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A Nagamatsu

Publications and source records attributed to A Nagamatsu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Two molecular species of oxytocinase (L-cystine aminopeptidase) in human placenta: purification and characterization.

Two different forms of oxytocinase (L-cystine aminopeptidase, CAP; EC 3.4.11.3) were purified from the 9000 g and 105000 g precipitate fractions of human placenta homogenate by sequential chromatography on columns of hydroxyapatite, DE-32, nickel ion affinity, and Sephadex G-200. One species (CAP-I) purifed from the mitochondrial/lysosomal fraction migrated on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular mass of 61 kDa; the other (CAP-II) from the microsomal fraction was composed of two subunits with molecular masses of 56 and 40 kDa. The molecular masses of CAP-I and CAP-II estimated by gel filtration were 64 and 97 kDa, respectively. The specific activities of the two species for S-benzyl-L-cysteine p-nitroanilide increased by 357- (for CAP-I) and 139-fold (for CAP-II) compared with the starting preparations. The optimal pH values toward the artificial substrate were approx. 7.4-8.0 for CAP-I and 6.8-8.0 for CAP-II. The Km and Vmax values toward oxytocin were 5.6 microM and 23.4 micromol/h/mg protein for CAP-I, and 38 microM and 15.6 micromol/h/mg protein for CAP-II. Both enzymes were inhibited by the metal-chelating agents, EDTA and o-phenanthroline, whereas they were specifically activated by addition of Co2+: CAP-I was more sensitive to these reagents than CAP-II. L-Methionine strongly inhibited CAP-I, while CAP-II activity was only slightly affected. CAP-II was more sensitive to amastatin than CAP-I. Thus, the two enzymes are quite distinct in their molecular nature and biochemical properties. They may play a regulatory role in the metabolism of oxytocin and other biologically active peptides in intact placenta.

Cystinyl Aminopeptidase↗
PubMed1997

Fatty liver in a case with heterozygous familial hypobetalipoproteinemia.

We herein present a case of fatty liver in a patient with heterozygous familial hypobetalipoproteinemia. A 34-yr-old male presented with abnormally elevated levels of transaminases and a fatty liver. He was asymptomatic, and the physical examination showed nothing remarkable. The serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B levels all ranged from low normal to one-half normal. His other laboratory data were all in the normal range. The patient's body mass index measured was 25.7 kg/m2, and he did not demonstrate obesity. He had no history of alcohol consumption. It was thus thought that the fatty liver in this case might be associated with heterozygous hypobetalipoproteinemia. Heterozygous hypobetalipoproteinemia with a bright liver by ultrasound was also found in several of the patient's family members. Based on these rare findings, heterozygous hypobetalipoproteinemia should thus be considered as a possible cause in patients presenting with an unexplained fatty liver.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Liver haem metabolism in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats.

1. Adjuvant-induced arthritic (AA) rats show a striking decrease in the level of cytochrome P450, a key microsomal haemoprotein involved in electron transport and drug metabolism in the liver. In the present study, we examined the relationship between the reduction of P450 content and haem metabolism in the liver of AA rats. 2. The activities of many enzymes catalyzing the biosynthesis of haem in the liver were significantly higher in AA rats than in normal rats, whereas only coproporphyrinogen oxidase activity in AA rats was markedly lower than that in normal rats. Furthermore, the activity of haem oxygenase, a key enzyme in the haem degradative pathway, increased significantly in AA rats. In addition, the degree of increase in the activity of this enzyme was clearly higher than that in the activity of 5-aminolevulinate synthase, a key enzyme in the haem synthetic pathway. 3. These results suggest that the reduction of live P450 content in AA rats is based on the lowering of liver haem content due to the combined action of the increased haem oxygenase activity and the decreased coproporphyrinogen oxidase activity. The changes in these enzyme activities were apparently suppressed by the continuous administration of indomethacin, which improved the arthritic states of the animals.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗
PubMed1995

Sphingomyelinase and cell-permeable ceramide analogs increase the release of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 from cultured endothelial cells.

We investigated the effect of exogenous staphylococcal sphingomyelinase (SMase) on the release of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) from cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Addition of SMase (2 units/ml) to the culture medium induced an approx. 15-fold increase in the extracellular level of PAI-1 antigen at 3 h. No significant increase in the level of t-PA antigen was detected. Treatment of HUVEC with SMASE (2 units/ml) for 3 h resulted in a significant decrease in the cellular sphingomyelin (SM) level, accompanied by a corresponding increase in the ceramide level. Cell-permeable ceramide analogs also enhanced the release of PAI-1 from cultured HUVEC in concentration- and time-dependent manners. A 6-fold increase in PAI-1 antigen level was observed after incubation for 3 h with 10 microM N-acetylsphingosine. Similar effect was noted as early as 2 h with 10 microM N-hexyanoylsphingosine. Addition of sphingosine failed to affect the release of PAI-1 from cultured HUVEC, indicating that the effects of ceramide analogs were independent of sphingosine generation. Pretreatment with cycloheximide or actinomycin D abated the response of HUVEC to N-acetylsphingosine in the increased levels of both extracellular and intracellular PAI-1. These results suggest that ceramide, generated via "SM cycle", acts as a lipid mediator of PAI-1 release from vascular endothelial cells, and may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the PAI-1-associated thrombotic disorders.

Cell Membrane Permeability↗
PubMed1995

Oversulfated fucoidan and heparin suppress endotoxin induction of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in cultured human endothelial cells: their possible mechanism of action.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a primary endogenous inhibitor of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). In this study, we examined the effects of oversulfated fucoidan (OSF) derivatives and heparin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of PAI-1 antigen from cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Addition of LPS (10 micrograms/ml) enhanced the release of PAI-1 by HUVEC but not of t-PA antigen. At 18 h, a 2.4-fold increase in the extracellular PAI-1 level was observed. The increased PAI-1 level was reduced to control level by the simultaneous addition of 10 micrograms/ml of OSF or heparin. The suppressive effect of native fucoidan was negligible. We also examined the molecular size effect of OSF, using 10-20, 20-40, and 40-60 kDa fragments. The result indicated that these fragments were effective as well as the 100-130 kDa form of OSF, hence suggesting an important role of the degree of sulfation. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) is a potent inducer of PAI-1 in cultured HUVEC. Heparin, OSF, and its fragments did not suppress the IL-1 beta-induced release of PAI-1 antigen. Treatment of HUVEC with heparitinase or monoclonal antibody against heparin sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) resulted in a complete loss of its ability to enhance PAI-1 release in response to LPS stimulation, while the chondroitinase ABC treatment hardly affected the PAI-1 production. These results suggest that HSPG is involved in the initial binding of LPS to HUVEC. The suppressive effects of OSF and heparin on LPS-induced PAI-1 release may result from the inhibition of LPS binding to the cell surface HSPG.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1995

An aminopeptidase activity from porcine kidney that hydrolyzes oxytocin and vasopressin: purification and partial characterization.

An aminopeptidase from porcine kidney, hydrolyzing oxytocin and vasopressin in vitro, was purified by chromatography on hydroxyapatite, DEAE-cellulose and nickel ion chelate gel and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The enzyme appeared to be a high molecular mass (M(r) 105,000) monomeric protein. It was sensitive to inhibition by metal chelator, o-phenanthroline. Cobalt ion and sulfhydryl activator, 2-mercaptoethanol, had activating effects, while p-chloromercuribenzoate, amino acids with large hydrophobic side chains, L-cystine and aminopeptidase inhibitors, bestatin and amastatin, had inhibitory effects on the enzyme activity. The enzyme hydrolyzed several aminoacyl p-nitroanilides, and had the highest specificity against S-benzyl-L-cysteine p-nitroanilide. The properties of the enzyme were distinct from those of well-characterized leucyl aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1), membrane alanyl aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2) and primate placental cystinyl aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.3).

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1995

Fatty acyl-Co A: sphingosine acyltransferase in bovine brain mitochondria: its solubilization and reconstitution onto the membrane lipid liposomes.

Fatty acyl-Co A: sphingosine acyltransferase (ceramide synthase, EC 2.3.1.24) is mainly localized in the microsomal and mitochondrial membranes. Attempts to isolate the enzyme have failed, largely because there has been little or no detection of the enzyme activity in detergent extracts. In this study, we solubilized the membrane-bound enzyme from bovine brain mitochondria with a Tris-HCl buffer containing 2% Triton X-100 and, after removal of the detergent, reconstituted it with the membrane lipid liposomes. The specific activity of the reconstituted enzyme was approx. 8 times higher than that of the solubilized enzyme. We next examined the lipid dependence of the enzyme, using various phospholipid liposomes. The ability of phospholipids to enhance the activity of solubilized ceramide synthase was specific and structure-related. The most potent stimulator was phosphatidylserine liposomes, suggesting an important role of the net negative charges. This paper also describes a highly reproducible high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure for the determination of ceramide synthase activity. Combination of the HPLC method with the reconstituted enzyme system appears to be suitable for elucidating the characteristics of this enzyme.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1994

Aminated fucoidan promotes the invasion of 3 LL cells through reconstituted basement membrane: its possible mechanism of action.

Fucoidan is reported to have an antimetastatic activity. In the present study, we prepared an amino group-introduced derivative of fucoidan and examined its effect on the invasion of 3 LL cells through a reconstituted basement membrane (MatrigelTM). Unlike native fucoidan, the aminated derivative promoted the tumor cell invasion: maximal promotion (240% of control invasion) was obtained with 5 micrograms/ml. However, with higher concentrations (10-30 micrograms/ml) of the fucoidan derivative, the promotion was gradually reduced to 130% of control. Both native and aminated fucoidans inhibited specifically the attachment of 3 LL cells to laminin. Interestingly, aminated fucoidan, unlike the native one, promoted the tumor cell adhesion to immobilized synthetic laminin B 1 chain peptide, YIGSR, over a concentration range of 0.5-5 micrograms/ml. Higher concentrations (7-20 micrograms/ml) of the aminated derivative suppressed the adhesive ability of 3 LL cells to YIGSR. 3 LL cells secreted a 50-kDa form of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) in the culture medium. Addition of aminated fucoidan (5 micrograms/ml) or YIGSR (10 micrograms/ml) resulted in a 1.7-fold increase in u-PA activity. This effect was enhanced up to 3.5-fold when both substances were simultaneously added. The addition of native fucoidan had no effect. The present results suggest that the 67-kDa receptor-mediated binding of 3 LL cells to laminin activates their invasiveness, especially by enhancing the extracellular u-PA levels. Aminated, but not native, fucoidan may act to enhance the laminin-receptor interaction at the limited concentration range.

Amination↗
PubMed1994

Regulation of prolyl oligopeptidase activity in regenerating rat liver.

We have previously shown that the naturally occurring polyamines, spermidine and spermine, reverse effectively the in vitro inhibition of prolyl oligopeptidase (POPase) by its endogenous inhibitor by forming a kinetically significant complex (Soeda et al., J. Neurochem. (1986) 46, 1304-1307). In this study, we examined changes in the activities of POPase and its endogenous inhibitor and in the concentrations of polyamines during the regeneration of rat liver. POPase activity in the liver cytosol peaked 2 days after partial hepatectomy and then decreased near to control activity by 9 days, without its altered synthetic levels. Total polyamine concentrations also peaked at 2 days and remained elevated by 9 days, while cytosolic POPase inhibitor activity was minimal (56% of control) at 2 days. Treatment of the animals with a synthetic POPase inhibitor, Z-Gly-Pro-CHN2 (4 mg/kg), resulted in an obvious suppression of the liver regeneration. These results imply that the activity of POPase involved in nonlysosomal proteolytic pathway is exquisitely regulated by changes not only in its endogenous inhibitor levels but also in intracellular cationic potentials such as polyamines, and that POPase plays a crucial role for the growth and differentiation of liver cell.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Inhibitory effect of oversulfated fucoidan on invasion through reconstituted basement membrane by murine Lewis lung carcinoma.

We investigated the effects of native, oversulfated, and desulfated fucoidans and heparin on the invasion of 3 LL cells through Matrigel. Of the four polysaccharides tested, oversulfated fucoidan was the most potent inhibitor of tumor cell invasion and inhibited most potently and specifically the tumor cell adhesion to laminin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the binding of elastase-cleaved laminin to fucoidan- and heparin-Sepharoses showed that both polysaccharides bound to the 62 and 56 kDa fragments. Pretreatment of 3LL cells with native or oversulfated fucoidan reduced their adhesive potency to laminin. The two fucoidans inhibited further the laminin binding of 3 LL cells which had been pretreated with a laminin-based pentapeptide, YIGSR. These results suggest that fucoidan specifically binds to not only the heparin binding domain(s) of laminin but also site(s) other than the cell surface laminin receptor. 3 LL cells secreted a 50 kDa form of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). The extracellular level of u-PA activity was increased 1.7 times by addition of laminin but not type IV collagen. Oversulfated fucoidan most potently reduced the increased u-PA levels. Therefore, the reduction in in vitro invasiveness of 3 LL cells in response to either fucoidan or its oversulfated derivative may result from an inhibition of physical interaction between the tumor cells and the Matrigel (laminin), followed by a suppression of the laminin-induced increase in extracellular u-PA.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1994

Preparation of aminated fucoidan and its evaluation as an antithrombotic and antilipemic agent.

Fucoidan, a sulfated poly(L-fucopyranose), is an effective anticoagulant in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, an aminated derivative of fucoidan was prepared and examined for its fibrinolytic and anticoagulant activities. The aminated derivative was more potent than native fucoidan as a stimulator of tissue plasminogen activator-induced plasma clot lysis, and its effectiveness was comparable to that of oversulfated fucoidan reported previously. Furthermore, the ability of aminated fucoidan to accelerate heparin cofactor II-mediated thrombin inhibition was 2.3 times more potent than that of native fucoidan. Aminated fucoidan effectively prevented endotoxin-induced hepatic vein thrombosis in hyperlipemic rats and decreased the elevated levels of serum cholesterol and triglyceride. The present results that the anticoagulant and antilipemic potency of fucoidan can be improved by charge modification may provide useful clues for the development of an ideal anticoagulant and antilipemic drug.

Amines↗
PubMed1994

Effect of adjuvant-induced arthritis on hepatic drug metabolism in rats.

1. Hepatic drug metabolism was investigated in normal, adjuvant-induced arthritic (AA), indomethacin-treated AA and prednisolone-treated AA rats. The contents of P450 and b5 and the activities of NADH-b5 reductase (fp2), NADPH-ferrihaemoprotein reductase, P450 mixed function oxidase, FAD-monooxygenase and several enzymes involved in conjugation were remarkably lower in AA than in normal rats. 2. Many of the decreased enzyme activities were restored to normal levels by the continuous administration (3 weeks) of indomethacin or prednisolone, which improved the arthritic states of the animals. However, the restoration of FAD-monooxygenase activity by the administration of indomethacin or prednisolone was incomplete. The P450 and b5 contents and the fp2 activity in prednisolone-treated AA rats were also significantly lower than those in normal rats. 3. These findings indicate that the ability of the liver to metabolize drugs (both oxidation and conjugation) in AA rats is greatly decreased and that a long series of the treatment of AA rats with anti-inflammatory drugs is required to restore several enzyme activities.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Preparation of oversulfated fucoidan fragments and evaluation of their antithrombotic activities.

Oversulfated fucoidan fragments (20-40 and 40-60 kDa) were prepared, and their fibrinolytic and anticoagulant activities were compared with those of oversulfated fucoidan (100-130 kDa) reported previously [Soeda et al., Biochem. Pharmacol. 43, 1853-1858, 1992]. The results of these experiments indicated that the in vitro abilities of oversulfated fucoidan to stimulate tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA)-catalyzed plasminogen activation and to potentiate thrombin inhibition by antithrombin III or heparin cofactor II decreased with a decrease in its molecular size. However, the preventive effects of both fucoidan fragments on endotoxin-induced hepatic vein thrombosis in hyperlipemic rats were almost the same as that of oversulfated fucoidan (100-130 kDa). We also found that, unlike heparin treatment, the concentrations of serum and vascular endothelium t-PA in rats treated with oversulfated fucoidan or its fragments (1 mg each/kg/week) were maintained at normal levels. The 20-40 and 40-60 kDa fragments had an ability to decrease the elevated levels of serum cholesterol in hyperlipemic rats, whereas the 100-130 kDa fucoidan derivative did not. These results suggest that oversulfated fucoidan and its fragments have another function(s), besides the regulation of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, and are of therapeutic benefit for the prevention of thrombus formation in hyperlipemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Cytochrome P-450 in liver microsomes of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: purification and characterization.

Two diabetes-inducible forms of cytochrome P-450, named P-450ST-1 and -ST-2, were purified from the liver microsomes of streptozotocin-diabetic male rats by sodium cholate solubilization, octylamino-Sepharose 4B chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography with DEAE-5PW and hydroxyapatite columns. The purified P-450 forms gave a single band each on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with an apparent molecular weight of 48,500 for P-450ST-1 or 48,000 for P-450ST-2. The CO-reduced spectral maxima of P-450ST-1 and -ST-2 were at 451 nm. The two cytochromes had the low-spin state of heme in the oxidized form. Both P-450ST-1 and -ST-2 catalyzed the metabolism of aniline, benzphetamine, p-nitroanisole, testosterone and aminopyrine. However, the catalytic activity of P-450ST-2 for these substrates was apparently higher than that of ST-1. Analyses of the NH2-terminal amino-acid sequence and Western immunoblot showed that P-450ST-1 and -ST-2 differed structurally from each other. The catalytic activities, molecular weights, NH2-terminal sequences and/or immunochemical properties of P-450ST-1 and -ST-2 did not agree with those of the other cytochrome P-450 forms purified from diabetic rats previously.

Amino Acid Sequence↗