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Yoshitaka Tanaka

Publications and source records attributed to Yoshitaka Tanaka.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Critical role for OX40 ligand in the development of pathogenic Th2 cells in a murine model of asthma.

Bronchial asthma is characterized by massive infiltration of eosinophils and airway hyperreactivity (AHR), which are caused by overproduction of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) by allergen-specific T cells. We recently demonstrated a critical contribution of OX40 ligand (OX40L) to the development of Th2-mediated experimental leishmaniasis. In this study, we have examined the role of OX40L in the development of Th2-mediated pulmonary inflammation by utilizing OX40L-deficient mice and a neutralizing anti-OX40L mAb in a murine model of asthma. Sensitization and airway challenge with ovalbumin in wild-type BALB/c mice induced a typical allergic asthma characterized by AHR, accumulation of eosinophils, increased mucus production, and high levels of Th2 cytokines in the lung. All these asthmatic responses were not induced in OX40L-deficient BALB/c mice. Administration of neutralizing anti-OX40L mAb in wild-type BALB/c mice during the sensitization period also abolished the induction of asthmatic responses. In contrast, administration of anti-OX40L mAb during the challenge period did not inhibit the asthmatic responses. These results indicate a critical role for OX40L in the induction phase, which leads to the development of pathogenic Th2 cells, but not in the effector phase, which includes migration and activation of pathogenic Th2 cells in the lung.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

At the acidic edge: emerging functions for lysosomal membrane proteins.

It has recently become clear that lysosomes have more complex functions than simply being the end-point on a degradative pathway. Similarly, it is now emerging that there are interesting functions for the limiting membranes around these organelles and their associated proteins. Although it has been known for several decades that the lysosomal membrane contains several highly N-glycosylated proteins, including the lysosome-associated membrane proteins LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 and lysosomal integral membrane protein-2/lysosomal membrane glycoprotein-85 (LIMP-2/LGP85), specific functions of these proteins have only recently begun to be recognized. Although the normal functions of LAMP-1 can be substituted by the structurally related LAMP-2, LAMP-2 itself has more specific tasks. Knockout of LAMP-2 in mice has revealed roles for LAMP-2 in lysosomal enzyme targeting, autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis. LAMP-2 deficiency in humans leads to Danon disease, a fatal cardiomyopathy and myopathy. Furthermore, there is evidence that LAMP-2 functions in chaperone-mediated autophagy. LIMP-2/LGP85 also seems to have specific functions in maintaining endosomal transport and lysosomal biogenesis. The pivotal function of lysosomal membrane proteins is also highlighted by the recent identification of disease-causing mutations in cystine and sialic acid transporter proteins, leading to nephropathic cystinosis and Salla disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

A role for the lysosomal membrane protein LGP85 in the biogenesis and maintenance of endosomal and lysosomal morphology.

LGP85 (LIMP II) is a type III transmembrane glycoprotein that is located primarily in the limiting membranes of lysosomes and late endosomes. Despite being the abundant molecule of these compartments, whether LGP85 merely resides as one of the constituents of these membranes or plays a role in the regulation of endosome and lysosome biogenesis remains unclear. To elucidate these questions, we examined the effects of overexpression of LGP85 on the morphology and membrane traffic of the endosomal/lysosomal system. Here we demonstrate that overexpression of LGP85 causes an enlargement of early endosomes and late endosomes/lysosomes. Such a morphological alteration was not observed by overexpression of other lysosomal membrane proteins, LGP107 (LAMP-1) or LGP96 (LAMP-2), reflecting a LGP85-specific function. We further demonstrate that overexpression of LGP85 impairs the endocytic membrane traffic out of these enlarged compartments, which may be correlated with or account for the accumulation of cholesterol observed in these compartments. Interestingly, co-transfection of LGP85 and the dominant-negative form of Rab5b (Rab5bS34N) abolished the formation of large vacuoles, suggesting that the GTP-bound active form of Rab5b is involved in the enlargement of endosomal/lysosomal compartments induced by overexpression of LGP85. Thus, these findings provide important new insights into the role of LGP85 in the biogenesis and the maintenance of endosomes/lysosomes. We conclude that LGP85 may participate in reorganizing the endosomal/lysosomal compartments.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2002

Role of LAMP-2 in lysosome biogenesis and autophagy.

In LAMP-2-deficient mice autophagic vacuoles accumulate in many tissues, including liver, pancreas, muscle, and heart. Here we extend the phenotype analysis using cultured hepatocytes. In LAMP-2-deficient hepatocytes the half-life of both early and late autophagic vacuoles was prolonged as evaluated by quantitative electron microscopy. However, an endocytic tracer reached the autophagic vacuoles, indicating delivery of endo/lysosomal constituents to autophagic vacuoles. Enzyme activity measurements showed that the trafficking of some lysosomal enzymes to lysosomes was impaired. Immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled cathepsin D indicated reduced intracellular retention and processing in the knockout cells. The steady-state level of 300-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor was slightly lower in LAMP-2-deficient hepatocytes, whereas that of 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptor was decreased to 30% of controls due to a shorter half-life. Less receptor was found in the Golgi region and in vesicles and tubules surrounding multivesicular endosomes, suggesting impaired recycling from endosomes to the Golgi. More receptor was found in autophagic vacuoles, which may explain its shorter half-life. Our data indicate that in hepatocytes LAMP-2 deficiency either directly or indirectly leads to impaired recycling of 46-kDa mannose 6-phosphate receptors and partial mistargeting of a subset of lysosomal enzymes. Autophagic vacuoles may accumulate due to impaired capacity for lysosomal degradation.

Animals↗