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Biomedical subjects

Koji Uchida

Publications and source records attributed to Koji Uchida.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Dietary ginger constituents, galanals A and B, are potent apoptosis inducers in Human T lymphoma Jurkat cells.

The effects of the constituents isolated from ginger species including curcumin, 6-gingerol and labdane-type diterpene compounds on cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis in the cultured human T lymphoma Jurkat cells were studied. Among the tested compounds, galanals A and B, isolated from the flower buds of a Japanese ginger, myoga (Zingiber mioga Roscoe), showed the most potent cytotoxic effect. Exposure of Jurkat human T-cell leukemia cells to galanals resulted in the induction of apoptotic cell death characterized by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation. The mitochondrial damage pathway was suggested to be involved in galanal-induced apoptosis because the treatment of cells with galanals induced mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim) alteration and cytochrome c release. The anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein was downregulated by the galanal treatment together with enhancement of the Bax expression. In conclusion, the results from this study provide biological evidence that ginger-specific constituents other than curcuminoids are potential anticancer agents.

Apoptosis↗

N(epsilon)-(3-methylpyridinium)lysine, a major antigenic adduct generated in acrolein-modified protein.

Acrolein, a representative carcinogenic aldehyde, that could be ubiquitously generated in biological systems under oxidative stress shows facile reactivity with a nucleophile such as a protein. In this study, to gain a better understanding of the molecular basis of acrolein modification of protein, we characterized the acrolein modification of a model peptide (the oxidized B chain of insulin) by electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method and established a novel acrolein-lysine condensation reaction. In addition, we found that this condensation adduct represented the major antigenic adduct generated in acrolein-modified protein. To identify the modification site and structures of adducts generated in the acrolein-modified insulin B chain, both the acrolein-pretreated and untreated peptides were digested with V8 protease and the resulting peptides were subjected to electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. This technique identified nine peptides, which contained the acrolein adducts at Lys-29 and the N terminus, and revealed that the reaction of the insulin B chain with acrolein gave multiple adducts, including an unknown adduct containing two molecules of acrolein per lysine. To identify this adduct, we incubated N(alpha)-acetyllysine with acrolein and isolated a product having the same molecular mass as the unknown acrolein-lysine adduct. On the basis of the chemical and spectroscopic evidence, the adduct was determined to be a novel pyridinium-type lysine adduct, N(epsilon)-(3-methylpyridinium)lysine (MP-lysine). The formation of MP-lysine was confirmed by amino acid analysis of proteins treated with acrolein. More notably, this condensation adduct appeared to be an intrinsic epitope of a monoclonal antibody 5F6 that had been raised against acrolein-modified protein.

Acrolein↗

Maillard reaction-like lysine modification by a lipid peroxidation product: immunochemical detection of protein-bound 2-hydroxyheptanal in vivo.

2-Hydroxyheptanal (2-HH) is one of the reactive aldehyde species generated during the peroxidation of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic and arachidonic acids. Analogous to the Maillard reaction of reducing sugars, 2-HH readily reacts with lysine epsilon-amino groups. In the present study, to define the occurrence of the Maillard reaction-like lysine modification by 2-HH in vivo, we raised a monoclonal antibody directed to a trihydropyridinone (THPO) structure, 1-alkyl-4-butyl-5-pentyl-1,2,6-trihydropyridin-3-one, formed from 2-HH and lysine, and examined the presence of the antigenic structure in the human atherosclerotic aorta. Mice were immunized with the 2-HH-modified keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) as the immunogen. Using a THPO-carrier protein conjugate, we screened the hybridomas and finally obtained a clone that produced the monoclonal antibody 3C8 (mAb3C8). The antibody strongly recognized bovine serum albumin (BSA) treated with 2-HH, but showed no cross-reactivity with BSAs modified with other related aldehydes. By using this antibody, it was revealed that the antigenic structure was indeed present in atherosclerotic lesions of the human aorta.

Aldehydes↗

Correlation of antimutagenic activity and suppression of CYP1A with the lipophilicity of alkyl gallates and other phenolic compounds.

Alkyl gallates are widely used as food antioxidants. Methyl, ethyl, propyl, lauryl, and cetyl gallates showed antimutagenicity to activated 2-aminoanthracene (2AA)-induced SOS responses in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002. They also exhibited a suppressive effect on 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)-induced cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells, as indexed by the 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, and on CYP1A protein level. Both antimutagenicity and suppression of CYP1A appeared to be dependent on alkyl chain lengths, which suggested lipophilicity dependence. Based on those results, we investigated 26 other phenolic compounds for their lipophilicity, antimutagenicity and inhibition of EROD activity. The lipophilicity correlated well with the inhibition of EROD activity (r=0.78), and the inhibition of EROD activity correlated with the antimutagenicity of those compounds (r=0.71). The results suggest that the lipophilicity of the phenolic compounds may be an important factor in their ability to inhibit EROD activity.

Anthracenes↗

Thioredoxin as a molecular target of cyclopentenone prostaglandins.

Prostaglandin (PG) D2, a major cyclooxygenase product in a variety of tissues and cells, readily undergoes dehydration to yield the bioactive cyclopentenone-type PGs of the J2 series, such as 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2). We have shown previously that 15d-PGJ2 is a potent electrophile that causes intracellular oxidative stress and redox alteration in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. In the present study, based on the observation that the electrophilic center of 15d-PGJ2 was involved in the pro-oxidant effect, we investigated the role of thioredoxin 1 (Trx), an endogenous redox regulator, against 15d-PGJ2-induced oxidative cell injury. It was observed that the 15d-PGJ2-induced oxidative stress was significantly suppressed by the Trx overexpression. In addition, the treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with biotinylated 15d-PGJ2 resulted in the formation of a 15d-PGJ2-Trx adduct, indicating that 15d-PGJ2 directly modified the endogenous Trx in the cells. To further examine the mechanism of the 15d-PGJ2 modification of Trx, human recombinant Trx treated with 15d-PGJ2 was analyzed by mass spectrometry. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of the 15d-PGJ2-treated human recombinant Trx demonstrated the addition of one molecule of 15d-PGJ2 per protein molecule. Moreover, the electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analysis identified two cysteine residues, Cys-35 and Cys-69, as the targets of 15d-PGJ2. These residues may represent the direct sensors of the electrophilic PGs that induce the intracellular redox alteration and neuronal cell death.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Pivotal role of electrophilicity in glutathione S-transferase induction by tert-butylhydroquinone.

Although the induction of glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity by tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) has been well-documented in several cell culture systems and rodent experiments, the exact mechanism responsible for its inducibility is still not thoroughly understood. To more precisely define the molecular mechanism of GST induction by tBHQ, we examined the one-electron oxidation and glutathione (GSH) reaction potentials of tBHQ as compared to its analogue, 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (DtBHQ). tBHQ and DtBHQ showed similar one-electron oxidation potentials, including free radical quenching (antioxidant), oxidative conversion of both compounds to a benzoquinone form, and Cu(2+)-dependent superoxide generation. On the other hand, the reduced GSH level was observed by the addition of tBHQ, but not DtBHQ, suggesting that tBHQ acts as an electrophile while DtBHQ does not. The data were consistent with the observation that tBHQ more potently induced the GSTP1 gene expression in RL34 cells than DtBHQ did. Moreover, we indeed detected the GSH-tBHQ conjugates in the cells exposed to tBHQ using an electrochemical detector-high-performance liquid chromatography technique. Thus, we conclude that an electrophilic quinone oxidation product that reacts with intracellular nucleophiles including protein thiol or GSH plays a major role in the GSTP1 gene expression.

Cell Line↗

Molecular basis of enzyme inactivation by an endogenous electrophile 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal: identification of modification sites in glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a major lipid peroxidation-derived reactive aldehyde, is a potent inhibitor of sulfhydryl enzymes, such as the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). It has been suggested that HNE exerts an inhibitory effect on the enzyme due to the modification of the cysteine residue (Cys-149) at the catalytic site generating the HNE-cysteine Michael addition-type adduct [Uchida, K., and Stadtman, E. R. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 6388-6393]. In the study presented here, to elucidate the mechanism for the inactivation of GAPDH by HNE, we attempted to identify the modification sites of the enzyme by monitoring the formation of the HNE Michael adducts by mass spectrometric methods. Incubation of GAPDH (1 mg/mL) with 1 mM HNE in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C resulted in a time-dependent loss of enzyme activity, which was associated with the covalent binding of HNE to the enzyme. To identify the site of modification of GAPDH by HNE, both the HNE-pretreated and untreated GAPDH were digested with trypsin and V8 protease, and the resulting peptides were subjected to electrospray ionization liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (ESI-LC-MS). This technique identified five peptides, which contained the HNE adducts at His-164, Cys-244, Cys-281, His-327, and Lys-331 and revealed that both His-164 and Cys-281 were very rapidly modified at 5 min, followed by Cys-244 at 15 min and His-327 and Lys-331 at 30 min. These observations and the observation that the HNE modification of the catalytic center, Cys-149, was not observed suggest that the HNE inactivation of GAPDH is not due to the modification of the catalytic center but to the selective modification of amino acids primarily located in the surface of the GAPDH molecule.

Aldehydes↗

Covalent binding of oxidized cholesteryl esters to protein: implications for oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein and atherosclerosis.

It has been proposed that plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL) undergo oxidative modification before they can produce foam cells in atherosclerosis. The oxidation of LDL generates a variety of reactive aldehydic products, which covalently bind to the LDL apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB). In the present study, to investigate the mechanisms contributing to the modification of LDL, we analyzed oxidized cholesteryl esters generated during the autoxidation of LDL and characterized their covalent binding to the lysine residues of LDL apoB. In addition, we raised a monoclonal antibody specific to a lysine-bound oxidized cholesteryl ester and determined its production in human atherosclerotic lesions. The peroxidation of LDL with Cu2+ produced 9-oxononanoylcholesterol (9-ONC) and 5-oxovaleroylcholesterol as the major oxidized cholesteryl esters. We observed that the levels of 9-ONC and 5-oxovaleroylcholesterol peaked at 12 h and significantly decreased thereafter. The reduction of the core aldehyde levels was accompanied by (i) the formation of free 7-ketocholesterol and 7-ketocholesteryl ester core aldehydes and (ii) an increase in the amounts of apoB-bound cholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol, suggesting that the cholesteryl ester core aldehydes were further converted to their 7-ketocholesterol- and apoB-bound derivatives. To detect the protein-bound 9-ONC, we raised the monoclonal antibody 2A81, directed against 9-ONC-modified protein, and found that it extensively recognized protein-bound cholesteryl ester core aldehydes. Agarose gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblot analysis of the oxidized LDL clearly demonstrated the formation of antigenic structures. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis of the atherosclerotic lesions from the human aorta showed that immunoreactive materials with mAb 2A81 were indeed present in the lesions, in which the intense immunoreactivity was mainly located in the macrophage-derived foam cells and the thickening neointima of the arterial walls. The results of this study suggest that the binding of cholesteryl ester core aldehydes to LDL might represent the process common to the oxidative modification of lipoproteins.

Aldehydes↗

A phase II detoxification enzyme inducer from lemongrass: identification of citral and involvement of electrophilic reaction in the enzyme induction.

We have developed a simple system for the sensitive detection and measurement of glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity that detoxifies polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using the cultured rat normal liver epithelial cell line, RL34 cells. Citral (3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal) was isolated from the methanol extract of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and identified as a novel inducer of GST. Citral, a mixture of the two stereoisomers geranial and neral, dose- and time-dependently induced the total and pi-class-specific activities of GST. The structure-activity relationship study revealed that geranial, an E-isomer, was mainly responsible for the inducing activity of citral mixture and the aldehyde group conjugated with a trans-double bond is an essential structural factor. The data were consistent with the in vitro observation that both glutathione (GSH) and protein thiol quickly and specifically reacted with the active isomer geranial, but not neral. Pretreatment of the cells with diethyl maleate significantly enhanced not only the basal activity but also the citral-stimulated activity of GST, while pretreatment with N-acetyl-cysteine inhibited it. Moreover, the treatment of RL 34 cells with geranial for 30 min significantly attenuated the intracellular GSH level, while application for 18 h enhanced it. These results strongly suggested that the electrophilic property characterized by the reactivity with intracellular nucleophiles including protein thiol or glutathione (GSH) plays an important role in the induction of GST. The present study also implied the antioxidant role of GST induction by citral in mouse skin, providing a new insight into skin cancer prevention.

Animals↗

Lysine-derived fluorophores formed by autoxidation of linoleic acid.

To obtain an insight into fluorophores formed in proteins during lipid peroxidation, a lysine residue analogue (N(alpha)-hippuryllysine) was exposed to autoxidation of linoleic acid catalyzed by iron(III)-EDTA and L-ascorbic acid. The reaction predominantly produced two fluorescent products, N,N'-bis[5-(N-benzoylglycylamino)-5-carboxypentyl]-2-hydroxy-2-pentyl-3-imino-l,2-dihydropyrrole (II) and N,N'-bis[5-(N-benzoylglycylamino)-5-carboxypentyl]-2-hydroxy-2-(7-carboxyheptyl)-3-imino-1,2-dihydropyrolle (I).

Ascorbic Acid↗

Reaction of N(alpha)-hippuryllysine with 2-hydroxyheptanal: a model for lysine-directed protein modifications by lipid peroxidation.

2-Hydroxyheptanal (2-HH) is one of the major aldehydes derived from peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the present study, to obtain an insight into the contributions of 2-HH to protein modifications during lipid peroxidation, a lysine-containing dipeptide, N(alpha)-hippuryllysine (N-benzoylglycyl-L-lysine, BGL), was reacted with 2-HH at neutral pH. The products were characterized on the basis of LC/MS and NMR spectroscopy. The reaction afforded a 2:1 2-HH-lysine adduct, 1-[5-(N-benzoylglycylamino)-5-carboxypentyl]-4-butyl-5-pentyl-1,2,6-trihydropyridin-3-one (I). In addition, we obtained a 1:1 2-HH-lysine adduct, N-[5-(N-benzoylglycylamino)-5-carboxypentyl]-1-amino-2-heptanone (III). The treatment of the purified III with 2-HH produced I. On the other hand, when the reaction mixture was allowed prolonged standing, I was slowly oxidized to 1-[5-(N-benzoylglycylamino)-5-carboxypentyl]-4-butyl-5-pentyl-3-hydroxypyridinium (V). This conversion was strongly accelerated by the addition of copper(II) ion and 2,2'-bipyridyl. We propose here that the above series of conversions is the main pathway for the modification of lysine residues of proteins by 2-HH.

Aldehydes↗

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal: a product and mediator of oxidative stress.

The onset of lipid peroxidation within cellular membranes is associated with changes in their physiochemical properties and with the impairment of enzymatic functions located in the membrane environment. There is increasing evidence that aldehydic molecules generated endogenously during the process of lipid peroidation are causally involved in most of the pathophysiological effects associated with oxidative stress in cells and tissues. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), among them, is believed to be largely responsible for cytopathological effects observed during oxidative stree in vivo and has achieved the status of one of the best recognized and most studied of the cytotoxic products of lipid peroxidation. In the present review, I provide a comprehensive summary of HNE, as the product and mediator or oxidative stress.

Aldehydes↗

Bilirubin rinse: A simple protectant against the rat liver graft injury mimicking heme oxygenase-1 preconditioning.

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 preconditioning through genetic or pharmacologic interventions was shown experimentally to improve posttransplant outcome of liver grafts. However, its clinical application requires careful consideration because of the complexity and economic costs of the procedures. This study aimed to examine if graft preconditioning with HO-1 could be substituted by a simple treatment with heme-degrading products such as bilirubin. Rats were pretreated with or without hemin, an HO-1 inducer for preconditioning. Their livers were harvested as grafts in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution for 16 hours at 4 degrees C and followed by reperfusion ex vivo or by transplantation in vivo. The control grafts were also treated with a rinse buffer containing varied concentrations of unconjugated bilirubin with different time intervals. The HO-1-preconditioned grafts ex vivo exhibited a marked improvement of bile output and cell injury that was cancelled by blocking HO with zinc protoporphyrin-IX. The aggravation of the graft viability by the inhibitor was repressed by supplementation of bilirubin but not by that of carbon monoxide. Furthermore, a short-term rinse treatment with micromolar levels of bilirubin attenuated biliary dysfunction and cell injury of the grafts both ex vivo and in vivo even without HO-1 preconditioning. The protective effects of HO-1 preconditioning or bilirubin rinse appeared to involve its inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes. In conclusion, these results suggest that bilirubin rinse serves as a simple strategy to ameliorate hyperacute oxidative stress and hepatobiliary dysfunction of the transplanted grafts, mimicking effects of HO-1-mediated preconditioning.

Adenosine↗

Aberrant utilization of nitric oxide and regulation of soluble guanylate cyclase in rat diabetic retinopathy.

Although nitric oxide (NO) was shown not only to exert biological activities through activation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), but also to cause oxidative stress, mechanisms for switching these pathways are unknown. This study aimed to examine aberrant utilization of NO under disease conditions such as diabetes mellitus. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by injecting streptozotocin (STZ; 50 mg/kg body weight, i.p.). Retina was perfusion-fixed for immunohistochemistry to detect the gas-mediated activation of sGC by anti-sGC antibodies that are function-sensitive [monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 3221] and -insensitive (MoAb28131). Regional lipid peroxidation was also examined by an anti-acrolein MoAb. At 6 weeks after STZ injection, inducible NO synthase induction became evident, coinciding with the overproduction of nitrotyrosine, followed by that of acrolein. Despite such NO overproduction, sGC did not exhibit any notable activation. When STZ-treated animals were posttreated with a derivative of superoxide dismutase that stays in circulation without undergoing renal ultrafiltration, immunoreactivities to MoAb3221 but not to MoAb28131 increased markedly in diabetic retina, suggesting that superoxide cancels free NO for local sGC activation. These results provide evidence of aberrant utilization of NO and suggest that superoxide plays a role in interfering with NO-mediated sGC activation for phototransducing events in this neural tissue.

Animals↗

Dietary cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside-rich purple corn color prevents obesity and ameliorates hyperglycemia in mice.

Anthocyanins, which are used as a food coloring, are widely distributed in human diets, suggesting that we ingest large amounts of anthocyanins from plant-based foods. Mice were fed control, cyanidin 3-glucoside-rich purple corn color (PCC), high fat (HF) or HF + PCC diet for 12 wk. Dietary PCC significantly suppressed the HF diet-induced increase in body weight gain, and white and brown adipose tissue weights. Feeding the HF diet markedly induced hypertrophy of the adipocytes in the epididymal white adipose tissue compared with the control group. In contrast, the induction did not occur in the HF + PCC group. The HF diet induced hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia. These perturbations were completely normalized in rats fed HF + PCC. An increase in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA level occurred in the HF group and was normalized by dietary PCC. These results suggest that dietary PCC may ameliorate HF diet-induced insulin resistance in mice. PCC suppressed the mRNA levels of enzymes involved in fatty acid and triacylglycerol synthesis and lowered the sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 mRNA level in white adipose tissue. These down-regulations may contribute to triacylglycerol accumulation in white adipose tissue. Our findings provide a biochemical and nutritional basis for the use of PCC or anthocyanins as a functional food factor that may have benefits for the prevention of obesity and diabetes.

Adipose Tissue↗

Effect of alpha-tocopherol on the oxidative modification of apolipoprotein E in human very-low-density lipoprotein.

The oxidative modification of apolipoprotein (apo) E and lipid peroxidation in human very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) induced by peroxynitrite and cupric ions in vitro were strongly suppressed by enrichment with alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc; 170 microM). Alpha-Toc also suppressed the decrease in the heparin-binding activity of apoE in the VLDL oxidation. These results suggest that alpha-Toc protected apoE in VLDL from oxidative stress.

Apolipoproteins E↗

Standards of the in vitro mutation frequency study and the antimicrobial activity study in gut.

In view of the recent rapid increase in incidence of infection with antimicrobial resistant bacteria in human medicine, there is international controversy as to the medical risk that is created by transfer of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistant genes, which may be produced through the processes of administration of antimicrobials to food-producing animals, via the food chain. Accordingly, International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH) provides the comprehensive guidelines for characterizing selection of antimicrobial resistance by bacteria which may adversely affect human health in order to establish the system of registry of antimicrobial drugs to be administered to food- producing animals. Currently, Japanese Society of Antimicrobials for Animals recognizes the lack of technical test standards in compliance with VICH guidelines in the world and has established the test standards for "in vitro mutation frequency studies" to evaluate the appearance frequency and resistant level of resistant bacteria and those for studies on the "antimicrobial activity in gut" to estimate the effects on intestinal flora from professional aspects.

Animal Husbandry↗

Serum protein acrolein adducts: utility in detecting oxidant stress in hemodialysis patients and reversal using a vitamin E-bonded hemodialyzer.

Accumulating evidence indicates that protein modification by acrolein is one of the major hallmarks of atherosclerosis. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the serum acrolein-modified protein adduct (Acr) level in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and to elucidate the efficacy of vitamin E-bonded hemodialyzer in reducing Acr in a crossover trial. A significant increase in Acr was found in ESRD patients compared with healthy controls (p <.001). In ESRD, the Acr level of those patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) was significantly higher compared with the non-DM group (p <.05). Forty-one ESRD patients who exhibited Acr levels higher than the mean value in ESRD were treated by vitamin E-bonded hemodialyzer for 6 months. After 6 months of treatment, Acr levels were decreased to those found in healthy individuals (p <.001). When hemodialyzers were switched back from vitamin E bonded to the original regular ones, Acr levels increased to nearly their initial levels after 3 months (p <.001), compared with the 6 month time point. These results suggest the potential of Acr as an oxidative stress marker in ESRD, and that vitamin E-bonded hemodialyzer treatment is a reasonable approach to reduce oxidative stress in ESRD.

Acrolein↗