PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Mizoguchi

Publications and source records attributed to A Mizoguchi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Alteration of a polyclonal to an oligoclonal immune response to cecal aerobic bacterial antigens in TCR alpha mutant mice with inflammatory bowel disease.

Since lumenal bacteria have been postulated to play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we investigated the humoral response to cecal aerobic bacterial antigens by Western blot analysis in TCR alpha -/- mice which spontaneously develop IBD. The sera from TCR alpha -/- mice revealed an alteration of the recognition pattern against aerobic bacterial antigens from polyclonal to oligoclonal with age. This alteration was not observed in TCR delta -/- and TCR alpha +/- mice. The alteration of the recognition pattern in TCR alpha -/- mice was associated with production of autoantibodies against tropomyosin and the development of IBD. The unique population of CD4+ TCR alpha -beta + cells in TCR alpha -/- mice may be involved in the recognition of these bacterial antigens and the absence of the alpha chain may result in the alteration of immune response.

Aging↗

Localization and subcellular distribution of SH-PTP2, a protein-tyrosine phosphatase with Src homology-2 domains, in rat brain.

SH-PTP2 is a protein-tyrosine phosphatase with src homology-2 (SH2) domains and shown to be highly expressed in the rat brain. Light microscopic immunohistochemistry showed that specific immunoreactivity was widely distributed, most abundant in neurophil, weak in neuronal somata, and absent from white matter. By electron microscopic immunohistochemistry, intense labeling is observed on synapses and concentrated in the pre- and post-synaptic plasma membranes. In subcellular fractionation analysis of brain, SH-PTP2 was mainly observed in the particulate fraction, particularly in myelin and synaptosomes. SH-PTP2 was further recovered in the synaptic plasma membrane. SH-PTP2 was extracted from brain membrane with a detergent such as Triton X-100 or Nonidet P-40 but not with 1 M NaCl. Furthermore, SH-PTP2 was coimmunoprecipitated with a 100 kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated membrane protein, which may couple SH-PTP2 to brain membranes. These results suggest that SH-PTP2 associates with synaptic membranes and may play a role in the synaptic communications in the brain.

Animals↗

Developmental changes in the prothoracicotropic hormone content of the Bombyx mori brain-retrocerebral complex and hemolymph: analysis by immunogold electron microscopy, quantitative image analysis, and time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay.

The insect brain neuropeptide, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), elicits the molting process by stimulating ecdysteroidogenesis in the prothoracic glands. Changes in the subcellular distribution of PTTH during the fifth larval instar and larval-pupal metamorphosis of Bombyx were investigated using immunogold electron microscopy and computerized image analysis. A time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay was employed to quantify the hemolymph PTTH titer and the hemolymph ecdysteroid titer was determined by radioimmunoassay. Immunoreactivity was apparent only in the cytoplasm of two pairs of dorsal-lateral neurosecretory cells (La) in the brain, the prothoracicotropes, and their axons that traverse the peripheral area of the brain neuropil and then enter the neurohemal lobes of the corpora cardiaca and end in the corpora allata. Immunospecificity was evident as noted by the restriction of the 5-nm gold particles to the neurosecretory granules. Synaptic contacts were noted frequently between the dendritic collaterals of the prothoracicotropes and neighboring collaterals from other neurons. The morphological data suggest that PTTH is synthesized and released throughout the fifth larval instar. The concentration of gold particles in the neurosecretory granules and the number of neurosecretory granules increased five times during the fifth instar, and these increases were correlated with surges in the hemolymph PTTH and ecdysteroid titers. The data suggest that PTTH biosynthesis, secretory granule formation, and secretion are three continuous and almost synchronized events.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Distribution of protein kinase C (alpha, beta, gamma subtypes) in normal nerve fibers and in regenerating growth cones of the rat peripheral nervous system.

The distribution of protein kinase C (alpha, beta, gamma subtypes) was studied using immunocytochemical techniques in normal nerve fibers and in regenerating sprouts (growth cones) from the nodes of Ranvier following crush injuries to the rat peripheral nervous system. In normal nerves, for each protein kinase C subtype, immunoreactivity was present in both myelinated and unmyelinated axons. In myelinated axons, immunoreactivity for all three subtypes was patchy in the axoplasm and diffuse in the subaxolemmal peripheral zones. No immunoreactivity was found in the microtubule and neurofilament (cytoskeletal) domain. In contrast, in unmyelinated axons, immunoreactivity was distributed diffusely in the axoplasm. Schwann cells of myelinated fibers exhibited protein kinase C immunoreactivity, but those of unmyelinated fibers did not. In regenerating nerves, early sprouts and growth cones extending through the crushed site along Schwann cell basal laminae exhibited intense immunoreactivity for all three subtypes. Immunoreactivity was distributed diffusely throughout the axoplasm of the regenerating sprouts (growth cones), in which microtubules and neurofilaments were very rare. Thus, the subcellular localization of the protein kinase C immunoreactivity in growth cones of early regenerating nerves differed from that of normal parent axons. These findings suggest that protein kinase C (alpha, beta and gamma subtypes), whose subcellular distribution becomes more extensive in regenerating axons, may have important functional roles in axonal sprouting and in the regulation of growth cone activity in the peripheral nervous system.

Animals↗

Localization of N-cadherin in the normal and regenerating nerve fibers of the chicken peripheral nervous system.

The localization of N-cadherin in the normal, and regenerating nerve fibers was investigated by immunocytochemistry in the chicken sciatic nerve. The normal unmyelinated fibers exhibited N-cadherin immunoreactivity on the plasma membranes of axons and Schwann cells where they were in contact with each other, while myelinated fibers displayed no immunoreactivity except at the mesaxon where Schwann cell plasma membranes were attached to each other. In the regenerating nerves, intense immunoreactivity was demonstrated on the surface of plasma membranes of axons and Schwann cells where axon-axon and axon-Schwann cell contacts were made. No immunoreactivity was observed on the plasma membranes where regenerating axons or Schwann cells were in touch with the basal lamina. In addition, it was revealed that some vesicles in the growth cones had distinct N-cadherin immunoreactivity at the inner limiting membrane surface. These findings indicate that N-cadherin may be involved in the axon-axon and axon-Schwann cell adhesion in the normal unmyelinated as well as regenerating nerve fibers, and also in the attachment of Schwann cell processes at the mesaxon of myelinated fibers. In addition, these findings suggest that N-cadherin might be, at least in part, supplied by fusion of growth cone vesicles with the surface plasma membranes in growing axons.

Animals↗

Localization of Rabphilin-3A on the synaptic vesicle.

Rabphilin-3A is a putative target protein for Rab3A small GTP-binding protein which is implicated in neurotransmitter release. Rabphilin-3A is expressed mainly in brain, but its subcellular localization remains to be clarified. Immunohistochemical analysis has revealed that Rabphilin-3A is most abundant in the synaptic area of the rat cerebellum, retina, and neuromuscular junction. Ultrastructural analysis of the neuromuscular junction using the immunogold method indicates that Rabphilin-3A is localized on the synaptic vesicle. Subcellular fractionation analysis of rat brain has shown that Rabphilin-3A is most highly concentrated in the purified synaptic vesicle fraction. These results indicate that Rabphilin-3A is localized on the synaptic vesicle in the presynapse.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Assignment of disulfide bond location in prothoracicotropic hormone of the silkworm, Bombyx mori: a homodimeric peptide.

The disulfide bond location of a homodimeric peptide, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, was determined by a combination of partial reduction and sequence analysis of peptide fragments generated through a partial reduction of PTTH followed by alkylation and enzyme digestion. The partial reduction and S-alkylation broke the interchain disulfide bond but did not affect the intrachain disulfide bonds, generating monomeric PTTH whose intrachain disulfide bonds were kept intact. This monomeric PTTH has about one-half the biological activity of intact PTTH. Sequence analysis of the fragments generated by lysyl endopeptidase digestion of this monomeric PTTH after complete reduction and S-alkylation by another S-alkylating reagent showed that only the Cys15 residue was reduced and S-alkylated by the foregoing partial reduction, indicating that this residue formed the interchain disulfide bond. The other disulfide bonds which formed intrachain bridgings were determined by sequence and mass analyses of the fragments generated by two successive enzyme digestions of the monomeric PTTH. In conclusion, the disulfide bond location of PTTH was assigned to Cys15-Cys15' as an interchain disulfide linkage and Cys17-Cys54, Cys40-Cys96, and Cys48-Cys98 as intrachain disulfide linkages.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The herbal medicine sho-saiko-to inhibits proliferation of cancer cell lines by inducing apoptosis and arrest at the G0/G1 phase.

Water-soluble ingredients of the herbal medicine sho-saiko-to dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (KIM-1) and a cholangiocarcinoma cell line (KMC-1). Fifty % effective doses on day 3 of exposure to sho-saiko-to were 353.5 +/- 32.4 micrograms/ml for KIM-1 and 236.3 +/- 26.5 micrograms/ml for KMC-1. However, almost no suppressive effects were detected in normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes or normal rat hepatocytes. Sho-saiko-to suppressed the proliferation of the carcinoma cell lines significantly more strongly than did each of its major ingredients, i.e., saikosaponin a, c, and d, ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1, glycyrrhizin, baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin, or another herbal medicine, juzen-taiho-to (P < 0.05 or 0.005). Because such ingredients are barely soluble in water, there could be synergistic or additive effects of the ingredients in sho-saiko-to. Morphological, DNA, and cell cycle analyses revealed two possible modes of action of sho-saiko-to to suppress the proliferation of carcinoma cells; (a) it induces apoptosis in the early period of exposure and (b) it induces arrest at the G0/G1 phase in the late period of exposure.

Bile Duct Neoplasms↗

Localization of rabphilin-3A, a putative target protein for Rab3A, at the sites of Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis in PC12 cells.

Rab3A/Smg 25A, a small GTP-binding protein, is highly concentrated in presynapse of neurons and implicated in neurotransmitter release. We have recently identified a putative target protein for Rab3A, isolated its cDNA, and designated it as Rabphilin-3A. To examine whether Rabphilin-3A as well as Rab3A is localized at the sites of Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis, we investigated here localization of Rabphilin-3A and Rab3A in comparison with the sites of exocytosis in the differentiated PC12 cells. Rabphilin-3A as well as Rab3A was highly concentrated at the tips of the neurites where Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis took place. Inversely, neither Rabphilin-3A nor Rab3A was concentrated at the tips of the neurites where Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis did not take place. These results suggest that Rabphilin-3A as well as Rab3A constitutes a part of the machinery necessary for neurotransmitter release.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Effect of low-dose cyclosporin A on systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of low-dose cyclosporin A (CSA) treatment on disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: All patients in the study had active disease as defined by at least the presence of a low CH50 level. Patients were initially given 3 mg/kg/day of CSA. Dosages were adjusted individually at every visit, according to both clinical and laboratory data. RESULTS: Eleven women with SLE were enrolled in the study; 10 were evaluable. After 20 weeks of CSA treatment, the mean score for disease activity on the SLE Disease Activity Index decreased significantly, from 10.6 to 3.8 (P = 0.02). The titer of antinuclear antibodies decreased in 8 patients and the level of anti-DNA antibodies decreased in 5. Side effects included hypertension (40%), hypertrichosis (30%), gingival hypertrophy (10%), and a rise in the blood urea nitrogen level. Serum creatinine levels remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: The favorable responses observed in our patients strongly suggest that low-dose CSA can reduce the disease activity of SLE.

Adult↗

The effect of leukotriene C4 on the permeability of brain capillary endothelial cell monolayer.

The role of leukotrienes as mediator of brain edema is still controversial. Recently, the ability of gamma-GTP to act as enzymatic barrier and to inactivate leukotrienes in normal brain capillaries was pointed out. A hypothesis tested in our experiments was that Leukotriene C4 (LTC4) increases permeability of a cerebral capillary endothelial monolayer which lacks gamma-GTP activity. Brain capillary endothelial cells were obtained of 10 rats from cerebral cortex by an enzymatic isolation procedure. The cells have an intact function, however, lack gamma-GTP activity. The endothelial cells were cultured on an optically clear collagen membrane mounted on a plastic frame. Effects of bradykinin (1 x 10(-5) M) and LTC4 (1 x 10(-7) M, 1 x 10(-6) M, 5 x 10(-6) M, 1 x 10(-5) M) were tested on permeability of the endothelial cell monolayer by measuring leakage of 14C-sucrose. The effect of LTC4 and bradykinin on intracellular calcium was studied by laser scanning confocal microscopy. LTC4 did not increase permeability of the brain capillary endothelial cell monolayer which lacked gamma-GTP activity. LTC4 did neither increase the concentration of intracellular calcium. Differences of LTC4 receptor function in normal brain capillaries and tumor capillaries remain to be studied.

Animals↗

Localization of protein kinase C alpha, beta and gamma subspecies in sensory axon terminals of the rat muscle spindle.

The localization of protein kinase C (PKC) alpha, beta and gamma subspecies in sensory axon terminals of muscle spindles in the plantar lumbrical muscles of rat was investigated by light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Immunoreactivity for these subspecies was detected specifically in sensory axon terminals which wound spirally around the intrafusal muscle fibres of the muscle spindle. Immunostaining was found to be stronger with polyclonal than with monoclonal antibodies. By electron microscopy, immunoreactivity for alpha, beta and gamma subspecies was almost diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm of the axon terminal, and the overall pattern of distribution of immunoreactivity was similar for all three subspecies. In the cases of alpha and beta subspecies, some intensely immunostained regions were found in the cytoplasm, but no definite subcellular structures corresponding to such regions could be identified. Considering that PKC plays a crucial role in the regulation of ion channels, it is suggested that PKC might be involved in the control of mechanoelectric transduction in sensory axon terminals.

Animals↗

Motor axon terminal regeneration as studied by protein gene product 9.5 immunohistochemistry in the rat.

Normal intact and regenerating axon terminals up to 30 days after nerve crushing were studied in the rat flexor carpi ulnaris muscle by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and electron microscopy using immunohistochemistry for protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5). The motor axons were intensely and homogeneously stained along their entire length. "Three dimensional" organizations of elaborate axon terminals were clearly demonstrated by reconstructing serial optical images obtained by CLSM in normal neuromuscular junctions. In the injured nerve, the earliest regenerating axons could be identified at endplate regions six days after nerve crushing as intensely immunoreactive thin processes which bifurcated in T-shape and formed delicate lace-like terminals. Such lace-like terminals were composed of fine thread-like portions 0.2-0.8 microm in diameter and expanded portions of 2-3 microm in diameter. Electron microscopy revealed that all the axon terminals in the cytoplasm were stained almost homogeneously by PGP 9.5 immunohistochemistry up to their extreme tips. Axon terminals were in direct contact with the basal lamina of the postsynaptic folds, and showed occasional branching. The thin thread-like portions contained no mitochondria but only a few vesicles, where as the expanded portions, abundant mitochondria. And preterminal axons and some expanded portions were abutted by Schwann cells, while thin thread-like portions were exposed with no association with Schwann cells. Twenty to 30 days after crushing injury, regenerating motor axon terminals resumed their mature form in terms of branching elaborations and ultrastructural features. Thus, CLSM of PGP 9.5 immunocytochemistry combined with electron microscopy was able to demonstrate the "three-dimensional" organization of elaborate axon terminals at high resolution in the normal and regenerating neuromuscular junctions. Using this technique, extremely fine processes of axonal terminals were identifiable at the earliest stage of reinnervation.

Animals↗

[Detection of HTLV-I proviral DNA by PCR method from bronchoalveolar lavage cells of HTLV-I carriers].

To elucidate whether or not human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infected cells exist in the lungs of HTLV-I carriers, we examined bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells for the presence of HTLV-I proviral DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The cells were harvested from HTLV-I seropositive individuals with or without various respiratory diseases. The HTLV-I pX region was detected from separated BAL cells by dot blot hybridization after PCR in all 14 HTLV-I seropositive individuals tested. Four out of these 14 individuals were asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers, while the other ten had symptoms, including those of bacterial pneumonia, chronic respiratory tract infection, interstitial pneumonia, atypical mycobacterial infection, bronchitis, mediastinal lymphadenitis and bronchial asthma. HTLV-I proviral DAN was detected in BAL cells from patients with a normal proportion of lavage lymphocytes and a normal CD4/CD8 ratio. These findings suggest that HTLV-I infected cells may commonly exist in the lower respiratory tract and alveolar space without producing characteristic symptoms/signs, and that any causal relation to the pulmonary lesion must therefore be carefully elucidated, in HTLV-I carriers.

Aged↗

Synaptophysin immunocytochemistry in the regenerating sprouts from the nodes of Ranvier in injured rat sciatic nerve.

Following crush injury of rat sciatic nerve, strong synaptophysin immunoreactivity was demonstrated in the regenerating sprouts that emerged from the proximal nodes of Ranvier and in their growth cones that extended through the space between Schwann cell basal lamina and myelin sheath of the parent axon. These findings suggest that synaptophysin is involved in the growth regulation of regenerating sprouts.

Animals↗

Anti-KCA-3, a monoclonal antibody reactive with a rat complement C3 receptor, distinguishes Kupffer cells from other macrophages.

A new mAb, designated anti-KCA-3, was developed against rat Kupffer cells. The reactivity of anti-KCA-3 was restricted to macrophages with preferential binding to Kupffer cells; only a few macrophages in the spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, and intestine stained with the antibody. A very small number of peritoneal resident and exudate macrophages reacted with the antibody and no reactivity was seen within the thymus, skin, heart, kidneys, brain, peripheral blood, and bone marrow. KCA-3 was expressed predominantly by the Kupffer cells in the periportal region rather than in the centrilobular region of the hepatic lobules. The cells in the portal tract did not stain with the antibody. The staining of the cytosmears and FACS analysis of the Kupffer cell fraction isolated from hepatic sinusoidal cells by centrifugal elutriation revealed that as many as 62% and 49% of the cells were stained with anti-KCA-3, respectively. Immunoelectron microscopic study of the liver indicated that expression of KCA-3 on Kupffer cells was limited to the plasma membrane facing the sinusoid rather than the space of Disse. Immunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated KCA-3 to have a m.w. of approximately 50 kDa under both reducing and nonreducing conditions. After treatment of KCA-3 with N-glycanase, there was no significant change in the m.w., indicating KCA-3 was not highly glycosylated. C3b- and iC3b-mediated rosette formation between Kupffer cells and sensitized SRBC was inhibited by the antibody, implying that KCA-3 functioned as a complement C3 receptor or complement receptor-associated molecule. Furthermore, KCA-3 was eluted from C3b-Sepharose but not HSA-Sepharose after incubation with Kupffer cell lysate, indicating that KCA-3 directly binds C3b. The cell distribution, ligand-binding specificity, and biochemical properties of the protein were found to be different from the complement C3 receptors previously described. Because OX42 (antibody reactive with the rat CR3 receptor) inhibited complement C3-mediated rosette formation with peritoneal resident macrophages but not with Kupffer cells, the findings suggest that C3-mediated binding to Kupffer cells and to peritoneal macrophages is mediated by two different receptors. We conclude that anti-KCA-3 recognizes a novel type of complement C3 receptor preferentially expressed on Kupffer cells.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural localization of protein kinase C beta-subspecies in the axon terminal of rat neuromuscular junction.

Ultrastructural localization of protein kinase C (PKC) beta-subspecies in neuromuscular junctions of the rat lumbrical muscle was investigated by the immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence methods. By light microscopy, PKC beta-like immunoreactivity (PKC beta-LIR) was found in the axon terminal expansions as well as in the preterminal axons. By confocal laser scanning microscopy, the staining for PKC beta-like immunoreactivity was more intense in the presynaptic regions just in contact with the acetylcholine receptor stained by FITC-alpha-bungarotoxin. By electron microscopy, PKC beta-like immunoreactivity was distributed non-uniformly in the terminal expansions. In the terminal expansions, PKC beta-like immunoreactivity was accumulated in the presynaptic regions in contact with the post-synaptic folds. This accumulation was approximately 0.1-0.2 microns in diameter, which comprised a part of the presynaptic plasma membrane and a group of synaptic vesicles adjacent to it. Weak immunoreactivity was also found diffusely in the axoplasmic matrix. The discrete presynaptic accumulation of PKC beta-subspecies may represent the strategical localization specialized for the effective regulation of neurotransmitter release.

Animals↗