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Biomedical subjects

Ryota Matsuo

Publications and source records attributed to Ryota Matsuo.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Microfabricated airflow nozzle for microencapsulation of living cells into 150 micrometer microcapsules.

Microencapsulation of genetically engineered cells has attracted much attention as an alternative nonviral strategy to gene therapy. Though smaller microcapsules (i.e. less than 300 microm) theoretically have various advantages, technical limitations made it difficult to prove this notion. We have developed a novel microfabricated device, namely a micro-airflow-nozzle (MAN), to produce 100 to 300 microm alginate microcapsules with a narrow size distribution. The MAN is composed of a nozzle with a 60 microm internal diameter for an alginate solution channel and airflow channels next to the nozzle. An alginate solution extruded through the nozzle was sheared by the airflow. The resulting alginate droplets fell directly into a CaCl2 solution, and calcium alginate beads were formed. The device enabled us to successfully encapsulate living cells into 150 microm microcapsules, as well as control microcapsule size by simply changing the airflow rate. The encapsulated cells had a higher growth rate and greater secretion activity of marker protein in 150 microm microcapsules compared to larger microcapsules prepared by conventional methods because of their high diffusion efficiency and effective scaffold surface area. The advantages of smaller microcapsules offer new prospects for the advancement of microencapsulation technology.

Air↗
PubMed2006

Development- and activity-dependent regulation of SNAP-25 phosphorylation in rat brain.

Synaptosomal-associated protein of 25kDa (SNAP-25), a member of the SNARE proteins essential for neurotransmitter release, is phosphorylated at Ser(187) in PC12 cells and in the rat brain in a protein kinase C-dependent manner. It remains unclear how the phosphorylation of SNAP-25 is regulated during development and by neuronal activity. We studied the mode of SNAP-25 phosphorylation at Ser(187) in the rat brain using an anti-phosphorylated SNAP-25 antibody. Both the expression and phosphorylation of SNAP-25 increased remarkably during the early postnatal period, but their onsets were quite different. SNAP-25 expression was detected as early as embryonic Day 18, whereas the phosphorylation of SNAP-25 could not be detected until postnatal Day 4. A delay in the onset of phosphorylation was also observed in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. The phosphorylation of SNAP-25 was regulated in a neuronal activity-dependent manner and, in the rat hippocampus, decreased by introducing seizures with kainic acid. These results clearly indicated that the phosphorylation of SNAP-25 at Ser(187) is regulated in development- and neuronal activity-dependent manners, and is likely to play important roles in higher brain functions.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The procerebrum is necessary for odor-aversion learning in the terrestrial slug Limax valentianus.

The terrestrial slug Limax has a highly developed ability to associate the odor of some foods (e.g., carrot juice) with aversive stimuli such as the bitter taste of quinidine solution. The procerebrum (PC) is a part of the slug's brain thought to be involved in odor-aversion learning, but direct evidence is still lacking. Here we present evidence showing that the PC is essential for odor-aversion learning. Unlike sham-operated slugs, PC ablation 7 d prior to conditioning showed that most slugs did not avoid carrot juice in the memory retention test conducted 24 h after the conditioning. Slugs with the PC ablated 3 h, 1 d, 3 d, or 7 d after conditioning and examined by the memory retention test at 3 d after the PC ablation were also less likely to avoid carrot juice than sham-operated slugs. The PC ablation did not damage the ability of the slugs to sense attractive odor (everyday food) or innately aversive odor (onion or garlic). These results demonstrate that the PC is a necessary component in the retention and/or retrieval of odor-aversion memory.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Novel kruppel-like factor is induced by neuronal activity and by sensory input in the central nervous system of the terrestrial slug Limax valentianus.

In the Limax central nervous system, the procerebrum is thought to be the locus of odor information processing and odor memory retention, but little is known about the input pathway of the noxious stimuli used in this learning protocol. To gain insight into the sensory information processing of the noxious stimuli involved in memory formation, we screened genes induced by artificial neuronal activity, and identified one kruppel-like factor (KLF) family transcription factor gene (Limax KLF; limKLF), which is up-regulated 30 min after depolarization. The limKLF protein fused to GFP was localized to the nucleus in COS-7 cells. We also cloned an immediate early gene, CCAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), of Limax by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Both genes were up-regulated by dissection of the central nervous system (CNS) out of the slug in a protein synthesis-independent manner, and also by various noxious stimuli to the slug's body. These genes may be useful as neuronal activity markers in Limax to visualize activated sensory nervous systems.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

[A case of stage IVA intrahepatic biliary tract cancer successfully treated with gemcitabine].

We reported a case of non-resectable intrahepatic biliary tract cancer, treated with Gemcitabine and oral anticancer drugs. A 45-year-old man was admitted to the hospital due to abdominal distension and fatigue. CT scan revealed intrahepatic biliary tract cancer in the left lobe, which had metastasized to both lobes. Based on the diagnosis of non-resectable intrahepatic biliary tract cancer, systemic chemotherapy using gemcitabine (GEM) was employed. One course of the treatment consisted of 4 weeks. GEM 1,000 mg was administered once a week for 3 weeks followed by a week of no treatment. At the same time, the oral anti-cancer drug (5'-DFUR 600 mg/day) was administered every day. After 4 courses of chemotherapy, both the primary tumor and the hepatic metastasis were diminished, and the serum level of CA19-9 was reduced to the normal value. Relief from the abdominal distension allowed the patient to return to work. The chemotherapy was continued by outpatient-clinic treatment, preserving the quality of life for 13 months. The present case shows that gemcitabine/5'-DFUR combination is well supported in advanced unresectable biliary tract cancer.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

Onset of amnesia is delayed with a decrease in inhibition of protein synthesis during odor-taste associative learning in the terrestrial slug Limax valentianus.

Slugs can retain odor-taste associative memory for several weeks, and this requires protein synthesis. We examined the dose-dependency of the onset time of amnesia caused by the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin, and showed that with reduced dose, the onset is shifted from 2 days to 3 days after conditioning; we could not shift the onset delay later than 3 days. Our results suggest that the mechanism underling memory retention is different in the period up to 3 days, versus the period later than 3 days. Our results also suggest that sustained inhibition of protein synthesis in the period from zero to 3 hr after conditioning is necessary to cause amnesia.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Delayed-onset amnesia caused by protein synthesis inhibition in odor-taste associative memory of the terrestrial slug Limax valentianus.

The terrestrial slug Limax avoids the odor of innately preferred food after it is presented with the aversive taste of quinidine. This type of associative memory persists for several weeks. We investigated effects of protein synthesis inhibitors on the retention of this odor-taste associative memory. Anisomycin or cycloheximide applied to the slug 30 min prior to conditioning impaired the memory retention as late as two or more days after the conditioning, while the retention of a short-term memory was normal for up to 24 h. In contrast, the inhibition of protein synthesis by these inhibitors decays within several hours. In Limax, the onset of amnesia is unusually delayed when protein synthesis is suppressed at the time of conditioning.

Amnesia↗