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Biomedical subjects

Y Takada

Publications and source records attributed to Y Takada.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Three novel integrin beta3 subunit missense mutations (H280P, C560F, and G579S) in thrombasthenia, including one (H280P) prevalent in Japanese patients.

We analyzed three unrelated Japanese patients with type II Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) for associated mutations. Polymerase chain reaction and subsequent direct sequencing of platelet RNA and genomic DNA revealed three single nucleotide substitutions of the integrin beta3 subunit gene (His (CAT)-280 to Pro (CCT), Cys (TGT)-560 to Phe (TTT), and Gly(GGC)-579 to Ser(AGC)). Interestingly, the three unrelated patients all had the H280P mutation; one was homozygous and the other two heterozygous for this mutation. Ectopic expression of wild type and mutant complexes in Chinese hamster ovary cells revealed decreased surface expression of the mutated alphaIIbbeta3 complexes, thus demonstrating that these mutations may result in the mild GT phenotypes. The identification of three unrelated patients having the same mutation (H280P) suggests that this mutation might be prevalent in the Japanese thrombasthenic population.

Aged↗

Non-equivalent cooperation between the two nucleotide-binding folds of P-glycoprotein.

To identify the roles of the two nucleotide-binding folds (NBFs) in the function of human P-glycoprotein, a multidrug transporter, we mutated the key lysine residues to methionines and the cysteine residues to alanines in the Walker A (WA) motifs (the core consensus sequence) in the NBFs. We examined the effects of these mutations on N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and ATP binding, as well as on the vanadate-induced nucleotide trapping with 8-azido-[alpha-32P]ATP. Mutation of the WA lysine or NEM binding cysteine in either of the NBFs blocked vanadate-induced nucleotide trapping of P-glycoprotein. These results suggest that if one NBF is non-functional, there is no ATP hydrolysis even if the other functional NBF contains a bound nucleotide, further indicating the strong cooperation between the two NBFs of P-glycoprotein. However, we found that the effect of NEM modification at one NBF on ATP binding at the other NBF was not equivalent, suggesting a non-equivalency of the role of the two NBFs in P-glycoprotein function.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Regulation of integrin function: evidence that bivalent-cation-induced conformational changes lead to the unmasking of ligand-binding sites within integrin alpha5 beta1.

The molecular mechanisms that regulate integrin-ligand binding are unknown; however, bivalent cations are essential for integrin activity. According to recent models of integrin tertiary structure, sites involved in ligand recognition are located on the upper face of the seven-bladed beta-propeller formed by the N-terminal repeats of the alpha subunit and on the von Willebrand factor A-domain-like region of the beta subunit. The epitopes of function-altering monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) cluster in these regions of the alpha and beta subunits; hence these mAbs can be used as probes to detect changes in the exposure or shape of the ligand-binding sites. Bivalent cations were found to alter the apparent affinity of binding of the inhibitory anti-alpha5 mAbs JBS5 and 16, the inhibitory anti-beta1 mAb 13, and the stimulatory anti-beta1 mAb 12G10 to alpha5 beta1. Analysis of the binding of these mAbs to alpha5beta1 over a range of Mn2+, Mg2+ or Ca2+ concentrations demonstrated that there was a concordance between the ability of cations to elicit conformational changes and the ligand-binding potential of alpha5 beta1. Competitive ELISA experiments provided evidence that the domains of the alpha5 and beta1 subunits recognized by mAbs JBS5/16 and 13/12G10 are spatially close, and that the distance between these two domains is increased when alpha5 beta1 is occupied by bivalent cations. Taken together, our findings suggest that bivalent cations induce a conformational relaxation in the integrin that results in exposure of ligand-binding sites, and that these sites lie near an interface between the alpha subunit beta-propeller and the beta subunit putative A-domain.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Detection of bathsalts in the lungs of a baby drowned in a bathtub: a case report.

This case is one in which a baby was found dead, apparently drowned in a bathtub. To confirm the inhalation of bathwater, an extract taken from the baby's lungs was analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography. Bathsalts contained in the bathwater were detected in the extract. Bathsalts are usually used in home bathtubs and, as a dye material, they contain fluorescein which is highly sensitive to detection. The presence of fluorescein in the lung tissue and in the other tissues greatly helps to confirm the bathwater drowning.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Proteolysis of highly polysialylated NCAM by the tissue plasminogen activator-plasmin system in rats.

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), a serine protease which converts the zymogen plasminogen to the active protease plasmin, is believed to regulate neurite extension and neural cell migration by modulating extracellular metabolism. The highly polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM-H) is strongly expressed in the developing brain and is believed to play a role in organizing the neural network. In this report, we incubated neonatal rat brain homogenates with human tPA and rat plasminogen in order to determine whether NCAM-H would be degraded. NCAM-H was degraded by plasmin which was formed from rat plasminogen by human tPA. The degradation was inhibited by the addition of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) or aprotinin. These results suggest a possible contribution of the tPA-plasmin system to NCAM-H turnover in the developing brain.

Aging↗

Specific interaction of the recombinant disintegrin-like domain of MDC-15 (metargidin, ADAM-15) with integrin alphavbeta3.

MDC-15 (ADAM-15, metargidin), a membrane-anchored metalloprotease/disintegrin/cysteine-rich protein, is expressed on the surface of a wide range of cells and has an RGD tripeptide in its disintegrin-like domain. MDC-15 is potentially involved in cell-cell interactions through its interaction with integrins. We expressed a recombinant MDC-15 disintegrin-like domain as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (designated D-15) in bacteria and examined its binding function to integrins using mammalian cells expressing different recombinant integrins. We found that D-15 specifically interacts with alphavbeta3 but not with the other integrins tested (alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, alpha4beta1, alpha5beta1, alpha6beta1, alpha6beta4, alphavbeta1, alphaIIbbeta3, and alphaLbeta2). Mutation of the tripeptide RGD to SGA totally blocked binding of D-15 to alphavbeta3, suggesting that D-15-alphavbeta3 interaction is RGD-dependent. When the sequence RPTRGD is mutated to NWKRGD, D-15 is recognized by both alphaIIbbeta3 and alphavbeta3, suggesting that the receptor binding specificity is mediated by the sequence flanking the RGD tripeptide, as in snake venom disintegrins. These results indicate that the disintegrin-like domain of MDC-15 functions as an adhesion molecule and may be involved n alphavbeta3-mediated cell-cell interactions.

ADAM Proteins↗

Effects of electric footshock and water immersion restraint stresses on fibrinolytic parameters in the plasma of rats.

Wistar rats were exposed to electric footshock (ES) or water immersion restraint stress (WS). Blood was taken immediately after, 24, or 48 hours after the stress. The stomachs of rats taken 1 hour after stress application indicate that there were many bleeding spots in the stomachs of WS rats, but practically no visible bleeding spots in the stomachs of ES rats. Plasma levels of t-PA antigens increased in ES rats up to 24 hours after the stress, but the t-PA antigen levels decreased up to 48 hours in ES rats. There were no changes in t-PA activities in plasma of WS rats, but the levels in ES rats decreased immediately and 48 hours after the stress. PAI activity did not change immediately after WS but increased 24 hours after the stress. There was no change in PAI activity in ES rats up to 48 hours. ELT did not change in ES rats, but prolonged in WS rats at 24 hours after the stress. There were significant negative correlations between t-PA antigen levels or activities and ELT in control rats. No correlation was observed in ES or WS rats between t-PA antigen levels and ELT, and no correlation was shown in WS rats between t-PA activities and ELT. Plasma levels of catecholamines increased at the 20-minute period during ES, which may not explain the delayed effects of ES on hemostatic balance. Plasma levels of arginine vasopressin increased significantly immediately after the shock up to 2 hours, indicating that the stress was conveyed to the hypothalamus during the stress application. These results may indicate that some stressors induce an increase or decrease in the local balance of fibrinolytic activities, resulting in bleeding or thrombosis in the local vessels. Such changes may not be detected in the general circulation due to the neutralization of locally induced fibrinolytic changes or the involvement of other hepatically originated hemostatic factors induced by stressors.

Animals↗

Progressive expansion of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage by coagulopathy.

To test the hypothesis that an impaired coagulation system facilitates rapid expansion of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH), coagulation markers were assayed in plasma and their relations to both the hemorrhage size and its progressive expansion were analyzed. Ninety patients with HICH were studied. On admission, plasma samples were taken for the coagulation assay. Hematoma volume was calculated from a computed tomography (CT) scan and its enlargement was estimated by comparison to the volume of the hematoma calculated from a second CT scan taken later within 24 hr. Nine out of 90 patients showed enlargement in their hematoma size (enlarged hematoma group). Four of the enlarged hematoma group fell into acute fatal deterioration and died. Plasma levels of both fibrino peptide A (17.2+/-7.8 vs. 4.0+/-0.6 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and thrombin-antithrombin complex (21.9+/-3.1 vs. 7.4+/-2.8 ng/ml, not significant) were higher in the unchanged group than those in the enlarged hematoma group. In the hematoma-enlarged group fibrino-peptide A level did not exceed 10 ng/ml. In the hematoma unchanged group thrombin-AT-III complex values were positively correlated to hematoma volume. Thus, the coagulation system seemed to be highly activated depending on the hemorrhage volume within three hr after ictus in hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage patients. When thrombin generation was not sufficient after bleeding, the hematoma seemed to be progressively enlarged. In conclusion, plasma levels of the coagulation markers on admission could be useful predictors of the possible enlargement of hematoma which leads to a poor outcome.

Aged↗

Nicotine increases stress-induced serotonin release by stimulating nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in rat striatum.

We used a microdialysis technique to analyze the effects of footshock stress on the release of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine: 5-HT) in the striatum or prefrontal cortex (PFC) in rats that were pretreated with nicotine. Neither nicotine administration alone nor stress application alone changed 5-HT release. During stress application, however, both chronic nicotine administration and local infusion of nicotine to the striatum significantly increased 5-HT release in the striatum, though not in the PFC. These increases in 5-HT release were eradicated by a local infusion of mecamylamine. Release of 5-HT increased in the striatum during stress application when nicotine was injected to the striatum, while nicotinic injection to the dorsal raphe nucleus did not increase 5-HT release in the striatum. The present study demonstrates that nicotine induced a release of 5-HT upon stress application by stimulating presynaptic nicotinic receptors in the striatum.

Animals↗

Activity of gemcitabine in non-small-cell lung cancer: results of the Japan gemcitabine group (A) phase II study.

PURPOSE: This phase II study was conducted to determine the response and toxicity of gemcitabine (2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine) in chemotherapy-naive patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A group of 73 patients were entered into the study. The patients had received no previous chemotherapy and all had measurable disease. The initial starting dose of gemcitabine was 1000 mg/m2 per week x 3 followed by a week of rest, and was escalated for the next cycle to 1250 mg/m2, provided there were no signs of hematologic toxicity (WBC < 3000/microl and/or platelets < 70,000/microl) in the previous cycle. RESULTS: Among 73 eligible patients, there were 19 partial responses (PRs), with an overall response rate of 26.0% (95% confidence interval 16.5-37.6%). The response rate for stage IIIa and IIIb disease was significantly higher than that for stage IV disease [41.4% (12/29) vs 15.9% (7/44); P = 0.028]. The median duration of response in patients showing a PR was 4.6 months (1.7 10.4 months). The median number of cycles given was two per patient (range one to seven). Grade 3 anemia, leukopenia and neutropenia occurred in 15 patients (20.5%), 7 patients (9.6%) and 20 patients (27.4%), respectively. Grade 3 thrombocytopenia occurred in one patient (1.4%) which was not associated with any bleeding. There was no evidence of cumulative toxicity in the later courses of gemcitabine treatment with regard to leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Other toxicities, including hepatic toxicity, fatigue, nausea/vomiting and fever were mild (grade 2 or less) and transient. One patient was withdrawn from the trial because of a rash. Pulmonary toxicity was experienced in two patients and one patient died of respiratory insufficiency which was thought to be drug-related. CONCLUSIONS: Gemcitabine as a single agent has proven to be an active drug for NSCLC with a favorable, generally mild side-effect profile. Further trials in combination with other agents for this disease are currently underway.

Adult↗

Remnant-like particle cholesterol is a major risk factor for myocardial infarction in vasospastic angina with nearly normal coronary artery.

We investigated the association of remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C), with vasospastic angina (VSA). We selected 66 subjects with nearly normal coronary artery as a control group, and 74 VSA with nearly normal coronary artery, of whom 19 had prior myocardial infarction (MI). Coronary risk factors, triglyceride, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins were evaluated using stepwise discriminant analysis, smoking was the only discriminator of the control group from VSA and RLP-C was the only discriminator of VSA with MI from VSA without MI. In comparison between VSA with and without MI, using stepwise logistic regression analysis, the only significant variable was RLP-C, and odds ratio of RLP-C for MI was 1.59. Thus, RLP-C is a major discriminator of VSA with MI and appears to be a major risk factor for MI in VSA.

Adult↗

Extracellular serotonin in the striatum increased after immobilization stress only in the nighttime.

The release of serotonin (5-HT) in the striatum and the motor activity of rats given the immobilization stress were measured using in vivo microdialysis techniques and locomotion counts. Serotonin release in the striatum did not change in the daytime and nighttime, but motor activity in the nighttime was significantly higher than in the daytime. Serotonin release was not significantly increased during immobilization stress in the daytime or nighttime. In the nighttime, however, after the end of stress, 5-HT release was significantly increased from 0.002 ng/dialysate to 0.47 ng/dialysate. The motor activities were also significantly increased after the stress in the nighttime. These results suggest that the effects of immobilization stress on serotonin release in the striatum were different in the daytime and nighttime. In the nighttime, serotonin release in the striatum and the motor activities increased not during but after immobilization stress.

Animals↗