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Biomedical subjects

H Fujimura

Publications and source records attributed to H Fujimura.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Three novel missense mutations in unrelated Japanese patients with type I and type II protein S deficiency and venous thrombosis.

A molecular analysis of protein S deficiency in three unrelated Japanese patients was performed. An approximately 50% reduction in both functional and immunologic levels of protein S was detected in the plasmas from two unrelated patients, designated protein S Osaka 1 and protein S Osaka 2. An approximately 50% reduction in the functional level, but a normal immunologic level of protein S, was detected in plasma from a third patient, designated protein S Osaka 3. All of the exons and exon/intron junctions of the protein S gene were studied using a strategy combining polymerase chain reaction amplification and rapid non-radioactive single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis. We identified a G-to-A change in exon X of the protein S gene in protein S Osaka 1. This mutation resulted in the substitution of Gly for Ser at position 295 in the sex hormone-binding globulin-like region. In protein S Osaka 2, a G-to-C change at the position of the 3' end of exon III was identified, leading to the amino acid substitution of Val46 by Leu in the aromatic stack region. In protein S Osaka 3, an A-to-G change in exon II was identified, leading to the substitution of Lys9 by Glu in the Gla domain. It was concluded that the Gly295-to-Ser mutation and Val46-to-Leu mutation cause type I protein S deficiency and that the Lys9-to-Glu mutation causes type II deficiency.

Adult↗

Severe motor-dominant neuropathy with IgM M-protein binding to the NeuAcalpha2-3Galbeta- moiety.

We report the occurrence of a relapsing, severe predominantly motor neuropathy in a 75-year-old man with an IGM-K M-protein binding to gangliosides GM2, GM3, GM4, GD1a, GT1b and LM1. Motor nerve conduction velocities were slowed with conduction block. A superficial peroneal nerve biopsy specimen revealed segmental demyelination and remyelination. The patient improved after repeated plasma exchanges, and the antibody titer decreased in association with clinical recovery. This IgM M-protein has a unique, previously unreported binding specificity for terminal NeuAcalpha2-3Galbeta- moiety in common to all gangliosides bound by the antibody except GM2. M-proteins with this affinity may be involved in the pathogenesis of this and other cases of motor-dominant demyelinating neuropathy.

Aged↗

The fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery pulse sequence in assessment of central nervous system involvement in myotonic dystrophy.

We compared the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence with conventional spin-echo (SE) imaging for detection of involvement of the central nervous system in five patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD). The diagnosis was made based on clinical features and DNA analysis. All patients showed abnormal high-intensity lesions in the white matter on T2-weighted images, although these were more clearly visible using FLAIR.

Adult↗

Growth inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by the immunosuppressant leflunomide is due to the inhibition of uracil uptake via Fur4p.

The immunosuppressant leflunomide inhibits cytokine-stimulated proliferation of lymphoid cells in vitro and also inhibits the growth of the eukaryotic microorganism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of the drug, two yeast genes which suppress the anti-proliferative effect when present in multiple copies were cloned and designated MLF1 and MLF2 for multicopy suppressor of leflunomide sensitivity. DNA sequencing analysis revealed that the MLF1 gene is identical to the FUR4 gene, which encodes a uracil permease and functions to import uracil efficiently. The MLF2 was found to be identical to the URA3 gene. Excess exogenous uracil also overcomes the anti-proliferative effect of leflunomide on yeast cells. Uracil prototrophy also conferred resistance to leflunomide. Uracil uptake was inhibited by leflunomide. Thus, the growth inhibition by leflunomide seen in a S. cerevisiae ura3 auxotroph is due to the inhibition of the entry of exogenous uracil via the Fur4 uracil permease.

Biological Transport↗

Fas has a crucial role in the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

To investigate the role of Fas in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice, we examined the susceptibility of EAE in C57BL/6 (B6).lpr mice lacking Fas. The frequency of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced EAE in B6.lpr mice was significantly lower than that in B6 mice (19% vs 94%). However, no significant difference was observed between them in either the lymphocyte proliferation response or antibody reactivity to MOG. In addition, the histological examination and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the up-regulation of gene expression for inflammatory cytokines occurred in the central nervous system (CNS) of B6.lpr mice immunized with MOG, even if they showed no clinical sign. These results indicate that Fas may contribute to the pathogenesis of EAE and may play a crucial role in the expansion of inflammation and/or myelin destruction in the CNS rather than in the activation of encephalitogenic T cells in the periphery and/or the breakdown of blood brain barrier.

Animals↗

Aminoguanidine, a selective inhibitor of the inducible nitric oxide synthase, has different effects on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the induction and progression phase.

To elucidate the role of excessive nitric oxide (NO) via the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), the effect of a selective iNOS inhibitor, aminoguanidine, was investigated using mice with actively induced EAE. Administration of aminoguanidine by intraperitoneal or intracisternal injection from day 2 to day 12 after immunization produced a significant delay in the onset of EAE. On the other hand, administration of aminoguanidine by intraperitoneal or intracisternal injection for 10 days after the onset of EAE enhanced the clinical severity and mortality rate and hastened the onset of relapse significantly. The histological study at day 11 after the onset revealed that more inflammatory cells were present in the central nervous system of mice treated with aminoguanidine as compared with mice without aminoguanidine treatment. These results suggested that NO via iNOS was a pathogenetic factor in the induction phase of EAE, but had an inhibitory role in the progression phase of EAE. Although the effect of NO synthase inhibitors on EAE has been controversial, the present study suggested that the timing of administration might be an important consideration and might explain the previous contradictory reports.

Acute Disease↗

IL-6-deficient mice are resistant to the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis provoked by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein.

The role of IL-6 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) provoked by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) was investigated using IL-6-deficient mice. We show here that IL-6-deficient mice were resistant to the MOG-induced EAE as compared to wild-type mice (one out of 18 versus 17 out of 20). The delayed-type hypersensitivity response, lymphocyte proliferation response and antibody reactivity to MOG in IL-6-deficient mice were significantly lower than those in wild-type mice. Furthermore, the histological examination revealed that no infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in the central nervous system of IL-6-deficient mice. These results indicate that IL-6 may play a crucial role in the induction phase of EAE. Given the potential relevance of this animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS), it is possible that anti-IL-6 therapy may be useful in the prevention of relapses of MS.

Animals↗

[The inhibitory effect and the mechanism of ethanol absorption by L-carnosine zinc complex in mouse gastrointestinal tract].

The effect of L-carnosine-zinc complex(Car-Zn) on ethanol absorption was investigated after oral administration(adm) to mice. One hour after oral adm of Car-Zn, and 14C-ethanol was given orally or intraperitoneally(i.p.). After passage of time, the blood was drawn from the tail vein, and 14C-radioactivities determined. The Car-Zn showed a dose-dependent inhibition of the appearance of 14C-radioactivities in blood following oral 14C-ethanol loading, while Zn acetate did not induce any alteration as compared with control. Car-Zn pretreatment did not induce any change in the blood 14C-radioactivity when ethanol was given i.p. The 14C-radioactivity and zinc in gastrointestinal tract after oral adm of Car-Zn and 14C-ethanol showed significantly higher levels than those of control for 7 hr. Distribution of 14C-radioactivities in other organs of Car-Zn treated mice were lower than those of control 3 hr after adm, while it was similar or higher than those of control 7 hr after adm. The excretions of 14C-radioactivity through expiration in Car-Zn group was a lower than that of control. Also, the urinary and fecal excretions of 14C-radioactivity were low values at 5.0% and 0.5% of the administered dose 72 hr after adm, respectively. Also, the 14C-radioactivities remaining in the organs did not detect or were very low values. In vitro study, Car-Zn stimulated the metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde and acetic acid in 9,000 g supernatant of small intestine. The major route of excretions of 14C-radioactivity may be excreted into the expired air. The results suggest that Car-Zn shows a long-term adhesive and permeable action on gastrointestinal tract in the mouse; as a result, this may inhibited ethanol absorption.

Administration, Oral↗

[An autopsy case of Degos' disease with ascending thoracic myelopathy].

Degos' disease is a rare multisystem vasculopathy of unknown etiology. We report a 44-year-old man who presented himself with gait and sensory disturbances mainly due to thoracic transverse myelopathy four years after the appearance of many characteristic umbilicated papules over the trunk and extremities. He did not complain of abdominal pain or discomfort. Laboratory, electrophysiological and imaging studies did not show any characteristic change, except for the increase of protein contents and cell counts in the cerebrospinal fluid. We tried methylprednisolone pulse-dose therapy (1,000 mg/day x 3 days) five times, but this patient's neurological condition worsened stepwise after it, although the appearance of new skin lesion was suppressed. Intravenous infusion of ozagrel sodium and cyclophosphamide (1,000 mg/day) were also ineffective, and this patient died of respiratory failure after showing oculomotor paresis and comatose state. Necropsy revealed Degos' disease-specific vasculopathy in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, where occlusions of small-sized arteries and veins due to the intimal thickening were evident. The tissue necrosis was macroscopically remarkable in the brainstem and the thoracic spinal cord. The efficacy of steroid therapy for this disease should be investigated more carefully.

Adult↗

Block of the cell cycle of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by tyrphostin, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase.

Tyrphostins are inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase. To elucidate the biological function of protein tyrosine kinases in yeast cells, a mutant hypersensitive to tyrphostin was isolated and investigated for its response to the drug. The mutation was recessive and was designated tpt1 for tyrphostin hypersensitive. A tpt1 strain cannot grow in the presence of tyrphostin, implying that a biological process sensitive to tyrphostin is essential for cell growth. Microscopic observation indicated that large-budded cells were accumulated in the presence of the inhibitor. The results suggest the involvement of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the cell cycle progression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Antifungal Agents↗

Cognitive function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Cognitive function in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has drawn recent attention. However, the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction in patients with ALS remains uncertain. To explore the underlying mechanism for cognitive dysfunction further, we studied 26 patients with ALS (15 male and 11 female; age from 36 to 67 years) by using neuropsychological batteries, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). We also evaluated these patients and an additional 26 age- and sex-matched normal controls using neuropsychological batteries with special attention to the frontal lobe function. On the basis of neuropsychological examination, we classified patients into three groups using cluster analysis. Age, education level and severity were comparable across these subgroups. Neuropathologic examination was subsequently carried out in six patients. Patients in Group 1 and 2 had low scores on all measures compared to patients in Group 3 and normal controls. Patients in Group 1 and 2 had frontal atrophy on MRI and reduced isotope uptake in the frontal region on SPECT, which was more evident in patients in Group 1. On neuropathologic examination, patients in Group 1 showed spongy degeneration and neuronal loss in the frontal lobe. Patients in Group 3 showed no notable pathology in the frontal region. The gradient distribution of the scores for attention and executive function, as well as SPECT findings suggested the presence of a continuum of cognitive disability in patients with ALS corresponding to the pathologic process in the frontal lobe ranging from significant impairment to normality. We, therefore, believe that inattention and executive dysfunction alternatives may evolve in patients with ALS corresponding to the pathologic process in the frontal lobe.

Adult↗

The effect of dexamethasone on the expression of activated NF-kappa B in adjuvant arthritis.

The transcription factor NF-kappa B plays a significant role in inflammatory diseases. In this study we have investigated the expression of activated NF-kappa B p65 subunit in the rat adjuvant arthritis model in a 28-day time-course experiment using immunohistochemistry. The expression of p65 was detected in the synovial lining layer and around the blood vessels in the inflamed synovium as early as Day 3 post-adjuvant injection. The cells that expressed p65 in the synovial lining were thought to be macrophage-like synoviocytes. The expression was stronger in the injected hindpaw than that in the noninjected hindpaw. Dexamethasone treatment at 1 mg/kg p.o. (Days 0-20) suppressed both the hindpaw edema and increase in p65 expression. Withdrawal of the treatment caused increases in both p65 expression and paw volume. Together these suggest that activated NF-kappa B was specifically expressed in the arthritic synovium and may play a significant role in the development of arthritis.

Animals↗

Demyelination in severe combined immunodeficient mice by intracisternal injection of cerebrospinal fluid cells from patients with multiple sclerosis: neuropathological investigation.

Demyelinating lesions have been observed in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice after intracisternal administration of cerebrospinal fluid cells (CSFC) from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Further investigation in our laboratory revealed that CSFC from 6 to 15 patients at exacerbation of MS caused demyelination. The factor leading to demyelination appears to be the high frequency of relapses during a short period, but not to the severity of the disease. Neuropathological and immunohistochemical studies revealed that a lack of inflammatory mononuclear cell infiltration within and around the demyelinating lesions or in leptomeninges was a common characteristic in all SCID mice with CSFC-induced demyelination. In affected mice killed 2-3 weeks after intracisternal administration of CSFC, foamy/vacuolar lesions with a small or moderate number of lipid-laden macrophages were seen in the white matter. Ultrastructurally, relative preservation of axons, in contrast to myelinoclastic features, as well as some remyelinated axons were observed. In affected SCID mice killed 4-6 weeks after intracisternal administration, more widespread foamy macrophages and necrotic foci with poor remyelination were seen. The findings were similar to those seen in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, though without lymphocytic infiltration, but were quite different from the lesions observed in Theiler's murine encephalitis virus infection. The absence of an immunohistochemical reaction to the human leukocyte common antigen in the infiltrating mononuclear cells suggested that the graft-versus-host reaction was unlikely cause of the demyelinating lesions.

Adolescent↗

A clinicopathological study of a patient with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated with a two base pair deletion in the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene.

The recognition of mutations in the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) has been a landmark in ALS research. We report a clinicopathological study of a female patient with FALS showing a two base pair deletion in exon 5 of the SOD1 gene. Her clinical course was rapid and she died 2 years after the onset. The SOD1 activity was down to 30% of the normal level. Western blot analysis did not reveal the mutant protein which was expected to be approximately 2.4 kDa smaller than normal SOD1 protein in molecular mass. In contrast to the neuropathological findings of the previously reported cases showing the same mutation, our case was characterized by sparing of the dorsal column and the presence of only a modest number of intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions showing weak or partial immunoreaction for neurofilament and negative reaction for SOD1. Thus, the same mutation in the SOD1 gene does not necessarily induce consistent pathological changes in the central nervous system.

Adult↗