Biomedical subjects

Satoshi Iwasa

Publications and source records attributed to Satoshi Iwasa.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

'Increased expression of seprase, a membrane-type serine protease, is associated with lymph node metastasis in human colorectal cancer'.

Seprase is a membrane-bound serine proteinase with gelatinase activity, which may be involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. We examined seprase expression in colorectal cancer specimens obtained from 109 patients. Seprase immunoreactivity was found in cancer cells and adjacent stromal cells. Immunoblotting showed higher levels of seprase protein in colorectal cancer tissue than in normal colorectal tissue. A semiquantitative assessment of the immunohistochemistry results revealed a significant correlation between seprase expression and lymph node metastasis. These results suggested that an abundant expression of seprase in colorectal cancer tissue is associated with lymph node metastasis.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Autopsy case of microscopic polyangiitis with crescentic glomerulonephritis and necrotizing pancreatitis.

Herein is reported the case of an 84-year-old woman who initially manifested rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis following a urinary tract infection. Laboratory findings showed a high titer of myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA). Treatment with high-dose i.v. steroids resulted in clinical recovery and an undetectable MPO-ANCA titer. Two months later the patient was readmitted in a state of severe shock. Laboratory examination showed the deterioration of renal function, leukocytosis, and coagulation abnormalities consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The patient died 12 days later. The post-mortem examination revealed necrotizing pancreatitis due to acute-stage vasculitis typified by fibrinoid necrosis of the arterioles and venules, and crescentic glomerulonephritis with healed-stage vasculitis. In the lungs, capillaritis with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was not evident, but arteriolitis and phlebitis were occasionally seen. This case represents an unusual complication of necrotizing pancreatitis in the setting of microscopic polyangiitis. Thus, it is important to consider reactivation independent of the titer of ANCA in the course of the disease.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Heme oxygenase-1 expression predicts cervical lymph node metastasis of tongue squamous cell carcinomas.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is known as a stress-inducible protein. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between HO-1 expression levels and clinical features of tongue cancer by using HO-1 responsiveness to stress as a clinical indicator. One-hundred and twelve biopsy samples from tongue squamous cell carcinomas were analyzed semiquantitatively by immunohistochemistry. Correlations between the expression level of HO-1 and the clinical features of tumors were statistically analyzed. Fifty-four cases with surgical confirmation of lymph node metastasis were examined for the association between cervical lymph node metastasis (pN) and other clinical features, including the HO-1 expression level, using logistic regression. The low HO-1 expression group contained significantly more undifferentiated samples (P=0.04) and pN positive cases (P=0.01) by univariate analysis. The low HO-1 expression group (odds ratio=8.49; 95% confidence interval=1.64-44.09, P=0.01) and an endophytic shape (odds ratio=16.79; 95% confidence interval=1.77-159.53, P=0.01) were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing lymph node metastasis by multivariate analysis. Low HO-1 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis. The expression profile suggests HO-1 could be used clinically as a marker for tumors possessing the potential for lymph node metastasis. This method could prove useful as an adjuvant method to detect lymph node metastasis and may help reduce the number of surgeries by indicating when surgery is unnecessary.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Increased expression of seprase, a membrane-type serine protease, is associated with lymph node metastasis in human colorectal cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Shear stress-induced collagen XII expression is associated with atherogenesis.

Fluid shear stress has been shown to modulate various endothelial functions. We selected a shear stress-specific clone, identified as collagen XII, from a bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) cDNA library. We confirmed that shear stress induces collagen XII expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in cultured BAECs and human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) by stimulating transcription. When HUVECs were exposed to shear stress, they secreted collagen XII protein and it was deposited underneath them. Strong expression of collagen XII was found in the intima of human aortic wall lacking atherosclerotic lesions, whereas weak expression was seen in the intima of atherosclerotic plagues. Furthermore, the downstream portion of atherosclerotic plaques showed apparently weak collagen XII expression compared with the upstream portion. These results suggest that collagen XII expression induced by fluid shear stress may play a role in stabilizing the vascular structure and preventing the formation of atherosclerotic lesions.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Seprase, a membrane-type serine protease, has different expression patterns in intestinal- and diffuse-type gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Seprase is an integral membrane serine proteinase with gelatinase activity that may be involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. However, the pathophysiologic significance of its expression in gastric cancer tissue has not been fully elucidated. METHODS: Seprase expression and distribution in gastric cancer specimens obtained from 133 patients were examined by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry showed that in intestinal-type cancer, which includes well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, seprase immunoreactivity was mainly recognized in the moderately differentiated cells and not in the well differentiated cells. In the diffuse type, which includes poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma, seprase immunoreactivity was seen mainly in cells with poor cell-to-cell junctions. The reactive pattern in the cells was different between moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and diffuse-type carcinoma. Besides the cytoplasm, the cell membrane also apparently reacted in the former, while only the cytoplasm reacted diffusely in the latter. Seprase immunoreactivity was also recognized in endothelial cells and stromal cells especially adjacent to tumor nests. The immunoreactivity of the stromal cells was more abundant in the intestinal type than in the diffuse type, and these stromal expressions of seprase in the intestinal type correlated with the liver (13/13 = 100% of cases with metastases) or lymph node metastases (33/34 = 97% of cases with metastases). Immunoblotting showed that the levels of seprase protein were higher in intestinal-type cancer than in diffuse-type cancer. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that there is a difference in seprase expression between intestinal- and diffuse-type gastric cancer; this difference may reflect distinct biological features of these types of cancer.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Bone marrow chimerism prevents atherosclerosis in arterial walls of mice deficient in apolipoprotein E.

OBJECTIVE: apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a key regulator in cholesterol-rich lipoprotein metabolism. Inherited deficiency of this protein results in type III hyperlipoproteinemia in humans. ApoE, especially that derived from macrophages, can efficiently protect against development of atherosclerotic lesion. To use stem cell gene therapy or mini-transplant in treating abnormal lipid metabolism and preventing atherosclerosis, a minimal level of bone marrow chimerism must be determined. METHODS: lethally irradiated apoE deficient mice (12-16 weeks of age) fed on normal chow were transplanted with normal bone marrow cells (C57BL/6.Ly5.1) mixed with those of apoE deficient mice (C57BL/6.Ly5.2) at various ratios. Plasma cholesterol levels were determined every 3 weeks for up to 42 weeks. Areas of atherosclerotic lesion in the aortas were quantified 6 months post-transplant. Plasma apoE was measured by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in apoE (-/-) mice resulted in a detectable level of plasma apoE as determined by Western blot analysis. The plasma cholesterol levels in mice with > or = 60% chimerism were normalized by 6 weeks post-transplant. Mice with < or = 40% chimerism showed significant reductions, but not normalization, in the plasma cholesterol levels even at 42 weeks posttransplant. However, atherosclerotic areas observed in 10%-chimeric mice were significantly smaller than those in control mice (P<0.01). Immunohistochemical studies in 10%-chimeric mice revealed foam cells derived from donor marrow (apoE (+/+)) and expressed immunoreactive apoE in the atherosclerotic lesion. The positive signals by Western blot analysis were represented in the plasma of up to 8% of the chimeric mice. CONCLUSION: chimerism of 10%, the minimum level analyzed, was sufficient to reduce the severity of atherosclerosis, although the plasma cholesterol levels were not completely normalized. The results indicate that stem cell gene therapy and mini-transplant may provide possible therapeutic approaches to treat patients with abnormal lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression patterns of seprase, a membrane serine protease, in cervical carcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasm.

BACKGROUND: Seprase is a membrane-bound serine proteinase with gelatinase activity, which may be involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined the seprase expression patterns in invasive or preinvasive squamous epithelial lesions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No seprase immunoreactivity was found in the atypical epithelial cells and subepithelial stromal cells of CIN1 and 2 lesions. No seprase expression could be detected even in CIN3 lesions. However, in contrast to CIN1 and 2, seprase immunoreactivity was occasionally observed in the subepithelial stromal cells that were associated with moderate or severe inflammatory infiltrates. Some microinvasive carcinomas and all invasive carcinomas showed seprase immunoreactivity in the cancer cells with various degrees of seprase-positive stromal cells. Seprase may be an early marker of tumor invasion in squamous lesions of the uterine cervix.

Adult↗