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Biomedical subjects

Makoto Kinoshita

Publications and source records attributed to Makoto Kinoshita.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Multiancestry genome-wide association and multiomics analyses elucidate spatiocellular features of multiple sclerosis genetics.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination disseminated in space and time. Here we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using 688 MS cases and 205,199 controls from the Japanese population and identified significant associations in the major histocompatibility complex region and a population-specific risk variant in 11q24. Through cross-population GWAS meta-analyses using a total of 29,374 cases and 1,843,563 controls from 4 ancestral populations, we identified 22 novel susceptibility loci. Integration of GWAS and single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and subcortical lesions from patients with MS revealed enrichment of genetic risk factors for MS in CD4+ T helper cell lineage and regulatory T cells, as well as in endothelial cells. Furthermore, spatial transcriptomics of subcortical lesions demonstrated spatial and temporal heterogeneity in associations with MS genetic risk. Our study demonstrates the value of investigation of spatiocellular features of disease genetics across diverse populations and omics modalities.

Humans↗

Phosphorylation of adult type Sept5 (CDCrel-1) by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 inhibits interaction with syntaxin-1.

Increasing evidence implicates cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) in neuronal synaptic function. We searched for Cdk5 substrates in synaptosomal fractions prepared from mouse brains. Mass spectrometric analysis after two-dimensional SDS-PAGE identified several synaptic proteins phosphorylated by Cdk5-p35; one protein identified was Sept5 (CDCrel-1). Although septins were isolated originally as cell division-related proteins in yeast, Sept5 is expressed predominantly in neurons and is implicated in exocytosis. We confirmed that Sept5 is phosphorylated by Cdk5-p35 in vitro and identified Ser17 of adult type Sept5 (Sept5_v1) as a major phosphorylation site. We found that Ser17 of Sept5_v1 is phosphorylated in mouse brains. Coimmunoprecipitation from synaptosomal fractions and glutathione S-transferase-syntaxin-1A pulldown assays of Sept5_v1 expressed in COS-7 cells showed that phosphorylation of Sept5_v1 by Cdk5-p35 decreases the binding to syntaxin-1. These results indicate that the interaction of Sept5 with syntaxin-1 is regulated by the phosphorylation of Sept5_v1 at Ser17 by Cdk5-p35.

Animals↗

Evaluating medical students' non-verbal communication during the objective structured clinical examination.

OBJECTIVES: Non-verbal communication (NVC) in medical encounters is an important method of exchanging information on emotional status and contextualising the meaning of verbal communication. This study aimed to assess the impact of medical students' NVC on interview evaluations by standardised patients (SPs). METHODS: A total of 89 medical interviews in an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) for post-clerkship medical students were analysed. All interviews were videotaped and evaluated on 10 non-verbal behaviour items. In addition, the quality of the interview content was rated by medical faculty on 5 items and the interview was rated by SPs on 5 items. The relationships between student NVC and SP evaluation were examined by multivariate regression analyses controlling for the quality of the interview content. RESULTS: Standardised patients were likely to give higher ratings when students faced them directly, used facilitative nodding when listening to their talk, looked at them equally when talking and listening, and spoke at a similar speed and voice volume to them. These effects of NVC remained significant after controlling for the quality of the interview content. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided evidence of specific non-verbal behaviours of doctors that may have additional impacts on the patient's perception of his or her visit, independently of the interview content. Education in basic NVC should be incorporated into medical education alongside verbal communication.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗

Diversity of septin scaffolds.

Septins are ubiquitous GTP-binding proteins generally regarded as cytoskeletal components. Higher-order septin assemblies represented by the yeast septin collar function as cytoskeleton, providing structural support and scaffolds for many cellular factors. In metazoans, however, typical higher-order septin assemblies are often less predominant than dispersed 'low-order' septin populations. Recent studies revealed that septin populations with no obvious structure that had previously escaped our attention serve as scaffolds for kinetochore motor proteins and as sequestering depots for microtubule regulators. Unlike classic cytoskeletal polymers, which form uniform, continuous networks, septin polymers, being diverse, discontinuous and relatively static, seem suited to form discrete scaffolds. Thus, the septin system might be redefined as discrete scaffolds that are conditionally united to behave like cytoskeleton.

Animals↗

Annular geometry in patients with chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation: three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND: Although animal studies showed that annular remodeling may be related to the pathogenesis of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (CIMR), little was known in humans. A better understanding of the precise 3D geometry of the mitral valvular-ventricular complex in CIMR is needed to devise a better surgical technique. The purpose of the study was to elucidate mitral annular geometry in patients with CIMR using cardiac MRI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients with previous inferior or posterior myocardial infarction were studied. With the 3D reconstruction of the mitral annulus and subvalvular apparatus from a series of longitudinal cine MRIs, end-systolic mitral annulus dimensions and 3D geometry were calculated. Patients were grouped by mitral regurgitation grade using echocardiography (> or =2+, n=15 versus < or =1+, n=23). Both septal-lateral and commissure-commissure mitral annular diameters were significantly greater in CIMR(+) patients (35+/-5 versus 30+/-4 mm, P=0.005; 46+/-6 versus 39+/-4 mm, P<0.001, respectively). The length of the fibrous annulus was significantly larger in CIMR(+) patients (28+/-3 versus 24+/-3 mm; P<0.001). The height of the annular "saddle horn" above a best-fit plane was lower in CIMR(+) patients (4.2+/-1.2 versus 6.0+/-1.8 mm; P=0.002), and the annular height to commissural width ratio was significantly lower in CIMR(+) patients (12+/-3 versus 21+/-5%; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CIMR had greater septal-lateral and commissure-commissure mitral annular dimension, larger intertrigonal distance, and flattened saddle shape of mitral annulus. These associated geometric alterations may be important in the pathogenesis of CIMR.

Adult↗

Mast cell tryptase in mast cell granules enhances MCP-1 and interleukin-8 production in human endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have highlighted the pathogenetic importance of chronic inflammation in cardiovascular disorders such as congestive heart failure and atherosclerosis. Mast cells release a wide variety of immune mediators that may initiate inflammatory responses, whereas endothelial cells (ECs) play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases by secreting cytokines. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of mast cells as an activator of ECs. METHODS AND RESULTS: ECs harvested from human umbilical cord veins were stimulated with mast cell granules (MCGs) prepared from sonicated human leukemic mast cells. The supernatants and total RNA from cells were collected. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor remained unchanged up to 24 hours. In contrast, levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and IL-8 increased significantly within 6 hours. Northern blot analysis revealed an increase in MCP-1 and IL-8 mRNA expression in MCG-treated ECs. Induction of these chemokines was attenuated by antitryptase neutralizing antibody. Furthermore, MCP-1 and IL-8 were induced in ECs by incubation with human mast cell tryptase, but not with chymase. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the production of MCP-1 and IL-8 in ECs was induced by MCG and amplified by tryptase.

Cells, Cultured↗

A mitotic septin scaffold required for Mammalian chromosome congression and segregation.

Coordination of cytokinesis with chromosome congression and segregation is critical for proper cell division, but the mechanism is unknown. Here, septins, a conserved family of polymerizing guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins, localized to the metaphase plate during mitosis. Septin depletion resulted in chromosome loss from the metaphase plate, lack of chromosome segregation and spindle elongation, and incomplete cytokinesis upon delayed mitotic exit. These defects correlated with loss of the mitotic motor and the checkpoint regulator centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E) from the kinetochores of congressing chromosomes. Mammalian septins may thus form a mitotic scaffold for CENP-E and other effectors to coordinate cytokinesis with chromosome congression and segregation.

Animals↗

Determination of apolipoprotein B-48 in serum by a sandwich ELISA.

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein B-48 (apoB-48) is produced by the small intestine, as a part of chylomicrons (CMs), and appears to be a suitable marker for clinical studies of postprandial lipoproteins and related cardiovascular risk factors. We have developed an assay for routine analysis to quantify apoB-48 in serum or plasma. METHODS: A microtiter plate was coated with monoclonal antibody (4C8) raised against apoB-48 C-terminal specific decapeptide. Serum samples were diluted 100-fold with 0.05 mol/l Tris-HCl buffer (with or without 0.1% Triton X-100). Appropriate calibration curves were obtained in the ELISA by using apoB-48 recombinant antigen. RESULTS: No cross-reactivity (<0.001%) was found with apoB-100, as verified by ELISA and Western blot analyses. Intra- and inter-assay CVs were 4.8% and 5.4%, respectively. Recovery of added recombinant apoB-48 in serum was within 94-105%. The assay linearity was intact >5-fold dilution of serum by dilution buffer. ApoB-48 levels in healthy controls (n=18) at fasting were within the range of 2.69-6.56 microg/ml (mean+/-S.D.: 4.60+/-1.54 microg/ml). In healthy subjects, serum apoB-48 concentrations markedly increased in the postprandial state, in parallel with serum triglycerides. CONCLUSION: This method for measuring apoB-48 using the monoclonal antibody 4C8 is simple, reliable and suitable for routine analyses.

Adult↗

Cortical organization by the septin cytoskeleton is essential for structural and mechanical integrity of mammalian spermatozoa.

Septins are polymerizing GTP binding proteins required for cortical organization during cytokinesis and other cellular processes. A mammalian septin gene Sept4 is expressed mainly in postmitotic neural cells and postmeiotic male germ cells. In mouse and human spermatozoa, SEPT4 and other septins are found in the annulus, a cortical ring which separates the middle and principal pieces. Sept4-/- male mice are sterile due to defective morphology and motility of the sperm flagellum. In Sept4 null spermatozoa, the annulus is replaced by a fragile segment lacking cortical material, beneath which kinesin-mediated intraflagellar transport stalls. The sterility is rescued by injection of sperm into oocytes, demonstrating that each Sept4 null spermatozoon carries an intact haploid genome. The annulus/septin ring is also disorganized in spermatozoa from a subset of human patients with asthenospermia syndrome. Thus, cortical organization based on circular assembly of the septin cytoskeleton is essential for the structural and mechanical integrity of mammalian spermatozoa.

Animals↗

Disruption of Sept6, a fusion partner gene of MLL, does not affect ontogeny, leukemogenesis induced by MLL-SEPT6, or phenotype induced by the loss of Sept4.

Septins are evolutionarily conserved GTP-binding proteins that can heteropolymerize into filaments. Recent studies have revealed that septins are involved in not only diverse normal cellular processes but also the pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer. SEPT6 is ubiquitously expressed in tissues and one of the fusion partner genes of MLL in the 11q23 translocations implicated in acute leukemia. However, the roles of this septin in vivo remain elusive. We have developed Sept6-deficient mice that exhibited neither gross abnormalities, changes in cytokinesis, nor spontaneous malignancy. Sept6 deficiency did not cause any quantitative changes in any of the septins evaluated in this study, nor did it cause any additional changes in the Sept4-deficient mice. Even the depletion of Sept11, a close homolog of Sept6, did not affect the Sept6-null cells in vitro, thus implying a high degree of redundancy in the septin system. Furthermore, a loss of Sept6 did not alter the phenotype of myeloproliferative disease induced by MLL-SEPT6, thus suggesting that Sept6 does not function as a tumor suppressor. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that a disruption of the translocation partner gene of MLL in 11q23 translocation does not contribute to leukemogenesis by the MLL fusion gene.

Animals↗

Endomucin, a sialomucin expressed in high endothelial venules, supports L-selectin-mediated rolling.

Lymphocyte homing to lymph nodes is regulated by transient but specific interactions between lymphocytes and high endothelial venules (HEVs), the initial phase of which is mainly governed by the leukocyte adhesion molecule L-selectin, which recognizes sulfated and sialylated O-linked oligosaccharides displayed on sialomucin core proteins. One of the sialomucin proteins, endomucin, is predominantly expressed in vascular endothelial cells of a variety of tissues including the HEVs of lymph nodes; however, whether it functions as a ligand for L-selectin remains to be formally proven. Here we show that the endomucin splice isoform a is predominantly expressed in PNAd+ HEVs and MAdCAM-1+ HEVs, as seen in non-HEV-type vascular endothelial cells. Using affinity purification with soluble L-selectin, we found that HEV endomucin is specifically modified with L-selectin-reactive oligosaccharides and can bind L-selectin as well as an HEV-specific mAb, MECA-79. Our results also indicated that a 90-100 kDa endomucin species is preferentially decorated with L-selectin-reactive sugar chains, whereas an 80 kDa species represents conventional forms expressed in non-HEV-type vascular endothelial cells in lymph nodes. Furthermore, a CHO cell line expressing endomucin together with a specific combination of carbohydrate-modifying enzymes [core-2 beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (C2GnT), alpha-1,3-fucosyltransferase VII (FucTVII) and L-selectin ligand sulfotransferase (LSST)] showed L-selectin-dependent rolling under flow conditions in vitro. These results suggest that when endomucin is appropriately modified by a specific set of glycosyltransferases and a sulfotransferase, it can function as a ligand for L-selectin, and that the endomucin expressed in HEVs may represent another sialomucin ligand for L-selectin.

Animals↗

Scavenger receptor type BI potentiates reverse cholesterol transport system by removing cholesterol ester from HDL.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) plays an important role in reverse cholesterol transport by removing accumulated cholesterol from extrahepatic tissues. Subsequently, cholesterol ester (CE) on HDL in humans is transported to apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins by cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). CETP deficiency, which is common in the Japanese population, leads to a marked increase in HDL-cholesterol levels due to impaired CE transport from HDL to LDL. It has been reported that the HDL observed in CETP deficiency is an atherogenic lipoprotein, as it contains a large amount of CE. Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) has been found to be an authentic HDL receptor that mediates the selective uptake of HDL CE and the bi-directional transfer of free cholesterol between HDL and cells. In the present study, the interaction between SR-BI and CE-rich HDL from CETP-deficient patient was studied in order to evaluate the anti-atherosclerotic role of SR-BI in relation to CE uptake and reverse cholesterol transport. When CE-rich HDL was added to the medium of SR-BI-transfected CHO (SR-BI CHO) cells, more CE accumulated in SR-BI CHO cells compared to control HDL. In contrast, the amount of cholesterol efflux from SR-BI CHO cells into HDL was almost the same between the two HDLs. Therefore, when CE-rich HDL was added to the medium of SR-BI CHO cells, the intracellular CE content increased significantly. Moreover, the particle size of HDL in CETP-deficient patient decreased significantly when the HDL was added to the medium of SR-BI CHO cells, and this HDL showed an increment of CE efflux from foam cells. These results indicate that SR-BI reduces the cholesterol content and size of the CE-rich HDL from CETP deficiency, which ultimately activate reverse cholesterol transport system.

Animals↗

Enhanced susceptibility of LDL to oxidative modification in a CTX patient:- role of chenodeoxycholic acid in xanthoma formation.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare familial sterol storage disease, causing multiple xanthomas in tendons and the brain. The underlying biochemical defect is a lack of the hepatic mitochondrial cholesterol 27-hydroxylase involved in the normal biosynthesis of bile acid, resulting in reduced biosynthesis of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). It has been reported that administration of CDCA to CTX patients improves neurological disorders and xanthomas of the Achilles tendon. The present study investigated the effect of CDCA on the mechanism of cholesterol accumulation in macrophages, the major cells in xanthoma. The LDL from the patients in this study was significantly more susceptible to oxidative modification than normal LDL, and supplement therapy with CDCA resulted in an improvement in the susceptibility to oxidative modification. In the incubation of CDCA with plasma, 13% of the CDCA added to serum was recovered in the LDL fraction. In addition, supplementation with CDCA enhanced cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity and reduced high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the plasma. This evidence suggests that the multiple xanthomas observed in CTX may be induced by increased oxidized LDL and the low activity of CETP, both of which are caused by a lack of CDCA.

Carrier Proteins↗