PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Arakawa

Publications and source records attributed to F Arakawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Specifically targeted killing of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-expressing cells by a retroviral vector displaying single-chain variable fragmented antibody to CEA and carrying the gene for inducible nitric oxide synthase.

The generation of retroviral vectors that infect specific cell types through recognition of cell surface antigens is a promising and effective approach to targeted gene therapy of cancer. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a highly characterized, cell surface glycoprotein overexpressed by various tumor cells, provides a specific tool for tumor tissue-specific targeting by retroviral vectors. The conventional suicidal gene delivery systems need additional drugs other than their gene products. The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene product yields nitric oxide (NO), which directly induces autocytotoxicity and cytolysis of bystander cells. In the present study, we have developed a novel bifunctional Moloney murine leukemia virus-based recombinant retroviral vector that displays a chimeric envelope protein containing a single-chain variable fragmented (scFv) antibody to CEA and carries the iNOS gene in the genome. The resultant bifunctional retroviral vector showed a specific delivery of the iNOS gene to human CEA-expressing carcinoma cells, resulting in the direct and efficient killing of CEA-expressing carcinoma cells by induction of apoptosis. This is the first report of successful killing of CEA-expressing cells by specific targeting of the iNOS gene. This approach may offer a one-step procedure for effective gene therapy of CEA-expressing tumors.

3T3 Cells↗

Molecular identification of a human carcinoma-associated glycoprotein antigen recognized by mouse monoclonal antibody FU-MK-1.

Mouse monoclonal antibody FU-MK-1, raised against a human gastric adenocarcinoma, recognizes an antigen (termed MK-1 antigen) present on the majority of carcinomas. The present study aimed to identify the MK-1 molecule and to establish its relationship to other carcinoma antigens. Immunoprecipitation studies of human tumor cell lines revealed that FU-MK-1 recognizes a monomeric membrane glycoprotein with two forms, 40 kDa (major form) and 42 kDa (minor form), and with a molecular mass of 35 kDa following treatment with the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin. The partial amino acid sequence of a main fragment of the MK-1 molecule obtained by spontaneous cleavage under hypotonic conditions was examined, and the 17 contiguous NH2-terminal amino acids were found to be identical with residues 81-97 of the 314-residue GA733-2 protein [Szala et al.; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87, 3542-3546 (1990)]. Hence, the GA733-2 cDNA was cloned and the specificity of FU-MK-1 was confirmed using four recombinant forms of the GA733-2 antigen expressed in COS-1 cells. Immunoprecipitation with FU-MK-1 of the cell lysate transfected with the full-length GA733-2 cDNA revealed two bands corresponding to those obtained from the tumor cell lines. FU-MK-1 also precipitated three other recombinant proteins consisting of amino acids 1-265, 1-201, and 1-139 of the GA733-2 protein, respectively. Furthermore, immunoblotting analysis indicated that FU-MK-1 binds to a small fragment (6 kDa) generated from a tumor cell line under hypotonic conditions, suggesting that the FU-MK-1 epitope exists on the distal 6-kDa peptide of the extracellular domain of the GA733-2 molecule. We thus conclude that the MK-1 antigen is the GA733-2 antigen, which is currently being used as a target in clinical trials with monoclonal antibodies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Production and accumulation of thrombospondin-1 in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

PURPOSE: To investigate the production and release of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a natural inhibitor of angiogenesis, by human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to clarify the possible role of TSP-1 in maintaining intraocular angiogenesis. METHODS: Human RPE cells were isolated from a human cadaveric eye and cultured in medium with 5% newborn calf serum. TSP-1 messages in the purified RNA of RPE cells were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Intracellular TSP-1 peptides were detected by cytofluorographic analysis. TSP-1 peptides in the culture medium on RPE cells were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TSP-1 specific immunofluorescent staining was tested in RPE cells cultured on glass slides and in a human retinal tissue specimen. RESULTS: mRNA specific for TSP-1 was found in RT-PCR products from RPE cells, and it showed a time-dependent increase from the beginning of the culture. Intracellular staining for TSP-1 was identified by flow cytometry. The sandwich ELISA identified a time-dependent increase of TSP-1 peptides in the culture medium of RPE cells. Immunostaining for TSP-1 was observed in the cytoplasm of RPE cells cultured on glass slides. Positive immunostaining of TSP-1 was observed in the cytoplasm of the RPE layer in the human retinal tissue specimen. CONCLUSIONS: RPE cells can produce and release TSP-1 in vitro, and TSP-1 accumulates in the cytoplasm of RPE cells in vivo as well as in vitro. The production of TSP-1 by RPE cells is influenced by the state of proliferation and/or cell density. TSP-1 appears to be an important control factor in retinal and choroidal neovascularization.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Enhanced antitumor activity of a combination treatment with a mouse/human chimeric anti-MK-1 antibody and lymphokine-activated killer cells in vitro and in a severe combined immunodeficient mouse xenograft model.

Mouse monoclonal antibody FU-MK-1, raised against a human gastric adenocarcinoma, recognizes a glycoprotein antigen (termed MK-1 antigen) present on most carcinomas and seems to be valuable in immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy of various cancers. In a recent study, we constructed a mouse/human chimeric antibody, designated Ch FU-MK-1, by fusing the FU-MK-1 V(H) and Vkappa genes to the human Cgamma1 and Ckappa genes, respectively. In the present study, we tested combination immunotherapy of Ch FU-MK-1 with human lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in vitro and in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) bearing human MK-1-expressing tumors. In in vitro experiments, Ch FU-MK-1 effectively mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) against MK-1-expressing MKN-74 cells, which was completely blocked by an anti-FcR antibody. Since the apoptotic pathway as well as the necrotic pathway have been shown to be utilized in various cytotoxic effector mechanisms, we investigated the role of apoptosis in ADCC mediated by LAK cells and Ch FU-MK-1 against MKN-74 cells. The implication of the apoptosis during ADCC was demonstrated by means of both a terminal-deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end-labeling assay and a propidium iodide staining method. In vivo antitumor activity of combination treatment with LAK cells and Ch FU-MK-1 was estimated using SCID mice inoculated s.c. with MKN-74 cells. The i.v. administration of LAK cells and i.p. administration of Ch FU-MK-1 and interleukin-2 (IL-2) produced a marked growth inhibition of MKN-74 tumors in SCID mice. When the actual tumor weights were measured 16 days after initiation of treatment, more than 70% reduction was observed in the group receiving LAK cells plus Ch FU-MK-1 plus IL-2 as compared to the control untreated group. Together these results suggest that Ch FU-MK-1 may serve as a potentially useful immunotherapeutic reagent for human MK-1-expressing tumors.

Animals↗

cDNA sequence analysis of monoclonal antibody FU-MK-1 specific for a transmembrane carcinoma-associated antigen, and construction of a mouse/human chimeric antibody.

Mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) FU-MK-1, raised against a human gastric adenocarcinoma, recognizes a transmembrane antigen, GA733-2, present on most adenocarcinomas and seems to be of potential utility for immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy of those cancers. However, an inherent problem in their in vivo application is the human anti-mouse antibody response. In this study, we cloned and sequenced the variable region genes of the heavy and light chains (V(H) and Vkappa) of FU-MK-1 using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. Then, we constructed a mouse/human chimeric antibody, designated as Ch FU-MK-1, by fusing the FU-MK-1 V(H) and Vkappa genes to the human Cgamma1 and Ckappa genes, respectively, and by ligating the chimeric H and L chain genes to each other in a mammalian cell expression vector. The final gene construct was transfected into mouse non-Ig-producing hybridoma cells by electroporation. The Ch FU-MK-1 antibody thus prepared bound to human adenocarcinoma cells and competitively inhibited the binding of the parental FU-MK-1 to the adenocarcinoma cells. Ch FU-MK-1 also showed a potent antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells as effectors against the adenocarcinoma cells, indicating that this chimeric antibody seems to be suitable for in vivo therapeutic approaches.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Characterization of a novel variant of apolipoprotein E, E2 Fukuoka (Arg-224 --> Gln) in a hyperlipidemic patient with xanthomatosis.

A new variant of apolipoprotein (apo) E, designated apo E2 Fukuoka, was identified in a 54-year-old Japanese woman who suffered from hyperlipoproteinemia (total cholesterol 29.7 mmol/l, triglyceride 12.0 mmol/l, when she was 48-year-old) with the presence of xanthoma in the palms, bones, and ocular fundi, and other sites. Foam-cell macrophages were observed in bone marrow specimens. Analysis of apo E phenotype showed the E3/E2 isoform on isoelectric focusing performed on plasma, but the E3/E3 isoform on restriction-fragment-length polymorphism of the apo E gene. This discrepancy indicated that the apo E had an amino-acid substitution outside of amino-acid residues at 112 and 158. Sequence analysis of the patient's DNA, which was amplified by PCR and subcloned, revealed a single substitution from arginine (CGG) to glutamine (CAG) at residue 224, thereby adding one negatively charged unit to apo E3. Recombinant apo E2 Fukuoka produced in COS-1 cells showed almost the same binding activity to the LDL receptor on human skin fibroblasts as compared with recombinant apo E3. Recombinant apo E2 Fukuoka showed the same heparin binding ability than recombinant apo E3. Findings indicated that apo E2 Fukuoka was not the primary cause of the hyperlipoproteinemia observed in this case.

Apolipoprotein E2↗

Radioimmunoscintigraphy using technetium-99m-labeled parental mouse and mouse-human chimeric antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen in athymic nude mice bearing tumor.

Biodistribution and imaging characteristics of Tc-99m-labeled parental mouse and mouse-human chimeric antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), designated F11-39 and ChF11-39, respectively, were evaluated in athymic nude mice bearing the human CEA-producing gastric carcinoma (MKN-45) xenografts. Group F monoclonal antibodies such as F11-39 and ChF11-39 have been found to recognize the protein epitopes present on the domain B3 of the CEA molecule and to discriminate CEA in tumor tissues from the CEA-related antigens. The Tc-99m labeling was performed by immediately mixing a reduced antibody by 2-mercaptoethanol with Tc-99m pertechnetate in the presence of stannous chloride. The labeling yields of the two antibodies were greater than 95% when estimated using gel chromatography. Although these Tc-99m-labeled antibodies were stable in neutral saline solution, Tc-99m from both labeled antibodies was associated with cysteine solution. Technetium-99m ChF11-39 was more susceptible to transchelation than was Tc-99m F11-39. The immunoreactivity of each Tc-99m-labeled antibody was confirmed using MKN-45 cell-binding assay. Biodistribution studies in tumor-bearing mice were performed at 1 h, 5 h, and 20 h after being given IV injections of 3.7 MBq of either Tc-99m F11-39 or Tc-99m ChF11-39. All tumor-to-organ uptake ratios increased with time for both Tc-99m-labeled antibodies. Imaging results also showed selective and progressive accumulation of both Tc-99m antibodies at the tumor site. Both these Tc-99m-labeled antibodies have proved to be good radiotracers giving satisfactory scintigrams of the CEA-producing tumor.

Animals↗

Tumor-specific accumulation of 125I-labeled mouse-human chimeric anti-CEA antibody in a xenografted human cancer model demonstrated by whole-body autoradiography and immunostaining.

Whole-body autoradiography (WBAR) was used to study the biodistribution of 125I-labeled mouse-human chimeric antibody (Ch F11-39) to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in athymic nude mice bearing the CEA-producing MKN-45 human gastric carcinoma xenografts. Significantly high uptake of 125I-Ch F11-39 in the tumors obtained by tissue-counting technique was confirmed by WBAR of mice of 12, 24, 48, and 96 h postinjection of 125I-Ch F11-39. When compared with histochemical or immunohistochemical staining results of the tumor tissue sections, imaging profiles of 125I-Ch F11-39 obtained by WBARs were topographically correlated with histopathological findings of tissues and immunohistochemical localization of CEA in the tumor tissues, indicating that the accumulation of 125I-Ch F11-39 at the tumor site is based on its specificity for CEA. These results demonstrate that this chimeric antibody may serve as a potential useful diagnostic and/or therapeutic reagent for human CEA-producing cancers.

Animals↗

Cloning and sequencing of the VH and V kappa genes of an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, and construction of a mouse/human chimeric antibody.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies against CD3 on human T lymphocytes have been used for therapy in organ-transplant patients as a potent immunosuppressive agent or for treatment of cancer as a potent T cell activating agent. However, an inherent problem in their in vivo application is the human anti-mouse antibody response. In this study, we cloned and sequenced the variable region genes of the heavy and light chains (VH and V kappa) of a mouse anti-human CD3 monoclonal antibody (OKT3) using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. Then, we constructed a mouse/human chimeric antibody, designated as Ch OKT3, by fusing the OKT3 VH and V kappa genes to the human heavy and light chain constant region genes (C gamma 1 and C kappa) derived from a human plasma cell leukemia line (ARH77), respectively. The chimeric gene constructs were sequentially co-transfected into mouse non-Ig-producing hybridoma cells (Sp2/0) by electroporation. The Ch OKT3 antibody thus prepared bound to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and competitively inhibited the binding of the parental MAb OKT3 to the blood mononuclear cells, indicating that this chimeric antibody seems to be suitable for in vivo therapeutic approaches.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Immunodetection of vascular endothelial growth factor in the vitreous of eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy].

To determine the association of a hypoxia-induced, vascular endothelial cell selective growth factor: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), undiluted vitreous fluids were collected from 10 eyes with PDR at the time of vitrectomy. Vitreous fluids from 10 eyes without PDR were used as control. All samples were electrophoresed with a 14% sodium dodesyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel, and electrically transferred to a Durapore membrane. Immunoblot detection of VEGF was done by standard western blotting using rabbit polyclonal anti-human VEGF antibody. Positive immunoreaction bands were observed on lanes of 7 samples from PDR, and they were comigrated with recombinant human VEGF. No reactions were observed on lanes of all samples without PDR. The presence of VEGF within the vitreous fluids of eyes with PDR was determined, and suggesting the association of VEGF with PDR.

Adolescent↗

Reducing interference from heterophilic antibodies in a two-site immunoassay for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by using a human/mouse chimeric antibody to CEA as the tracer.

To reduce heterophilic antibody interference in a two-site immunoassay for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), we utilized a human/mouse chimeric antibody to CEA as the tracer. One mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb), F82-61, which reacts with an epitope present on the domain N of CEA, was immobilized on 96-well polystyrene microtiter plates. A human/mouse chimeric antibody (Ch F11-39), which recognizes an epitope present on the domain B3 of CEA, was biotinylated for the tracer (Ch F11-39 system). Another MAb F11-39, the parental MAb of Ch F11-39, was also biotinylated and used as the control tracer (F11-39 system). For a fair comparison, the same 503 serum samples from healthy individuals were simultaneously assayed in the present study. When a tentative common reference limit of 5 ng/ml was used, the false positive rate with the Ch F11-39 system was only 2.8% (14/503) and that with the F11-39 system was 29.0% (146/503). Adding normal mouse serum (NMS; 1%) or a mixture of purified mouse IgG subclasses (heterophilic blocking reagent (HBR, 15 micrograms/test)) to the F11-39 system reduced the false positive rate from 29.0% to 6.2% (31/503) or 4.8% (24/503), respectively, suggesting that heterophilic antibodies reactive with mouse IgG gave rise to the high positive rate in normal populations with the F11-39 system. On the other hand, the false positive rate with the Ch F11-39 system was only slightly reduced from 2.8% to 2.6% (13/503) or to 2.0% (10/503) by adding NMS or HBR to the Ch F11-39 system. The false positive rates with two commercially available assay systems, CEA Roche EIA.DM or Abbott IMx CEA, were 5.4% (27/503) and 5.8% (29/503), respectively, which both corresponded roughly to that with the F11-39 system including NMS or HBR. These results indicate that the application of human/mouse chimeric antibodies in two-site immunoassays is more effective for reducing interference from heterophilic antibodies than the adding of NMS or purified mouse IgG in the assay using conventional MAbs.

Animals↗

A reference of the GOLD classification of monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen to the domain structure of the carcinoembryonic antigen molecule.

The epitopes of 42 well-characterized monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) from 10 different research groups were mapped in terms of domain structure (domains N, A1-B1, A2-B2, and A3-B3) of the CEA molecule on the basis of the reactivities with recombinant CEA proteins expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Thirty-six of the 42 MAbs tested have previously been classified into 5 essentially nonoverlapping epitope groups (GOLD 1-5) by cross-competition assays among MAbs for CEA binding (Hammarström S, et al.: Cancer Res. 1989; 49:4852-4858). The epitopes recognized by GOLD 2 MAbs were all present on domain A2-B2, those for GOLD 5 MAbs were all on domain N, and those for GOLD 4 were mapped around domains A1-B1 and A2-B2. On the other hand, the epitopes for GOLD 1 MAbs were distributed into domains N, A2-B2, and A3-B3, and those for GOLD 3 MAbs were separated into domains N and A3-B3. Although the exact reasons for the dispersed patterns of GOLD 1 and 3 MAbs on the domain structure of the CEA molecule are unclear at present, several factors, such as a spatial relation or a close proximity of epitopes, conformation dependency, and repetitivity of epitopes, may be considered as possible explanations. The epitope mapping reported here helps form the basis for understanding the relation between the chemical structure and antigenic activities of the CEA molecule and may be useful to study the functions of the CEA molecule, especially those of the respective domains.

Animals↗

Population frequency of apolipoprotein E5 (Glu3-->Lys) and E7 (Glu244-->Lys, Glu245-->Lys) variants in western Japan.

Apolipoprotein (apo) E modulates the catabolism of chylomicrons and of very low density lipoprotein remnants. It has three major isoforms (apo E2, E3, E4) and some rare variants. To detect the variants of apo E, blood specimens from 1269 Japanese subjects were analyzed using isoelectric focusing with immunoblotting. The E5 and E7 variants were identified by IEF in 2 and 18 subjects, respectively. Both E5 (Glu3-->Lys) carriers were confirmed by PCR-mediated site-directed mutagenesis, and all E7 (Glu244-->Lys, Glu245-->Lys) carriers were confirmed by the amplification refractory mutation system. The relative frequencies of the epsilon 5 and epsilon 7 alleles were 0.001 and 0.007, respectively. High concentrations of total cholesterol (> 220 mg/dl) were detected in five of the subjects expressing apo E7 and one subject expressing apo E5, and eight subjects heterozygous for apo E7 showed elevated plasma triglyceride concentrations (> 150 mg/dl). In 621 healthy subjects, the mean triglyceride concentration in subjects with apo E7/3 appeared to be higher than in those with apo E3/3, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Adolescent↗

[Construction and clinical application of chimeric antibodies].

To reduce the high immunogenicity of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in man, mouse/human chimeric antibodies have been generated in two ways. The more simple method is to construct chimeric antibodies in which the variable regions from the mouse MAbs are linked to human constant regions. The second is to graft the complementarity determining regions from the variable regions of mouse MAbs into human variable regions. So far, more than a hundred of chimeric antibodies have been reported and about twenty-five have been tried for immunotherapy of various human diseases. In the near future, many mouse/human chimeric antibodies will be commercially available.

Animals↗

Two novel point mutations in the lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) gene resulting in LCAT deficiency: LCAT (G873 deletion) and LCAT (Gly344-->Ser).

We investigated the genetic defects in two patients with familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency. Their clinical manifestations including corneal opacities, anemia, proteinuria, and hypoalphalipoproteinemia were identical for familial LCAT deficiency. Their LCAT activities and the cholesterol esterification rate (CER) were nearly zero, and their LCAT masses were below 10% of normal control values. Sequence analysis of the amplified DNA of case 1 revealed one base deletion of G at base 873 (first position of Val264) in exon 6, leading to a premature termination by frameshift. Sequence analysis of amplified DNA of case 2 revealed a single G to A converting Gly (GGT) to Ser (AGT) substitution at residue 344. When COS-1 cells were transfected with these mutants, LCAT activity in the medium was nearly zero, and the LCAT mass was undetectable (< 0.01 microgram/ml). In contrast, LCAT activity in the medium of COS-1 cells, transfected with wild-type LCAT, was 1.7 nmol/h per ml and the LCAT mass was 0.09 micrograms/ml. The LCAT mass in the cell lysates of the mutants was less than 12% of control for case 1 and 18% of control for case 2. Northern blot analysis of the mRNA of COS-1 cells transfected with the mutants showed the same amounts of LCAT mRNA as compared with wild-type LCAT. Biosynthesis of mutant LCATs was analyzed by pulse-chase and immunocytochemistry in transfected baby hamster kidney cells. SDS-PAGE/fluorography demonstrated that wild-type LCAT was synthesized as a high-mannose type of 56 kDa, which was very slowly converted to a mature form of 67 kDa and was secreted into the media. In contrast to the wild-type LCAT, the mutant precursors were not processed into the mature form but slowly degraded along with chase times. On steady and continuous labeling in the case of wild-type LCAT, the mature 67 kDa form was observed in both the cell lysate and media, whereas no mature form was detected in the cell lysates and media which were transfected mutant LCATs. These data suggest that the mutant LCATs are actually synthesized in an amount comparable to that of wild-type, but they are slowly degraded without being processed into the mature form. The immunocytochemistry revealed that mutant LCATs were mainly retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. These data suggest that these two mutations may disrupt the mutant LCATs' transport from the endoplasmic reticulum into Golgi apparatus, resulting in LCAT deficiency.

Adult↗

Isolation and functional expression of human pancreatic peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase.

Pancreastatin (PST) is processed from chromogranin A and the C-terminal amide of the peptide is an absolute requirement for biological activities. Human pancreatic carcinoma cells QGP-1 which produce both chromogranin A and PST were used to isolate cDNAs encoding two forms of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM). The two forms are a full length bifunctional enzyme and a variant lacking the transmembrane domain-coding region. When the cDNAs of these two forms were expressed in COS-7 cells, cells transfected with the predicted soluble form released into the culture medium a very much higher amidating activity which converts human chromogranin A-(273-302) to PST-29. The optimal pH for amidating activity was 5.4 and Cu2+, ascorbate and catalase were required as cofactors for the both forms of PAM. Km values for the membrane-bound and the soluble forms of PAM were 15.7 +/- 3.1 microM and 12.4 +/- 1.6 microM, respectively. These results demonstrate that both forms of PAM can function in the posttranslational processing of chromogranin A to PST in the environment of a secretory vesicle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A rapid colorimetric assay for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-mediated cell adhesion and analysis of CEA domains involved in the adhesion.

A colorimetric microadhesion assay that allows the quantitative determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-mediated homophilic cell adhesion to CEA immobilized on 96-well polyvinyl chloride plates is described. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with a full-length CEA cDNA were used as indicator cells. After dislodging nonadherent cells, specifically bound cells were quantified by a colorimetric analysis based on the ability of live cells to reduce the dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) to a blue formazan product. The domains of CEA responsible for the homophilic cell adhesion were analyzed by inhibition assays using anti-CEA monoclonal antibodies whose reactive domains were already known. The involvement of domain N and possibly subdomain A3 of CEA in the homophilic cell adhesion has been suggested.

Animals↗

Detection of a point mutation in cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene by polymerase chain reaction-mediated site-directed mutagenesis.

We describe a method for the rapid and non-radioactive examination of DNA samples for a mutation of cholesteryl ester transfer protein using a polymerase chain reaction-mediated site-directed mutagenesis. CETP deficiencies were studied in 554 Japanese subjects (370 men, 184 women) aged between 18 and 91 (mean 48.3 years). By this method, we detected one homozygote and 3 heterozygotes of the CETP deficiency.

Adult↗