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Biomedical subjects

Y Yazaki

Publications and source records attributed to Y Yazaki.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

Overexpression of catalytic subunit p110alpha of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase increases glucose transport activity with translocation of glucose transporters in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

To elucidate the mechanisms of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase involvement in insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity, the epitope-tagged p110alpha subunit of PI 3-kinase was overexpressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes using an adenovirus-mediated gene transduction system. Overexpression of p110alpha was confirmed by immunoblot using anti-tagged epitope antibody. p110alpha overexpression induced a 2.5-fold increase in PI 3-kinase activity associated with its regulatory subunits in the basal state, an increase exceeding that of the maximally insulin-stimulated control cells, while PI 3-kinase activity associated with phosphotyrosyl protein was only modestly elevated. Overexpression of p110alpha induced an approximately 14-fold increase in the basal glucose transport rate, which was also greater than that observed in the stimulated control. No apparent difference was observed in the cellular expression level of either GLUT1 or GLUT4 proteins between control and p110alpha-overexpressing 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Subcellular fractionation revealed translocation of glucose transporters from intracellular to plasma membranes in basal p110alpha-overexpressing cells. The translocation of GLUT4 protein to the plasma membrane was further confirmed using a membrane sheet assay. These findings indicate that an increment in PI 3-kinase activity induced by overexpression of p110alpha of PI 3-kinase stimulates glucose transport activity with translocation of glucose transporters, i.e., mimics the effect of insulin.

3T3 Cells↗

A conserved cysteine residue in the runt homology domain of AML1 is required for the DNA binding ability and the transforming activity on fibroblasts.

The AML1 gene encodes DNA-binding proteins that contain the runt homology domain and is found at the breakpoints of t(8;21), t(3;21), and t(12;21) translocations associated with myelogenous leukemias. AML1 heterodimerizes with PEBP2beta/CBFbeta, resulting in the enhanced affinity with DNA. The runt homology domain is responsible for binding with DNA and heterodimerizing with PEBP2beta/CBFbeta. AML1 is suggested to perform a pivotal role in myeloid cell differentiation, whereas it can cause neoplastic transformation when overexpressed in fibroblasts. In this study, we demonstrated that the reducing reagent, dithiothreitol (DTT), markedly enhances the DNA binding of AML1 expressed in COS7 cells. Oxidation by diamide or modification by N-ethylmaleimide of the free sulfhydryl residues inhibited the interaction of AML1 with DNA. The diamide effect was reversible with excess of DTT, whereas DTT could not restore the DNA binding of AML1 treated with N-ethylmaleimide. Site-directed mutagenesis of the amino acid residue 72, a highly conserved cysteine in the runt homology domain of AML1, to serine almost completely abolished DNA binding without altering the interaction with PEBP2beta/CBFbeta. This substitution also impaired transactivation through the consensus DNA sequence and transformation of fibroblasts induced by AML1b. These data indicate an essential role of the conserved cysteine residue in DNA binding of AML1, and it is possible that the redox state of AML1 could contribute to the regulation of its function.

3T3 Cells↗

Suppression of diet-induced atherosclerosis in low density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice overexpressing lipoprotein lipase.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a key enzyme in the hydrolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Conflicting results have been reported concerning its role in atherogenesis. To determine the effects of the overexpressed LPL on diet-induced atherosclerosis, we have generated low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) knockout mice that overexpressed human LPL transgene (LPL/LDLRKO) and compared their plasma lipoproteins and atherosclerosis with those in nonexpressing LDLR-knockout mice (LDLRKO). On a normal chow diet, LPL/LDLRKO mice showed marked suppression of mean plasma triglyceride levels (32 versus 236 mg/dl) and modest decrease in mean cholesterol levels (300 versus 386 mg/dl) as compared with LDLRKO mice. Larger lipoprotein particles of intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL)/LDL were selectively reduced in LPL/LDLRKO mice. On an atherogenic diet, both mice exhibited severe hypercholesterolemia. But, mean plasma cholesterol levels in LPL/ LDLRKO mice were still suppressed as compared with that in LDLRKO mice (1357 versus 2187 mg/dl). Marked reduction in a larger subfraction of IDL/LDL, which conceivably corresponds to remnant lipoproteins, was observed in the LPL/LDLRKO mice. LDLRKO mice developed severe fatty streak lesions in the aortic sinus after feeding with the atherogenic diet for 8 weeks. In contrast, mean lesion area in the LPL/LDLRKO mice was 18-fold smaller than that in LDLRKO mice. We suggest that the altered lipoprotein profile, in particular the reduced level of remnant lipoproteins, is mainly responsible for the protection by LPL against atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

Structurally altered Evi-1 protein generated in the 3q21q26 syndrome.

Overexpression of the Evi-1 gene appears to be a consistent feature of the 3q21q26 syndrome, an association of myeloid leukemias/myelodysplastic syndrome with a specific chromosomal aberration involving both 3q21 and 3q26, such as t(3;3)(q21;q26) or inv(3)(q21q26). The rearrangement in 3q26 has been reported to occur near the Evi-1 locus, implicating that it is the critical gene deregulated in the 3q21q26 syndrome. Here we present a structural abnormality of Evi-1 protein in a case with the 3q21q26 syndrome. In this case carrying typical inv(3)(q21q26), the 3q26 breakpoint is located within an intron of the Evi-1 gene, and resulted in overexpression of normally unexpressed, an aberrant form of Evi-1 protein, in which the C-terminal 44 amino acids of wild-type Evi-1 protein were truncated and replaced by five amino acids. The truncated Evi-1 protein is shown to increase AP1 activity when expressed in NIH3T3 cells as its wild-type counterpart. We also show that the origin of this peculiar type of rearrangement of the Evi-1 gene is not an artifact during establishment of the cell line, but is the event that occurred in the primary leukemic cells. Our results strongly support that the primary target for the 3q21q26 syndrome is the Evi-1 gene, and provide the first evidence that the structurally altered Evi-1 gene may be involved in the 3q21q26 syndrome.

3T3 Cells↗

Construction of a normalized directionally cloned cDNA library from adult heart and analysis of 3040 clones by partial sequencing.

Large-scale sequencing of clones from cDNA libraries derived from specific tissues is a rapid and efficient way of discovering novel genes expressed in those tissues. However, because the heart is continually contracting and relaxing, it strongly expresses muscle-contractile genes and/or mitochondrial genes, a bias that reduces the efficiency of this method. To improve the efficiency of identifying novel genes expressed in the heart, we constructed a normalized directionally cloned cDNA library from adult heart and partially sequenced 3040 clones. Comparisons of these sequence data with known DNA sequences in the database revealed that 57.1% of the clones matched human genes already known, 23.4% were identical or almost identical to human expressed sequence tags (ESTs), 14.2% bore no significant homology to any sequences in the database, and 1.2% represented repetitive sequences. The remaining 4.1% showed some homology with known genes, and Northern blot analysis of several clones in this category revealed that most of them were expressed mainly in the heart and skeletal muscle. After redundancy was excluded, the 3040 clones accounted for 1395 distinctive ESTs, 446 of which exhibited no match to any known sequence. Our results suggest that our normalized library is less redundant than standard libraries and is a useful resource for cataloging genes expressed in the heart.

Adult↗

Inactivation of multiple tumor-suppressor genes involved in negative regulation of the cell cycle, MTS1/p16INK4A/CDKN2, MTS2/p15INK4B, p53, and Rb genes in primary lymphoid malignancies.

It is now evident that the cell cycle machinery has a variety of elements negatively regulating cell cycle progression. However, among these negative regulators in cell cycle control, only 4 have been shown to be consistently involved in the development of human cancers as tumor suppressors: Rb (Retinoblastoma susceptibility protein), p53, and two recently identified cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p16INK4A/MTS1 and p15INK4B/MTS2. Because there are functional interrelations among these negative regulators in the cell cycle machinery, it is particularly interesting to investigate the multiplicity of inactivations of these tumor suppressors in human cancers, including leukemias/lymphomas. To address this point, we examined inactivations of these four genes in primary lymphoid malignancies by Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analyses. We also analyzed Rb protein expression by Western blot analysis. The p16INK4A and p15INK4B genes were homozygously deleted in 45 and 42 of 230 lymphoid tumor specimens, respectively. Inactivations of the Rb and p53 genes were 27 of 91 and 9 of 173 specimens, respectively. Forty-one (45.1%) of 91 samples examined for inactivations of all four tumor suppressors had one or more abnormalities of these four tumor-suppressor genes, indicating that dysregulation of cell cycle control is important for tumor development. Statistical analysis of interrelations among impairments of these four genes indicated that inactivations of the individual tumor-suppressor genes might occur almost independently. In some patients, disruptions of multiple tumor-suppressor genes occurred; 4 cases with p16INK4A, p15INK4B, and Rb inactivations; 2 cases with p16INK4A, p15INK4B, and p53 inactivations; and 1 case with Rb and p53 inactivations. It is suggested that disruptions of multiple tumor suppressors in a tumor cell confer an additional growth advantage on the tumor.

Adolescent↗

Tyrosine phosphorylation of a 94-kDa protein associated with GRB2/ASH is implicated in the signal transduction of hematopoietic survival factors.

Grb2/Ash is an adapter molecule that contains Src-homology (SH) 2 and 3 domains. We have examined Grb2/Ash-associated proteins in hematopoietic cells, and have noted a 94-kDa phosphotyrosine-containing protein (pp94) among them. It was shown that the SH2 domain of Grb2/Ash is necessary for the binding of pp94 to Grb2/Ash from the binding experiments using the GST Fusion proteins and the phosphotyrosine analogue phenylphosphate. Tyrosine phosphorylation of pp94 was rapid and transient, and was only observed when the cells were stimulated with factors that were absolutely required for survival of the cells (survival factors). The kinase inhibitors, staurosporine and genistein, inhibit the proliferation UT-7 cells. However, genistein does not inhibit the survival of the cells while staurosporine inhibits both the proliferation and the survival of the cells. Tyrosine phosphorylation of pp94 was sensitive to staurosporine but resistant to genistein. It is possible that tyrosine phosphorylation of pp94 might be related to the survival rather than to the proliferation of the cells.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Src kinase plays an essential role in integrin-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of Crk-associated substrate p130Cas.

A novel signaling molecule p130Cas has been shown to undergo tyrosine phosphorylation in response to integrin-mediated cell adhesion. In this study, we have attempted to identify kinases that mediate Cas phosphorylation in integrin signaling by examining various mutant cell lines that do not express either p125FAK, c-Scr, c-Fyn or c-Abl. We found that deficiency of c-Src but not of other kinases completely abrogated integrin-mediated Cas phosphorylation. Importantly, paxillin phosphorylation was not compromised in each mutant cell line examined. These results suggest that c-Src primarily mediates adhesion-dependent Cas phosphorylation. As for paxillin phosphorylation, there may exist substantial redundancy amongst multiple kinases. Finally, adhesion-induced Cas phosphorylation resulted in its association with c-Crk adapter protein via the Crk-SH2 domain. Thus, Cas plays a role in the transmission of integrin-initiated signals through tyrosine phosphorylation and subsequent binding to c-Crk.

3T3 Cells↗

Restricted usage of T-cell receptor Valpha-Vbeta genes in infiltrating cells in aortic tissue of patients with Takayasu's arteritis.

BACKGROUND: Infiltration by perforin-secreting killer lymphocytes, such as T cells and natural killer cells, has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular cell damage in Takayasu's arteritis. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the immunological mechanisms involved, especially the nature of T-cell infiltration in Takayasu's arteritis as well as atherosclerosis, we analyzed the expression of T-cell receptor (TCR) Valpha and Vbeta genes in infiltrating cells in the aortic tissue of patients with Takayasu's arteritis and the atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We also analyzed the expression of cytokine genes by PCR. We found that the repertoires of TCR Valpha as well as Vbeta gene transcripts in Takayasu's arteritis were restricted. The infiltrating cells expressing Valpha2, Valpha16, Valpha17, Vbeta7, and Vbeta13.1 were found in 3 of 4 patients. In contrast, TCR Valpha-Vbeta repertoires in atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm were polyclonal. There was no significant difference in the pattern of cytokine gene expression between the two diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The restricted usage of TCR Valpha as well as Vbeta genes by infiltrating T cells in Takayasu's arteritis may indicate that a specific antigen in the aortic tissue was targeted. Our findings provide the evidence that distinct immunological mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of Takayasu's arteritis and atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm.

Aged↗

Involvement of specific macrophage-lineage cells surrounding arterioles in barrier and scavenger function in brain cortex.

The transport of solutes between blood and brain is regulated by a specific barrier. Capillary endothelial cells of brain are known to mediate barrier function and facilitate transport. Here we report that specific cells surrounding arterioles, known as Mato's fluorescent granular perithelial (FGP) cells or perivascular microglial cells, contribute to the barrier function. Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies indicate that, in normal brain cortex, type I and type II macrophage scavenger receptors are expressed only in FGP/perivascular microglial cells, and surface markers of macrophage lineage are also detected on them. These cells mediate the uptake of macromolecules, including modified low density lipoprotein, horseradish peroxidase, and ferritin injected either into the blood or into the cerebral ventricles. Accumulation of scavenged materials with aging or after the administration of a high-fat diet results in the formation of honeycomb-like foam cells and the narrowing of the lumen of arterioles in the brain cortex. These results indicate involvement of FGP/perivascular microglial cells in the barrier and scavenger functions in the central nervous system.

Adult↗

Direct binding of C-terminal region of p130Cas to SH2 and SH3 domains of Src kinase.

p130Cas is a major tyrosine-phosphorylated protein that tightly binds v-Crk in v-crk-transformed cells and v-Src in v-src-transformed cells. The "substrate domain" of p130Cas contains 15 possible Src homology (SH) 2-binding motifs, most of which conform to the binding motif for the Crk SH2 domain. Another region near its C terminus contains possible binding motifs for the Src SH2 domain and proline-rich sequences that are candidates for SH3-binding sites. Using GST fusion proteins, we revealed that both SH2 and SH3 domains of Src bind p130Cas, whereas v-Crk binds p130Cas through its SH2 domain. We located the binding site of p130Cas for the Src SH3 domain at the sequence RPLPSPP in the region near its C terminus. Mutations within this sequence or at Tyr762 of p130Cas caused a significant reduction in the association of p130Cas with Src, and no association was detected when both of them were deleted. The kinase activity in v-Crk-transformed cells was also associated with p130Cas through this region. On the other hand, the deletion of the substrate domain abolished the binding with v-Crk. The association through the C-terminal region of p130Cas with Src kinase may facilitate effective hyperphosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the substrate domain of p130Cas, resulting in the binding of SH2-containing molecules to p130Cas.

3T3 Cells↗

Novel biochemical diagnostic method for aortic dissection. Results of a prospective study using an immunoassay of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain.

BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection is one of the most common aortic catastrophes. Although newer diagnostic methods as exemplified by image diagnostic techniques have greatly improved the diagnosis of aortic dissection, the diagnosis is still frequently missed today because the signs and symptoms of the disease are at times obscure. A reliable biochemical diagnostic method for aortic dissection would be beneficial. METHODS AND RESULTS: A novel biochemical diagnostic method for diagnosis of aortic dissection was developed that uses an immunoassay of monoclonal antibodies to smooth muscle myosin heavy chain. A prospective study was conducted to ascertain the usefulness of the method in the diagnosis of aortic dissection. Twenty-seven patients with aortic dissection admitted within the first 24 hours after onset were enrolled. Serial assay of serum smooth muscle myosin heavy chain showed significant elevations within the first 24 hours after onset of aortic dissection, with levels exceeding 10 ng/mL, with subsequent rapid reductions. The sensitivity of the assay within the first 12 hours was 90% with a specificity of 97%. Analysis of 65 patients with acute myocardial infarction showed that the method could accurately differentiate myocardial infarction from aortic dissection. CONCLUSIONS: The immunoassay of serum smooth muscle myosin heavy chain is a rapid and reliable biochemical method in the diagnosis of aortic dissection. The potential use of the method in clinical medicine is promising.

Aged↗

A novel 55-kDa regulatory subunit for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase structurally similar to p55PIK Is generated by alternative splicing of the p85alpha gene.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, which is composed of a 110-kDa catalytic subunit and a regulatory subunit, plays important roles in various cellular signaling mechanisms. We screened a rat brain cDNA expression library with 32P-labeled human IRS-1 protein and cloned cDNAs that were very likely to be generated by alternative splicing of p85alpha gene products. These cDNAs were demonstrated to encode a 55-kDa protein (p55alpha) containing two SH2 domains and an inter-SH2 domain of p85alpha but neither a bcr domain nor a SH3 homology domain. Interestingly, p55 alpha contains a unique 34-amino acid sequence at its NH2 terminus, which is not included in the p85alpha amino acid sequence. This 34-amino acid portion was revealed to be comparable with p55PIK (p55gamma) in length, with a high homology between the two, suggesting that these NH2-terminal domains of p55alpha and p5 gamma may have a specific role that p85 does not. The expression of p55alpha mRNA is most abundant in the brain, but expression is ubiquitous in most rat tissues. Furthermore, it should be noted that the expression of p85alpha mRNA in muscle is almost undetectably low by Northern blotting with a cDNA probe coding for the p85alpha SH3 domain, while the expression of p55alpha can be readily detected. These results suggest that p55 alpha may play an unique regulatory role for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in brain and muscle.

Alternative Splicing↗

Regulation of fatty acid synthase expression by cholesterol in human cultured cells.

The regulation of fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression by sterols in a cultured human hepatoblastoma cell line, Hep G2, was studied. When cells were treated with compactin in a medium containing lipoprotein deficient serum, FAS mRNA level increased 1.6-fold. A squalene synthase inhibitor, TAN1607A, decreased both free and esterified cholesterol contents in Hep G2 cells and increased mRNA levels for FAS, HMG-CoA reductase, squalene synthase and LDL receptor. However, for the increment of FAS mRNA, a 10-fold higher concentration of this inhibitor was needed. These results demonstrate that the concentration of cellular cholesterol which regulates FAS expression is necessarily lower than the levels which regulate other sterol sensitive genes. FAS mRNA was also increased by an inhibitor of SREBP degradation as well as chenodeoxycholic acid. These results indicate that FAS mRNA expression is regulated by cholesterol and is mediated through SREBPs. The implications of the different modes of sterol regulation of FAS and LDL receptor expression are discussed.

Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic↗

Overexpression of the AML1 proto-oncoprotein in NIH3T3 cells leads to neoplastic transformation depending on the DNA-binding and transactivational potencies.

The AML1 gene encodes DNA-binding proteins that contain the runt homology domain and is found at the breakpoints of t(8;21) and t(3;21) translocations associated with myelogenous leukemias. From the AML1 gene, two representative forms of proteins, AML1a and AML1b, are generated by alternative splicing. Both forms have the runt homology domain that possesses the DNA-binding ability but, unlike AML1b, AML1a lacks a putative transcriptional activation domain downstream of the runt homology domain. By using retroviral infection, we demonstrated that AML1b causes neoplastic transformation of NIH3T3 cells. AML1b-expressing cells form macroscopic colonies in soft agar and induce tumors in nude mice, indicating that AML1 can be a transforming gene when overexpressed in fibroblasts. Both the runt homology domain and the transactivational domain were required to transform NIH3T3 cells. By analysis of deletion mutants, it was shown that an element determining the transactivational potency exists between amino acids 288 and 396 within the region downstream of the runt homology domain. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this region was also required for fibroblast transformation, indicating that the transforming activity of AML1 is correlated with the transactivational potencies. These results suggest a role of AML1 in the regulation of cellular proliferation, as well as myeloid cell differentiation.

3T3 Cells↗

Endothelin-1 is involved in mechanical stress-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

We have recently shown that mechanical stress induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy partly through the enhanced secretion of angiotensin II (ATII). Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been reported to be a potent growth factor for a variety of cells, including cardiomyocytes. In this study, we examined the role of ET-1 in mechanical stress-induced cardiac hypertrophy by using cultured cardiomyocytes of neonatal rats. ET-1 (10(-8) approximately 10(-7) M) maximally induced the activation of both Raf-1 kinase and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases at 4 and 8 min, respectively, followed by an increase in protein synthesis at 24 h. All of these hypertrophic responses were completely blocked by pretreatment with BQ123, an antagonist selective for the ET-1 type A receptor subtype, but not by BQ788, an ET-1 type B receptor-specific antagonist. BQ123 also suppressed stretch-induced activation of MAP kinases and an increase in phenylalanine uptake by approximately 60 and 50%, respectively, but BQ788 did not. ET-1 was constitutively secreted from cultured cardiomyocytes, and a significant increase in ET-1 concentration was observed in the culture medium of cardiomyocytes after stretching for 10 min. After 24 h, an approximately 3-fold increase in ET-1 concentration was observed in the conditioned medium of stretched cardiomyocytes compared with that of unstretched cardiomyocytes. ET-1 mRNA levels were also increased at 30 min after stretching. Moreover, ET-1 and ATII synergistically activated Raf-1 kinase and MAP kinases in cultured cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, mechanical stretching stimulates secretion and production of ET-1 in cultured cardiomyocytes, and vasoconstrictive peptides such as ATII and ET-1 may play an important role in mechanical stress-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Animals↗

Activation of p70 S6 protein kinase is necessary for angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

Although many lines of evidence have suggested that angiotensin II (Ang II) plays an important role in development of cardiac hypertrophy, the mechanism by which Ang II increases protein synthesis in cardiac myocytes remains unclear. It has been reported that the phosphorylation of S6 protein in 40 S ribosome is correlated to the efficiency of protein synthesis. In the present study, we have examined whether Ang II activates p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K), which has been reported to phosphorylate S6 protein. Ang II activated p70S6K through AT1 receptor. An immunosuppressant agent, rapamycin, inhibited Ang II-induced p70S6K activation but not the activation of MAP kinases or the induction of c-fos gene expression. Rapamycin also abolished Ang II-induced increase in protein synthesis. These results suggest that Ang II induces cardiac hypertrophy by activating p70S6K.

Angiotensin I↗

Sequence analysis, chromosomal location, and developmental expression of the mouse preproendothelin-1 gene.

Recent studies have designated endothelins (ETs) as morphogenetic factors in embryonic development. In the present study, we cloned and characterized the mouse preproendothelin-1 (preproET-1) gene (Edn1) and examined its expression in reference to development. Edn1 comprises five exons, and the open reading frame encodes the 202-amino-acid preproET-1. The sequences and structural organization of Edn1 are highly homologous to those of other species, especially in the terminal 200-bp sequence of the 3'-noncoding region. Interspecific backcross mapping located Edn1 in the central region of chromosomal 13, where a mouse mutation, congenital hydrocephalus (ch), is also mapped. The highest expression of Edn1 mRNA is detected in the lung in adult mice, whereas Edn1 is predominantly expressed in the epithelium and mesenchyme of the pharyngeal arches and in the endothelium of the large arteries. Edn1 expression and ET-1 peptide levels in the lung progressively increased during the perinatal stage, whereas the expression of Edn3, a gene encoding ET-3, reciprocally decreases. These results suggest that Edn1 expression is developmentally regulated in different tissues and organs in mice in a spatial- and temporal-specific manner.

Amino Acid Sequence↗