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H Fujinaka

Publications and source records attributed to H Fujinaka.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Expression and immunolocalization of AQP6 in intercalated cells of the rat kidney collecting duct.

The expression and localization of AQP6 were examined in rat kidneys. In the kidney compartments, the expression was more intense in the outer medulla than in the cortex or inner medulla, and was negative in the glomerulus. During development, the AQP6 mRNA expression in the kidney was not detected in the fetus, but was recognized at birth, increased gradually by 4 weeks of age, and was unchanged thereafter. In situ hybridization demonstrated significant signals for AQP6 mRNA along the outer and inner medullary collecting ducts. Since the localization of the AQP6 mRNA-expressing cells was comparable to that of immunoreactive H+ ATPase-bearing cells in the collecting duct, they were identified as intercalated cells. No AQP6 mRNA signals were recognizable in other cells in the kidneys, including glomerular cells. No glomerular expression of AQP6 mRNA was confirmed by RT-PCR using total RNA extracted from the glomeruli. Immunohistochemistry using an antibody raised against recombinant rat AQP6 protein could localize the immunoreactivity in a population of collecting duct cells. Serial section observations indicated that the AQP6-immunoreactive cells corresponded to H+ ATPase bearing intercalated cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Salutary role for angiotensin in partial urinary tract obstruction.

BACKGROUND: In the neonatal period, angiotensin II (Ang II) is up-regulated and induces a timely development of the renal pelvis and ureteral peristalsis, thereby protecting the kidney from hydronephrosis. We tested the possibility that in adulthood, Ang II may act salutarily on the kidney structure during partial urinary tract obstruction by inducing adaptive changes in the peristaltic machinery. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and divided into two groups, that is, those treated with (group L, N = 21) and those without (group C, N = 21) an angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist (losartan). Control animals were sham operated (N = 10). Rats were sacrificed either at day 7 or day 14. RESULTS: The degree of hydronephrosis determined morphometrically was significantly more severe in group L than group C at both day 7 and day 14, indicating that Ang II inhibition accentuated hydronephrosis. The measurement of upstream pressure within the partially ligated ureter in vivo revealed that losartan significantly attenuates the frequency of ureteral peristaltic activities. In in vitro studies using ureteral strips harvested from normal adult Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 10), Ang II (10(-8) mol/L) was shown to augment contraction, which was completely inhibited by losartan (10(-6) mol/L). CONCLUSIONS: Ang II has a salutary effect of protecting kidneys from hydronephrosis during partial ureteral obstruction through its ability to augment ureteral peristalsis.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1998

Expression and localization of cyclooxygenase isoforms and cytosolic phospholipase A2 in anti-Thy-1 glomerulonephritis.

Glomerular expression of the major rate-limiting enzymes for prostanoid synthesis, cyclooxygenase isoforms (COX-1 and COX-2) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), was investigated in anti-Thy-1 nephritis in rats. Ribonuclease protection assay demonstrated minimal COX-1 mRNA expression in glomeruli of control rat kidneys and a gradual increase of expression from day 1 to day 10 after administration of monoclonal anti-rat Thy-1 antibody. On the other hand, COX-2 mRNA expression, also minimal in the normal glomeruli, was enhanced in a biphasic pattern with two peaks at 1 h and day 10. Expression of cPLA2 mRNA, which was undetectable in normal glomeruli, was induced on day 1 and increased gradually in a pattern similar to that of COX-1 mRNA expression. Immunofluorescence microscopy, using antibodies against COX isoforms, showed that both COX-1 and COX-2 were negligible or faintly detectable in the glomeruli of control rat kidneys. In contrast, the immunofluorescence for COX-1 was intensified on days 4 and 10 along the glomerular capillary walls probably in glomerular epithelial and/or endothelial cells, whereas COX-2 staining was exclusively enhanced in the glomerular epithelial cells at 1 h and day 10 during the course of anti-Thy-1 nephritis. These findings indicate that prostanoids generated through induction of COX-1, COX-2, and cPLA2 are implicated in the mediation of the mesangial cell injury model. In particular, the upregulation of COX-2 expression in glomerular epithelial cells in the selective mesangial cell injury model suggests an intercellular interaction between mesangial cells, and glomerular epithelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Crucial role of CD8-positive lymphocytes in glomerular expression of ICAM-1 and cytokines in crescentic glomerulonephritis of WKY rats.

CD8-positive lymphocytes (CD8+ lym) and ICAM-1/LFA-1 interaction have been implicated in the glomerular accumulation of monocytes/macrophages (Mo/Mphi) and crescent formation in antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) glomerulonephritis of WKY rats. In the present study, the role of CD8+ lym in the expression of ICAM-1 and inflammatory cytokines as well as in the accumulation of Mo/Mphi in the glomeruli was examined by RNase protection assay and immunofluorescence microscopy. ICAM-1 expression was apparent at 1 h and markedly enhanced at day 3 in glomeruli after an anti-GBM Ab injection in parallel with glomerular accumulation of Mo/Mphi. Expression of mRNA for IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma, known to enhance ICAM-1 expression, and MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and MCP-1, known to activate leukocyte integrins or to act as chemokines, were also induced in the glomeruli at a mRNA level in a profile similar to that of ICAM-1 expression. By depleting the CD8+ lym in the circulation, the increased glomerular expression of ICAM-1 and the cytokines, except IL-1beta, and the Mo/Mphi accumulation were suppressed, indicating a crucial role of CD8+ lym in the accumulation of Mo/Mphi through stimulation of ICAM-1 and induction of cytokines.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Expression of AQP family in rat kidneys during development and maturation.

The mRNA expression and localization of the aquaporin (AQP) family in rat kidney were examined by ribonuclease protection assay and immunohistochemistry. AQP1, AQP2, AQP3, and AQP4 mRNA were hardly detectable in 16-day gestation fetuses. AQP1 mRNA was explosively expressed at 1 wk, keeping the level throughout life. AQP2 mRNA expression was apparently noticed in 18-day fetuses and was enhanced gradually with age to reach a plateau at 4 wk. AQP3 and AQP4 mRNA expression was significantly found at birth but was not changed remarkably thereafter. AQP2 protein appeared first at the apical side of collecting duct cells in 18-day fetuses. The staining intensity at the site increased with age, and basolateral staining was added in adult rats. AQP3 was distinctly demonstrated at the basolateral side of collecting duct cells after birth, and the staining intensity was almost stable throughout life. The progressive induction of AQP2 expression in the first 4 wk after birth is presumed to contribute to the maturation of urinary concentrating capacity during the kidney development.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

Suppression of anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis by administration of anti-monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 antibody in WKY rats.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis in WKY rats is characterized by an accumulation of CD8-positive lymphocytes (CD8+ lym) and monocytes/macrophages (Mo/M psi) in the glomeruli and crescent formation. In the study presented here, the involvement of a chemokine for Mo/M psi, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), was examined in this model. An intense induction of mRNA for MCP-1 in the glomeruli and a suppressive effect of anti-MCP-1 antibody administration on the glomerular Mo/M psi accumulation and proteinuria were found. MCP-1 mRNA was expressed intensely in the glomeruli 4 d after the anti-GBM antibody injection. When MCP-1 was neutralized with anti-MCP-1 antibody administration, the number of Mo/M psi infiltrating in the glomeruli decreased by 34.7% (19.6 +/- 7.1 versus 30.0 +/- 6.0 per glomerular cross-section, P < 0.01) and proteinuria by 66.2% (15.6 +/- 9.3 versus 46.1 +/- 15.1 mg/d, P < 0.01) at day 4. In contrast, the number of CD8+ lym accumulating in the glomeruli was not affected significantly (6.6 +/- 2.7 versus 6.0 +/- 3.0 per glomerular cross-section, P > 0.05). However, the treatment with the anti-MCP-1 antibody did not reduce Mo/M psi infiltration, urinary protein excretion, and crescent formation at day 8. These data suggest that MCP-1 plays a role in the glomerular accumulation of Mo/M psi, and that the infiltrating Mo/M psi cause glomerular injury and increased excretion of protein in the urine.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Expression and localization of inducible nitric oxide synthase in anti-Thy-1 glomerulonephritis.

To elucidate a possible involvement of nitric oxide in the development of a mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis induced by anti-Thy-1 antibody administration, glomerular expression of three isoforms of NO synthase (NOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), brain NOS, and endothelial NOS, was examined at both mRNA and protein levels by ribonuclease protection assay and immunofluorescence microscopy. Light microscopy showed an accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes at 1 hour, lysis of mesangial cells at 1 day, a mesangial proliferative lesion at 4 to 10 days, and minimal residual glomerular lesions by 28 days. Ribonuclease protection assay showed that the glomerular expression of iNOS mRNA peaked at 1 hour and decreased thereafter. No substantial expression of iNOS mRNA was observed in normal glomeruli or in the nephritic glomeruli obtained at different time points (1, 4, 10, or 28 days). By immunofluorescence microscopy with a specific monoclonal antibody, an intense reaction for iNOS was demonstrated in a few cells in the glomeruli at 1 hour. Most of the iNOS-positive cells were identified as polymorphonuclear leukocytes. iNOS-positive cells were found less frequently in the glomeruli on days 1 and 4. Endothelial NOS mRNA was constitutively expressed in normal glomeruli and increased biphasically with two peaks at 1 hour and at 4 days or later; however, the peak expression was much less than that of iNOS mRNA at 1 hour. Expression of brain NOS mRNA was not detectable in either normal or nephritic glomeruli. These results show that iNOS is predominantly expressed in polymorphonuclear leukocytes accumulating at 1 hour in the glomeruli of anti-Thy-1 glomerulonephritis and suggest an involvement of NO in the initiation of the disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Heterologous enzyme immunoassay for puromycin aminonucleoside using beta-D-galactosidase as a label.

A heterologous enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed to quantify puromycin aminonucleoside (PA). This double antibody assay was based on the use of anti-puromycin (PU) antibody and used beta-D-galactosidase-labeled PA conjugate prepared via N-(m-maleimidobenzoyloxy)succinimide. The standard curve of the assay ranged from 1 ng to 30 ng, and the lower limit of detection was 22.7 nM (1 ng/tube). The EIA was found to be approximately 20 times more sensitive than the homologous EIA for PA with anti-PA antibody and PA-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate. The heterologous EIA was free from interference by any purine or pyrimidine analogs and drug levels were easily determined in rat tissue following i.v. administration at a dose of 15 mg/kg. The sensitivity and specificity of the EIA should provide a valuable new tool for use in pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies of PA.

Animals↗