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F Akasu

Publications and source records attributed to F Akasu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Localized myxedema on the nasal dorsum in a patient with Graves' disease: report of a case.

We report the case of a 56-year-old Japanese female with Graves' disease associated with localized myxedema on the nasal dorsum. The patient developed localized myxedema concomitantly with hyperthyroidism before antithyroid therapy was given. The lesion was totally removed surgically, as it was small and well circumscribed. Although unusual locations of localized myxedema have been reported elsewhere, there is to date no case of localized myxedema on the nasal dorsum without involvement of the pretibial area reported in the literature. We discuss this unique feature of our patient.

Autoantibodies

Demonstration of calcium-dependent proteases (calpains) and thyroglobulin proteolysis in hog thyroid cytosol.

Ca2+-dependent neutral proteases in hog thyroid cytosol were found to digest thyroglobulin. The protease activity was divided into two peaks by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Peak I was eluted at 0.2 M NaCl and required only a micromolar range of Ca2+ for its 50% activation, while peak II, which was eluted at about 0.4 M NaCl, displayed little activity until the Ca2+ concentration was increased at more than 10(-4) M. Among various inhibitors used, thiol protease inhibitors (leupeptin, E-64 and monoiodoacetic acid) were the most effective, whereas a calmodulin antagonist (trifluoperazine) and serine protease inhibitors (phenylmethyl-sulfony-fluoride and pepstatin A) were not effective, indicating that these Ca2+-dependent proteases corresponded to calpains 1 and 2. Among the substrates tested, casein was the best and thyroglobulin was also a good for calpain 2. By using immunoblotting procedure with anti-thyroglobulin antibody, it has been found that calpain 2 degrades thyroglobulin to yield 67 K and 46 K thyroglobulin and further that it also degrades 40 K thyroglobulin.

Animals

Iodide-induced hypothyroidism in a patient with anorexia nervosa.

A 39-year-old woman who had been suffering from anorexia nervosa was found to have hypothyroidism. Serum T4, free T4, T3, free T3 and TSH were 3.19 micrograms/dl, 0.5 ng/dl, 15.3 ng/dl, 1.2 pg/ml and 162.1 microU/ml, respectively. On careful questioning, she was found to have taken an iodine-rich diet. The serum iodine concentration was 122 micrograms/dl (normal: 4-9 micrograms/dl) and urinary iodide excretion was 13.05 mg/day (normal: less than 2 mg). After withdrawal of the iodine-rich diet, her serum T4 gradually increased and TSH returned to the normal range. She was diagnosed as having iodide-induced hypothyroidism. However, no significant elevation of serum T3 or free T3 was observed. Serum T4, free T4, T3, free T3 and TSH were 7.85 micrograms/dl, 0.8 ng/dl, 13.6 ng/dl, 4.3 pg/ml and 6.02 microU/ml, respectively. The iodide-perchlorate discharge test result was negative. These findings suggest that there exists some unknown mechanism by which a patient with anorexia nervosa may be sensitive to excess iodide. Furthermore, it is of interest to note that in a recovery phase from the hypothyroid state, normalization of serum T4 rather than T3 is well-correlated to TSH secretion.

Adult

The biphasic stimulatory and inhibitory effects of concanavalin A on thyroid activation induced by thyrotropin.

Concanavalin A (Con A) was tested for its ability to affect thyroid activation induced by TSH in mouse thyroid lobes. Pretreatment of thyroid lobes with Con A at concentrations from 1.55--400 microgram/ml was found to have biphasic stimulatory and inhibitory effects of the TSH-induced accumulation of cAMP and formation of colloid droplets. Low concentrations of Con A potentiated TSH activation of thyroidal formation of cAMP and endocytosis. In contrast, higher concentrations of Con A markedly inhibited these TSH effects. The inhibitory effects observed after preincubation with Con A were abolished by the addition of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside to the incubation medium. A high concentration of Con A also inhibited cAMP formation induced either by prostaglandin E2 or the long-acting thyroid stimulator. However, the basal and TSH-stimulated glucose oxidation in mouse thyroid lobes was not depressed by a high concentration of Con A. Uptake of 125 I-labeled Con A by thyroid tissues increased with time up to 1 h and was directly proportional to tissue weight. These findings suggest that the specific interaction between Con A and its receptors may lead to conformational changes in the structure of the membranes of the thyroid follicular cells which facilitate TSH-induced thyroid hormone secretion via the adenylate cyclase-cAMP system.

Animals

Evidence for activation by beta2-adrenergic receptors of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate formation in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

The existence of aminergic receptors in mouse Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was studied. L-Isoproterenol in vitro stimulated the formation of cAMP in isolated Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Stimulation by isoproterenol of cAMP formation was not significantly inhibited by practolol, a beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist-Salbutamol, a beta2-adrenoceptor agonist, markedly stimulated the formation of cAMP in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells at concentrations from 10(-8)-10(-3) M. After the addition of salbutamol, cAMP levels reached a maximum in 10 min and declined to about 2-fold of the basal level to 30 min. The stimulation by salbutamol of cAMP formation was markedly inhibited by butoxamine, a beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist, but not by practolol. Furthermore, the effect of a maximal dose of salbutamol was additive to that of prostaglandin E2. Histamine and 4-methylhistamine, a histamine H2 receptor agonist, had no significant effects. Therefore, it is suggested that a beta2-adrenergic receptor exists in the membranes of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in terms of the adenylate cyclase-cAMP system.

Albuterol

Evidence for the existence of a histamine H2-receptor in the mouse thyroid.

The existence of a histamine H2-receptor in the thyroid was investigated. Histamine in vitro stimulated the formation of cyclic AMP and colloid droplet formation in mouse thyroid lobes. Stimulation by histamine of cyclic AMP formation in mouse thyroid lobes was significantly inhibited by metiamide, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist. 4-Methylhistamine, a histamine H2-receptor agonist, markedly stimulated cyclic AMP formation, whereas 2-methylhistamine, a histamine H1-receptor agonist, was ineffective. The stimulation by 4-methylhistamine of cyclic AMP formation was markedly inhibited by metiamide, but not by chlorpheniramine, a histamine H1-receptor antagonist. In contrast, metiamide did not affect cyclic AMP formation induced either by TSH or by the long-acting thyroid stimulator. Therefore, it is suggested that there exists a histamine H2-receptor in the membranes of the thyroid follicular cells which facilitate thyroid hormone secretion via the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system.

Animals

[Studies on the thyrotropin receptor in the thyroid: positive cooperativity of Concanavalin A binding and its biphasic effects on thyroid activation induced by thyrotropin (author's transl)].

Concanavalin A (Con A) was tested for its ability to affect thyroid activation induced by the thyroid stimulators in mouse thyroid tissues. Con A was found to have the biphasic stimulatory and inhibitory effects of thyrotropin (TSH)-induced cyclic AMP formation and endocytosis, a step in thyroid hormone secretion, in mouse thyroid tissues. Low concentrations of Con A potentiated TSH-stimulated cyclic AMP formation and endocytosis. In contrast, high concentrations of Con A markedly inhibited TSH stimulations. These effects were reversed by the addition of methyl-alpha-D-glucoside to the second preincubation medium (without Con A) prior to TSH. A high concentration of Con A alone did not depress the basal levels of cyclic AMP or basal glucose oxidation in thyroid tissues. A high concentration of Con A also inhibited cyclic AMP formation induced by prostaglandin E2 and the long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS). Binding of 125I-labeled Con A to thyroid tissues increased with time up to 75 min and was very slowly reversible after attainment of equilibrium. Binding was directly proportional to tissue weight. Scatchard plot analysis on the binding of 125I-labeled Con A to thyroid tissues indicated a positive cooperativity which seemed to be well correlated to the biphasic effects.

Animals

The inhibitory effect of acute administration of excess iodide on the formation of adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate induced by thyrotropin in mouse thyroid lobes.

In a previous paper, we demonstrated that an inhibitory action of excess iodide on thyrotropin-induced thyroid hormone secretion occurs at a site subsequent to the generation of cyclic AMP. In the present study, however, we have found that thyroidal cyclic AMP formation induced by thyrotropin in vitro was markedly inhibited by the acute administration of excess iodide to mice fed a low iodine diet. In contrast, excess iodide failed to produce inhibition in animals fed a regular diet. In vitro stimulation by long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS), prostaglandin E2, and 4-methylhistamine of cyclic AMP formation in mouse thyroid lobes was also significantly inhibited by the acute in vivo administration of excess iodide. The inhibition was completely relieved by the administration of methimazole prior to excess iodide. Furthermore, it has been shown that thyroid adenylate cyclase activity induced by thyrotropin was markedly depressed by excess iodide under similar experimental conditions. Therefore, it is suggested that one of the inhibitory actions of excess iodide is on the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system and further, that iodide can elicit its inhibitory action after its conversion to some form of organic iodine.

Adenylyl Cyclases