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S Ohkuma

Publications and source records attributed to S Ohkuma.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Development of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons in cerebral cortical neurons in primary culture.

The developmental patterns of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons in primary culture obtained from the neopallium of 15-day-old fetus of mouse were investigated in terms of morphological features, GABA metabolism and GABA receptor binding. Morphological investigations revealed that these cells possessed typical features of neurons and the formation of synapses was detected at 10 days after the inoculation. During neuronal growth on polylysine surfaces, GABA contents and activity of GABA transaminase (GABA-T) showed a progressive increase in the time of culture. Similarly, L-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) showed a progressive elevation during neuronal development in vitro, which corresponded well with the change in immunoreactivity to anti-GAD examined immunohistochemically. In addition, the high K+-evoked release of [3H]GABA also showed an enhancement during the growth in vitro. The numbers of binding sites (Bmax) for [3H]muscimol and [3H]flunitrazepam (FLN) also showed increases with the time of incubation, although affinity (Kd) to the labeled ligands did not show any noticeable changes. Moreover, it was observed that [3H]FLN binding was enhanced by GABA even in neurons cultured for 7 days. These results indicate that cerebral cortical neurons in primary culture possess GABA biosynthesizing and degrading systems including a high-affinity uptake mechanism for GABA. The present results also indicate that these cells possess synaptic contacts as well as GABAA receptors coupled with benzodiazepine receptor from a relatively early stage of cellular development.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗

Alcohol, acetaldehyde and salsolinol-induced alterations in functions of cerebral GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex.

Effects of alcohol (ethanol) and acetaldehyde on the metabolism and function of primary cultured GABAergic neurons and that of salsolinol, a condensation product of acetaldehyde with dopamine, on cerebral GABA/benzodiazepine (BZP) receptor complex were investigated. In vitro addition of acetaldehyde induced a significant reduction not only on the content of GABA but also on the basal and GABA-activated [3H]flunitrazepam ([3H]FLN) bindings in primary cultured neurons. In contrast, alcohol exhibited only suppressive effects on [3H]FLN binding as well as on the enhancement of [3H]FLN binding by GABA. On the other hand, salsolinol showed a significant stimulatory effect on [3H]FLN binding to cerebral particulate fractions obtained from alcohol-untreated mice in the presence of NaCl. Although a similar activation of cerebral [3H]FLN binding by salsolinol was found in alcohol-treated mice, this activation was significantly weaker in alcohol-withdrawn mice than those found in alcohol-untreated as well as alcohol-inhaled mice. These results strongly suggest that acetaldehyde may have more important pathophysiological roles than those of alcohol in the exhibition of neurotoxicity during alcohol intake. The present results also suggest that salsolinol may have a modulatory role on cerebral benzodiazepine receptor and the decreased capacity of such a modulating mechanism may be involved in the exhibition of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, possibly by decreasing the function of endogenous ligands for benzodiazepine receptor in the brain.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗

Transformation of macrophages into foam cells in vitro induced by cholesteryl oleate liquid crystals.

Transformation of macrophages into foam cells after the uptake of cholesteryl oleate anisotropic liquid crystals was studied. A new technique to enhance the uptake of the liquid crystals by macrophages using an inverted petri dish was developed. Uptake of lipid droplets was found to increase in parallel with the amount of liquid crystals in the medium. A lysosomal enzyme was shown (by using lysosomotropic chloroquine) to be involved in the hydrolysis of the liquid crystals. About 47 and 72% of the [3H]cholesterol in liquid crystal-laden cells had disappeared after chase for 24 and 48 h, respectively. Thus the 50% clearance time of the liquid crystals by the macrophages was about 24 h, which was longer than that of denatured lipoprotein. A possible model of transformation of macrophages to foam cells is discussed.

Animals↗

Biochemical mechanisms underlying cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity. Effect of concomitant administration of prednisolone.

Biochemical mechanisms underlying cyclosporine (CsA)-induced nephrotoxicity and the effect of concomitant administration of prednisolone (Pr) on the nephrotoxicity were studied. Male Wistar rats were treated with the vehicles used for CsA and Pr administration (group 1), Pr alone (group 2), CsA alone (group 3), or CsA plus Pr (group 4), respectively. The dose of CsA was 5 mg/kg/day, i.p. for the initial 7 days, and was decreased to 2.5 mg/kg/day i.p. thereafter. The dose of Pr was always maintained at one-tenth of that of CsA. At 10, 30, and 90 days after the initiation of these treatments, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum levels of creatinine and CsA were determined. The syntheses of DNA, RNA, and protein, Na+, K+-adenosine triphosphate (ATP)ase activity, and ATP content were measured using homogenates of the renal cortex obtained from each experimental group. At an early stage (at 10 and 30 days) of CsA administration, the impairment of renal function and inhibition of the synthesis of DNA and RNA appeared in groups 3 and 4. The magnitude of these changes was found to be greater in group 3 (CsA alone) than in group 4 (CsA plus Pr). Group 3 also showed a significant reduction of Na+, K+-ATPase activity as well as ultrastructural abnormalities. At a later stage (at 90 days), however, such differences in nephrotoxicity between groups 3 and 4 were not detected. These results strongly suggest that inhibition of the synthesis of DNA and RNA and the activity of enzymes related to the functions of cell membrane, such as Na+, K+-ATPase, may be involved in the occurrence of CsA-induced nephrotoxicity. The present results also suggest that the concomitant administration of Pr with CsA may reduce the nephrotoxicity of CsA at early stages of CsA administration, but this preventive effect of Pr may disappear if the administration of CsA is prolonged.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effects of alcohol and acetaldehyde on metabolism and function of neurotransmitter systems in cerebral cortical neurons in primary culture.

Effects of alcohol (ethanol) and acetaldehyde (AcAl) on the metabolism and function of gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA)ergic and cholinergic systems were investigated using mouse cerebral cortical neurons in primary culture. Exposure to alcohol in vitro had no significant effects on the content of neuroactive amino acids as well as the activities of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), GABA-transaminase (GABA-T), choline acetyltransferase (CAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In contrast, AcAl showed remarkable reductions of neuroactive amino acids content, and of CAT and AChE activities, but induced no alteration in the activities of GAD and GABA-T. [3H]Flunitrazepam [( 3H]FLN) binding and the stimulatory effect of GABA on [3H]FLN binding were found to be inhibited by in vitro exposure to both alcohol and AcAl, both of which, however, induced no changes in [3H]muscimol binding. These results suggest that the direct actions of AcAl on cholinergic systems in primary cultured neurons may be more potent than those of alcohol. The results described above also suggest that alcohol-induced neurochemical alterations in vivo may be, at least in part, caused by AcAl converted from alcohol in vivo.

Acetaldehyde↗

Similarity of lysosomal H+-ATPase to mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase in sensitivity to anions and drugs as revealed by solubilization and reconstitution.

Lysosomal H+-translocating ATPase (H+-ATPase) was solubilized with lysophosphatidylcholine and reconstituted into liposomes (Moriyama, Y., Takano, T. and Ohkuma, S. (1984) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 96, 927-930). In this study, the sensitivities of membrane-bound, solubilized and liposome-incorporated ATPase to various anions and drugs were measured in comparison with those of similar forms of mitochondrial H+-ATPase (mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase) with the following results. (1) Bicarbonate and sulfite activated solubilized lysosomal H+-ATPase, but not the membrane-bound ATPase or ATPase incorporated into liposomes. All three forms of mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase were activated by these anions. (2) All three forms of both lysosomal H+-ATPase and mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase were strongly inhibited by SCN-, NO3- and F-, but scarcely affected by Cl-, Br- and SO2-4. (3) The solubilized lysosomal H+-ATPase was strongly inhibited by azide, quercetin, 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl), 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS), 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and oligomycin. Its sensitivity was almost the same as that of mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase. Neither membrane-bound ATPase nor ATPase incorporated into liposomes was affected appreciably by these drugs. These results indicate that the sensitivity to anions and drugs of lysosomal H+-ATPase depends on the form of the enzyme and that the sensitivity of the solubilized lysosomal H+-ATPase is very similar to that of mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase. On the other hand, the two ATPases differ in their sensitivity to N-ethylmaleimide and pyridoxal phosphate: only the mitochondrial ATPase is inhibited by pyridoxal phosphate whereas only the lysosomal ATPase is inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide.

Animals↗

Studies on fine structure and location of lipids in quick-freeze replicas of atherosclerotic aorta of WHHL rabbits.

The fine structure of intracellular and extracellular lipids in the atherosclerotic aorta of Watanabe-heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits was demonstrated by a quick-freeze etching technique. Many lipid droplets, with and without a membrane, were observed in the foam cells. Membrane-free droplets were observed as onion-like structure with a concentric lamellar structure surrounded by 10 nm filaments. Droplets surrounded by a limited membrane probably correspond to lipid-laden lysosomes. In the extracellular connective tissue space, marked accumulation of lipids with a vesicular structure was seen among collagen fibers. The appearance of these lipids was similar to that of lipids in lysosomes of foam cells.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibodies recognizing lipid-laden cells and extracellular regions with lipid-deposits in atherosclerotic aorta.

Monoclonal antibodies against lipid-laden cells and against extracellular regions of lipid-deposits in atherosclerotic aorta were prepared. Mice were immunized with a delipidated homogenate of atherosclerotic aorta of Watanabe-heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits. Hybridomas were obtained by fusion and cultured in hypoxanthine, aminopterin and thymidine selection medium. Specific antibodies were selected by indirect immunohistochemical staining of frozen sections of atherosclerotic aorta. Nine clones that produced antibodies that stained the atherosclerotic intima exclusively were selected and cloned by limiting dilution. Finally two clones (FCR1a/201F, FCR1b/904B) producing antibodies specific to lipid-laden cells and one clone (EMR1a/212D) producing an antibody specific to regions with lipid deposits in the extracellular matrix were established. These monoclonal antibodies may help in understanding how lipids accumulate in atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

Thioridazine enhances lysosomal accumulation of epidermal growth factor and toxicity of conjugates of epidermal growth factor with Pseudomonas exotoxin.

Thioridazine, a phenothiazine calmodulin inhibitor, aggravated the cytotoxic effect of a conjugate (EGF-PE) of epidermal growth factor (EGF) coupled with Pseudomonas exotoxin against cultured HeLa cells. Other phenothiazine calmodulin inhibitors, trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine, also intensified the cytotoxic effect of EGF-PE, whereas N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene sulfonamide (W7) had no such effect. By using iodinated epidermal growth factor ( [125I]EGF), the effect of thioridazine on intracellular transport of EGF was examined. The release of radioactivity associated with [125I]EGF into medium was slow in the presence of thioridazine. The Percoll gradient centrifugation pattern showed that thioridazine delayed both the appearance of [125I]EGF in lysosomes and the disappearance of [125I]EGF from the lysosomes. The pH value in lysosomes was 5.28 in thioridazine-treated HeLa cells, while that in untreated cells was 5.15. Thioridazine was found to inhibit lysosomal enzyme activities of cathepsin B and acid phosphatase, but not beta-hexosaminidase when cell extracts were treated with the drug. Electron microscopy showed an increased number of electron-dense bodies, possibly autophagosomes/lysosomes in HeLa cells grown for 48 h with 3 micrograms/ml thioridazine. The potentiating action of EGF-PE by thioridazine is discussed in relation to the altered lysosomal function in treated cells.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗

Development of taurine biosynthesizing system in cerebral cortical neurons in primary culture.

Developmental patterns of taurine biosynthesizing system were investigated using primary cultured neurons prepared from the neopallium of 15-day-old fetal mice by a trypsin treatment in comparison with those in cerebral cortices obtained from age-matched fetal and neonatal mice. The morphological observations by phase contrast and scanning electron micrographies indicated that the cells in primary culture used in the present study possessed typical features of neurons. In addition, the immunohistochemical studies using the antibody to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a specific marker for astroglia, revealed that the contamination of astroglias was negligible. The contents of taurine and metabolic intermediates in taurine biosynthesis, cysteine sulfinic acid and cysteic acid, in primary cultured neurons showed decreases during their development, especially during the first week after the inoculation. Similar developmental patterns of these amino acids were observed in cerebral cortices in vivo during perinatal stage, which corresponded to the first week of neuronal growth in vitro. On the other hand, the activities of cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase and cysteine dioxygenase, both of which are involved in the biosynthesis of taurine, were found to be increased progressively both in primary cultured neurons and in cerebral cortices in vivo during their growth. The immunohistochemical study using antitaurine antibody obtained from rabbit clearly demonstrated that immunoreactive materials were localized in cell bodies and the processes of neurons, and the intensity of the immunoreactivity in primary cultured neurons also showed a reduction with time of culture. These results indicate that primary cultured neurons used in this study possess a similar capacity to synthesize taurine from cysteine as developing brains in vivo. The present results also strongly suggest the well known decrease in cerebral taurine content in vivo during neonatal stages may be predominantly due to the decrease of taurine in neuronal cells.

Animals↗

The effects of basic substances and acidic ionophores on the digestion of exogenous and endogenous proteins in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Basic substances and acidic ionophores that increase the lysosomal pH in cultured macrophages (Ohkuma, S., and B. Poole, 1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 75:3327-3331; Poole, B., and S. Ohkuma, 1981, J. Cell Biol., 90:665-669) inhibited the digestion of heat-denatured acetylated bovine serum albumin (BSA) taken up by the cells. For several substances, the shift in pH sufficed to explain the inhibition of proteolysis. Additional effects, presumably on enzyme activities, have to be postulated for tributylamine, amantadine, and chloroquine. Sodium fluoride (10 mM) had no significant effect on the breakdown of BSA by macrophages. The breakdown of endogenous macrophage proteins, whether short lived or long lived, was inhibited approximately 40% by 10 mM NaF and 30%, or sometimes less in the case of long-lived proteins, by 100 microM chloroquine. When the cells were supplied with BSA, a mixture of cell proteins, or even inert endocytosible materials, the breakdown of endogenous long-lived proteins and the inhibitory effect of chloroquine on this process were selectively reduced. Inhibition of endocytosis by cytochalasins B or D did not affect the chloroquine-sensitive breakdown of endogenous proteins, indicating that the proteins degraded by this process were truly endogenous and not taken in from the outside by cellular cannibalism. On the other hand, when macrophage proteins were supplied extracellularly, their breakdown occurred at the same rate for short-lived and long-lived proteins, and it was strongly inhibited by chloroquine and not by NaF. It is concluded from these results that the breakdown of endogenous proteins, both short-lived and long-lived, probably takes place partly (approximately 30%) in lysosomes and partly through one or more nonlysosomal mechanism(s) unaffected by chloroquine and presumably susceptible to inhibition by fluoride. A difference must exist between short-lived and long-lived proteins in the manner in which they reach lysosomes or are handled by these organelles; this difference would account for the selective effect of the supply of endocytosible materials on the lysosomal processing of long-lived proteins.

Animals↗

Transcellular transport of lipoprotein through arterial endothelial cells in monolayer culture.

To study the mechanism of lipoprotein transport through arterial endothelial cells, porcine endothelial cells were cultured on gelated type I collagen supported by a dacron sheet, and the transport of low density lipoprotein (LDL) labeled with rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RB-LDL) through the cells was measured. Light and scanning electron microscopy showed that the cells on the gel were confluent. There was little RB-LDL transport through the endothelial monolayer at 0 degrees C. RB-LDL transport through the monolayer at 37 degrees C was dose-dependent saturable at 0.4 mg protein/ml. The transport was energy-dependent, since its rate was affected by temperature and was inhibited by a combination of 2-deoxyglucose (50 mM) and NaN3 (10 mM). RB-LDL was shown not to be degraded during transport.

Animals↗

Transcellular transport of fluorescein dextran through an arterial endothelial cell monolayer.

Transcellular transport of fluorescein dextran (FD) of various molecular weights (4K, 10K, 20K, 70K and 150K daltons) through porcine arterial endothelial cells cultured on a type I collagen gel supported by a dacron sheet was studied and compared with the transport of low density lipoprotein labeled with rhodamine B (RB-LDL) described previously (Hashida et al., Cell Struct. Funct. 11, 31-42, 1986). The rate of FD transport through the monolayer depended on the size of the FD. FD transport was not temperature-dependent and was not a saturable process. Our findings show that FD transport differs from RB-LDL transport which is temperature- and dose-dependent. The mechanism of the transport of FD is compared with that of RB-LDL.

Animals↗

Stress and immune responses. II. Identification of stress-sensitive cells in murine spleen cells.

The influences of restraint stress on the functions of T cells, B cells and adherent cells in antibody responses were investigated. Antibody response against sheep red blood cells (SRBC), a T cell-dependent antigen, in cultured splenocytes from restrained mice was reduced to about 40-50% of that from the control mice. Addition of normal T cells to these cultures, however, restored the suppressed response. Moreover, helper T cell activities were lowered in restrained mice. On the other hand, suppressor T cell activities induced by both concanavalin A (Con A) and SRBC were significantly decreased in restrained mice. However, the antibody responses to T cell-independent antigens in stressed mice were approximately 40% higher than the control response. These enhancement were also observed in T cell-depleted splenocytes. Polyclonal antibody response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was increased in stressed mice. Antigen presenting cell activities were little influenced by restraint stress. Proliferative response to Con A, but not that to LPS, was suppressed in splenocytes from restrained mice. These results suggest that both helper and suppressor activities of T cells are suppressed, but B cell activity is rather enhanced in splenocytes from restrained mice.

Animals↗