Identification of one base deletion in exon IX of the protein C gene that causes a type I deficiency.
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Amino Acid Sequence↗
Biomedical subjects
M Arakawa
Publications and source records attributed to M Arakawa.
Inhibition of active oxygen generation by dipyridamole in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
The effect of dipyridamole on active oxygen generation by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was investigated. Dipyridamole inhibited the production of oxidative metabolites from human PMN stimulated by opsonized zymosan and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine dose and time dependently. To determine whether dipyridamole directly inhibits the production of oxygen metabolites by human PMN, human PMN were preincubated with dipyridamole washed prior to stimulation. Dipyridamole was found to directly inhibit human PMN from generated active oxygen metabolites at therapeutic concentrations. Dipyridamole may possibly be a potential scavenger of active oxygen metabolites since it inhibited active oxygen metabolite production from human PMN very rapidly. Dipyridamole was also found to directly affect the scavenging of active oxygen metabolites generated by opsonized zymosan-stimulated human PMN at therapeutic concentrations. This action of dipyridamole was also noted to be exerted against hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions produced biochemically by an electron spin resonance spectrometer. It thus follows that dipyridamole may inhibit human PMN active oxygen metabolite generation and affect directly the scavenging of active oxygen metabolites at therapeutic concentrations.
Dipyridamole↗
Age-related increase in systolic fraction of pulmonary vein flow velocity-time integral from transesophageal Doppler echocardiography in subjects without cardiac disease.
The pulmonary vein flow velocity-time profile would be equivalent to the pulmonary vein flow volume-time profile, provided that the cross-sectional area of the pulmonary vein remains unchanged during 1 cardiac cycle. The systolic fraction of the pulmonary vein flow velocity-time integral, a ratio of velocity-time integral of the S wave to the sum of velocity-time integrals of the S and D waves, represents the ratio of left atrial storage volume to left ventricular stroke volume. This systolic fraction may help early filling of the left ventricle through an appropriate storage of blood and generation of driving pressure in the left atrium. Because early filling of the left ventricle is progressively impaired with age, it was hypothesized that this systolic fraction is increased with age. Forty-four noncardiac surgical patients (age range 17 to 70 years) who underwent transesophageal Doppler echocardiography under general anesthesia were studied, and left upper pulmonary vein flow and mitral inflow velocities were recorded. The ratio of peak velocity of the E wave to that of the A wave of mitral inflow velocity-time profile (y) decreased with age (y = -0.0245 x age + 2.41; r = -0.672, p < 0.01). Systolic fraction (y) increased with age (y = 0.00373 x age + 0.514; r = 0.656, p < 0.01). The age-related increase in the systolic fraction of pulmonary vein flow velocity-time integral may account for the compensation for impaired early filling of the left ventricle in elderly patients.
Adolescent↗
[Septicemia caused by MRSA].
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Aminoglycosides↗
Changes in plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptides after cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation.
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Adolescent↗
Localization of smg p25A/rab3A p25, a small GTP-binding protein, at the active zone of the rat neuromuscular junction.
smg p25A is a small G protein which has been suggested to regulate neurotransmitter release from the synapses. We investigated here the ultrastructural localization of this small G protein in the rat neuromuscular junction by an immunoperoxidase method. The results showed that smg p25A was distributed non-uniformly on the presynaptic plasma membrane and among the synaptic vesicles with the focal accumulation on the discrete presynaptic sites which corresponded to the active zones, the regions of the presynaptic plasma membrane specialized for the exocytosis of the synaptic vesicles. This unique distribution of smg p25A suggests that it plays an important role in the attachment and fusion of the synaptic vesicles with the active zones.
Animals↗
Molecular diversity of the NMDA receptor channel.
Two novel subunits of the mouse NMDA receptor channel, the epsilon 2 and epsilon 3 subunits, have been identified by cloning and expression of complementary DNAs. The heteromeric epsilon 1/zeta 1, epsilon 2/zeta 1 and epsilon 3/zeta 1 NMDA receptor channels exhibit distinct functional properties in affinities for agonists and sensitivities to competitive antagonists and Mg2+ block. In contrast to the wide distribution of the epsilon 1 and zeta 1 subunit messenger RNAs in the brain, the epsilon 2 subunit mRNA is expressed only in the forebrain and the epsilon 3 subunit mRNA is found predominantly in the cerebellum. The epsilon 1/zeta 1 and epsilon 2/zeta 1 channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes, but not the epsilon 3/zeta 1 channel, are activated by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. These findings suggest that the molecular diversity of the epsilon subunit family underlies the functional heterogeneity of the NMDA receptor channel.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Functional characterization of a heteromeric NMDA receptor channel expressed from cloned cDNAs.
The glutamate receptor (GluR) channel plays a key part in brain function. Among GluR channel subtypes, the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor channel which is highly permeable to Ca2+ is essential for the synaptic plasticity underlying memory, learning and development. Furthermore, abnormal activation of the NMDA receptor channel may trigger the neuronal cell death observed in various brain disorders. A complementary DNA encoding a subunit of the rodent NMDA receptor channel (NMDAR1 or zeta 1) has been cloned and its functional properties investigated. Here we report the identification and primary structure of a novel mouse NMDA receptor channel subunit, designated as epsilon 1, after cloning and sequencing the cDNA. The epsilon 1 subunit shows 11-18% amino-acid sequence identity with rodent GluR channel subunits that have been characterized so far and has structural features common to neurotransmitter-gated ion channels. Expression from cloned cDNAs of the epsilon 1 subunit together with the zeta 1 subunit in Xenopus oocytes yields functional GluR channels with high activity and characteristics of the NMDA receptor channel. Furthermore, the heteromeric NMDA receptor channel can be activated by glycine alone.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
[Diagnosis and therapy of lupus nephritis].
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Complement System Proteins↗
Protein kinase C (alpha, beta, gamma) in Pacinian corpuscle.
Immunocytochemical demonstration of protein kinase C (PKC) subspecies (alpha, beta, gamma) was carried out in Pacinian corpuscles of rat hind feet using monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against each of these subspecies. The inner core cells and lamellae and the Schwann cell cytoplasm of the nerve fiber innervating the corpuscle were strongly positive for PKC alpha-immunoreactivity (IR). In contrast, the axon terminal and the outer core did not display any positive alpha-IR. Very weak PKC beta-IR was detected in the ultraterminal region of the axon terminal, while the trunk region showed no immunoreactivity. Very faint PKC beta-IR was found also in the lamellar cells located at the periphery of the inner core and the endoneurial fibroblasts in the intermediate layer. PKC gamma-IR was not detected in any part of the corpuscle. The strong PKC alpha-IR in the inner core and the presence or absence of PKC alpha-, beta-, and gamma-IR in the axon terminal are discussed from the point of view of the functional aspects of each part.
Animals↗
Induction of macrophage interleukin-1 production by Listeria monocytogenes hemolysin.
Listeriolysin O produced by a hemolytic strain of Listeria monocytogenes was purified from the ammonium sulfate precipitate of a culture supernatant through the steps of ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The purified hemolysin finally gave a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of 58,000. When peritoneal exudate macrophages were stimulated with purified hemolysin, we found a high level of IL-1 activity as determined by thymocyte costimulator assay in the culture supernatant. Cell-associated and intracellular IL-1 activity was also detected. The activity in the supernatant or membrane was blocked by polyclonal antibody to murine IL-1 alpha. Moreover, IL-1-specific mRNA expression could be detected in the macrophages stimulated with listeriolysin O by Northern blot analysis. Possible contamination by LPS of the listeriolysin O preparation did not seem to contribute to the induction of macrophage IL-1 production.
Animals↗
Histopathology of membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava in the Budd-Chiari syndrome.
It is generally believed that membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava in the Budd-Chiari syndrome is caused by congenital malformation. However, it does not explain the late onset of the disease. In the current study, hepatic portion of the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins were studied in 17 autopsy cases of the Budd-Chiari syndrome, 16 of which had no demonstrable cause (idiopathic). A sufficient amount of vena cava tissue was available for evaluation in 15 cases. Nine had membranous obstruction, with thickness varying from 3 to 8 mm. Thrombus formation was recognized in 7 of 9 cases. Occlusion of hepatic vein orifices of varying degree was present in 8 cases. In these occluding lesions, the basic structure of the venous wall was maintained. The intima was transformed into a fibrous laminar structure, and organized thrombi of varying ages were recognized; they were a mixture of fresh thrombi, organized thrombi, fibrous tissues, recanalizations, and calcifications. It is concluded that in these cases of the Budd-Chiari syndrome, occluding and stenosing lesions in the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins were thrombosis and its sequelae. There was no indication of congenital malformation.
Adolescent↗
Identification of Oklahoma isolate as a strain of Pseudomonas pseudomallei.
Based on the morphological, physiological, biochemical and nutritional characteristics, cellular fatty acid and lipid composition, ubiquinone-8 as the major respiratory quinone, guanine-plus-cytosine content of DNA, DNA-DNA homology value, and sequence alignment of 16S rRNA nucleotides, Oklahoma isolate was reidentified as a strain of Pseudomonas pseudomallei.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Proposal of Burkholderia gen. nov. and transfer of seven species of the genus Pseudomonas homology group II to the new genus, with the type species Burkholderia cepacia (Palleroni and Holmes 1981) comb. nov.
Based on the 16S rRNA sequences, DNA-DNA homology values, cellular lipid and fatty acid composition, and phenotypic characteristics, a new genus Burkholderia is proposed for the RNA homology group II of genus Pseudomonas. Seven species in this group were transferred to the new genus. Thus seven new combinations, Burkholderia cepacia (Palleroni and Holmes 1981), Burkholderia mallei (Zopf 1885), Burkholderia pseudomallei (Whitmore 1913), Burkholderia caryophylli (Burkholder 1942), Burkholderia gladioli (Severini 1913), Burkholderia pickettii (Ralston et al 1973) and Burkholderia solanacearum (Smith 1896) were proposed.
Amino Acids↗
Somatic mutation during metastasis of a mouse fibrosarcoma line detected by DNA fingerprint analysis.
Metastatic nodules were examined by DNA fingerprint analysis. The probes used, Pc-1 and Pc-2, detect mutations as shifts in bands of the minisatellite loci which are dispersed among chromosomes. Four clonal lines of a fibrosarcoma from an F1 mouse (C57BL/Ka x C3H/He) were selected for various metastatic potentials upon inoculation into syngeneic mice. These four lines exhibited many extra bands resulting from recombination and/or DNA slippage, indicating accumulation of mutations during the successive passages in mice. One of the four, a 505 cell line which had been passaged extensively in vitro and consisted of a heterogenous population, was inoculated into thirteen syngeneic mice, and gave rise to six lung metastatic nodules in two mice. All the nodules showed band-patterns distinct from one another, although nodules within a given mouse tended to show similar patterns. When a genetically tagged 505-05-01 clone was analyzed, three of nine metastatic nodules obtained also revealed new bands. These results strongly suggest that somatic mutations occur at a high frequency during metastasis, providing direct evidence of genetic instability of the tumor cells.
Animals↗
Analysis of cytosol CA15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen, estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer tissues.
Cytosol levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA15-3, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) of 194 primary breast cancer tissues were measured. ER and PgR determined by enzyme immunoassay methods correlated inversely with Page's grades of histological atypia and mitotic rate. Cytosol CA15-3 correlated inversely with the grades of tubular and nuclear atypia and positively with the mitotic rate. CA15-3 correlated positively with ER and PgR. Cytosol CEA showed no correlation with the pathological grade or hormone receptor status. These results indicate that hormone receptor-positive breast cancers tend to have more differentiated morphology and slower growth rate than those without those receptors and that the cytosol CA15-3 level may reflect some of the intrinsic malignant potency, particularly the growth rate, of breast cancer. Cytosol CA15-3 as well as the hormone receptor status may have prognostic value for patients with breast cancer.
Adult↗
Telomere elongation frequently observed during tumor metastasis.
Changes in the number of telomere repeat arrays have been examined during metastasis of two mouse tumor cell lines. Telomeres were detected as bands and a smear by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and gel-hybridization using (TTAGGG)4 as a probe. Very long size variants of telomeres were frequently observed in metastatic nodules. This suggests that at least some of the tumor cells have an ability to elongate telomeres. This elongation may compensate for the continuous loss of telomere repeats due to cell divisions, which would eventually lead to cell death.
Animals↗
Analysis of collagen gene expression by cultured fibroblasts in morphoea.
Collagen gene expression was studied in dermal fibroblasts derived from the inflammatory and sclerotic skin lesions of patients with localized or generalized morphoea. The levels of mRNA for type I collagen in early-passage fibroblasts derived from inflammatory lesions were higher than those obtained from the uninvolved skin, whereas those fibroblasts obtained from sclerotic lesions were unaltered. No alteration in type I collagen mRNA levels was observed in late-passage fibroblasts derived from the inflammatory lesions. The relative rate of collagen to total protein synthesis in early-passage fibroblasts derived from inflammatory lesions was higher than that of fibroblasts from uninvolved skin, while no alteration or a slight decrease was observed in fibroblasts from the sclerotic lesions. The data suggest that the inflammatory reactions induce increased collagen synthesis by fibroblasts in the skin in scleroderma.
Actins↗