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Y Komada

Publications and source records attributed to Y Komada.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Characterization of a human placental fructose-6-phosphate, 2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase.

A full-length cDNA, which encodes a human placental fructose-6-phosphate,2-kinase/ fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase, was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed protein, purified to homogeneity, showed a molecular weight of 58,000 by gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, compared to the deduced molecular weight of 59,410. The N-terminal sequence of 15 amino acids coincided with that of the deduced sequence. The active enzyme was a dimer as judged by molecular sieve filtration. The expressed enzyme was bifunctional with Vmax values of 142 and 0.2 milliunits/mg for the kinase and phosphatase activities, respectively. The phosphatase activity was extremely low, because one phosphatase active site residue was mutated, and consequently the kinase/phosphatase ratio was the highest among the known isozymes. Furthermore, the enzyme was phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C and also by [2-32P]fructose-2,6-bisphosphate. Phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C increased the maximal Fru-6-P,2-kinase activities by 1.8- and 1.1-fold, respectively. These results suggested that placental fructose-6-phosphate,2-kinase/ fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase is important in maintaining and regulating a relatively high rate of glycolysis in placenta.

Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases↗
PubMed1997

2',5'-Oligoadenylate synthetase activity and T cell subset in the cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood of aseptic meningitis.

2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity, which is assumed to be induced by interferon, is reported to be one of the useful markers reflecting interferon activity. The enzyme activity of patients with aseptic meningitis and febrile convulsion were compared in order to evaluate interferon activity as one of the local immuno-defense mechanisms of aseptic meningitis. The surface antigen of mononuclear cells in cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood of some patients with aseptic meningitis was also measured. The enzyme activity of patients with aseptic meningitis was 191.4 pmol/dL in the cerebrospinal fluid and 395.8 pmol/dL in the serum during the acute phase, while that of patients with febrile convulsion was 45.2 pmol/dL in the cerebrospinal fluid and 326.0 pmol/dL in the serum. The enzyme activity of the former patients significantly decreased during the recovery phase in both the cerebrospinal fluid and serum. CD3 positive cells in the peripheral blood were 56.3% of the total mononuclear cells during the acute phase and 65.2% during the recovery phase, whereas in the cerebrospinal fluid mononuclear cells, they were 87.1 and 85.5%, respectively. During the acute phase, CD4 positive cells were the predominant T lymphocyte subset in the cerebrospinal fluid cells, while CD8 positive cells were predominant during the recovery phase. The relative proportions of CD4 positive and CD8 positive cells during the acute and recovery phase in the cerebrospinal fluid mononuclear cells were quite high compared to the recovery phase, although that ratio of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was not changed throughout the course. It was concluded that T lymphocytes and increased 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity in the cerebrospinal fluid may be one of the important components in the local inflammatory process independent of the systemic host defense mechanism in aseptic meningitis.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1997

A case of Epstein-Barr virus infection with exophthalmos and ocular muscle swelling.

A 14-year-old girl with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection developed exophthalmos and ocular muscle swelling. The EBV genome was detected in T lymphocytes taken from the submandibular gland, temporal muscle and cervical lymph nodes. A surface marker analysis of her peripheral blood demonstrated that CD45RO-positive T lymphocytes were strongly activated. Immunosuppressive treatment, including steroid and cyclophosphamide, was effective in improving the symptoms. Immunosuppressive therapy may be included as the choice of treatment for EBV infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes recognizing P-glycoprotein in murine multidrug-resistant leukemias.

A multidrug-resistant murine lymphoid leukemia P388/ADR overexpresses P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an active transporter that pumps cytotoxic drugs out of cells and a product of mdr1 gene. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) that showed cytotoxicity against P388/ADR were generated from mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture. CTL do not kill drugsensitive parental P388 (P388/parent) that does not express P-gp. Monoclonal antibody against P-gp inhibited cytotoxic activity. Similar results were obtained in another multidrug-resistant cell line P388/VP-16. Cytotoxic activity was mediated by Thy1+ CD4- CD8+ T-cells. When P388/ADR was treated with murine IL-4, expression of P-gp was downregulated. Monoclonal antibody against interleukin-4 (IL-4) abrogated the IL-4-induced suppression of P-gp. Cytolytic activity of CTL against IL-4-treated P388/ADR was dose dependently inhibited. These results suggest that P-gp is immunogenic and can be a target of CTL in this murine leukemia model.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1997

Fas receptor (CD95)-mediated apoptosis in leukemic cells.

Binding of Fas ligand (FasL) or an agonistic anti-Fas receptor (Fas/CD95) antibody induces apoptosis in Fas-bearing target cells. The involvement of Fas/FasL pathway has been investigated in human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells. Fas/CD95 is expressed on a majority of AML cells, although the intensity of expression is variable. The cross-linking with anti-Fas antibody can induce apoptotic cell death in certain cases of AML. When DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression are enhanced by growth-promoting cytokines, such as interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, Fas-insensitive AML cells acquire cellular susceptibility toward Fas-mediated apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis reveals that Fas-mediated apoptotic signals can be transduced into cells in G1B compartment and G1A-->G1B transition might support the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis. In addition, Fas-mediated apoptotic cell death of AML cells is also induced by interleukin-2-activated T cells expressing functional FasL on their surfaces. Activated T cells express a large amount of FasL mRNA, compared with freshly isolated T cells. The Fas/FasL pathway seems to be the major mechanism of T cell-mediated apoptosis in AML cells, although alternative mechanisms can also be operative. The induction of apoptosis in Fas/FasL system might be a novel and effective approach for leukemia immunotherapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Improved therapy for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We have examined the factors influencing clinical prognosis in Japanese children with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who have been treated in consecutive chemotherapeutic trials from 1976 to 1995. During this time the results of treatment have steadily improved in children with average presenting features (age 1-10 years old and leukocyte counts > 50,000/microL). The 4-year event-free survival (EFS) estimates now exceed 85% in our current trials. Furthermore, high-dose methotrexate and intrathecal therapy could be substituted for cranial irradiation without an increase of central nervous system relapse rate. However, children with unfavorable presenting features (leukocyte counts > or = 50,000/microL; high-risk group) have a worse prognosis, although there is some improvement of outcome. The patients in the high-risk group have obtained the 4-year EFS rate of better than 60%. Further investigations of prognostic factors in ALL focused on the biological features may permit identification of groups of children at risk of very poor outcome. In the patient cohorts consistently resistant to chemotherapy, the hazards of more intensive treatment such as bone marrow transplantation may be outweighed by the possible benefits.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1996

Mite-specific induction of interleukin-2 receptor on T lymphocytes from children with mite-sensitive asthma: modified immune response with immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of immunotherapy is still controversial. To elucidate the mechanisms of immunotherapy, we studied mite-specific induction of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression on T lymphocytes from children with mite-sensitive asthma. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 28 children with mite-sensitive asthma: 13 had never received house dust immunotherapy (nonimmunotherapy group), 15 had been receiving house dust immunotherapy at the time of the study (immunotherapy group). After a 6-day culture with or without Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) antigen, the expression of IL-2Rp55 (CD25) and p75 on CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocytes was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The nonimmunotherapy group showed significant Df-specific CD25 induction on CD4+ T lymphocytes (delta CD4+ CD25+) but little induction on CD8+ T lymphocytes (delta CD8+ CD25+). delta CD4+ CD25+ was correlated with the severity of the disease. In the immunotherapy group delta CD8+ CD25+ was significantly higher than in the nonimmunotherapy group or in normal subjects and correlated with Df-specific IgG4 and cumulative doses of house dust extract, whereas delta CD4+ CD25+ was similar in the nonimmunotherapy and the immunotherapy groups. IL-2Rp75 was not induced either on CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that house dust immunotherapy may have induced Df-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes in patients with mite-sensitive asthma and that the efficacy of immunotherapy may be attributed to the generation of Df-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Isolation and characterisation of Kasumi-1 human myeloid leukaemia cell line resistant to tumour necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha induces apoptosis in a human acute myeloid leukaemia cell line, Kasumi-1. To examine the role of protein phosphorylation in signal transduction of TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, a variant cell line resistant to TNF-alpha was established by an intermittent challenge of Kasumi-1 cells with increasing concentrations of TNF-alpha for 6 months. The mechanism of resistance to TNF-alpha appears to be in the post-receptor pathway because expression of p55 TNF receptor in the variant cells is increased compared with that of the parental Kasumi-1 cells. In renaturation assays, TNF-alpha induced a rapid activation of different protein kinases of different molecular weights, including the 50 kDa protein kinase (PK50) followed by the 35 kDa protein kinase (PK35), in the parental Kasumi-1 cells. The dose-response of TNF-alpha required to activate PK50 and PK35 was closely related to concentrations of TNF-alpha that induced apoptosis. Treatment of Kasumi-1 cells with ceramide also activated PK35. In TNF-resistant variant cells, activation of PK35 in response to TNF-alpha or ceramide was practically nil. These findings suggest that activation of PK35 through the ceramide pathway may play an important role in signal transduction of TNF-alpha in the Kasumi-1 cell line, while the decreased activation of PK35 may explain the insensitivity of the variant cells towards TNF-alpha.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1996

Clinical features of measles in immunocompromised children.

Measles is often fatal for immunocompromised hosts. Protective immunity against measles has been studied but is still not completely understood. Recently, five cases of measles were encountered in immunocompromised children. Two of these were allogeneic bone marrow transplanted cases (one common variable immunodeficiency and one severe aplastic anemia) in remission, one Wilms' tumor case in remission, one hepatoblastoma case after cytotoxic therapy at disease onset and one exaggerating hemophagocytic syndrome case with suppressed natural killer cell activity. Clinical symptoms, laboratory findings and the immunologic backgrounds of these five patients were investigated. One of the patients, an 8 year old boy with hemophagocytic syndrome, died of giant cell pneumonia which was confirmed in the section of necropsy lung specimen. Two other patients who received allogeneic bone marrow transplants were not immune to measles, despite their own and their donors' immunizations. Their clinical symptoms were rather severe but both patients recovered and have remained seropositive for as long as 13 months. This fatality from measles is the first reported in a patient with hemophagocytic syndrome. Suppressed natural killer cell activity may be a poor prognostic factor. Also, secondary immunization failure for measles can occur in bone marrow transplanted patients with rather severe clinical symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Heterogeneous effects of G-CSF and GM-CSF on cell growth and ara-C cytotoxicity in childhood leukemias which express myeloid markers.

It is uncertain if acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells expressing myeloid makers can respond to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). We investigated the effects of G-CSF (0.01 microgram/ml) and GM-CSF (0.01 microgram/ml) on [3H]thymidine (TdR) uptake, and the cytotoxicity of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) in leukemia cells from 17 pediatric patients. ALL cells without myeloid markers did not respond to G-CSF or GM-CSF. On the other hand, these cytokines enhanced the [3H]TdR uptake and cell growth, not only of AML cells but also of ALL cells expressing myeloid antigens. However, G-CSF and GM-CSF did not always enhance the growth inhibitory effect of the cell cycle specific drug ara-C when the cells were co-cultured with the drug. There was no relationship between cell growth and the amount of [3H]TdR incorporation or the intracellular ara-CTP level. These results indicate the heterogeneous effects of G-CSF and GM-CSF on cell growth and ara-C sensitivity in childhood leukemia cells.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Recurrent cold hemagglutinin disease following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation successfully treated with plasmapheresis, corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide.

A 10-year-old male with severe aplastic anemia following allogeneic BMT developed a hemolytic crisis on post-BMT day 67. The diagnosis of cold hemagglutinin disease was made based on the findings of anemia, reticulocytosis, positive direct Coombs test, and markedly elevated cold agglutinins. Anti-nuclear antibody and anti-DNA antibody were also increased. Plasmapheresis was effective as an emergency measure. Corticosteroid after plasmapheresis had a transient effect. At the second episode of hemolysis 6 months after BMT, immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroid was successfully administered without negative effect on engraftment.

Anemia, Aplastic↗
PubMed1996

Ca(2+)-dependent activation of the 33-kDa protein kinase transmits thrombin receptor signals in human platelets.

Thrombin stimulation induces a dramatic increase in the activity of the 33-kDa serine/threonine kinase (PK33) in human platelets (10). The Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide, an inhibitor of the thrombin-mediated aggregation of platelets, did not affect the PK33 activation induced by thrombin suggesting that the activation of this kinase occurs independently from platelet aggregation. To identify a potential role of Ca2+ and calmodulin in the regulation of PK33, the effect of several Ca2+/calmodulin inhibitors on the thrombin-induced activation of PK33 was assessed using denaturation/renaturation method. Pretreatment of platelets with EGTA decreased the maximum PK33 activity induced by thrombin. The chelation of both the extra- and the intracellular Ca2+ by EGTA and by acetoxymethyl ester of 5,5'-dimethyl-bis-(0-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA-AM) decreased further the PK33 activation by thrombin. Preincubation of platelets with the anticalmodulin agent, N-(4-aminobutyl)-5-chloro-2-naphthalenesulfonamide (W13), inhibited markedly the activation of PK33 by thrombin, whereas the inactive structural analog N-(4-aminobutyl)-2-naphthalenesulfonamide (W12) and the myosin light chain kinase inhibitor 1-(5-chloronaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine (ML9) showed very weak inhibitory effects. Treatment of resting platelets with the calcium ionophore, A23187, activated PK33 in a dose-dependent manner; phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate enhanced this effect. However, the two foregoing agents did not induce similar degree of PK33 activities as thrombin. These results indicate that the activation of PK33 is independent of the formation of the GPIIb/IIIa-fibrinogen complex and that it might be regulated by a Ca(2+)-dependent pathway.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1995

Fas receptor (CD95)-mediated apoptosis is induced in leukemic cells entering G1B compartment of the cell cycle.

Apoptotic cell death induced by cross-linking Fas receptor (FasR/CD95) has been investigated in human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells. FasR-mediated growth inhibition and DNA fragmentation could be induced in certain cases of AML. Interestingly, when DNA synthesis and G1 -> S transition in the cell cycle were enhanced by interleukin-3 or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, Fas-insensitive blast cells acquired cellular susceptibility toward FasR-mediated growth inhibition. To further evaluate an association between the Fas-R-mediated action and a specific phase of the cell cycle, a FasR+ leukemic cell line, MML-1, was established from a patient with AML. The morphologic feature of dying cells and DNA fragmentation indicated that FasR cross-linking induced apoptotic cell death in MML-1 cells. Cell cycle arrest in G1A phase with the treatment of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or thymidine rendered MML-1 cells resistant to FasR-mediated apoptosis without downregulation of surface FasR expression. However, S-phase arrest with 5-fluorouracil could neither enhance nor inhibit FasR-mediated apoptosis. Simultaneous DNA/RNA quantification analysis revealed the selective loss of cells in G1B compartment, accompanied by the increase of apoptotic nuclei in sub-G1 fraction. These findings suggested that FasR-mediated apoptotic signals could be transduced into cells in G1B compartment and G1A -> G1B transition might augment the induction of FasR-mediated apoptosis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Accelerated cell-cycling of hematopoietic progenitor cells by growth factors.

Recent advances in molecular biology have led to the identification of hematopoietic growth factors that support and influence the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo. Although these factors have been extensively studied, little is known of their role in the regulation of cell-cycling of hematopoietic progenitors, especially in the early stage of hematopoiesis. In the present study, we examined the effects of early acting growth factors on proliferative kinetics of hematopoietic progenitors by monitoring the number of cells in individual developing colonies, using an in vitro clonal assay. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) or steel factor (SF), alone or in combination, shortened the time for the size of IL-3-dependent colonies to double. Consecutive replating experiments provided evidence for direct action of growth factors on the growth rate of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Shortening of the time for the total cell number in the colonies to double was due to a reduction in time for each single cell within the respective colonies to become two daughter cells, and there was no alteration in the incidence of cells with a proliferative capacity. Cell-cycle analysis demonstrated that IL-11 has the potential to induce a shortened time for cell-cycle of hematopoietic progenitor cells without affecting distribution of each fraction of the cell-cycle, whereas SF has the potential to reduce cell-cycle time mainly by decreasing the time required for hematopoietic progenitor cells to go through the G1 phase. These results suggest that growth factors may modulate cell-cycling of hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Immunological unresponsiveness and apoptotic cell death of T cells in measles virus infection.

The phenotypic alterations associated with T cells during measles virus infection have been demonstrated and an attempt has been made to show programmed cell death (PCD) of T cells activated in vivo. During the acute phase of illness, activated T cells increased rapidly. Memory T cells (CD45RO+), especially CD8+ memory T cells also tend to increase. During the recovery phase, CD8+ T cells declined rapidly, and naive (CD45RA+) T cells increased in numbers. The anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody-induced expression of interleukin-2 receptor (CD25) was suppressed. However, the addition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused the significant recovery of CD25 expression. In addition, PCD of activated T cells from measles patients was induced in culture. After triggering of the T cell receptor-CD3 complex, cells became more susceptible to PCD. Interestingly, the addition of PMA could inhibit PCD of activated T cells. Taken together, these data suggest unresponsiveness and activation-induced cell death of T cells during the primary response to measles virus antigens, depending on the activation status of protein kinase C.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1995

An infantile case of cytomegalovirus induced idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with predominant proliferation of CD10 positive lymphoblast in bone marrow.

An infant with cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) developed idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) at 4 months of age. A bone marrow (BM) aspiration showed a remarkable increase of immature megakaryocytes and prominent proliferation of lymphoblasts. Flow cytometric analysis of the bone marrow cells showed that the predominant cells in the lymphocyte cluster were of B-lineage (CD19) with CD10 (common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen) positive. Virus study showed a higher titer of CMV antibody. Cytomegalovirus DNA was detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in urine, peripheral cells and marrow cells. Low-grade fever, diarrhea and petechiae were accompanied by mild liver dysfunction. Complete remission was made with intravenous high-dose immunoglobulin (IVIg) without progression to overt acute leukemia. The percentage of CD10+/CD19+ lymphocytes in bone marrow also diminished. We postulated that the proliferation of immature lymphocytes and megakaryocytes in bone marrow was caused by maturation arrest that might result from CMV infection.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1995

Acute hemolysis during cyclosporine therapy successfully treated with vitamin E.

The immunosuppressant cyclosporine induces acute hemolysis (hemolytic uremic syndrome) in some patients after transplantation, possibly because of its effects on the vascular endothelium. We report a case of Coombs-negative, non-immune severe hemolytic anemia during cyclosporine therapy after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for severe aplastic anemia. Uremia was not observed. Vitamin E was effective in treating the intravascular hemolysis.

Acute Disease↗