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Atsushi Miyajima

Publications and source records attributed to Atsushi Miyajima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Antigen-receptor genes of the agnathan lamprey are assembled by a process involving copy choice.

Jawless vertebrates have acquired immunity but do not have immunoglobulin-type antigen receptors. Variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) have been identified in lamprey that consist of multiple leucine-rich repeat (LRR) modules. An active VLR gene is generated by the assembly of a series of variable gene segments, including many that encode LRRs. Stepwise assembly of the gene segments seems to occur by replacement of the intervening DNA between the 5' and 3' constant-region genes. Here we report that lamprey (Lethenteron japonicum) assemble their VLR genes by a process involving 'copy choice'. Regions of short homology seemed to prime copying of donor LRR-encoding sequences into the recipient gene. Those LRR-encoding germline sequences were abundant and shared extensive sequence homologies. Such genomic organization permits initiation of copying anywhere in an LRR-encoding module for the generation of various hybrid LRRs. Thus, a vast repertoire of recombinant VLR genes could be generated not only by copying of various LRR segments in diverse combinations but also by the use of multiple sites in an LRR gene segment for priming.

Alleles↗
PubMed2006

Oncostatin M inhibits adipogenesis through the RAS/ERK and STAT5 signaling pathways.

Adipocytes play a key role in energy homeostasis and several cytokines have been shown to regulate adipogenesis. While the interleukin (IL)-6 family of cytokines was previously reported to be involved in adipogenesis, roles of this family in adipogenesis and their mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Here we show that among the IL-6 family, oncostatin M (OSM) most strongly inhibits adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). We also demonstrate that OSM inhibits adipogenesis through the Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5 signaling pathways. In addition, OSM inhibits the early phase of the differentiation without affecting cell proliferation throughout adipogenesis including mitotic clonal expansion. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) alpha, C/EBPbeta, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma are known to be required for adipogenesis. Expression of C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma was almost completely abrogated by OSM. In contrast, neither the mRNA nor protein level of C/EBPbeta was affected by OSM. Forced expression of C/EBPbeta induced differentiation in the presence of troglitazone, and OSM inhibited this C/EBPbeta-induced differentiation. Taken together, our results indicate that OSM inhibits the onset of terminal differentiation of adipocytes through the Ras/ERK and STAT5 signaling pathways by possibly regulating C/EBPbeta activity.

3T3-L1 Cells↗
PubMed2006

IL-18 produced by thymic epithelial cells induces development of dendritic cells with CD11b in the fetal thymus.

Thymic dendritic cells (DCs) are suggested to be involved in T cell selection; however, their exact origin and function remain to be established. Although DCs in the adult thymus are mostly CD8alpha(+)CD11b(-), we found that CD8alpha(-)CD11b(+) DCs were abundantly present in the fetal thymus and they possessed antigen-presenting activity. Interestingly, these CD11b(+) DCs were significantly decreased in mice deficient for TNFR-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), a key signaling molecule downstream of IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha that have been known to induce DCs from intra-thymic precursor cells. CD11b(+) DCs were induced from CD4(-)CD8(-) thymocytes by fetal thymic epithelial cells (TECs). Analysis of cytokine expression in TECs revealed that none of the cytokines previously shown to induce DCs were expressed. Instead, we found strong expression of IL-18 that transmits signals through TRAF6. IL-18 induced CD11b(+) DCs from CD4(-)CD8(-) thymocytes in vitro, which exhibited strong antigen-presenting activity and formed conjugates with CD4(+)CD8(+) T cells efficiently. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that CD11b(+) DCs are differentiated from CD4(-)CD8(-) thymocytes by IL-18 produced from TECs and that they are involved in T cell selection in the fetal thymus.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Anti-angiogenic activity of basic-type, selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 inhibitors.

Indole- and indoline-type basic COX-1-selective competitive inhibitors, 5-amino-1-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-1H-indole (1) and 5-amino-1-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole (2), were found to possess anti-angiogenic activity estimated as a tube formation-inhibition using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗
PubMed2006

Transcription elongation factor S-II is required for definitive hematopoiesis.

Transcription elongation factor S-II/TFIIS promotes readthrough of transcriptional blocks by stimulating nascent RNA cleavage activity of RNA polymerase II in vitro. The biologic significance of S-II function in higher eukaryotes, however, remains unclear. To determine its role in mammalian development, we generated S-II-deficient mice through targeted gene disruption. Homozygous null mutants died at midgestation with marked pallor, suggesting severe anemia. S-II(-/-) embryos had a decreased number of definitive erythrocytes in the peripheral blood and disturbed erythroblast differentiation in fetal liver. There was a dramatic increase in apoptotic cells in S-II(-/-) fetal liver, which was consistent with a reduction in Bcl-x(L) gene expression. The presence of phenotypically defined hematopoietic stem cells and in vitro colony-forming hematopoietic progenitors in S-II(-/-) fetal liver indicates that S-II is dispensable for the generation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. S-II-deficient fetal liver cells, however, exhibited a loss of long-term repopulating potential when transplanted into lethally irradiated adult mice, indicating that S-II deficiency causes an intrinsic defect in the self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells. Thus, S-II has critical and nonredundant roles in definitive hematopoiesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Oncostatin m maintains the hematopoietic microenvironment and retains hematopoietic progenitors in the bone marrow.

Bone marrow (BM) functions as the primary hematopoietic tissue throughout adult life by providing a microenvironment for the proliferation, differentiation, and retention of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors. We describe novel roles for oncostatin M (OSM) in the BM hematopoietic microenvironment. Hematopoietic progenitor activity in OSM-deficient mice was reduced in BM but elevated in the spleen and peripheral blood. The level of circulating granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was increased, whereas that of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) was decreased in OSM-deficient mice. Moreover, the ability of OSM-deficient BM stromal cells to support hematopoiesis in vitro was significantly reduced. These results indicate that OSM plays a unique role in hematopoiesis by maintaining the proper microenvironment for BM hematopoiesis; it also retains hematopoietic progenitors in BM by regulating G-CSF and SDF-1 levels.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Angiogenesis inhibitors derived from thalidomide.

5-Hydroxy-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1H-isoindole-1,3-dione (5HPP-33: 10), which was obtained during our previous structural development studies on thalidomide, was revealed to possess potent anti-angiogenic activity in a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) assay. Thalidomide (1) and its metabolite, 5-hydroxythalidomide (5-HT: 2), which possesses a hydroxyl group at the position corresponding to that of 5HPP-33, as well as IMiDs (immunomodulatory derivatives of thalidomide: 3 and 5), also showed weak or moderate activity in the same assay.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗
PubMed2005

Expression of neuritin during liver maturation and regeneration.

Cell surface molecules are not only important for cell-cell interactions but also useful for a marker to define cell types and differentiation stages. Unlike hematopoietic system in which numerous such antigens have been identified, only a few cell surface molecules have been used to define differentiation stage of hepatocytes. In order to identify such cell surface molecules, we performed DNA microarray analysis using mRNA from fetal hepatocytes in E12.5 and E17.5 mice and cDNAs encoding a membrane protein were selected. Northern blot analysis was employed to confirm the genes upregulated during maturation of fetal hepatocytes and neuritin, a GPI-anchored protein, was found as a membrane protein expressed in hepatocytes, but not in nonparenchymal cells. Its expression increased along with liver development and the maximum expression was achieved from the neonatal to adult stage. The neuritin protein was localized in sinusoidal lumen of hepatocytes in adult liver. Partial hepatectomy transiently downregulated the expression of neuritin. The expression of neuritin mRNA in C/EBPalpha deficient liver was reduced to about 50% of that of wild type mice. Thus, neuritin expression is well correlated to the maturation of hepatocytes and can be a useful tool to define the differentiation stage of hepatocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Selective activation of STAT5 unveils its role in stem cell self-renewal in normal and leukemic hematopoiesis.

Although the concept of a leukemic stem cell system has recently been well accepted, its nature and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Constitutive activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and STAT5 is frequently detected in various hematopoietic tumors. To evaluate their role in normal and leukemic stem cells, we took advantage of constitutively active STAT mutants to activate STAT signaling selectively in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Activation of STAT5 in CD34- c-Kit+ Sca-1+ lineage marker- (CD34- KSL) HSCs led to a drastic expansion of multipotential progenitors and promoted HSC self-renewal ex vivo. In sharp contrast, STAT3 was demonstrated to be dispensable for the HSC maintenance in vivo, and its activation facilitated lineage commitment of HSCs in vitro. In a mouse model of myeloproliferative disease (MPD), sustained STAT5 activation in CD34- KSL HSCs but not in CD34+ KSL multipotential progenitors induced fatal MPD, indicating that the capacity of STAT5 to promote self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells is crucial to MPD development. Our findings collectively establish a specific role for STAT5 in self-renewal of normal as well as leukemic stem cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Runx1 promotes angiogenesis by downregulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3.

Mouse embryos lacking the Runx1 transcription factor exhibit an angiogenic defect accompanied by the absence of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). To ask whether Runx1 plays a direct role in angiogenesis, we established a novel endothelial progenitor cell line, designated AEL-DeltaR1, from the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region of Runx1-null mouse. We introduced Runx1 cDNA into AEL-DeltaR1 cells under the doxycycline-inducible promoter. The ability of AEL-DeltaR1 cells to form vascular networks on matrigel was highly enhanced by the restored expression of Runx1. By molecular comparison of mRNAs in AEL-DeltaR1 cells before and after the induction of Runx1, we found that mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) is downregulated by Runx1. Gel retardation and reporter assays revealed that Runx1 binds to the promoter region of mouse IGFBP-3 gene and represses its transcription. When IGFBP-3 was exogenously added in the matrigel assay, the angiogenesis-enhancing activity of Runx1 was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that Runx1 is directly involved in angiogenesis by repression of IGFBP-3 mRNA expression.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Podocalyxin is a CD34-related marker of murine hematopoietic stem cells and embryonic erythroid cells.

Podocalyxin/podocalyxin-like protein 1 [PCLP1]/thrombomucin/MEP21 is a CD34-related sialomucin. We have performed a detailed analysis of its expression during murine development and assessed its utility as a marker of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their more differentiated progeny. We find that podocalyxin is highly expressed by the first primitive hematopoietic progenitors and nucleated red blood cells to form in the embryonic yolk sac. Likewise, podocalyxin is expressed by definitive multilineage hematopoietic progenitors and erythroid precursors in fetal liver. The level of podocalyxin expression gradually declines with further embryo maturation and reaches near-background levels at birth. This is followed by a postnatal burst of expression that correlates with the seeding of new hematopoietic progenitors to the spleen and bone marrow. Shortly thereafter, podocalyxin expression gradually declines, and by 4 weeks postpartum it is restricted to a rare population of Sca-1(+), c-kit(+), lineage marker(-) (Lin(-)) cells in the bone marrow. These rare podocalyxin-expressing cells are capable of serially reconstituting myeloid and lymphoid lineages in lethally irradiated recipients, suggesting they have HSC activity. In summary, we find that podocalyxin is a marker of embryonic HSCs and erythroid cells and of adult HSCs and that it may be a valuable marker for the purification of these cells for transplantation.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

TEF, an antiapoptotic bZIP transcription factor related to the oncogenic E2A-HLF chimera, inhibits cell growth by down-regulating expression of the common beta chain of cytokine receptors.

Gain and/or loss of function mediated by chimeric transcription factors generated by nonrandom translocations in leukemia is a key to understanding oncogenesis. E2A-hepatic leukemia factor (HLF), a chimeric basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor expressed in t(17;19)-positive leukemia cells, contributes to leukemogenesis through its potential to inhibit apoptosis. To identify physiologic counterparts of this chimera, we investigated the function of other bZIP factors that bind to the same DNA sequence recognized by E2A-HLF. Here, we show that thyrotroph embryonic factor (TEF), which shares a high level of sequence identity with HLF and recognizes the same DNA sequence, is expressed in a small fraction of each subset of hematolymphoid progenitors. When TEF was introduced into FL5.12 interleukin 3 (IL-3)-dependent cells, TEF protected the cells from apoptosis due to IL-3 deprivation. Unexpectedly, TEF also almost completely down-regulated expression of the common beta (betac) chain of cytokine receptors. Consequently, TEF-expressing cells accumulated in G(0)/G(1) phase without undergoing apoptosis. These findings suggest that TEF is one of the apoptotic regulators in hematopoietic progenitors and controls hematopoietic-cell proliferation by regulating the expression of the betac chain. In contrast, E2A-HLF promoted cell survival more efficiently than TEF but did not down-regulate betac chain expression, suggesting that E2A-HLF retains ideal properties for driving leukemic transformation.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Oncostatin M inhibits proliferation of rat oval cells, OC15-5, inducing differentiation into hepatocytes.

Oval cells of the liver participate in liver regeneration when hepatocytes are prevented from proliferating in response to liver damage. To clarify the role of oncostatin M (OSM) in the liver regeneration involving oval cells, we examined the expression of OSM and OSM-specific receptor (OSM-R) in the liver undergoing regeneration in the 2-acetylaminofluorene/partial hepatectomy model. Expression levels of OSM-R changed in correlation to the number of oval cells, and its expression was exclusively observed in oval cells. On the other hand, OSM was expressed in both oval cells and Kupffer cells. To examine the effect of OSM on the growth and differentiation of oval cells, rat oval cells (OC15-5) were incubated in conditioned medium of 293T cells expressing rat OSM cDNA. This resulted in suppression of growth, changes in morphology (microvilli and large cytoplasm with developed organelles), and expression of hepatocyte markers (albumin, tyrosine amino transferase, and tryptophan oxygenase). The effects of the conditioned medium with rat OSM were abrogated by introducing a small interfering RNA specifically targeting rat OSM-R into OC15-5 cells. These results indicate that OSM is a key mediator for inducing differentiation of OC15-5 cells into hepatocytes and suggest that the OSM/OSM-R system is pivotal in the differentiation of oval cells into hepatocytes, thereby promoting liver regeneration.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗
PubMed2005

Neuronal leucine-rich repeat protein 4 functions in hippocampus-dependent long-lasting memory.

Neuronal leucine-rich repeat proteins (NLRRs) are type I transmembrane proteins and expressed in neuronal tissues, but their function remains unknown. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of a new member of the NLRR family, NLRR4, and its potential role in long-lasting memory. We generated NLRR4-deficient (NLRR4(-/-)) mice and found that they showed impaired memory retention. In hippocampus-dependent learning tasks, NLRR4(-/-) mice were able to learn and maintain the memories for one day but unable to retain the memories for four days after learning. In contrast, in a hippocampus-independent task, NLRR4(-/-) mice were able to retain the memory normally for at least seven days. These results suggest that NLRR4 plays a key role in hippocampus-dependent long-lasting memory.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Long-term culture of hepatic progenitors derived from mouse Dlk+ hepatoblasts.

We previously demonstrated that hepatoblasts can be isolated from mouse fetal liver based on the expression of delta-like [corrected] (Dlk), also known as Pref-1. Each Dlk+ hepatoblast forms a colony containing both albumin+ hepatocytes and cytokeratin 19+ (CK19) cholangiocytic cells on either type IV collagen or laminin. Here we show that extracellular matrices (ECMs) significantly affect the growth of Dlk+ cells. Dlk+ cells vigorously proliferated on type IV collagen-coated dishes in the presence of EGF and HGF during the first 5 days, but their proliferative capability declined thereafter. Dlk+ cells also proliferated on laminin-coated plates and some colonies continued to expand even beyond one month after plating. These hepatic progenitor cells proliferating on laminin (HPPL) efficiently proliferated even after replating. Moreover, they were induced to differentiate into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes by overlaying Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm sarcoma (EHS) gel and by embedding in type I collagen gel, respectively. HPPL acquired the metabolic functions of accumulating polysaccharides and detoxifying ammonium ions after hepatic differentiation. Surprisingly, HPPL expressed pancreatic genes such as Pdx1 when dexamethasone was depleted from the culture medium. Therefore, the long-term culture of hepatoblasts on laminin produces multi-potential hepatic progenitors, which possess a strong proliferative capability, differentiate into both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, and potentially give rise to pancreatic cells.

Albumins↗
PubMed2004

Serial analysis of gene expression in sinusoidal endothelial cells from normal and injured mouse liver.

Here we describe gene expression profiles of mouse liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) revealed by serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). We prepared SAGE libraries of LSECs from normal and injured liver by CCl(4) administration, and we obtained 32,867 tags from normal and 37,493 tags from injured liver, representing 6011 unique transcripts. CCl(4) administration upregulated several genes related to cell growth and differentiation (Cdkn1a, Irf1, Il4ra, etc.), whereas it downregulated genes related to cell growth or protein transport (Kdr, Igfbp4, Ap1b1, etc.). To identify genes preferentially expressed in LSEC, we compared our SAGE libraries with 77 publicly available libraries generated from various mouse tissues and cell lines. We identified 23 genes, including Stab2 and uncharacterized genes, as possible markers for LSEC, which will be useful to analyze the specific role for LSECs in normal as well as regenerating liver.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Development of CD4+ macrophages from intrathymic T cell progenitors is induced by thymic epithelial cells.

It was recently demonstrated that there are CD4(+) macrophages, which exhibit strong phagocytic activity, in the thymus. They are suggested to play an important role for the elimination of apoptotic thymocytes. However, the origin and nature of CD4(+) macrophages in the thymus remain unexplored. In this study, we describe that the most immature intrathymic progenitors (CD25(-)/CD44(+)/FcR(+)) give rise to CD4(+) macrophages by oncostatin M-responsive thymic epithelial cells (ORTEC) in an IL-7-dependent manner. Neither conditioned medium of ORTEC nor a mixture of cytokines induced CD4(+) macrophages, and oncostatin M receptor was not expressed in thymocytes, suggesting that the development of CD4(+) macrophages from the immature thymocytes requires a direct interaction with ORTEC. These results collectively suggest that the development of CD4(+) macrophages from the intrathymic T cell progenitors is induced by thymic epithelial cells.

Animals↗