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Biomedical subjects

M Miyazaki

Publications and source records attributed to M Miyazaki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Activation of human multidrug resistance-1 gene promoter in response to heat shock stress.

The multidrug resistance (MDR1) gene encodes a P-glycoprotein, which catalyzes the energy-dependent efflux of anticancer agents. Various environmental stresses including heat shock can induce the expression of endogenous MDR1 genes. In order to study the regulatory mechanisms of MDR1 gene expression, we have established human cancer KB cell lines which could stably integrate bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene driven by various lengths of the MDR1 promoter. Kst-6 has an integrated plasmid, pMDRCAT1, containing the human MDR1 promoter of -2 kilobases. The MDR1 gene promoter contains a typical heat shock element (HSE) motif located -152 bp to -178 bp from the initiation site. Heat shock at 45 degrees C for 90 min significantly induced CAT activity in Kst-6 cells. Northern blot analysis showed a 4-5 fold increase in CAT mRNA levels in Kst-6 cells. Deletion analysis of the MDR1 promoter demonstrated that the induction of CAT activity was observed in Kxh-14 cells containing a HSE-deleted MDR1 promoter construct, pMDRCAT7. However, further deletion analysis showed that heat shock could not induce CAT activity in Khp-1 cells containing -76 approximately +121 base sequence of the promoter, suggesting that a new heat shock responsible element was located at between -136 and -76. Gel shift assay showed that the heat shock factor (HSF) could bind to the HSE motif located at -152 bp to -178 bp in the MDR1 promoter. We also found that one distinct DNA-protein complex formed specifically within the MDR1 promoter region -99 to -66 was not significantly increased, but relatively more stabilized under mild denaturing condition in the nuclear extract of heat-shocked cells. In our present assay system, activation of the MDR1 promoter in response to heat shock appears to be mediated through both a new heat shock responsive element and MDR1 specific transcription factor.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem

Rapid analysis of human serum albumin by high-performance liquid chromatography.

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of human serum albumin, using a column containing quaternized dimethyl-aminomethylstyrene-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, was performed by isocratic elution. This column afforded resolution of albumin components, such as human mercaptalbumin and human nonmercaptalbumin. The method is an alternative to gradient chromatography, and allows rapid determination of the albumin components.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

Biliary cystadenocarcinoma of the liver. A clinicopathologic and histochemical evaluation of nine cases.

Nine cases of biliary cystadenocarcinoma of the liver were studied, with emphasis on its clinicopathologic features, mucin profiles, and immunohistochemical characteristics. In general, the cystic tumors had protrusions that consisted of well-differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma cells with or without benign-appearing epithelial elements. In invading or metastatic foci, the carcinoma cells tended to show distinctive anaplastic changes. Tumor growth was confined to the cystic lesions in five cases (noninvasive type), whereas in four cases it extended to the hepatic parenchyma or neighboring organs (invasive type). There was a considerable difference between the two groups in terms of prognosis. In fact, the patients included in the group with the noninvasive type had no sign of tumor recurrence after an appropriate surgical procedure. With mucin histochemical and immunohistochemical approaches, positive reactions with carcinoembryonic antigen, tissue polypeptide antigen, carbohydrate 19-9, and Dupan-2 and the predominance of sialomucin were observed in most cases of biliary cystadenocarcinoma, indicating a similar cellular nature of cholangiocarcinoma.

Adenoma, Bile Duct

The human multidrug resistance 1 promoter has an element that responds to serum starvation.

We have previously demonstrated in transient expression assay systems that a human multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) promoter can be directly activated by cytotoxic anticancer agents. In this study, we examined whether the MDR1 promoter could be regulated in response to growth arrest induced by serum starvation. We have established human and rodent cell lines which stably expressed the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene driven by various lengths of the MDR1, the viral thymidine kinase (TK) and the simian virus 40 (SV40) promoters. Serum starvation caused enhanced expression of CAT gene with MDR1 promoter, but not with two viral gene promoters in human cancer KB cells. Hydroxyurea activated the MDR1 promoter, but not TK and SV40 promoters. By contrast, the DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor, etoposide, equally activated the MDR1, TK and SV 40 promoters. Increased CAT gene expression by serum starvation was also specifically observed in stable transfectants of human adrenal SW-13 cell lines, but not in stable transfectants of mouse fibroblast NIH3T3 and adrenal Y-1 cell lines when the human MDR1 promoter-CAT was introduced. Etoposide, however, effectively induced CAT activity in both human and rodent cells. Assays with deletion constructs of the MDR1 promoter showed that serum starvation activated the MDR1 promoter carrying -258 approximately +121 base sequence of the promoter, but not -198 approximately +121 of the promoter. These results suggest that the expression of the MDR1 gene induced by serum starvation is regulated at the transcriptional level in a promoter sequence-specific manner in human cells.

Animals

Malignant transformation of human fibroblasts previously immortalized with 60Co gamma rays.

Normal human fibroblasts obtained from a whole embryo were malignantly transformed with only 60Co gamma rays, but after extensive passage. The fibroblasts were exposed intermittently to 60Co gamma rays, 13 times, 2,800 rads in total, from the primary culture to the 40th passage level. At the 50th passage level the cells became morphologically changed, showing chromosomal abnormalities, and serial passages showed them to be immortalized. They were not tumorigenic on transplantation into nude mice, but became malignant after extensive passage; i.e., at the 547th passage level and 2,800 days after initiation of the culture. Our results indicate that several different genotypic changes are necessary for malignant transformation of human cells over long periods. No mutation at codons 12 and 61 of H-, K- and N-ras was detected in the malignant cells. Thus, this system may be useful to detect other cellular genes that may contribute to the malignant phenotypes of human fibroblasts.

Base Sequence

Effects of barbiturates with or without liver-tumor-promoting activity on survival and DNA synthesis of suckling and adult rat hepatocytes in serum-free primary culture.

The effects of four barbiturates with or without liver-tumor-promoting activity were examined on survival and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis of suckling and adult rat hepatocytes in serum-free primary culture: Of the four barbiturates, two promoters, phenobarbital and barbital, enhanced DNA synthesis of suckling rat hepatocytes at low concentrations of 0.5-2 mM or 0.5 mM, but suppressed it at high concentrations of 3 mM or 1.5-4 mM. DNA synthesis of adult rat hepatocytes was, however, only suppressed by phenobarbital within the dose range tested of 1-3 mM. On the other hand, two remaining non-promoters, barbituric acid and amobarbital, did not increase but only suppressed DNA synthesis of suckling rat hepatocytes within the dose ranges of 0.5-4 mM and 0.05-0.5 mM respectively. Phenobarbital and amobarbital were effective for supporting survival and maintaining morphological features of suckling and adult rat hepatocytes at the relatively high concentrations of 3-4 mM and 0.5-0.75 mM respectively. However, barbital and barbituric acid were ineffective for maintenance of hepatocytes. The results show that the ability to support survival of primary cultured hepatocytes is not a common property of liver-tumor-promoter barbiturates but is a common property of some barbiturates with high lipophilicity, and that the maintenance of hepatocytes by phenobarbital or amobarbital is not due to a counterbalance of stimulated proliferation and death of the cells.

Aging

Increase of S-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)glutathione in regenerating rat liver.

Changes in the level of S-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)glutathione (DCE-GS) with time were determined during regeneration of rat liver after partial hepatectomy. The DCE-GS level increased in regenerating rat liver, reaching a maximum level (4.7-fold) on day 2 and reverted to the normal level in 1 week. During the liver regeneration process, the activity of DCE-GS-synthesizing enzyme in the liver retained its control level, while the level of glutathione--a substrate of the enzyme in the liver--fluctuated in parallel with that of DCE-GS.

Animals

Effects of intracellular cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels on DNA synthesis of young-adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture.

Possible roles of dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and dibutyryl-guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) in regulation of hepatocyte DNA synthesis were examined using primary cultures of young-adult rat hepatocytes maintained in arginine-free medium. Throughout the experimental period, nonparenchymal cells were hardly observed in the selective medium. When epidermal growth factor (EGF) was added to the cultures, a transient increase in the intracellular cAMP level preceded the elevation of hepatocyte DNA synthesis. EGF-stimulated hepatocyte DNA synthesis was remarkably enhanced by the elevation of the intracellular cAMP level induced by treatment with cAMP alone or a combination of cAMP and theophylline, an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Furthermore, the early elevation of intracellular cAMP alone, which was induced by treatment with the combination of cAMP and theophylline, caused a remarkable increase in hepatocyte DNA synthesis. On the other hand, addition of EGF to the cultures caused a rapid decrease in the intracellular cGMP level followed by an increase in hepatocyte DNA synthesis. EGF-stimulated hepatocyte DNA synthesis was severely suppressed or completely inhibited by the elevation of the intracellular cGMP level induced by treatment with cGMP alone or a combination of cGMP and dipyridamole, a specific inhibitor of cGMP phosphodiesterase. These findings indicate that cAMP and cGMP act oppositely on the regulation of DNA synthesis of young-adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture: cAMP plays a positive role, whereas cGMP plays a negative role. Also it is strongly suggested that an early elevation of the intracellular cAMP level is essential for the onset of DNA synthesis in hepatocyte primary cultures.

Age Factors

Nephrectomy and a newly identified binding site for angiotensin II in the rat adrenal cortex.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) binding sites in adrenal glands of nephrectomized rats were investigated by in vitro autoradiography using 125I-[Sar1,Ile8]Ang II as ligands. Ang II binding site was increased to 161% in the cortex and decreased to 67% in the medulla 48 h after nephrectomy. In the medulla, the AT2 antagonist (PD123177, 5 microM) inhibited specific binding by 90% whereas the AT1 antagonist (DuP753, 5 microM) inhibited by only 10%. In contrast, in the cortex, neither DuP753 (5 microM) nor PD123177 (5 microM) substantially inhibited the binding. Binding in the presence of either the AT1 or AT2 antagonist was abolished by the simultaneous presence of both antagonists. These results suggest the presence of a new Ang II binding site with unique pharmacological properties and differing from currently known subtypes of Ang II receptors, in the adrenal cortex after nephrectomy.

Adrenal Cortex

Human hepatocyte growth factor stimulates the growth of HUH-6 clone 5 human hepatoblastoma cells.

The effects of human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF), a potent mitogen for rat and human hepatocytes in primary culture, on proliferation of human hepatoma and hepatoblastoma cells were examined. Out of five cell lines; HLE, HuH-6 clone 5, HuH-7, PLC/PRF/5, and Hep G2, only HuH-6 Clone 5 cells were stimulated by recombinant hHGF. Both native and recombinant hHGFs caused dose-dependent increases in cell number and DNA synthesis of cells. This stimulation was strongly inhibited by anti-hHGF monoclonal antibody.

Animals

Reduced brainstem size in children with autism.

Recently, structural brain abnormalities as well as functional abnormalities of the brainstem have been reported in autistic children. The authors undertook an analytic study of the brainstem in autistic children by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI scans of 29 autistic children were compared with 15 control MRI scans. The autistic children were divided into two groups according to DQ (IQ) level: the DQ (IQ) greater than or equal to 80 group and the DQ (IQ) less than 80 group. The midbrain and pons were measured, and the ratio of the midbrain and pons sizes versus the cranium size were calculated. The brainstem size was found to be significantly smaller in the autistic group. In particular, the reduction in brainstem size tended to be greater in the low DQ (IQ) group when compared with the high DQ (IQ) one, though there was no significant difference (p less than 0.1). This suggests that the brainstem is anatomically altered in autistic children.

Autistic Disorder

Occipital deep white matter hyperintensity as seen by MRI: 1. Clinical significance.

Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 270 patients with various neurologic complaints (1-15Y) with a 0.5 tesla superconducting imaging system using a field echo T1-weighted sequence and spin echo T2-weighted and PD-weighted sequences. Twenty-seven of them had deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) in the occipital lobe on T2-weighted images. The frequency of mild DWMH differed in different age groups, suggesting that mild DWMH may result from delayed myelination in the central nervous system. However, the frequency of severe DWMH, which was revealed as isointense relative to cerebrospinal fluid, did not differ in different age groups and it was significantly more common in severely retarded patients. Classification of DWMH based on the signal intensity is valuable to distinguish white matter abnormalities in the occipital lobe from delayed myelination in the same site.

Adolescent

Electrophysiological study on hydranencephaly.

An electrophysiological study was performed on 2 children with hydranencephaly diagnosed by CT and/or MRI. Case 1 was a 4-month-old boy who had no rostral tissues above the midbrain. Case 2 was a 5-year-old boy in whom CT showed retention of the thalamus. Short latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) in both cases exhibited the absence of cortical activity (N1 and P4) with the preservation of waves of brain stem origin. However, in case 1, wave component No was not observed, while No was seen in case 2. It was postulated, thus, that the No component of SSEP on median nerve stimulation in children, which corresponds to N16 in adults, may originate in the thalamus.

Child, Preschool

Event-related potential studies in infants and children.

The current status of event-related potentials (ERPs) in infants and children is discussed based on a review of the relevant literature. Although the N100-P200 component evoked by tone stimuli is clearly detected using an odd-ball paradigm in children over approximately 6 years of age, that component evoked by speech stimuli is not clearly detected until at least 10 years of age. In contrast to the adult N100-P200 component evoked by speech stimuli, infants and young children show a positivity at a latency of about 85-120 ms and a negativity at about 200-240 ms. The definition of P300 in children has not yet been established. P300 latency evoked by both auditory and visual stimuli decreases throughout childhood and reaches the mature value by puberty or young adulthood. However, P300s elicited by auditory and visual stimuli show different developmental time courses from each other, suggesting that they may originate from different neural generators. The Nc component is elicited by a variety of attention-getting events in infants and children. Interestingly, the developmental change in the Nc amplitude parallels the maturational course of synaptogenesis in the frontal cortex, and the Nc latency reaches the mature value at the time when myelinogenesis is complete in the nonspecific thalamic radiation.

Arousal

Altered production of IgE and IgA induced by IL-4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with IgA nephropathy.

In order to elucidate the factors responsible for altered immunoglobulin production in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the in vitro effects of IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the synthesis of IgE and IgA by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were studied. Spontaneous IgE and IgA synthesis by PBMC was significantly increased in patients with IgA nephropathy compared with controls. The maximum amounts of IgA and IgE synthesis by PBMC after stimulation with IL-4 were almost the same both in patients with IgAN and in controls. The enhancement rate of IL-4-induced IgE and IgA synthesis was significantly lower in IgAN than in the controls, suggesting in vivo preactivation of PBMC in IgAN patients. IFN-gamma suppressed IgA and IgE synthesis by PBMC from IgAN patients as well as controls. However, the suppressive effect on IgE synthesis was less prominent in patients with IgAN. These results suggested that altered IL-4 action might be involved in the development of IgA nephropathy.

Adolescent

Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain structures in the posterior fossa in retarded autistic children.

Midsagittal magnetic resonance images of the brains of retarded autistic children were compared to those of non-autistic mental retardation patients and controls. We found that the whole brain stem and particularly two of its components (the midbrain and medulla oblongata) were significantly smaller in retarded autistic children and mental retardation cases than in control children. The pons area was significantly smaller in mental retardation cases as compared to control children but did not differ between autistic and control children. Moreover, there was no difference in the brain stem between retarded autistic children and mental retardation cases. We also noted no difference in the cerebellar vermis area among retarded autistic children, mental retardation cases and control children. The ratio of the midbrain to posterior fossa area was significantly smaller only in autistic patients. Although the significance of these results is unknown, further examination of autistic children with a normal IQ is necessary.

Autistic Disorder

Effects of proteolytic enzyme inhibitors as absorption enhancers on the transdermal iontophoretic delivery of calcitonin in rats.

The effects of proteolytic enzyme inhibitors, aprotinin, soybean trypsin inhibitor and camostat mesilate as absorption enhancers on the transdermal iontophoretic delivery of salmon calcitonin (SCT) have been examined in rats. The dermal absorption of SCT was evaluated with hypocalcaemic effect. Application of SCT (12.5 int. units/rat) onto abdominal skin did not produce any hypocalcaemic effect. This produced a small hypocalcaemic effect with cationic iontophoresis (drug phase, anode; reference phase, cathode; high frequency pulses of 1 V at 10 kHz, 2h). Furthermore, camostat mesilate (1 mM) and aprotinin (10(6) int. units mL-1) enhanced the hypocalcaemic effects on the application of SCT with iontophoresis. These hypocalcaemic effects were highest with the pH 4.0 preparation compared with those of the pH 5.5, pH 7.0 and pH 8.0 preparations. However, soybean trypsin inhibitor did not change the hypocalcaemic effects. This was because the soybean trypsin inhibitor is a relatively high molecular weight peptide (mol. wt 8000) and an anion at used pH, and therefore was not absorbed through rat skins with cation iontophoresis.

Absorption