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Biomedical subjects

Y Yokoi

Publications and source records attributed to Y Yokoi.

113 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunocytochemical detection of desmin in fat-storing cells (Ito cells).

Desmin is a smooth muscle protein consisting of intermediate filaments. It is also present in other cell types. We obtained desmin antibodies from New Zealand white rabbits which were immunized with desmin following its extraction from chicken gizzard smooth muscle. By immunocytochemical methods, the antibody stained the Z-line of rat skeletal myofibrils and produced only one band with chicken gizzard desmin by immunoblotting. The antibody was specific for desmin, but was not tissue-specific. Wistar rat liver was studied by indirect immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescent methods using the antibody. Cells which reacted were diffusely distributed in the hepatic lobule, had stellate shape, bore elongated cytoplasmic extensions and contained few fat droplets. The fat droplets increased in size and amount after administration of vitamin A, and contained vitamin A as determined by ultraviolet exposure and gold impregnation. The fat-containing cells did not phagocytose carbon particles after injection of colloidal carbon and were, therefore, classified as fat-storing cells (Ito cells).

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Marked retention of indocyanine green and sulfobromophthalein with chronic persistent hepatitis.

A hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier with marked retention of indocyanine green (ICG) and sulfobromophthalein (BSP) was admitted to our hospital for assessment of liver function. On admission, he was asymptomatic and blood chemistry tests showed normal values for transaminases and bilirubin. Serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe) were positive. A history of drug abuse or alcoholism was denied. Dye excretion tests revealed marked retention of ICG (R15 = 70%) and BSP (R45 = 23%). Histopathological examination of a liver biopsy specimen obtained during laparoscopic observation showed chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH). Familial research of the patient failed to prove the existence of dye excretory defect in his siblings. Usual cases of CPH due to continuous HBV infection do not show such severe disturbance of organic anion transport. This pattern of the dye excretory defect with CPH has not been reported. Although the relationship between this dye excretory defect and HBV infection is unclear, the existence of the constitutional dye excretory defect due to abnormal organic anion transport in the liver might be considered.

Carrier State↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunoreactivity to M2 proteins in antimitochondrial antibody-negative patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Although antimitochondrial auto-antibodies are characteristically present in the serum of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), there is a discrepancy between the positivity for antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) and that for anti-M2 auto-antibody. In an attempt to explain the discrepancy, this study investigates the relationship between the AMA titre, determined by indirect immunofluorescence, and immunoreactivity to four inner mitochondrial membrane proteins (M2 proteins) with molecular weights of 70, 50, 47, and 40 kDa in 129 patients with PBC. Antimitochondrial antibody positivity was identified in 114 (88%) of 129 patients with clinically and histologically confirmed PBC. There were no significant differences between the AMA-negative and AMA-positive groups in clinical characteristics or histologically determined disease stage. Immunoblot analysis showed that all patients had anti-M2 auto-antibodies to one or more of the four M2 proteins. Nine (60%) of the 15 AMA-negative patients had antibodies to only one M2 protein (either 70 or 47 kDa). In contrast, 34 (53%) of the 64 patients with high AMA titres (> or = 1:320) had antibodies to all four M2 proteins. There was a significant rank correlation between the AMA titre and the number of antibodies to M2 proteins (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that the AMA titre is not influenced by the immunogenicity of M2 proteins but by the number of M2 proteins that elicit an antibody response and that decreased immunoreactivity to M2 proteins may induce AMA negativity in PBC serum samples.

Adult↗