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Biomedical subjects

M Obinata

Publications and source records attributed to M Obinata.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Decreased expression of neurotrophin-3 mRNA in the rat hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia.

The expression profile of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) mRNA in the rat hippocampus after forebrain ischemia was investigated by Northern blot and S1 nuclease protection analyses. The NT-3 transcripts in the hippocampus immediately decreased after ischemic insult, became undetectable within 3 h and remained at undetectable levels for at least 7 days. In contrast, the expression of c-fos and c-jun mRNA transiently increased both in the cerebral cortex and in the hippocampus. These results suggest that brain ischemia triggers dynamic changes in gene expression including a neurotrophic factor, which may cause functional and/or morphological changes of the neuronal network.

Animals

c-Myc interferes with the commitment to differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells at a reversible point.

When murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells, containing the transferred rat c-myc gene under the control of human metallothionein II gene promoter, are induced to differentiate with dimethyl sulfoxide, the level of differentiation is dependent on the c-Myc level, which is modulated by the addition of Zn ions. In this work, we examined the point of inhibition of differentiation by elevated levels of c-Myc in one (clone 38-2) of the typical transformants. Commitment assay indicated that elevated levels of c-Myc interfere with entry of the transformant into the commitment event, but when c-myc expression was reduced by removing Zn ions from the medium, the cells could reenter the commitment program. However, once the cells were committed, such cells could not return to the uncommitted state. In addition, time-dependent expression of two erythroid specific genes was inhibited by elevated levels of c-Myc in time-dependent manner. These results suggest that c-Myc modulates MEL cell differentiation at a reversible point of commitment.

Animals

Identification of type I collagen-producing cells in human gastrointestinal carcinomas by non-radioactive in situ hybridization and immunoelectron microscopy.

Invasive growth of cancer cells induces desmoplastic reaction as one of the host reactions. It has been a matter of controversy whether stromal collagen is produced by cancer cells or stromal fibroblasts. In the present study, we investigated the cellular origin of Type I collagen in human gastrointestinal carcinomas by in situ hybridization and immunoelectron microscopy. In situ hybridization technique with digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes revealed that spindle-shaped fibroblasts in the stromal area were abundantly positive for transcripts of pro alpha 1(I) collagen in intestinal-type adenocarcinoma. Gland-forming carcinoma cells were negative. In diffuse-type carcinoma of the stomach, spindle-shaped or stellate fibroblasts were positive, whereas dissociated, oval carcinoma cells were negative. A precise determination of cell type was done by immunoelectron microscopy. Intracellular immunoreactivity for Type I collagen was observed in rough endoplasmic reticulum of fibroblasts (including myofibroblasts) in the stromal area. No definite reactivity was obtained in cancer cells by either in situ hybridization or immunoelectron microscopy. Our results indicated that stromal Type I collagen is produced by stromal fibroblasts, which are activated by cancer invasion.

Adenocarcinoma

Combined action of c-kit and erythropoietin on erythroid progenitor cells.

Mutations at the murine dominant-white spotting locus (W) (c-kit) affect various aspects of hematopoiesis. We have made antibodies against c-Kit with the synthetic peptides deduced from the murine c-kit gene and examined the role of c-Kit in erythropoiesis. The antibody inhibited the stromal cell-dependent large colony formation of the erythroid progenitors. In the culture of erythropoietin-responsive erythroid progenitors of the anemia-inducing Friend virus-infected mouse spleen, the antibody inhibited only proliferation, but not differentiation of the progenitor cells. The inhibition was effective only at the early phase (within 6 hours after erythropoietin addition) before the cells start to proliferate induced by erythropoietin. During the early phase, erythropoietin down-regulated c-kit gene expression. These results suggest a mechanism of combined action of c-Kit with erythropoietin on the lineage-restricted erythroid progenitor cells.

Animals

Role of c-Myc on erythroid differentiation.

In the early event of the induction of mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cell differentiation, c-myc mRNA levels show a biphasic change. The elevated expression of a transfected c-myc gene inhibits the commitment and differentiation of MEL cell transformants. In the present work, we have introduced human c-myc mutants into MEL cells under the inducible promoter to define the functional domains of c-Myc involved in erythroid differentiation. The c-Myc domains necessary for commitment and differentiation are not colocalized; almost entire regions are required for inhibition of commitment, whereas domains II and IV that are essential for co-transforming activity with ras are required for inhibition of differentiation. Interestingly, mutants that delete domains for c-Myc dimerization motifs enhanced differentiation. Thus, c-Myc interferes with MEL cell differentiation by interacting with c-Myc partners and the induced protein(s) through dimerization domains. These results suggest that c-Myc may regulate commitment and differentiation by interacting with proteins through different domains.

Animals

Support of early B-cell differentiation in mouse fetal liver by stromal cells and interleukin-7.

We compared the development of B-cell progenitors with that of myeloid progenitors in fetal liver cells at various gestational ages. Day 12 to 14 fetal liver cells did not form pre-B-cell colonies. Pre-B-cell colonies were developed from day 15 fetal liver cells. The incidence of colonies increased with increases in gestational age and reached a maximum on days 18 to 19. In contrast, the incidence of myeloid colonies formed in the presence of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and erythropoietin did not change significantly during days 13 to 21 of gestation. After coculturing day 13 fetal liver cells with IL-7-producing stromal cell line ST-2, they could respond to IL-7 and proliferate. Analysis of the phenotypes showed that day 13 fetal liver cells were B220-, IgM-, while culturing day 13 fetal liver cells with ST-2 and untreated day 18 fetal liver cells contained the population of B220+ cells. Even in the presence of IL-7-defective stromal cell line FLS-3, IL-7-responsive cells could be induced from day 13 fetal liver cells. IL-7 acted on B220+ cells and induced pre-B-cell colonies that contained IgM+ cells in the methylcellulose culture. IL-7 mRNA was expressed in days 13 and 18 fetal liver cells but not in pre-B cells or adult liver cells. From these findings, it is suggested that stromal cells or stromal-derived factors but not IL-7 were required for the differentiation from B220- cells to B220+ cells. In the second stage, B220+, IgM- cells proliferated and some of them differentiated to IgM+ cells in the presence of IL-7 alone. The two-step model can apply to in vivo early B lymphopoiesis.

Animals

Continued blood cell formation in spherical bodies in a long-term mouse spleen culture.

During the primary culture of spleen fragments of newborn mice, a spherical body (d = circa 200 to 300 microns) as a three-dimensional cellular organization was formed. Continued production of blood cells from the spherical body was observed without changing its size for about 2 months of culture. Without growth factor, the spherical bodies produced mainly lymphocytes and macrophages. Addition of interleukin-3 enhanced their granulocyte formation, and this enhancement was observed even after a prolonged maintenance without growth factors. The spherical bodies were composed of a uniform mixture of endothelial cells and fibroblasts within the body, and cell-cell contacts between lymphocytes and fibroblasts were notable in the periphery. With prolonged culture, the spherical bodies showed a definite change in their structure by sorting two cell types and the blood cell production gradually decreased. These results suggested that a three-dimensional structure was required for the maintenance, growth, and differentiation of blood cell progenitors in the long-term spleen culture.

Animals

Hepatocyte cell lines established from transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene.

To establish cell lines exhibiting differentiation phenotypes, the immortalized cell lines were rapidly established from the primary culture of different tissues of transgenic mice harboring SV40 temperature-sensitive large T-antigen gene. The established cell lines grew at permissive temperature (33 degrees C), but not at nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C). Several different cell types could be rapidly immortalized and cloned from the adult transgenic mice tissues. Among those cell lines, the established hepatocyte cell lines (TLR cell lines) exhibited liver-specific morphological and biochemical properties, but their properties were not coupled with the growth condition modified by temperature. The hepatocyte cell lines showed an inducibility of P450IA1 by 3-methylcholanthrene as observed in rat livers and this liver-specific function was stable even after 6 months of culture by continuous passages.

Animals

A tubule cell line established from transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene.

Immortalization of cell lines with specific functions is important for examination of organ-specific functions in vitro. We established a kidney tubule cell line (TKC2) exhibiting a specific physiological response to hormone from the primary culture of kidneys of adult transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive SV40 large T-antigen gene. TKC2 cells showed temperature-sensitive growth in culture and exhibited characters of distal tubule cells such as dome formation at confluent culture and stimulation of cAMP synthesis by arginine vasopressin. These phenotypes are maintained after long passages in culture and may provide a new experimental system for studying renal physiology.

Animals

Overexpression of c-Myc inhibits the appearance of a specific DNase I hypersensitive site in the beta-globin chromatin in murine erythroleukemia cells.

To investigate the molecular mechanism of regulation of differentiation by c-Myc, we examined the acquisition of DNase I hypersensitivity by beta-globin chromatin in an MEL cell transformant (38-2) in which the c-myc gene was placed under the control of a metallothionein gene promoter. Of the three DNase I hypersensitive sites around the beta-globin gene which were detected in MEL cells after DMSO treatment, the appearance of a specific DNase I hypersensitive site near the promoter was greatly reduced by the overexpression of c-Myc. This result suggests that c-Myc regulates beta-globin expression by interfering with the establishment of an active chromatin conformation around the beta-globin gene.

Animals

Functional characterization of SV40-transformed adherent synovial cells from rheumatoid arthritis.

A total of 14 transformed cell clones were obtained by micro-injecting origin-defective SV40 DNA into three types of cloned adherent synovial cells (ASC) (dendritic cells (DCs), macrophage-like cells (MCs), and fibroblast-like cells (FCs)) from two rheumatoid arthritis patients (five DC clones (SV40-DCs), five MC clones (SV40-MCs) and four FC clones (SV40-FCs)). All the transformed cell nuclei expressed SV40-specific T antigen. The cells which formed a colony had a few times shorter doubling time than the original cells. IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and prostaglandin E2 were detected in the culture supernatant from the unstimulated transformed cells like untransformed cells. The SV40-DCs showed the most potent accessory cell function in oxidative mitogenesis assay among the three types of SV40-ASCs. Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulatory factor (GM-CSF) was detected only in the culture supernatant from the SV40-MCs without stimulation. Extensive phenotypic analysis revealed relatively cell-specific markers. SV40-DCs were HLA-DP+ and glial fibrillary acidic protein positive. SV40-MCs stained positive for 5'-nucleotidase and nonspecific esterase. These transformed ASCs retained much of the original cellular physiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ASCs and may be a useful tool for characterizing the role of ASCs in the pathogenesis of RA.

Adult

Endothelial cells create a hematopoietic inductive microenvironment preferential to erythropoiesis in the mouse spleen.

The spleen is an erythropoietic organ in mouse. To reconstruct a microenvironment essential for erythropoiesis in vitro, the stroma (MSS31) cell line had been established from a newborn mouse spleens. MSS31 cells exhibited properties of endothelial cells: (a) the cells showed the activity to uptake acetylated low-density lipoprotein (Ac-LDL) and (b) the cells can form a capillarylike structure by a phenotypic modulation in collagen matrices. MSS31 cells selectively supported the proliferation and differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells by direct cell-to-cell contact in a semisolid medium in the presence of erythropoietin. These layers also supported erythrocyte maturation and enucleation of erythroblasts. This suggests that spleen endothelial cells are a new type of stromal cell with erythropoietic stimulation activity and may have a critical function in the hemopoietic inductive microenvironment of the mouse spleen.

Animals

Antisense RNA of the latent period gene (MER5) inhibits the differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells.

The MER5 cDNA was cloned from RNA preferentially synthesized in murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells during the early period of MEL cell differentiation. To understand the role of the MER5 gene in the differentiation, we have transferred the MER5 cDNA into MEL cells in both sense and antisense orientations under control of the promoter of the human metallothionein gene. Only in the transformants with the antisense MER5 cDNA, did their elevated expression inhibit differentiation. The result suggests that the MER5 gene product may promote early events in the differentiation of MEL cells.

Amino Acid Sequence

Microenvironment created by stromal cells is essential for a rapid expansion of erythroid cells in mouse fetal liver.

Mouse stromal cell lines (FLS lines), established from the livers of 13-day gestation mouse fetus, supported the proliferation and differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells from mouse fetal livers and bone marrow in a semisolid medium in the presence of erythropoietin. A large erythroid colony of over 1000 benzidine-positive erythroid cells was developed from a single erythroid progenitor cell on the FLS cell layer after 4 days of culture. When in close contact with the layer, the erythroid progenitor cells divided rapidly with an average generation time of 9.6 h and mature erythroid cells, including enucleated erythrocytes, were produced. The present studies demonstrate that the microenvironment created by the stromal cells can support the rapid expansion of erythropoietic cell population in the fetal liver of mice.

Animals

Spleen stromal cell lines selectively support erythroid colony formation.

Mouse stromal cell lines (MSS lines) have been established from the spleens of newborn mice in culture at a low serum concentration. These MSS lines support the proliferation and differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells from mouse fetal livers and bone marrow in a semisolid medium in the presence of erythropoietin. Larger colonies of over 1,000 benzidine-positive erythroid cells were developed from the fetal liver cells on the MSS cell layers after 6 days of incubation. These layers also support the maturation of the erythroid cells since the enucleation process of the latter was observed in large erythroid colonies. Metabolically active MSS cells are apparently required to support the proliferation and differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells, because neither the MSS cells inactivated with fixation nor the conditioned media of MSS cells promoted the erythroid colony formation. These studies demonstrate that MSS lines specifically support the proliferation and differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells in vitro and that stroma cells may have a critical function in blood formation in the mouse spleen.

Animals

Cloning of a housekeeping-type gene (MER5) preferentially expressed in murine erythroleukemia cells.

DNA complementary to mRNA preferentially produced in murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells was cloned from a cDNA library of anemic mouse spleen mRNAs. An open reading frame was noted in the cloned DNA, and was tentatively designated MER5. The MER5 mRNA is abundant in three MEL cell lines, but less in other tissues or cell lines. The levels of the MER5 mRNA changed periodically during MEL cell differentiation and decreased as globin mRNA accumulated. The MER5 promoter region contained no typical TATA-like sequence, but possible target sequences for AP1, AP2, SP1 and octamer-binding protein. More interestingly, this promoter contained the duplicated CACCC boxes, which are common in the adult beta-globin promoter from many species, but uncommon for promoters of other eukaryotic genes.

Amino Acid Sequence