Biomedical subjects

Kazusaku Kamiya

Publications and source records attributed to Kazusaku Kamiya.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Permanent threshold shift caused by acute cochlear mitochondrial dysfunction is primarily mediated by degeneration of the lateral wall of the cochlea.

Mitochondrial dysfunction in the cochlea is thought to be an important cause of sensorineural hearing loss. Recently, we have established a novel rat model with acute hearing impairment caused by exposure to the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) to analyze the mechanism of cochlear mitochondrial dysfunction. Both permanent and temporary threshold shifts were observed in this model depending on the amount of 3-NP used to induce hearing impairment. In this study, we demonstrate cochlear morphological changes in the permanent threshold shift model. Marked degeneration was detected in type 2 fibrocytes in the spiral prominence, type 4 fibrocytes in the spiral ligament, marginal cells and intermediate cells in the stria vascularis 3 h after 3-NP administration; these changes were progressive for at least 14 days. Less prominent degeneration was detected in type 1 and type 3 fibrocytes in the spiral ligament. These results indicate that permanent threshold shift caused by acute cochlear mitochondrial dysfunction is primarily mediated by cellular degeneration in the lateral wall of the cochlea, and suggest that therapy of cochlear hearing loss due to acute energy failure may be achieved through protection and regeneration of the cochlear lateral wall.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2004

A novel animal model of acute cochlear mitochondrial dysfunction.

Acute mitochondrial dysfunction in the cochlea is likely to result in hearing loss as a consequence of local energy shortage, similar to ischemia- or noise-induced hearing loss. To establish an animal model of acute cochlear mitochondrial dysfunction, we applied a mitochondrial toxin, 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) in the rat cochlea. Rats treated with 500mM 3-NP exhibited permanent threshold shifts in acoustic brainstem response while the same volume of 300mM 3-NP caused temporary threshold shifts. Histological examination in the permanent threshold shift model revealed severe degeneration of fibrocytes within spiral ligament and spiral limbus, indicating these cells are vulnerable to acute mitochondrial dysfunction. This model represents a novel tool for investigating the pathophysiology of acute cochlear mitochondrial dysfunction.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

A nonsense mutation of the sodium channel gene SCN2A in a patient with intractable epilepsy and mental decline.

Mutations, exclusively missense, of voltage-gated sodium channel alpha subunit type 1 (SCN1A) and type 2 (SCN2A) genes were reported in patients with idiopathic epilepsy: generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus. Nonsense and frameshift mutations of SCN1A, by contrast, were identified in intractable epilepsy: severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (SMEI). Here we describe a first nonsense mutation of SCN2A in a patient with intractable epilepsy and severe mental decline. The phenotype is similar to SMEI but distinct because of partial epilepsy, delayed onset (1 year 7 months), and absence of temperature sensitivity. A mutational analysis revealed that the patient had a heterozygous de novo nonsense mutation R102X of SCN2A. Patch-clamp analysis of Na(v)1.2 wild-type channels and the R102X mutant protein coexpressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells showed that the truncated mutant protein shifted the voltage dependence of inactivation of wild-type channels in the hyperpolarizing direction. Analysis of the subcellular localization of R102X truncated protein suggested that its dominant negative effect could arise from direct or indirect cytoskeletal interactions of the mutant protein. Haploinsufficiency of Na(v)1.2 protein is one plausible explanation for the pathology of this patient; however, our biophysical findings suggest that the R102X truncated protein exerts a dominant negative effect leading to the patient's intractable epilepsy.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Mutations in a new scaffold protein Sans cause deafness in Jackson shaker mice.

The Jackson shaker (js) mouse carries a recessive mutation causing phenotypes such as deafness, abnormal behavior (circling and/or head-tossing) and degeneration of inner ear neuroepithelia. Two alleles have been identified so far, the original js and js(seal). A contig of three BAC clones was isolated by positional cloning. Two of the clones rescue the js phenotype by BAC transgenesis. Analysis of transcripts in an overlapping region of the two clones revealed a gene encoding a new scaffold-like protein, Sans, that showed mutations in the two js mutants. One was a guanine nucleotide insertion in the original js allele and the other a 7-base insertion in the js(seal) allele. Both insertions are predicted to inactivate the Sans protein by frameshift mutations resulting in a truncated protein lacking the C-terminal SAM domain. Cochlear hair cells in the js mutants show disorganized stereocilia bundles, and Sans were highly expressed in inner and outer hair cells of cochlea. The existence of major motifs, ankyrin repeats and a SAM domain suggests that Sans may have an important role in the development and maintenance of the stereocilia bundles through protein-protein interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Spontaneous T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

A spontaneous T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma (TCRBCL) occurred as a subcutaneous mass in the buccal region and enlarged submandibular lymph node in a 6-year-old female cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). The constituent cells were examined by histology, immunohistochemistry and the double labeled-immunofluorescence method (dl-IF). Further, in situ hybridization (ISH) was employed to detect the gene expression of Epstein Barr virus (EBV). Histologically, the mass was comprised mainly of neoplastic large lymphoid cells and reactive small mononuclear cells. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic large lymphoid cells were positive for CD20, CD79 alpha, MHC class II, and either IgG, IgM, or IgA. Polyclonal Ig production by the neoplastic large lymphoid cells was demonstrated by dl-IF, although IgG-positive ones predominated in number. On the other hand, most of the small mononuclear cells were positive for CD3 and were regarded as reactive T lymphocytes, while the remaining cells appeared to be histocytes or reactive B-cells. Transcripts of EBV gene were not demonstrated in these neoplastic or reactive cells by ISH. This is the first reported case of spontaneous TCRBCL in the cynomolgus monkey.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Changes in mRNA expression in mouse postnatal cochlea by differential display method.

We compared mRNA expression by mRNA differential display method in postnatal day 11 (P11), P13 and adult C3H/HeJ mouse cochlea. Forty-seven bands were differentially displayed on polyacrylamide gel when 27 patterns of PCR primer sets were used, and 24 of them showed a remarkable increase within only two days (P11 and P13). DNA sequences of the bands were analyzed for homology to known genes using the BLAST search. Most of the clones were identical to sequences of functions unknown. However, one of the clones showing an increase of mRNA expression between P11 and P13 was identified as mouse TIS7 which is known to markedly increase during differentiation of PC-12 cells to neurons by NGF-treatment. TIS7 expression may be involved in differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells to spiral ganglion cells by the initial sound input. The comparison among P11, P13 and adult mouse cochlear mRNA expressions investigated the genes involved in the various growing stages of the postnatal cochlea.

Acoustic Stimulation↗