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Biomedical subjects

Y Ninomiya

Publications and source records attributed to Y Ninomiya.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Role of distinct type IV collagen networks in glomerular development and function.

BACKGROUND: In X-linked Alport syndrome, mutations in the COL4A5 gene encoding the alpha 5 chain of type IV collagen result in progressive renal failure. This nephropathy appears to relate to the arrest of a switch from an alpha 1/alpha 2 to an alpha 3/alpha 4/alpha 5 network of type IV collagen in the developing glomerular basement membrane (GBM; Kalluri et al, J Clin Invest 99:2470, 1997). METHODS: We examined the role of this switch in glomerular development and function using a canine model of X-linked nephritis with a COL4A5 mutation. The electron microscopic appearance and the expression of the alpha 1-alpha 6 chains of type IV collagen in the GBM was correlated with glomerular function. RESULTS: In normal neonatal glomeruli, once capillary loops were present, there was staining of GBM for the alpha 1-alpha 5 chains. Prior to this stage, only alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains were present, with rare glomeruli positive for the alpha 5 chain. As glomeruli matured, the alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains tended to disappear from the GBM, with the alpha 3-alpha 5 chains remaining. In affected male dogs, only the alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains were detected at any stage. GBM ultrastructure in these dogs remained normal until one month and proteinuria did not appear until two months. CONCLUSION: Our results show that normal glomerular development involves a switch in type IV collagen networks. In affected male dogs, a failure of this switch results in an absence of the alpha 3/alpha 4/alpha 5 network and a persistence of the alpha 1/alpha 2 network in GBM. GBM ultrastructure and glomerular function remain normal for one month, indicating that GBM deterioration in Alport syndrome begins as a postnatal process. Hence, only the alpha 1/alpha 2 network is essential for normal glomerular development, whereas the alpha 3/alpha 4/alpha 5 network is essential for long-term maintenance of glomerular structure and function.

Aging↗

Induction of anti-GBM nephritis in rats by recombinant alpha 3(IV)NC1 and alpha 4(IV)NC1 of type IV collagen.

The capability of the noncollagenous (NC1) domains of the six alpha chains of human type IV collagen to induce anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis in WKY rats was determined. This was accomplished by using recombinant technology to express the six NC1 domains in mammalian 293 cells and to purify the proteins using an anti-Flag affinity column. All rats injected with alpha 3(IV)NC1 and alpha 4(IV)NC1 developed proteinuria and hematuria. Rats injected with alpha 5(IV)NC1 developed mild hematuria, whereas rats injected with the alpha 1(IV)NC1, alpha 2(IV)NC1 and alpha 6(IV)NC1 domains developed neither proteinuria nor hematuria. The renal lesions induced by alpha 3(IV)NC1 and alpha 4(IV)NC1 domains were characteristic of those in patients with anti-GBM nephritis and Goodpasture syndrome. The experimental nephritis is mediated by anti-basement membrane antibodies that are targeted to alpha 3(IV)NC1 and alpha 4(IV)NC1 domains and which bind to the glomerular basement membrane. The uniqueness of the alpha 3(IV)NC1 and alpha 4(IV)NC1 domains, among the six NC1 domains, to induce severe anti-GBM disease may relate to the accessibility of epitopes in the GBM for binding of antibody. The pathogenicity of the alpha 4(IV)NC1 antibodies establishes a conundrum because the pathogenic antibodies in patients are not targeted to the alpha 4(IV)NC1, but are targeted to the alpha 3(IV)NC1 domain in anti-GBM nephritis and to the alpha 3(IV)NC1 and alpha 5(IV)NC1 domains in Alport post-transplant anti-GBM nephritis.

Animals↗

Topoisomerase I and II consensus sequences in a 17-kb deletion junction of the COL4A5 and COL4A6 genes and immunohistochemical analysis of esophageal leiomyomatosis associated with Alport syndrome.

Diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis (DL), a benign smooth-muscle-cell tumor, is characterized by abnormal cell proliferation. DL is sometimes associated with X-linked Alport syndrome (AS), an inherited nephropathy caused by COL4A5 gene mutations. COL4A5 is tightly linked, in a head-to-head fashion, to the functionally related and coordinately regulated COL4A6 gene. No X-linked AS cases are due to COL4A6 mutations, but all DL/AS cases are always associated with deletions spanning the 5' regions of the COL4A5/COL4A6 cluster. Unlike the COL4A5 breakpoints, those of COL4A6 are clustered within intron 2 of the gene. We identified a DL/AS deletion and the first characterization of the breakpoint sequences. We show that a deletion eliminates the first coding exon of COL4A5 and the first two coding exons of COL4A6. The breakpoints share the same sequence, which, in turn, is closely homologous to the consensus sequences of topoisomerases I and II. Additional DNA evidence suggested that the male patient is a somatic mosaic for the mutation. Immunohistochemical analysis using alpha-chain-specific monoclonal antibodies supported this conclusion, since it revealed the absence of the alpha5(IV) and alpha6(IV) collagen chains in most but not all of the basement membranes of the smooth-muscle-cell tumor. We also documented a similar segmental staining pattern in the glomerular basement membranes of the patient's kidney. This study is particularly relevant to the understanding of DL pathogenesis and its etiology.

Adult↗

Reduction of the suppressive effects of gurmarin on sweet taste responses by addition of beta-cyclodextrin.

Cyclodextrins (CDs) have the remarkable ability to form inclusion complexes with a wide variety of guest molecules. In the present study, possible influences of CDs on gurmarin inhibition of the chorda tympani responses to sucrose were examined in C57BL mice. Responses to sucrose were suppressed to approximately 50% of control by treatment of the tongue with 30 micrograms/ml (approximately 7.1 microM) gurmarin. Rinsing the tongue with 15 mM beta-CD after gurmarin gave rapid recovery of the suppressed sucrose responses to approximately 85% of control, whereas 15 mM alpha- or gamma-CD did not. When gurmarin was mixed with beta-CD, the suppressive effects of gurmarin on sucrose responses were largely reduced. No such reduction was observed for mixtures with alpha- and gamma-CD. Gurmarin includes tyrosine and tryptophan residues whose aromatic rings are directed outward and can probably form inclusion complexes with beta-CD. Therefore, the observed reduction of the effects of gurmarin may be due to steric hindrances in inclusion complexes of gurmarin with beta-CD that may interfere with gurmarin binding to sweet taste receptors.

Animals↗

NaCl-preferring NZB/B1NJ mice and NaCl-avoiding CBA/J mice have similar amiloride inhibition of chorda tympani responses to NaCl.

Integrated chorda tympani nerve responses to NaCl were studied in two mouse strains, an NaCl-preferring NZB/B1NJ and an NaCl-avoiding CBA/J. The NaCl responses of both strains had similar magnitude and were suppressed by amiloride to a similar extent. This suggests that peripheral gustatory responsiveness to NaCl is not the only mechanism underlying mouse strain variation in NaCl acceptance.

Amiloride↗

Organization and expression of basement membrane collagen IV genes and their roles in human disorders.

Six distinct genes have been identified as belonging to the type IV collagen gene family. They can be organized into three sets, i.e., COL4A1/COL4A2, COL4A3/COL4A4, and COL4A5/COL4A6, which are localized on three different chromosomes in humans, 13, 2, and X, respectively. Within each set the genes are aligned head-to-head and their expression is regulated by bidirectional promoters between the genes. Transcriptional regulation of the COL4A1/COL4A2 set has been well characterized. The transcription of COL4A6 seems to be controlled by two alternative promoters. While collagen IV molecules composed of alpha1 and alpha2 chains are broadly distributed, molecules comprising combinations of the other four chains, alpha3-alpha6, are important components of specialized basement membranes. The precise chain composition of triple-helical molecules assembled from the alpha3-alpha6 chains is not entirely clear, but it is hypothesized that alpha3-alpha5 chains and alpha5 and alpha6 chains form heterotrimeric molecules. Several pieces of evidence indicate that alpha3/alpha4/alpha5 molecules and alpha5/alpha6 molecules are components of the basement membrane network. This helps explain the observation that the kidney and skin basement membranes from patients with Alport syndrome caused by mutations in the alpha5 coding gene, COL4A5, are defective in the alpha3, alpha4, and alpha6 chains together with the alpha5 chain. Large deletions involving the COL4A5 and COL4A6 genes have been found in rare cases of diffuse leiomyomatosis associated with Alport syndrome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Distribution of the alpha1 to alpha6 chains of type IV collagen in bovine follicles.

During follicular development the proliferative and differentiated state of the epithelioid granulosa cells changes, and the movement of fluid across the follicular basal lamina enables the formation of an antrum. Type IV collagen is an important component of many basal laminae. Each molecule is composed of three alpha chains; however, six different type IV collagen chains have been identified. It is not known which of these chains are present in the follicular basal lamina and whether the type IV collagen composition of the basal lamina changes during follicular development. Therefore, we immunolocalized each of the six chains in bovine ovaries using antibodies directed to the nonconserved non-collagenous (NC) domains. Additionally, dissected follicles were digested with collagenase to release the NC domains, and the NC1 domains were then detected by standard Western immunoblot methods. The follicular basal lamina of almost all primordial and preantral follicles was positive for all type IV collagen alpha chains. Colocalization of type IV collagen and factor VIII-related antigen allowed for discrimination between the follicular and endothelial basal laminae. Type IV collagen alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, alpha4, and alpha5 chains were present within the follicular basal lamina of only a proportion of antral follicles (17 of 22, 20 of 21, 15 of 18, 14 of 28, and 12 of 23, respectively), and staining was less intense than in the preantral follicles. Staining for the alpha1 and alpha2 chains was diffusely distributed throughout the theca in regions not associated with recognized basal laminae. The specificity of this immunostaining for alpha1 and alpha2 chains of type IV collagen was confirmed by Western immunoblots. As well as being detected in the basal lamina of approximately half of the antral follicles examined, type IV collagen alpha4 also colocalized with 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-immunopositive cells in the theca interna. Type IV collagen alpha6 was detected in the basal lamina of only one of the 16 antral follicles examined. Thus, the follicular basal lamina changes in composition during follicular development, with immunostaining levels being reduced for all type IV collagen chains and immunoreactivity for type IV collagen alpha6 being lost as follicle size increases. Additionally, immunoreactivity for alpha1 and alpha2 appears in the extracellular matrix of the theca as it develops.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

Enhanced responses of the chorda tympani nerve to nonsugar sweeteners in the diabetic db/db mouse.

Genetically diabetic db/db mice show greater neural and behavioral responses to sugars than lean control mice. The present study examined chorda tympani responses of db/db mice to nonsugar sweeteners and their inhibition by a sweet response inhibitor, gurmarin. The results showed that responses to sucrose, saccharin, glycine, L-alanine, and D-tryptophan, but not to D-phenylalanine, were approximately 1.5 times greater in db/db mice than in control mice. Treatment of the tongue with gurmarin suppressed responses to these sweeteners in db/db and control mice, but the extent of suppression was considerably smaller in db/db mice. The magnitudes of gurmarin-sensitive components of the response to sweeteners in db/db mice were not significantly different from those in control mice, whereas the magnitudes of gurmarin-insensitive components in db/db mice were about twice as large as those in control mice. These results suggest that the enhancement of chorda tympani responses in db/db mice to sucrose and other nonsugar sweeteners may occur through gurmarin-insensitive membrane components.

Animals↗

Increase in inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate levels of the fungiform papilla in response to saccharin and bitter substances in mice.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) levels of the mouse fungiform papilla and nonsensory epithelial tissue in response to various taste stimuli were measured by use of a competitive protein binding assay. Stimulation of the tongue with 20 mM saccharin induced a significant increase in IP3 levels of the fungiform papillae without affecting those of the nonsensory epithelial tissue, whereas stimulations with 20 mM quinine and denatonium raised IP3 levels in not only the fungiform papilla but slightly also nonsensory epithelial tissue. No such increases in IP3 levels were observed to lower concentrations of saccharin, denatonium and quinine, and other basic taste stimuli, such as 0.5 M sucrose, 0.1 M NaCl and 10 mM HCl. Pretreatment of the tongue with pronase, a proteolytic enzyme which inhibits sweet responses, completely eliminated the increase in IP3 levels induced by saccharin, but not those induced by quinine or denatonium. These results suggest that an IP3 pathway in taste cells of the mouse fungiform taste bud is involved in the transduction not only for denatonium and quinine, but also for 20 mM saccharin. The increase of IP3 induced by saccharin, but not by denatonium and quinine, may occur through pronase-sensitive membrane components.

Animals↗

Human corneal epithelial basement membrane and integrin alterations in diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.

Corneas of diabetic patients have abnormal healing and epithelial adhesion, which may be due to alterations of the corneal extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane (BM). To identify such alterations, various ECM and BM components and integrin receptors were studied by immunofluorescence on sections of normal and diabetic human corneas. Age-matched corneas from 15 normal subjects, 10 diabetics without diabetic retinopathy (DR), and 12 diabetics with DR were used. In DR corneas, the composition of the central epithelial BM was markedly altered, compared to normal or non-DR diabetic corneas. In most cases the staining for entactin/nidogen and for chains of laminin-1 (alpha1beta1gamma1) and laminin-10 (alpha5beta1gamma1 was very weak, discontinuous, or absent over large areas. Other BM components displayed less frequent changes. The staining for alpha3beta1 (VLA-3) laminin binding integrin was also weak and discontinuous in DR corneal epithelium. Components of stromal ECM remained unchanged even in DR corneas. Therefore, distinct changes were identified in the composition of the epithelial BM in DR corneas. They may be due to increased degradation or decreased synthesis of BM components and related integrins. These alterations may directly contribute to the epithelial adhesion and wound healing abnormalities found in diabetic corneas.

Adult↗

Expression of type XVII collagen alpha 1 chain mRNA in the mouse heart.

The type XVII collagen alpha 1 chain has been identified as a component of the type I hemidesmosome, and is thus thought to play a role in extracellular matrix (ECM) maintenance and signal transduction between the cell and the ECM. We examined the expression of type XVII collagen alpha 1 chain mRNA in the mouse heart by Northern blot analysis and determined the sequential changes of its expression in different developmental stages of the heart using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Northern blotting: Total RNA was extracted from 10 adult mouse hearts by the guanidine/cesium method. Hybridization was performed with mouse cDNA for alpha 1 (XVII) collagen. RT-PCR: Total RNA was extracted from 7 embryos, 4 neonates and 8 adult mice. Reverse transcription was performed using oligo-dT primer and MMLV. Amplification was carried out in alpha 1 (XVII) collagen and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). GAPDH served as an internal control. Northern blotting revealed a 5.6 kb signal that was identical to that of the alpha 1 (XVII) of skin and transformed keratinocyte reported previously. The sequences of the PCR products were also identical to those reported. The normalized expression ratios of alpha 1 (XVII) were 0.91 +/- 0.20 in the embryonic heart, 0.36 +/- 0.20 in the neonatal heart and 0.96 +/- 0.21 in the adult heart. In conclusion, we identified the expression of type XVII collagen alpha 1 chain mRNA in the mouse heart, suggesting that the type I hemidesmosome is located in the heart. The results of the RT-PCR at different developmental stages of the heart suggest that type XVII collagen contributes not only to cardiogenesis in the embryonic stage but also to maintenance of architecture and function in the adult heart.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Localization of type IV collagen alpha chain in the myocardium of dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

A total of 6 alpha chains [alpha 1 (IV) to alpha 6 (IV)] have been identified in type IV collagen. We examined the localization of these chains in the myocardium of patients with dilated (DCM) and hypertrophic (HCM) cardiomyopathy. The localization of alpha 1 (IV)-alpha 6 (IV) in biopsy specimens of 5 patients with DCM and 4 with HCM was examined using immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies. Both alpha 1 (IV) and alpha 2 (IV) immunostaining formed thin homogeneous outlines around myocytes in control hearts. In the DCM specimens, alpha 1 (IV) and alpha 2 (IV) immunostaining formed thick and irregular patterns around myocytes. Staining for alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2 (IV) was also observed in some enlarged intercellular spaces. In 3 DCM hearts, moderate staining for alpha 1 (IV) and alpha 2 (IV) was observed in small replacement fibrotic lesions. In large replacement fibrotic lesions, no alpha 1 (IV) or alpha 2 (IV) staining was observed. In the HCM specimens, alpha 1 (IV) and alpha 2 (IV) staining formed thick homogeneous patterns around myocytes. In the enlarged intercellular spaces, no alpha 1 (IV) or alpha 2 (IV) staining was observed. No labeling for alpha 3 (IV)-alpha 6 (IV) was observed in any heart examined. In conclusion, the present results demonstrate that type IV collagen consisting of alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains appears in the fibrotic lesions of DCM, indicating its contribution to the development of fibrotic changes in the myocardium of DCM patients. In contrast, type IV collagen was restricted to the myocyte membrane in the HCM hearts. Fibrotic processes in the intercellular spaces may differ between DCM and HCM hearts.

Adult↗

Somatic deletion of the 5' ends of both the COL4A5 and COL4A6 genes in a sporadic leiomyoma of the esophagus.

Leiomyomata of the esophagus are sporadic benign tumors of unknown etiology. We studied a collection of nine tumors for the expression of extracellular matrix components and found the same aberrant expression pattern as previously observed in inherited diffuse leiomyomatosis. We demonstrate here the occurrence of a somatic deletion at the COL4A5/COL4A6 locus at Xq22 in a frozen leiomyoma sample. These data confirm the hypothesis that the same underlying etiology is responsible for circumscribed smooth muscle proliferation in sporadic leiomyomata as for diffuse smooth muscle cell proliferation in inherited diffuse leiomyomatosis.

Basement Membrane↗

Accumulation of p300 mediates transcriptional repression of simian virus 40 enhancer in undifferentiated F9 embryonal carcinoma cells.

The SV40 enhancer is repressed in embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells, and it is also repressed by the adenovirus E1A oncoprotein. Repression by E1A is mediated by the binding of E1A to the p300 transcriptional coactivator. Thus, we examined the role of p300 in the repression of the SV40 enhancer activity in EC cells. We demonstrated that high levels of p300 protein are accumulated in undifferentiated EC cells and that the levels decline dramatically upon differentiation because of the changes of protein stability. Furthermore, we showed that overexpression of p300 does not stimulate the SV40 enhancer activity in undifferentiated F9 cells. However, the activity of a p300 mutant deficient for E1A binding can be restored by the presence of excess E1A. In addition, low-level expression of E1A causes derepression of the enhancer activity in F9 cells. These results indicate that the accumulation of p300 protein participates in repression of the SV40 enhancer activity in undifferentiated F9 cells.

Activating Transcription Factor 1↗

Structure of the human type XIX collagen (COL19A1) gene, which suggests it has arisen from an ancestor gene of the FACIT family.

Type XIX collagen is a newly discovered member of the FACIT (fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices) group of extracellular matrix proteins. Based on the primary structure, type XIX collagen is thought to act as a cross-bridge between fibrils and other extracellular matrix molecules. Here we describe the complete exon/intron organization of COL19A1 and show that it contains 51 exons, spanning more than 250 kb of genomic DNA. The comparison of exon structures of COL19A1 and other FACIT family genes revealed several similarities among these genes. The structure of exons encoding the noncollagenous (NC) 1-collagenous (COL) 1-NC 2-COL 2-NC 3-COL 3-NC 4 domain of the alpha1(XIX) chain is similar to that of the NC 1-COL 1-NC 2-COL 3-NC 3 domain of the alpha2(IX) chain except for the NC 3 domain of alpha1(XIX). The exons encoding the COL 5-NC 6 domain of alpha1(XIX) are also similar to those of the COL 3-NC 4 domain of alpha1(IX) chain. Previously, COL19A1 was mapped to human chromosome 6q12-q14, where COL9A1 is also located. Likewise, the present work shows that the mouse Col19a1 gene is located on mouse chromosome 1, region A3, where Col9a1 has also been mapped. Taken together, the data suggest that COL19A1 and COL9A1 (Col19a1 and Col9a1) were duplicated from the same ancestor gene of the FACIT family. Three CA repeat markers with high heterozygosity were found in COL19A1. These markers may be useful for linkage analysis of age-related inheritable diseases involved in eyes and/or brain.

Alleles↗

Ubiquitous expression of the alpha1(XIX) collagen gene (Col19a1) during mouse embryogenesis becomes restricted to a few tissues in the adult organism.

Type XIX collagen is a poorly characterized member of the fibril-associated collagens with an interrupted triple helices (FACIT) class of collagen molecules. As a first step toward elucidating its function, we have isolated full size cDNA clones from the mouse alpha1(XIX) collagen gene (Col19a1) and established its pattern of expression in the developing embryo and adult organism. Col19a1 transcripts can be detected as early as 11 days of gestation and in all embryonic tissues, except the liver, of an 18-day postcoitum mouse. In contrast, only a few adult tissues, brain, eye, and testis, seem to accumulate Col19a1 mRNA. Col19a1 transcripts are at least 10 times more abundant in adult than fetal brain and significantly less in adult than fetal muscle and skin. Consistent with the RNA data, polyclonal antibodies for alpha1(XIX) collagen reacted with a 150-kDa protein in the neutral salt extraction of adult mouse brain tissues. We therefore propose that type XIX collagen plays a distinct role from the other FACIT molecules, particularly in the assembly of embryonic matrices and in the maintenance of specific adult tissues.

Alternative Splicing↗

Two forms of avian(chicken) TATA-binding protein mRNA generated by alternative polyadenylation.

We have isolated and sequenced the cDNA encoding avian(chicken) TATA-binding protein (cTBP). The cTBP protein shows a significant homology to those of the other species, and especially its C-terminal region (180 amino acid residues) is identical to those of the vertebrates. By Northern blot analysis, we found that two transcripts with about 2.1 kb (cTBP0) and 2.7 kb (cTBP1) were expressed in various chicken tissues, though only one type of the TBP transcript was reported in vertebrates. A primer extension study demonstrated a single transcription start site. The analysis of the genomic structure of cTBP with the sequences of the two types of cTBP cDNAs(cTBP0 and cTBP1) revealed that the alternative polyadenylation generates two transcripts with different 3'untranslated regions (3'UTRs), indicating a putative role of the different 3'UTRs on the stability of cTBP mRNAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗