Biomedical subjects

Kenji Fukuzawa

Publications and source records attributed to Kenji Fukuzawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Measurement of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides in solution and in intact membranes by the ferric-xylenol orange assay.

Formation of a colored complex between ferric iron and xylenol orange (XO) has been used for the determination of hydroperoxides (FOX method). Original or modified FOX methods were performed on aqueous or organic solutions consisting of a single phase. However, for lipid peroxides in heterogeneous samples, such as biological materials, much of the lipid is sequestered in a separate phase. Organic solvent extraction of these lipids is often incomplete and may result in additional peroxidation during the extraction procedure. In this study, we applied the FOX assay for measurement of the membrane phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides (PC-OOH) in separated phases. The presence of membranous egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EYPC) in 60% MeOH shifted the broad peak at 560 nm of Fe(3+)-XO complex to 610 nm with a sharp peak associated with the increased intensity of the absorbance. The shift of the peak is useful to measure the unknown amounts of Fe(3+) because the uncomplexed XO considerably contributed to the absorbance of the peak at 560 nm but did not affect the absorbance at 610 nm. EYPC was required to form the membranes to shift the peak because the shift occurred in 60% MeOH but did not by the treatment with detergents or in 90% MeOH in which EYPC did not form the membranes. The molar absorption coefficient (epsilon 610) was 32,700 M(-1) cm(-1), which was about twice the molar absorption co efficient (epsilon 560) reported. We applied this method to the assay of PC-OOH prepared from EYPC and obtained the molar absorption coefficients (epsilon 610), which were 79,100 and 115,700 M(-1) cm(-1) in the presence and absence of BHT, respectively. This finding allows the determination of PC-OOH concentration even in chemically complex systems.

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗

PubMed2006

Direct visualization of dewetting of molecularly thin liquid films on solid surfaces.

The effect of the surface energy gamma, disjoining pressure, Pi, and roughness on the dewetting of molecularly thin liquid lubricant films on magnetic disks, which have sub-nanometer surface topography, has been investigated by visualizing the dewetting process directly using ellipsometric microscopy. The dewetting process of thin liquids on the rough surface is determined not only by the well-known instability of films, which is determined by the sign of dPi/dh, but also by the sign of Pi and the surface topography of the substrate even if its roughness is of the sub-nanometer order. The dewetting film formed small droplets, which were not along the surface topography of the substrate, when Pi < 0. On the other hand, it formed grooves along the surface topography with a sub-nanometer roughness when Pi > 0. Moreover, the sub-nanometer roughness initiated the dewetting of the metastable liquid thin films.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Influence of oxidative stress on fusion of pre-synaptic plasma membranes of the rat brain with phosphatidyl choline liposomes, and protective effect of vitamin E.

Influence of oxidative stress on fusion of pre-synaptic plasma membranes with phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes as a model of synaptic vesicle was investigated. The inhibitory effect of vitamin E on the decline in the fusion caused by oxidative stress was also assessed. Rats subjected to hyperoxia as oxidative stress showed significant increases in the levels of lipid hydroperoxides and protein carbonyl moieties in pre-synaptic plasma membranes in the brain. The zeta potential of pre-synaptic membrane surface was decreased markedly. When synaptosomes were incubated with PC liposomes labeled by either rhodamine B or calcein as a fluorescence probe, or 12-doxyl stearic acid as an ESR spin trapping agent, translocation of each probe into oxidatively damaged pre-synaptic membranes was decreased significantly. Fatty acid composition analysis in pre-synaptic membranes obtained from normal rats revealed a marked increase in linoleic acid and a moderate decrease in docosahexaenoic content after the incubation with liposomes. However, rats subjected to hyperoxia did not show marked changes in these fatty acid contents in their pre-synaptic membranes after the incubation. Such changes caused by hyperoxia were inhibited by vitamin E treatment of rats. These results suggest that oxidative damage of pre-synaptic membranes caused by oxidative stress lowers the lipid-mixing for the membrane fusion. The results of this study imply that vitamin E prevents the deficit in neurotransmission at nerve terminals due to the decline in fusion between pre-synaptic membrane and synaptic vesicles caused by oxidative membrane damage.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Diffusive motion of molecules in submonolayer liquid films on a solid surface.

The spreading of submonolayer liquid polymer films on a solid surface that consist of molecules with different mobilities was investigated. The molecular conformations of the adsorbed and free molecules were estimated from the dispersive surface energy measurement and the relationship between the diffusion coefficient of the free molecules and the coverage of the adsorbed molecules were obtained from the spreading profile measurement. A free mobile molecule lies flat on the solid surface and an adsorbed molecule lies less flat than a mobile one. The relation between the diffusion coefficient and the coverage can be explained by the percolation model at a small coverage and it can be explained by the reptation model at a large coverage.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Oxygen radicals photo-induced by ferric nitrilotriacetate complex.

This study examined the photo-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the carcinogenic iron(III)-NTA complex. Iron(III)-NTA complex (1:1) has three conformations (type (a) in acidic conditions of pH 1-6, type (n) in neutral conditions of pH 3-9, and type (b) in basic conditions of pH 7-10) with two pK(a) values (pK(a1) approximately 4, pK(a2) approximately 8). The iron(III)-NTA complex was reduced to iron(II) under cool-white fluorescent light without the presence of any reducing agent, and the reduction rates of the three conformations of iron(III)-NTA were in the order type (a)>type (n)>type (b) as reported previously (Akai K. et al., Free Radic. Res. 38, 951-962, 2004). ROS generation was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy with a spin-trapping technique. Apparent EPR signals attributed to PBN/*(13)CH(3) and PBN/*OCH(3) spin adducts were observed after incubation of the iron(III)-NTA complex was mixed with alpha-phenyl-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) and (13)C-DMSO in an aerobic condition. The addition of catalase effectively attenuated the PBN adducts, but superoxide dismutase enhanced them. Taken together, these results indicate that the iron(III)-NTA complex is spontaneously reduced to the iron(II)-NTA complex by light under acidic to neutral pH, and in turn transfers an electron to molecular oxygen to form ROS.

Catalase↗

PubMed2005

Antioxidant effect of bovine serum albumin on membrane lipid peroxidation induced by iron chelate and superoxide.

Albumin is supposed to be the major antioxidant circulating in blood. This study examined the prevention of membrane lipid peroxidation by bovine serum albumin (BSA). Lipid peroxidation was induced by the exposing of enzymatically generated superoxide radicals to egg yolk phosphatidylcholine liposomes incorporating lipids with different charges in the presence of chelated iron catalysts. We used three kinds of Fe3+-chelates, which initiated reactions that were dependent on membrane charge: Fe3+-EDTA and Fe3+-EGTA catalyzed peroxidation in positively and negatively charged liposomes, respectively, and Fe3+-NTA, a renal carcinogen, catalyzed the reaction in liposomes of either charge. Fe3+-chelates initiated more lipid peroxidation in liposomes with increased zeta potentials, followed by an increase of their availability for the initiation of the reaction at the membrane surface. BSA inhibits lipid peroxidation by preventing the interaction of iron chelate with membranes, followed by a decrease of its availability in a charge-dependent manner depending on the iron-chelate concentration: one is accompanied and the other is unaccompanied by a change in the membrane charge. The inhibitory effect of BSA in the former at high concentrations of iron chelate would be attributed to its electrostatic binding with oppositely charged membranes. The inhibitory effect in the latter at low concentrations of iron chelate would be caused by BSA binding with iron chelates and keeping them away from membrane surface where lipid peroxidation is initiated. Although these results warrant further in vivo investigation, it was concluded that BSA inhibits membrane lipid peroxidation by decreasing the availability of iron for the initiation of membrane lipid peroxidation, in addition to trapping active oxygens and free radicals.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Cytotoxicity of alpha-tocopheryl succinate, malonate and oxalate in normal and cancer cells in vitro and their anti-cancer effects on mouse melanoma in vivo.

alpha-Tocopheryl succinate (TS), which is known to induce apoptosis selectively in cancer cells, has attracted attention as a chemotherapeutic agent. Recently, we found that alpha-tocopheryl malonate (TM) and alpha-tocopheryl oxalate (TO), among the alpha-tocopheryl esters tested, have high apoptogenic activity as well as TS. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of their cytotoxicity on normal cells and cancer cells in vitro, and their anti-cancer effects on mice inoculated with melanoma B16-F1 cells in vivo. The order of in vitro cytotoxicity was TO > or = TM >> TS in all cell lines examined. Addition of exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) inhibited TS- and TM- but not TO-induced cell deaths. A selective cytotoxic effect on cancer cells was observed with TS but not with TM or TO. c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor II prevented cell death induced by TS but did not prevent cell deaths induced either by TM or TO. Intravenous administration of vesiculated TS and TM to mice inoculated with melanoma B16-F1 cells prevented tumor growth and enhanced the mean survival time, but TO administration killed the mice due to its acute high toxicity. From these results, we discussed the characteristics of their selective cytotoxicity toward tumor cells in vitro and anti-cancer effects in vivo.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed2004

Disjoining pressure measurements using a microfabricated groove for a molecularly thin polymer liquid film on a solid surface.

A method for measuring disjoining pressure of a molecularly thin liquid film on a solid surface by using a microfabricated groove has been developed. The shape of the meniscus of a thin film in the microgroove was measured with an atomic force microscope, and the disjoining pressure was obtained from the capillary pressure obtained from the measured curvature of the meniscus. Our method is applicable to a film with a thickness greater than the diameter of gyration in the polymer molecule. Moreover, the method can detect the changes in the disjoining pressure caused by ultraviolet light irradiation, and it is effective in investigating the intermolecular interaction between a thin film and a solid surface.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Structural characteristic of terminal dicarboxylic moiety required for apoptogenic activity of alpha-tocopheryl esters.

alpha-Tocopheryl succinate (TS) is known to induce apoptosis in various cells and has attracted attention as a chemotherapeutic agent. Recently, we reported the structural significance of the terminal dicarboxylic moiety for the action of TS [J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. 49 (2003) 310-314]. In this study, to determine details of the relationship between the structure and the function of the terminal ester moiety of alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T), we synthesized four novel esters, alpha-tocopheryl oxalate (TO), alpha-tocopheryl malonate (TM), alpha-tocopheryl pimelate (TP) and alpha-tocopheryl succinate ethyl ester (TSE), and compared their apoptogenic activities with those of TS, alpha-T, gamma-tocopherol (gamma-T) and two commercially available alpha-T derivatives, alpha-tocopheryl nicotinate (TN) and alpha-tocopheryl acetate (TA), in vascular smooth muscle cells and a mouse breast cancer cell line C127I. TO and TM in addition to TS, but not the others, induced apoptosis in both cells. Particularly, TO was the most potent of all alpha-T derivatives used. The addition of exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly prevented the apoptosis induced by TM as well as that by TS as reported previously, but did not affect TO-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that O(2)(-) generated exogenously participates in TM-induced apoptosis but not in TO-induced apoptosis. The difference in their apoptotic effects is attributed to structural properties of the terminal dicarboxylic moiety, which has an inflexible plane conformation in TO, while it is highly flexible in TM and TS.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2004

New stilbene derivatives from Calligonum leucocladum.

Two new stilbene derivatives, (E)-resveratrol 3-(6' '-galloyl)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (E)-resveratrol 3-(4' '-acetyl)-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (2), and five known stilbene derivatives (3-7) were isolated from the dried aerial parts of Calligonum leucocladum. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Compound 1 showed antioxidant activity and a restorative effect of the inhibition of oxacillin to oxacillin/methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Drug Resistance, Multiple↗

PubMed2004

Ability of ferric nitrilotriacetate complex with three pH-dependent conformations to induce lipid peroxidation.

This study examined the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the induction of lipid peroxidation by carcinogenic iron(III)-NTA complex (1:1), which has three conformations with two pKa values (pKa1 approximately 4, pKa2 approximately 8). These conformations are type (a) in acidic conditions of pH 1-6, type (n) in neutral conditions of pH 3-9, and type (b) in basic conditions of pH 7-10. The iron(III)-NTA complex was reduced to iron(II) complex under cool-white fluorescent light without the presence of any reducer. The reduction rates of three species of iron(III)-NTA were in the order type (a) >> type (n) > type (b). Iron(III)-NTA-dependent lipid peroxidation was induced in the presence and absence of preformed lipid peroxides (L-OOH) through processes associated with and without photoreduction of iron(III). The order of the abilities of the three species of iron(III)-NTA to initiate the three mechanisms of lipid peroxidation was: (1) type (a) > type (n) > type (b) in lipid peroxidation that is induced L-OOH- and H2O2-dependently and mediated by the photoreduction of iron(III); (2) type (b) > type (n) > type (a) in lipid peroxidation that is induced L-OOH- and H2O2-dependently but not mediated by the photoreduction of iron(III); (3) type (n) > type (b) > type (a) in lipid peroxidation that is induced peroxide-independently and mediated by the photoactivation but not by the photoreduction of iron(III). The rate of lipid peroxidation induced L-OOH-dependently is faster than that induced H2O2-dependently in the mechanism (1), but the rate of lipid peroxidation induced H2O2-dependently is faster than that induced L-OOH-dependently in the mechanism (2). In the lag process of mechanism (3), L-OOH and/or some free radical species, not 1O2, were generated by photoactivation of iron(III)-NTA. These multiple pro-oxidant properties that depend on the species of iron(III)-NTA were postulated to be a principal cause of its carcinogenicity.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed2003

Direct radical scavenging by the bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid cepharanthine.

Cepharanthine (Ceph) is known as a potent antiperoxidative agent. Recently, we characterized the antiperoxidative effects of Ceph [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1426 (1999) 133]. However, it was not clear whether the antiperoxidative effect is really due to its direct radical scavenging activity. Therefore, we studied the interaction of Ceph with the hydroxyl radical (*OH) by the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. Results showed that Ceph actually scavenged *OH derived by the Fenton reaction. We also found that Ceph radicals were generated on interaction of Ceph with *OH in neutral aqueous solution, but not in acidic solution, consistent with the pH-dependent anti-lipid peroxidation activity of Ceph. Hence, we concluded that anti-lipid peroxidation by Ceph is due to its direct radical scavenging activity.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed2003

Potentiation of anti-cancer effect by intravenous administration of vesiculated alpha-tocopheryl hemisuccinate on mouse melanoma in vivo.

We examined the effect of alpha-tocopheryl hemisuccinate (TS) on the growth of mouse melanoma cells B16-F1 inoculated on the back of hairless mice by two administration procedures of TS, i.p. administration of TS dissolved with dimethyl sulfoxide (TS i.p.) and i.v. administration of TS vesicles (TS-vesicle i.v.). TS i.p. significantly prevented the tumor growth of only half the mice in the group. However, TS-vesicle i.v. almost completely inhibited the tumor growth of all mice. Furthermore, the mean survival of the TS-vesicle i.v. group was 1.4-fold those of the control and TS i.p. groups.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Temporary membrane distortion of vascular smooth muscle cells is responsible for their apoptosis induced by platelet-activating factor-like oxidized phospholipids and their degradation product, lysophosphatidylcholine.

To obtain information about the mechanism of apoptosis induced by oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL) in atherosclerotic plaques, we examined the effects of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-like lipids (PAF-LL), which can be derived from oxLDL, on rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). All the lipids with different structures examined induced apoptosis of VSMC, so we studied the mechanism of induction of apoptosis by LPC. LPC-induced apoptosis was inhibited by alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T) and cholesterol (Chol), but not by other antioxidants such as palmitoyl ascorbic acid and PAF receptor antagonist. The cells temporarily became spherical and highly permeable before induction of apoptosis, and their change in shape was prevented by alpha-T and Chol. From these results, we suggest that the apoptosis induced by oxLDL-derived phospholipids in VSMC is caused by temporary membrane distortion, not through specific receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

alpha-Tocopheryl succinate activates protein kinase C in cellular and cell-free systems.

The effect of alpha-tocopheryl succinate (TS) on protein kinase C (PKC) activity was examined. TS increased the auto-phosphorylation of PKC in vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore TS activated isolated PKC-like phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), although it was required at a significantly higher concentration than PMA for PKC activation. Molecular superimposition of the TS on PMA by computation suggested that TS took an active binding conformation to the PKC-like PMA, but that the conformational population was about 1/1.000. Consequently, we conclude that TS interacts directly with PKC, and activates it by taking an active conformation like PMA.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

High cytotoxicity of alpha-tocopheryl hemisuccinate to cancer cells is due to failure of their antioxidative defense systems.

Alpha-tocopheryl hemisuccinate (TS) has been reported to induce apoptosis in various cells, and to show higher toxicity to cancer cells than to normal cells. In this study, although TS induced apoptosis in both a mouse breast normal cell line NMuMG and a mouse breast cancer cell line C127I, the latter were more susceptible to TS. TS-induced apoptosis in C127I was inhibited by superoxide dismutase, alpha-tocopherol and butylated hydroxyanisol. From these results, superoxide (O(2)(-)) itself and reactive oxygen species derived from O(2)(-) and/or free radicals are assumed to be associated with TS toxicity, and the high toxicity of TS to cancer cells is suggested to be due to failure of their antioxidative defense systems.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Identification of human plasma lysophospholipase D, a lysophosphatidic acid-producing enzyme, as autotaxin, a multifunctional phosphodiesterase.

We purified human plasma lysophospholipase D that produces physiologically active lysophosphatidic acid and showed that it is a soluble form of autotaxin, an ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase, originally found as a tumor cell motility-stimulating factor. Its lower K(m) value for a lysophosphatidylcholine than that for a synthetic substrate of nucleotide suggests that lysophosphatidylcholine is a more likely physiological substrate for autotaxin and that its predicted physiological and pathophysiological functions could be mediated by its activity to produce lysophosphate acid, an intercellular mediator. Recombinant autotaxin was found to have lysophospholipase D activity; its substrate specificity and metal ion requirement were the same as those of the purified plasma enzyme. The activity of lysophospholipase D for exogenous lysophosphatidylcholine in human serum was found to increase in normal pregnant women at the third trimester of pregnancy and to a higher extent in patients in threatened preterm delivery, suggesting its roles in induction of parturition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Human platelets respond differentially to lysophosphatidic acids having a highly unsaturated fatty acyl group and alkyl ether-linked lysophosphatidic acids.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a physiological agonist that is produced by lysophospholipase D, phospholipase A(1) and phospholipase A(2) in the blood of animals. It exerts diverse biological actions on a broad range of animal cells. Specific receptors for this important agonist have been characterized. In this investigation, for the first time we prepared LPAs having a highly unsaturated fatty acyl group, such as the eicosapentaenoyl or docosahexaenoyl residue, and their acetylated derivatives. Human platelets aggregated more potently in response to the highly unsaturated acyl-LPAs than to LPAs with a C(18) fatty acyl group, such as an oleoyl group, while alkyl ether-linked LPAs (alkyl-LPA) had much stronger aggregating activity. Two positional isomers of LPAs with an arachidonoyl, eicosapentaenoyl or docosahexaenoyl group had equipotent aggregatory activity as well as the positional isomers of their acetylated analogues, indicating that putative LPA receptors could not distinguish the difference between the positional isomers. We found that platelet preparations from two individuals showed no aggregatory response to alkyl-LPAs, although they contained mRNAs for known LPA receptors in the following order of expression level: endothelial differentiation gene (Edg)-4>Edg-7>Edg-2. We also obtained evidence that 2-(p-amylcinnamoyl)amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid (ONO-RS-082), a phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, potentiated alkyl-LPA-induced platelet aggregation, but inhibited highly unsaturated acyl-LPA-induced platelet aggregation. These results indicated that human platelets express acyl-LPA-selective and alkyl-LPA-selective receptors on their plasma membrane.

Affinity Labels↗