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Biomedical subjects

Y Hashimoto

Publications and source records attributed to Y Hashimoto.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

Isolation of a novel Sry-related gene that is expressed in high-metastatic K-1735 murine melanoma cells.

To identify genes differentially expressed in association with metastatic potential of K-1735 mouse melanoma cells, the mRNA differential display method was applied to compare mRNAs from high- and low-metastatic K-1735 cells. A novel gene was identified as being expressed in high-metastatic cells but not in low-metastatic cells. Sequence analysis revealed that this gene had an open reading frame of 538 amino acid residues containing a Sry high-mobility group (HMG) box domain, known as a DNA binding motif, particularly in the Sox family genes. This gene showed the highest homology to the human SOX9 gene, which is the responsible gene for an inherited disease, campomelic dysplasia. Thus, this gene was designated the Sox21 gene (the 21st Sox family gene). The Sox21 gene was mapped to mouse Chromosome 15, to which neither genes containing the HMG box region nor the loci of hereditary diseases similar to campomelic dysplasia have been previously mapped. This gene was highly conserved and specifically expressed in the brain. These results suggest that expression of the Sox21 gene is involved in the development of nerve systems and may function to enhance the metastatic potential of K-1735 mouse melanoma cells of nerve cell origin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel action of collapsin: collapsin-1 increases antero- and retrograde axoplasmic transport independently of growth cone collapse.

Chick collapsin-1, a member of the semaphorin family, has been implicated in axonal pathfinding as a repulsive guidance cue. Collapsin-1 induces growth cone collapse via a pathway which may include CRMP-62 and heterotrimeric G proteins. CRMP-62 protein is related to UNC-33, a nematode neuronal protein required for appropriately directed axonal extension. Mutations in unc-33 affect neural microtubules, the basic cytoskeletal elements for axoplasmic transport. Using computer-assisted video-enhanced differential interference contrast microscopy, we now demonstrate that collapsin-1 potently promotes axoplasmic transport. Collapsin-1 doubles the number of antero- and retrograde-transported organelles but not their velocity. Collapsin-1 decreases the number of stationary organelles, suggesting that the fraction of time during which a particle is moving is increased. Collapsin-1-stimulated transport occurs by a mechanism distinct from that causing growth cone collapse. Pertussis toxin (PTX) but not its B oligomer blocks collapsin-induced growth cone collapse. The holotoxin does not affect collapsin-stimulated axoplasmic transport. Mastoparan and a myelin protein NI-35 induce PTX-sensitive growth cone collapse but do not stimulate axoplasmic transport. These results provide evidence that collapsin has a unique property to activate axonal vesicular transport systems. There are at least two distinct pathways through which collapsin exerts its actions in developing neurons.

Animals↗

Midazolam reverses histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in dogs.

PURPOSE: Midazolam has been used clinically as a sedative and as an anaesthetic induction agent. However, the bronchodilating effects of midazolam have not been comprehensively evaluated. We sought to determine relaxant effects of midazolam on the airway. METHODS: After our Animal Care Committee approved the study, eight mongrel dogs were anaesthetized with 30 mg.kg-1 pentobarbitone iv, and were paralysed with 200 micrograms.kg-1.hr-1 pancuronium. The trachea was intubated with an endotracheal tube (ID 7 mm) that had a second lumen for insertion of a superfine fibreoptic bronchoscope (OD 2.2 mm) to measure the bronchial cross-sectional area (BCA) continuously. The tip of the bronchoscope was placed at the level of the second or third bronchial bifurcation of the right bronchus. A videoprinter printed the BCA which was then measured with a NIH image program. Bronchoconstriction was produced with histamine (H) 10 micrograms.kg-1 followed by 500 micrograms.kg-1.hr-1. Thirty minutes later, 0 [saline], 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg.kg-1 midazolam and 25 micrograms.kg-1 flumazenil were given. The BCA was assessed before (basal area) and 30 min after the start of H infusion, and was also measured five minutes after each midazolam and flumazenil iv. At the same time, arterial blood was sampled for plasma catecholamine measurement. RESULTS: Histamine infusion decreased BCA to 49.7 +/- 17.3% of basal BCA. More than 0.1 mg.kg-1 midazolam increased BCA up to 71.7 +/- 15.3% of the basal (1.0 mg.kg-1) (P < 0.01). Plasma adrenaline concentration was decreased from 6.9 +/- 3.8 to 3.7 +/- 1.9 ng.ml-1 by 1.0 mg.kg-1 midazolam (P < 0.05). Flumazenil did not antagonize the relaxant effect of midazolam but reversed the inhibitory effect of midazolam on histamine-induced adrenaline release. CONCLUSION: Midazolam has a spasmolytic effect on constricted airways but this bronchodilatation was not reversed by flumazenil.

Anesthetics, Intravenous↗

Quaternary structure-dependent idiotope and antigen binding of a monoclonal antibody specific for conformational epitope on type II collagen.

We previously generated a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against a putative pathogenic epitope on native type II collagen (CII) for the induction of collagen-induced arthritis in mice (mAb1), and an anti-idiotypic mAb which appears to possess the internal image of the CII epitope (mAb2). In the present study, the structural basis of the antigen/mAb1 and mAb1/mAb2 interactions was examined. When partially SH-reduced mAb1 was analysed on Western blots, only fragments containing both heavy (H) and light (L) chains were recognized by mAb2. When mAb2 was partially SH-reduced, only fragments containing both H and L chains were recognized by mAb1. H and L chains were separated from mAb1 in a reduced, denatured condition, and each chain and a mixture of the two were refolded. mAb2 reacted specifically to the renatured whole IgG molecule of mAb1, but not to the refolded L or to H chains. Recombinant single chain Fv (scFv) generated from mAb1 and mAb2 had properties of the original mAbs, whereas genetically constructed chimeric scFvs, consisting of VH from mAb1 and an irrelevant VL. or VL of mAb1 and an irrelevant VH. did not react either to CII or to mAb2. Thus, interactions among CII, mAb1 and mAb2 appear to depend on quaternary structures containing different protein subunits. These observations support the internal image property of the mAb2. In addition, this dependency on quaternary structure for recognition of proteins may also be relevant to other protein-protein interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

RT1.P, rat class Ib genes related to mouse TL: evidence that CD1 molecules but not authentic TL antigens are expressed by rat thymus.

CD1 and TL were once thought to be genetic homologues because of their thymus-specific expression. We investigated their equivalents in the rat to clarify whether their structure and pattern of expression are conserved in rodents. Two rat class Ib genes, containing 3' sequences very similar to mouse TL, were identified and designated RT1.P. Neither of them, however, can encode ordinary class I molecules due to the accumulation of harmful mutations in the 5' regions that are unique to RT1.P, while the 3' TL-like regions still retain protein-coding capacity. Comparison of the structural organization of three types of TL family genes, which include mouse T3/T18-encoding TL antigens, mouse T1/T16, and rat RT1. P1/P2 pseudogenes, revealed the presence of a clear demarcation between the type-specific and TL-specific sequences at intron 3. This finding suggests that recombination plays an important role in creating the TL family genes in rodents. Characteristic features of TL, such as a low level of polymorphism and linkage to the major histocompatibility complex, were also observed in the rat. On the other hand, rat CD1 molecules were expressed at a high level on the surface of thymocytes. Absence of authentic TL antigens and thymic expression of CD1d molecules in the rat suggest the plasticity and conservation of class Ib genes in rodent evolution. Functions of TL may be substituted with CD1 or other class Ib molecules expressed by rat thymus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Propionibacterium freudenreichii hemYHBXRL gene cluster, which encodes enzymes and a regulator involved in the biosynthetic pathway from glutamate to protoheme.

A clone that can complement both Escherichia coli hemB and hemL mutations was found among plasmids containing the Propionibacterium freudenreichii hemB gene, which encodes delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase. The regions upstream and downstream of the hemB gene were sequenced. Two open-reading frames (ORF1 and -2), which were similar to the hemY gene encoding protoporphyrinogen oxidase and the hemH gene encoding ferrochelatase from Bacillus subtilis, were found upstream of the hemB gene. ORF1 and -2 complemented the E. coli hemG mutation, defective in protoporphyrinogen oxidase, and the hemH gene respectively. Since ORF1 had no homology to hemG, the gene was designated hemY. The hemYHB genes appeared to be within the same transcription unit. Downstream from the hemB gene, three open-reading frames were found. One of these, transcribed in the same direction as the hemB gene, was identical to be the hemL gene, which encodes glutamate-1-semialdehyde 2,1-aminomutase. The other two open-reading frames, located between the hemYHB and hemL genes, were transcribed divergently, and their deduced amino acid sequences showed similarities to a membrane-bound transport protein and a transcriptional regulatory protein respectively. The two genes may thus be involved in hem transport and the regulation of hem gene expression respectively, and were tentatively named hemX and hemR. Although hemX and hemL are unlikely to be part of the same operon, hemYHBXRL are clustered on the P. freudenreichii chromosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Long-term follow up of a growing skull fracture treated by dura and cranioplasty with artificial dura mater and methylmethacrylate.

We report the long-term follow up of a growing skull fracture treated by duraplasty and cranioplasty with artificial dura mater and methylmethacrylate. The patient had undergone duraplasty and cranioplasty 19 years earlier at the age of 1 year and 11 months old. We examined the growth of the skull and the long-term adaptation between his own skull and methylmethacrylate 19 years after cranioplasty.

Adolescent↗

Genetic polymorphism of the CYP2C subfamily and its effect on the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin in Japanese patients with epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the genetic polymorphism of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 and its effect on the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin among 44 Japanese patients with epilepsy. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction tests with leukocyte deoxyribonucleic acid were used to detect the mutations for the amino acid substitution (Arg144-->Cys and Ile359-->Leu) in CgammaP2C9 and for the defective allele (m1 and m2) in CgammaP2C19. The pharmacokinetic parameters of phenytoin in individual patients were estimated by means of empirical bayesian analysis, in which the prior information was the population parameters for Japanese patients with epilepsy. RESULTS: Of the 44 patients, none had the CgammaP2C9 mutation for the Cys144 allele, whereas six patients were heterozygous for the wild-type (wt) and Leu359 allele (wt/Leu359) in cgammaP2C9. The maximal elimination rate (Vmax) of phenytoin among patients with heterozygous wt/Leu359 in CgammaP2C9 was 33% lower than that among patients with normal CgammaP2C9. A total of 21 patients were heterozygous for the CgammaP2C19 mutation (wt/m1 or wt/m2), and five patients had the homozygous or heterozygous mutations in CgammaP2C19 (m1/m1 or m1/m2). The Vmax values of phenytoin were slightly decreased (up to 14%) among patients with CgammaP2C19 mutations compared with patients with normal CgammaP2C19. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2C isozymes play an important role in the pharmacokinetic variability of phenytoin and that the mutation in CYP2C9 proteins (Ile359-->Leu) is a determinant of impaired metabolism of the drug among Japanese persons.

Adolescent↗

Specific detection of kappa light chain in uric acid stones.

Proteins were extracted from uric acid stones with 6M guanidine chloride (pH 8.5), which were successively developed by 12% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE). Amino acid sequence analysis of each band on SDS-PAGE revealed that major components in uric acid stones were immunoglobulin alpha heavy and kappa light chains. Although immunoglobulin heavy chain (gamma and mu, as well as alpha) and a kappa light chain were clearly detected in uric acid stones by Western blotting using their specific antibodies, no lambda chains whatsoever could be detected. The results suggest that immunoglobulins selectively containing kappa light chain might have specific functions in uric acid stone formation as stone matrices.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Preference of peanut agglutinin labeling for long-wavelength-sensitive cone photoreceptors in the dace retina.

Peanut agglutinin (PNA) was known for its selective binding to cone cells. In the present study, we investigated whether there was any difference in PNA binding among various subtypes of cone photoreceptor cells in the dace retina. The outer segments of the long-double- and long-single-cone cells were preferentially labeled with PNA. Ultrastructural pre-embedding labeling revealed that the binding sites of PNA were confined to the calycal processes of these cells. By contrast, only slight labeling was discerned on the corresponding regions of other types of cone cells. The results indicate that PNA can distinguish the long-wavelength-sensitive cone from the short-to-middle-wavelength-sensitive cone cells.

Animals↗

Postnatal development of B lymphocytes and immunoglobulin-containing plasma cells in the chicken oviduct: studies on cellular distribution and influence of sex hormones.

Postnatal development of B lymphocytes and plasma cells containing different classes of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, and IgM) was immunohistochemically studied in the oviduct of the Dekalb strain of the White Leghorn chicken. B lymphocytes first appeared in the lamina propria of the chicken oviduct at 5 weeks of age. Their frequency of occurrence peaked at 15 weeks from the infundibulum to the uterus (glandular part), while in the vagina (aglandular part) it did so at 21 weeks. Intraepithelial B lymphocytes were very rare and exclusively located in the vagina at 19 and 21 weeks. Plasma cells first appeared in the lamina propria of the oviduct at 11 weeks of age, and this frequency peaked at 32 weeks. IgG-containing plasma cells were most numerous in the glandular part, whereas in the aglandular part IgA and IgM cells were more numerous than IgG cells. When 7-day-old-chickens were treated with sex hormones, B lymphocytes and plasma cells appeared 12 h and 5 days after the hormone injection, respectively. Their frequency of occurrence was statistically higher in diethylstibestrol (DES)-treated chickens than in DES plus progesterone-treated chickens. This suggests that the postnatal development of B lymphocytes and plasma cells in the oviduct of the chicken is correlated to estrogen secretion.

Animals↗

Elevated plasma levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor during and after major abdominal surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of major abdominal surgery on the plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: 10 ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received combined general-epidural anesthesia with isoflurane and nitrous oxide, after insertion of an epidural catheter at T7-T9 dosed with 1.5% lidocaine. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Plasma cytokine (IL-6, IL-8, G-CSF) levels were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at pre-anesthesia, 0, 2, and 4 hours during surgery, and at the end of surgery, followed by sampling on the morning of postoperative days 1 (POD1) and 3 (POD3). Plasma cortisol levels were also determined. The plasma levels of IL-6 increased gradually after skin incision and reached the maximal value at the end of surgery (p < 0.001). IL-8 levels also increased from the baseline value to their maximum at the end of surgery (p < 0.05). G-CSF levels were elevated from the pre-anesthesia value to their maximum by the end of operation (p < 0.005). Plasma cortisol levels were increased after skin incision (p < 0.001). Postoperative cytokine levels correlated significantly with each other (r = 0.68, p < 0.05 for IL-6 vs. IL-8; r = 0.81, p < 0.005 for IL-6 vs. G-CSF; and r = 0.84, p < 0.005 for IL-8 vs. G-CSF). Postoperative IL-6 levels and intraoperative blood loss correlated significantly (r = 0.64, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that major upper abdominal surgery stimulates the release of inflammatory cytokines presumably from the operation site. Further study is warranted to evaluate the modulation of inflammatory responses in the perioperative period.

Abdomen↗

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha production-inhibiting activity of phthalimide analogues on human leukemia THP-1 cells and a structure-activity relationship study.

N-Substituted phthalimides (2-substituted 1H-isoindole-1,3-diones) were prepared and their inhibitory effects on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by human leukemia cell line THP-1 stimulated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or okadaic acid (OA) were examined. A structure-activity relationship study of these phthalimide analogues revealed that their inhibitory effects on TPA- and OA-induced TNF-alpha production by THP-1 cells are well correlated to each other, i.e. they may involve the same target molecule(s). An analysis by the use of phthalimide analogue-immobilized affinity gels indicated the existence of several phthalimide-binding proteins in THP-1 cell extract.

Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor↗

Kinetic analysis of tetraethylammonium transport in the kidney epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to establish a kinetic means of analyzing the membrane transport of organic cations in renal epithelial cells, and to simultaneously evaluate drug interactions in apical and basolateral membranes. METHODS: Tetraethylammonium (TEA) transport was measured using LLC-PK1 cell monolayers grown on microporous membrane filters. After incubating the cells with unlabeled TEA or other drugs, apical or basolateral medium was changed to that containing labeled TEA, and transcellular transport and cellular accumulation were measured. Clearance from apical medium to cells (CL12), cells to apical medium (CL21), cells to basolateral medium (CL23) and basolateral medium to cells (CL32) were calculated based on a three compartment model. RESULTS: TEA was accumulated progressively in the monolayers from the basolateral side and was transported unidirectionally to the apical side. CL32 was greater than CL12 and CL23 was greater than CL21. Therefore, the rate limiting step of TEA transport from the basolateral to the apical medium was the cell-to-apical step. Co-incubation of TEA with procainamide decreased the transport parameters of TEA, CL12, CL21 and CL32, whereas that with levofloxacin decreased only CL12 and CL21, not affecting the parameters in basolateral membranes. CONCLUSIONS: Using a simple model, we analyzed the transport of organic cation in kidney epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1. This method can be useful for the analysis of cation transport and drug interactions in the apical and basolateral membranes of renal tubules.

Animals↗

Prediction of effect of interferon on chronic hepatitis C.

Clinical, pathological, and virological analysis including hypervariable region-1 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was performed to predict the effect of interferon (IFN) on 41 patients with chronic hepatitis type C. The low virus load, low frequency of the mutation in the hypervariable region-1 as the change of amino acid and high level of serum aminotransferase make one estimate the good effect of IFN on patients with HCV. Mutation in the hypervariable region-1 of HCV measured by fast assay fluorescence single-stranded conformational polymorphism was more frequent in nonresponders to IFN than responders. The most frequently mutated position was amino acid number 406. This indicates that the specific mutation site might affect the response of IFN.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Modulation of doxorubicin resistance in a doxorubicin-resistant human leukaemia cell by an immunoliposome targeting transferring receptor.

Using a doxorubicin-resistant subline (K562/ADM) of human leukaemia K562 cells (Tsuruo et al, 1986), the effect of immunoliposomes that targeted a cellular transferrin receptor (TFR) was examined by neutralization of doxorubicin (DOX) resistance. OKT9-CIL, prepared by conjugation of DOX-encapsulated liposome with an anti-TFR monoclonal antibody, OKT9 (Aisenberg and Wilkes, 1980), showed similar binding to both K562 and K562/ADM. Although an 80-fold higher sensitivity to free DOX on cell growth inhibition in K562 than in K562/ADM was found, the difference was clearly diminished after OKT9-CIL treatment through the increased sensitivity of K562/ADM. The cellular DOX level 30 min after the exposure of free DOX was 45-fold lower in K562/ADM than in K562, whereas nearly equivalent DOX levels were detected in K562 and K562/ADM after OKT9-CIL treatment. In addition, DOX in K562/ADM in the free DOX treatment was efficiently excreted by 54% within 120 min of incubation, whereas almost all DOX supplied by OKT9-CIL remained uncleared. Fluorescence microscopic observation showed that OKT9-CIL was internalized into juxtanuclear vesicles in K562/ADM cells. These results suggest that OKT9-CIL has a potency to accumulate DOX, resulting in augmentation of DOX cytotoxicity in DOX-resistant tumour cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Localization of rat CD1 transcripts and protein in rat tissues--an analysis of rat CD1 expression by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

CD1 molecules are cell surface glycoproteins non-covalently associated with beta2-microglobulin. Recently, functional features of the CD1 family such as a target ligand and an antigen-presenting structure for T cells have been reported. In the current study, tissue distribution of rat CD1 was analysed by in situ hybridization (ISH) in conjunction with immunohistochemistry to clarify the precise localization of both transcripts and proteins. CD1 transcripts were detected by ISH in a variety of organs: spleen, thymus, liver, lung, heart, kidney, small intestine and skin. In most organs, CD1 immunoreactivity paralleled the amount of CD1 mRNA expression and was localized in the same regions as its gene transcripts. However, there was a clear difference between the level of rat CD1 transcription and protein expression in the small intestine. CD1 mRNA was detected in the enterocytes of crypts of Lieberkuhn, but not in those of the intestinal villi, while immunoreactivity of CD1 protein was observed in the cells of the intestinal villi but not in those of crypts of Lieberkuhn. This suggests that CD1 gene transcription occurs in the enterocytes of intestinal crypts, and that as the cells of intestinal crypts migrate from the crypts to the intestinal villi, CD1 proteins are synthesized and accumulated in the intestinal villi. Such CD1 expression in the enterocytes appears to be consistent with migration-associated differentiation, and suggests that rat CD1 may take part in mucosal immunity as a first line of defence. In addition, clear cell membrane CD1 immunoreactivity on lymphoid cells raises the possibility that intercellular interaction via rat CD1 and T cell receptors may be involved in both lymphoid cell differentiation and immunoregulation.

Animals↗