Biomedical subjects

Shigeki Higashiyama

Publications and source records attributed to Shigeki Higashiyama.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

[Membrane-anchored heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor processing by ADAM12 in cardiac hypertrophy].

G-protein coupled receptor(GPCR) agonists are well-known inducers of cardiac hypertrophy. We found that the shedding of HB-EGF via metalloproteinase activation and subsequent transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor occurred when cardiomyocytes were stimulated by GPCR agonists, leading to cardiac hypertrophy. A new inhibitor of HB-EGF shedding, KB-R7785, blocked this signaling. We cloned a disintegrin and metalloprotease 12(ADAM12) as a specific enzyme to shed HB-EGF in the heart and found that dominant negative expression of ADAM12 abrogated this signaling. KB-R7785 bound directly to ADAM12, suggesting that inhibition of ADAM12 blocked the shedding of HB-EGF. In mice with cardiac hypertrophy, KB-R7785 inhibited the shedding of HB-EGF and attenuated hypertrophic changes. These data suggest that shedding of HB-EGF by ADAM12 plays an important role in cardiac hypertrophy, and that inhibition of HB-EGF shedding could be a potent therapeutic strategy for cardiac hypertrophy.

ADAM Proteins↗

PubMed2002

Roles of cell adhesion molecules in tumor angiogenesis induced by cotransplantation of cancer and endothelial cells to nude rats.

Roles of cell adhesion molecules mediating the interaction of cancer and endothelial cells in tumor angiogenesis were investigated using new in vitro and in vivo model systems with a cultured murine endothelial cell line (F-2) and human cultured epidermoid cancer cells (A431). The A431 cells exhibited typical in vitro cell adhesion to the endothelial F-2 cells. The initial step of adhesion was mediated by sialyl Lewis(x) (Le(x)) and sialyl Le(a), the carbohydrate determinants expressed on the cancer cells, and E-selectin expressed constitutively on F-2 cells. Prolonged culture led to the implantation of cancer cells into the monolayer of the F-2 cells, which was mediated mainly by alpha(3)beta(1)-integrin. F-2 cells cultured on Matrigel showed evident tube formation, and coculture of F-2 cells with A431 cells led to the formation of A431 cell nests constantly surrounded by tube-like networks consisting of F-2 cells. This in vitro morphogenesis was inhibited by the addition of anti-sialyl Le(x)/Le(a) or anti-beta(1)-integrin antibodies, which led to the formation of cancer cell aggregates that were independent from the F-2 cell networks. This in vitro morphological appearance was exactly reproduced in the in vivo tumors, which were formed when the mixture of A431 and F-2 cells at the ratio of 10:1 were cotransplanted s.c. into the back of nude rats. The tumors of A431 supplemented with F-2 cells were profoundly vascularized throughout by the tubular structures formed by F-2 cells, the lumen of which contained the host rat blood cells. The tumor mass thus formed was an average 5.8-fold as large as control A431 tumors that were grown without F-2 cells. The co-injection of anti-Le(x)/Le(a) or anti-beta(1)-integrin antibodies produced a marked reduction in the size of A431 tumors, which were not vascularized and accompanied an independent tiny remnant clump of F-2 cells. The size of these A431 tumors did not differ significantly from those of control A431 tumors raised without F-2 cells. These results indicate that the interaction of tumor cells and endothelial cells in orderly tumor angiomorphogenesis is highly dependent on the action of cell adhesion molecules mediating the adhesion of cancer cells to endothelial cells, inhibition of which remarkably retards tumor growth and angiogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Specific molecular interactions of oversulfated chondroitin sulfate E with various heparin-binding growth factors. Implications as a physiological binding partner in the brain and other tissues.

We previously observed that the cortical neuronal cell adhesion mediated by midkine (MK), a heparin (Hep)-binding growth factor, is specifically inhibited by oversulfated chondroitin sulfate-E (CS-E) (Ueoka, C., Kaneda, N., Okazaki, I., Nadanaka, S., Muramatsu, T., and Sugahara, K. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 37407-37413) and that CS-E exhibits neurite outgrowth promoting activities toward embryonic rat hippocampal neurons. We have also shown oversulfated CS chains in embryonic chick and rat brains and demonstrated that the CS disaccharide composition changes during brain development. In view of these findings, here we tested the possibility of CS-E interacting with Hep-binding growth factors during development, using squid cartilage CS-E. The binding ability of Hep-binding growth factors (MK, pleiotrophin (PTN), fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1), FGF-2, Hep-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), FGF-10, FGF-16, and FGF-18) toward [(3)H]CS-E was first tested by a filter binding assay, which demonstrated direct binding of all growth factors, except FGF-1, to CS-E. The bindings were characterized further in an Interaction Analysis system, where all of the growth factors, except FGF-1, gave concentration-dependent and specific bindings. The kinetic constants k(a), k(d), and K(d) suggested that MK, PTN, FGF-16, FGF-18, and HB-EGF bound strongly to CS-E, in comparable degrees to the binding to Hep, whereas the intensity of binding of FGF-2 and FGF-10 toward CS-E was lower than that for Hep. These findings suggest the possibility of CS-E being a binding partner, a coreceptor, or a genuine receptor for various Hep-binding growth factors in the brain and possibly also in other tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Gastrin enhances gastric mucosal integrity through cyclooxygenase-2 upregulation in rats.

Gastrin, PGs, and growth factors have important roles in maintaining gastrointestinal mucosal integrity. Cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) are the key enzymes involved in PG synthesis. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms of gastric mucosal protection by gastrin. Fasted rats were administered subcutaneous gastrin 17 with or without gastrin receptor antagonist YM022 pretreatment. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and COX-2 expression were examined using Western blot analysis. Another series of experiments investigated 1) PGE(2) levels in gastric mucosa, 2) the protective action of gastrin against gastric damage by acidified ethanol, 3) the effects of a specific HB-EGF-neutralizing antibody on gastrin-induced COX-2 expression, and 4) the effects of a specific COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 on PGE(2) synthesis and the mucosal protection afforded by gastrin. Gastrin dose-dependently increased HB-EGF, COX-2 expression, and PGE(2) levels and reduced gastric damage. However, pretreatment with YM022 dose-dependently abolished such effects of gastrin. A specific HB-EGF- neutralizing antibody and an EGF receptor inhibitor decreased gastrin-induced COX-2 expression. NS-398 blocked gastrin-induced PGE(2) synthesis and mucosal protection. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that gastrin enhances gastric mucosal integrity through COX-2, which is partially mediated by HB-EGF, and PGE(2) upregulation in rats.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Significance of the association between heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and CD9 in human gastric cancer.

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the EGF family. Juxtacrine activity of proHB-EGF (the membrane-anchored form of HB-EGF) has been shown to be significantly potentiated when it is coexpressed with CD9 in vitro. The purpose of our study was to investigate the issue of whether proHB-EGF and CD9 are coexpressed in gastric cancer. HB-EGF gene expression and protein production in human gastric cancers was investigated, and EGF receptor and CD9 expressions were also evaluated. HB-EGF mRNA levels in gastric cancers were elevated, compared with normal gastric tissues, especially in the intestinal type. ProHB-EGF immunoreactivity was detected primarily in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane of gastric cancer cells. Of 66 patients, 40 (60.6%) exhibited proHB-EGF immunoreactivity and the level of its expression was significantly associated with tumor status (p < 0.01) and histological differentiation (p < 0.001). In addition, proHB-EGF mRNA was detected at high levels in the intestinal type by in situ hybridization. CD9 immunoreactivity was found to be preserved in 26 of 36 patients (72.2%) and CD9 protein expression was inversely associated with lymph node status (p < 0.05). A significant correlation between its expression and histological differentiation (p < 0.01) was found, and the association of CD9 with proHB-EGF was increased in the intestinal type, as evidenced by an immunoprecipitation method. These results indicate that the coexpression of proHB-EGF and CD9 may be involved in the tumorigenesis and/or proliferation of gastric cancers in a juxtacrine manner.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Identification and characterization of novel mouse and human ADAM33s with potential metalloprotease activity.

The ADAM family of membrane-anchored proteins has a unique domain structure, with each containing a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) domain. We have isolated mouse and human cDNAs encoding a novel member of the ADAM family. The mouse and human predicted proteins consisted of 797 and 813 amino acids, respectively, and they shared 70% homology of the entire amino acid sequence. The mouse ADAM gene exists at a single gene locus. The human gene was ubiquitously expressed in tissues other than liver, was mapped to human chromosome 20p13, and was found to consist of 22 exons. Both proteins have domain organization identical to that of previously reported members of the ADAM family, and contain the typical zinc-binding consensus sequence (HEXGHXXGXXHD) in their metalloprotease domain and a pattern of cysteine localization (C(x)(3)C(x)(5)C(x)(5)CxC(x)(8)C) in their EGF-like domain that is typical of an EGF-like motif. The human protein shows homology with Xenopus ADAM13 (44%), human ADAM19 (40%), and human ADAM12 (39%). From the results of phylogenic analysis based on primary amino acid sequence and distribution of the mRNA, these novel ADAM genes were thus named ADAM33.

ADAM Proteins↗

PubMed2002

Infiltration anesthetic lidocaine inhibits cancer cell invasion by modulating ectodomain shedding of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF).

Although the mechanism is unknown, infiltration anesthetics are believed to have membrane-stabilizing action. We report here that such a most commonly used anesthetic, lidocaine, effectively inhibited the invasive ability of human cancer (HT1080, HOS, and RPMI-7951) cells at concentrations used in surgical operations (5-20 mM). Ectodomain shedding of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) from the cell surface plays an important role in invasion by HT1080 cells. Lidocaine reduced the invasion ability of these cells by partly inhibiting the shedding of HB-EGF from the cell surface and modulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration contributed to this action. The anesthetic action of lidocaine (sodium channel blocking ability) did not contribute to this anti-invasive action. In addition, lidocaine (5-30 mM), infiltrated around the inoculation site, inhibited pulmonary metastases of murine osteosarcoma (LM 8) cells in vivo. These data point to previously unrecognized beneficial actions of lidocaine and suggest that lidocaine might be an ideal infiltration anesthetic for surgical cancer operations.

Anesthetics, Local↗

PubMed2002

NF-kappaB activation in non-parenchymal liver cells after partial hepatectomy in rats: possible involvement in expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nuclear factor (NF) B activation plays a critical role in the initiation of liver growth after partial hepatectomy (PH). However, the issue of where specifically NF-B is activated is unclear. We previously reported that heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a hepatotrophic factor. The aims of this study were to identify NF-B-activated cells and to clarify their involvement in HB-EGF expression after PH. METHODS: Using rats, a two-thirds PH was performed, after which NF-B-activated cells and HB-EGF-positive cells were identified by Southwestern histochemistry or immunohistochemistry. NF-B binding activity and HB-EGF gene expression were analyzed in rat hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells (NPC) in primary culture. RESULTS: NF-B was activated in Kupffer cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells prior to activation in hepatocytes. HB-EGF immunoreactivity was detected after NF-B activation in the sinusoidal cells from those localized in the periportal zones of hepatic lobules. HB-EGF gene expression by tumor necrosis factor was accompanied by an increase in NF-B binding activity in NPC but not in hepatocytes in primary culture, which was abolished by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, an inhibitor of NF-B activation. CONCLUSIONS; NF-B was activated in NPC prior to activation in hepatocytes. NF-B activation may be involved in HB-EGF expression in NPC after PH.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Cardiac hypertrophy is inhibited by antagonism of ADAM12 processing of HB-EGF: metalloproteinase inhibitors as a new therapy.

G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists are well-known inducers of cardiac hypertrophy. We found that the shedding of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) resulting from metalloproteinase activation and subsequent transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor occurred when cardiomyocytes were stimulated by GPCR agonists, leading to cardiac hypertrophy. A new inhibitor of HB-EGF shedding, KB-R7785, blocked this signaling. We cloned a disintegrin and metalloprotease 12 (ADAM12) as a specific enzyme to shed HB-EGF in the heart and found that dominant-negative expression of ADAM12 abrogated this signaling. KB-R7785 bound directly to ADAM12, suggesting that inhibition of ADAM12 blocked the shedding of HB-EGF. In mice with cardiac hypertrophy, KB-R7785 inhibited the shedding of HB-EGF and attenuated hypertrophic changes. These data suggest that shedding of HB-EGF by ADAM12 plays an important role in cardiac hypertrophy, and that inhibition of HB-EGF shedding could be a potent therapeutic strategy for cardiac hypertrophy.

ADAM Proteins↗

PubMed2002

Involvement of HB-EGF and EGF receptor transactivation in TGF-beta-mediated fibronectin expression in mesangial cells.

BACKGROUND: Gq-coupled receptors are known to transactivate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) via the Ca2+ and PKC pathways to phosphorylate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). METHODS: We studied the involvement of EGFR in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-mediated fibronectin (FN) expression using glomerular mesangial cells. RESULTS: TGF-beta up-regulated FN mRNA accumulation in a time- and dose-dependent manner, which was completely inhibited by phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C (PC-PLC) inhibitor and PKC inhibitors (calphostin-C and staurosporin). The EGFR inhibitor AG1478 completely abolished TGF-beta-mediated FN expression. ERK inactivation by PD98059, and p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 also showed significant inhibitory effects. Addition of neutralizing anti-heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) antibody, pretreatment with heparin and the metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor batimastat blocked FN expression. In mesangial cells stably transfected with a chimera containing HB-EGF and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) genes, ALP activity in incubation medium was rapidly increased by TGF-beta (2.1-fold at 0.5 min) and reached a 3.7-fold increase at two minutes, which was abolished by calphostin-C or batimastat. TGF-beta phosphorylated EGFR, ERK and p38MAPK in a PKC- and MMP-dependent manner. Smad2 phosphorylation by TGF-beta was not affected by AG1478, and HB-EGF did not activate Smad2. FN mRNA stability was not affected by TGF-beta. Cycloheximde did not interfere with TGF-beta-mediated FN expression. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that HB-EGF processed and released via PC-PLC-PKC signaling is an intermediate molecule for TGF-beta-mediated EGFR transactivation, and subsequent activation of ERK and p38MAPK is involved in FN expression via transcriptional regulation without requiring new protein synthesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Expression of Heparin-Binding Epidermal Growth Factor-like Growth Factor in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-likegrowth factor (HB-EGF) belongs to the EGF familyand was originally identified in the conditionedmedium of a human histiotic lymphoma cell line, U937 (1). This protein is synthesized as a preproformof 208 amino acids (2), is expressed as amembrane-anchored HB-EGF, and is released as asoluble form of 87 amino acids after being processedby protease (1,2). HB-EGF binds to the EGF receptor(EGF-R) in competition with EGF (3), and exogenoussoluble HB-EGF is known to stimulateDNA synthesis in primary rat hepatocytes in a dosedependentmanner (4).

Journal Article↗