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Biomedical subjects

K Niiya

Publications and source records attributed to K Niiya.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Hypoproduction of erythropoietin contributes to anemia in chronic cadmium intoxication: clinical study on Itai-itai disease in Japan.

Itai-itai disease is a condition caused by long-term exposure of the inhabitants of Toyama prefecture, Japan, to cadmium intoxication. The characteristic clinical features of this disease include renal tubular dysfunction, osteomalacia, and anemia. In order to clarify the pathogenesis of the anemia, the red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, serum iron level, total iron-binding capacity, serum ferritin level, serum erythropoietin level, creatinine clearance, fractional excretion of beta 2-microglobulin, and bone marrow morphology were determined in ten patients with Itai-itai disease. Low serum iron or ferritin levels were not observed, and bone marrow aspiration did not reveal any specific hematological disorders. A close relationship was observed between the decrease in the hemoglobin level and the progression of renal dysfunction. Low serum erythropoietin levels were detected despite the presence of severe anemia. These results suggest an important role of renal damage in the anemia which develops in Itai-itai disease.

Aged↗

Glibenclamide reduces the coronary vasoactivity of adenosine receptor agonists.

Experiments in guinea pig heart Langendorff preparations assessed the effect of KATP channel blockade on the coronary vasoactivity of adenosine and 17 analogs chosen to represent a variety of purine and ribose modifications. Although glibenclamide is a functional antagonist that acts at the level of an effector rather than at a receptor, it caused parallel rightward shifts of agonist dose-response curves. The size of the shift of EC50 differed according to the kind of analog: the ranking was, generally, N6-phenethyladenosines > 2-aryl-aminoadenosines = 2-(1-alkyn-1-yl)adenosines > N6-cycloalkyladenosines = adenosine-5' -uronamides. The coronary vasoactivity ranking of agonists in the presence of supramaximal concentrations of glibenclamide was 2-(1-alkyn-1-yl)adenosines = 2-aralkoxyadenosines > 2-aralkylaminoadenosines > 2-arylaminoadenosines > N6-substituted adenosines. Glibenclamide did not affect the vasoactivity of adenosine itself, perhaps because avid uptake by endothelial cells prevented penetration of the agonist to receptors deeper in the vascular wall. The results exclude a model consisting of one kind of receptor acting exclusively through a KATP channel, argue against one kind of receptor coupled to a KATP channel as well as to an additional effector but is consistent with two kinds of vasodilatory adenosine receptors, one of which activates a KATP channel. The identity of the adenosine receptor coupled to the KATP channel is uncertain; the other receptor has the pharmacological profile of an A2a-adenosine receptor.

Adenosine↗

Different regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 gene expression by phorbol ester and cAMP in human myeloid leukemia cell line PL-21.

Previous studies have shown that protein kinase C (PKC) activators and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) synergistically increase the antigen level of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 (PAI-2) in a human myeloid leukemia cell line PL-21. To clarify the mechanism, PAI-2 gene expression induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, and Bt2cAMP was investigated by Northern blot hybridization using a PAI-2 cDNA probe cloned from a human placental library. The level of PAI-2 mRNA was markedly increased in response to PMA and reached a maximum 5-9 h after stimulation. Nuclear run-on assay revealed an increase in PAI-2 gene transcription in PMA-treated cells. The induction was inhibited by inhibiting de novo protein synthesis with cycloheximide (CHX). cAMP also increased PAI-2 mRNA level in a dose-dependent manner. The increase began within 2 hours and, contrary to the case of PMA, the mRNA levels were maintained. Moreover, cAMP-induced increase in PAI-2 mRNA was not inhibited by CHX, rather enhanced. PMA and cAMP synergistically induced PAI-2 gene expression, which was completely inhibited by CHX. The cells pretreated with PMA for 24 h did not any more respond to stimulation with PMA but responded to cAMP and PAI-2 mRNA level was increased. The apparent half-life of constitutive level PAI-2 mRNA in PL-21 cells, determined by actinomycin-D-decay experiments, was approximately 2 h. Those induced by PMA and cAMP were approximately 5 h and 2 h, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bucladesine↗

Heparin stimulates the proliferation of bovine aortic endothelial cells probably through activation of endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor.

We investigated the effect of heparin on the proliferation of cultured bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells. Heparin increased DNA synthesis in BAE cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The DNA synthesis increased by 2 to 2.5-fold with 1 mg/ml of heparin after 48 h incubation without serum and exogenous fibroblast (heparin-binding) growth factors. The stimulating effect of heparin decreased with the diminishing number of monosaccharide units which constitute heparin. By the addition of a neutralizing antibody to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), the stimulating effect of heparin decreased, whereas an antibody to acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) had no effect. The culture medium conditioned by heparin-treated BAE cells stimulated DNA synthesis in Balb/3T3 fibroblasts that proliferate in response to bFGF. The mitogenic activity of the conditioned medium was suppressed by the antibody to bFGF. However, heparin did not increase bFGF mRNA level in BAE cells. These results suggest that heparin stimulates the proliferation of BAE cells by the activation of endogenous bFGF, but not by the induction of its synthesis.

Animals↗

Antithrombin III producing hepatocellular carcinoma.

A case of primary hepatocellular carcinoma with an abnormal increase in the antigenic quantity and activity of Antithrombin III (AT-III) is reported. The patient was a 53-year-old man. The liver was palpated for a five fingerbreadths, but no jaundice or ascites was noted. Computed tomogram (CT) revealed the presence of many nodules of various sizes in the right hepatic lobe. Both viral markers of HBV and HCV were negative. For tumor markers, PIVKA-II was high (27.7 AU/ml) but AFP was normal. Among coagulation and fibrinolytic factors, the activity and antigenic levels of AT-III were abnormally high (290% and 81.6 mg/dl). An US guided needle biopsy of the tumor revealed hepatocellular carcinoma, Edmondson I. The cellularity was high and the tumor cells were small, well differentiated. The tumor cells were positively stained in immunohistochemical staining using the anti-AT-III antibody. It was believed that AT-III produced by the tumor cells was responsible for this exaggerated level.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Thrombin regulation of tissue-type plasminogen activator synthesis in cultured human fetal lung fibroblasts.

We examined the effects of thrombin on tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) release and t-PA mRNA levels in cultured human fetal lung fibroblast cells, IMR-90. The secretion of t-PA was increased by thrombin in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but it was not affected by inactivated thrombin with diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP). Both antithrombin III (ATIII) and heparin cofactor II (HCII), plasma inhibitors to thrombin, inhibited thrombin-induced t-PA release. The thrombin-induced t-PA secretion was preceded by an increase of the steady state level of t-PA-specific mRNA in the cells, suggesting that thrombin activates t-PA gene expression. The t-PA mRNA expression induced by thrombin was completely blocked by pretreatment of the cells with an inhibitor of translation, cycloheximide (CHX). These results suggest that the effect of thrombin on t-PA expression is mediated through its proteolytic activity and the biosynthesis of transcription factor(s).

Antithrombin III↗

Congenital antithrombin III deficient neonate treated with antithrombin III concentrates.

A patient with antithrombin III deficiency developed deep vein thrombosis during her first pregnancy. Her pregnancy and delivery were successfully treated with simultaneous administration of antithrombin III concentrates and low molecular weight heparin. She delivered a 2,412g girl at 39 weeks' gestation. The baby was administered with antithrombin III concentrates as prophylaxis for neonatal arterial and venous thrombosis because the antithrombin III level was extremely low to be 2%. Her second pregnancy was uneventful at 38 weeks' gestation, and she was treated with administration of antithrombin III concentrates prophylactically. She delivered a 3,256g boy at 42 weeks' gestation without any complications. The antithrombin III level of the second baby was normal. These results showed that in a neonate with congenital antithrombin III deficiency the antithrombin III concentrates would be administered to prevent neonatal arterial and venous thrombosis.

Adult↗

Covalent binding of a selective agonist irreversibly activates guinea pig coronary artery A2 adenosine receptors.

Experiments employing guinea pig heart Langendorff preparations compared the coronary vasoactivity of a functionalized congener of adenosine, 2-[(2-aminoethyl-aminocarbonylethyl)phenylethylamino]-5'-N-e thyl- carboxamidoadenosine, APEC, with the vasoactivity of the product of the reaction of APEC with 1,4-phenylene-diisothiocyanate, 4-isothiocyanatophenylaminothiocarbonyl-APEC (DITC-APEC). Previous experiments showed that whereas APEC binds reversibly to the A2A adenosine receptor of brain striatum, DITC-APEC binds irreversibly. APEC caused concentration-dependent coronary vasodilation that persisted unchanged when agonist administration continued for up to 165 min, but promptly faded when the agent was withdrawn. The unselective adenosine receptor antagonist 8-(4-sulfophenyl)theophyline (8-SPT) antagonized the vasoactivity of APEC. By contrast, DITC-APEC (0.125-1.0 nM) caused progressive, concentration-independent vasodilation that persisted unchanged for as long as 120 min after the agent was stopped and that was insensitive to antagonism by subsequently applied 8-SPT. However, perfusion of the heart with buffer containing 0.1 mM 8-SPT strongly antagonized the coronary vasodilatory action of DITC-APEC given subsequently. Such observations indicate that the covalent binding of DITC-APEC causes irreversible activation of the guinea pig coronary artery A2A adenosine receptor. Neither APEC nor DITC-APEC appeared to desensitize the coronary adenosine receptor during two or more hours of exposure to either agonist.

Adenosine↗

[Abnormal antithrombin III: abnormalities of heparin or protease binding domain].

Two patients with abnormal antithrombin III manifested abnormality in heparin binding activity (abnormal antithrombin III "Toyma") or protease binding activity (abnormal antithrombin III "Aomori"). Antithrombin III "Toyama" is hereditarily homozygous with Arg47 to Cys47 (TGC-->TGT) mutation, and antithrombin III "Aomori" is hereditarily heterozygous with Arg393 to His393 (CGT-->CAT). The former is classified as type II-c, and the latter as type II-b according to Lane's classification2). Both patients showed cerebral thrombosis after age 20. Heparin cofactor II activity in the former case was slightly higher than normal. Oral anticoagulant therapy was used in the both cases. These cases were examined by biological and immunological assay, heparin sepharose column chromatography, binding activity to cultured porcine endothelial cells, restriction fragment length polymorphysm and polymerase chain reaction. The authors developed an antithrombin III assay method to be able to estimate real activity without the influence of heparin cofactor II activity11), and to apply the low molecular weight heparin to prevent relapse of thrombosis, and finally to find an anticoagulant substance in an interesting case of hepatocellular carcinoma (Edmondson type 1) producing normal antithrombin III30).

Adult↗

2-(N'-alkylidenehydrazino)adenosines: potent and selective coronary vasodilators.

The reaction of aliphatic aldehydes and ketones with 2-hydrazinoadenosine under relatively mild conditions (at room temperature or in refluxing methanol) formed 2-(N'-alkylidenehydrazino)-adenosines, 5-22, in good yields. Two kinds of adenosine receptors regulate cardiac and coronary physiology. In supraventricular tissues an A1AR coupled to muscarinic K channels mediates the negative chronotropic, dromotropic, and inotropic actions of adenosine, and an inhibitory A1AR coupled to adenylate cyclase mediates the "antiadrenergic" action of adenosine. One or more kinds of A2 receptors mediate coronary vasodilation. Bioassays employing a guinea pig heart Langendorff preparation showed that 5-22 weakly retard impulse conduction through the AV node (negative dromotropic effect), but several analogues were very active coronary vasodilators. The coronary vasoactivity of the (n-alkylidene- and of the (isoalkylidenehydrazino)adenosines paralleled the length of the alkyl chain, the EC50s of the of the most active n-pentylidene (8) and isopentylidene (18) congeners being 1 nM. The EC50s of the cyclohexylmethylene (9), cyclohexylethylidene (10), and cyclohex-3-enylmethylene (12), analogues were likewise < 1 nM, but the cyclohex-1-enylmethylene congener 12 was 10 times less active than 9. The unselective adenosine receptor antagonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline (0.1 mM) raised the EC50s of the negative dromotropic effects of 8, 9, and 18 by 5-28-fold and the EC50s of coronary vasodilation of 22-90-fold. Catalytic reduction of 9 increased the hydrophobicity and changed the UV spectrum, suggesting reduction of the --CH = N-- bond. The product darkened on exposure to air and so was not characterized further. A new method for preparing 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-2,6-dichloropurine riboside, a precursor in the synthesis of 2-hydrazinoadenosine, consists of the addition of tert-butyl nitrite to a mixture of 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-6-chloroguanosine and CuCl in CHCl3 saturated with Cl2.

Adenosine↗

2-(N'-aralkylidenehydrazino)adenosines: potent and selective coronary vasodilators.

This study aimed at the development of 2-(N'-aralkylidenehydrazino)adenosines as coronary vasodilators. The reaction of aromatic aldehydes or ketones with 2-hydrazinoadenosine in refluxing methanol formed the target compounds 2-27 as crystalline products in good yields. Two kinds of receptors mediate the actions of adenosine on the heart. Retardation of impulse conduction through the atrioventricular node, the negative dromotropic action, is an example of adenosine's action at an A1 receptor (A1AR) and coronary vasodilation reflects adenosine's action at an A2 receptor (A2AR). Accordingly, bioassays employing guinea pig heart Langendorff preparations assessed the selectivity of 2-27 as coronary vasodilators. Analogues 2-27 were weak negative dromotropic agents; the EC50 of the most active analogue, 2-[N'-(1-naphthylmethylene)hydrazino]-adenosine, 23, was 0.8 microM, several orders of magnitude less than many A1AR agonists. Some of the analogues were quite active coronary vasodilators; 2-(N'-benzylidenehydrazino)adenosine, 2, and several of its para-substituted derivatives, namely, the fluoro (7), methyl (13), methoxy (16), and tert-butylcarbonylethyl, 31, had EC50s for coronary vasodilation in the range 1.7-3.2 nM. The selectivity ratios, EC50 (negative dromotropic)/EC50 (coronary vasodilatory), of these five analogues ranged between 5100 (analogue 31) and 43,000 (analogue 2). Phenyl ring substitutions of other kinds or at other positions, replacement of the phenyl ring by other aryl or heteroaryl groups, or the replacement of the benzylic H by a methyl group lowered coronary vasoactivity significantly. The unselective adenosine receptor antagonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline raised the EC50 of the negative dromotropic activities of 2, 16, and 2-[N'-(2-naphthylmethylene)hydrazino]adenosine, 24, by 3-, 18-, and 7-fold, and raised the EC50s of coronary vasoactivity by 11-, 3-, and 30-fold, respectively evidence that vasoactivity was receptor-mediated.

Adenosine↗

Synergistic stimulating effect between cyclic AMP and phorbol ester on plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 production in human promyelocytic leukemia cell line PL-21.

We investigated the effect of agents which raise intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) and protein kinase C activators on the production of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 (PAI-2) by cultured human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, PL-21. As previously reported, PMA, a protein kinase C activator, showed a strong stimulating effect on the PAI-2 production. 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG), another synthetic protein kinase C activator, also showed a stimulating effect, which was, however, much less than that of PMA. The agents which raise intracellular cAMP, dibutyryl cAMP, 8-bromo cAMP, prostaglandin E1, and 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine, little increased the PAI-2 production when tested alone, but showed significant synergistic effects with PMA or OAG. The synergistic effect between PMA and dibutyryl cAMP was further verified by SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting using a monoclonal antibody against the PAI-2. It is interesting that the up-regulation of PAI-2 by cAMP and the synergistic effect with PKC activators forms a contrast to the previous reported bi-directional regulation of endothelial PAI-1 secretion by PKC activator and cAMP.

Bucladesine↗

Down-regulation of urokinase secretion from a human lymphoma cell line RC-K8 by dexamethasone without inducing plasminogen activator inhibitors.

The plasminogen activator (PA) activity in various cell lines is suppressed by glucocorticoids. These phenomena are attributed to either a suppression of PA biosynthesis, to an increase of PA inhibitor or to a combination of both. The regulation of urokinase (UK) production in a human pre-B cell lymphoma line, RC-K8, by dexamethasone (Dex) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was investigated. RC-K8 is a cell line which is consistently producing a high molecular weight UK in the conditioned medium (Kubonishi, I., et al: Jpn. J. Cancer Res. 76, 12-15, 1985). The cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 with Dex or PMA for 1-4 days. UK activity was measured using a chromogenic substrate S-2444 and the antigen by an ELISA kit. PAI-1 and PAI-2 antigens were also measured by ELISA kits and the complex between PA and PAI was examined by SDS-PAGE fibrin-zymography. The UK secretion in RC-K8 cells was inhibited by cycloheximide and actinomycin D. PMA at 0.16-1.6 uM up-regulated the UK activity approximately two-fold, parallel with the antigen, whereas Dex at 1-10 uM decreased the UK expression approximately half. These were verified by SDS-PAGE fibrin-zymography. Neither PAI-1, PAI-2 nor PA/PAI complex was detected in the conditioned medium and in the cell lysate. These data suggest that PMA up-regulates the UK secretion without inducing PAIs and the down-regulation of the UK secretion by Dex results from the inhibition of the expression of UK itself but not from the induction of PAIs.

Cycloheximide↗

[Effect of cyclic AMP and phorbol ester on PAI-2 synthesis in a leukemic cell line PL-21 and on u-PA secretion in a pre-B cell lymphoma cell line RC-K8].

We investigated the effect of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), dexamethasone (Dex) and reagents which raise intracellular cyclic AMP, on the production of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 (PAI-2) in human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, PL-21 and on the production of urinary type plasminogen activator (u-PA) in human pre-B cell lymphoma cell line, RC-K8. Cells were cultured in fetal bovine serum free RPMI-1640 containing the test-reagents for 48 hours. PAI-2 and u-PA antigens were measured by ELISA kits. PMA, an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), markedly increased both PAI-2 and u-PA production in each cell line. On the other hand, cAMP increased PAI-2 production in PL-21 cells, but decreased u-PA synthesis in RC-K8 cells. Similar to cAMP, Dex also increased PAI-2 production but decreased u-PA production in RC-K8 cells. Moreover, PMA and cAMP synergistically increased the PAI-2 production. This was verified by Western blot, using a monoclonal antibody against the PAI-2. These two cell lines are, therefore, useful for clarifying the role of A kinase and C kinase on PAI-2 and u-PA synthesis in human hemopoietic cells.

Cyclic AMP↗

[Activities of antithrombin III and heparin cofactor II in patients with pathologic blood coagulation conditions].

To investigate the physio-pathological functions of HC-II, assays for HC-II and AT-III were performed simultaneously on the samples from patients with DIC, liver dysfunction or renal disease from the three view points of consumption, production and loss of AT-III and HC-II. For the AT-III activity, two kinds of assays were applied: the automatic chromogenic substrate method and a newly developed clotting method which receives no effects from HC-II activity. The activity of HC-II was significantly lower than that of AT-III in patients with either DIC or liver dysfunction. However, no significant difference between HC-II and AT-III activities in patients with either thrombosis or renal disease. There were high correlations between HC-II and AT-III activities were found in the patients with liver dysfunction, suggesting that low activity was due to decreased production of HC-II and AT-III in the liver. It will be necessary that elucidation of the significant functions of HC-II not only in coagulation and hemostasis but also in regulation of local inflammation and invasion of neoplasm is necessary.

Adult↗

Inhibitory effect of heparin cofactor II on thrombin-stimulated prostacyclin production by cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

We investigated the effect of heparin cofactor II (HCII) on thrombin-induced prostacyclin (PGI2) production by A10 cells, an established cell line of vascular smooth muscle cells from murine aorta. Confluent monolayers of A10 cells were incubated with 0.1 NIH U/ml of thrombin for 30 min in the presence of antithrombin III (ATIII) or HCII, and PGI2 production by the cells was measured by radioimmunoassay as 6-keto-prostaglandin F1a, the stable metabolite of PGI2. ATIII at 40 mInh.U/ml and more significantly inhibited thrombin-induced PGI2 production by A10 cells, but HCII at the same doses did only slightly. However, when A10 cells were preincubated with HCII for 30 min before exposure to thrombin, the PGI2 production was markedly inhibited. The medium conditioned by A10 cells for 30 min did not enhance the inhibitory effect of HCII on thrombin-induced PGI2 production by the cells. On the other hand, A10 cells synthesized both dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate which are capable of activating HCII. From these results, it was suggested that HCII would be activated by glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as dermatan sulfate of the cell layers and could inhibit thrombin-induced PGI2 production. HCII may be a modulator of thrombin on the physiological functions of vascular smooth muscle cells, reacting to the cell surface GAGs.

Antithrombin III↗

Dexamethasone and phorbol ester, but not cytokines, increase the production of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 in the PL-21 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line.

PL-21 is a promyelocytic leukemia cell line that produces plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2). Differentiation-linked expression of PAI-2 was investigated by adding cell-differentiation promoting agents [such as phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), retinoic acid (RA), dexamethasone (Dex), and recombinant cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] into the culture medium of PL-21 cells. PAI-1 and PAI-2 antigens were measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. The PAI-1 antigen, however, became detectable only after stimulation. The presence of PAI-2 antigen was further verified by immunoblotting using a monoclonal antibody against PAI-2 purified from a PL-21 culture medium. PAI activity both in the culture medium and in the cell lysate increased approximately 70-fold after exposure to PMA. Both PAI-1 and PAI-2 antigens increased, but the amount of the latter in the culture medium and in the cell lysate was approximately 10 times and 2,500 times, as much, respectively, as that of the former. Dex also increased the intracellular PAI activity approximately 6-fold, parallel with PAI-2 antigen. PAI-1 antigen increased only slightly in the culture medium but not in the cell lysate after Dex-stimulation. As with the case of PMA, TNF-alpha and IL-6 induced PL-21 cells to macrophage-like cells, but did not affect the PAI activity. Thus, the increase of the PAI-2 production by PMA may not necessarily depend on differentiation into macrophages. Other cytokines examined did not increase the PAI activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cytokines↗

[Characterization of the factor VIII inhibitor in a patient with chronic renal failure].

A 29-year-old women, who had been treated by hemodialysis for 5 years because of chronic renal failure, developed bleeding tendency in March 1989. Laboratory data showed prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time which was not corrected by addition of normal plasma; factor VIII activity was less than 1% and factor VIII inhibitor 70 Bethesda units/ml. The inhibitor was eluted in the second peak which corresponded to IgG when the plasma was subjected to Sephacryl S 200 column. The further purified IgG fraction by passing through protein A column showed a factor VIII inhibitor activity of 52 Bethesda units/ml. The factor VIII inhibitor epitopes were examined by western blotting technique using factor VIII purified by monoclonal antibody as the antigen. The factor VIII preparation used was composed of a doublet of light chain (Mr 80,000) and three heavy chains (Mr 160,000-200,000) when examined by immunoblotting using anti-factor VIII light and heavy chains monoclonal antibodies after SDS-PAGE. Factor VIII inhibitor that arose in a hemophilia A patient recognized the light chain, and the inhibitor in this case reacted to the heavy chain of factor VIII.

Adult↗