Biomedical subjects

K Izutsu

Publications and source records attributed to K Izutsu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Effects of acidic pH on the formation of vinblastine-induced paracrystals in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

The pH-related change in morphology of vinblastine (VLB)-induced paracrystals formed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was examined immunohistochemically in order to determine both the mechanism of tubulin crystallization and the influence of acidic pHs on cytoskeletal microtubules. Lowering the extracellular pH (pHe) rapidly reduced the intracellular pH (pHi) in CHO cells. Lowering the pHi to near the neutral range significantly accelerated the growth of VLB-induced paracrystals, compared to that of paracrystals formed at a physiological pHe. However, further cytoplasmic acidification caused by the addition of sodium azide into the culture medium induced the disappearance of typical paracrystals and the appearance of a highly organized meshwork of tubulin appearing as short, thick filaments at the light microscopic level. Treatments using different concentrations of VLB at different pHe's showed that low pHi's (6.7 and 6.3) suppressed paracrystal-formation at lower concentrations of VLB (5 x 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M). At higher concentrations of VLB (5 x 10(-5) M and 10(-4) M), only short filaments were formed at pHi 6.3. Electron microscopy revealed that the filaments had a ladder-like structure probably consisting of a stacked series of fused rings. This indicates that paracrystals may be modified by extremely low pH. These results show that paracrystals are unstable in living cells and that their formation is regulated by environmental pH.

Acids↗

PubMed1994

Physical stability and protein stability of freeze-dried cakes during storage at elevated temperatures.

The relationship between physical stability of freeze-dried cakes and protein stability during storage was studied using beta-galactosidase as a model protein and inositol as an excipient. Amorphous samples freeze-dried from solutions containing the enzyme and various concentrations of inositol in sodium phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.4) were stored for 7 days over P2O5 at 40 to 70 degrees C. Structural collapse and inositol crystallization were observed in some of the samples, depending on the formulation and storage temperature. The physical stability of freeze-dried samples was also studied by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Inositol showed a protein-stabilizing effect when its amorphous form was retained during storage, regardless of structural collapse. However, crystallization of inositol during storage removed its stabilizing effect. Addition of water-soluble polymers such as dextran, Ficoll and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt (CMC-Na) preserved activity of the enzyme by preventing inositol crystallization.

Aspergillus oryzae↗

PubMed1994

Is stability prediction possible for protein drugs? Denaturation kinetics of beta-galactosidase in solution.

Denaturation and aggregation kinetics of Aspergillus oryzae beta-galactosidase in solution were studied in order to determine whether the stability of protein drugs can be predicted. Denaturation of beta-galactosidase, monitored by measuring enzyme activity, conformed to first-order kinetics, whereas aggregation of the denatured form, monitored by high performance size exclusion chromatography, showed a reaction order higher than 1. Denaturation of beta-galactosidase was irreversible and exhibited a biphasic kinetic pattern which could be explained by assuming that two isoenzymes denatured irreversibly at different rates. Linear Arrhenius plots were obtained for the estimated rate constants, and delta H not equal to and delta S++ to were estimated according to the Eyring equation. The estimated delta H++ was much larger than delta H++ observed in usual chemical reactions. The present study suggests that the denaturation of protein drugs can be analyzed by the Eyring equation in the same manner as chemical degradation, contradicting the general consensus that accelerated testing can not be used to predict the stability of protein formulations.

Enzyme Stability↗

PubMed1994

Fluctuations of the sympathetic nerve discharges in animals without natural heartbeat.

To assess the effect of artificial circulation on the circulatory regulatory system, rhythmical fluctuations in the cardiovascular system and autonomic nerve discharges were analyzed in animal experiments using adult mongrel dogs. Two pneumatically actuated ventricular assist devices were implanted as total biventricular bypass (BVB) under general anesthesia; then, the natural heart was electrically fibrillated to constitute the BVB part of the complete prosthetic circulation model. All hemodynamic data and sympathetic nerve discharges were recorded and calculated in the computer system by the use of spectral analyzing methods. In the power spectrum of the arterial blood pressure waveform during prosthetic circulation, the Mayer wave peak was significantly decreased though the respiratory wave peak was not significantly changed. However, the Mayer wave peak in sympathetic nerve discharges was significantly increased though the respiratory wave peak was not significantly changed. These results suggest that rhythmical fluctuations are a necessary response of the circulatory regulatory system including the autonomic nervous system. However, sympathetic nerve discharges respond to the artificial heart without rhythmical fluctuations.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Association of cytoplasmic dynein with manchette microtubules and spermatid nuclear envelope during spermiogenesis in rats.

During spermiogenesis, the shape of the spermatid nucleus, which is spherical, changes and it becomes the sperm head. A microtubular structure called a manchette is thought to be involved in this morphogenetic process. In this report, we demonstrate the localization of cytoplasmic dynein and manchette development by a double immunofluorescence technique using anti-bovine brain MAP 1C and anti-tubulin. Before step 6 of the Leblond and Clermont staging, the microtubules showed a fine reticular network, and the dynein staining was homogeneous. In step 6, the microtubular network was concentrated around the nucleus. The manchette developed in step 7 spermatids, and was fully formed, with a skirt-like appearance, covering the nuclear surface in step 8. Dynein fluorescence was associated with the microtubular manchette in steps 7-10. During these steps, the nucleus was protruded from the cytoplasm. In steps 11-13, the most active stages in nuclear shaping, the dynein was densely localized at the nuclear surface covered by the manchette. As the nucleus acquired a shape similar to the mature spermatozoon at step 14, the dynein fluorescence was localized only at the concave side of the nuclear caudal edge. The manchette became narrower and elongated. In step 15, the manchette extended into the elongated cytoplasm, diminishing during steps 16-18. The localization of the dynein was limited to the ventral aspect of the caudal head in these steps. There was little dynein fluorescence in mature spermatozoa. Immunoelectron microscopy showed positive reactions in the nuclear envelope and the inner region of the microtubular manchette. These observations suggest that cytoplasmic dynein, possibly bound to the nuclear envelope, and manchette microtubules are involved in the protrusion of the spermatid nucleus from the cytoplasm.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Effect of mannitol crystallinity on the stabilization of enzymes during freeze-drying.

The stabilizing effect of mannitol during the freeze-drying of proteins was studied using L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, rabbit muscle), beta-galactosidase (Escherichia coli) and L-asparaginase (Erwinia chrysanthemi) as model proteins. Crystallization of mannitol was studied by powder X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in relation to the stabilizing effect. All the enzymes were protected concentration-dependently by amorphous mannitol, but the stabilizing effect was decreased with an increase in mannitol crystallinity. The heat-treatment of frozen solutions above crystallization temperature prior to drying enhanced mannitol crystallization and LDH inactivation. The importance of maintaining excipients in an amorphous state during freeze-drying, previously reported for Aspergillus oryzae beta-galactosidase (K. Izutsu et al., Pharm. Res., 10, 1233 (1993)), was confirmed using three different enzymes.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

The effect of salts on the stability of beta-galactosidase in aqueous solution, as related to the water mobility.

The effect of salts (KI, KBr, NaCl, KCl, KF, phosphate, and Na2SO4) on the stability of beta-galactosidase in aqueous solution was studied from the aspect of changes in water mobility. At salt concentrations up to 200 mM, the inactivation rate of beta-galactosidase in all the salt solutions studied increased with increasing salt concentration. At higher concentrations, those salts which had little effect on the spin-lattice relaxation time, T1, of water (KI, KBr, and KCl) continued to increase the inactivation rate of beta-galactosidase with increasing concentration, while those salts which decreased the T1 of water (KF, phosphate, and Na2SO4) decreased the inactivation rate. It appeared that the decrease in water mobility caused by KF, phosphate, and Na2SO4 resulted in stabilization of beta-galactosidase. The results indicate that water mobility is an important factor in the denaturation rate of proteins.

Bromides↗

PubMed1993

Stability of beta-galactosidase, a model protein drug, is related to water mobility as measured by 17O nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

The inactivation of freeze-dried beta-galactosidase during storage was studied, focusing on the effect of water mobility as measured by the spin-lattice relaxation time, T1, of water using 17O NMR. Inactivation of beta-galactosidase lyophilized from phosphate buffer solution was studied as a function of water content, which in turn affected the T1 of water. An increase in the water content of freeze-dried beta-galactosidase brought about an increase in the T1 of water, as well as a rise in pH. For the freeze-dried enzyme with sufficient water content to be dissolved, the inactivation rate was related to the T1 of water rather than to the pH change. It is suggested that as the water content increases, the mobility of water around the enzyme increases, resulting in enhanced enzyme inactivation. The freeze-dried samples with limited moisture showed inactivation rates faster than those expected from the pH and water mobility, suggesting that the inactivation mechanism is different from that for the freeze-dried enzyme with a larger amount of water. Inactivation of beta-galactosidase in solutions was also studied as a function of phosphate buffer and sodium chloride concentrations, which in turn affected the T1 of water. Because the inactivation rate increased with increasing salt concentrations and the rate extrapolated to zero concentration was negligible, inactivation of the freeze-dried enzyme was apparently induced by the salts used as additives for lyophilization. The enhancing effect of phosphate buffer components, however, was reduced at higher concentrations, an effect related to the decrease in the T1 of water. This result may be ascribed to the decrease in water mobility caused by phosphate buffer components and is consistent with the observation that the inactivation rate of the freeze-dried enzyme with a relatively large amount of water decreased with decreasing T1 of water.

Aspergillus oryzae↗

PubMed1993

Aggregates formed during storage of beta-galactosidase in solution and in the freeze-dried state.

Aggregates formed during storage of freeze-dried beta-galactosidase were compared with those formed in solutions. Freeze-dried beta-galactosidase aggregated during storage in the presence of moisture, producing a protein precipitate which was soluble in guanidine hydrochloride solution but not in buffer solution. The protein precipitate dissolved in guanidine solution exhibited a large molecular size by high-performance size exclusion chromatography and converted to proteins of original size in the presence of dithiothreitol. It is suggested that the aggregation involves chemical interaction via covalent disulfide bonding. In contrast, beta-galactosidase in aqueous solution aggregated without formation of protein precipitates. Soluble aggregates were converted to proteins of original size in guanidine solution without dithiothreitol, suggesting noncovalent bonding. The difference in aggregation behavior may be ascribed to the difference in the water:protein ratio. We propose that inactivation of beta-galactosidase is due to formation of thermally denatured (unfolded) protein, which aggregates dependent on the water:protein ratio, either via noncovalent interactions at a high water:protein ratio in solution or via covalent interaction at a low water:protein ratio in the freeze-dried state.

Buffers↗

PubMed1993

Decreased protein-stabilizing effects of cryoprotectants due to crystallization.

The stabilizing effects of various additives against inactivation of an enzyme (beta-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae) during freeze-drying were studied, with a focus on their crystallinity. The crystalline morphology of mannitol and inositol in freeze-dried cakes depended on the solute concentrations before freezing and the freeze-drying method used. The additives in their amorphous state showed concentration-dependent stabilization of the enzyme, whereas additive crystallization during freeze-drying decreased their effects. Heat treatment before freeze-drying also caused crystallization and diminished the stabilizing effects. Noncovalent soluble aggregates were observed in the inactivated enzyme solution. These results show the importance of maintaining the amorphous state of additives used as stabilizing agents during freeze-drying.

Asparaginase↗

PubMed1993

Dependence of baroreceptor-mediated sympathetic outflow on biventricular assist device driving frequency.

To investigate the drive condition of the artificial heart from a neurophysiological point of view, the dynamic transduction characteristics of the baroreflex system were analyzed by means of sympathetic neurograms. Two pneumatically actuated ventricular assist devices were implanted as biventricular bypasses (BVBs) in adult mongrel dogs to compare the natural heart circulation and prosthetic circulation. After BVB pumping was initiated, the natural heart was electrically fibrillated. Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was recorded to analyze sympathetic outflow. Coherence function between the arterial pressure and RSNA was calculated to evaluate the linearity of the baroreflex system. The largest peak coherency was observed when BVB was driven at the frequency of natural heart beat prior to electrical fibrillation, which suggests that the baroreflex system shows the largest linearity at this frequency. These results suggest the possibility that the natural heart beat frequency is the setting frequency at which the baroreflex system transfers the hemodynamic rhythm to the sympathetic outflow.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Lymphocyte calmodulin and its participation in the stimulation of T lymphocytes by mitogenic lectins.

Calmodulin was purified from human tonsillar lymphocytes utilizing calcium-dependent binding of calmodulin to fluphenazine-Sepharose. The molecular weight and phosphodiesterase activation of the lymphocyte calmodulin were very similar to those of purified bovine brain calmodulin. Trifluoperazine (TFP), a calmodulin inhibitor, suppressed lymphocyte stimulation as assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA of lectin-stimulated lymphocytes. TFP had no effect on the early 45Ca2+ uptake induced by mitogenic lectins, although this latter was inhibited by verapamil which also suppressed the 3H-thymidine incorporation. The results are in keeping with the interpretation that the inhibition of T cell stimulation by TFP was not due to suppression of Ca2+ uptake, but due to inactivation of Ca(2+)-calmodulin complex which might be formed subsequent to Ca2+ entry into the cell.

Calcium↗

PubMed1992

Distribution of cytoplasmic and axonemal dyneins in rat tissues.

Microtubule-associated protein 1C (MAP 1C) is now defined as brain cytoplasmic dynein. Recent studies have suggested that cytoplasmic dynein is a motor protein responsible for the intracellular microtubule-based motility in neuronal and non-neuronal cells. We have prepared an antibody against bovine brain MAP 1C and have examined the localizations of cytoplasmic dynein in rat tissues. Immunoblots of extracts from the tissues showed that the dynein was present in brain, testis, liver, kidney and lung. Immunohistochemical experiments have demonstrated that dynein is localized in Purkinje cells of cerebellum and axons of central and peripheral nervous systems. In non-neuronal tissues, the antibody staining was intense in many types of cells, such as hepatocytes, epithelia of renal convoluted tubules, secretory cells of adrenal medulla and spermatids. Glomeruli of kidney, bronchial epithelia and type II pneumocytes of lung, pancreatic islets and acini, adrenal cortex and Sertoli cells were moderately positive upon exposure to the cytoplasmic dynein antibody. On the other hand, the localization of axonemal dynein was examined using antibodies against flagellar dynein of sea urchin spermatozoa. Anti-axonemal dynein labeled cilia and flagella in rat tissues whereas anti-MAP 1C did not stain axonemes. We also tested for immunological cross-reactivity between cytoplasmic and axonemal dyneins to probe for molecular similarities. Anti-axonemal dynein reacted with MAP 1C weakly. These results have confirmed that cytoplasmic dyneins are distributed widely among rat organs, not only in neuronal but also in non-neuronal tissues. There is no similarity in the localization of cytoplasmic and axonemal dyneins but there is some similarity in molecular antigenicity.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Cardiac-related sympathetic nerve activity during circulation with only the left ventricular assist device.

Circulatory maintenance with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) alone during cardiac arrest until heart transplantation has been evaluated. To assess the effect on the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic neurogram was analyzed by power spectrum and coherence function. LVAD were inserted between the left atrium and the descending aorta in seven adult mongrel dogs and ventricular fibrillation was induced electrically. Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was detected by bipolar electrodes attached to the left renal sympathetic nerve. Values of squared coherence between the arterial pulse wave and RSNA were calculated. Under the condition of circulatory maintenance with only LVAD, coherence at the cardiac rhythm frequency was decreased, and coherence at the LVAD pumping rhythm frequency was increased. These results indicate that the arterial pulse wave observed during maintenance of the circulation with only LVAD contributed to the sympathetic neurogram.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Comparison of elemental concentrations in the acinar cells of the human labial salivary gland.

Two types of acinar cells were observed in human labial glands by conventional and analytical electron microscopic and light microscopic techniques. The predominant type contained large and prominent secretory granules that were strongly mucicarmine and PAS (with and without diastase) positive. The second type contained small, lacy, secretory granules, and these cells were faintly positive with these stains. The elemental contents of the two types of granules were measured by analytical electron microscopy using digital mapping and spot analysis applied to freeze-dried cryosections prepared from gland slices incubated in vitro under non-stimulated conditions. The large secretory granules had significantly higher Ca, S and Mg concentrations and significantly lower Cl and K concentrations than the small granules. The difference in elemental contents probably reflects differences in the content of secretory macromolecules. Specifically, the S content is thought to reflect the anionic properties of the secretory macromolecules, while the levels of divalent cations are thought to be determined by electroneutrality requirements for macromolecular folding and storage. No differences were found in nuclear or cytoplasmic elemental concentrations between the two cell types.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Rare chromosomal aberrations induced by vincristine. Partial endoreduplication and pseudoendoreduplication, segmentally endoreduplicated chromosomes, and segmental premature chromosome condensation.

Vincristine (VCR) is capable of inducing a cell containing both conventional chromosomes (monochromosomes) and diplochromosomes. A total of 124 such metaphases were examined by 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and fluorescence plus Giemsa (FPG) technique to analyze cell cycle kinetics. The majority of cells (119 metaphases) showed differential BrdU incorporation between the two kinds of chromosomes, indicating that partial endoreduplication occurred in these cells. In addition, existence of partially endoreduplicated cells with premature chromosome condensation (PCC) in either mono- or diplochromosomes suggests that the timing of monochromosome-replication was very variable in individual cells. On the other hand, the remaining five metaphases showed that both mono- and diplochromosomes incorporated BrdU similarly, indicating that diplochromosomes are formed by pseudoendoreduplication. Two kinds of chromosomal aberrations probably caused by delay of DNA synthesis on chromosome segments, segmental endoreduplication, and segmental PCC were also reported. Segmental endoreduplication was defined as endoreduplication that occurred on some segments of chromosomes. Out of 119 partially endoreduplicated cells, 3 contained a chromosome consisting of both mono- and diplochromosomal segments, indicating that the former segments missed one round of DNA synthesis. Segmental PCC was defined as PCC restricted to only some segments of chromosomes. Two types of segmental PCC, segmental S-PCC and G2-PCC, were observed in VCR-induced ordinary polyploidy. Although both segmental endoreduplication and segmental PCC occurred with very low frequency, these phenomena suggest that DNA synthesis was disturbed in some part of the nucleus.

Aneuploidy↗

PubMed1991

Inactivation kinetics of enzyme pharmaceuticals in aqueous solution.

The kinetics of enzyme inactivation in aqueous solution of neutral pH were studied for alpha-chymotrypsin, bromelain, and kallikrein. Inactivation of alpha-chymotrypsin and bromelain followed simple first-order kinetics, and the rate constant obtained conformed to the Arrhenius relationship. Kallikrein, however, presented more complicated kinetics of inactivation, which could be described by a kinetic expression combining a reversible and an irreversible pathway. Nonlinear regression analysis suggested that the rate constants conform reasonably well to the Arrhenius relationship. The results suggest that inactivation of enzymes in aqueous solution can be modeled even if the profile is complicated and that the inactivation rates can be predicted based on the relationship between the parameter estimates and temperature.

Bromelains↗

PubMed1991

Silent obstruction of the coronary stenosis between diagnostic angiography and later percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty without myocardial infarction.

Among 204 patients with severe coronary artery stenosis amenable to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), 5 (2.5%) developed new silent total coronary occlusion of the vessel to be dilated without any chest symptom during the period between diagnostic coronary angiography and repeat coronary angiography at the time of the operation. We evaluated the clinical and angiographical characteristics of the patients with silent obstruction of the coronary artery in a short time, compared with the patients with unstable angina pectoris, who is considered to be suffering from acute myocardial infarction with severe chest symptom. None of the clinical variables studied showed a significant difference between the two groups. Among the angiographic variables, the degree of collateral was higher and impaired coronary perfusion distal to the lesion was more frequently found in unstable angina group. These results suggest that unstable angina is in a later stage of the ischemic heart disease compared with the time of the diagnostic angiography in patients with silent obstruction. Silent obstruction of high degree coronary stenosis is presumably due to the development of collateral circulation.

Aged↗