PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Masaki Takiguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Masaki Takiguchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Serum anti-myomegalin antibodies in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

In order to identify new serum markers of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), we performed serological identification of antigens by recombinant cDNA expression cloning (SEREX). E. coli was transformed with a lambdaZAPII phage cDNA library prepared from mRNA of an esophageal cancer cell line (T.Tn), and IPTG-induced cDNA products were screened for interaction with antibodies in allogeneic sera of patients with esophageal SCC. We identified myomegalin (MMGL, phosphodiesterase 4D interacting protein/PDE4DIP) as a new SEREX antigen for esophageal SCC. Western blot analysis revealed that serum anti-myomegalin antibodies (s-MMGL-Abs) were present in 43 (47%) of 91 patients, but in only one (2.2%) of 45 healthy controls. Of the 21 patients with stage I disease, 8 (38%) were sero-positive. The positive rate of s-MMGL-Abs was greater than those of other conventional tumor markers. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis suggested that alternative splicing from myomegalin variant 1 to variant 5 may explain, in part, the development of s-MMGL-Abs. Although the presence of s-MMGL-Abs was not related to any clinicopathological features of the patients, multivariate analysis indicated that the presence of s-MMGL-Abs was significantly associated with a favorable prognosis. Consequently, s-MMGL-Abs may be a useful tumor marker to diagnose and establish a prognosis in patients with esophageal SCC.

Aged↗

Up-regulation of genes for oxidative phosphorylation and protein turnover in diabetic mouse retina.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most frequent complications of diabetes and is a leading cause of vision loss in adulthood. To better understand the molecular pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy, we performed comprehensive gene expression analysis of the mouse retina under diabetic conditions with an in-house cDNA microarray system that was designed to be suitable for the small amount of RNA available from a single mouse retina. Diabetes was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin, and the changes in retinal mRNA levels were examined in three pairs of diabetic and age-matched control mice at 1 and 3 months after the injection of streptozotocin. Northern blot analysis with amplified total cRNA confirmed the increase in mRNA levels of several selected genes. Most of the significantly up-regulated genes could be classified into two functional categories: oxidative phosphorylation and protein turnover. All mitochondrial DNA-encoded and most of the nuclear DNA-encoded genes for oxidative phosphorylation were up-regulated in the diabetic retina. This was in sharp contrast with a previous report of a down-regulation of these genes in skeletal muscles of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and type 2 diabetic humans. Genes for protein synthesis and ubiquitin were also up-regulated in the diabetic retina, suggesting the increase in turnover rates for at least a part of the protein population. Taken together, the diabetic retina appears to be in a state activated for intermediary metabolism, presumably because of an increase in insulin-independent glucose influx. These results provide insights into possible preventive and therapeutic intervention of diabetic retinopathy.

Animals↗

Activation of genes for growth factor and cytokine pathways late in chondrogenic differentiation of ATDC5 cells.

The mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line ATDC5 provides an excellent model system for chondrogenesis in vitro. To understand better the molecular mechanisms of endochondral bone formation, we investigated gene expression profiles during the differentiation course of ATDC5 cells, using an in-house microarray harboring full-length-enriched cDNAs. For 28 days following chondrogenic induction, 507 genes were up- or down-regulated at least 1.5-fold. These genes were classified into five clusters based on their expression patterns. Genes for growth factor and cytokine pathways were significantly enriched in the cluster characterized by increases in expression during late stages of chondrocyte differentiation. mRNAs for decorin and osteoglycin, which have been shown to bind to transforming growth factors-beta and bone morphogenetic proteins, respectively, were found in this cluster and were detected in hypertrophic chondrocytes of developing mouse bones by in situ hybridization analysis. Taken together with assigned functions of individual genes in the cluster, interdigitated interaction between a number of intercellular signaling molecules is likely to take place in the late chondrogenic stage for autocrine and paracrine regulation among chondrocytes, as well as for chemoattraction and stimulation of progenitor cells of other lineages.

Animals↗

Altered gene expression in the subdivisions of the amygdala of Fyn-deficient mice as revealed by laser capture microdissection and mKIAA cDNA array analysis.

Fyn-tyrosine-kinase-deficient mice exhibit increased fearfulness and display enhanced excitability in the amygdala. To gain insight into the molecular changes associated with the increased excitability of the amygdala, we used a newly developed cDNA array system comprising mouse KIAA cDNA clones to identify novel genes differentially expressed in the amygdala of fyn(-/-) and fyn(+/-) mice following administration of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). Laser capture microdissection in combination with PCR-based cDNA amplification allowed us to analyze gene expression in each amygdalar subdivision. The statistical significance of the differential expressions was tested by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) by the false discovery rate controlling approach. Among the 805 mKIAA cDNA clones tested, only the expression level of mKIAA1577 (Zinc finger SWIM domain containing protein 6; gene name, Zswim6) showed statistically significant change in regard to the genotype and amygdalar subdivision. Namely, only the lowered expression of mKIAA1577 in the central nucleus of fyn(-/-) mice 1 h after NMDA administration (2.1-fold lower relative to fyn(+/-) mice) was statistically significant. In situ hybridization analysis confirmed the downregulation of the mRNA in the central nucleus of the fyn(-/-) mice 1 h after NMDA administration (3.2-fold lower relative to fyn(+/-) mice). The NMDA-induced change in gene expression was partially blocked by the NMDA antagonist D-AP-5. These results suggest that Fyn deficiency was responsible for the NMDA-induced downregulation of a specific gene in the amygdalar central nucleus.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

Presence of serum tripartite motif-containing 21 antibodies in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

SEREX has been applied to esophageal SCC, and the TRIM21 gene was identified as a novel SEREX antigen of esophageal SCC. The presence of s-TRIM21-Abs was confirmed by Western blotting using bacterially expressed TRIM21 gene product and was evaluated for clinicopathological significance in patients with esophageal SCC. s-TRIM21-Abs were detected in 18 (20%) of 91 patients with esophageal SCC but not in 42 healthy donors. The presence of s-TRIM21-Abs was partly associated with tumor size (P = 0.063) and poor survival (P = 0.067). To measure serum antibody levels, ELISA using purified recombinant TRIM21 protein was developed. The levels of s-TRIM21-Abs were significantly higher in patients with esophageal SCC than in healthy donors (P = 0.013). s-TRIM21-Abs may be a useful tumor marker to diagnose and predict disease progression in patients with esophageal SCC.

Adult↗

Relationship between pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor and early recurrence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma following surgical resection.

OBJECTIVES: The extremely unfavorable prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), even after surgical resection, is mainly attributed to a high rate of recurrence. The aim of this study was to identify the molecules associated with early recurrence of ICC following resection. METHODS: Between December 1984 and July 2003, 46 patients with ICC underwent surgical resection. The clinical outcome of these patients was evaluated in view of the time of recurrence. Consequently, we categorized ICC patients into subgroups, based on the clinical results, and screened differentially expressed genes by DNA microarray analysis. Furthermore, the obtained results were validated in an independent sample set by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the expressed genes at the protein level. RESULTS: The survival of patients with early recurrence, occurring within a year after surgical resection, was significantly poor after surgery and even after recurrence, as compared to that of patients whose recurrence occurred beyond a year after surgery. By the DNA microarray analysis, 13 differentially expressed genes were picked up, and quantitative RT-PCR reaction identified the pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) as a candidate gene associated with early recurrence of ICC after resection. This observation was confirmed through examination of an independent set of samples, in which the patients with higher levels of PSTI mRNA expression had significantly shorter recurrence-free survival. Immunohistochemically, PSTI was expressed in the cytoplasm of cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: PSTI might be a potential marker for identifying ICC patients with an increased risk of early recurrence after surgical resection.

Aged↗

Arpc1b gene is a candidate prediction marker for choroidal malignant melanomas sensitive to radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Choroidal malignant melanomas (CMMs) are the most common primary intraocular tumors in adult humans. Although radiotherapy is commonly used to treat the melanomas, the therapeutic effects are unpredictable. The purpose of this study was to search for a gene(s) that can predict the success of radiotherapy for CMMs. METHODS: The cell lines 92-1, OCM-1, and OMM-1 were established from patients with CMM, and radiation sensitivity was determined using the colony-formation assay. RNA was extracted from nonirradiated cells, and gene expression analysis was performed using a microarray containing 10,800 genes. The up- or downregulated genes were verified by real-time PCR using other cancerous cell lines in which radiation sensitivity had been documented. RESULTS: Analysis of radiation survival curves showed that cell line 92-1 was radiation sensitive and OCM-1 and OMM-1 lines were radiation resistant. The results of microarray analyses showed that 34 genes were differentially expressed in the OCM-1 and OMM-1 cell lines compared with the 92-1 cell line. The validity of the expression level of 13 of the 34 genes that were identified by microarray was confirmed by PCR. From the analysis of the different radio-sensitivity cancer cell lines, the Arpc1b gene was selected as a prediction marker gene for sensitivity of CMM to radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Gene expression analysis of CMM cell lines can be used to search for radiation sensitivity prediction markers. Comprehensive gene expression profiles of radiation-sensitive and/or resistant cell lines may provide new insights into the mechanisms of resistance or sensitivity to radiation therapy.

Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex↗

Identification of a novel SEREX antigen, SLC2A1/GLUT1, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

We have carried out SEREX (serological identification of antigens by recombinant cDNA expression cloning), and identified SLC2A1 (solute carrier family 2/facilitated glucose transporter, member 1) as an antigen recognized by serum IgG antibodies in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The levels of serum anti-SLC2A1 antibodies (s-SLC2A1-Abs), examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using bacterially expressed glutathione-S-transferase-SLC2A1 fusion protein, were significantly higher in patients with esophageal SCC than in healthy donors. When using a cut-off level as the mean + 2x standard deviations of healthy donors, a total of 12 (21%) out of 57 SCC patients were revealed as positive for s-SLC2A1-Abs. The presence of s-SLC2A1-Abs was not associated with either clinicopathological factors or survival. Because s-SLC2A1-Abs were not associated with the positivity of other conventional serum markers, a combination assay of s-SLC2A1-Abs with these conventional serum markers may be useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of esophageal SCC.

Adult↗

Identification of differentially expressed genes in human bladder cancer through genome-wide gene expression profiling.

Large-scale gene expression profiling is an effective strategy for understanding the progression of bladder cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to identify genes that are expressed differently in the course of BC progression and to establish new biomarkers for BC. Specimens from 21 patients with pathologically confirmed superficial (n = 10) or invasive (n = 11) BC and 4 normal bladder samples were studied; samples from 14 of the 21 BC samples were subjected to microarray analysis. The validity of the microarray results was verified by real-time RT-PCR. Of the 136 up-regulated genes we detected, 21 were present in all 14 BCs examined (100%), 44 in 13 (92.9%), and the other 71 in 12 BCs (85.7%). Of 69 down-regulated genes, 25 were found in all 14 BCs (100%), 22 in 13 (92.9%), and the other 22 in 12 BCs (85.7%). Functional annotation revealed that of the up-regulated genes, 36% were involved in metabolism and 14% in transcription and processing; 25% of the down-regulated genes were linked to cell adhesion/surface and 21% to cytoskeleton/cell membrane. Real-time RT-PCR confirmed the microarray results obtained for the 6 most highly up- and the 2 most highly down-regulated genes. Among the 6 most highly up-regulated genes, CKS2 was the only gene with a significantly greater level of up-regulation in invasive than in superficial BC (p = 0.04). To confirm this result, we subjected all 21 BC samples to real-time PCR assay for CKS2. We found a considerable difference between superficial and invasive BC (p = 0.001). Interestingly, there was a considerable difference between the normal bladder and invasive BC (p = 0.001) and less difference between the normal bladder and superficial BC (p = 0.005). We identified several genes as promising candidates for diagnostic biomarkers of human BC and the CKS2 gene not only as a potential biomarker for diagnosing, but also for staging human BC. This is the first report demonstrating that CKS2 expression is strongly correlated with the progression of human BC.

Aged↗

Cathepsin D is a potential serum marker for poor prognosis in glioma patients.

Cathepsin D is an aspartyl protease involved in protein catabolism and tissue remodeling which can be secreted from cancer cells. To identify a potential serum marker for gliomas, we investigated the gene expression levels of cathepsin D in 87 tissue samples and measured the protein concentrations in sera of glioma patients. The tissue samples consisted of 43 glioblastomas, 13 anaplastic astrocytomas, 22 astrocytomas, and 9 normal brain tissues. The results of real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed that cathepsin D transcript levels became significantly higher as the glioma grade advanced (P = 0.0466, glioblastoma and anaplastic astrocytoma; P = 0.0008, glioblastoma and astrocytoma; P = 0.0271, glioblastoma and normal brain tissue; unpaired t test). Immunohistochemical analysis with anti-cathepsin D antibody revealed dense and spotty staining in the tumor cells with high transcript levels. The low expression of cathepsin D significantly correlated with long survival of the glioma patients. Furthermore, the glioblastoma patients with high gene expression of cathepsin D lived significantly shorter than those with low expression (P = 0.0104, Cox-Mantel log-rank test) and frequently had leptomeningeal dissemination (P = 0.0016, chi2 test). The multivariate analysis confirmed that the cathepsin D expression level was an independent predictor for short survival (P = 0.0102, Cox proportional hazard regression model). Measurement of the serum cathepsin D concentrations by ELISA showed a significant increase in the patients with high-grade gliomas as compared with the low-grade tumors (P = 0.0081, chi2 test). These results collectively suggest that cathepsin D could be a potential serum marker for the prediction of aggressive nature of human gliomas.

Astrocytoma↗

Serological identification of tumor antigens of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Autoantibodies are often detected in the patients with esophageal cancer. We applied serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression libraries (SEREX) to a case of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in order to identify tumor antigens. A cDNA library derived from an esophageal cancer cell line was bacterially expressed and screened for interaction with antibodies in five allogeneic sera of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. To examine the specific immunoreactivity of the antigens, sera from 16 more patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 16 patients with gastric cancer, 16 patients with colon cancer, 16 patients with breast cancer and 37 healthy volunteers were screened. We identified 11 independent cDNA clones that potentially encoded esophageal cancer tumor antigens. The identified cDNA clones were SURF1, HOOK2, CENP-F, ZIC2, hCLA-iso, Ki-1/57, enigma, HCA25a, SPK and two EST clones named LOC146223 and AGENCOURT_7565913. The sero-positive rates of antibodies against SURF1 (48%), LOC146223 (38%), HOOK2 (14%) and AGENCOURT_7565913 (14%) were significantly higher in esophageal cancer patients than in healthy controls. At least one of these antibodies was detected in 18 (86%) of 21 sera from esophageal cancer patients. A disease-specific humoral immune response against SURF1, LOC146223, HOOK2 or AGENCOURT_7565913 was observed in most patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Antibodies against these SEREX antigens may represent a pool of candidates for serum tumor markers of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Adult↗

Proteome-based identification of molecular markers predicting chemosensitivity to each category of anticancer agents in human gliomas.

To identify the protein markers that are clinically useful for predicting efficacy of anticancer agents, we investigated the correlation between the proteome profiling patterns and the in vitro chemosensitivity in human gliomas. The proteome of 93 surgical samples were analyzed with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and mass spectrometry. The in vitro chemosensitivities to 10 different kinds of anticancer agents (cyclophosphamide, nimustine, cisplatin, cytosine arabinoside, mitomycin C, peplomycin, adriamycin, etoposide, vincristine, paclitaxel) were measured by flow cytometric detection of apoptosis. We identified a set of 41 proteins that significantly affected the in vitro chemosensitivity to each category of anticancer agents. Many of the proteins that correlated with chemoresistance were categorized into the signal transduction proteins including the G-proteins. The present study showed that the proteome analysis using 2DE could provide a list of proteins that may be the potential predictive markers for chemosensitivity in human gliomas. They can also be direct and rational targets for anti-glioma therapy and be used for sensitization to the conventional chemotherapeutic regimens.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Serological identification of TROP2 by recombinant cDNA expression cloning using sera of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

We applied serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression libraries (SEREX) to cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to identify tumor antigens. One of the clones identified was TROP2, which is known as calcium signal transducer. To evaluate the clinical significance of serum anti-TROP2 antibodies (s-TROP2-Abs) in patients with esophageal SCC, the presence of s-TROP2-Abs was analyzed by Western blotting using bacterially expressed TROP2 protein. We found that 23 of 75 (31%) patients were positive for s-TROP2-Abs. Positivity in terms of s-TROP2-Abs showed a significant association with tumor size but not with other clinicopathological features. The protein expression levels of TROP2 were much higher in esophageal SCC cell lines as compared to those in normal esophageal mucosa and its immortalized cells although the mRNA expression levels were not necessarily elevated in malignant cell lines and tissues. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the expression of TROP2 protein in esophageal SCC specimens was noticeably higher than that found in mild hyperplasia of esophageal mucosae. Thus, s-TROP2-Abs seemed useful in the diagnosis of SCC and may be a candidate for serum tumor markers.

Aged↗

Gene expression profiles in liver regeneration with oval cell induction.

The liver has the unique ability to regenerate even in adulthood. While mature hepatocytes can proliferate by themselves, stem cells also play a critical role in liver regeneration and oval cells are considered to be the progeny of activated hepatic stem cells. We herein investigated the gene expression profiles in the conditions inducing oval cells, using microarray analysis. Two approaches were used to induce oval cells. In the first, animals were treated with a combination of an N-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF)-containing diet and partial hepatectomy (PHx). In the second, animals were supplied with chow containing a 1:1 mixture of choline-deficient and normal diets, as well as 0.075% ethionine in drinking water. Using in-house cDNA microarrays consisting of 2304 cDNA clones from the mouse liver, 69 and 89 genes, respectively, were found to be up-regulated in these two models. Six genes, i.e., those for insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1, CYP4a14, carnitine octanoyltransferase, osteopontin, and two expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were up-regulated in these models but not in ordinary model with PHx alone. They might be specifically activated in the induction of oval cells, and help to clarify the nature of stem cell stimulation that occurs during liver regeneration.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Molecular classification and survival prediction in human gliomas based on proteome analysis.

The biological features of gliomas, which are characterized by highly heterogeneous biological aggressiveness even in the same histological category, would be precisely described by global gene expression data at the protein level. We investigated whether proteome analysis based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry can identify differences in protein expression between high- and low-grade glioma tissues. Proteome profiling patterns were compared in 85 tissue samples: 52 glioblastoma multiforme, 13 anaplastic astrocytomas, 10 atrocytomas, and 10 normal brain tissues. We could completely distinguish the normal brain tissues from glioma tissues by cluster analysis based on the proteome profiling patterns. Proteome-based clustering significantly correlated with the patient survival, and we could identify a biologically distinct subset of astrocytomas with aggressive nature. Discriminant analysis extracted a set of 37 proteins differentially expressed based on histological grading. Among them, many of the proteins that were increased in high-grade gliomas were categorized as signal transduction proteins, including small G-proteins. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the expression of identified proteins in glioma tissues. The present study shows that proteome analysis is useful to develop a novel system for the prediction of biological aggressiveness of gliomas. The proteins identified here could be novel biomarkers for survival prediction and rational targets for antiglioma therapy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An mRNA amplification procedure with directional cDNA cloning and strand-specific cRNA synthesis for comprehensive gene expression analysis.

We developed an integrated system suitable for comprehensive gene expression studies including construction and analysis of cDNA microarrays starting from a small amount of mRNA. We amplified total mRNA first as cDNA mixtures by polymerase chain reaction and then as strand-specific cRNA mixtures by in vitro transcription. These amplified cDNA and cRNA enabled determination of mRNA levels by hybridization analyses such as Southern, Northern, reverse-Northern macroarray, and cDNA microarray analyses, as well as construction of the cDNA library with a unidirectional cDNA insert. By using strand-specific cRNA derived from rat primary-cultured hepatocytes, we detected putative antisense transcripts for the metallothionein gene. cDNA microarray analysis for genes regulated by glucocorticoids and glucagon in the hepatocytes revealed that a number of genes involved in signal transduction and transcriptional regulation were up- or down-regulated. The present system is widely applicable to gene expression analysis with limited amounts of RNA samples.

Animals↗

S100A11 gene identified by in-house cDNA microarray as an accurate predictor of lymph node metastases of gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world, and in Asian countries its incidence and mortality rates are very high. Worldwide, Japan ranks first in the incidence of this type of cancer for both sexes. To shed light on the mechanisms underlying the development and/or progression of gastric cancer, we compared the expression profiles in gastric cancer cells obtained from surgical dissection of 20 gastric adenocarcinoma specimens with those in the corresponding non-cancerous mucosa, by cDNA microarray analysis. In total, 8,000 cDNA clones were randomly picked up and their 5'-end nucleotide sequences were determined. On the basis of sequence information, 4,608 independent clones were selected and used to produce the cDNA microarray. We identified 26 genes that were commonly up-regulated and 44 genes that were commonly down-regulated in cancerous tissues. To validate the cDNA microarray analysis, real-time PCR was performed. We found that gene S100A11 expression was associated with the development of lymph node metastases. S100A11 gene expression was clearly up-regulated in specimens from patients with lymph node metastases relative to those from patients without lymph node metastases. S100A11 gene expression status was useful to distinguish gastric cancers with lymph node metastases from those without lymph node metastasis. This genome-wide information contributes to an improved understanding of molecular changes during the development of gastric cancers. It may also help clinicians predict the development of lymph node metastases and assist researchers in identifying novel therapeutic targets for patients with gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Increase in metalloproteinase activity in the plasma of smoke-extract-injected rats.

Cigarette smoking is known to be one of the risk factors of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), yet the precise mechanism remains to be proved. Based on the hypothesis that smoke components might enhance protease activity in the arterial wall, we examined the proteinase activities of plasma from smoke-extract-injected rats. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with smoke extract and the protease activity in the plasma was examined by zymography in the presence or the absence of proteinase inhibitors. Metalloproteinase activity was measured using a synthetic substrate. Proteolytic activities of 80- and 100-kDa against gelatin and collagen type I-V were induced 6 h after the injection. Inhibition of the activity by a metalloproteinase inhibitor but not by serine, cysteine or aspartic protease inhibitors suggested that the proteinases can be attributed to metalloproteinases. Cleavage activity in plasma toward a synthetic metalloproteinase substrate also increased within 24 h after the injection of the smoke extract. The results indicate that the induction of plasma metalloproteinase activity by smoke extract might account for the causal role of smoking in the development of SAH.

Animals↗