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Biomedical subjects

T Tsujiuchi

Publications and source records attributed to T Tsujiuchi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Carcinogenicity of heterocyclic amines for the pancreatic duct epithelium in hamsters.

Effects of eight heterocyclic amines (HCAs) on pancreatic duct carcinogenesis were investigated in a rapid production model in hamsters. N-Nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) was given to effect initiation, followed by augmentation pressure consisting of four daily i.p. injections of 500 mg/kg DL-ethionine, a choline-deficient (CD) diet, a single i.p. injection of 800 mg/kg L-methionine and a s.c. injection of 20 mg/kg BOP. After two cycles of augmentation pressure, the HCAs 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1), 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2), 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AalphaC), 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (MeAalphaC) or 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline [4,8-DiMeIQx) were administered in the diet for 50 or 70 days. The numbers of pancreatic ductal hyperplasias (H) and a total lesions including, atypical hyperplasia (AH), carcinomas in situ (CIS) and invasive carcinomas, were increased in hamsters given the diet containing 0.02% Trp-P-1 for 50 days. This result was confirmed and extended by the finding of increased numbers of invasive carcinomas in hamsters given 0.02% Trp-P-1 for 70 days. The number and incidence of invasive carcinomas were also elevated in hamsters given the diet containing 0.06% 4,8-DiMeIQx for 50 days. These results suggest a possible involvement of Trp-P-1 and 4,8-DiMeIQx in pancreatic duct carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Different frequencies and patterns of beta-catenin mutations in hepatocellular carcinomas induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine and a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet in rats.

To allow a study of beta-catenin mutations in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) induced by exogenous and endogenous carcinogens, we induced tumors in male Fischer 344 rats with N-nitrosodiethylamine and a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet. Administration of the former was followed by partial hepatectomy with colchicine to induce cell cycle disturbance and a selection pressure regimen (K. Ohashi et al., Cancer Res., 56: 3474-3479, 1996; M. Tsutsumi et al., Jpn. J. Cancer Res., 87: 5-9, 1996). HCCs were obtained after 42 weeks. With continuous choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined feeding, tumors were sampled after 75 weeks. Total RNA was extracted from individual lesions and mutations in the glycogen synthase kinase-3beta phosphorylation consensus motif of beta-catenin were investigated by reverse transcriptase-PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis followed by nucleotide sequencing. Changes were detected in 5 of 11 HCCs induced by the exogenous carcinogen. The observed shifts of C:G-->G:C or C:G-->A:T at codon 33 and G:C-->T:A transversions at codon 34 were associated with beta-catenin protein accumulation and confirmed by Western blot analysis. Only 2 of 15 HCCs induced in the endogenous carcinogenesis regimen demonstrated mutations, those being transitions of C:G-->T:A at codon 41 without amino acid alteration. These results suggest that different genetic pathways underlie exogenous and endogenous liver carcinogenesis in rats.

Amino Acids↗

Cloning of differentially expressed genes in highly and low metastatic rat osteosarcomas by a modified cDNA-AFLP method.

To identify differentially expressed genes between highly and low metastatic rat transplantable osteosarcomas, we applied a modified AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphisms) method for cDNA subtraction. The specific point of our modification is selective amplification using suppression PCR technique after restriction enzyme cutting. Our cDNA-AFLP gave high reproducibility (about 95%) in mRNA patterns and enabled us to clone four dominantly expressed genes in a highly metastatic tumor line. Three showed homology with known genes, encoding Ki-67, a proliferation-associated effective marker of malignancy, type IV collagen alpha-3, a major component of basement membrane, and KIAA77 for which the function is unknown. Although one fragment showed no database homology, we revealed a derivation from the rat homologue of the Drosophila melanogaster diaphanous gene (Dia) by cloning of longer cDNA. Dia genes, known to affect actin filament formation, are downstream effectors of Rho small GTPase. The results suggest that alterations in the expression of cytoskeletal protein, basement membrane elements, and proliferative markers may be important for metastasis of osteosarcomas.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 correlates with metastatic potency of spontaneous and 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide (4-HAQO)-induced transplantable osteosarcomas in rats.

In the present experiment, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, key proteins in the MMP family, and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2, antagonistic proteins against MMP-2 and MMP-9, respectively, were investigated by Northern blot analysis in rat transplantable osteosarcomas with high and low metastatic potencies. Two transplantable osteosarcomas, one induced with the carcinogen, 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide (4-HAQO) (COS, chemical carcinogen-induced osteosarcoma), and the other, a spontaneous lesion (SOS, spontaneous osteosarcoma), were repeatedly transplanted from lung nodules to generate lines with high metastatic potency, C-SLM (chemical carcinogen-induced osteosarcoma, selected lung metastatic lesions) and S-SLM (spontaneous osteosarcoma, selected lung metastatic lesions), respectively. MMP-9 was overexpressed in both S-SLM and C-SLM, and TIMP-2 in the case of S-SLM. Neither MMP-2 nor TIMP-1 was overexpressed in either of the transplantable osteosarcomas with high metastatic potentials. The active form MMP-9, studied by zymography, increased in S-SLM and C-SLM but not in SOS and COS. MMP-9 mRNA expression was highly correlated with the gelatinolytic activity of active form MMP-9 (r = 0.85, P < 0.0001) and with the activation ratio of MMP-9 (r = 0.83, P < 0.0001). However, the active form MMP-2 was not detectable in all cases. These results suggest that overexpression of MMP-9 mRNA is one of the essential factors in the acquisition of metastatic potential in rat transplantable osteosarcomas.

4-Hydroxyaminoquinoline-1-oxide↗

Increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 protein in rat urinary bladder tumors induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine.

The anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin and piroxicam, are known to possess chemopreventive potential against rat superficial urinary bladder carcinogenesis induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN). Recently, we found similar inhibitory effects with a selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, nimesulide. In order to clarify the inhibitory mechanisms, we have further studied the expression of COX-2 protein in urinary bladder tumors induced by BBN in Fischer 344 male rats. For comparison, papillomatosis caused by uracil-induced urolithiasis, and normal epithelial cells, were also investigated. Western blot analysis revealed COX-2 protein to be barely expressed in the normal epithelial cells, whereas it was increased 13-22-fold in varying sizes of urinary bladder tumors and 7-fold in papillomatosis. Immunohistochemically, COX-2 protein was diffusely expressed in transitional cell carcinomas and nodulo-papillary hyperplasia but weakly expressed only in basal cells in simple hyperplasia and normal-looking surrounding epithelia. In papillomatosis, it was moderately expressed only in endothelial cells in stroma. These results indicate that COX-2 plays important roles in the development of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in the rat urinary bladder, and therefore could be a good target for chemoprevention of superficial lesions.

Animals↗

Overexpression of midkine in lung tumors induced by N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine in rats and its increase with progression.

The expression of midkine (MK) in lung tumors induced by N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (BHP) in rats was examined. The animals were administered 2000 p.p.m. of BHP in their drinking water for 12 weeks, then maintained without further treatment until being killed 20-28 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. MK mRNA expression of adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas assessed by means of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and northern blot analysis was significantly higher than in rat embryonic tissues (positive controls) and contrasted strongly with the lack in normal lungs. MK protein was detected immunohistochemically in 58.3% of alveolar hyperplasias, 92.3% of adenomas and 100% of adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. The extent of staining significantly increased along with malignant progression in adenomatous (pre-)neoplastic lesions and tended to become more pronounced with malignant progression in squamous lesions. The results suggest that MK may play some essential roles in the development and progression of lung tumors induced by BHP in rats.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Inhibition of spontaneous rat osteosarcoma lung metastasis by 3S-[4-(N-hydroxyamino)-2R-isobutylsuccinyl]amino-1-methoxy-3,4-dihydroc arbostyril, a novel matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor.

In the present experiment, we examined the effects of OPB-3206, 3S-[4-(N-hydroxyamino)-2R-isobutylsuccinyl]amino-1-methoxy-3,4- dihydrocarbostyril, a novel metalloproteinase inhibitor, on the growth and metastasis of transplantable osteosarcomas (spontaneous osteosarcoma, selected lung metastatic lesions; S-SLM), which were previously established in rats. OPB-3206 inhibited the activities of interstitial collagenase, gelatinases A and B, and stromelysin in vitro. After oral administration to rats, its serum concentration peaked at 40 min and the drug was no longer detectable at 8 h. When OPB-3206 was orally administered at 0%, 0.1% and 0.4% in the diet for 4 weeks, starting 7 days after subcutaneous transplantation of osteosarcomas to male Fischer 344 rats, numbers of lung metastatic nodules were significantly reduced by the highest dose, while the growth of subcutaneous tumors was not affected. Zymographic analysis showed the presence of pro matrix metalloproteinase (proMMP)-2, proMMP-9 and MMP-9 activities in S-SLM. In animals fed 0.4% OPB-3206, the activity of proMMP-9 was increased, but that for MMP-9 had become undetectable. The results thus suggest that OPB-3206 selectively inhibits lung metastasis of rat transplantable osteosarcomas by inhibiting MMP-9 activation.

Administration, Oral↗

Hypomethylation of CpG sites and c-myc gene overexpression in hepatocellular carcinomas, but not hyperplastic nodules, induced by a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet in rats.

We have investigated aberrant methylation of CpG nucleotides (CpG sites) and gene expression of c-myc during hepatocarcinogenesis induced by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet in rats. Male Fischer 344 rats, 6 weeks old, were continuously given a CDAA diet for 50 and 75 weeks and then killed. Macroscopically detectable nodules, which were histologically confirmed to be hyperplastic nodules (HNs) or well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), were dissected free from the surrounding tissue. Normal control liver was obtained from 6-week-old rats. Methylation of CpG sites of the c-myc gene was investigated in bisulfite-treated DNA isolated from normal liver, HNs and HCCs. All 33 cytosines in the 5'-upstream region of the c-myc gene were fully methylated in control liver and the 4 HNs. In contrast, these cytosines were completely unmethylated in 5 HCCs. Examination of the c-myc expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis also showed a marked increase as compared to the low levels in normal livers and HNs. These results suggest that hypomethylation of the c-myc gene might play a critical role in malignant transformation from HN to HCC during CDAA diet-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Amino Acids↗

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors during lung carcinogenesis by N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine in rats.

The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFRs), VEGFR-1/Flt-1 and VEGFR-2/Flk-1, was investigated by immunohistochemical and northern blot analysis during lung carcinogenesis by N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (BHP) in male Wistar rats. After BHP was given in the drinking water for 12 wk, the rats were maintained without further treatment until they were killed at 20-28 wk. Immunohistochemical studies revealed VEGF expression in almost all malignancies, the reaction being strongly positive in most adenocarcinomas (15 of 18; 83.3%) and squamous cell carcinomas (four of five; 80.0%), but less so in a total of 120 adenomas and 136 alveolar hyperplasias. In addition, VEGF mRNA and VEGFR mRNAs were found to be overexpressed in most adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas as well as in one to three of the five adenomas tested. The results indicated that VEGF and VEGFRs play important roles in the acquisition of malignant potential by preneoplastic lung lesions induced by BHP in rats. Moreover, overexpression of VEGF was related to upregulation of VEGFR-1/Flt-1 and VEGFR-2/Flk-1 expression in malignant and premalignant lung lesions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Enhanced expression of Tie2, its ligand angiopoietin-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and CD31 in human non-small cell lung carcinomas.

Expression of angiogenesis-associated genes was compared in 32 primary non-small cell lung carcinoma samples (14 adenocarcinomas, 17 squamous cell carcinomas, and 1 large cell carcinoma) and paired adjacent noncancerous lung tissues using a multiprobe RNase protection assay. Levels of Tie2, angiopoietin (Ang)-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD31 mRNAs were higher in cancers than in adjacent noncancerous tissues, in contrast to the fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt)-1, Flt-4, Tie1, thrombin receptor, endoglin, and VEGF-C, for which no differences were evident. Overexpression did not seem to differ with histological type and pathological stage. Significant positive correlations were found between mRNA expression of Ang-1 and those of Tie2 and CD31, and that of VEGF and those of Flt-1 and CD31. These findings suggest that Ang-1 and VEGF are important angiogenic factors in human non-small cell lung carcinomas.

Adult↗

Inhibition by phenyl N-tert-butyl nitrone of early phase carcinogenesis in the livers of rats fed a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet.

Male Wistar rats were fed a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet alone or in combination with a nitrone-based free radical trapping agent, phenyl N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) in the drinking water at the concentrations of 0.013, 0.065, and 0.130% for 12 weeks. PBN inhibited the changes that are normally induced in the livers of rats by the CDAA diet feeding, i.e., development of putative preneoplastic lesions, proliferation of connective tissue, reduction of glutathione S-transferase activity, formation of 8-hydroxyguanine in DNA, and an increase in inducible cyclo-oxygenase (COX2) activity. PBN, however, did not prevent the increases in the COX2 mRNA or protein levels brought on by the CDAA diet These results indicate that the loss of glutathione S-transferase activity and COX2 induction may play significant roles in rat liver carcinogenesis by the CDAA diet and that PBN prevents neoplasia not only by its radical scavenging activity but also by inhibiting COX2 activity at the catalytic level.

Amino Acids↗

Increased telomerase activity in intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinomas induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine in hamsters.

Telomerase activities in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) in female hamsters were determined using a telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay followed by densitometric quantification. Each determination was repeated to confirm the results and telomerase activity was also detected by gel electrophoresis. An increase was evident in all of 10 cholangiocarcinomas examined, with levels ranging from 2.48 to 4.40 times the normal liver value by densitometric quantification. This finding of a consistent increase suggests that telomerase activation is involved in the development of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and immortalization of cancer cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Prevention by inhibitors of arachidonic acid cascade of liver carcinogenesis, cirrhosis and oxidative DNA damage caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet in rats.

Effects of inhibitors of arachidonic acid (AA) cascade on the development of fatty liver, cirrhosis, glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive preneoplastic nodules, neoplastic nodules and generation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet, were examined in Fischer 344 male rats by feeding CDAA diet supplemented with the inhibitors for 12 and 30 weeks. None of the inhibitors affected fatty liver. Among cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, an irreversibly acting acetylsalicylic acid and a long-acting piroxicam, and to a much lesser extent the short-acting ibuprofen but not indomethacin, inhibited the development of cirrhosis, GST-P-positive and neoplastic nodules and generation of 8-OHdG. A phospholipase A2 inhibitor p-bromophenacylbromide (BPB) also exerted similar but lesser extent of inhibitory effects. Lipoxygenase inhibitors quercetin and nordihydroguiaretic acid inhibited GST-P-positive nodules but not cirrhosis or 8-OHdG. Present results suggest that perturbed AA cascade, particularly augmented COX pathway, might play key roles in the causation of liver lesions in the CDAA diet model.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Heterogeneous pattern of gene expression in cloned cell lines established from a rat transplantable osteosarcoma lung metastatic nodule.

We have established three cloned cell lines (COS1NR, COS2NR and COS4NR) from the lung metastatic nodule of a highly metastatic variant of rat transplantable osteosarcoma, C-SLM. All three clones shared the same morphological characteristics and tumorigenicity, but their growth rates in vitro and metastatic ability in vivo differed from each other. Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis revealed all three clones to have the same p53 gene mutation and parent C-SLM tumor. On the other hand, Northern blot analysis showed a different pattern of expression for the genes, c-fos, c-jun, c-Ha-ras, transin (rat stromelysin), bone Gla protein (osteocalsin) and nm23/NDP kinase. These results indicate the presence of a heterogeneous cell population in terms of the different pattern of gene expression in a lung metastatic nodule of rat osteosarcoma and the present newly established cell lines will be useful for further investigation of the biological behavior of osteosarcomas.

Animals↗

Increased telomerase activity and absence of p53 mutation in oligoastrocytomas induced by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea in rats.

The question of whether the changes in telomerase activity and/or the alteration of the p53 gene are involved in the development of oligo-astrocytomas induced by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) in rats was addressed. Telomerase activity levels of oligo-astrocytomas, including early neoplastic lesions, were significantly increased as compared to the normal controls, correlating with the degree of malignancy. In contrast, no mutations of p53 exons 5-7 were found in early neoplastic lesions or oligo-astrocytomas. These results indicate that the activation of telomerase occurs during astrocytoma carcinogenesis and contributes to the development of brain tumors, but the alterations of p53, at least on exons 5-7, may not be involved in this process.

Animals↗

Induction of telomerase activity during regeneration after partial hepatectomy in the rat.

The regulation of telomerase activity during regeneration induced by two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) was investigated in 6-week-old male F344 rats. Groups of animals were serially sacrificed 0, 6, 16, 24, 36 and 72 h after the operation and telomerase activity was determined by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay followed by densitometric quantification. DNA synthesis was immunohistochemically quantified in terms of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. The expression levels of telomerase RNA were examined by Northern blot analysis. Telomerase activity was increased significantly from 6 to 36 h but had decreased to close to the normal levels after 72 h. DNA synthesis reached a maximum 24 h after PH. However, the expression levels of telomerase RNA did not change during regeneration. The results suggest that telomerase is actively regulated by unknown mechanisms throughout the cell cycle in regenerating rat hepatocytes.

Animals↗

Prevention by 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate of the induction but not growth of putative preneoplastic, glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive, focal lesions in the livers of rats fed a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet.

The effects of 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) on endogenous rat liver carcinogenesis because of chronic feeding of a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet were examined. Male Fischer 344 rats, 6 weeks old, received the CDAA diet containing ACA at doses of 0, 0.005, 0.010 and 0.050% for 12 weeks and were then killed. ACA decreased the numbers of putative preneoplastic, glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive, focal lesions developing in the livers of rats fed the CDAA diet but did not alter their sizes. At the same time, ACA reduced the levels of 8-hydroxyguanine, a parameter of oxidative DNA damage, but did not significantly affect generation of 2-thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances, indicators of oxidative extra-DNA damage, or hepatocyte proliferation. Furthermore, ACA did not exert any significant effects on the numbers or sizes of GST-P-positive lesions in the livers of rats when administered between weeks 2 and 8 after initiation with a single i.p. dose of 200 mg/kg body wt of N-nitrosodiethylamine. These results indicate that ACA prevents the CDAA diet-associated induction of putative preneoplastic lesions by reduction of oxidative DNA damage but does not affect their subsequent growth.

Amino Acids↗