[Late phase II clinical study of M-5011C on rheumatoid arthritis--a multi-institutional double-blind, three group comparative, dose finding study].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Y Ichikawa.
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To define the involvement of p16/CDKN2 and p15/MTS2 inactivation in ovarian tumorigenesis and the association of these inactivation events with histological types and clinical stages of ovarian tumors, we analyzed homozygous deletion and somatic mutation of p16/CDKN2 and p15/MTS2 genes, as well as hypermethylation of the 5'-CpG island of the p16/CDKN2 gene, in 49 primary ovarian tumors and 6 ovarian carcinoma cell lines. We found homozygous deletions of p16/CDKN2 and p15/MTS2 in 6 (12%) and 5 (10%) primary tumors, respectively. Somatic mutation of p16/CDKN2 was found in only 1 primary tumor, but mutation of p15/MTS2 was not detected in any sample. None of the 28 primary tumors or 6 cell lines was hypermethylated at the 5'-CpG island of p16/CDKN2. The incidence of inactivation of p16/CDKN2 in primary tumors was significantly higher in the advanced stages (7 of 29) than in the early stages (0 of 14). Seven of 9 alterations in p16/CDKN2 and p15/MTS2 were observed in serous (3 of 12), endometrioid (3 of 9) and clear-cell (1 of 4) carcinomas. However, only normal sequences of these genes were detected in mucinous carcinomas. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the IFNA locus was detected in 1 of 19 (5%) tumors, but no change at the D9S171 locus was observed in 17 tumors. These results suggest that: (i) homozygous deletion is the main mechanism of inactivation of p16/CDKN2 and p15/MTS2 in ovarian tumorigenesis; (ii) inactivation of p16/CDKN2 and p15/MTS2 may be the histological type-specific events involved in ovarian tumorigenesis; and (iii) inactivation of p16/CDKN2 is potentially involved in the progression of ovarian tumors in advanced stages.
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We detected alternative splicing of the mouse brain type ryanodine receptor (RyR3) mRNA. The splicing variant was located in the transmembrane segment. The non-splicing type (RyR3-II) included a stretch of 341 bp, and that of the 13th codon was stop codon TAA. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis shows that RyR3-II mRNA was expressed in various peripheral tissues and brain at all developmental stages. However, interestingly, the splicing type (RyR3-I) mRNA was detected only in the cerebrum. These findings suggest that the splicing variants RyR3-I and RyR3-II may generate functional differences of RyR3 in a tissue-specific manner.
Matrilysin and gelatinase A, B mRNA expressions were examined in colorectal tumors. Matrilysin mRNA was observed exclusively in tumors, while the others were also found in normal mucosa surrounding tumors. Further analysis revealed that colorectal adenomas with severe dysplasia, not with mild dysplasia, expressed matrilysin with lower levels than cancers. The level of matrilysin mRNA expression increased with the advancement of stages of colorectal cancers, consequently a relatively higher expression was observed in liver metastatic tumors than primary tumors. These results suggest that matrilysin mRNA expression was correlated with the progression of colorectal tumors, and this enzyme may also play a role in developing metastatic tumors in liver.
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An inducible cytochrome P-450 (P-450) catalyzing retinoic acid synthesis was purified from liver microsomes of 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)-treated rats, based on the activity of all-trans-retinoic acid formation from all-trans-retinal. We previously reported that the retinoic acid synthesis by microsomes was catalyzed by a cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase system (Tomita et al. (1993) Int. J. Biochem. 25, 1775-1784). This microsomal retinoic acid synthesis in rat liver was induced more than 8-fold by 3-MC. The purified P-450 electophoretically gave a single protein band and its minimum molecular weight was estimated to be 57.2 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The optical spectrum of the oxidized P-450 without retinal revealed it was the low-spin form, and the CO-complex exhibited a maximum peak at 447 nm. The specific activity of the reconstituted P-450-linked monooxygenase system was 29.5 nmol/min per nmol P-450 at pH 7.6 and 37 degrees C. The K(m) and Vmax values for all-trans-retinal were 11.6 microM and 38.5 nmol/min per nmol P-450, respectively. The amino-acid sequence of the N-terminal region of the P-450 was identical to that of rat P-450 1A1 (CYP 1A1). Xenobiotic activities, such as 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (7-ECOD) and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (7-EROD) activities, of the P-450-linked monooxygenase system were specific to the P-450 1A1. The retinoic acid formation in the reconstituted monooxygenase system was specifically inhibited by alpha-naphthoflavone (alpha-NF), which is a P-450 1A1-specific inhibitor, citral, which is a retinoid analogue structurally, and an anti-rat P-450 1A1 antibody. These results further support that the purified P-450 is P-450 1A1. This paper describes that P-450 1A1 was purified and characterized as a retinoic acid synthetic P-450.
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The CYP2C18 gene was investigated in order to characterize its molecular basis in the CYP2C subfamily. A mutation of the CYP2C18 gene was identified at the 5'-flanking region of the gene, which could be detected by digestion with DdeI. The allele frequency of the mutant CYP2C18 gene was 21.4%. Genotypes of the polymorphic DdeI site of the CYP2C18 gene were found to be completely consistent with that of the polymorphic CYP2C19 gene (the m1 mutant). The CYP2C18 and CYP2C19 genes were suggested to be linked and located close together on the chromosome. Clones containing the 5'-flanking region of a member of the CYP2C subfamily were obtained from the PCR products from human genomic DNA. The nucleotide sequence of the clone proved to be 90.5% identical to the corresponding region of the CYP2C18 gene. This is very likely to be a novel member of the CYP2C subfamily.
Gramicidin S, dissolved in ethanol, penetrated into the inside of the dormant spores of Bacillus subtilis, had a partial inhibitory effect on L-alanine-initiated germination and completely inhibited their outgrowth and vegetative growth. The activity of particulate NADH oxidase of the antibiotic-treated dormant spores was also influenced significantly. Abnormal morphological changes were observed in germinated spores from gramicidin S-treated dormant spores. An immunoelectron microscopy method with colloidal gold-IgG complex showed that the penetration site of gramicidin S inside dormant spores was mainly the core region. These facts suggest that gramicidin S induces the damage of not only the outer membrane-spore coat complex but also the inner membrane surrounding the spore protoplast, and is able to penetrate into the core region of B. subtilis dormant spores.
Uncertainty exists over the site of processing of viral envelope (env) proteins for recognition by CTL. The extracellular domains of env proteins are not present in the cytosol, the site where the class I Ag processing pathway begins. Rather, the ecto-domains of env proteins are cotranslationally translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum during biosynthesis. To clarify the site of processing of viral env proteins, we examined the processing of an HLA B*3501-restricted epitope in the extracellular domain of the HIV-1 env protein. Although this epitope contains an N-linked glycosylation signal sequence, CTL specific for this epitope recognize a nonameric peptide that has not been previously modified by attachment of oligosaccharide. This was demonstrated in two ways. First, an env-specific B*3501-restricted CTL clone recognized a nonglycosylated, synthetic nonamer representing the minimal B*3501-restricted epitope, but not the glycosylated or deglycosylated forms. Second, the naturally processed, B*3501-restricted, env peptide is identical with a nonglycosylated, synthetic nonamer. Thus, the naturally processed form of an env epitope containing an N-linked glycosylation site is derived from env protein that is not glycosylated at the relevant asparagine during biosynthesis. Since the addition of N-linked oligosaccharides occurs only after the glycosylation signal sequence (N-X-S/T) is translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum, the initial processing reaction for this epitope may take place in the cytosol. Low-frequency failure of signal sequence containing polypeptides to engage the translocation apparatus, resulting in synthesis and degradation in the cytosol, may represent an important mechanism for the generation of class I-restricted CTL responses.
To elucidate the clinical characteristics and pathogenesis of scleroderma-rheumatoid arthritis (SSc-RA) overlap syndrome, we analyzed the clinical features of 5 patients with SSc-RA overlap. Their HLA phenotypes and genotypes were also determined. Generalized skin sclerosis, severe seropositive polyarthritis, pulmonary fibrosis, anti-topoisomerase I antibodies, and HLA-DR4,53;DQA1*0301;DBQ1*04 haplotype were observed in all of the patients. Similar clinical features were recognized in most of the 10 cases reported previously. Our case studies indicate that SSc-RA overlap may be a distinct entity.
The effects of cold preservation and reperfusion of the liver on the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase system (P-450 system) were investigated. Rat livers were preserved with cold University of Wisconsin solution for 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hr. Half of them in 0-, 24-, and 48-hr groups were reperfused for 1 hr at 37 degrees C with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit buffer. After preservation or reperfusion, the liver microsomes were prepared and the concentration of each component of the P-450 system [NADPH-cytochrome b5 reductase (b5 reductase), cytochrome b5 (b5), NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase (P-450 reductase) and cytochrome P-450 (P-450)] and their drug metabolizing activities and concentration of apo-cytochrome P-450 2E1 (apo-P-450 2E1) were measured. After 48-hr preservation, b5 concentration did not decrease, whereas the concentration of P-450, P-450 reductase, and b5 reductase decreased from 0.865 to 0.676 nmole/mg protein, from 0.262 to 0.233 micromole/mg protein/min and from 5.34 to 4.86 micromole/mg protein/min, respectively. During cold preservation, the activities of p-nitroanisole O-demethylase and aniline p-hydroxylase did not change. Aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was inhibited from 4.45 to 3.34 nmole/mg protein/min after 48-hr cold preservation. Apo-P-450 2E1 was gradually decreased during cold preservation. Reperfusion caused a further decrease in the activities and concentration of the components of the P-450 system and concentration of apo-P-450 2E1 to 80-90% after 1-hr reperfusion. It was suggested that the prolonged preservation caused deterioration of the P-450 system and the loss of the abilities of metabolism and detoxication of xenobiotics.
The object of the present study was to confirm the HLA-DRB1 matching effect on rejection crisis, its severity, and kidney graft survival based on genotyping. Ninety-four renal allografts were included in this study. DNA typing of HLA-DRB1 was performed by the polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide method. The incidence of acute rejection within 6 months following transplantation, the frequency of OKT3 administration for steroid-resistant rejection, histopathological findings, and graft survival rate were compared between the DRB1-matched (n = 23) and DRB1-mismatched (n = 71) groups. Four acute rejections occurred in the DRB1-matched group (incidence; 17%) and 40 in the DRB1-mismatched group (56%). In the DRB1-matched group, the incidence of acute rejection was significantly less frequent than that of the DRB1-mismatched group (P < 0.005). In the DRB1-matched group, only one patient received OKT3 administration (4%), in contrast to 16 of 71 patients in the DRB1-mismatched group (23%). The use of OKT3 was significantly less frequent in the DRB1-matched group (P < 0.05). Histopathological findings from biopsy specimens showed no constant distribution of pathological grades of acute rejection according to DRB1 matching in the present study. The graft survival rate in the two groups did not differ significantly, but the graft survival rate in the DRB1-mismatched group had a tendency to decrease as the grafts survived longer. In conclusion, the results of the present study confirm that HLA-DRB1 matching has marked beneficial effects on kidney transplants through reduction of the acute rejection rate and decrease of the severity of rejection, and suggest that improvement of graft survival will be obtained through kidney allocation to a DRB1-matched recipient.
In this study, we examined expressions of several adhesion molecules (AdMs), i.e. leukocyte function antigen-1 (LFA-1: CD11a/CD18), Hermes homing receptor (CD44) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1: CD54), on leukemia cells from 51 adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) to elucidate clinical significance of these AdM expressions. Those expressions in lymphoid malignancies have been correlated with tumor evolutions, but CD44 was detected in all the AML cases examined and CD54 expression did not associate with their clinical characteristics or outcomes. However, we found that LFA-1 expressions significantly correlated with splenomegaly, resistance to induction chemotherapies and short survival periods in AML patients.
We isolated cDNA clones of the mRNAs for cytochromes P450scc (CYP11A1) from sheep and goat adrenocortices using the RT-PCR method. We determined the complete nucleotide sequences of the coding and 3'-flanking regions of these cDNA clones. The results confirmed the amino terminal sequence of the sheep cytochrome P450scc reported previously [Miyatake et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1215,176-182 (1994)]. On the basis of comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of various animals and rainbow trout cytochromes P450scc, and other mitochondrial cytochrome P450 isozymes, we discussed the substrate-associated and adreno-ferredoxin-binding region of cytochrome P450scc.
A polymorphic CYP2C19 gene was analyzed in 233 Japanese subjects, including 63 with Parkinson's disease, 92 with chronic liver diseases (35 chronic hepatitis, 19 liver cirrhosis, 16 hepatocellular carcinoma, 10 primary biliary cirrhosis and 12 autoimmune hepatitis), 14 with lung cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) and 64 healthy subjects to determine the genotype distributions of the CYP2C19 gene and to investigate its involvement in the diseases. Among Japanese healthy subjects 14.1% are predicted to be poor metabolizers (PM) of mephenytoin. The frequencies of the m1 and the m2 mutations of the CYP2C19 gene in the healthy subjects were 21.9% and 11.7%, respectively. Though the number of patients was small, patients with lung cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) are believed to have reduced enzyme activities of CYP2C19.
Between February and November 1994, we performed laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy in five patients with benign adrenal tumors to confirm the efficacy of this operation. Using digital dissection and a balloon, we created a working space in the retroperitoneal cavity before we dissected the adrenal gland and removed it under laparoscopic observation. The adrenal glands of all five patients were removed without any complications. The mean operative time was 3.4 hours, and the mean estimated blood loss was 148 mL. The average postoperative hospital stay was 10 days, and the average full recovery time was 19 days. We concluded that the retroperitoneal approach is an advantageous and safe procedure in the laparoscopic removal of the adrenal gland with benign tumor.