PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Hiroyuki Mano

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroyuki Mano.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cytotoxic effects of histone deacetylase inhibitor FK228 (depsipeptide, formally named FR901228) in combination with conventional anti-leukemia/lymphoma agents against human leukemia/lymphoma cell lines.

FK228 is a novel antitumor depsipeptide that inhibits histone deacetylases and restores the expression of genes aberrantly suppressed in cancer cells. This agent was shown to have broad antitumor activity in preclinical studies, and is currently under phase I/II evaluations. Because of its wide spectrum of actions, it is reasonable to consider the combination with other anticancer drugs in clinical application. We studied the cytotoxic interaction of FK228 in combination with conventional antileukemic agents using human promyelocytic leukemia HL60, Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph(+)) chronic myelogenous leukemia KU-812, T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT3 and Burkitt's lymphoma Raji cell lines. For the combination of FK228 and imatinib, Ph(+) leukemia KU812, K562 and TCC-S cell lines were used. The cells were exposed simultaneously to FK228 and other agents for 4 days. Cell growth inhibition was determined by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. We used the isobologram method of Steel and Peckham to evaluate the cytotoxic interaction at the concentration of drugs that produced 80% cell growth inhibition (IC(80)). FK228 showed an additive effect with cytarabine, carboplatin, doxorubicin, etoposide, 4-hydroperoxy-cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine and SN-38 (active metabolite of irinotecan) in all cell lines studied. FK228 with methotrexate and vincristine showed an antagonistic effect in three and one of the four cell lines, respectively. FK228 was additive with imatinib in all three Ph(+) leukemia cells. Our findings suggest that FK228 is a promising candidate for combining with most anticancer agents except for methotrexate and vincristine, which produce suboptimal effects.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Mouse microRNA profiles determined with a new and sensitive cloning method.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNA molecules of 21 to 24 nt that regulate the expression of target genes in a post-transcriptional manner. Although evidence indicates that miRNAs play essential roles in embryogenesis, cell differentiation and pathogenesis of human diseases, extensive miRNA profiling in cells or tissues has been hampered by the lack of sensitive cloning methods. Here we describe a highly efficient profiling method, termed miRNA amplification profiling (mRAP), as well as its application both to mouse embryos at various developmental stages and to adult mouse organs. A total of 77,436 Small-RNA species was sequenced, with 11,776 of these sequences found to match previously described miRNAs. With the use of a newly developed computational prediction algorithm, we further identified 229 independent candidates for previously unknown miRNAs. The expression of some of these candidate miRNAs was confirmed by northern blot analysis and whole-mount in situ hybridization. Our data thus indicate that the total number of miRNAs in vertebrates is larger than previously appreciated and that the expression of these molecules is tightly controlled in a tissue- and developmental stage-specific manner.

Animals↗

Many novel mammalian microRNA candidates identified by extensive cloning and RAKE analysis.

MicroRNAs are 20- to 23-nucleotide RNA molecules that can regulate gene expression. Currently > 400 microRNAs have been experimentally identified in mammalian genomes, whereas estimates go up to 1000 and beyond. Here we show that many more mammalian microRNAs exist. We discovered novel microRNA candidates using two approaches: testing of computationally predicted microRNAs by a modified microarray-based detection system, and cloning and sequencing of large numbers of small RNAs from different human and mouse tissues. Together these efforts experimentally identified 348 novel mouse and 81 novel human microRNA candidate genes. Most novel microRNAs candidates are not conserved beyond mammals, and ~10% are taxon-specific. Our analyses indicate that the entire microRNA repertoire is not remotely exhausted.

Animals↗

An intronic variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms of the cold-induced autoinflammatory syndrome 1 (CIAS1) gene modifies gene expression and is associated with essential hypertension.

Cold-induced autoinflammatory syndrome 1 (CIAS1) gene is a member of the NALP subfamily of the CATERPILLER protein family that is expressed predominantly in peripheral blood leukocytes, which is to regulate apoptosis or inflammation through the activation of NF-kappaB and caspase. Recent genetic analyses suggested an association between inflammation and oxidative stress-related genes in the development of hypertension. This is the first genetic study indicating an association between the CIAS1 gene and susceptibility to essential hypertension (EH). The frequency of subject with the homozygote of 12 repeat allele was significantly higher in patients with hypertension compared with control subjects (987 cases, 924 controls) (P=0.030; odds ratio=1.24) at a novel VNTR polymorphism of CIAS1 intron 4 loci. We also found that the mean of systolic blood pressure of homozygotes of 12 repeat allele was 6.4 mmHg higher than those of homozygotes of non-12 repeat allele in male random population (P=0.009). The frequency of six SNPs spanning of the CIAS1 gene was not significantly between patients and controls. The real-time PCR analysis showed that among healthy young adults, 12-12 subjects expressed CIAS1 mRNA in peripheral leukocytes significantly more abundantly than homozygote of non-12 repeat alleles subjects (P<0.05). Reporter gene assay of the CIAS1-VNTR in HL60 stimulated by lipopolysaccharides showed that the intronic sequence involving 12 repeat increased the expression of luciferase compared with 9, 7, and 6 repeats. Thus, we propose here the CIAS1 is associated with EH through the dominant expression of transcripts, which may depend on the CIAS1-VNTR genotype.

Alleles↗

Identification of a constitutively active mutant of JAK3 by retroviral expression screening.

To identify transforming genes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) we here constructed a retroviral cDNA expression library from an AML patient, and then used this library to infect a mouse cell line 32Dcl3-mCAT. cDNA inserts of the cell clones which proliferated in the presence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were derived from JAK3 encoding a JAK3 mutant with a valine-to-alanine substitution at codon 674 and two additional amino acid substitutions. The transforming activity of JAK3(V674A) was confirmed by its introduction into 32Dcl3-mCAT. Sequencing of the original JAK3 cDNA derived from the patient, however, failed to detect the V674A mutation.

Acute Disease↗

Evidence for activation of Amh gene expression by steroidogenic factor 1.

The anti-Müllerian hormone gene (Amh) is responsible for regression in males of the Müllerian ducts. The molecular mechanism of regulation of chicken Amh expression is poorly understood. To investigate the regulation of chicken Amh expression, we have cloned Amh cDNAs from quail and duck as well as the promoter regions of the gene from chicken, quail, and duck. The expression patterns of Amh during embryonic development in these three species were found to be similar, suggesting that the regulatory mechanisms of Amh expression are conserved. The sequence of the proximal promoter of Amh contains a putative binding site for steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1), the protein product of which can up-regulate Amh in mammals. We showed here that SF1 is able to activate the chicken Amh promoter and binds to its putative SF1 binding site. These results suggest that SF1 plays a role in regulation of Amh expression in avian species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of the myeloperoxidase gene in AC133 positive leukemia cells relates to the prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia.

We previously reported that the percentage of myeloperoxidase (MPO) positive blasts had a prognostic impact on survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To extend this observation, we quantitatively measured the level of the MPO gene in AC133 positive leukemia cells that would contain a putative AML stem/progenitor compartment. AML cases were divided into the MPO gene high (MPOg-H) and MPO gene low (MPOg-L) groups. Only patients belonging to the MPOg-H group had a favorable chromosomal translocation, t(8;21), and having no morphological dysplasia that was associated with MPOg-L. The difference in the survival of MPOg-H and MPOg-L was statistically meaningful, demonstrating the possible prognostic impact of the expression of MPO gene in AC133 positive leukemia cells.

AC133 Antigen↗

Signals from intra-abdominal fat modulate insulin and leptin sensitivity through different mechanisms: neuronal involvement in food-intake regulation.

Intra-abdominal fat accumulation is involved in development of the metabolic syndrome, which is associated with insulin and leptin resistance. We show here that ectopic expression of very low levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in epididymal fat (Epi) reverses both insulin and leptin resistance. UCP1 expression in Epi improved glucose tolerance and decreased food intake in both diet-induced and genetically obese mouse models. In contrast, UCP1 expression in Epi of leptin-receptor mutant mice did not alter food intake, though it significantly decreased blood glucose and insulin levels. Thus, hypophagia induction requires a leptin signal, while the improved insulin sensitivity appears to be leptin independent. In wild-type mice, local-nerve dissection in the epididymis or pharmacological afferent blockade blunted the decrease in food intake, suggesting that afferent-nerve signals from intra-abdominal fat tissue regulate food intake by modulating hypothalamic leptin sensitivity. These novel signals are potential therapeutic targets for the metabolic syndrome.

Animals↗

DNA micro-array analysis of myelodysplastic syndrome.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is an enigmatic disorder characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and dysplastic morphology of blood cells. The clinical course of MDS consists of distinct stages, with early stages often progressing to advanced ones or to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Little is known of the molecular pathogenesis of MDS or of the mechanism of its stage progression. DNA micro-array analysis, which allows simultaneous monitoring of the expression levels of tens of thousands of genes, has the potential to provide insight into the pathophysiology of MDS. Several studies have applied this new technology to compare gene expression profiles either between MDS and the healthy condition, among the different stages of MDS or between MDS-derived AML and de novo AML. Selection of an appropriate hematopoietic fraction is important for such studies, which to date have been performed with differentiated granulocytes, CD34+ progenitors and CD133+ immature cells. These studies have revealed that each stage of MDS has its own 'molecular signature', indicating the feasibility of differential diagnosis of MDS based on gene expression profile. They have also demonstrated that the current clinical diagnosis of MDS results in the misclassification of patients with regard to these molecular signatures.

Acute Disease↗

Schedule-dependent interactions between pemetrexed and cisplatin in human carcinoma cell lines in vitro.

The combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin shows good clinical activity against mesothelioma and lung cancer. In order to study the potential cellular basis for this, and provide leads as to how to optimize the combination, we studied the schedule-dependent cytotoxic effects of pemetrexed and cisplatin against four human cancer cell lines in vitro. Tumor cells were incubated with pemetrexed and cisplatin for 24 h at various schedules. The combination effects after 5 days were analyzed by the isobologram method. Both simultaneous exposure to pemetrexed and cisplatin for 24 h and sequential exposure to cisplatin for 24 h followed by pemetrexed for 24 h produced antagonistic effects in human lung cancer A549, breast cancer MCF7, and ovarian cancer PA1 cells and additive effects in colon cancer WiDr cells. Pemetrexed for 24 h followed by cisplatin for 24 h produced synergistic effects in MCF7 cells, additive/synergistic effects in A549 and PA1 cells, and additive effects in WiDr cells. Cell cycle analysis of MCF7 and PA1 cells supported these findings. Our results suggest that the simultaneous clinical administration of pemetrexed and cisplatin may be suboptimal. The optimal schedule of pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin at the cellular level is the sequential administration of pemetrexed followed by cisplatin and this schedule is worthy of clinical investigations.

Carcinoma↗

Transforming activity of the lymphotoxin-beta receptor revealed by expression screening.

Pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDC) remains one of the most intractable human malignancies. To obtain insight into the molecular pathogenesis of PDC, we constructed a retroviral cDNA expression library with total RNA isolated from the PDC cell line MiaPaCa-2. Screening of this library with the use of a focus formation assay with NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts resulted in the identification of 13 independent genes with transforming activity. One of the cDNAs thus identified encodes an NH(2)-terminally truncated form of the lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTBR). The transforming activity of this short-type LTBR in 3T3 cells was confirmed by both an in vitro assay of cell growth in soft agar and an in vivo assay of tumorigenicity in nude mice. The full-length (wild-type) LTBR protein was also found to manifest similar transforming activity. These observations suggest that LTBR, which belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily of proteins, may contribute to human carcinogenesis.

3T3 Cells↗

Nucleotide sequence and embryonic expression of quail and duck Sox9 genes.

Sox9 is a member of the Sry-type HMG-box (Sox) gene family. It encodes a transcription factor and is thought to be important for sexual differentiation in chicken. In the present study we have isolated Sox9 cDNAs from quail and duck, and examined the expression patterns of the corresponding genes in early embryonic gonads by whole-mount in situ hybridization. We developed a polymerase chain reaction-based protocol to identify the sex of quail and duck embryos before its morphological manifestation. Sox9 expression was first detected on days 5 and 7 in the gonads of male quail and duck embryos, respectively, and was not apparent in female gonads at these stages. These expression patterns are similar to that of chicken Sox9. Our results thus suggest that the expression of quail and duck Sox9 is associated with testis differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Screening for genomic fragments that are methylated specifically in colorectal carcinoma with a methylated MLH1 promoter.

A subset of colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) is associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) of the genome. Although extensive methylation of CpG islands within the promoter regions of DNA mismatch repair genes such as MLH1 is thought to play a central role in tumorigenesis for MSI-positive sporadic CRCs, it has been obscure whether such aberrant epigenetic regulation occurs more widely and affects other cancer-related genes in vivo. Here, by using methylated CpG island amplification coupled with representational difference analysis (MCA-RDA), we screened genomic fragments that are selectively methylated in CRCs positive for MLH1 methylation, resulting in the identification of hundreds of CpG islands containing genomic fragments. Methylation status of such CpG islands was verified for 28 genomic clones in 8 CRC specimens positive for MLH1 methylation and the corresponding paired normal colon tissue as well as in 8 CRC specimens negative for methylation. Many of the CpG islands were preferentially methylated in the MLH1 methylation-positive CRC specimens, although methylation of some of them was more widespread. These data provide insights into the complex regulation of the methylation status of CpG islands in CRCs positive for MSI and MLH1 methylation.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Gene expression profiling of human atrial myocardium with atrial fibrillation by DNA microarray analysis.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequently encountered arrhythmia in the clinical setting. However, a comprehensive investigation of the molecular mechanism of AF has not been performed. The aim of this study was to clarify transcriptional profiling of genes modulated in the atrium of AF patients using DNA microarray technology. METHODS: We obtained 17 fresh cardiac specimens, right atrial appendages, isolated from 10 patients with normal sinus rhythm and seven chronic AF patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Affymetrix GeneChip (Human Genome U95A) investigating 12,000 human genes was used for each specimen. Quantitative analysis of selected genes was performed by the real-time PCR method. RESULTS: The left atrial diameter in the AF group was greater than that in the sinus rhythm group. We could identify 33 AF-specific genes that were significantly activated (>1.5-fold), compared with the sinus rhythm group, including an ion channel, an antioxidant, an inflammation, three cell growth/cell cycle, three transcription such as nuclear factor-interleukin 6-beta, several cell signaling and several protein genes, and seven expressed sequence tags (ESTs). In contrast, we found 63 sinus rhythm-specific genes, including several cell signaling/communication such as sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2, several cellular respiration and energy production and two antiproliferative or negative regulator of cell growth genes, and 22 ESTs. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that about one hundred genes were modulated in the atria of AF patients. These findings suggest that these genes may play critical roles in the initiation or perpetuation of AF and the pathophysiology of atrial remodeling.

Adolescent↗

Genome-wide screening for target regions of histone deacetylases in cardiomyocytes.

The acetylation status of core histones in cardiomyocytes has been linked to the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Little is known, however, of the genes affected by abnormal histone acetylation in such pathological conditions. We recently developed a genome-wide screening method, differential chromatin scanning (DCS), to isolate genomic fragments associated with histones subject to differential acetylation. We have now applied DCS to H9C2 rat embryonic cardiomyocytes incubated with or without trichostatin A (TSA), a specific inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. About 200 genomic fragments were readily isolated by DCS on the basis of the preferential acetylation of associated histones in TSA-treated cells. Quantitation of the amount of DNA in chromatin immunoprecipitates prepared with antibodies to acetylated histone H3 revealed that 37 of 38 randomly chosen DCS clones were preferentially precipitated from the TSA-treated cells, thus verifying the high fidelity of DCS. Epigenetic regulation of DCS clones was further confirmed in cells treated with sodium butyrate, another HDAC inhibitor, as well as in cardiac myocytes isolated from neonatal rats. The mRNA level of 9 (39%) of 23 genes corresponding to DCS clones changed in parallel with the level of histone acetylation in H9C2 cells. Furthermore, a physiological hypertrophic stimulus, cardiotrophin-1, affected the acetylation level of histones associated with genomic regions corresponding to certain DCS clones. Our data thus establish a genome-wide profile of HDAC targets in cardiomyocytes, which should provide a basis for further investigations into the role of epigenetic modification in cardiac disorders.

Acetylation↗

Retroviral expression screening of oncogenes in natural killer cell leukemia.

Aggressive natural killer cell leukemia (ANKL) is an intractable malignancy that is characterized by the outgrowth of NK cells. To identify transforming genes in ANKL, we constructed a retroviral cDNA expression library from an ANKL cell line KHYG-1. Infection of 3T3 cells with recombinant retroviruses yielded 33 transformed foci. Nucleotide sequencing of the DNA inserts recovered from these foci revealed that 31 of them encoded KRAS2 with a glycine-to-alanine mutation at codon 12. Mutation-specific PCR analysis indicated that the KRAS mutation was present only in KHYG-1 cells, not in another ANKL cell line or in clinical specimens (n=8).

3T3 Cells↗

Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 augments the transcriptional activity of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor signaling pathway.

The Janus kinase (Jak)-Stat pathway plays an essential role in cytokine signaling. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) promotes granulopoiesis and granulocytic differentiation, and Stat3 is the principle Stat protein activated by G-CSF. Upon treatment with G-CSF, the interleukin-3-dependent cell line 32D clone 3(32Dcl3) differentiates into neutrophils, and 32Dcl3 cells expressing dominant-negative Stat3 (32Dcl3/DNStat3) proliferate in G-CSF without differentiation. Gene expression profile and quantitative PCR analysis of G-CSF-stimulated cell lines revealed that the expression of C/EBPalpha was up-regulated by the activation of Stat3. In addition, activated Stat3 bound to CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)alpha, leading to the enhancement of the transcription activity of C/EBPalpha. Conditional expression of C/EBPalpha in 32Dcl3/DNStat3 cells after G-CSF stimulation abolishes the G-CSF-dependent cell proliferation and induces granulocytic differentiation. Although granulocyte-specific genes, such as the G-CSF receptor, lysozyme M, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin precursor (NGAL) are regulated by Stat3, only NGAL was induced by the restoration of C/EBPalpha after stimulation with G-CSF in 32Dcl3/DNStat3 cells. These results show that one of the major roles of Stat3 in the G-CSF signaling pathway is to augment the function of C/EBPalpha, which is essential for myeloid differentiation. Additionally, cooperation of C/EBPalpha with other Stat3-activated proteins are required for the induction of some G-CSF responsive genes including lysozyme M and the G-CSF receptor.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗