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Biomedical subjects

Y Fukazawa

Publications and source records attributed to Y Fukazawa.

99 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1968

Response and specificity of antibodies for Candida albicans.

Rabbit antibodies for Candida albicans, reacting in agglutination and fluorescent-antibody reactions, were present in both IgM and IgG protein fractions. The two types of immune globulins were separated from ammonium sulfate-precipitated gamma-globulin either by filtration through a column of Sephadex G-200 or by diethylaminoethyl column chromatography performed by stepwise elution with various concentrations of sodium chloride. In the fluorescent-antibody test, initial separation of the IgG fraction, prior to its conjugation with dye, proved to be essential for the high specificity of this reaction. Investigation of the specificities of the two types of antibodies revealed that the IgG was highly specific, whereas the IgM was not very specific. Each antigen fraction, extracted by various methods, demonstrated its own characteristic antibody response. Only the IgG fraction yielded serotype-specific antibody useful for detection of a serotype of C. albicans in agglutination and fluorescent-antibody tests. The results indicate the importance of IgG for specific serological reactions with the Candida species.

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Multiple mechanisms are involved in apoptotic cell death in the mouse uterus and vagina after ovariectomy.

Withdrawal of sex hormones by gonadectomy results in rapid involution of mouse reproductive organs. To study the regression mechanism in the uterus and vagina after ovariectomy, histologic and biochemical changes were examined. Apoptotic cells were detected by in situ 3'-DNA nick end labeling method and electron microscopy, while the number of cells showing incorporation of bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) decreased in the uterus and vagina after ovariectomy. DNA fragmentation in the uterus was observed even at estrus and the degree of fragmentation increased after ovariectomy. DNA fragmentation in the vagina occurred 1-5 days after ovariectomy. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that expression of Fas-ligand and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA in the uterus and vagina was increased by ovariectomy. These results suggest that apoptotic cell death is induced by ovariectomy through the mediation of both Fas and TNF-alpha in the mouse uterus and vagina; however, uterine and vaginal cells in CBA lpr(cg)/lpr(cg) mice lacking functional Fas showed apoptosis, indicating that Fas is not the sole regulator of apoptosis in female reproductive organs in mice.

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Molecular bases of adhesion of Candida albicans.

The purpose of this review is to focus on the location and the adhesion activity of the protein (peptide) and the mannan moieties of the mannoprotein in the outer surface of the Candida albicans cell wall. A macromolecule of the mannoprotein located on the outermost surface is undoubtedly a strong adhesin comprising several adhesion molecules including protein and mannan. Mannoproteins can be divided into two classes, higher molecular weight peptidomannans (260 kDa) and lower molecular weight mannoproteins (50-66 kDa), both of which consist of similar mannans and disparate proteins or peptides which have distinct adhesion specificities. The protein moiety of mannoprotein can be divided functionally into two groups, lectin-like proteins and proteins recognizing arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) ligands. The latter proteins are further subdivided into two groups, CR2/CR3-like proteins and proteins binding extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Hydrophobicity of the cell surface of C. albicans influences adhesion of the organisms to epithelial cells. Degree of glycosylation of cell surface mannoproteins that affect yeast cell surface hydrophobicity affects adhesion of C. albicans to epithelial cells. The hydrophobic proteins may have low levels of glycosylation, and changes in glycosylation may determine exposure of hydrophobic protein regions at the cell surface. The serotype A-specific oligosaccharide of antigen 6 (pentaose or hexaose of mannan moiety) has been shown to exhibit marked adhesion ability for epithelial cells, and mannotetraose related to antigenic factor 5 which is present in both serotypes A and B showed adhesive activity for tissue macrophages. Proteinoceous adhesins of C. albicans are expressed preferably on the mycelial form. It is suggested that several of the adhesion molecules of C. albicans described above appear to complementarily utilize multiple adhesion mechanisms.

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