gore Tex disk was implanted in rabbit skin pockets, almost 100% of bFGF from HPCHA-free disks was released within 24 h, whereas some 60% remained after 24 h in the HPCHA-loaded disks. HPCHA is a useful biodegradable carrier for controlling the release rate of the drug from the synthetic vascular prosthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of laser vascular welding, interrupted sutures, and continuous sutures in growing vascular anastomoses.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The argon laser-assisted vascular anastomosis may solve the problems of conventional sutured anastomosis, such as vascular stenosis and arrest of growth owing to a foreign-body reaction to suture material. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve argon laser-assisted vascular anastomoses, seven conventional anastomoses with interrupted sutures, and five conventional anastomoses with continuous sutures were performed in 12 young mongrel dogs. RESULTS: Five months later, the external diameter at the anastomosis had increased 70.5% in the laser group, 67.0% in the interrupted suture group, and 22.9% in the continuous suture group. Histological examination of the laser-assisted anastomoses showed almost complete healing, with no granulomatous response around the anastomotic site. In the interrupted suture group, marked scaring and foreign body reactions were observed on the vessel wall at the site of the anastomosis. The continuous suture group showed more remarkable disorientation of the vascular layer and intimal hyperplasia than the interrupted suture group. CONCLUSION: Vascular anastomosis using the argon laser offers advantages over the conventional procedure in growing vessels.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1995

Effects of bradykinin on Ca2+ mobilization and prostaglandin E2 release in human periodontal ligament cells.

In fura-2-loaded human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells, bradykinin induced a rapidly transient increase and subsequently sustained increase in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). When external Ca2+ was chelated by EGTA, the transient peak of [Ca2+]i was reduced and the sustained level was abolished, implying the Ca2+ mobilization consists of intracellular Ca2+ release and Ca2+ influx. Thapsigargin, a specific Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1,4,5-IP3)-sensitive Ca2+ pool, induced an increased in [Ca2+]i in the absence of external Ca2+. After depletion of the intracellular Ca2+ pool by thapsigargin, the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by bradykinin was obviously reduced. Bradykinin also stimulated formation of inositol polyphosphates including 1,4,5-IP3. These results suggest that bradykinin stimulates intracellular Ca2+ release from the 1,4,5-IP3-sensitive Ca2+ pool. Bradykinin stimulated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release in the presence of external Ca2+, but not in the absence of external Ca2+. Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and thapsigargin evoked the release of PGE2 in the presence of external Ca2+ despite no activation of bradykinin receptors. These results indicate that bradykinin induces Ca2+ mobilization via activation of phospholipase C and PGE2 release caused by the Ca2+ influx in HPDL cells.

4-Nitrophenylphosphatase↗
PubMed1995

Intravenous dopexamine in the treatment of acute congestive heart failure: results of a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled withdrawal study.

Acute hemodynamic effects of intravenous infusion of dopexamine were evaluated by a placebo-controlled withdrawal study in patients with acute congestive heart failure. Twenty patients were enrolled at 10 centers in Japan. All patients had a pulmonary capillary or diastolic pressure of 15 mmHg or greater and a cardiac index of 2.5 l/min/m2 or less. Phase I: Intravenous dopexamine was introduced in a single-blind, uncontrolled fashion at the rate of 0.5 micrograms/kg/min and was titrated up to achieve a 30% or more increase in the cardiac index. Two patients withdrew from the study due to sinus tachycardia and ventricular ectopy or exacerbation of heart failure. Phase II: The remaining 18 responders who were free of limiting side effects were randomized in double-blind fashion to continue dopexamine or to switch to placebo for an additional 60 minutes. At the end of phase II, the hemodynamic improvement obtained in phase I of the study disappeared completely after substitution of placebo but was maintained in dopexamine-treated patients. Our findings suggest that dopexamine, when given in appropriate doses to selected patients, shows balanced vasodilator action suitable for the treatment of acute congestive heart failure.

Acute Disease↗