Biomedical subjects

S Seki

Publications and source records attributed to S Seki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Age-dependent increase of extrathymic T cells in the liver and their appearance in the periphery of older mice.

The liver is a major site of generation of extrathymic T cells with unique properties (e.g., expressing intermediate TCR and containing self-reactive clones). We investigated herein whether the levels of extrathymic alpha beta T cells varied in various organs as a function of age. A systematic examination of the number of mononuclear cells in various organs of BALB/c mice revealed that the number of hepatic MNC increased with age whereas the number of thymocytes decreased. These changes were more striking in mice fed under conventional conditions than under specific pathogen-free condition. The age-dependent changes in the number of mononuclear cells in the spleen and lymph nodes were minimal. Although the total proportion of alpha beta T cells in each organ remained constant, the staining patterns of TCR-alpha beta as shown by immunofluorescence profiles varied. The most prominent change was that intermediate TCR-alpha beta cells, which constituted a small population in the liver of young mice, expanded in the liver of older mice. Intermediate TCR cells appeared even in the periphery of older mice. These findings were confirmed by the appearance of extrathymic T cells with other unique properties, e.g., double-negative CD4-8- phenotype and CD44 expression. In athymic nude mice, only intermediate TCR cells were present in the liver and periphery. An age-dependent increase of intermediate TCR cells was also seen in these mice. Taken together with the result of bromodeoxyuridine-injection experiment, which showed an intensive in vivo proliferation of cells in the hepatic sinusoids, extrathymic T cells may differentiate predominantly in the liver and appeared even to the periphery in older mice.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1992

cDNA cloning, sequencing, expression and possible domain structure of human APEX nuclease homologous to Escherichia coli exonuclease III.

cDNA encoding the human homologue of mouse APEX nuclease was isolated from a human bone-marrow cDNA library by screening with cDNA for mouse APEX nuclease. The mouse enzyme has been shown to possess four enzymatic activities, i.e., apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease, 3'-5' exonuclease, DNA 3'-phosphatase and DNA 3' repair diesterase activities. The cDNA for human APEX nuclease was 1420 nucleotides long, consisting of a 5' terminal untranslated region of 205 nucleotide long, a coding region of 954 nucleotide long encoding 318 amino acid residues, a 3' terminal untranslated region of 261 nucleotide long, and a poly(A) tail. Determination of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of APEX nuclease purified from HeLa cells showed that the mature enzyme lacks the N-terminal methionine. The amino acid sequence of human APEX nuclease has 94% sequence identity with that of mouse APEX nuclease, and shows significant homologies to those of Escherichia coli exonuclease III and Streptococcus pneumoniae ExoA protein. The coding sequence of human APEX nuclease was cloned into the pUC18 SmaI site in the control frame of the lacZ promoter. The construct was introduced into BW2001 (xth-11, nfo-2) strain and BW9109 (delta xth) strain cells of E. coli. The transformed cells expressed a 36.4 kDa polypeptide (the 317 amino acid sequence of APEX nuclease headed by the N-terminal decapeptide derived from the part of pUC18 sequence), and were less sensitive to methylmethanesulfonate and tert-butyl-hydroperoxide than the parent cells. The N-terminal regions of the constructed protein and APEX nuclease were cleaved frequently during the extraction and purification processes of protein to produce the 31, 33 and 35 kDa C-terminal fragments showing priming activities for DNA polymerase on acid-depurinated DNA and bleomycin-damaged DNA. Formation of such enzymatically active fragments of APEX nuclease may be a cause of heterogeneity of purified preparations of mammalian AP endonucleases. Based on analyses of the deduced amino acid sequence and the active fragments of APEX nuclease, it is suggested that the enzyme is organized into two domains, a 6 kDa N-terminal domain having nuclear location signals and 29 kDa C-terminal, catalytic domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

An analysis of proliferating cells in biopsy specimens from patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma.

The proliferation of neoplastic and nonneoplastic hepatocytes is caused by various humoral growth factors with autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, and the proliferative activity of both hepatocytes and nonhepatocytic cells contributes to neoplastic growth. The authors attempted to detect various kinds of proliferating cells immunohistochemically in small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using a monoclonal antibody against DNA polymerase alpha. Most of the HCC cells that stained for this enzyme were small, had basophilic cytoplasm with poorly developed organelles, and aggregated to form clusters distributed randomly within cancer nests. Nonhepatocytic cells also were stained, including some endothelial cells, Kupffer's cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes. Fat-storing cells were not stained. The number of stained sinusoidal (capillary) cells decreased in this order: Kupffer's cells and macrophages, endothelial cells, and fat-storing cells. Nonhepatocytic cells, including lymphocytes, proliferated more actively in areas with actively growing HCC cells than in those with quiescent cancer cells. The relationship between stained HCC cells and stained sinusoidal cells was clearly defined; the correlation coefficient was 0.97. These findings suggest the possibility of a relationship between the proliferative activity of neoplastic hepatocytes and that of sinusoidal cells, including lymphocytes.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Estrogen administration activates extrathymic T cell differentiation in the liver.

In addition to T cell differentiation in the thymus, we have recently reported that extrathymic T cell differentiation occurs preferentially in the sinusoids of the liver. Although this extrathymic pathway is relatively minor in normal mice, it becomes predominant in mice with autoimmune diseases, athymic mice, and aged mice. In the present study, injection of normal male C3H/He mice, 6-8 wk of age, with 1 mg of estrogen resulted in an increase in mononuclear cells (MNC) yielded from the liver and a drastic decrease in thymocytes approximately 10 d after such injection. This unique modulation was not observed with hydrocortisone injection (5 mg/mouse, i.p.) nor with irradiation (5 Gy/mouse). Rather, these immunosuppressive treatments induced a simultaneous decrease in cell number in both the liver and thymus. A time-kinetics study on the cell number and spontaneous cell proliferation revealed that an increase in spontaneous cell proliferation in the liver preceded the increase in the number of liver MNC, and a decrease in spontaneous cell proliferation in the thymus preceded the decrease in the number of thymocytes. At this time, an enrichment of alpha/beta T cells with intermediate T cell receptors (TCRs), including forbidden T cell oligoclones and V beta 8+ cells, which are characterized as extrathymic alpha/beta T cells with unique properties, took place in the liver. On the other hand, the thymic atrophy induced by estrogen resulted in a prominent decrease in immature double-positive (CD(4+)8+) alpha/beta T cells with dull TCRs. These results indicate that estrogen administration activates an extrathymic pathway of T cell differentiation in the liver and reciprocally inactivates the intrathymic pathway. As extrathymic T cells have unique characteristics such as autoreactivity, the present findings might be intimately related to a female predominance of autoimmune diseases and suggest a possible role of estrogen in this phenomenon.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Details of an isolation method for hepatic lymphocytes in mice.

The liver comprises a unique lymphocyte population, i.e., extrathymic alpha beta T cells with TcR of intermediate intensity. In the present study, we attempted to determine what pretreatments were appropriate to isolate hepatic mononuclear cells (MNC) containing such intermediate alpha beta TcR cells in mice. Hepatic MNC were isolated from untreated mice and mice subjected to either bleeding or liver perfusion, and the intermediate alpha beta TcR cells in each preparation were identified. For reasons of simplicity, cell purity and cell yields, hepatic lymphocytes should be obtained from mice subjected to total bleeding. Additional information on extrathymic alpha beta T cells obtained by using the recommended method is also presented.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

PCR detection of structurally abnormal Y chromosomes.

Three probes each detecting a locus on the proximal long arm of the Y chromosome were partially sequenced. Thus, 3 sets of novel primers were developed which enable PCR detection of these 3 loci. Five previously reported primer sets, 3 on the short arm and each one on the centromere and the distal long arm, were mapped along with the novel three using a mapping panel consisted of 8 patients each with different structural abnormality of the Y chromosome. Now, PCR detection of these 8 loci covering an entire length of the Y chromosome has become possible enabling rapid screening of patients with Y chromosome aberrations.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Activation of extrathymic T cells in the liver and reciprocal inactivation of intrathymic T cells by bacterial stimulation.

We recently demonstrated that the liver might be a major site of extrathymic T cell differentiation, including both alpha beta and gamma delta T cells. This extrathymic pathway in the liver, which has a relatively minor role in normal young mice, is activated in mice under bacterial stimulation. In the present study, we investigated how the extrathymic and intrathymic T cell differentiations were mutually related in mice injected intravenously with 10(8) heat-killed Escherichia coli. Three days after stimulation, extrathymic T cells in the liver were observed to be prominently activated in terms of increases in the total number of cells yielded, spontaneous cell proliferation in in vitro culture, and intermediate alpha beta TCR cells. Intermediate alpha beta TCR cells were extrathymic T cells uniquely seen in the liver. However, at the same time intrathymic T cells were profoundly inactivated, showing decreases in the number of thymocytes (more than 90% atrophy), spontaneous cell proliferation, and dull TCR cells with double positive CD4+8+ phenotype. With time, these responses were reversed and normal states were regained. These results suggested that extrathymic and intrathymic T cells are always activated or inactivated in the opposite direction, and that the liver and the thymus are dynamic immune organs. It raises the possibility that the extrathymic T cell differentiation in the liver and the intrathymic T cell differentiation may be reciprocally regulated by certain factors.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Sex determination of forensic samples by dual PCR amplification of an X-Y homologous gene.

Sex determination by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the X-Y homologous amelogenin gene is highly reliable since the detection of an X-specific amplified fragment validates the procedure. Previously, we reported that 250 ng of template DNA are required for sex determination by this method. We report here a refinement of the technique to include dual PCR. Dual PCR using two sets of primers results in the detection of X- and Y-specific amplified fragments from as little as 0.005 ng of template DNA. This is a powerful technique for the analysis of trace forensic samples and its application is discussed.

Amelogenin↗

PubMed1992

Treatment for necrotizing enterocolitis perforation in the extremely premature infant (weighing less than 1,000 g).

The frequency of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in the extremely premature infant (less than 1,000 g) is still high and it is very difficult for infants weighing less than 1,000 g with NEC perforation to survive. In our institutes, the management protocol for NEC perforation in infants weighing less than 1,000 g includes peritoneal drainage under local anesthesia, administration of coagulating factor XIII, and the usual treatment for septic shock. During the past 3 years, four infants weighing less than 1,000 g with NEC perforation have survived using this protocol without laparotomy. This management protocol is the treatment of choice in infants in very poor condition or infants weighing less than 1,000 g with NEC perforation.

Diseases in Twins↗

PubMed1992

A Y-associated allele may be characteristic of certain ethnic groups in Asia.

The probe 47z detects DNA polymorphisms on both the X and Y chromosomes. Blood samples were collected from Korean, Chinese, Jewish, Caucasian and Negro populations and polymorphisms of both loci were compared with findings previously reported in Japanese. Both Y1 and Y2 alleles were detected in Japanese and Koreans. However, only the Y1 allele was detected in each of the other populations. Although, both X1 and X2 alleles were detected in all examined populations, the frequency of the X2 allele was very low among Negroes.

Alleles↗

PubMed1992

Detection and analyses by gel electrophoresis of cisplatin-mediated DNA damage.

DNA damage induced by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatin: cis-DDP), an anticancer drug, was studied in vitro by monitoring the drug-induced conformational change of pUC18 plasmid DNA, the sensitivity to some restriction enzymes of the damaged DNA and the sequence-dependent termination of DNA synthesis caused by cisplatin. Closed circular, superhelical pUC18 DNA was treated at 37 degrees C for 16 h with various concentrations of cisplatin. Cisplatin-dose-dependent conformational change due to unwinding of the treated DNA was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. To analyze the base-specificity of the cisplatin damage, the measurement for sensitivity of cisplatin-treated DNA to various types of restriction enzyme and sequence gel analysis of the treated DNA were conducted. The results suggested that cisplatin attacked preferentially the sequence of GG > AG > GNG in the order. In the present assay condition, the cisplatin/DNA nucleotide ratios required for the DNA damage detection were roughly 0.025 for the conformational analysis, 0.001 or more for the restriction enzyme analysis, and less than 0.001 for the sequence gel analysis. By using the present method, it was demonstrated that the cisplatin-mediated DNA damage was inhibited by NaCl, KCl, CaCl2 or MgCl2 at their nearly physiological concentrations, and by reducing agents such as thiourea and 2-mercaptoethanol in the reaction mixture.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Analysis of proliferating hepatocytes using a monoclonal antibody against proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin in embedded tissues from various liver diseases fixed in formaldehyde.

The authors studied histochemically the morphologic features of proliferating hepatocytes positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA/cyclin) to analyze the process of liver regeneration in embedded tissues fixed with formaldehyde using an anti-PCNA/cyclin monoclonal antibody. In liver specimens from patients with acute viral hepatitis (AVH) and confluent necrosis, many small basophilic hepatocytes surrounding large clear hepatocytes were positively stained in the areas next to the confluent necrosis. Therefore these small hepatocytes may be daughter cells derived from large clear hepatocytes that probably enter the mitotic cell cycle repeatedly to repair a large necrotic area. In the case of AVH with spotty necrosis, the positively stained hepatocytes were scattered around the necrotic foci. In the liver specimens from patients with chronic active hepatitis, most of the positively stained hepatocytes were located next to the necrotic area. As for cirrhosis of the liver, the number of hepatocytes positive for PCNA/cyclin varied greatly in different pseudolobules, and in the specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the HCC cells positive for PCNA/cyclin were detected throughout the cancer nests.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1992

Immunocytochemical identification of proliferative hepatocytes using monoclonal antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA/cyclin). Comparison with immunocytochemical staining for DNA polymerase-alpha.

The authors investigated whether immunocytochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA/cyclin) could be used to identify proliferative hepatocytes in frozen sections fixed in a mixture of periodate, lysine, and 2% paraformaldehyde. Paraffin sections also were used, which were fixed in 10% formaldehyde. Specimens of liver tissue were obtained from 27 patients with various hepatic diseases. Hepatocytes that were positive for PCNA/cyclin were observed in both types of substrate specimens. In acute hepatitis and chronic active hepatitis, most hepatocytes that were labeled for PCNA/cyclin were located near necrotic foci. However, in cirrhosis, they were detected most often near fibrotic septa; the number of immunoreactive cells varied greatly in different areas of tissue sections in such cases. In hepatocellular carcinoma, many PCNA/cyclin-positive tumor cells were seen throughout the neoplasms. Hepatocytes that were positive for DNA polymerase-alpha showed a similar distribution pattern in serial sections of study cases.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Lymphotoxin activates hepatic T cells and simultaneously induces profound thymic atrophy.

We have recently demonstrated that the liver may be a major site of extrathymic T-cell differentiation. This hepatic pathway was shown to be activated in mice injected with heat-killed bacteria. It is conceivable that the resulting activation of macrophages or lymphocytes, and the production of cytokines may be responsible for a subsequent activation of hepatic T cells. In this context, we investigated the possibility of whether certain cytokines may activate hepatic T cells. It was demonstrated that the administration of lymphotoxin [tumour necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta)] more than doubled the number of hepatic mononuclear cells (MNC) yielded 3-5 days after the treatment. More strikingly, such treatment induced profound thymic atrophy and resulted in a decrease of more than 95% in the number of thymocytes. Spontaneous proliferation in an in vitro culture of hepatic MNC from treated mice increased, and inversely such activity of thymocytes decreased. The increased number of hepatic MNC was mainly due to an increase in intermediate alpha beta T-cell receptor (TcR) cells, which are extrathymic T cells uniquely seen in the liver. On the other hand, the thymic atrophy was caused by the prompt apoptotic death of dull alpha beta TcR cells with double-positive (DP) CD4+ CD8+ phenotype. These results indicate that lymphotoxin may be one of the factors that activates extrathymic T cells in the liver and at the same time inhibits intrathymic T-cell differentiation.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

[Deep neck infection following endotracheal intubation].

A 71-year-old woman was transferred to Kushiro City General Hospital because of fever, sore throat, diffuse neck swelling and dyspnea. She had received right mastectomy for breast cancer under general anesthesia 6 days before the admission. The lateral X-ray film of the neck revealed abscess in the retropharyngeal space and the retroesophageal space. CT scan revealed mediastinitis. Next day she received neck dissection for drainage of the abscess under general anesthesia. Although the posterior pharyngeal wall was swollen, endo-tracheal intubation was not difficult. Brown tinged and purplish pus was aspirated from the interspace of carotid sheath and trachea, the retropharyngeal space, and the superior mediastinal space. The infected site was irrigated with a lot of peroxide and saline and draining tubes were placed in each interspace. Tracheostomy was not done but the patient was admitted to the ICU with her trachea intubated. The day after operation, she was extubated. Three days after the operation chest X-ray revealed pyothorax and chest tube was inserted for drainage. Seven days after the operation she was transferred to the ENT ward. Thereafter her recovery course was uneventful. It seems that the deep neck infection was probably caused by the injury on endotracheal intubation at the first operation in this case. Although this patient was cured of mediastinitis following deep neck infection, which is still lethal, early diagnosis and surgical drainage of the abscess are necessary.

Abscess↗

PubMed1992

Protective effect of probucol on ischemia-reperfusion arrhythmias in the rat heart.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of probucol on ischemia-reperfusion injury in the isolated working rat heart. DESIGN: Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: one was fed normal chow (group C) and the other was fed chow containing 1% probucol for four weeks (group P). Samples of heart organ and blood were then taken under anesthesia. Isolated hearts were perfused in a working heart model. After 5 mins of perfusion in aerobic conditions, global ischemia was induced for 15 mins, the hearts were then reperfused. Aortic and coronary flow, cardiac function and electrocardiogram were monitored throughout the experiment, including a 20 min period of reperfusion. Serum lipids and lipid peroxide were also measured in each rat. RESULTS: Rats in group P (probucol-treated) had significantly lower levels of serum cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid than those in group C (controls). Serum lipid peroxide was also significantly lower in group P than in group C rats (P < 0.05). The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in the ischemia and reperfusion stages was lower in group P than in group C (P < 0.001) and the increase in coronary flow during the reperfusion stage was greater in isolated hearts of group P rats than in those of group C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Probucol may have a protective effect on myocardium with respect to ischemia-reperfusion arrhythmia in the isolated rat heart, presumably due to an antioxidative effect.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Ontogeny and development of extrathymic T cells in mouse liver.

We previously demonstrated that the liver may be a major site of extrathymic T-cell differentiation in mice. In the present study, the ontogeny and subsequent development of such T cells in the liver and other organs were investigated. This study was possible because these T cells have T-cell receptors (TcR) of intermediate intensity (i.e. intermediate TcR cells) and constitutively express a high level of interleukin-2 receptor beta chain (IL-2R beta). Therefore the two-colour staining for CD3 (or alpha beta TcR) and IL-2R beta identifies even a small proportion of intermediate TcR cells. The total numbers of mononuclear cells obtained from the liver, thymus and spleen varied from foetal to adult life. Especially in the liver, many haematopoietic cells were present in the parenchymal space at the foetal stage. There were no lymphocytes in the sinusoidal lumen at this period. In contrast, lymphocytes appeared in the hepatic sinusoids after birth and increased with ageing. Phenotypic analysis revealed that intermediate TcR cells appeared in the liver and spleen on Day 4 after birth. Bright TcR cells of thymic origin were also present in the peripheral organs on Day 4. Thereafter, intermediate TcR cells increased in the liver, whereas bright TcR cells increased in the periphery as a function of age. Similarly, thymectomized and congenitally athymic mice had mainly intermediate TcR cells in the liver and, to some extent, periphery. It is concluded that intermediate TcR cells, possibly of extrathymic origin, are generated only after birth and expand with ageing.

Aging↗

PubMed1992

[Functional pulmonary atresia: a case report].

A male neonate, two days of age, was admitted with cyanosis and tachypnea. Chest roentgenograms showed massive cardiomegaly and decreased pulmonary vasculatures. Echocardiographic and the right ventriculographic findings were interpreted as showing primary pulmonary atresia with secondary tricuspid incompetence. At a Brock operation, however, there was no resistance in passing the instrument through the pulmonary valve. The baby died twelve hours after surgery. Postmortem examination showed that the tricuspid regurgitation was a cause of the functional pulmonary atresia (FPA). It is important to distinguish FPA from pure pulmonary atresia because conservative therapy is the first choice for the FPA.

Diagnosis, Differential↗