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Biomedical subjects

Y Akamatsu

Publications and source records attributed to Y Akamatsu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Identification of a biochemical lesion, and characteristic response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of a cultured macrophage-like cell mutant with defective LPS-binding.

We have previously isolated a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-resistant mutant (named LR-9) of a cultured macrophage-like cell line, J774.1. This mutant had defective LPS binding [Hara-Kuge, S., Amano, F., Nishijima, M., and Akamatsu, Y. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 6606-6610]. In this study, we found that: (1) LPS-binding to parental J774.1 cells was dependent on a serum factor with a molecular weight of about 60 kDa, probably LPS binding protein (LBP); (2) LPS-binding to J774.1 cells was markedly reduced by treating the cells with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC); (3) mutant LR-9 cells were defective in LPS-binding even in the presence of serum; (4) LR-9 cells lacked CD14 protein on flow cytometric and immunoblot analyses, but retained normal CD14 mRNA levels on RNA blot analysis; (5) small amounts of LPS (1 to 10 ng/ml) activated J774.1, but not LR-9 cells, to secrete tumor necrosis factor-alpha and to release arachidonate metabolites, whereas both J774.1 and LR-9 were activated by large concentrations of LPS (100 to 1,000 ng/ml). These results provide genetic evidence that CD14 molecules in J774.1 cells play a crucial role in LPS-binding and in LPS-triggered signal transduction, and indicate that large amounts of LPS can activate J774.1 cells without the participation of CD14 molecules.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Difference in Legionella pneumophila growth permissiveness between J774.1 murine macrophage-like JA-4 cells and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-resistant mutant cells, LPS1916, after stimulation with LPS.

To elucidate the role of the oxidative burst in macrophage resistance to Legionella infection, we examined a murine macrophage-like cell line, J774.1, for permissiveness to Legionella growth, using a mutant that has a selective defect in the oxidative burst after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was infected into J774.1 monolayers, and then the extent of bacterial growth was estimated by a CFU assay. Both the parental cell line, JA-4, and the LPS-resistant mutant, LPS1916, were permissive for Legionella growth but became nonpermissive after pretreatment with gamma interferon. However, pretreatment of LPS1916 cells with LPS failed to inhibit bacterial growth, although LPS-treated JA-4 cells exhibited inhibited multiplication of the bacteria. The bacterial growth inhibition in JA-4 and mutant LPS1916 cells was correlated with the extent of the oxidative burst in the cells, as judged by cytochrome c reduction but not nitrite production. Neither transferrin receptor expression nor the iron content in JA-4 and LPS1916 cells, with or without LPS treatment, was correlated with suppression of Legionella growth. These results suggest that the restriction of Legionella growth in J774.1 cells is due to a bactericidal effect of the oxidative burst rather than reduction of the iron supply to the intracellular bacteria and that the effectors are reactive oxygen intermediates and not reactive nitrogen intermediates.

Animals↗

[Genetical and biochemical studies on the metabolisms and biological roles of membrane phospholipids in mammalian cells].

The genetical and biochemical approach is used as a powerful tool for the elucidation of the metabolic regulation as well as the biological significance of various constituents in living cells. This technique has been successfully applied to the membrane phospholipids in mammalian cells, actually to phosphatidylserine, sphingomyelin, and cardiolipin, all of which are rather minor constituents in membrane phospholipids. Isolation and characterization of the mutant cells defective in biosyntheses and biosynthetic regulations of these phospholipids led to the new findings of the in vivo biosynthetic pathways and also of the biological significance of these phospholipids. By analyzing the five different kinds of mutant cells unusual in metabolisms of phosphatidylserine in CHO-K1 cells, we found a series of the following evidence. Phosphatidylserine is synthesized by the two kinds of base-exchange enzymes, namely serine-exchange enzyme I and II, through the chain reactions in participation of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase; phosphatidylcholine-->phosphatidylserine-->phosphatidylethanolamine--> phosphatidylserine. The substrates of serine-exchange enzyme I are phosphatidylcholine, and either choline, serine, or ethanolamine, while those of serine-exchange enzyme II are phosphatidylethanolamine, and serine or ethanolamine but not choline. The last phosphatidylserine produced in consequence of the chain reaction again becomes a substrate of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, and so this metabolic flow of the biosynthesis of phosphatidylserine is finally connected to a cyclic reaction between phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine catalyzed by serine-exchange enzyme II and phosphatidylserine decarboxylase. Localization of serine-exchange enzyme I is on the cytoplasmic side of endoplasmic reticulum, while that of enzyme II is on its lumen side. There is a lot of evidence including our immunological observation that phosphatidylserine decarboxylase is exclusively located in the inner membrane of mitochondria. Thus, during the process of the above-mentioned reactions, phosphatidylserine have to move from endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria, and phosphatidylethanolamine does from mitochondria to endoplasmic reticulum. The biological significance of these movements is now under investigation. Enveloped virus infection and its maturation are closely associated with the membrane functions of host mammalian cells. In order to get further information concerning the biological functions of phosphatidylserine and/or phosphatidylethanolamine in mammalian cell membranes, Sindbis virus infection system was examined. Deficiency of phosphatidylserine and/or phosphatidylethanolamine was found to give a profound effect on the maturation of the virus, mainly due to low efficiency of membrane fusion between the viral envelope and endosomal membranes of the host cells. All these results indicate that phosphatidylserine and/or phosphatidylethanolamine are essential to membrane fusion at least in enveloped viral infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Aflatoxin B1-binding proteins in primary cultured hepatocytes of chicken embryo: studies in vivo and in vitro.

Among several aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-binding proteins in primary cultured hepatocytes of chicken embryo, a cytosolic 25 kDa protein proved to be an AFB1-specific binding protein. Binding of AFB1 to a cytosolic protein of the same molecular mass as that seen in vivo was also detectable in a cell-free system and was dependent on the microsomal components. The binding was observed in the in vitro systems derived from AFB1-sensitive animals such as chicken, rabbit, and rat. These findings suggest that the 25 kDa AFB1-binding protein(s) is involved in the intracellular process of AFB1-mediated toxicity.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Construction of a human Ig combinatorial library from genomic V segments and synthetic CDR3 fragments.

A naive combinatorial Ig library was constructed from semi-synthetic V genes consisting of human genomic V segments and synthetic CDR3 fragments. VH and V kappa segments were amplified from human genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction using V subgroup-specific primers. The amplified VH and V kappa segments were combined with synthetic oligonucleotides containing a J region and CDR3 with amino acid sequence variations, resulting in complete V genes. These V genes were cloned into a phagemid expression vector in a single-chain form fused to the carboxyl-terminus of the M13 minor coat protein III. Phagemid particles displaying the single chain hybrid proteins on their surface were screened with Con A as Ag. Several clones showing specific binding to Con A were obtained after four rounds of selection and were further analyzed for their binding properties and DNA sequences. This method provides a novel way to create a naive combinatorial library without using mRNA from B lymphocytes as template. The method should be useful to isolate human antibodies that react with self-Ag.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A somatic cell mutant defective in phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase, with impaired phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin biosynthesis.

Phosphatidylglycerophosphate (PGP) synthase catalyzes a reaction involved in the synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol (PG), which serves as a metabolic precursor for cardiolipin (CL), found primarily in the mitochondrial membranes of eukaryotic cells. We isolated a Chinese hamster ovary cell mutant (designated PGS-S) with a specific lesion in PGP synthase by using an in situ enzymatic assay for the enzyme. This mutant was obtained by introducing a second mutation into mutant PGS-P that had been generated by first-step mutagenesis. The PGP synthase activities in cell extracts of mutant PGS-S grown at 33 and 40 degrees C were 14 and 1% of those in the wild type cells, respectively; in addition, PGP synthase in cell extracts of mutant PGS-S exhibited higher sensitivity to heat than that of the wild type. Mutant PGS-S also showed a temperature-dependent defect in the synthesis of PG and CL in vivo, together with temperature sensitivity for cell growth. A temperature-resistant revertant of mutant PGS-S simultaneously restored PGP synthase activity and the ability to synthesize PG and CL in vivo to nearly the same levels as those of mutant PGS-P. These results constitute genetic evidence that PGP synthase is responsible for PG synthesis and is essential for cell growth.

Animals↗

Mitochondrial dysfunction of a cultured Chinese hamster ovary cell mutant deficient in cardiolipin.

In our preceding paper, we reported that a temperature-sensitive Chinese hamster ovary cell mutant, PGS-S, with thermolabile phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase was defective in the biogenesis of both phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin (CL) at a nonpermissive temperature (Ohtsuka, T., Nishijima, M., and Akamatsu, Y. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 22908-22913). To investigate the biological role of cardiolipin, we examined the structure and function of mitochondria in mutant PGS-S cells, since CL is primarily found in the mitochondrial membranes of eukaryotic cells. Under conditions where the formation of CL was impaired, this mutant had both morphological and functional mitochondrial abnormalities, manifested by more stringent temperature sensitivity for cell growth in glucose-deficient medium and by reduced ATP production, increased glycolysis, and reduced oxygen consumption in intact cells. Rotenone-sensitive NADH oxidase activity in cell extracts was also reduced in the mutant cultivated at a nonpermissive temperature, showing a defect(s) in the respiratory electron transport chain of mitochondria. Of the respiratory chain complexes, rotenone-sensitive NADH-ubiquinone reductase (Complex I) was most severely impaired in the mutant, whereas its activity was restored in a revertant of the mutant that had regained the ability to synthesize CL. These results suggest that CL plays a critical role in mitochondrial functions, at least in the respiratory electron transport chain.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Sphingolipid deficiency induces hypersensitivity of CD14, a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored protein, to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.

Strain SPB-1 is a temperature-sensitive Chinese hamster ovary cell mutant defective in sphingoid base biosynthesis. To examine the effects of sphingolipid deficiency on a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored protein, we constructed transfectants expressing mouse CD14 from the SPB-1 and the wild type cells. When the cells were precultured in a sphingolipid-deficient medium at 39 degrees C, CD14 expressed in the SPB-1 cells was hypersensitive to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), compared with that in the wild type cells. Moreover, after exposure of the cells to fumonisin B1, an inhibitor of ceramide synthase, CD14, even in the wild type cells, became hypersensitive to PI-PLC. The PI-PLC hypersensitivity in the SPB-1 cells was almost completely suppressed when the cells were cultured in the presence of exogenous sphingosine or sphingomyelin. On the other hand, the hypersensitivity induced by fumonisin B1 was suppressed by exogenous sphingomyelin but not by sphingosine. The suppression by exogenous glucosylceramide was partial under both conditions. Likewise, CD14 molecules in membranes prepared from the sphingolipid-deficient cells were more sensitive to PI-PLC than those from the control cells. These results indicated that a deficiency in cellular complex sphingolipids caused the PI-PLC hypersensitivity of CD14, suggesting the interaction of CD14 with sphingolipids in membranes.

Animals↗

Modulation of the synthesis and glycosylation of the glucose transporter protein by transforming growth factor-beta 1 in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) stimulated growth and glucose uptake in Swiss mouse fibroblasts. DNA synthesis was increased 2-3-fold after 48 h incubation of growing 3T3 cells with TGF-beta 1 in calf serum-containing medium. Glucose transport activity in the cells was increased within 3 h after addition of TGF-beta 1 and this stimulation continued during incubation for 48 h. TGF-beta 1 also increased the levels of a brain type-glucose transporter (GLUT1) mRNA and the GLUT1 protein (55 kDa) in the membranes, consistent with the increase in glucose uptake. Furthermore, a longer exposure of TGF-beta 1 for 24-48 h induced a marked increase in the 65 kDa GLUT1 in 3T3 cell membranes. Other growth factors such as epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha, and insulin did not elevate glucose uptake and the levels of 55 and 65 kDa GLUT1 proteins. Adding tunicamycin or deoxymannojirimycin to the TGF-beta 1-treated and untreated cells caused these 55 and 65 kDa glucose transporters to migrate as one band at 40-43 kDa. In addition, treating membrane proteins with glycopeptidase F, which removes N-linked oligosaccharides, also generated a glucose transporter of 40 kDa, suggesting that the 55 and 65 kDa GLUT1 proteins have a similar or identical core polypeptide but with different N-linked oligosaccharides. These results indicate that TGF-beta 1 modulates the synthesis of GLUT1 protein as well as its glycosylation in Swiss 3T3 cells, and that these changes may contribute to the control of cell proliferation by TGF-beta 1.

3T3 Cells↗

The relationship between the ambulatory variability and the laboratory reactivity of blood pressure and heart rate.

We examined the relationship between the ambulatory variability and the laboratory reactivity of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) in 21 male college students. The mean increase during the waking period from that during sleep was defined as variability 1, and the standard deviation of the ambulatory measurements during waking was defined as variability 2. The reactivity to laboratory tests was measured by the pretask-to-task increase in variables. The high SBP variability 1 group showed a significantly higher reactivity of SBP and noradrenaline in the bicycle exercise test (70w). This suggests the possibility that SBP variability 1, can be predicted by increased reactivity to a mild limb exercise test. The high HR variability 1 group, and the high SBP variability 2 group showed significantly lower reactivity of stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) in the cold face test. Thus, parasympathetic responses such as trigeminal-brainstem-vagal pathway function or baroreflex sensitivity seemed to be reduced in these groups. The high DBP variability 2 group showed significantly lower DBP reactivity in the cold face test, and low noradrenaline reactivity in the mental arithmetic test, which indicated a reduced alpha-adrenergic response in this group. No other significant differences in reactivity to the laboratory mental stress tests were found between the variability 1 and variability 2 groups.

Adult↗

Synthesis of 2-deoxy-2-[(2R,3S)-2-fluoro-3-hydroxytetradecanamido]- 3-O-[(3R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl]-4-O-phosphono-D-glucopyranose and its (2S,3R)-isomer.

2-Deoxy-2-[(2R,3S)-2-fluoro-3-hydroxytetradecanamido]-3-O-[( 3R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl]-4-O-phosphono-D-glucopyranose and its (2S,3R)-isomer were respectively synthesized from allyl 2-[(2R,3S)-3-(benzyloxycarbonyloxy)-2-fluorotetradecanamido] -2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-glucopyranoside and its corresponding (2S,3R)-isomer. Both target compounds did not activate macrophage, but the (2S,3R)-analogue strongly inhibited the binding of LPS to macrophage.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Sphingolipids are essential for the growth of Chinese hamster ovary cells. Restoration of the growth of a mutant defective in sphingoid base biosynthesis by exogenous sphingolipids.

We previously isolated a temperature-sensitive Chinese hamster ovary cell mutant (strain SPB-1) with thermolabile serine palmitoyltransferase, which is involved in the first step of sphingolipid synthesis (Hanada, K., Nishijima, M., and Akamatsu, Y. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 22137-22142). In this study, sphingolipid-deficient culture medium was used to examine the effect of exogenous sphingolipids on the cell growth of SPB-1. When cultivated in the sphingolipid-deficient medium, SPB-1 cells ceased growing at non-permissive temperatures. Under these conditions, de novo sphingolipid synthesis ceased in the SPB-1 cells, resulting in a decrease in levels of sphingomyelin and ganglioside sialyl lactosylceramide (GM3), whereas the parental CHO-K1 cells grew logarithmically with normal sphingolipid synthesis. Exogenous sphingosine restored the contents of both sphingomyelin and GM3 in the SPB-1 cells near to the parental levels through metabolic utilization and allowed the mutant cells to grow even at the non-permissive temperature. Similarly, exogenous sphingomyelin restored the sphingomyelin levels and only partly the GM3 levels and also suppressed the temperature-sensitivity of the SPB-1 cell growth. In contrast, exogenous glucosylceramide, which restored the GM3 levels but not the sphingomyelin levels, failed to suppress the temperature sensitivity of the SPB-1 cell growth. Combination of exogenous sphingomyelin with ceramide, glucosylceramide, GM3, or sphingoid bases did not show any synergistic or additive effect on the SPB-1 cell growth enhancement, compared with sphingomyelin alone. The results indicated that the temperature sensitivity of the SPB-1 cell growth was due to the lack of cellular sphingolipids, possibly that of sphingomyelin.

Acyltransferases↗

The changing pattern of the splenic lymphocyte subsets in tumor-bearing mice after oral treatment with OK-432.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of oral administration of OK-432 on the tumor growth of tumor-bearing mice. In addition, the changing pattern of the splenic lymphocyte subsets of tumor-bearing mice was evaluated by flow cytometry. OK-432 at a dose of 0.1, 1 or 10 KE was administered orally every 3 days or every other day for 30 days to subcutaneously Meth A tumor-inoculated mice. The tumor growth was significantly inhibited in the 1 KE every 3 days group, in the 1 KE every other day group and in the 10 KE every 3 days group. In the 10 KE every other day group, OK-432 inhibited the tumor growth on days 10 and 20, while the agent did not show a marked inhibitory effect on day 30. The percentages of splenic L3T4-positive cells and splenic asialo GM1-positive cells were significantly increased in the 1 KE every other day group, while the Lyt2+/Thy1.2+ ratio was decreased. On the other hand, in the 10 KE every other day group, OK-432 showed no effect on the percentages of splenic L3T4-positive cells and Lyt2+/Thy1.2+ ratio on days 20 and 30. Our results suggest that the antitumor effect of oral administration of OK-432 may be correlated with the changing pattern of L3T4-positive cells and Lyt2+/Thy1.2+ ratio.

Administration, Oral↗

[Combination chemotherapy with 254-S, ifosfamide and peplomycin for advanced or recurrent cervical cancer].

From favorable results with 254-S, a new cisplatin analogue, single administration, we have conducted a clinical study to investigate the efficacy of combination of 254-S, ifosfamide and peplomycin, each of which has a different dose limiting factor. A total of 45 patients, including 22 patients with stage III and IV cervical cancer and 23 cases with recurrent cervical cancer, were treated with at least two courses of 254-S (100mg/m2, iv. Day 1), ifosfamide (1,500mg/body, iv. Day 1-5) and peplomycin (5mg/body, im. Day 1-6), and tumor response was evaluated clinically and by CT scanning. The response rate obtained in patients with advanced disease was 81.8% (PR = 17, CR = 1) and that in cases with recurrence was 60.9% (PR = 12, CR = 2). Myelosuppression was the dose limiting factor. In the 121 courses, grade 3 and 4 of leucopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed with an incidence of 44% and 32%, respectively and DIC occurred in 3 cases with poor PS though they recovered after reducing the 254-S dose to 80 mg/m2. The other toxicities were mild except for alopecia. Anaphylaxia was observed in a case at the second administration though the patient recovered in 15 minutes. There was no death. As to prognosis, a significant prolongation of survival period was observed in recurrent cases and 4 cases are alive (NED) after one and a half year. In the advanced cases, until now 3 cases of stage IV have died from the disease. We have concluded that this regimen is effective as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced cervical cancer and useful for the treatment of recurrent cervical cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Synthesis of a 3-ether analogue of lipid A.

Lipid A 3-ether analogues were synthesized from allyl 2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-2-trifluoroacetamido-alpha-D-glucopyr anoside and 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-trifluoroacetamido-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide. The compound lost completely the endotoxic activity.

Animals↗