Biomedical subjects

M Kimoto

Publications and source records attributed to M Kimoto.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

MD-2, a molecule that confers lipopolysaccharide responsiveness on Toll-like receptor 4.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a mammalian homologue of Drosophila Toll, a leucine-rich repeat molecule that can trigger innate responses against pathogens. The TLR4 gene has recently been shown to be mutated in C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScCr mice, both of which are low responders to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). TLR4 may be a long-sought receptor for LPS. However, transfection of TLR4 does not confer LPS responsiveness on a recipient cell line, suggesting a requirement for an additional molecule. Here, we report that a novel molecule, MD-2, is requisite for LPS signaling of TLR4. MD-2 is physically associated with TLR4 on the cell surface and confers responsiveness to LPS. MD-2 is thus a link between TLR4 and LPS signaling. Identification of this new receptor complex has potential implications for understanding host defense, as well as pathophysiologic, mechanisms.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

B cells lacking RP105, a novel B cell antigen, in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: RP105 is a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein found on all mature mouse B cells. Its function is poorly defined, although it has been suggested that RP105 activates B cells to make them resistant to apoptosis. The human homolog of RP105 has been reported, but knowledge of its function is limited. We explored the expression and the function of the human homolog of murine RP105 on B cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: The expression of RP105 and various markers on B cells in patients with SLE was analyzed using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. Susceptibility to corticosteroid-induced apoptosis was examined by annexin V binding, and the production of immunoglobulin by RP105-negative B cells was examined by intracellular staining of IgG. RESULTS: As in mice, virtually all B cells in the peripheral blood of normal humans expressed the RP105 molecule. However, a significant proportion of circulating B cells (15.9%) in SLE patients were RP105 negative. Serial analyses of B cells in 7 SLE patients revealed that RP105-negative B cells markedly decreased in parallel with a reduction in disease activity (from 35.2% to 3.3%; P = 0.000003). The SLE Disease Activity Index and serum levels of IgG also correlated with the percentage of RP105-negative B cells. The phenotype of RP105-negative B cells was defined as CD95-positive, CD86-positive, CD38-bright, IgD-negative, IgM-dull, indicating that the cells were highly activated, as further suggested by the detection of intracellular IgG. RP105-negative B cells were clearly distinct from CD5-positive B1 cells. In vitro experiments indicated that RP105-negative B cells were susceptible to corticosteroid-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that loss of RP105 is associated with B cell activation and increased disease activity in SLE patients.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed1999

Identification of peak bone mass QTL in a spontaneously osteoporotic mouse strain.

The whole genome scan for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) specifying peak bone mass was performed with the F2 intercrosses of SAMP6, an established murine model of senile osteoporosis, exhibiting a significantly lower peak bone mass, and SAMP2, exhibiting a higher peak bone mass. Cortical thickness index (CTI), a parameter of bone mass of femurs, was measured in 488 F2 progeny at 4 months of age, when the animals attained peak bone mass by microphotodensitometry. Genetic markers were typed at 90 loci spanning all chromosomes except the Y. By interval mapping of 246 male F2 mice, two loci were identified with significant linkage to peak bone mass, one on Chromosome (Chr) 11 and another on Chr 13, with a maximum lod score of 10.8 (22.2% of the total variance) and 5.8 (10.0%), respectively. Another locus on the X Chr was suggestive of a QTL associated oppositely with a low peak bone mass to the SAMP2 allele. This association was consistent with the distribution of peak bone mass in the F1 and F2. These findings should be useful to elucidate the genetics of osteoporosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

A mutational analysis of the Abetaz/Aalphad major histocompatibility complex class II molecule that restricts autoreactive T cells in (NZBxNZW)F1 mice. The critical influence of alanine at position 69 in the Aalphad chain.

Autoimmune symptoms of (NZBxNZW)F1 (H-2d/z) mice are reported to be critically related to the heterozygosity at the H-2 complex of the murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC). We previously showed that several Abetaz/Aalphad MHC class II molecule-restricted autoreactive T-cell clones from B/WF1 mice were pathogenic upon transfer to preautoimmune B/WF1 mice. In this study, to identify the crucial amino acid residues in Abetaz/Aalphad molecules for T-cell activation, we generated a panel of transfectant cell lines. These transfectant cell lines express the Abetaz/Aalphad MHC molecules with a mutation at each residue alpha11, alpha28, alpha57, alpha69, alpha70, alpha76 of Aalphad chain and beta86 of Abetaz chain. Replacing alpha69 alanine with threonine, valine or serine completely eliminated the ability to stimulate autoreactive T-cell clones without affecting the ability to present foreign antigen keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) or L-plastin peptide to specific T-cell clones. Replacing beta86 valine with aspartic acid resulted in a decrease in the stimulation for antigen-reactive as well as autoreactive T-cell clones. Substitutions at other residues had minimal or no effect on the stimulation of either auto- or antigen-reactive T-cell clones. These results suggest that alanine at residue 69 of the Aalphad chain is critical for the activation of autoreactive Abetaz/Aalphad-restricted T-cell clones. Possible explanations for this are discussed.

Alanine↗

PubMed1999

Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) as a nerve-injury-associated molecule: mRNA localization in the rat brain and its coincident up-regulation with neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) in axotomized motoneurons.

As part of a project to identify genes up-regulated by injury of the motor neuron, a clone encoding dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) was isolated. This enzyme is known to metabolize methylarginines, which are endogenous inhibitors of NOS activity. DDAH may therefore contribute to the control of NO synthesis. The present study demonstrated that both DDAH and nNOS mRNAs are up-regulated after axotomy in injured hypoglossal motor neurons. The profile of DDAH mRNA up-regulation in the injured hypoglossal motor neurons paralleled that of NADPH diaphorase staining. While the expression of both DDAH and nNOS was upregulated in motor neurons following nerve injury, the normal distribution of DDAH and nNOS mRNAs in the noninjured central nervous system were distinctly different. We speculate that both genes are involved in the upregulation of NO production following nerve transection, although the role of NO in the process of nerve regeneration is so far unknown.

Amidohydrolases↗

PubMed1999

Aminoguanidine supplementation delays the onset of senescence in vitro in dermal fibroblast-like cells from senescence-accelerated mice.

The effects of aminoguanidine supplementation on senescence acceleration in vitro were examined in fibroblasts from the dorsal dermis of newborn SAMP11 (accelerated senescence-prone mice), and were compared to the effects in cell lines from SAMR1 (accelerated senescence-resistant) mice. Four millimolar aminoguanidine supplementation significantly delayed the senescence/crisis in cell lines from SAMP11 mice, but did not affect the senescence/crisis in cell lines from SAMR1 mice. Flow cytometric analysis of the DNA content of confluent cells revealed that aminoguanidine supplementation significantly decelerated the increase in the number of tetraploid cells until senescence/crisis. Although mean concentrations of lipid peroxides in the primary cultures did not differ significantly, considerably higher lipid peroxidation was observed in some SAMP11 cultures, and aminoguanidine supplementation reduced them to the levels in SAMRI cultures. These results strongly suggest that oxidative stress derived from polyamine catabolism may contribute to the senescence acceleration in vitro in cell lines from SAMP11 mice.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Fibroblasts, glial, and neuronal cells are involved in extravascular prothrombin activation.

A membrane-associated prothrombin activator (MAPA) was found on various cultured cells derived from non-hematopoietic cells [Sekiya, F. et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 32441-32445]. In this study, we investigated the enzymatic properties of this enzyme using protease inhibitors. While the metalloproteinase inhibitor, o-phenanthroline, had no effect, some Kunitz type serine protease inhibitors attenuated MAPA activity. Recombinant tissue factor pathway inhibitor (rTFPI) also markedly reduced the activity (IC(50), 1. 3+/-0.6 x 10(-10) M). MAPA activity is, therefore, most likely to be due to factor Xa. We evaluated the effect of exogenous factor Xa on MAPA activity. Factor Xa-dependent prothrombin activation was observed on fibroblast cells (apparent K(d), 1.47+/-0.72 nM). Activation was also observed on glial and neuronal cells, which expressed MAPA activity. These results imply that membrane-bound factor Xa results in MAPA activity on these cells. Therefore, we considered the involvement of factor Va, a component of prothrombinase, in this activity. We examined whether or not the prothrombinase complex is assembled on these cells. Prothrombin was activated in a manner dependent on both exogenous factor Xa and factor Va (apparent K(d) of 0.51-1.81 nM for factor Va). These results indicate that the prothrombinase complex forms specifically on various extravascular cells. Although the prothrombinase complex can be assembled on monocytes and lymphocytes, it is not known why these cells can activate prothrombin specifically. These cells which have the capacity for prothrombin activator activity could also activate factor X; i.e. cells with factor X activation activity were able to convert prothrombin. These observations suggest that thrombin was generated via two procoagulant activities; factor X activation and subsequent prothrombinase complex formation on the surface of these cells. This mechanism may explain the various pathological states involving or resulting from extravascular thrombin and fibrin formation.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Primary bilateral adrenal lymphoma associated with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Autoimmune disorders are occasionally associated with malignant lymphoma. To date only one case of primary adrenal lymphoma associated with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has ever been reported. This paper reports the case of a 63-year-old man with bilateral adrenal masses whose laboratory data showed decreased platelet count. Despite normal blood pressure, the adrenal tumors endocrinologically appeared to be pheochromocytoma. Core needle biopsy was not done due to thrombocytopenia attributed to concurrent ITP. After intravenous immunoglobulin treatment, splenectomy and bilateral adrenalectomy were performed since the first pathological findings of the frozen specimen suggested the possibility of a poorly-differentiated carcinoma. Immunohistochemical study finally showed the tumors to be diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient underwent a subsequent course of combination chemotherapy and survived 6 years recurrence-free without any need for further treatment other than steroid replacement. The coincidence of adrenal lymphoma and ITP should be considered even if another kind of tumor is suspected, and core needle biopsy should be performed prior to operation, since the specific kind of tumor found alters the therapeutical strategy adopted.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

PubMed1999

[Antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains in the last ten years in Japan].

An increase in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains has been reported. We tested the sensitivity of H. pylori strains to antibiotics before and after the eradication treatment to determine primary and secondary resistance by E-test. A total of 336 H. pylori strains from 1987 to 1998 were tested for sensitivity to clarithromycin (CAM), amoxicillin (AMPC), and metronidazole (MNZ). Primary resistance of H. pylori to CAM, MNZ, and AMPC were found in 9.5%, 26.8%, and 0.3% strains, respectively. The resistant strains to CAM and MNZ were gradually increasing in the last few years. The cure rates of triple therapy with MNZ and CAM for CAM-susceptible and CAM-resistant H. pylori isolates were 83.3% (40/48) and 30.0% (3/10) respectively, and the cure rates of triple therapy with CAM and AMPC for CAM-susceptible and CAM-resistant H. pylori isolates were 79.3% (69/87) and 12.5% (1/8) respectively. After triple therapy, secondary resistant strains to CAM and MNZ were found in 42.1% (8/19) and 31.6% (6/19) of the cases.

Amoxicillin↗

PubMed1999

Chemotaxis and motility of Helicobacter pylori in a viscous environment.

The chemotactic activity of Helicobacter pylori is important for its colonization. H. pylori exhibited chemotactic responses to urea and potassium bicarbonate, which can be supplied from human gastric epithelium. The chemotactic activities of H. pylori in a fluid environment were higher on the urease-positive strain than on the isogenic urease-negative strain. In a viscous solution containing 3% polyvinylpyrrolidone, the urease-positive strain showed stimulated chemotactic activity, whereas the urease-negative mutant did not show such stimulation. These results were in accordance with the fact that the mutant strain did not show swarming, which is a form of bacterial active motility in the viscous environment in soft agar regardless of having flagella. Incubation of the wild-type strain with urease inhibitors partially inhibited the chemotactic activities in the viscous solution. Inhibition of the chemotactic activity by urease inhibitors paralleled the inhibition of urease activity. The chemotactic activity of H. pylori has been shown to utilize proton motive force for motility. These results highlighted the importance of cytoplasmic urease for chemotactic motility of H. pylori possibly by an increase in the proton motive force under a condition that mimics the gastric mucus layer, in which the bacteria reside. These results indicated a possible application of drugs having urease-inhibiting potential for eradicating H. pylori. The significance of swarming in the expression of bacterial virulence was also discussed.

Chemotaxis↗

PubMed1998

RNA aptamers that specifically bind to the Ras-binding domain of Raf-1.

RNA aptamers that bind to the Ras-binding domain (RBD) of a proto-oncogene product, Raf-1, were isolated from a pool of random sequences using a glutathione S-transferase-fused RBD (GST-RBD). The RNA molecules bind to the GST-RBD, but not to GST, with dissociation constants of about 300 nM. In contrast, these RNA aptamers do not bind to the Ras-binding domain of the RGL protein, which is also known to be activated by Ras. The aptamers actually compete with Ras for binding to the Raf-1 RBD. The anti-Raf-1 aptamers may be used to specifically inhibit the Ras-Raf interaction in the complicated signaling network in mammalian cells.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Purification, cDNA cloning and expression of human NG,NG-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase.

cDNA encoding N(G),N(G)-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase from rat kidney had been cloned [Kimoto, M., Sasakawa, T., Tsuji, H., Miyatake, S., Oka, T., Nio, N. & Ogawa, T. (1997) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1337, 6-10]. The enzyme hydrolyzes N(G),N(G)-dimethyl-L-arginine and N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, which are known as endogenous inhibitors for the nitric oxide-generating system. In the present study, human N(G),N(G)-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase has been purified to homogeneity from liver and characterized. The cDNA clone encoding human N(G),N(G)-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase was isolated from a human kidney lambda gt10 library using a probe prepared from a plasmid containing the entire coding region of rat N(G),N(G)-dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase. Its open reading frame encoded a protein of 285 amino acids with a molecular mass of 31,121 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibits 93% identity with that of rat. The cDNA was expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein exhibited enzyme activity which is the same as that of natural enzyme.

Amidohydrolases↗

PubMed1998

Epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies against 4-aminobenzoate hydroxylase from Agaricus bisporus.

Four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against 4-aminobenzoate hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.27) have been produced (H. Tsuji et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265 (1990) 16064; T. Ogawa et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1115 (1992) 220). Of the mAbs, three mAbs (mAb-A, -B1 and -B2) recognize the FAD-binding domain of the enzyme. In the present study, the epitopes of the mAbs on the enzyme have been examined using pGEX-2T expression systems for DNA fragments encoding various partial amino acid sequences of 4-aminobenzoate hydroxylase. The epitopes for mAb-A, -B1 and -B2 were shown to be on sequences 413-434, 435-460 and 380-413, respectively. These findings suggest that these epitopes for mAb-A, -B1 and -B2 may be close to the isoalloxazine moiety of FAD, which plays a central role in the catalysis of the enzyme.

Agaricus↗

PubMed1998

RP105 is associated with MD-1 and transmits an activation signal in human B cells.

RP105 was originally discovered as a mouse B-cell surface molecule that transmits an activation signal. The signal leads to resistance against irradiation-induced apoptosis and massive B-cell proliferation. Recently, we found that mouse RP105 is associated with another molecule, MD-1. We have isolated here the human MD-1 cDNA. We show that human MD-1 is also associated with human RP105 and has an important role in cell surface expression of RP105. We also describe a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) that recognizes human RP105. Expression of RP105 is restricted to CD19(+) B cells. Histological studies showed that RP105 is expressed mainly on mature B cells in mantle zones. Germinal center cells are either dull or negative. RP105 is thus a novel human B-cell marker that is preferentially expressed on mature B cells. Moreover, the anti-RP105 MoAb activates B cells, leading to increases in cell size, expression of a costimulatory molecule CD80, and DNA synthesis. The B-cell activation pathway using RP105 is conserved in humans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

c-Src and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase are involved in NGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc in PC12 cells.

The adaptor protein Shc exists in three isoforms; p46, p52, and p66, and is a key regulator of a variety of biological processes. Our previous studies have shown that the tyrosine kinase c-Src phosphorylates Shc in a phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 4,5-bisphosphate-dependent manner. Here we demonstrate that PtdIns 3,4,5-trisphosphate stimulates phosphorylation of Shc by c-Src. The phosphorylation is blocked by a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing Shc phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain or a phosphotyrosine-containing Shc PTB domain-binding peptide. In rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12, nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of both Triton-soluble and -insoluble Shc which was maximal at 2-5 min after NGF treatment. We find that pretreatment of PC12 cells with the PtdIns 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin or LY294002 results in almost half inhibition of the NGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of only Triton-insoluble Shc. Similar inhibitory effect is observed with tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and PP1. Upon NGF stimulation, c-Src also becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated and accumulates in the Triton-insoluble fraction. The c-Src events are insensitive to wortmannin but sensitive to genistein. These results suggest that coordinate action of PtdIns 3-kinase and/or PtdIns 3,4,5-trisphosphate and c-Src can function as positive regulator in tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc in vitro and in vivo.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed1998

Mouse MD-1, a molecule that is physically associated with RP105 and positively regulates its expression.

RP105 is a leucine-rich repeat molecule that is expressed on mouse B cells and transmits a growth-promoting signal. An anti-RP105 Ab precipitated additional molecules as well as RP105. These molecules were found to be a mouse homologue of chicken MD-1. Chicken MD-1 was previously isolated as a v-myb-regulated gene, since its transcription increases rapidly after v-myb induction. Mouse MD-1, when transiently expressed as an epitope-tagged protein, is secreted in culture fluid but tethered to the cell surface by coexpressed RP105. An association of these molecules was confirmed by immunoprecipitation with the anti-RP105 Ab and subsequent probing of the epitope tag on MD-1. Moreover, MD-1 has an effect on the expression of RP105. In transient transfection of RP105, the percentage of RP105-positive cells increased more than twice with the coexpression of MD-1. The stable expression of MD-1 conferred approximately a sevenfold increase in cell surface RP105 on a cell line that expresses RP105 alone. Thus, MD-1 is physically associated with RP105 and is important for efficient cell surface expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Physical and functional association between thymic shared antigen-1/stem cell antigen-2 and the T cell receptor complex.

Thymic shared antigen-1 (TSA-1)/stem cell Ag-2 (Sca-2) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored antigen expressed on lymphocytes. We have previously demonstrated that a signal via TSA-1/Sca-2 inhibits T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated T cell activation and apoptosis. To elucidate a molecular mechanism for TSA-1-mediated modulation of the TCR-signaling pathway, we examined whether TSA-1 is physically coupled to the TCR in the present study. TSA-1 was clearly associated with CD3zeta chains in T cell hybridomas, activated T cells, and COS-7 cells transfected with TSA-1 and CD3zeta cDNA. The physical association was confirmed on the surface of T cells in immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy. The analysis using stable and transient transfectants expressing a transmembrane form of TSA-1 revealed that the association of CD3zeta did not require the GPI anchor of TSA-1. Finally, tyrosine phosphorylation of CD3zeta chains was induced after stimulation with anti-TSA-1, suggesting that a functional association between these two molecules also exists. These results imply that the physical association to CD3zeta underlies a regulatory role of TSA-1/Sca-2 in the TCR-signaling pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Activation mechanism of anticoagulant protein C in large blood vessels involving the endothelial cell protein C receptor.

Protein C is an important regulatory mechanism of blood coagulation. Protein C functions as an anticoagulant when converted to the active serine protease form on the endothelial cell surface. Thrombomodulin (TM), an endothelial cell surface receptor specific for thrombin, has been identified as an essential component for protein C activation. Although protein C can be activated directly by the thrombin-TM complex, the conversion is known as a relatively low-affinity reaction. Therefore, protein C activation has been believed to occur only in microcirculation. On the other hand, we have identified and cloned a novel endothelial cell surface receptor (EPCR) that is capable of high-affinity binding of protein C and activated protein C. In this study, we demonstrate the constitutive, endothelial cell-specific expression of EPCR in vivo. Abundant expression was particularly detected in the aorta and large arteries. In vitro cultured, arterial endothelial cells were also found to express abundant EPCR and were capable of promoting significant levels of protein C activation. EPCR was found to greatly accelerate protein C activation by examining functional activity in transfected cell lines expressing EPCR and/or TM. EPCR decreased the dissociation constant and increased the maximum velocity for protein C activation mediated by the thrombin-TM complex. By these mechanisms, EPCR appears to enable significant levels of protein C activation in large vessels. These results suggest that the protein C anticoagulation pathway is important for the regulation of blood coagulation not only in microvessels but also in large vessels.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗