Biomedical subjects

E Koh

Publications and source records attributed to E Koh.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Calciseptine binding to a 1,4-dihydropyridine recognition site of the L-type calcium channel of rat synaptosomal membranes.

Calciseptine (CaS) is a natural peptidic L-type Ca2+ channel blocker consisting of 60 amino acids with four disulfide bonds. The effects of synthetic CaS on the binding of various ligands to Ca2+ channels of rat brain synaptosomal membranes were studied. The membranes possessed specific binding sites for L-type Ca2+ channel ligands [3H]nitrendipine, [3H]diltiazem and [3H]verapamil, derivatives of 1,4-dihydropyridine, benzothiazepine and papaverine, respectively, and also for N-type Ca2+ channel ligand omega-[125I]-conotoxin GVIA (omega-[125I]CTX). Lineweaver-Bulk plot analysis disclosed that CaS competitively inhibited the binding of [3H]nitrendipine, with maximal binding capacity of 0.19 pmol/mg protein and dissociation constant (Kd) of 290 nM, being about 10(3) times the Kd value of [3H]nitrendipine. Similar to nitrendipine, CaS noncompetitively enhanced the binding of [3H]diltiazem, but did not affect the binding of [3']verapamil. CaS at up to 10.0 microM did not affect the binding of omega-[125I]CTX. These observations indicate that CaS shares the properties of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives, and allosterically modulates the binding of other L-type Ca2+ channel ligands.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Nitric oxide mediates interleukin-1-induced prostaglandin E2 production by vascular smooth muscle cells.

We examined the possible participation of nitric oxide (NO) in the activation of cyclooxygenase, a heme-containing enzyme, induced by interleukin-1 (IL-1) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). IL-1 induced a delayed and prolonged release of both NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) from VSMC. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of NO synthesis, partially but significantly inhibited the PGE2 release induced by IL-1, whereas it completely inhibited the IL-1-induced NO production. The inhibitory effects of L-NMMA on IL-1-induced production of both NO and PGE2 were partially reversed by a 10-fold excess of L-arginine. In addition, coincubation with superoxide dismutase enhanced the IL-1-induced PGE2 release from VSMC. In contrast, 8-bromo-cyclic GMP did not stimulate PGE2 release. Furthermore, 0.2 mM sodium nitroprusside directly stimulated PGE2 release from VSMC. These findings suggest that NO at least in part mediates the IL-1-induced PGE2 production, and that NO may be one of the important signals for the activation of cyclooxygenase to produce PGE2 in VSMC.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Effects of beraprost sodium, a stable analogue of prostacyclin, on hyperplasia, hypertrophy and glycosaminoglycan synthesis of rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

The effects of beraprost sodium, a stable analogue of prostacyclin, on the syntheses of DNA, protein and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) were studied. SMC were isolated from the thoracic aorta of male Wistar rats. The syntheses of DNA, protein and GAG of SMC were determined by incorporations of [3H]thymidine, [3H]leucine and [35S]sulfuric acid, respectively. Insulin at a concentration of 10(-6) M stimulated DNA synthesis 4 fold compared to control. Beraprost sodium suppressed the insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis dose-dependently at concentrations greater than 10(-7) M and suppressed it by 68% at 10(-5) M. Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) at a concentration of 20 ng/ml stimulated DNA synthesis 6 fold compared to control. Beraprost sodium suppressed the PDGF-stimulated DNA synthesis dose-dependently at concentrations greater than 10(-7) M and suppressed it by 51% at 10(-5) M. Beraprost sodium suppressed GAG synthesis dose-dependently at concentrations greater than 10(-7) M and suppressed it by 49% at 10(-5) M. However, beraprost sodium at concentrations up to 10(-5) M did not affect protein synthesis. These results indicate that beraprost sodium suppressed the proliferation and GAG synthesis of SMC but did not affect hypertrophy. Beraprost sodium may be a potent antiarteriosclerotic agent through suppression of hyperplasia of SMC and modification of matrix protein.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Proton dependence of the partial reactions of the sodium-proton exchanger in renal brush border membranes.

The pre-steady state time dependence of Na+ accumulation by the Na(+)-H+ exchanger in renal brush border membrane vesicles was investigated at 0 degree C by a manual mixing technique using amiloride to quench the reaction. Dilution of acid-loaded (pHi 5.7) vesicles into an alkaline medium (pHo 7.7) containing 1 mM 22Na+ produced a time course of amiloride-sensitive Na+ uptake that consisted of three distinct phases: 1) a lag, 2) a monoexponential "burst," and 3) a linear or steady state phase. Experiments testing for the presence of 22Na+ backflux, residual Na+ binding to the membrane, and hysteresis were negative, lending support to the hypothesis that the burst phase corresponds to Na+ translocation during the initial turnover of Na(+)-H+ exchanger. Lowering the internal pH increased the amount of na+ uptake in each of the phases without affecting the apparent burst rate, whereas lowering the external pH inhibited Na+ uptake while increasing the duration of the lag phase. The pattern of inhibition produced by external H+ was of the simple competitive type, indicating that Na+ and H+ share a common binding site. Steady state Na+ uptake showed a sigmoidal dependence on internal pH (Hill coefficient = 1.67), consistent with the presence of an internal allosteric H+ activation site. Alkaline loading conditions (pHi 7.7), which favor desaturation of the internal H+ binding sites, completely abolished Na+ uptake in the steady state. In contrast, Na+ accumulation during the burst phase was reduced to 25% of an acid-loaded (pHi 5.7) control. The persistence of the burst phase and the disappearance of steady state Na+ uptake under alkaline loading conditions suggest that recycling of the H(+)-loaded exchanger is a late event in the transport cycle that follows Na+ translocation (ping-pong mechanism) and controls the steady state rate of Na+ accumulation. Activation of the recycling step involves sequential binding of H+ to the allosteric and transport sites, thus accounting for the cooperative dependence of steady state Na+ uptake on the internal [H+].

Allosteric Site↗

PubMed1992

Phosphorylation of a surface receptor bound urokinase-type plasminogen activator in a human metastatic carcinomatous cell line.

The 32P-labeled urokinase (uPA) bound to surface receptors of Detroit 562 cells was immunoprecipitated by anti-uPA antibody. Amino acid analysis showed that tyrosines and serines were the acceptors. Inhibition of protein kinases greatly reduced the 32P incorporation, suggesting that the respective cellular src gene product and protein kinase C were involved in the phosphorylations. Proteins purified on chromatographic columns contained two forms of uPA, a high (HMW) and a low (LMW) molecular weight. Tyrosine-phosphorylation occurs in the HMW and A-chain. Such modifications might modulate the extracellular activities of uPA.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

PubMed1992

Enzymatic properties of the phosphorylated urokinase-type plasminogen activator isolated from a human carcinomatous cell line.

Enzymatic properties of phosphorylated urokinase plasminogen activator (P-uPA) (1) extracted from human carcinomatous cell line Detroit 562 cells were compared with those of non-phosphorylated uPA of urinary origin (nP-uPA). Using plasminogen as a substrate, the Km and Kcat of P-uPA were higher than that of nP-uPA while the Kcat/Km was lower. By zymography, a greater degree of plasminogen activation was observed. Concanavalin A reacted to both the enzymes. P-uPA had a low affinity for the inhibitors of plasminogen activator PAI-1 and PAI-2, and was inhibited only by the excess amounts of inhibitors. For PAI-1, and the KIs of P-uPA was greater and for PAI-2, KI was higher for P-uPA. These alterations by phosphorylation enable uPA to be more efficient in a focal proteolysis through plasminogen activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Effect of ipriflavone on bone mineral density and calcium-related factors in elderly females.

The effects of ipriflavone (7-isopropoxy-3-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one) on bone mineral density (BMD) of the 3rd lumbar vertebra and on calcium (Ca)-related factors, including serum calcitonin (CT) levels before and after rapid calcium infusion (4 mg/kg for 5 minutes), were studied in 11 elderly female subjects (80 +/- 2 years of age, mean +/- SE). Ipriflavone (IP) administration (600 mg/day, 7 months) resulted in inhibition of BMD loss in 7 patients (responders, mean change of BMD value 2.2 +/- 2.3%), whereas 4 patients showed a loss of BMD (nonresponders, mean change of BMD value -13.1 +/- 2.6%) compared with pretreatment values. The responder group showed a significant increase in mean pretreatment serum CT levels (from 20 +/- 2 pg/ml to 42 +/- 7 pg/ml, P < 0.05) after treatment with IP, and a significant decrease in the mean basal serum level of corrected Ca (from 9.6 +/- 0.2 mg/dl to 8.7 +/- 0.1 mg/dl, P < 0.01) after treatment with IP; nonresponders did not show these changes. For responders, both the percentage of change and the maximal value of serum CT in response to Ca infusion were maintained at rather high levels, both before and after IP treatment; nonresponders showed almost no response to a stimulation test for CT. These findings suggest that IP inhibits bone loss in elderly female subjects possibly through the mechanism of increasing CT secretion.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Participation of decreased serum cholesteryl ester transfer activity, independent of increased serum lipoprotein(a), in angina pectoris in normolipemic elderly subjects.

The cholesteryl ester transfer activity (CETA) is a measurement of the transfer of cholesteryl ester from HDL to VLDL, LDL or peripheral cells. Its role in the development of early coronary heart disease is not clear. In the present study, serum levels of CETA, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and other lipid-related factors were compared in 10 normal young subjects, 28 healthy elderly subjects and 14 normolipemic elderly patients with angina pectoris. Compared to the young normals and healthy elderly subjects, the elderly patients with angina pectoris showed significantly decreased mean serum CETA levels, and significantly increased mean serum levels of Lp(a) and apoprotein B. These results may indicate that decreased serum values of CETA participate in the development of angina pectoris in normolipemic elderly patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Circulating suppressing factor for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Circulating suppressing factor for the binding of quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB), an antagonist for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, to the synaptic membranes was evaluated in 48 patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT), in 17 patients with the vascular type dementia (VTD) and in 11 nondemented elderly subjects (NE). The mean suppression rate on the binding in the SDAT group was significantly greater than that in the NE group, although that in the VTD group was similar to that in the NE group. Moreover, the percent QNB binding was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the score of the mini-mental state in the SDAT group. The circulating suppressing factor may participate in the pathogenesis of SDAT.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Effects of manidipine hydrochloride on proliferation and glycosaminoglycan synthesis of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

The effects of manidipine hydrochloride, a calcium channel blocker, on the proliferation and the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were studied. Mandipine hydrochloride suppressed the DNA synthesis of VSMC dose dependently at concentrations of more than 10(-8) M. Mandipine hydrochloride 10(-6) M suppressed proliferation of VSMC to 50% of the control value. Manidipine hydrochloride stimulated the synthesis of GAG at concentrations above 10(-11) M. Manidipine hydrochloride 10(-8) M stimulated synthesis of GAG to 450% of control. Our findings suggest that because mandipine hydrochloride suppresses proliferation and stimulates GAG synthesis of VSMC, it may be an anti-arteriosclerotic agent.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Overexpression of erbB-2 protein in gastric adenocarcinoma--a potential role in therapeutic response to adjuvant 5-FU-doxorubicin regimen.

In order to study the influence of erbB-2 protein overexpression on outcome of patients with gastric cancer after attempted curative resection with or without adjuvant chemotherapy, paraffin embedded sections from 109 cases of primary gastric cancer with defined treatments have been immunostained for erbB-2 protein in a retrospective study. Thirty four cases (31%) showed strong membrane staining of tumor cells. erbB-2 overexpression did not show significant effect on outcome when all patients were considered. However, erbB-2 overexpression was an indicator for poor disease free survival (p = 0.0474), local relapse free survival (p = 0.0293), and overall survival (p = 0.0310) of the patients treated with surgery only (N = 51), while it did not show any effect on outcome of patients treated with 5-FU plus Doxorubicin (FA) as adjuvant chemotherapy (N = 58). Furthermore, the apparent therapeutic benefit from FA regimen was restricted to patients with erbB-2 positive tumors. Combined predictive value of erbB-2 and FA regimen was found to be significant in predicting local relapse in multivariate analysis (p = 0.0439). The data suggests that erbB-2 may be associated with an improved response to FA regimen and that erbB-2 should be included as a potential confounding variable in the analysis of the data from the clinical trials for gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

EDTA induces differentiation and suppresses proliferation of promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60--possible participation of zinc.

Effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a chelator of divalent cations, on the proliferation and differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 were examined. Incubation of HL-60 cells with 200 microM of EDTA suppressed cell proliferation, and induced differentiation assessed by reductivity of nitro blue tetrazolium and activity of alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase. These effects were inhibited by zinc (Zn) dose-dependently at concentrations of up to 20 microM, but not by other divalent cations including Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Ni, or Cd. Although addition of 200 microM EDTA for 24 hr decreased the c-myc mRNA level of HL-60 cells, coaddition of 20 microM of Zn also reversed this effect on c-myc mRNA level. Treatment with EDTA did not change the half-life time of degradation of c-myc mRNA after addition of actinomycin D (5 micrograms/ml). These findings suggest that Zn deficiency suppresses c-myc gene transcription which is followed by suppression of proliferation and induction of differentiation of HL-60 cells.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1991

Extraadrenal expression of steroid 21-hydroxylase and 11 beta-hydroxylase by a benign testicular Leydig cell tumor.

We present an unusual case with bilateral testicular Leydig cell tumors displaying extraadrenal expression of steroid 21-hydroxylase and 11 beta-hydroxylase. Histological examination of a 38-yr-old man infertile due to azoospermia showed him to have bilateral testicular Leydig cell tumors. The in vitro steroidogenic potential of the tumors and their adjacent testicular tissue was evaluated using organ culture. Tumor tissue was found to secrete deoxycorticosterone (DOC), corticosterone (B) and cortisol, which are not produced in normal adult testis, into the medium, while testicular tissue adjacent to the tumors secreted a small amount of DOC and B. Northern blot analysis with cytochrome P-450C21 complementary DNA (cDNA) and P-45011 beta cDNA as probes revealed that the tumor contained a considerable amount of mRNA for P-450C21 and P-45011 beta, while the MRNAs were not detected in the testicular tissues adjacent to the tumors. It is suggested that the high local levels of estrogen and/or progesterone within the Leydig cell tumors and their adjacent testicular tissues induced extraadrenal expression of steroid 21-hydroxylase and 11 beta-hydroxylase by the tumors and their adjacent testicular tissues.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Evidence for the presence of androgen receptors in human Leydig cells.

Localization of androgen receptors (ARs) in the human testis Leydig cells was examined with an AR assay and Northern blot analysis. Leydig cells, highly purified on a Percoll gradient, were used for the experiments. AR concentration in the total cell extract containing both the cytosol and nuclear fractions in Leydig cells was measured using [3H]methyltrienolone. ARs in Leydig cells showed a high affinity for [3H]methyltrienolone and the Kd and Bmax of the receptors were 1.24 nM and 11.7 fmol/mg protein, respectively. Northern blot analysis, using a 32P-labeled full-length human AR complementary DNA (cDNA) detected a 9.5-kb hybridizing band in the total RNA extracted from Leydig cells. These data can be interpreted as evidence of the existence of ARs in human Leydig cells.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1991

Interleukin-6 stimulates proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells independently of interleukin-1 beta.

The effects of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were investigated. Treatment with IL-6 caused a rapid increase in the c-myc mRNA level, and resulted in increases in DNA synthesis and cell number. IL-1 beta stimulated the DNA synthesis of the cells. EGF showed synergistic and PDGF or IL-1 beta showed additive effects with IL-6 on the DNA synthesis. These results suggest that IL-6, independently of IL-1 beta, may be important in the proliferation of VSMCs.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Bilateral Leydig cell tumors and male infertility: case report.

A 38-year-old man with a complaint of male infertility due to azoospermia was found to have bilateral Leydig cell tumors. The tumors were synchronous, not clearly palpable and not diagnostic by ultrasonography. The serum level of estradiol was remarkably increased, and that of testosterone was above the normal upper limit. Tumors of 0.8 cm in diameter were detected by scrotal exploration, and findings of Leydig cell tumors in the bilateral testes were confirmed by histologic and electron-microscopic studies.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Plasminogen activator in cultured cells of human undescended testis.

To know the secretory potential of Sertoli cells in pubertal testes of males who underwent orchiopexy at a prepubertal age, the plasminogen activator (PA) activity of 12 patients was measured in vitro and compared with that of pubertal testes of patients with varicocele. The assay system for PA activity was based on the solubilization of 125I-fibrin in the presence of plasminogen, and the PA activity in each patient was obtained as the maximum increment with stimulation by ovine FSH in the culture medium of testicular cells. The mean value of PA activity in patients after orchiopexy was remarkably lower than that in varicocele patients (p less than 0.005), which corresponded with histological differences in spermatogenesis between the two groups. These results suggest that in comparison to those patients with varicocele, the patients with prepubertal undescended testis showed impaired potential for protein biosynthesis despite successful orchiopexy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Exaggerated natri-calci-uresis and increased circulating levels of parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in patients with senile hypertension.

Renal handling of Na and Ca in response to physiological saline infusion (20 ml/kg i.v. for 2 h) was compared between 27 hypertensive (mean +/- SD age 79.8 +/- 9.2 years) and 44 normotensive (79.1 +/- 4.1 years) senile females. Compared to the normotensive group, the hypertensive group showed statistically significant decreases in the basal values of serum Ca and PRA, and significant increases in basal circulating levels of parathyroid hormone and 1,25(OH)2D and in urinary excretions of Na, Ca and Pi in the 2-hour urine specimens during the saline infusion. These results suggest that the excessive excretions of Ca and Pi associated with exaggerated natriuresis may participate in aberration of Ca metabolism in low-renin hypertensive seniles.

Absorption↗