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Biomedical subjects

Y Oka

Publications and source records attributed to Y Oka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Nonsense mutation of glucokinase gene in late-onset non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

A nonsense mutation at codon 186 in exon 5 of the gene for glucokinase, an enzyme important for glucose-induced insulin secretion, was identified in a Japanese patient with late-onset non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). All affected members of her family were heterozygous for the mutation and had late-onset NIDDM or impaired glucose tolerance, whereas unaffected members showed normal glucose tolerance. The early insulin response to oral glucose was impaired in affected relatives, but was normal in those unaffected. These findings suggest that the glucokinase mutation raises the set-point of pancreatic beta cells for glucose-induced insulin secretion, leading to abnormal glucose tolerance in some patients with late-onset NIDDM.

Adolescent

Characterization of GLUT3 protein expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

We have expressed GLUT3 protein, an isoform of a facilitative glucose transporter, in Chinese hamster ovary cells by transfection of its cDNA using an expression vector. The expressed GLUT3 protein was detected by Western-blot analysis as a broad band of 45-65 kDa, indicating intensive glycosylation of the protein. The expressed GLUT3 protein was observed, by immunofluorescence staining, to be located mainly at the plasma membrane, and its expression was associated with a marked increase in glucose-transport activity. Kinetic analysis revealed that the Km value of GLUT3 protein for 3-O-methylglucose uptake was approx. 35% of that of GLUT1 protein, whereas the Km value of GLUT3 protein for 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake was very similar to that of GLUT1 protein. The Vmax. value of GLUT3 protein for 3-O-methylglucose and 2-deoxyglucose uptake was approx. 20-50% of that of GLUT1 protein. GLUT3 protein was well photolabelled with [3H]cytochalasin B or a mannose derivative, 2-N-4-[3H](1-azi-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)benzoyl-1,3-bis-(D-mannos -4-yloxy)-2- propylamine. Thus GLUT3 protein has very similar characteristics to GLUT1 protein including its subcellular localization, but exhibits lower Km and Vmax. values for 3-O-methylglucose uptake.

3-O-Methylglucose

Replacement of intracellular C-terminal domain of GLUT1 glucose transporter with that of GLUT2 increases Vmax and Km of transport activity.

The intracellular C-terminal domain is diverse in size and amino acid sequence among facilitative glucose transporter isoforms. The characteristics of glucose transport are also divergent, and GLUT2 has far higher Km and Vmax values compared with GLUT1. To investigate the role of the intracellular C-terminal domain in glucose transport, we expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells the mutated GLUT1 protein whose intracellular C-terminal domain was replaced with that of GLUT2 by means of engineering the chimeric cDNA. Cytochalasin B, for which GLUT2 protein has much lower affinity, bound to this chimeric protein in a fashion similar to GLUT1. In contrast, greater transport activity was observed in this chimeric glucose transporter compared with the wild-type GLUT1 at 10 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose concentration. The kinetic studies on 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake revealed a 3.8-fold increase in Km and a 4.3-fold increase in Vmax in this chimeric glucose transporter compared with the wild-type GLUT1. Thus, replacement of the intracellular C-terminal domain confers the GLUT2-like property on the glucose transporter. These results strongly suggest that the diversity of intracellular C-terminal domain contributes to the diversity of glucose transport characteristics among isoforms.

Amino Acid Sequence

Expression and possible function of glucose transporter protein GLUT1 during preimplantation mouse development from oocytes to blastocysts.

A micro-Western analysis method both sensitive and quantitative enough to analyze oocytes and embryos is developed. GLUT1 protein is present in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos and levels are increased by fertilization and with time in ensuing embryonic development; the levels were 20-fold greater in blastocysts than in unfertilized oocytes. Similar increases were observed in glucose uptake by oocytes and embryos, suggesting that they may depend on GLUT1 expression. These results suggest that GLUT1 expression may explain a switch in substrate preference of the embryo from pyruvate to glucose during preimplantation development.

Animals

Domains responsible for the differential targeting of glucose transporter isoforms.

Facilitative glucose transporter isoforms, GLUT1 and GLUT4, have different intracellular distributions despite their very similar structure. In insulin-responsive tissues such as adipose tissues and muscle, GLUT4 protein resides mainly in the intracellular region in a basal condition and is translocated to the plasma membrane upon stimulation of insulin. In contrast, GLUT1 protein was distributed about equally between plasma membranes and low density microsomal membranes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, GLUT1 and GLUT4 were reported to be differentially targeted to the plasma membrane and intracellular region, respectively, when expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and HepG2 cells. To elucidate the differential intracellular targeting mechanisms, several chimeric glucose transporters in which portions of GLUT4 are replaced with corresponding portions of GLUT1 have been stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy as well as measurement of glucose transport activity revealed that two domains of GLUT4, which are not the NH2- or COOH-terminal domain, determine its targeting to the intracellular vesicles. The first domain contains the consensus sequence of the leucine zipper structure, suggesting that a dimer-forming structure of the glucose transporter might be required for its proper targeting. The other domain contains 28 amino acids, nine of which are different between GLUT1 and GLUT4. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the chimeric transporters containing both of these two domains of GLUT1, only the first domain of GLUT1, and none of the domains, exhibited a different cellular distribution with approximately 65, 30, and 15% of the transporters apparently on the plasma membrane, respectively. The addition of insulin did not alter the apparent cellular distributions of these chimeric transporters. These domains would be specifically recognized by intracellular targeting mechanisms in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Animals

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) cells of the terminal nerve as a model neuromodulator system.

Modulation of ionic channel properties by neurotransmitters and hormones is called neuromodulation and may be the basis for many long-lasting changes in animal behavior, e.g. changes in the arousal or motivational states. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), originally identified as a hypophysiotropic hormone, is now believed to act also as a neuromodulator. From studies of electrical activities and morphology of terminal nerve cells (major source of GnRH) of a fish brain, a general hypothesis regarding modulator neurons is proposed; modulator neurons have endogenous oscillatory activities which vary according to the animal's hormonal or environmental conditions. These modulator neurons, in turn, regulate neuronal excitabilities in a wide variety of brain regions simultaneously via multiple axonal branches.

Animals

Ultrastructural characterization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-immunoreactive terminal nerve cells in the dwarf gourami.

Recently we have been studying gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) cells of the terminal nerve (TN) in the dwarf gourami, which may serve as a good model system for the study of neuromodulator functions. Here we report on the ultrastructural characterization of TN-GnRH cells using postembedding immunoelectron microscopy. The GnRH immunoreactivities could be demonstrated on dense-cored vesicles (DCVs) in cell bodies, fibers and varicosities. However, we could find no evidence of GnRH-immunoreactive synapses which are characterized by active zones. This may suggest that GnRH is released non-synaptically from DCV-containing fiber varicosities and that it exerts its modulatory action on GnRH receptors located on nearby as well as distant target neurons.

Animals

Deletion of C-terminal 12 amino acids of GLUT1 protein does not abolish the transport activity.

We engineered the GLUT1 cDNA to delete C-terminal 12 amino acids of encoded GLUT1 protein. This mutated GLUT1 protein expressed in CHO cells by transfection of its cDNA was demonstrated to reside on the plasma membrane by cell surface labeling technique, and retain the transport activity, similar to that of the wild-type GLUT1. In addition, metabolic labeling of the intact cells with 35S indicated that the half-life of the mutated GLUT1 was not significantly different from that of the wild-type GLUT1. These results suggest that C-terminal 12 amino acids of GLUT1 are not important for the transport activity and the stability of the protein. Taken together with our previous results on the mutant without C-terminal 37 amino acids, the amino acids between the 37th and the 13th from the C-terminus appear to be essential for the transport activity.

Animals

Glucose binding enhances the papain susceptibility of the intracellular loop of the GLUT1 glucose transporter.

Digestion of human GLUT1 protein in erythrocytes with 5 micrograms/ml papain for 5 min yielded several fragments. By using several site-specific antibodies, two of these fragments containing the intracellular loop domain between M6 and M7 were demonstrated to be further digested by a prolonged incubation with papain. The addition of 0.2 M D-glucose enhanced this digestion between M6 and M7 by approximately 3.5-fold, while the addition of 0.2 M D-sorbitol exhibited no effects. These results strongly suggest that D-glucose binding induces the conformational change of the intracellular loop domain between M6 and M7 of GLUT1 protein. Since the homology of the amino acid sequence was low in this intracellular domain among the five facilitative glucose transporter isoforms, this intracellular loop might contribute to the difference in their Km and Vmax values for glucose uptake.

Erythrocyte Membrane

Two glucose transporter isoforms are sorted differentially and are expressed in distinct cellular compartments.

Rat GLUT4 (adipocyte/muscle-type glucose transporter) was expressed in two fibroblastic cell lines, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and 3T3-L1 fibroblasts, under the control of the methallothionein I promoter. Although immunoblotting with a GLUT4-specific anti-peptide antibody demonstrated that the amount of GLUT4 expressed was comparable with that in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and rat adipose tissues, no increase in 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake was observed in the basal state in fibroblasts. Immunocytochemical studies showed that the expressed GLUT4 appeared to be localized in a specific region in the cytoplasm. These results were in marked contrast to those obtained in CHO cells expressing GLUT1 (HepG2/erythrocyte-type glucose transporter) using the same expression vector. In this case the expressed GLUT1 protein appeared to reside mainly on the plasma membranes, and a significant increase in glucose uptake was observed. Although insulin increased glucose uptake in CHO cells and 3T3-L1 fibroblasts as well as in the cells expressing rat GLUT4, an increment due to insulin above basal values was small, at most 2-fold, and no significant differences were observed in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake between transfected and parental cells. In addition, no apparent differences in the subcellular distribution of expressed GLUT4 were observed between the insulin-stimulated and the basal state. These results indicate that in fibroblastic cell lines GLUT1 and GLUT4 proteins are sorted in a different fashion, and the expression of GLUT4 protein per se is not enough to produce a large insulin-induced increase in glucose transport activity such as that observed in rat adipocytes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Thus unidentified aspects of the cellular environment which are present in the adipocytes but not in fibroblastic cell lines may be required for a large insulin-induced increase in glucose transport activity to be observed.

Adipose Tissue

Protease inhibitors (gebexate mesylate and ulinastatin) stimulate intracellular chemiluminescence in human neutrophils.

The effect of protease inhibitors on the intracellular production of free radicals was investigated by measuring chemiluminescence (CL) elicited from phagocytosed luminol-bound microspheres (Lumispheres) in human neutrophils stimulated with formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), interleukin-8 (IL-8), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or diacylglycerol. Both gabexate mesylate (Foy) and ulinastatin (Miraclid), urinary trypsin inhibitor, increased intracellular CL in a dose dependent manner. Compared to control buffer without protease inhibitor, gabexate mesylate (322 micrograms/ml) caused about a 10-fold increase in intracellular CL in stimulated neutrophils, and ulinastatin (3100 U/ml) a twofold increase in neutrophils stimulated with fMLP or IL-8. When the protease inhibitors were added to the cell suspension after the phagocytosis of lumispheres, CL responses rapidly increased again to the level which was observed when both protease inhibitors and neutrophil stimulants were incubated simultaneously. In contrast, extracellular release of oxygen metabolites from stimulated neutrophils, assayed by a conventional measurement of luminol-dependent CL, was reduced by the protease inhibitors in a dose dependent fashion. When luminol-unbound microspheres were incubated with neutrophils stimulated by fMLP in luminol solution, extracellular CL was almost completely inhibited by gabexate mesylate. These results indicate that the protease inhibitors enhance the generation of intracellular CL and suppress the extracellular release of free radicals.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug

An insulin-like growth factor II-producing histiocytoma associated with hypoglycemia: analysis of the peptide, its gene expression, and glucose transporter isoforms.

An insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II)-producing histiocytoma was detected in a patient presenting with the classical findings of tumor-related hypoglycemia (low serum insulin and IGF-I concentrations, glucose intolerance, and only modestly increased serum IGF-II levels). Acid-gel filtration of serum extracts showed a single peak of IGF-II immunoreactivity that emerged at the same site as the 125I-labeled human IGF-II standard. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the tumor IGF-II demonstrated that it had an identical retention time to that of recombinant human IGF-II. The tumor IGF-II content was extremely high, messenger RNA (mRNA) for IGF-II showed a 100-fold increase in expression compared with normal human liver tissue. Of special interest, a newly identified exon (hE1) was shown to be predominantly expressed in the tumor by Northern blot analysis using leader exon-specific rat IGF-II complementary DNA (cDNA) probes. Although the significance of this finding remains uncertain, this is the first evidence of a new transcription unit in the human IGF-II gene. In addition, immunoblotting showed that the levels of the glucose transporters, GLUT1 and GLUT4, in the tumor were low and undetectable, respectively. This finding makes it unlikely that increased glucose consumption by the tumor accounted for the hypoglycemia in this patient. This case report provides an interesting insight into the pathophysiology of tumor-induced hypoglycemia and new evidence of the abnormal regulation of IGF-II gene expression in human tumors.

Animals

Continuing V gamma 2 to J gamma 2 rearrangements of murine T cell receptor gamma genes in a B-committed immature cell line.

In SPL2-1-2, a murine B-committed immature cell line transformed with a temperature-sensitive mutant of Abelson virus, T cell receptor (TCR) gamma gene rearrangements, together with IgH gene rearrangements, were induced during culture at a non-permissive temperature (39 degrees C). During 11-12 months of culture, TCR gamma gene rearrangements occurred in all cells. In contrast to TCR gamma genes, neither TCR beta or TCR delta were detected even after 11-12 months of culture at a non-permissive temperature. The majority of the TCR gamma gene rearrangements observed here were V gamma 2 to J gamma 2 joinings and the remaining rearrangements were J gamma 1-linked. V gamma 1 to J gamma 4 and V gamma 3 to J gamma 3 joinings were not detected. Approximately 70% of cells with TCR gamma gene rearrangements produced normal-sized transcripts from the rearranged TCR gamma genes. Cloning and sequencing analysis of a cDNA from the transcripts demonstrated that the whole structure of the cDNA was similar to that of T-lineage cells. These results showed that TCR gene rearrangements were restricted to the gamma genes and that V gamma 2 to J gamma 2 joinings occurred preferentially in this B-committed immature cell line. Furthermore, TCR gamma gene rearrangements also occurred in intracytoplasmic mu-chain producing cells. This indicated that the existence of intracytoplasmic mu-chains did not prevent TCR gamma gene rearrangements, although the existence of mu-chains is known to inhibit further productive IgH gene rearrangements, (allelic exclusion). These results should provide many implications for the mechanism of TCR gene rearrangements, especially that of cross-lineage rearrangements.

Animals

Circulating interleukin 6 as a useful marker for predicting postoperative complications.

We examined postoperative serial changes in the levels of serum interleukin 6 (IL-6), serum acute phase reactants (APRs) and plasma neutrophil elastase (NE) in patients with various cancers and reviewed these changes in patients who did, and did not, show postoperative complications. Serum IL-6 level was elevated after surgery, peaking on the first postoperative day. Elevation of serum APRs and plasma NE levels also followed. There was a significant correlation between the serum peak level of IL-6 and those of APRs and NE (P less than 0.01). Moreover, there was a significant difference in the serum IL-6 level in patients with and without complications. The relationship between the serum IL-6 greater than 400 pg/ml and the incidence of postoperative complications was also marked. These results suggest that circulating IL-6 is a clinically useful marker for the earliest detection and prediction of postoperative complications.

Adult

Expression of glucose transporter isoforms with aging.

To elucidate the cellular mechanisms for impairment of glucose metabolism associated with aging, the facilitative glucose transporter protein and mRNA were studied in various tissues of young (7-week-old) and aged (20-month-old) rats. GLUT4 glucose transporter protein, a major glucose transporter isoform in the insulin-responsive tissues, was selectively decreased in the epididymal fat tissues of the aged rats compared with the young rats. This decrease is likely to be due to a decrease in protein synthesis rather than in protein stability, since GLUT4 mRNA per unit cellular total RNA was also decreased. GLUT4 mRNA in the skeletal muscle was rather increased in spite of the decreased level of GLUT4 protein in the aged rats, suggesting that the translational efficiency and/or stability of GLUT4 protein is decreased in the skeletal muscle of the aged rats compared with the young rats. In contrast to these alterations in GLUT4 expression, no apparent decrease in the GLUT1 protein amount was observed in the fat tissues, skeletal muscle and brain of the aged rats compared with the young rats. Thus, the tissue and isoform-specific alterations in glucose transporter expression are associated with aging and may contribute to impairment of glucose metabolism observed with aging.

Adipose Tissue

Efficacy of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

Cardiogenic shock still remains a highly lethal complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study reviews our hospital experience in treating AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock to evaluate whether coronary angioplasty improves survival or not. We have treated 523 AMI patients from 1985 to 1990, and among these, 26 patients with AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock who underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) compose the study group. In 16 patients, PTCA was successful (Groups S) and in 10 patients, unsuccessful (Group F). There were no statistical differences between the Groups with respect to clinical background, intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) or emergency coronary bypass graft surgery. Before PTCA, hemodynamic variables including cardiac index, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systolic blood pressure were similar in the 2 groups. After PTCA, cardiac index in Group S patients was better than in Group F patients (2.18 +/- 0.61 versus 1.62 +/- 0.65, p less than 0.05). Thirty day and 1 year survivals were also better in Group S than in Group F (30 day survival: Group S 56.2%, Group F 10%, 1 year survival: Group S 31.2%, Group F 0%, p less than 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that age under 75 years old, systolic blood pressure over 90 mmHg after PTCA and successful PTCA were independent predictors of 30 day survival (p less than 0.05). It was suggested that PTCA was an effective procedure to reduce mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Adult

Upregulation of GLUT2 mRNA by glucose, mannose, and fructose in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Previously, demonstrated that GLUT2 mRNA and protein are increased in liver of streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. To examine the mechanisms whereby GLUT2 mRNA is regulated, we cultured isolated hepatocytes in the absence and presence of various concentrations of glucose. Culture of hepatocytes in high glucose concentration (27.8 mM) for 20 h induced a 3.2-fold increase in GLUT2 mRNA levels compared with hepatocytes cultured without D-glucose. Interestingly, D-mannose and D-fructose could substitute for D-glucose to elevate the GLUT2 mRNA level, whereas 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, and sucrose, which were not metabolized or taken up by the cells, were without effect. Insulin had no significant effect on GLUT2 mRNA levels in hepatocytes in the presence or absence of D-glucose. Therefore, the regulation of the GLUT2 gene by D-glucose in hepatocytes is contrary to that reported for GLUT1 and GLUT4 genes, which are downregulated by D-glucose. These results also suggest that the elevated GLUT2 mRNA level observed in diabetic rat liver is due to the high blood glucose concentration rather than to insulin deficiency.

3-O-Methylglucose