Significance of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) on pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by hypoxia and hypercapnia.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
Y Oyamada
Publications and source records attributed to Y Oyamada.
Alterations in the DNA topoisomerase IV grlA gene responsible for quinolone resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.
A 4.2-kb DNA fragment conferring quinolone resistance was cloned from a quinolone-resistant clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus and was shown to possess a part of the grlB gene and a mutated grlA gene. S-80-->F and E-84-->K mutations in the grlA gene product were responsible for the quinolone resistance. The mutated grlA genes responsible for quinolone resistance were dominant over the wild-type allele, irrespective of gene dosage in a transformation experiment with the grlA gene alone. However, dominance by mutated grlA genes depended on gene dosage when bacteria were transformed with the grlA and grlB genes in combination. Quinolone-resistant gyrA mutants were easily isolated from a strain, S. aureus RN4220, carrying a plasmid with the mutated grlA gene, though this was not the case for other S. aureus strains lacking the plasmid. The elimination of this plasmid from such quinolone-resistant gyrA mutants resulted in marked increases in quinolone susceptibility. These results suggest that both DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV may be targets of quinolones and that the quinolone susceptibility of organisms may be determined by which of these enzymes is most quinolone sensitive.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Endothelial modulation of pH-dependent pressor response in isolated perfused rabbit lungs.
With the use of isolated perfused rabbit lungs (n = 152), roles of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in pulmonary vascular responses to hypocapnia and hypercapnia were studied. Lungs were ventilated with a gas mixture containing 1, 5, or 10% CO2 and 21% O2, adjusting the perfusate pH to 7.8, 7.4, or 7.1, respectively. Methemoglobin (MetHb), hemoglobin (Hb), methylene blue (MB), and L-argininosuccinic acid (L-ASA) were used as modulators of EDRF. To eliminate augmented shear stress, we used papaverine during hypercapnia. As a measure of EDRF, we spectrophotometrically examined nitric oxide (NO) metabolites in the perfusate. Hypocapnia and hypercapnia evoked, respectively, unsustainable vasodilatation and vasoconstriction. Hb, MB, and L-ASA, but not MetHb, produced an increase in baseline pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa). These agents also exacerbated vasoconstriction during hypercapnia. Hypercapnia and hypocapnia caused an increase and decrease, respectively, in EDRF production. L-ASA suppressed EDRF production in hypercapnic lungs. Papaverine did not suppress EDRF production under hypercapnia. In conclusion, 1) the effects of pH on pulmonary circulation are transient, 2) the increase in Ppa caused by hypercapnia is modulated by EDRF, and 3) the pulmonary EDRF genesis is activated by hypercapnic acidosis but suppressed by hypocapnic alkalosis.
Animals↗
Modulation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by antioxidant enzymes in red blood cells.
To determine whether antioxidant mechanisms within red blood cells (RBCs) significantly contribute to preserving hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in both the absence and the presence of oxidative stress, we investigated HPV changes in isolated rabbit lungs perfused with solutions containing RBCs treated with various inhibitors of superoxide dismutase (SOD), anion channels, catalase (CAT), or glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Perfusion was maintained at a constant flow rate of 70 ml/min, and lung temperature at 37 to 38 degrees C. Hematocrit was adjusted to 7%. In the absence of overt oxidative stress, HPV was significantly enhanced in the perfusate containing control RBCs (untreated RBCs) as compared with that in Krebs-Henseleit buffer. Inhibition of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px within RBCs, as well as anion channels located on the RBC membrane, had little influence on HPV. Neither exogenous SOD nor CAT altered HPV. In the presence of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated by addition of xanthine (100 microM) and xanthine oxidase (10 mU/ml) to the reservoir, HPV was considerably suppressed in the perfusate containing only buffer but was restored in the perfusate with control RBCs. Inhibition of CAT or GSH-Px in RBCs preserved the HPV, whereas inhibition of SOD or anion channels failed to preserve HPV obtained during exposure to high ROS levels. Addition of exogenous SOD, but not CAT, to the perfusate containing RBCs in which endogenous SOD had been inhibited restored HPV under high ROS conditions. In conclusion, (1) although RBCs augment HPV in the absence of ROS, this finding is not attributable to the antioxidants in RBCs. (2) RBCs restore HPV upon exposure to high ROS. This finding may well be explained by antioxidant mechanisms operating within RBCs, especially those of endogenous SOD.
Animals↗
Modulation of ICAM-1 expression by extracellular glutathione in hyperoxia-exposed human pulmonary artery endothelial cells.
To investigate the mechanisms regulating hyperoxia-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression, we studied the effects of antioxidants on ICAM-1 expression, and the relationship between ICAM-1 expression and extracellular glutathione levels in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Cells were cultured to confluence and exposed to hyperoxia (90% O2) for 48 h with or without various antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and glutathione. The levels of ICAM-1 expression in the endothelial cells and the concentrations of reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in the media were examined by flow cytometry and spectrophotometry, respectively. After exposure to hyperoxia, ICAM-1 expression was increased, and the supernatant total glutathione was decreased as compared with those at normoxia. SOD did not change ICAM-1 expression. The hyperoxia-induced increase in ICAM-1 expression was even greater with the addition of catalase. The ICAM-1 expression was decreased and the GSH concentration was increased with the addition of NAC. There were negative relationships between the level of ICAM-1 expression and the supernatant total glutathione concentration in catalase-treated HPAEC (R = 0.822, P < 0.0005) and HUVEC (R = 0.567, P < 0.01). Negative relationships were also demonstrated between the level of ICAM-1 expression and the total extracellular glutathione concentrations in NAC-treated HPAEC (R = 0.877, P < 0.0005) and HUVEC (R = 0.727, P < 0.0005). Exogenous GSH decreased ICAM-1 expression in both hyperoxia-exposed HPAEC and HUVEC, while exogenous GSSG did not. These results suggest that extracellular GSH plays a role in regulating hyperoxia-induced ICAM-1 expression in HPAEC and HUVEC.
Acetylcysteine↗
Reversible inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication, synchronous contraction, and synchronism of intracellular Ca2+ fluctuation in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes by heptanol.
We analyzed by Fotonic Sensor, a fiber-optic displacement measurement instrument, the effects of heptanol on synchronized contraction of primary neonatal rat cardiac myocytes cultured at confluent density. We also examined the effect of heptanol on the changes in gap junctional intercellular communication by using the microinjection dye transfer method, and on intercellular Ca2+ fluctuation by confocal laser scanning microscopy of myocytes loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fluo 3. In addition, we studied expression, phosphorylation, and localization of the major cardiac gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) using immunofluorescence and Western blotting. At Day 6 of culture, numerous myocytes exhibited spontaneous, synchronous contractions, excellent dye coupling, and synchronized intracellular Ca2+ fluctuations. We treated the cells with 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mmol/liter heptanol. With 1.5 mmol/liter heptanol, we could not observe significant effects on spontaneous contraction of myocytes. At 3.0 mmol/liter, the highest concentration used in the current experiment, heptanol inhibited synchronous contractions and even after washing out of heptanol, synchronous contraction was not rapidly recovered. On the other hand, at the intermediate concentrations of 2.0 and 2.5 mmol/liter, heptanol reversely inhibited synchronized contraction, gap junctional intercellular communication, and synchronization of intracellular Ca2+ fluctuations in the myocytes without preventing contraction and changes of intracellular Ca2+ in individual cells. Brief exposure (5-20 min) to heptanol (2.0 mmol/liter) did not cause detectable changes in the expression, phosphorylation, or localization of Cx43, despite strong inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication. These results suggest that gap junctional intercellular communication plays an important role in synchronous intracellular Ca2+ fluctuations, which facilitate synchronized contraction of cardiac myocytes.
Alcohols↗
Aberrant expression of gap junction proteins (connexins) is associated with tumor progression during multistage mouse skin carcinogenesis in vivo.
To elucidate what changes in the expression of gap junction proteins (connexins) occur at what stages during multistage mouse skin carcinogenesis in vivo, we immunohistochemically and morphometrically analyzed the expression of connexin 26 (Cx26) and connexin 43 (Cx43) in papillomas, well-, moderately- and poorly-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, as well as in squamous cell carcinomas at invasion sites and those metastasized into lymph nodes in female CD-1 mice as a result of treatment with dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. In papillomas, no clear reduction of the two connexins was observed; however, Cx26 and Cx43 were frequently co-localized in the same gap junction plaques, whereas the two kinds of Cxs were differentially expressed in normal and surrounding non-tumorous epidermis. In squamous cell carcinomas, the expression of both Cx26 and Cx43 significantly decreased compared with surrounding non-tumorous epidermis and papillomas. The Western blot analysis confirmed that both Cx26 and Cx43 proteins were reduced in squamous cell carcinomas compared with papillomas. Furthermore, the expression of Cx26 was reduced as cancer cells became morphologically less differentiated, while that of Cx43 did not change. Squamous cell carcinomas at invasive sites showed clear reduction of Cx26 and Cx43. In squamous cell carcinomas metastasized into lymph nodes, Cx26 was expressed, but few carcinoma cells expressed Cx43. The localization of E-cadherin on the plasma membrane between cancer cells was maintained even at invasive and metastatic sites. Our data suggest that quantitative and qualitative changes in connexin expression are associated with tumor progression, including the loss of differentiation, and invasion and metastasis, during multistage mouse skin carcinogenesis.
Animals↗
BCG priming enhances endotoxin-induced acute lung injury independent of neutrophils.
Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) is known to increase susceptibility to endotoxin in some animal species. We investigated the effect of BCG-priming and the role of neutrophils in the priming process on the pathogenesis of acute lung injury caused by intravenously administered Escherichia coli endotoxin (LPS). Guinea pigs were divided into seven groups: (1) control (n = 8), (2) BCG-alone (n = 6), (3) cyclophosphamide (CPA)-alone (n = 6), (4) CPA+LPS (n = 6), (5) LPS-alone (n = 6), (6) BCG+LPS (n = 6), and (7) BCG+CPA+LPS (n = 6). A BCG dose of 8 mg/kg was injected subcutaneously 10 d before the study. CPA was administered intraperitoneally to induce peripheral neutropenia. Animals were observed for 4 h after intravenous administration of 0.2 mg/kg of LPS. The plasma TNF level was measured 2 h after LPS challenge. Lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, [125I] albumin leakage in lung tissue, differential cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and histopathologic features were examined immediately after death. Although the LPS-alone group showed PMN accumulation in lung tissue, neither excess lung water nor increased albumin leakage was induced by this dose of LPS. The BCG+LPS group showed increased lung water, histopathologic edema, and increases in BAL fluid cell counts and plasma TNF in comparison with the LPS-alone group. The BCG+CPA+LPS group also showed enhanced lung injury comparable to that seen in the BCG+LPS group. In both the CPA-alone and the CPA+LPS groups, no parameter was increased as compared with those in the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Animals↗
Analysis of quinolone resistance genes in a clinical isolate of quinolone-resistant MRSA.
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4-Quinolones↗
[A case of tropical eosinophilia associated with pleural effusion].
A 52-year-old man was admitted to Keio University Hospital for determination of the etiology of a bilateral pleural effusion associated with marked eosinophilia (10200 cells/mm3). He had been in Vietnam for three years and had returned to Japan in May 1993. He was suffering from tropical eosinophilia, as clearly indicated by eosinophilia, elevation of serum IgE level (708 IU/ml), the presence of anti-dirofilarial antibodies, and the absence of microfilaria in the blood. The pleural effusion was an exudate and 51% of the cells in the effusion were eosinophils. In the effusion, no parasites were detected but anti-dirofilarial antibodies were found (the titer was as high as that in the serum). Diethylcarbamazine was given, and a steroid had to be superimposed because of wheezing. These treatments successfully reduced the bronchoconstriction, eosinophilia and accumulation of pleural effusion. Tropical eosinophilia has generally been thought not to be associated with pleural effusion. This is only the third case report of tropical eosinophilia with authentic pleural effusion.
Administration, Oral↗
[Case of Guillain-Barre syndrome manifesting cerebral-infarction like symptom in lower left pons].
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Aged↗
Isolation of OprM-deficient mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by transposon insertion mutagenesis: evidence of involvement in multiple antibiotic resistance.
Overproduction of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane protein OprM was observed in the nalidixix acid (NalB-type) multidrug-resistant strains. To clarify the involvement of OprM in the resistance, transposon mutants were isolated from strain PAO4141 and its OprM-overexpressed mutant KG2113 and were screened for OprM production by immunoblot assays using murine polyclonal antiserum resulting from immunization with purified OprM. Two OprM-deficient mutants from PAO4141 and one from KG2113 were identified. Determination of the susceptibilities of these mutants to antimicrobial agents demonstrated that OprM was involved not only in the acquired resistance, but also in the intrinsic resistance of P. aeruginosa to quinolones, cephems, penicillins, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol.
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗
The expression, phosphorylation, and localization of connexin 43 and gap-junctional intercellular communication during the establishment of a synchronized contraction of cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.
We analyzed the expression, phosphorylation, and localization of the major cardiac gap-junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) during the establishment of a synchronized contraction in confluent monolayers of primary cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes, combined with a functional assay of gap junctions by the microinjection-dye transfer method. Monitoring of the beating rate and synchronization by Fotonic Sensor showed that at Day 1 of culture cardiac myocytes contracted spontaneously but irregularly, that the contractile rate increased with culture time, and that a synchronized contraction was gradually formed. At Day 7, the confluent cells exhibited synchronous contraction with a relatively constant rate (125 +/- 20 beats/min). Cardiac myocytes expressed a large amount of Cx43 mRNA even at Day 1 and maintained the expression until at least Day 7. Immunofluorescence of Cx43 showed that the localization of Cx43-positive spots was mostly restricted to cell-cell contacts between myocytes and that few Cx43-positive spots were present between myocytes and fibroblasts or between fibroblasts. The amount of Cx43 protein, the proportion of phosphorylated forms to the nonphosphorylated one, and the number and total area of Cx43-positive spots increased with culture time. Gap-junctional intercellular communication measured by dye transfer assay was also increased with culture time and correlated well with the number and total area of Cx43-positive spots. Our systematic study suggests that a concerted action of the expression, phosphorylation, and localization of Cx43 and gap-junctional intercellular communication plays a major role in the reestablishment of synchronous beating of cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.
Animals↗
Aberrant expression, function and localization of connexins in human esophageal carcinoma cell lines with different degrees of tumorigenicity.
We have analyzed the level of mRNA expression and protein localization of the gap-junction protein connexins (Cx) 26, 32, and 43, as well as gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in seven human esophageal carcinoma cell lines (TE series). These cell lines exhibited various degrees of tumorigenicity in nude mice; two (TE-1 and TE-8) formed progressively growing tumors, four (TE-2, TE-3, TE-9, and TE-13) developed non-progressing tumors and one (TE-10) showed no tumorigenicity. We found that normal human esophageal tissue expressed both Cx26 and Cx43 and that most of the cell lines expressed lower amounts of Cx26 and Cx43 mRNAs than normal human esophageal tissues or none at all. The co-expression of Cx26 and Cx43 mRNAs and proteins was observed only in two cell lines (TE-3 and TE-9) that showed a high level of GJIC and non-progressive tumor development. However, the non-tumorigenic cell line TE-10 did not express either connexin. A possible regulator of GJIC, E-cadherin, was expressed in all cell lines. These results suggest that aberrant expression and function of connexins are common among human esophageal carcinoma cell lines, but there is no quantitative relationship between connexin expression and tumorigenic properties of these cell lines.
Animals↗
Ventilation-perfusion inequality and diffusion impairment in acutely injured lungs.
To assess the significant role of diffusion impairment and its unequal distribution in acutely injured lungs with alveolar flooding, oleic acid was intravenously injected into twenty-five mongrel dogs. The animals were divided into two groups, A and B. 0.1% CO in air was delivered, as an inspired gas, to the animals of group A. Simultaneously, saline containing a trace amount of six foreign inert gases was infused through a peripheral vein. While allowing the animals in group B to breathe air, saline containing ethylene, acetylene and freon 22 was infused. After injection of oleic acid, group A revealed increase in intrapulmonary shunt accompanied by a marked broadening of ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) and diffusing capacity-perfusion (G/Q) distributions. A considerable amount of total cardiac output was received by the lung areas with low G/Q ratios where significant diffusion limitation was predicted to occur. Group B showed that excretion of freon 22 (gas with lower diffusivity) in injured lungs was considerably distorted as compared to those of ethylene and acetylene (gases with higher diffusivities), again ascertaining the importance of diffusion limitation in lungs with exudate in alveolar regions.
Animals↗
[High oxygen breathing improves inhomogeneities of ventilation-perfusion distributions in acutely injured lungs].
Using twenty-five mongrel dogs either with or without alveolar flooding induced by oleic acid administration, the effects of high oxygen breathing (60% O2) on ventilation--perfusion (VA/Q) distributions in the lungs were systematically investigated. VA/Q distributions were examined by multiple inert gas elimination technique, from which the VA/Q values describing mean positions of perfusion (Q) and ventilation (VA) distributions against the VA/Q axis were calculated (mean Q and mean VA). As the first measure of dispersion for VA/Q distribution, the log standard deviation was estimated (log SD (Q) and logSD (VA)). As the second measure of dispersion, the area under the curve, constructed by plotting inert gas arterial-to-alveolar partial pressure differences as a function of blood-gas partition coefficient, was calculated (aAD area). High oxygen breathing slightly enhanced the dispersion of VA/Q distributions in the normal dogs but decreased that in the dogs injured with oleic acid. Therefore, we concluded that high oxygen breathing worsened the inhomogenieties of VA/Q distributions in normal lungs but did improve those in acutely injured lungs.
Acute Disease↗
[Effects of vasoactive cyclooxygenase products on shunt flow and extravascular lung water in acute lung injuries].
Using 50 mongrel dogs with alveolar flooding produced by oleic acid administration, the possible roles of vasoactive cyclooxygenase products on intrapulmonary shunt flow (QS/QT) and extravascular lung water (ETVI) in acutely injured lungs were assessed. Suppressing cyclooxygenase activity with indomethacin administration diminished the concentrations of thromboxane (TX) B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) in arterial blood, resulting in a significant reduction in QS/QT. Furthermore, indomethacin completely suppressed the increase in ETVI. Inhibition of TXA2 generation by OKY-046 (thromboxane A2 synthase blocker) diminished the concentration of TXB2 while increasing that of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in blood. Administration of either OKY-046 or synthetic prostacyclin (PGI2) markedly enhanced QS/QT, in association with an increase in ETVI. In conclusion, the potent vasodilator prostacyclin was considered to enhance shunt flow, leading to the augmentation of edema formation.
Acute Disease↗
Expression of gap junction proteins connexin 26 and 43 is modulated during differentiation of keratinocytes in newborn mouse epidermis.
We examined the expression of the gap junction proteins connexin 26 (Cx26), 32 (Cx32), and 43 (Cx43) in keratinocytes of newborn mouse epidermis to elucidate which connexins are expressed in keratinocytes in intact skin of newborn mice, and whether the expression of connexins is modulated during terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. Immunofluorescent staining using antibodies against Cx26, Cx32, and Cx43 combined with type-specific anti-keratin immunohistochemistry showed that Cx26 was expressed in keratinocytes in the granular layer and in the upper part of the squamous layer, whereas Cx43 was localized in keratinocytes in the basal layer and in the lower part of the squamous layer. No specific staining of Cx32 was found in mouse epidermis. Double staining of Cx26 and Cx43 revealed that some keratinocytes in the squamous layer expressed both connexins, but that in most cases localization of the two kinds of connexins was different, i.e., Cx26 was localized on the upper surface, whereas Cx43 was present on the lower surface of the plasma membrane of keratinocytes. Northern and Western blot analyses confirmed that Cx26 and Cx43, but not Cx32, were expressed at mRNA and protein levels in newborn mouse skin. These results suggest that the modulation of connexin expression from Cx43 to Cx26 takes place during terminal differentiation of keratinocytes in mouse epidermis.
Animals↗