Biomedical subjects

Yasuhisa Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to Yasuhisa Fujii.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Electron holography on dynamic motion of secondary electrons around sciatic nerve tissues.

By means of electron holographic visualization of detailed electric potential distribution around sciatic nerve tissues coated with C and OsO(4), we show that the steady state of these specimens subjected to intense charging with electron irradiation is accompanied with a dynamic motion of collective secondary electrons; the secondary electrons emitted from the coated specimens revolve around the positively charged specimens forming stationary orbits. Further, this study clarified the possibility of the direct visualization of a part of the orbits of the collective secondary electrons without disturbing their motions.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Glucocorticoids suppress tumor lymphangiogenesis of prostate cancer cells.

PURPOSE: Glucocorticoids such as prednisone, hydrocortisone, and dexamethasone are known to provide some clinical benefit for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms by which glucocorticoids affect hormone-refractory prostate cancer progression are not well established as yet. Our previous study has shown that glucocorticoids inhibit tumor angiogenesis possibly by down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin 8. Here, we hypothesized that the therapeutic effect of dexamethasone on hormone-refractory prostate cancer can be partly attributed to a direct inhibition of lymphangiogenesis through the glucocorticoid receptor by down-regulating a major lymphangiogenic factor, VEGF-C. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The effects of dexamethasone on the expression of VEGF-C and its receptor, VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), were examined using an androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell line, DU145, which expresses glucocorticoid receptor. The effects of dexamethasone on tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis in DU145 xenografts were determined by analyzing VEGF-C gene expression, lymphatic vessel density, and relative lymphatic vessel area. RESULTS: Dexamethasone significantly down-regulated VEGF-C gene expression and protein production by 48% (P = 0.003) and 44% (P = 0.002), respectively, under normoxic condition. Similarly, hydrocortisone down-regulated VEGF-C gene expression. The effects of dexamethasone were completely reversed by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486. Even under hypoxia-like conditions, dexamethasone inhibited VEGF-C gene expression. In DU145 xenografts, dexamethasone significantly down-regulated VEGF-C gene expression and decreased lymphangiogenesis. Dexamethasone did not affect VEGFR-3 gene expression in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: Glucocorticoids suppressed tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis by down-regulating VEGF-C through glucocorticoid receptor in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Optimal sampling sites for repeat prostate biopsy: a recursive partitioning analysis of three-dimensional 26-core systematic biopsy.

OBJECTIVES: To explore an optimal combination of sampling sites to detect prostate cancer in a repeat biopsy setting. METHODS: A transrectal ultrasound-guided systematic three-dimensional 26-core biopsy (3D26PBx), a combination of transrectal 12 and transperineal 14 core biopsies, was performed in 235 Japanese men with prior negative biopsy. Using recursive partitioning, we evaluated cancer detection of all possible combinations of sampling sites and selected the combination that provides the highest cancer detection rate at a given number of biopsy cores. RESULTS: Prostate cancer was detected in 87 of the 235 (37%) men. The 3D26PBx improved cancer detection by 89% relative to the conventional transrectal sextant biopsy. Neither Gleason score nor percentage of Gleason 4/5 cancers differed between cancers with and without positive cores within the transrectal sextant-sampling sites. A three-dimensional combination of transrectal and transperineal approaches outperformed either transrectal or transperineal approach alone. Recursive partitioning revealed that a three-dimensional 16-core (transrectal eight cores plus transperineal eight cores) biopsy could detect all the cancers with the minimum number of cores. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a three-dimensional combination of transrectal eight cores taken from the far lateral peripheral zone and the parasagittal base, and transperineal eight cores taken from the anterior and posterior apex and the transition zone as an optimal set of sampling sites for repeat biopsy.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Morphological and histochemical analyses of living mouse livers by new 'cryobiopsy' technique.

A new 'cryobiopsy' (CB) technique has been invented for freezing the functioning livers of living mice in vivo without stopping their blood circulation. Livers of anesthetized mice were pinched off with pre-cooled CB forceps and immediately plunged into isopentane-propane cryogen. They were routinely freeze-substituted in acetone containing paraformaldehyde for light microscopy (LM) or osmium tetroxide for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By freeze-fracturing some of them with a scalpel in liquid nitrogen before the freeze-substitution, well-preserved tissue areas were exposed only for SEM. They were either embedded in paraffin wax for LM or infiltrated with t-butyl alcohol followed by freeze-drying for SEM. Serial paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) or histochemical periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction. By HE-staining, the tissue surface areas were often compressed with the CB forceps and sinusoidal erythrocytes became aggregated side by side. In slightly deeper tissue areas, however, hepatic sinusoids were widely open with flowing erythrocytes. Lots of PAS-reaction products were well preserved in hepatocytes of the CB specimens. On the contrary, they were unevenly distributed in hepatocytes of conventionally quick-frozen specimens, and often lost in those of the conventionally dehydrated specimens. By SEM, some cell organelles, such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, and also dilated fenestrae of endothelial cells, open Disse's spaces and bile canaliculi appeared to be under normal blood circulation in the prepared CB samples. The new CB technique would be easy and useful for repeated examination of functioning organs of a living animal.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Glucocorticoids suppress tumor angiogenesis and in vivo growth of prostate cancer cells.

PURPOSE: Glucocorticoids, such as prednisone, hydrocortisone, and dexamethasone, are known to produce some clinical benefit for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). However, the underlying mechanisms by which glucocorticoids affect HRPC growth are not well established as yet. Here, we hypothesize that the therapeutic effect of glucocorticoids on HRPC can be attributed to a direct inhibition of angiogenesis through the glucocorticoid receptor by down-regulating two major angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The effects of dexamethasone on VEGF and IL-8 expression and cell proliferation were examined using DU145, which expresses glucocorticoid receptor. The effects of dexamethasone on DU145 xenografts were determined by analyzing VEGF and IL-8 gene expression, microvessel density, and tumor volume. RESULTS: Dexamethasone significantly down-regulated VEGF and IL-8 gene expression by 50% (P < 0.001) and 89% (P < 0.001), respectively, and decreased VEGF and IL-8 protein production by 55% (P < 0.001) and 74% (P < 0.001), respectively, under normoxic condition. Similarly, hydrocortisone down-regulated VEGF and IL-8 gene expression. The effects of dexamethasone were completely reversed by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486. Even under hypoxia-like conditions, dexamethasone inhibited VEGF and IL-8 expression. In DU145 xenografts, dexamethasone significantly decreased tumor volume and microvessel density and down-regulated VEGF and IL-8 gene expression, whereas dexamethasone did not affect the in vitro proliferation of the cells. CONCLUSION: Glucocorticoids suppressed androgen-independent prostate cancer growth possibly due to the inhibition of tumor-associated angiogenesis by decreasing VEGF and IL-8 production directly through glucocorticoid receptor in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Application of a quick-freezing and deep-etching method to pathological diagnosis: a case of elastofibroma.

A case of elastofibroma in a middle-aged Japanese woman was examined by the quick-freezing and deep-etching (QF-DE) method, as well as by immunohistochemistry and conventional electron microscopy. The slowly growing tumor developed at the right scapular region and was composed of fibrous connective tissue with unique elastic materials called elastofibroma fibers. A normal elastic fiber consists of a central core and peripheral zone, in which the latter has small aggregates of 10 nm microfibrils. By the QF-DE method, globular structures consisting of numerous fibrils (5-20 nm in width) were observed between the collagen bundles. We could confirm that they were microfibril-rich peripheral zones of elastofibroma fibers by comparing the replica membrane and conventional electron microscopy. One of the characteristics of elastofibroma fibers is that they are assumed to contain numerous microfibrils. Immunohistochemically, spindle tumor cells showed positive immunoreaction for vimentin, whereas alpha-smooth muscle actin, desmin, S-100 protein and CD34 showed negative immunoreaction. By conventional electron microscopy, the tumor cell had thin cytoplasmic processes, pinocytotic vesicles and prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum. Abundant intracytoplasmic filaments were observed in some tumor cells. Thick lamina-like structures along with their inner nuclear membrane were often observed in the tumor cell nuclei. The whole image of the tumor cell was considered to be a periosteal-derived cell, which would produce numerous microfibrils in the peripheral zone of elastofibroma fibers. This study indicated that the QF-DE method could be applied to the pathological diagnosis and analysis of pathomechanism, even for surgical specimens obtained from a patient.

Female↗

PubMed2006

Evolution of a neuroprotective function of central nervous system myelin.

The central nervous system (CNS) of terrestrial vertebrates underwent a prominent molecular change when a tetraspan membrane protein, myelin proteolipid protein (PLP), replaced the type I integral membrane protein, P0, as the major protein of myelin. To investigate possible reasons for this molecular switch, we genetically engineered mice to express P0 instead of PLP in CNS myelin. In the absence of PLP, the ancestral P0 provided a periodicity to mouse compact CNS myelin that was identical to mouse PNS myelin, where P0 is the major structural protein today. The PLP-P0 shift resulted in reduced myelin internode length, degeneration of myelinated axons, severe neurological disability, and a 50% reduction in lifespan. Mice with equal amounts of P0 and PLP in CNS myelin had a normal lifespan and no axonal degeneration. These data support the hypothesis that the P0-PLP shift during vertebrate evolution provided a vital neuroprotective function to myelin-forming CNS glia.

2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase↗

PubMed2006

Dynamic study of intramembranous particles in human fresh erythrocytes using an "in vitro cryotechnique".

For analyses of dynamic ultrastructures of erythrocyte intramembranous particles (IMPs) in situ, a quick-freezing method was used to stabilize the flow behavior of erythrocytes embedded in vitreous ice. Fresh human blood was jetted at various pressures through artificial tubes, in which the flowing erythrocytes were elongated from biconcave discoid shapes to elliptical ones, and quickly frozen in liquid isopentane-propane cryogen (-193 degrees C). They were freeze-fractured using a scalpel in liquid nitrogen, and routinely prepared for replica membranes. Many IMPs were observed on the protoplasmic freeze-fracture face (P-face) of the erythrocyte membranes. Some control erythrocytes under nonflowing or stationary conditions showed IMPs with their random distribution. However, other jetted erythrocytes under flowing conditions showed variously sized IMPs with much closer distribution. They were also arranged into parallel rows in some parts, and aggregated together. This quick-freezing method enabled for the first time the visualization of time-dependent topology and the molecular alteration of IMPs in dynamically flowing erythrocytes.

Cryoelectron Microscopy↗

PubMed2006

Morphological analysis of lamellar structures in mouse type II pneumocytes by quick-freezing and freeze-drying with osmium tetroxide vapor-fixation.

The lamellar body is a membranous structure periodically laminating in vesicles that is known as the most distinctive feature of type II pneumocytes by conventional preparation methods for transmission electron microscopy. The quick-freezing and freeze-drying method, followed by osmium tetroxide vapor-fixation (QF-FD-OsV), was performed to examine the in situ morphology of the lamellar body in type II pneumocytes of living mouse lungs. Typical lamellar structures were rarely seen in vesicles of the type II pneumocytes, but amorphous components and dispersed stripes were often detected in the vesicles, as revealed by the QF-FD-OsV method. To clarify how the lamellar body was formed during the conventional preparation steps, lung tissues of mice were treated with different fixation procedures, such as immersion-fixation with osmium tetroxide or perfusion-fixation with glutaraldehyde followed by osmium tetroxide, in combination with alcohol dehydration or QF-FD-OsV. In addition to lamellar bodies of type II pneumocytes in the specimens with alcohol dehydration, some lamellar structures were also formed even with the QF-FD-OsV method. These findings suggest that the labile lamellar body is easily modified and formed during both chemical fixation and alcohol dehydration steps.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Three-dimensional combination of transrectal and transperineal biopsies for efficient detection of stage T1c prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although an increasing number of men present with stage T1c prostate cancer, the optimal biopsy strategy for detecting stage T1c disease still remains to be defined. The aim of this study was to explore an efficient first-time biopsy scheme for detecting stage T1c and T2 prostate cancer. METHODS: A transrectal ultrasound-guided systematic three-dimensional 26-core (3D26) biopsy comprising 12 transrectal and 14 transperineal sampling sites was performed in 321 men with median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 6.0 ng/ml in the first-time biopsy setting. By analyzing site-specific cancer detection rates, we determined the best combination of transperineal and transrectal sampling sites. RESULTS: Prostate cancer was detected in 109 of the 321 men (34%) with a major complication rate of 0.6%. 3D26 biopsy significantly improved cancer detectability by 60% relative to the conventional transrectal sextant (TR6) biopsy. Improvement was significant in 263 men with normal digital rectal examination (DRE) (85%, P = 0.0004) but not in 58 men with abnormal DRE (22%, P = 0.18). The mean Gleason score of the 41 cancers without a positive core within the TR6 sites was marginally lower than that of 68 cancers with a positive core within the TR6 sites (P = 0.04). Recursive partitioning revealed that a three-dimensional 14-core (transrectal 8-core plus transperineal 6-core) and a three-dimensional 8-core (transrectal 4-core plus transperineal 4-core) biopsies could detect more than 95% of stage T1c and T2 cancers with a minimum number of cores, respectively. CONCLUSION: We propose a three-dimensional 14-core and a three-dimensional 8-core biopsy as efficient first-time biopsy schemes to detect stage T1c and T2 prostate cancer, respectively.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2006

Suppression of VEGF transcription in renal cell carcinoma cells by pyrrole-imidazole hairpin polyamides targeting the hypoxia responsive element.

Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), a master regulator of critical genes for cell survival under hypoxic conditions, is known to be related to tumorigenesis and progression of renal cell carcinoma. N-methylpyrrole (Py)-N-methylimidazole (Im) hairpin polyamides are synthetic organic compounds that recognize and bind to the minor grooves of specific DNA sequences. We synthesized three Py-Im hairpin polyamides targeting the flanking sequences of hypoxia responsive element (HRE; a binding site of HIF) in the promoter region of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene. The effects of the polyamides on HIF-induced transcription were evaluated by a luciferase assay using a reporter plasmid containing a VEGF promoter. Real time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to examine the effects of the polyamides on the transcription and secretion of VEGF in A498 renal cell carcinoma cells, which have a frame-shift mutation in the von Hippel-Lindau gene. A combination of three Py-Im hairpin polyamides suppressed HIF-induced transcription in reporter assays using 293 cells and successfully suppressed transcription and translation of the VEGF gene in A498 cells. Inhibition of the HIF-HRE interaction was confirmed by an electrophoresis mobility shift assay. An approach using Py-Im hairpin polyamides may be a new strategy for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Deferred combined androgen blockade therapy using bicalutamide in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer during androgen deprivation monotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of adding bicalutamide on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) during androgen deprivation monotherapy (ADMT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with HRPC were treated with deferred combined androgen blockade (CAB) therapy, administering bicalutamide 80 mg once daily. HRPC was defined biochemically as three consecutive rises in PSA level during ADMT. The treatment response was defined as a > or = 50% decline in PSA levels. Prognostic values of various pretreatment variables for responsiveness to deferred CAB were determined statistically. When the disease relapsed during deferred CAB, bicalutamide was discontinued and the patients were evaluated for the antiandrogen withdrawal syndrome (AWS). RESULTS: Of the 44 patients, 29 (66%) had a PSA response; the median PSA failure-free survival was 9.2+ months. Biopsy Gleason score was the only pretreatment variable predictive of a PSA response (mean Gleason score 7.9 in responders and 8.7 in nonresponders). The PSA doubling time (PSA-DT) was the only statistically significant variable of PSA failure-free survival in a multivariate analysis. The 1- and 2-year PSA failure-free survival rates were 43% and 31% in patients with a PSA-DT of >4 months, while it was 21% and none, respectively, in those with a PSA-DT of <4 months. Responders to deferred CAB had a statistically longer cancer-specific survival than nonresponders. None of 20 patients who were evaluated for AWS had the condition. CONCLUSIONS: Deferred CAB therapy using bicalutamide is effective in patients with progression during ADMT, particularly in those with lower Gleason score tumours or a longer PSA-DT. AWS after deferred CAB is uncommon.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Loss of uroplakin III expression is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the expression of uroplakin III (UPIII) and the prognosis of patients with urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract, as uroplakins are urothelium-specific markers of terminal urothelial differentiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinicopathological and follow-up data from 71 patients who had undergone radical nephroureterectomy and lymph node dissection or sampling for urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract were reviewed. The expression of UPIII was evaluated immunohistochemically in surgical specimens. Cancer-specific survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier plots. Prognostic values of clinicopathological variables including UPIII expression status, tumour stage and grade were evaluated by univariate analyses, followed by multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional-hazard model. RESULTS: In all specimens there was intense UPIII immunoreactivity of umbrella cells of normal urothelium. In tumour samples, UPIII expression was positive in 75% of < or = pT1 tumours and 40% of > or = pT2 (P = 0.02), and in 65% of grade 1-2 tumours and 33% of grade 3 (P = 0.009). Of the 71 patients, 21 died from the disease during the median follow-up of 61 months. The cancer-specific survival of patients with negative UPIII expression was significantly worse than that of those with positive UPIII expression (5-year cancer-specific survival, 100% vs 46%, P < 0.001). Neither patient age at diagnosis, histological grade, sex, or multiplicity of the tumour had significant prognostic value. Multivariate analysis revealed that UPIII expression was the most powerful prognostic indicator (P < 0.001) followed by tumour stage (P = 0.04) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that UPIII expression is a powerful prognostic factor in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[A large amount of distilled water ineffective for prevention of bladder cancer cell implantation at the time of transurethral resection].

A previous study indicated that distilled water could prevent bladder tumor cell implantation in an in vitro assay. We investigated whether a large amount of distilled water irrigation prevented recurrence of superficial bladder cancer in the clinical setting and then we estimated whether cancer cell implantation at the time of transurethral resection is a major mechanism of recurrence. Between May 2000 and January 2002, 22 patients with primary, superficial bladder carcinoma who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent bladder washout with 1,000 ml distilled water immediately after TURBT, and then intravesical irrigation with 3,000 ml water for three hours. Control patients were randomly chosen from those who previously underwent TURBT in our hospital and had similar prognostic factors. The 1- and 2-year recurrence-free rates in the patients undergoing distilled water irrigation were both 45% and those in the control patients were 65% and 45%, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups. This result indicates that distilled water was ineffective in preventing recurrence of superficial bladder tumor.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

The efficiency of Sairei-to for retroperitoneal fibrosis: two case reports.

The conventional approach for management of retroperitoneal fibrosis (RF), an inflammatory process of retroperitoneal fibro-adipose tissue, leading to the compression and obstruction of the ureters and other adjacent organs is ureterolysis with omental wrapping, and an effective alternative to surgery is immunosupressive medication such as oral corticosteroids. Sairei-to (TJ-114) is a traditional herbal medicine used for the treatment of RF in Japan. It has both anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. Here we report two cases of RF successfully treated with Sairei-to. One case was idiopathic and the other was caused by artificial graft-induced vasculitis. Both cases were treated with Sairei-to following the decompression of uremia by precutaneous nephrostomy or indwelling ureteral stents. There was hardly any ureteral obstruction three months after the administration of Sairei-to. They have been doing well for 12 and 26 months. Sairei-to rarely causes side effects such as immunodeficiency, gastro-duodenal ulcer and osteoporosis that often accompany long-term administration of corticosteroids. Sairei-to is a safe and effective medicine for the treatment of RF. We therefore recommend Sairei-to as an alternative for corticosteroid therapy.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Protein 4.1 G localizes in rodent microglia.

Although it was reported that protein 4.1 G, a cytoskeletal protein characterized by its general expression in the body, interacts with some signal transduction molecules in the central nervous system (CNS), its distribution and significance in vivo remained to be elucidated. In the present study, we have identified 4.1 G-positive cells in the rodent CNS, and demonstrated its immunolocalization in the developing mouse CNS. In the rodent CNS, 4.1 G was colocalized with markers for microglia, such as CD45, OX-42 and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1), but not with markers for neuronal or other glial cells. Additionally, colocalization of 4.1 G and A1 adenosine receptor was observed in the mouse cerebrum. In a mixed glial culture, most OX-42-positive microglia were positive for 4.1 G, and 4.1 G isoforms of the same molecular weight as in the rat brain were expressed in cultured microglia, where 4.1 G mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. In the developing mouse cerebral cortex, 4.1 G was detected in immature microglia, which were positive for Iba1. These results indicate that 4.1 G in the CNS is mainly distributed in microglia in vivo. Considering the interactions between 4.1 G and the signal transduction molecules, putative roles have been proposed for 4.1 G in microglial functions in the CNS.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Resistin SNP-420 determines its monocyte mRNA and serum levels inducing type 2 diabetes.

Resistin, secreted from adipocytes, causes insulin resistance in rodents. Its roles and main source in humans remain unknown. The G/G genotype of resistin single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP-420, induces type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by increasing promoter activity. We elucidated factors correlated with serum resistin and effects of SNP-420 on monocyte resistin mRNA. In 198 T2DM and 157 controls, fasting serum resistin was higher in T2DM. Multiple regression analysis revealed that SNP-420 genotype was the strongest determinant of serum resistin. In T2DM, 1-year duration of T2DM and 1% HbA1c was also correlated with 0.19 and 0.54 ng/ml serum resistin, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that serum resistin was an independent factor for T2DM. In 23 healthy volunteers, monocyte resistin mRNA was positively correlated with its simultaneous serum levels and was higher in G/G genotype. Thus, SNP-420 determines monocyte mRNA and serum levels of resistin, which could induce T2DM.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed2005

Identification, evolution, and regulation of expression of Guinea pig trappin with an unusually long transglutaminase substrate domain.

Trappins are found in human, bovine, hippopotamus, and members of the pig family, but not in rat and mouse. To clarify the evolution of the trappin genes and the functional significance of their products, we isolated the trappin gene in guinea pig, a species belonging to a rodent family distinct from rat and mouse. Guinea pig trappin was confirmed to encode the same domain structure as trappin, consisting of a signal sequence, an extra large transglutaminase substrate domain, and a whey acidic protein motif. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization histochemistry as well as immunohistochemistry demonstrated that guinea pig trappin is expressed solely in the secretory epithelium of the seminal vesicle and that its expression is androgen-dependent. We confirmed that guinea pig trappin is cross-linked by prostate transglutaminase and that the whey acidic protein motif derived from guinea pig trappin has an inhibitory activity against leukocyte elastase. Genome sequence analysis showed that guinea pig trappin belongs to the family of REST (rapidly evolving seminal vesicle transcribed) genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗