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Y Honma

Publications and source records attributed to Y Honma.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Reversible differentiation of human monoblastic leukemia U937 cells by ML-9, an inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase.

Human monoblastic leukemia U937 cells are induced to differentiate into monocytes and macrophages by various agents. We have shown that 1-(5-chloronaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride (ML-9), an inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase, induces differentiation of monocytoid leukemia cell lines U937 and THP-1 but not of myeloblastic leukemic ML-1 cell or erythroleukemia K562 cells. In the present study, we further analyzed the effect of ML-9 in comparison with that of 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) a typical inducer of monocytic differentiation. ML-9 induced nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-reducing activity of U937 cell more rapidly than VD3: This differentiation marker was induced significantly after incubation with ML-9 and VD3 for 4 hours and 1 day, respectively. ML-9 also induced alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity, another monocytic differentiation marker, more rapidly than VD3. The maximum levels of these markers induced by ML-9 were comparable to those induced by VD3, but after removal of ML-9 from the medium by washing the cells, the expressions of theses markers decreased within 4 hours and reached basal levels in 1 day, indicating that ML-9's induction of expression of differentiation-associated phenotypes was reversible. The growth inhibition of U937 cells by ML-9 was also reversible. Similar effects were observed in another line of human monoblastic cells, THP-1. ML-9 had little or no effect on the morphology of U937 cells but increased the expression of monocyte-macrophage lineage-associated surface antigen, CD14, to some extent. Irreversible terminal differentiation induced by VD3 is associated with down regulation of the expression of c-myc and upregulation of the expression of c-fos and c-jun, but ML-9 did not affect the expression of these oncogenes appreciably. ML-9-induced differentiation was also reversible when the cells were cultured with cultured with ML-9 plus an anti-cancer drug such as 1-beta-D-arabino-furanosylcytosine or daunomycin. it became irreversible, however, upon simultaneous treatment with dexamethasone and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), which did not induce differentiation of U937 cells but caused growth arrest of the cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. These results suggest that ML-9 should be useful for studying the mechanisms of monocytic differentiation.

Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic↗

[Phase I study of bicalutamide (Casodex), a nonsteroidal antiandrogen in patients with prostatic cancer].

A phase I study (open trial) of bicalutamide (Casodex), a non-steroidal antiandrogen, was conducted on 16 patients with prostatic cancer (stage C to D). The patients were given 10, 30, 50, 80 or 100 mg of bicalutamide orally daily for 12 weeks. Adverse reactions were observed in 8 out of 16 patients, but almost all were mild. Breast pain, gynecomastia and hot flushes were observed in 6 patients. Adverse reactions regarding liver function tests were observed in 3 patients. These were increased glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), alkaliphosphatase (AL-P) or gamma guanosine 5'-triphosphate (gamma-GTP). However, during or after the treatment period the elevated values were reversed to the pretreatment level. In terms of efficacy, anti-tumor effect was observed in 1 or 2 patients at each dose. Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and estradiol increased during treatment. Plasma concentrations of the R (-) enantiomer, which has antiandrogenic activity, reached the steady state 6-8 weeks after the initiation of treatment; its apparent plasma elimination half-life observed following repeated administration was 8.4 +/- 1.1 days. In conclusion, bicalutamide (10-100 mg od) is considered to be tolerated well enough to be administered to patients with prostatic cancer and has shown evidence of anti-tumor effect.

Administration, Oral↗

[Clinical early phase II study of bicalutamide (Casodex) in patients with prostatic cancer].

To investigate the efficacy and safety of bicalutamide (Casodex) with its clinically recommended dose, the randomized early phase II study was performed in 124 patients with prostatic cancer (stage C, D). The patients were given 50, 80 or 100 mg of bicalutamide orally once a day in fixed doses for 12 weeks; 122 patients were eligible for evaluation. The overall response rate was 50.0% (20/40), 61.0% (25/41) and 53.7% (22/41) in the 50 mg, 80 mg and 100 mg groups, respectively. The response rate in prostate lesion, bone and lymph node metastases was slightly higher in the 80 mg group than in the 50 mg and 100 mg groups. The proportion of patients showing a response with regard to serum PSA (CR and PR) was 84.2, 92.7 and 97.6% in the 50, 80 and 100 mg groups, respectively. The incidence of adverse reactions was 65.0, 61.0 and 61.0% in the 50, 80 and 100 mg groups, respectively, and there was no significant difference in overall safety rating in the three groups. Frequent adverse reactions were gynecomastia and breast pain. Only one patient in the 80 mg group was withdrawn due to shortness of breath. Serum concentrations of LH, testosterone and estradiol increased significantly after treatment. Bicalutamide was concluded to be effective and well tolerated in patients with prostatic cancer, and its recommended dose was 80 mg once daily.

Administration, Oral↗

Transforming growth factor beta and dexamethasone cooperatively enhance c-jun gene expression and inhibit the growth of human monocytoid leukemia cells.

Glucocorticoids inhibit the proliferation of lymphoid leukemia cells, whereas most myeloid leukemia cells are resistant to glucocorticoids. However, this study showed that glucocorticoids significantly and preferentially inhibited growth of monocytoid leukemia cells in combination with a low concentration of transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta). Combined 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and TGF beta markedly induced monocytic differentiation of U937 cells, whereas dexamethasone (Dex) and TGF beta essentially did not, although both combinations similarly inhibited the growth of U937 cells. The growth inhibition was accompanied by a block in the cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase (G1 arrest). Expression of glucocorticoid receptors was not affected by TGF beta, although they are induced during the monocytic differentiation of myelogenous leukemia cells and have increased sensitivity to glucocorticoids. The expression of TGF beta receptors also was not enhanced by Dex. TGF beta significantly stimulated glucocorticoid responsive element-mediated transcription activity. Combined Dex and TGF beta stimulated the expression of c-jun and c-fos early responsive genes in U937 cells, although Dex or TGF beta alone did not. The combination synergistically induced expression of c-jun gene, reaching a maximum level at 24 h. On the other hand, expression of c-fos gene was induced by TGF beta alone and increased additively in combination with Dex. Treatment with antisense oligonucleotide complementary to the first exon of c-jun mRNA reduced the growth-inhibitory effect of Dex and TGF beta in a dose-dependent manner. However, exposure of U937 cells to the sense oligomer of c-jun mRNA or an antisense oligomer of c-fos mRNA did not affect the growth inhibition. These results suggested that the preferential expression of c-jun and stimulation of glucocorticoid responsive element-mediated transactivation are closely associated with the growth arrest of U937 cells incubated with Dex and TGF beta.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

19-Allylaminoherbimycin A, an analog of herbimycin A that is stable against treatment with thiol compounds or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in human leukemia cells.

Herbimycin A, a benzoquinonoid ansamycin antibiotic, reduces intracellular phosphorylation by some protein tyrosine kinases and inhibits the proliferation of malignant cells which express high tyrosine kinase activity. Herbimycin A inhibited the proliferation of human monoblastic leukemia U937 cells, but this inhibition was abrogated by the addition of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). On the other hand, a derivative of herbimycin A, 19-allylaminoherbimycin A, inhibited the proliferation of such cells without interference by the addition of GM-CSF. Phosphorylation of MAP kinase and c-myc expression induced by GM-CSF in U937 cells were inhibited by both herbimycin A and 19-allylaminoherbimycin A. The time courses of growth inhibition showed that the growth-inhibitory activity of herbimycin A in U937 cells was initially potent, but gradually decreased in the presence of GM-CSF. Thiol compounds, glutathione (GSH) and 2-mercaptoethanol, abrogated the inhibition of the growth of U937 cells by herbimycin A, but not by 19-allylaminoherbimycin A, like GM-CSF. Intracellular GSH content in U937 cells was increased by treatment with GM-CSF, and decreased with herbimycin A, but returned to the control level with the addition of GM-CSF to herbimycin A. In thin-layer chromatography, after in vitro incubation with herbimycin A and GSH, nothing could be detected at the position of intact herbimycin A, while 19-allylaminoherbimycin A was stably detected. These findings suggest that changes in the intracellular concentration of GSH play a role in the abrogation of the inhibition of U937 cell growth by herbimycin A. In the presence of GSH, 19-allylaminoherbimycin A inhibited the proliferation of U937 cells and Philadelphia chromosome-positive K562 cells more effectively than herbimycin A. Since GSH plays a role in detoxicating several anticancer drugs, 19-allylaminoherbimycin A may have therapeutic advantages over herbimycin A against some types of leukemia.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Aberrant gene for E1 Tor hemolysin from Vibrio cholerae non-O1, N037.

Vibrio cholerae non-O1 strain N037 produced a hemolysin (NO37-Hly) which was antigenically similar to E1 Tor hemolysin (E1 Tor-Hly) but different in molecular size, hemolytic activity, and glucose binding capacity. In the gene encoding NO37-Hly, a 4-bp insertion into the structural gene for E1 Tor-Hly (hlyA) was found. The insertion in a shift of codon frames generating a new stop codon in the downstream region. NO37-Hly was a truncated product of E1 Tor-Hly sharing 90% of the N terminal region. This suggested that the 10% C-terminal region of E1 Tor-Hly is needed for the maximal hemolytic activity and glucose binding capacity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inhibitory action of nm23 proteins on induction of erythroid differentiation of human leukemia cells.

We recently identified a differentiation inhibitory factor (I-factor) in mouse myeloid leukemia M1 cells as a murine homolog of the human nm23-H2 gene product. nm23 genes encode proteins that participate in tumor metastasis regulation and in various fundamental cellular processes, although their mechanisms of action are still unknown. Although all nm23 proteins contain nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase activity, it has not been established that the enzyme activity mediated the various functions of nm23 proteins. In the present experiment, we examined the effect of nm23 proteins on various differentiation induction systems of human leukemic cells including HL-60, U937, HEL/S, KU812F, K562, and HEL cells. Native human erythrocyte NDP kinase protein inhibited the induction of erythroid differentiation of HEL, KU812 and K562 cells, but not the induction of monocytic or granulocytic differentiation of HL-60, U937 and HEL/S cells. The erythroid differentiation of HEL cells was inhibited by recombinant human nm23-H1, -H2, mouse nm23-M1, and -M2 proteins. Moreover, both the mutant nm23-H2His protein and truncated nm23-H2 protein containing N-terminal (1-60) peptide, which do not have NDP kinase activity, also inhibited erythroid differentiation of HEL cells. These results suggest that (1) the differentiation inhibitory activity of I-factor/nm23 protein is not restricted to monocytic differentiation of M1 cells, (2) the inhibitory activity is exhibited without species specificity, and (3) the differentiation inhibitory activity of the nm23/NDP kinase protein is independent of its enzyme activity and requires the presence of N-terminal peptides.

Base Sequence↗

A new function of Nm23/NDP kinase as a differentiation inhibitory factor, which does not require it's kinase activity.

We recently identified a differentiation inhibiting factor (I-factor) in mouse myeloid leukemia M1 cells as a murine homolog of nm23-H2/nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK)-B gene product. We examined the I-factor activities of several authentic nm23/NDPK proteins, i.e. recombinant rat NDPK alpha and beta, recombinant mouse nm23-M1 and -M2, and recombinant human nm23-H1 and -H2 containing a mutant nm23-H2His protein lacing NDPK activity. Almost all these nm23/NDPK proteins showed I-factor activity. Moreover, to understand the active domain exhibiting I-factor activity of nm23-H2 protein lacking NDPK activity, we have investigated the I-factor activities of some truncated nm23-H2 proteins. The truncated nm23-H2 protein containing N-terminal peptide 1-60 retained the I-factor activity. These results provide the first evidence for a function of nm23/NDPK as a differentiation inhibiting factor in leukemic cells, that is independent of its NDPK activity and dependent on the presence of N-terminal peptide.

Animals↗

Treatment of Philadelphia-chromosome-positive human leukemia in SCID mouse model with herbimycin A, bcr-abl tyrosine kinase activity inhibitor.

The molecular basis of the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) is a structurally altered c-abl (bcr-abl) gene which encodes an abnormally large protein with protein tyrosine kinase activity. Herbimycin a, which effectively reduced intracellular phosphorylation by bcr-abl tyrosine kinase, preferentially inhibited the growth of Ph1-positive leukemia cell lines. Injection of Ph1-positive and -negative leukemia cell lines into mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) resulted in the death of all mice due to leukemia, although the severity of illness varied according to the cell lines used. Administration of herbimycin A significantly enhanced the survival of mice inoculated with the Ph1-positive leukemia cell lines tested but barely affected the survival of mice inoculated with the Ph1-negative leukemia cell lines tested. These results suggest that herbimycin A and related compounds may be useful for the treatment of Ph1-positive leukemia. The disease that developed using the Ph1-positive leukemia cell line NALM-20 resembled human Ph1-positive acute lymphoid leukemia. There was an inverse relationship between the survival time of mice and the number of cells inoculated. The SCID mouse-NALM-20 human leukemia chimera would be a good experimental model for screening tyrosine kinase inhibitors as therapeutic agents against Ph1-positive leukemia.

Animals↗

Macrophage-lymphocyte cell clusters in the hypothalamic ventricle of some elasmobranch fish: ultrastructural analysis and possible functional significance.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the existence of lympho-haemopoietic tissue in the meninges and choroid plexuses of various primitive vertebrates, including the stingray Dasyatis akajei and in early human embryos. In the present study, we extend these results analyzing macrophage-lymphocyte cell clusters found in the floor of the hypothalamic ventricle of several specimens of elasmobranchs. METHODS: After aseptical isolation of the brain from several specimens of smooth dogfish Triakis scyllia, cloudy dogfish Scyliorhinus torazame, gummy shark Mustelus manazo, and stingray Dasyatis akajei their hypothalamic regions were processed routinely by light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The study of serial histological sections demonstrated that the macrophage-lymphocyte cell clusters proceeded from the meningeal lymphohaemopoietic tissue, reaching the ventricular lumen along large blood vessels. In this tissue, macrophages, different sized lymphocytes, lymphoblasts, granulocytes, monocytes, and developing and mature plasma cells were closely packed among a meshwork of fibroblastic reticular cell processes. It never invaded the brain parenchyma. A cell layer of glial elements and a continuous basement membrane interposed between the lymphoid tissue and the neural elements although some macrophages had migrated across the ependymal cell layer. In the ventricular lumen very irregular macrophages with long cell processes and containing abundant engulfed material of unknown origin formed big cell clusters with neighboring lymphocytes, lymphoblasts, and plasma cells, similar to those described during the immune response. Moreover, electron lucent cells which resembled the antigen-presenting cells of higher vertebrates established intimate surface cell contacts with the surrounding lymphocytes. In the third ventricle of several specimens of gummy shark, Mustelus manazo, morphologically similar cell clusters appeared but these were not connected to the meningeal lympho-haemopoietic tissue. No intraventricular cell aggregates were found in the stingray brain. CONCLUSIONS: Although we cannot rule out that these macrophage-lymphocyte cell clusters represent a permanent structure in the elasmobranch brain they rather seem to be only established after specific stimulation for preventing the entrance of noxious, foreign materials into the elasmobranch brain parenchyma.

Animals↗

Ontogenetic development of neuropeptide Y-like-immunoreactive cells in the gastroenteropancreatic endocrine system of the dogfish.

This immunocytochemical study was carried out to elucidate the ontogenetic development of neuropeptide Y-like-immunoreactive cells in the gastroenteropancreatic endocrine system of the cloudy dogfish, Scyliorhinus torazame. Immunostained cells first appeared in the pancreas of the embryo at the 15-mm stage, and were also detected in the vitello-intestinal duct of the yolk stalk at the 20-mm stage. These cells were polymorphic, with occasional processes that were sometimes directed toward the vascular wall or into the cavity of the vitello-intestinal duct. At the 34-mm stage, immunostained cells could also be found in the proximal part of the spiral intestine and, by the 74-mm stage, immunopositive cells were present in the gastric mucosa. In the gut and pancreas, the cells gradually increased in number with development, whereas in the vitello-intestinal duct and internal yolk sac, they decreased and seemed to disappear following hatching. Thus, in juveniles, the distribution of the neuropeptide Y-like-immunoreactive cells in the gastroenteropancreatic endocrine system had attained that of adults. Electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry demonstrated that, in the labeled cells of the vitellointestinal duct, the neuropeptide Y-like antigen was located in cytoplasmic granules, as in the cells of the gut and pancreas.

Animals↗

Intraoperative radiotherapy for gliomas.

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) was performed in 20 of 36 patients with glioma; 11 glioblastomas, 7 malignant astrocytomas, 2 benign astrocytomas. Twenty or 25 Gy of irradiation was delivered in a single fraction intraoperatively, followed by external beam irradiation. The electron beam energy was selected so that the 80% isodose line fell at 2 or 3 cm below the residual tumor surface. Median survival time of IORT group was 14 months and that of the control group was 10 months. Difference of survival curve was significant. There were 6 incidences of complication caused by IORT; 1 radionecrosis, 1 convulsion, 1 abscess, and 3 severe brain edemas. IORT is suited for the treatment of malignant gliomas.

Adult↗

A comparison of intraarterial carboplatin and ACNU for the treatment of gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Intraarterial chemotherapy with carboplatin for malignant gliomas has been tried recently, but its therapeutic efficacy and toxicity have not yet been elucidated. METHODS: We treated patients with malignant glioma by intraarterial chemotherapy using carboplatin, and compared the efficacy as well as the side effects with intraarterial ACNU. RESULTS: Twenty patients were treated with carboplatin (300 mg/m2) and 22 patients were treated with ACNU (80-200 mg/m2). Response (complete remission+partial response) rate for carboplatin was 12.5% compared to 45% for ACNU. Despite higher response rate for ACNU, the difference in the survival curves of the two groups was not significant. Three patients who were treated with high dose (150-200 mg/m2) of ACNU developed hemiparesis and aphasia. Seven patients treated with carboplatin developed 10 incidences of neurotoxicities; two hemiparesis, one aphasia, one blindness, one visual field disturbance, three convulsions, and two developed incidences of disturbances of consciousness. CONCLUSIONS: Intraarterial carboplatin was not superior to intraarterial ACNU in achieving remissions, and showed much greater tendency to produce neurotoxicities.

Adolescent↗

A cardiotonic steroid bufalin-like factor in human plasma induces leukemia cell differentiation.

A Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, bufalin, has been shown previously to induce leukemia cell differentiation. The presence of a circulating Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitor has been proposed in mammals. The aim of this study was to explore an endogenous bufalin-like factor that induces leukemia cell differentiation. We found a fraction, designated as fraction A, obtained from human plasma extract that inhibits the growth of several human-derived leukemia cell lines. The effect of the fraction was retained after protease digestion or heat treatment. Murine leukemia cells and ouabain-resistant cells, which are insensitive to bufalin, appeared to be refractory to fraction A in terms of growth inhibition. Fraction A also induced functional and morphological maturation in THP-1 cells. Fraction A was recognized by anti-bufalin anti-serum and inhibited 3H-bufalin binding to K562 cells. These findings suggest that fraction A shows a similar behavior to that of bufalin on leukemia cells by inhibiting Na+,K(+)-ATPase. We propose that an endogenous Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitor in human plasma may play a role in cell differentiation.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Expression of Ah receptor (TCDD receptor) during human monocytic differentiation.

We have previously found a high expression of human Ah receptor (TCDD receptor) mRNA in peripheral blood cells of individuals. In this paper, the expression of this gene in blood cells was first investigated in fractions of nucleated cells, revealing predominant expression of the Ah receptor gene in the monocyte fraction. Then the expression levels of AhR mRNA in various hematopoietic cell lines were examined together with those of Arnt and P450IA1. AhR was expressed at high levels in monocytoid U937, THP1, and HEL/S cells, and at moderate levels in promyelocytic HL60 cells and erythroblastic HEL cells. However, it was not detected in lymphoid cells MOLT4 (T cell) and BALL1 (B cell), nor in K562 erythroblasts. Furthermore, a specific induction of AhR during monocytic differentiation was investigated in HL60 and HEL cells. HL60 cells were induced to differentiate toward monocytes-macrophages by incubation with phorbol ester, showing a 5- to 2-fold increase of AhR mRNA. The incubation with transforming growth factor beta 1 and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 resulted in a 5- to 7-fold increase of AhR mRNA. The HEL cells also exhibited a similar elevation of AhR mRNA level, when they had differentiated toward monocyte-macrophage cells by these combined inducers, but little change in the mRNA level was observed when the cells were induced to differentiate into other cell types. Treatment of the differentiated HL60 cells with 3-methylcholanthrene, a ligand of AhR, induced the expression of the P450IA1 gene. These results indicated that expression of AhR mRNA was significantly induced during monocytic differentiation and that the differentiated cells were responsive to xenobiotics. Our results suggest that AhR may play an important role in the function of monocytes and also in the eventual activation of environmental carcinogens.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator↗

Comparison of a reversed passive latex agglutination and a polymerase chain reaction for identification of cholera toxin producing Vibrio cholerae O1.

Production of cholera toxin (CT) in AKI medium and conservation of CT gene (ctx) of 49 strains of Vibrio cholerae O1 were compared by reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The production of CT agreed with conservation of the ctx in 48 out of the 49 strains. Ten strains were positive, and 38 strains were negative by both methods. Only one strain was negative in RPLA and positive in PCR. This suggested that the combination of AKI-SW and RPLA is comparable to PCR to identify CT-producing V. cholerae O1.

Agglutination Tests↗

When is the optimal time for delivery?--Purely from the fetuses' perspective.

To determine when the extrauterine environment becomes safer than the intrauterine environment with respect to fetal (neonatal) life, we analyzed all 4,896,505 livebirths, all 21,222 stillbirths, and all 7,513 early neonatal deaths after 26 weeks gestation that were recorded between 1989 and 1992 in Japan. Although the risk of early neonatal death ( < 1 week of age) and of neonatal death ( < 4 weeks of age) greatly exceed the risk of stillbirth at 26 weeks of gestation, those risks declined sharply by 39 weeks of gestation, then increased, while the risk of stillbirth within 1 and 4 weeks exceeded the risks of early neonatal death and of neonatal death at and beyond gestational weeks 40 and 38, respectively, for a singleton pregnancy. A similar reversal occurred at 37 and 35 weeks of gestation for multiple pregnancy. Neonates born at 39 and 37 weeks of gestation for singleton and multiple pregnancies, respectively, had the best outcome. It is concluded that the chance of survival for fetuses reaching 40 and 37 weeks of gestation for singleton and multiple pregnancies, respectively, were higher in the extrauterine than the intrauterine environment in Japan today.

Delivery, Obstetric↗