Biomedical subjects

Hisashi Nakamura

Publications and source records attributed to Hisashi Nakamura.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Novel lethal mouse mutants produced in balancer chromosome screens.

Mutagenesis screens are a valuable method to identify genes that are required for normal development. Previous mouse mutagenesis screens for lethal mutations were targeted at specific time points or for developmental processes. Here we present the results of lethal mutant isolation from two mutagenesis screens that use balancer chromosomes. One screen was localized to mouse chromosome 4, between the STS markers D4Mit281 and D4Mit51. The second screen covered the region between Trp53 and Wnt3 on mouse chromosome 11. These screens identified all lethal mutations in the balancer regions, without bias towards any phenotype or stage of death. We have isolated 19 lethal lines on mouse chromosome 4, and 59 lethal lines on chromosome 11, many of which are distinct from previous mutants that map to these regions of the genome. We have characterized the mutant lines to determine the time of death, and performed a pair-wise complementation cross to determine if the mutations are allelic. Our data suggest that the majority of mouse lethal mutations die during mid-gestation, after uterine implantation, with a variety of defects in gastrulation, heart, neural tube, vascular, or placental development. This initial group of mutants provides a functional annotation of mouse chromosomes 4 and 11, and indicates that many novel developmental phenotypes can be quickly isolated in defined genomic intervals through balancer chromosome mutagenesis screens.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Inactivation of Rai1 in mice recapitulates phenotypes observed in chromosome engineered mouse models for Smith-Magenis syndrome.

Retinoic acid induced 1 (RAI1) is among the 20 genes identified in the critical region of Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS), a genomic disorder with multiple congenital anomalies associated with a 3.7 Mb heterozygous deletion of 17p11.2. Heterozygous premature termination mutations in RAI1 have been identified recently in SMS patients without detectable deletions. To investigate Rai1 function, we generated a null allele in mice by gene targeting and simultaneously inserted a lacZ reporter gene into the Rai1 locus. X-gal staining of the Rai1(+/-) mice recapitulated the endogenous expression pattern of Rai1. The gene was predominantly expressed in the epithelial cells involved in organogenesis. Obesity and craniofacial abnormalities, which have been reported in SMS mouse models containing a heterozygous deletion of the syntenic SMS critical region, were observed in Rai1(+/-) mice. Thus, haploinsufficiency of Rai1 causes obesity and craniofacial abnormalities in mice. Interestingly, the penetrance of craniofacial anomalies is further reduced in Rai1(+/-) mice. Most homozygous mice died during gastrulation and organogenesis. The surviving Rai1(-/-) mice were growth retarded and displayed malformations in both the craniofacial and the axial skeleton. Using green fluorescence protein and GAL4 DNA binding domain fusions to Rai1, we showed that Rai1 is translocated to the nucleus and it has transactivation activity. Our data are consistent with Rai1 functioning as a transcriptional regulator, document that Rai1 haploinsufficiency is responsible for obesity and craniofacial phenotypes in mice with SMS deletions, and indicate Rai1 is important for embryonic and postnatal developments.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed2005

Cooperative cell-growth inhibition by combination treatment with ZD1839 (Iressa) and trastuzumab (Herceptin) in non-small-cell lung cancer.

An important recent advance in anticancer therapy was the development of molecular-targeting drugs, such as the epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting drug ZD1839 (Iressa) and the HER2-trageting anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin). ZD1839 and trastuzumab are reported to improve the therapeutic efficacy of treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and breast cancer, respectively, although the effectiveness of either drug alone is not satisfactory. NSCLC cells often express both EGFR and HER2. We therefore investigated whether a combination of ZD1839 and trastuzumab had an additive or synergistic antitumor effect. In culture ZD1839 inhibited the growth of four NSCLC cell lines (A549, NCI-H23, NCI-H727, and NCI-H661) that expressed various levels of EGFR, HER2, HER3, and HER4. A significant cytotoxic effect was observed when ZD1839 was combined with trastuzumab in A549 cells. However, this combination had no apparent effect in NCI-H23 cells. Significant G(1)-phase arrest, increased p27 expression and decreased cyclin E or D1 levels were detected in A549 cells treated with ZD1839 and trastuzumab. No significant effects were detected in NCI-H23 cells examined. The combination treatment significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of EGFR, HER2, retinoblastoma, extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2, and protein kinase B/Akt in A549 cells, but not in NCI-H23 cells. Our results indicated that increased levels of constitutive EGFR/HER2 heterodimers were formed in A549 cells in the presence of ZD1839, whereas no heterodimer formation was detected in NCI-H23 cells. We therefore suggest that combination treatment with ZD1839 and trastuzumab might have improved therapeutic efficacy against NSCLC cells expressing both EGFR and HER2.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2004

Mutation of l7Rn3 shows that Odz4 is required for mouse gastrulation.

A mouse homolog of the Drosophila pair-rule gene Odd Oz (Odz4) maps to the critical region of the l7Rn3 locus on mouse chromosome 7. Here we show that Odz4 is an excellent candidate for this allelic series because (1) it spans the entire critical region, (2) the phenotypes correlate with embryonic expression, (3) the complex genetic inheritance of the alleles is consistent with complex transcriptional regulation, and (4) one allele has a mutation in a conserved amino acid. Odz4 uses five alternate promoters that encode both secreted and membrane-bound proteins. Intragenic complementation of the l7Rn3 alleles is consistent with these multiple-protein isoforms. Further, the allelic series shows that Odz4 is required to establish the anterior-posterior axis of the gastrulating mouse embryo and is necessary later for mesoderm-derived tissues such as somites, heart, and skeleton. Sequencing of RT-PCR products from five of the six alleles reveals a nonconservative amino acid change in the l7Rn3(m4) allele. This amino acid is important evolutionarily, as it is conserved to Drosophila. Together, our data indicate that Odz4 is mutated in the l7Rn3 allele series and performs roles in the mouse brain, heart, and embryonic patterning similar to those of its Drosophila counterpart.

Alleles↗

PubMed2003

Functional genetic analysis of mouse chromosome 11.

Now that the mouse and human genome sequences are complete, biologists need systematic approaches to determine the function of each gene. A powerful way to discover gene function is to determine the consequence of mutations in living organisms. Large-scale production of mouse mutations with the point mutagen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) is a key strategy for analysing the human genome because mouse mutants will reveal functions unique to mammals, and many may model human diseases. To examine genes conserved between human and mouse, we performed a recessive ENU mutagenesis screen that uses a balancer chromosome, inversion chromosome 11 (refs 4, 5). Initially identified in the fruitfly, balancer chromosomes are valuable genetic tools that allow the easy isolation of mutations on selected chromosomes. Here we show the isolation of 230 new recessive mouse mutations, 88 of which are on chromosome 11. This genetic strategy efficiently generates and maps mutations on a single chromosome, even as mutations throughout the genome are discovered. The mutations reveal new defects in haematopoiesis, craniofacial and cardiovascular development, and fertility.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

COP9 signalosome subunit 3 is essential for maintenance of cell proliferation in the mouse embryonic epiblast.

Csn3 (Cops3) maps to the mouse chromosome 11 region syntenic to the common deletion interval for the Smith-Magenis syndrome, a contiguous gene deletion syndrome. It encodes the third subunit of an eight-subunit protein complex, the COP9 signalosome (CSN), which controls a wide variety of molecules of different functions. Mutants of this complex caused lethality at early development of both plants and Drosophila melanogaster. CSN function in vivo in mammals is unknown. We disrupted the murine Csn3 gene in three independent ways with insertional vectors, including constructing a approximately 3-Mb inversion chromosome. The heterozygous mice appeared normal, although the protein level was reduced. Csn3(-/-) embryos arrested after 5.5 days postcoitum (dpc) and resorbed by 8.5 dpc. Mutant embryos form an abnormal egg cylinder which does not gastrulate. They have reduced numbers of epiblast cells, mainly due to increased cell death. In the Csn3(-/-) mice, subunit 8 of the COP9 complex was not detected by immunohistochemical techniques, suggesting that the absence of Csn3 may disrupt the entire COP9 complex. Therefore, Csn3 is important for maintaining the integrity of the COP9 signalosome and is crucial to maintain the survival of epiblast cells and thus the development of the postimplantation embryo in mice.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Resection of synchronous lung and Vater's papilla cancer.

We present a case of a 78-year-old man with a synchronous double cancer of the lung and Vater's papilla. A pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed for Vater's papilla cancer and a partial lung resection for lung cancer. The pathological diagnosis of the tumors was a well differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma and well differentiated bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, respectively. Although most cases of synchronous double cancers involve lung and gastric cancers, a combination of lung and Vater's papilla is extremely rare. This patient is still alive with no recurrence for 5 years after the last operation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Rapid-growth lung cancer associated with a pulmonary giant bulla: a case report.

A giant bulla of the lung is suggested as a risk factor for lung cancer. Here we report a case with lung cancer in a giant bulla, which showed rapid progression. A 57-year-old man, who had a history of heavy smoking, was admitted to our hospital due to hemoptysis. A chest X-ray revealed a giant bulla with a ground glass shadow and a high fluid level in the right upper lung. Sputum cytology was negative for malignant cells. A chest X-ray a month later showed increases of the size of the radio-opaque shadow and of the air-fluid retention, suggesting pulmonary hemorrhage from the giant bulla. Limited resection or lobectomy was indicated, but pneumonectomy was performed due to the severe air-leak. Macroscopically, a multiple nodular tumor arose from the bulla wall, which might be related to blood flow and necrotic tissue. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was papillary adenocarcinoma. Unfortunately, the patient developed a recurrence of carcinoma in the pleuroperitoneal cavity and died at 2.5 months after the operation. Based on this report and review of other cases in the literature, we should keep in mind the rapid progression of lung cancer in association with an emphysematous bulla.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗

PubMed2002

Quaking is essential for blood vessel development.

For nearly 40 years functional studies of the mouse quaking gene (qkI) have focused on its role in the postnatal central nervous system during myelination. However, the homozygous lethality of a number of ENU-induced alleles reveals that quaking has a critical role in embryonic development prior to the start of myelination. In this article, we show that quaking has a previously unsuspected and essential role in blood vessel development. Interestingly, we found that quaking, a nonsecreted protein, is expressed in the yolk sac endoderm, adjacent to the mesodermal site of developing blood islands, where the differentiation of blood and endothelial cells first occurs. Antibodies against PE-CAM-1, TIE-2 and SM-alpha-actin reveal that embryos homozygous for the qk(k2) allele have defective yolk sac vascular remodeling and abnormal vessels in the embryo proper at midgestation, coinciding with the timing of embryonic death. However, these mutants exhibit normal expression of Nkx2.5 and alpha-sarcomeric actin, indicating that cardiac muscle differentiation was normal. Further, they had normal embryonic heart rates in culture, suggesting that cardiac function was not compromised at this stage of embryonic development. Together, these results suggest that quaking plays an essential role in vascular development and that the blood vessel defects are the cause of embryonic death.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Minute lung carcinoma associated with focal honeycombed lesion.

We report a case of minute lung carcinoma that developed in a focal honeycombed lesion in the right lung. A 70-year-old man presented hemosputum, and a cytological examination result was at class IV. A right lower lobectomy of the lung was performed. Microscopically, the thickened alveolar wall revealed tumor cells indicating a minute carcinoma, and showed squamous hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia, with the carcinoma in the distal airway epithelium. This peripheral lung carcinoma in a focal honeycombed lesion demonstrated the various stages of multistep carcinogenesis, which is recognized in hilar type squamous cell carcinoma. To date, the association between a honeycombed lesion and lung cancer has been poorly described. Here we have presented clear evidence of the association of this carcinoma with the honeycombed lesion.

Aged↗