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K Utsugisawa

Publications and source records attributed to K Utsugisawa.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Vimentin and desmin expression in the type 2 fibers in muscle biopsies from myotonic dystrophy patients].

Immunoreactivity for the intermediate filament proteins vimentin and desmin was assessed in the type 2 fibers of biceps brachii muscle biopsies from 20 adults with myotonic dystrophy (MD). Some type 2C fibers showed strong reactivity with both anti-vimentin and anti-desmin, suggesting that they were regenerating fibers. Some type 2A and 2B fibers of various diameter were weakly reactive with anti-vimentin, but none of the type 1 fibers were reactive with anti-vimentin. Hardly any reactivity with anti-vimentin was demonstrated in patients in the younger age group (10-29 years) with mild illness, but vimentin-positive type 2 fibers increased in the age groups 30 years of age and older. The mean diameters of type 2A and type 2B fibers in vimentin-positive patients were larger than in vimentin-negative patients. In the patients in the 30 years of age and older group, the vimentin-negative patients had more severe muscle weakness than the vimentin-positive patients. These findings suggest a possible relationship between the process of regeneration in type 2 fibers in adult MD patients and the increase in their mean diameter.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Muscle histopathology in myotonic dystrophy in relation to age and muscular weakness.

We studied histopathological changes in the biceps brachii muscle in relation to age and the degree of muscle weakness in 64 patients (aged 11-59 years) with myotonic dystrophy. The proportion of type 1 fibers was unaltered in the adolescent patients compared with control values, but increased with age. The average diameters of all the fiber types were smaller than control values in the adolescents, suggesting immature development; however, there was an increase in diameter with age that was associated with an increase of hypertrophic type 2 fibers. At all ages, type 1 fibers were smaller than type 2 ones. Small angular fibers and small group atrophy consisted mainly of type 1 fibers, their incidences decreasing with age. The severity of muscular weakness was related to the predominance of type 1 fibers, the reduction in the number of hypertrophic type 2 fibers, and the accumulation of adipose cells, but not to the presence of small angular fibers or to small group atrophy.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[In situ expression of IL-1 beta and IL-2 mRNA in thymuses from patients with myasthenia gravis].

The expression of IL-1 beta mRNA and IL-2 mRNA was analyzed in seven thymuses from patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and in three normal thymuses using in situ hybridization techniques. Cells containing IL-beta mRNA were detected in all seven cases. These IL-1 beta producing cells were mainly located and clustered in the connective structures of thymic septae and peri-lobuler area like anti-keratin AE3 positive cells. The distribution of anti-CD68 positive cells was different from that of IL-1 beta producing cells in thymus of myasthenia gravis patients. IL-2 producing cells were also found in all seven cases, and their frequency (number of cells/mm2) had a tendency to correlate with the severity of the disease. On the other hand, we could not find both IL-1 beta mRNA and IL-2 mRNA in three normal thymuses. These results suggested a possible role of high IL-1 beta and IL-2 production to activate T cells in myasthenia gravis thymus. Furthermore, in situ production of IL-2 might be reflected in the severity of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Interleukin-2 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cell from patients with myasthenia gravis--correlation with clinical severity].

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBM) and the frequency of surface IgG+ B cells (%) were studied in 17 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and 12 controls. Culture supernatants from phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell from patients with MG and controls were added to IL-2 dependent proliferative cultures (CTLL-2). Following 24 hr of culture, 3H-Tdr was added and cultured for an additional 6 hr. Cultures were harvested and 3H-Tdr incorporation was determined. In comparison with controls we found significantly increased synthesis of IL-2 in patients with MG (p < 0.05). Highest synthesis was found in severe cases and there were highly significant correlation between IL-2 synthesis and clinical severity score (R = 0.85, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the ability of IL-2 synthesis by PBM may reflect severity of patients with MG. B cells expressing surface IgG, considered to be differentiated B cells, were less frequent in severe cases (R = -0.67, p < 0.05). It may be that the B cells with further differentiation are transformed into plasma cells expressing other markers such as PCA-1 in severe patients with MG.

Adolescent↗