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Biomedical subjects

T Yoshiki

Publications and source records attributed to T Yoshiki.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1) in the Japanese: analysis of CAG trinucleitide repeat expansion and instability of the repeat for paternal transmission.

SCA1 is caused by expansion of an unstable CAG triplet repeat in a novel gene located on the short arm of chromosome 6. In 126 Japanese individuals from 12 pedigrees with SCA1, studies were done to determine if they carried this mutant gene. All the affected and pre-symptomatic individuals, determined by haplotype segregation analyses, carried an abnormally expanded allele with the range of 39-63 repeat units. This repeat size inversely correlated with the age at onset. However, contrary to reported results, size of the repeat did not correlate with gender of the transmitting parent. Therefore, the CAG triplet repeat instability on paternal transmission is not likely to be fundamental to SCA1.

Adolescent↗

CAG repeat expansion of Machado-Joseph disease in the Japanese: analysis of the repeat instability for parental transmission, and correlation with disease phenotype.

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is caused by abnormal expansion of an unstable CAG repeat in a novel gene locating on chromosome 14q32.1. We analysed this CAG repeat polymorphism with 66 Japanese MJD patients. All the patients were selectively associated with abnormal expansion of the CAG repeat. Repeat length of the mutant allele did not overlap that of normal allele and closely correlated with not only age at onset but also with clinical phenotypes. CAG repeat size is apparently related to a wide variety of phenotypic presentations in MJD.

Adult↗

Purification and characterization of a sperm antigen recognized by HSA-5 monoclonal antibody.

Among the monoclonal antibodies generated against acrosome-reacted human sperm, HSA-5 was shown to react with a sperm antigen localized predominantly to the equatorial region of the acrosome of human sperm and to the head and tail of mouse sperm. This antibody reacted with the methanol-fixed sperm, but not with fresh live sperm. When purified by immunoaffinity column, a major protein band with a molecular mass of approximately 100 kDa on SDS gel was isolated from fresh human sperm extract. The immunospecificity of isolated human sperm protein to this monoclonal antibody was verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis. This antigen, designated as HSA-5, was susceptible to proteolytic degradation and revealed multiple immunoreactive bands in Western blot analyses of some preparations. Mouse sperm homogenates showed a similar polymorphic pattern to that of human samples. The tissue specificity of this antigen was examined immunohistochemically using various mouse and human tissues. HSA-5 did not cross-react with any other tissues except for sperm in adult testes and epididymis. This antibody also showed no binding activity to testicular tissue sections from mice of 13 and 21 days of age. The results of our study suggest that the sperm antigen recognized by HSA-5 monoclonal antibody is a differentiation antigen, which is expressed postmeiotically in testicular sperm but not in any somatic tissues.

Animals↗

Epitope analysis of a sperm acrosomal antigen defined by HSA-5 monoclonal antibody.

Among the monoclonal antibodies recommended by the WHO Sperm Antigen Workshop for immunocontraceptive vaccine development, HSA-5 showed a high degree of sperm specificity and significantly inhibited in vitro fertilization in both humans and mice. Using a Western blot assay, HSA-5 was found to recognize a sperm antigen designated as HSAg-5 (human) or MSAg-5 (mouse) which ranged in molecular weight from 18 to 100 kDa. This monoclonal antibody was used as the probe for the immunoscreening of mouse testis cDNA libraries constructed in the lambda gt-11 expression vector. One of the positive cDNA clones was shown to have a cDNA insert of approximately 1 kb and to encode a recombinant fusion protein containing 77 amino acid residues in the C-terminal region of MSAg-5. This 1 kb cDNA insert was engineered in a pGEX vector to express a recombinant glutathione S-transferase fusion protein (GST-5). Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis, both anti-GST-5 sera and the monoclonal antibody were shown to react with GST-5. The Northern blot of a mouse testis RNA preparation revealed that the isolated cDNA probe hybridized with a 4.0 kb mRNA. Several oligopeptides were synthesized based on the predicted C-terminal hydrophilic regions of the recombinant fusion protein. Using ELISA and a dot blot assay, peptide regions containing the immunogenic epitopes recognized by HSA-5 monoclonal antibody were identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cytokine modulation of interactions between cultured human renal tubular and lymphoid blast cells.

We examined the in vitro cytokine modulation of the interaction of cultured renal tubular epithelial cells (hKEC) with lymphoid effector cells, including mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR)-derived blasts, Concanavalin A (Con A)-activated blast, and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. Blast adhesion to hKEC was augmented by treatment with either interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), or MLR supernatant. The augmented adhesion statistically correlated with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) upregulation on hKEC cells by the cytokines. Blocking of surface ICAM-1 on hKEC or of lymphocyte-function antigen-1 (LFA-1) on the blasts significantly inhibited adhesion. LFA-1 blocking on LAK or MLR blasts resulted in a significant inhibition in cytotoxic function. TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta treatments on hKEC increased the susceptibility to LAK cytotoxicity, whereas IFN-gamma and MLR supernatant treatment significantly reduced this susceptibility. Absorption of IFN-gamma from the MLR supernatant partially restored the susceptibility of LAK cytotoxicity. The combined data suggest the importance of cytokine regulation of LFA-1/ICAM-1 adhesion molecule in these cellular interactions. Although IFN-gamma augments attachment between hKEC and blastic effector cells, this cytokine endows hKEC with resistance to LAK cytotoxicity. Thus, it is clear that cytokine modulation is a complicated phenomenon involving both adhesion molecule regulation-dependent and independent mechanisms.

Absorption↗

Thy-1 induced on rat endothelium regulates vascular permeability at sites of inflammation.

We investigated the role of surface adhesion molecules on endothelial cells in regulating vascular permeability, in vitro and in vivo. Cultured rat endothelial cells (REC) express Thy-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), CD44 and RT1A. Permeability of albumin across the REC monolayer increased through the interaction of Thy-1 and anti-Thy-1 mAb, but not through ICAM-1 and anti-ICAM-1, CD44 and anti-CD44, and RT1A and anti-RT1A mAb. This anti-Thy-1-effect was completely inhibited when the calmodulin antagonist W-7 and the protein kinase inhibitor H-7 was combined, while the IL-6-mediated increase in REC permeability was blocked by either W-7 or H-7, independently. The anti-Thy-1-mediated permeability increase was additively augmented when IL-6 was admixed. These data suggest that intracellular signaling pathways of anti-Thy-1- and IL-6-mediated permeability regulation may be overlapping to some extent but are largely independent. As anti-Thy-1-treatment generated rearrangement of vimentin filaments within REC, alteration of the cytoskeleton distribution may possibly correlate with the regulation of permeability. Although Thy-1-expression on rat vascular endothelium in vivo was not evident, it was induced at sites of Freund's complete adjuvant-induced dermatitis. The administered anti-Thy-1 mAb exclusively located on vascular endothelial surface at the sites of inflammation. Vascular permeability in inflamed skin tissues was significantly augmented when anti-Thy-1 but not anti-ICAM-1, anti-CD44 or anti-RT1A mAb was administered i.v., without affecting populations of inflammatory cells. The collective evidence suggests that Thy-1 induced on rat endothelium is one important regulatory event in vascular permeability at sites of inflammation.

Animals↗

Expression of endogenous retroviruses, ERV3 and lambda 4-1, in synovial tissues from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We addressed the question of whether or not expression of human endogenous retroviruses (ERV), ERV3 and lambda 4-1, is related to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In genomic Southern hybridization, there were no significant differences between RA patients and healthy volunteers with regard to frequencies of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns, for either ERV3 or lambda 4-1. By Northern blot analysis using fresh synovial tissues, cultured synovial cells, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with RA, we noted two molecular species of ERV3 mRNAs of 3.5 kb and 9.0 kb sizes, and one single molecular species of lambda 4-1 mRNAs of 4.2 kb size. The expression was detected not only in RA patients but also in synovial cells from osteoarthritis (OA) as a non-RA control and PBMC from healthy volunteers, and was not related to RA activities or treatments. Although ERV3 and lambda 4-1 expression may not be directly associated with the pathogenic pathway of RA, the possibility exists that human ERV may have a causative role in autoimmune diseases, including RA. We also examined the effect of cytokines on the transcriptional regulation of ERV3. Although the level of ERV3 expression in cultured synovial cells did not change with IL-1 beta treatment, the level for cultured proximal tubular epithelial cells (hKEC) was up-regulated.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Strain combination-dependent genesis of necrotizing arteritis in anti-ICAM-1 antibody-perfused renal allografts in the rat.

Rat kidneys were perfused with anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (anti-ICAM-1) monoclonal antibody prior to allotransplantation. In the two strain combinations examined, LEF-to-WKAH transplants resulted in accelerated graft loss, and no prolongation of graft survival. The accelerated graft loss was the result of frequent occurrence of necrotizing arteritis within the grafts. In contrast, TO-to-WKAH transplants resulted in no change in graft survival and no arteritis. Necrotizing vasculitis in the LEJ-to-WKAH grafts was characterized by fibrinoid necrosis, collection of cellular infiltrates and serum macromolecular protein entrapment. The F(ab1)2 form of anti-ICAM-1 antibody partially preserved the antibody's capacity to accelerate graft loss. Therefore, although endothelial injury by Fc-mediated cytotoxicity may be involved in vascular damage, other mechanisms also come into play. The amount and distribution pattern of ICAM-1 antigen were identical in both TO and LEJ strains. Intravenous anti-ICAM-1 antibody administration combined with lipopolysaccharide, Poly(I)-Poly(C), warm ischemia to the kidney, or subcutaneous immunization with allogeneic spleen cells, but without renal transplantation, did not generate necrotizing vasculitis or proteinuria. These observations plus our previous data on the rat liver transplantation model clearly show that graft perfusion with anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody invokes extensive vascular damage within allografts by Fc-mediated and Fc-independent mechanisms, depending on the donor-to-host combination.

Animals↗

Single-step purification of prostatic acid phosphatase: immunoaffinity chromatography with a monoclonal antibody.

BACKGROUND: Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) is an important protein which should be studied further as a tumor marker or as a biologically functional molecule. The purpose of the study was to establish a simple and reliable method to obtain highly pure PAP. METHODS: Spleen cells from mice immunized with prostatic epithelial cells prepared from benign prostatic hyperplasia tissue were fused with myeloma cells X63Ag8-653. Hybrid cells of interest were selected using the indirect immunofluorescence method with unfixed frozen tissue sections. One clone of the hybrid cell lines was established which secreted the monoclonal antibody specifically reactive to prostatic acid phosphatase. Using this monoclonal antibody, we purified the antigen from human prostatic tissue by means of single-step immunoaffinity chromatography. RESULTS: SDS-PAGE profiling under reducing conditions indicated that the protein recognized by this antibody consisted of several components of molecular weight 41,000-45,000. Partial amino acid sequence analysis of this protein indicated that these components involved a heterogeneously modified single polypeptide, and that this antigen is identical to human prostatic acid phosphatase. CONCLUSIONS: This single-step method saves the time needed to purify prostatic acid phosphatase and requires only half a day for the whole procedure. Moreover, the purity of the isolated protein was extremely high. This method seems to be useful not only for purifying prostatic acid phosphatase but also for purifying other proteins from the prostate gland and for analysis of antigenic macromolecules.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Generation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific to surface antigens of human trophoblast cells.

PROBLEM: To generate and utilize specific monoclonal antibodies for routine fetal cell isolation from the maternal circulation. METHODS: Monoclonal antibodies specific to human trophoblast cell surface antigens were generated and characterized. After cell fusion, antibodies secreted by hybridomas were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical assays. RESULTS: By using cultured BeWo choriocarcinoma cells or the membrane fraction of human placenta as the immunogen, seven (BW-108, 110, 123, 124, HP-15, 16 and 17) antibodies specific to the surface antigens of trophoblast were produced. They were shown to have little cross-reactivity to other human tissues. Among the antibodies raised against human sperm, HSA-10 was also found to cross-react with human trophoblast, but not detected in other tissues. When immobilized to magnetic beads, these antibodies were shown to react only with BeWo cells in suspension, but not blood cells and ovarian carcinoma cell line, OC-3-VGH. CONCLUSION: Therefore, these antibodies may have potential application in fetal trophoblast cell isolation from the maternal circulation for prenatal genetic diagnosis.

Acrosome↗

Spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1) in the Japanese in Hokkaido may derive from a single common ancestry.

Spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1) is caused by expansion of an unstable CAG triplet repeat located on the short arm of chromosome 6. Precise mapping has shown a positional relationship to closely linked markers in the order of D6S109-D6S274-D6S288-SCA1-AM10GA-D6S89+ ++-EDN1 from centromere to telomere. The haplotype which cosegregated with the disease was determined in 12 Japanese pedigrees with SCA1. Although the alleles of the SCA1 haplotype varied from pedigree to pedigree, depending on the distance from the SCA1 locus, the affected and presymptomatic subjects carried the same alleles at D6S288 and D6S274. All the families with SCA1 had migrated from either Miyagi or Yamagata Prefectures, neighbouring areas in the Tohoku District, the northern part of Honshu which is the main island of Japan. It seems highly likely that SCA1 in the Japanese, at least those residing in Hokkaido, derives from a single common ancestry.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Chronic progressive myeloneuropathy in WKAH rats induced by HTLV-I infection as an animal model for HAM/TSP in humans.

We immortalized rat T cells with helper-inducer phenotype, by HTLV-I superinfection. These immortalized cells had integrated human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I provirus genomes and showed nuclear polymorphism resembling adult T-cell leukemia cells. Among HTLV-I carrier rats of several strains, only WKAH strain rats developed a chronic progressive myeloneuropathy with spastic paraparesis of the hind limbs (HAM rat disease), after a long incubation period. Clinical and neuropathological features of HAM rat disease generally mimic those of HAM/TSP in humans, although T-cell infiltration is absent in the affected spinal cord lesions in the case of HAM rat disease. The collective evidence suggests that the major pathogenetic pathway of HAM rat disease appears to be closely related to apoptotic death of myelin-forming cells, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. Putative factors involved in apoptosis of these cells are discussed in relation to HTLV-I infection.

Animals↗

Effect of 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG) on rat kidney allograft: immunological mechanisms implicated in prolonged survival.

PURPOSE AND METHODS: The effect of short-term administration of 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG), 5 mg./kg./day from postoperative days 4 to 7, on rat renal transplantation was studied. RESULTS: Although allografts treated with DSG survived longer than nontreated ones, cellular infiltration in both grafts did not differ. However, renal tubular cells of DSG-treated grafts proliferated well and escaped apoptotic cell death. A donor-specific tolerance 2 weeks after transplantation was developed, and cells with in vitro suppressor function were induced in such animals. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with DSG appears to prevent lethal attack of effector cells on tubular cells in situ and to generate suppressor cells in the maintenance phase of graft enhancement.

Animals↗

Mapping of the gene for Machado-Joseph disease within a 3.6-cM interval flanked by D14S291/D14S280 and D14S81, on the basis of studies of linkage and linkage disequilibrium in 24 Japanese families.

The gene locus of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) has recently been mapped within a 29-cM subregion of 14q chromosome. We did a linkage study of 24 multigenerational MJD Japanese pedigrees, in an attempt to narrow the candidate region of this gene. Pairwise and multipoint linkage analysis, together with haplotype segregation analysis, led to the conclusion that the MJD gene is located at the 6.8-cM interval between D14S256 and D14S81 (Zmax = 24.78, multipoint linkage analysis). D14S291 and D14S280, located at the center of this interval, showed no obligate recombination with the MJD gene (Zmax = 5.93 for D14S291 and 9.99 for D14S280). A weak, but significant, linkage disequilibrium of MJD gene was noted with D14S81 (P < .05) but not with D14S291 or D14S280. These results suggest that a 3.6-cM interval flanked by D14S291/D14S280 and D14S81 is the most likely location of the MJD gene and that it is closest to D14S81.

Adult↗

Expression of an endogenous retroviral gene product in human placenta.

To investigate the presence and potential pathophysiological role of endogenous retroviruses in humans, we prepared a recombinant protein using clone 4-I, a proviral sequence. DNA fragments containing the env region of clone 4-I were subcloned into a prokaryotic expression vector (pET3), and 2 fusion proteins, SU413 and SU415, were then expressed in Escherichia coli after treatment with isopropyl-beta-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). By sonicating lysates of the transformed E. coli, the recombinant protein SU413 was successfully separated from the native bacterial components, and was used to raise an antiserum in rabbits. In immunoblot analysis, this antiserum specifically recognized the recombinant protein, but did not react with other components of E. coli. This antiserum was then used for an immunofluorescence study of human placenta, in which the env gene transcript has been reported. As a result, the anti-SU413 serum detected substances in syncytiotrophoblasts and vascular endothelia from a human placenta. No such reactivity was detected in human kidney or human liver. Immunoblot analysis revealed that this antiserum reacted to a single molecule of 38-kDa in placenta, and its reactivity was reduced by the antiserum absorbed with SU413 antigen. These findings suggest that human placental syncytiotrophoblasts and vascular endothelia preferentially express a molecule encoded by human endogenous retrovirus clone 4-I.

Animals↗