Biomedical subjects

Shuh Narumiya

Publications and source records attributed to Shuh Narumiya.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Actin turnover-dependent fast dissociation of capping protein in the dendritic nucleation actin network: evidence of frequent filament severing.

Actin forms the dendritic nucleation network and undergoes rapid polymerization-depolymerization cycles in lamellipodia. To elucidate the mechanism of actin disassembly, we characterized molecular kinetics of the major filament end-binding proteins Arp2/3 complex and capping protein (CP) using single-molecule speckle microscopy. We have determined the dissociation rates of Arp2/3 and CP as 0.048 and 0.58 s(-1), respectively, in lamellipodia of live XTC fibroblasts. This CP dissociation rate is three orders of magnitude faster than in vitro. CP dissociates slower from actin stress fibers than from the lamellipodial actin network, suggesting that CP dissociation correlates with actin filament dynamics. We found that jasplakinolide, an actin depolymerization inhibitor, rapidly blocked the fast CP dissociation in cells. Consistently, the coexpression of LIM kinase prolonged CP speckle lifetime in lamellipodia. These results suggest that cofilin-mediated actin disassembly triggers CP dissociation from actin filaments. We predict that filament severing and end-to-end annealing might take place fairly frequently in the dendritic nucleation actin arrays.

Actin Capping Proteins↗

PubMed2006

The IOP-lowering effects and mechanism of action of tafluprost in prostanoid receptor-deficient mice.

AIM: To clarify the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering profile of tafluprost, a newly synthesised prostaglandin F(2alpha) analogue, in mice. METHODS: C57BL/6J, and EP1, EP2, EP3 and postaglandin F (FP) receptor-deficient wild-type (WT), EP1KO, EP2KO, EP3KO and FPKO, respectively mice were bred and acclimatised under a 12-h (6:00-18:00) light-dark cycle. To evaluate effects of tafluprost (0.002%) on IOP at night, a single 3 microl drop of tafluprost solution was applied topically at 18:00 once into one eye in each mouse. IOP was measured 3 h after the application with a microneedle method. To clarify whether endogenous prostaglandin is concerned with the tafluprost-induced IOP reduction, we applied 0.1% diclofenac Na, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor or PBS 30 min before the application of tafluprost in WT and EP3KO mice and measured IOP 3 h after the tafluprost application. We also determined whether animals responded predictably to 0.1% bunazosin HCl, a drug known to increase uveoscleral outflow. RESULTS: 3 h after the application of 0.0015% tafluprost, mean (SEM) IOP reductions were 25.8 (2.1)% 26.3 (0.8)% 24.2 (1.4)% 16.5 (1.7)% and -0.9 (1.5)% in WT, EP1KO, EP2KO, EP3KO and FPKO mice, respectively. IOP reductions in EP3KO and FPKO mice were significantly smaller than in WT mice. Pretreatment with diclofenac Na significantly attenuated the IOP lowering effect of tafluprost in WT mice but not in EP3KO mice. Bunazosin HCl lowered IOP significantly in all genotypes by the same amount. CONCLUSION: We conclude that tafluprost lowers IOP through the prostanoid FP receptor. A part of ocular hypotensive effect of tafluprost is attributed to FP receptor-mediated prostaglandin production acting through the prostanoid EP3 receptor.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2006

Protection of atherogenesis in thromboxane A2 receptor-deficient mice is not associated with thromboxane A2 receptor in bone marrow-derived cells.

In the previous study, we generated mice lacking thromboxane A2 receptor (TP) and apolipoprotein E, apoE(-/-)TP(-/-) mice, and reported that the double knockout mice developed markedly smaller atherosclerotic lesions than those in apoE(-/-) mice. To investigate the mechanism responsible for reduced atherosclerosis in apoE(-/-)TP(-/-) mice, we examined the role of TP in bone marrow (BM)-derived cells in the development of the atherosclerotic lesions. When we compared the function of macrophages in apoE(-/-) and in apoE(-/-)TP(-/-) mouse in vitro, there was no difference in the expression levels of cytokines and chemokines after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. We then transplanted the BM from either apoE(-/-) or apoE(-/-)TP(-/-) mice to either apoE(-/-) or apoE(-/-)TP(-/-) mice after sublethal irradiation. After 12 weeks with high fat diet, we analyzed the atherosclerotic lesion of aortic sinus. When the BM from apoE(-/-) or apoE(-/-)TP(-/-) mice was transplanted to apoE(-/-) mice, the lesion size was almost the same as that of apoE(-/-) mice without BM transplantation. In contrast, when the BM from apoE(-/-) or apoE(-/-)TP(-/-) mice was transplanted to apoE(-/-)TP(-/-) mice, the lesion size was markedly reduced. These results indicate that the protection of atherogenesis in TP(-/-) mice is not associated with TP in BM-derived cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Prostaglandin E2 is required for ultraviolet B-induced skin inflammation via EP2 and EP4 receptors.

Keratinocytes are the major target of sunlight, and they produce prostaglandin (PG) E(2) upon ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Although indomethacin, one of cyclooxygenase inhibitors, is known to suppress UV-induced acute skin inflammation, it remains uncertain whether endogenous PGE(2) is responsible for UV-induced skin inflammation, and which subtype of PGE(2) receptors mediates this process. UV-induced skin inflammation was investigated by using genetically and pharmacologically PGE(2) receptor-deficient mice. We applied UV-induced skin inflammation model to genetical and pharmacological PGE(2) receptor-deficient mice. We exposed UVB on these mice at 5 kJ/m(2), and examined the ear swelling and the histological findings. We also measured the blood flow using a laser doppler device to assess the intensity of UVB-induced inflammatory change. The UV-induced ear swelling at 48 h after exposure was significantly reduced in EP2(-/-), EP4(-/-) or wild-type mice treated with the EP4 antagonist compared to control mice. Consistently, inflammatory cell infiltration into the local skin, and local blood flow after UV exposure were significantly reduced by EP2 or EP4 signaling blockade. These data suggest that PGE(2)-EP2/EP4 signaling is mandatory in UV-induced acute skin inflammation, presumably by enhancing blood flow in the microenvironment.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Host and direct antitumor effects and profound reduction in tumor metastasis with selective EP4 receptor antagonism.

Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), one of the major metabolites of cyclooxygenase-2, has been implicated in tumorigenesis and tumor progression in several human cancers, including colorectal and lung. Here, we show that one of the PGE(2) receptors, the EP4 receptor, plays an important role in metastasis in both of these tumor types. Using i.v. injected Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL), we found that tumor metastasis to lung was significantly reduced when mice were treated with a specific EP4 antagonist ONO-AE3-208 or when EP4 receptor expression was knocked down in the tumor cells using RNA interference technology. Host EP4 receptors also contributed to tumor metastasis and tumor growth with decreased metastasis and tumor growth observed in EP4 receptor knockout animals. In vitro tumor cell adhesion, motility, invasion, colony formation, and Akt phosphorylation were all significantly inhibited when 3LL cells were treated with the EP4 receptor-specific antagonist. When the cells were treated with an EP4-specific agonist (AE1-734), we observed a worsening of these same features in vitro. Treatment with ONO-AE3-208 also profoundly decreased liver metastases after intrasplenic injection of MC26 colon cancer cells. Our data show that selective antagonism of EP4 receptor signaling results in a profound reduction in lung and colon cancer metastasis. Selective antagonism of the EP4 receptor may thus represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer and especially its propensity to metastasize.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Spinal prostaglandin E receptors of the EP2 subtype and the glycine receptor alpha3 subunit, which mediate central inflammatory hyperalgesia, do not contribute to pain after peripheral nerve injury or formalin injection.

Inflammation, peripheral nerve injury and chemical irritants can cause central sensitization in pain pathways. Prostaglandins produced in the CNS induce central sensitization during inflammation mainly by relieving nociceptive neurons from glycinergic inhibition. We have recently identified spinal prostaglandin E receptors of the EP2 subtype (EP2 receptors) and the glycine receptor alpha3 subunit (GlyR alpha3) as signal transduction elements involved in the generation of central inflammatory hyperalgesia. It is however still unknown to what extent inhibition of glycine receptors by PGE2 contributes to neuropathic or chemically induced pain. To address this question, we have analyzed mice deficient in the EP2 receptor (EP2-/- mice) or in the GlyR alpha3 subunit (GlyR alpha3-/- mice) using the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain and the formalin test. We found that EP2-/- mice and GlyR alpha3-/- mice develop thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in the CCI model indistinguishable from that seen in wild-type mice. In the formalin test, EP2-/- mice, but not GlyR alpha3-/- mice, exhibited reduced nocifensive behavior. The lack of a phenotype in GlyR alpha3-/- mice together with the absence of a facilitating effect of intrathecal PGE2 on formalin-induced nociception in wild-type mice suggests that peripheral rather than spinal EP2 receptors are involved. These results indicate that inhibition of glycinergic neurotransmission by EP2 receptor activation does not contribute to pain following peripheral nerve injury or chemical irritation with formalin. Our results thus provide further evidence that inflammatory hyperalgesia and neuropathic pain involve different mechanisms of central sensitization.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

An essential role of Cdc42-like GTPases in mitosis of HeLa cells.

Here we used RNA interference and examined possible redundancy amongst Rho GTPases in their mitotic role. Chromosome misalignment is induced significantly in HeLa cells by Cdc42 depletion and not by depletion of either one or all of the other four Cdc42-like GTPases (TC10, TCL, Wrch1 or Wrch2), four Rac-like GTPases or three Rho-like GTPases. Notably, combined depletion of Cdc42 and all of the other four Cdc42-like GTPases significantly enhances chromosomal misalignment. These observations suggest that Cdc42 is the primary GTPase functioning during mitosis but that the other four Cdc42-like GTPases can also assume the mitotic role in its absence.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Molecular identification and characterization of a family of kinases with homology to Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases I/IV.

Despite the critical importance of Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) II signaling in neuroplasticity, only a limited amount of work has so far been available regarding the presence and significance of another predominant CaMK subfamily, the CaMKI/CaMKIV family, in the central nervous system. We here searched for kinases with a core catalytic structure similar to CaMKI and CaMKIV. We isolated full-length cDNAs encoding three mouse CaMKI/CaMKIV-related kinases, CLICK-I (CL1)/doublecortin and CaM kinase-Like (DCAMKL)1, CLICK-II (CL2)/DCAMKL2, and CLICK-I,II-related (CLr)/DCAMKL3, the kinase domains of which had an intermediate homology not only to CaMKI/CaMKIV but also to CaMKII. Furthermore, CL1, CL2, and CLr were highly expressed in the central nervous system, in a neuron-specific fashion. CL1alpha and CL1beta were shorter isoforms of DCAMKL1, which lacked the doublecortin-like domain (Dx). In contrast, CL2alpha and CL2beta contained a full N-terminal Dx, whereas CLr only possessed a partial and dysfunctional Dx. Interestingly, despite a large similarity in the kinase domain, CL1/CL2/CLr had an impact on CRE-dependent gene expression distinct from that of the related CaMKI/CaMKIV and CaMKII. Although these were previously shown to activate Ca(2+)/cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)-dependent transcription, we here show that CL1 and CL2 were unable to significantly phosphorylate CREB Ser-133 and rather inhibited CRE-dependent gene expression by a dominant mechanism that bypassed CREB and was mediated by phosphorylated TORC2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Prostaglandin D2-mediated microglia/astrocyte interaction enhances astrogliosis and demyelination in twitcher.

Prostaglandin (PG) D2 is well known as a mediator of inflammation. Hematopoietic PGD synthase (HPGDS) is responsible for the production of PGD2 involved in inflammatory responses. Microglial activation and astrogliosis are commonly observed during neuroinflammation, including that which occurs during demyelination. Using the genetic demyelination mouse twitcher, a model of human Krabbe's disease, we discovered that activated microglia expressed HPGDS and activated astrocytes expressed the DP1 receptor for PGD2 in the brain of these mice. Cultured microglia actively produced PGD2 by the action of HPGDS. Cultured astrocytes expressed two types of PGD2 receptor, DP1 and DP2, and showed enhanced GFAP production after stimulation of either receptor with its respective agonist. These results suggest that PGD2 plays an important role in microglia/astrocyte interaction. We demonstrated that the blockade of the HPGDS/PGD2/DP signaling pathway using HPGDS- or DP1-null twitcher mice, and twitcher mice treated with an HPGDS inhibitor, HQL-79 (4-benzhydryloxy-1-[3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-propyl]piperidine), resulted in remarkable suppression of astrogliosis and demyelination, as well as a reduction in twitching and spasticity. Furthermore, we found that the degree of oligodendroglial apoptosis was also reduced in HPGDS-null and HQL-79-treated twitcher mice. These results suggest that PGD2 is the key neuroinflammatory molecule that heightens the pathological response to demyelination in twitcher mice.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Rho GTPases in animal cell mitosis.

The Rho GTPases have been thought to influence cell morphogenesis through remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. Consistently, downstream targets such as the mDia family of formins and the WASP family proteins induce actin nucleation and polymerization, and another set of downstream effectors, the ROCK family protein kinases, are involved in regulation of actomyosin contractility. However, evidence has now accumulated that Rho GTPases also regulate local dynamics of microtubules. The mDia family proteins, for example, function downstream of Rho to stabilize and align microtubules in interphase cells. Concomitantly, the role of Rho GTPases in animal cell division, once thought to be limited to cytokinesis, has now been shown to extend to mitosis. Recent work indicates that they may function during both spindle orientation and chromosome congression. However, their involvement is cell-type-specific, raising arguments for and against a mitotic role for Rho GTPases.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Prostacyclin-IP signaling and prostaglandin E2-EP2/EP4 signaling both mediate joint inflammation in mouse collagen-induced arthritis.

Prostaglandin (PG)I2 (prostacyclin [PGI]) and PGE2 are abundantly present in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Although the role of PGE2 in RA has been well studied, how much PGI2 contributes to RA is little known. To examine this issue, we backcrossed mice lacking the PGI receptor (IP) to the DBA/1J strain and subjected them to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). IP-deficient (IP-/-) mice exhibited significant reduction in arthritic scores compared with wild-type (WT) mice, despite anti-collagen antibody production and complement activation similar to WT mice. IP-/- mice also showed significant reduction in contents of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 in arthritic paws. Consistently, the addition of an IP agonist to cultured synovial fibroblasts significantly enhanced IL-6 production and induced expression of other arthritis-related genes. On the other hand, loss or inhibition of each PGE receptor subtype alone did not affect elicitation of inflammation in CIA. However, a partial but significant suppression of CIA was achieved by the combined inhibition of EP2 and EP4. Our results show significant roles of both PGI2-IP and PGE2-EP2/EP4 signaling in the development of CIA, and suggest that inhibition of PGE2 synthesis alone may not be sufficient for suppression of RA symptoms.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Measurement of activity of rho GTPases during mitosis.

The members of Rho-family GTPases regulate progression through mitosis. Rho induces the contractile ring at the equatorial cortex of the dividing cell, and thus works as a molecular switch between nuclear division and cytokinesis. Cdc42 regulates the progression from prometaphase to metaphase by stabilizing microtubule attachment to the kinetochore. These results suggest that Rho GTPases are activated at specific points in mitosis and regulate each step. Here we describe the methods to analyze the activity and regulation of Rho GTPases during mitosis.

Carrier Proteins↗

PubMed2006

Analysis of a mitotic role of Cdc42.

Rho GTPases including Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 determine the cell shape by regulating the actin and microtubule dynamics. Through these actions on cytoskeleton, Rho GTPases also regulate cell cycle progression. Specifically, Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 regulate G1-S progression, and Rho regulates cytokinesis. However, involvement of these GTPases in nuclear division has not been definitely shown. This seems to be due to the lack of standard procedures examining mitosis-specific functions of these GTPases. Recently, we have found a mitosis-specific role of Cdc42 by enrichment of cells in mitosis by cell cycle synchronization and interfering with functions of Rho GTPases. This chapter describes the procedures we used in these studies.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2006

The Rho-mDia1 pathway regulates cell polarity and focal adhesion turnover in migrating cells through mobilizing Apc and c-Src.

Directed cell migration requires cell polarization and adhesion turnover, in which the actin cytoskeleton and microtubules work critically. The Rho GTPases induce specific types of actin cytoskeleton and regulate microtubule dynamics. In migrating cells, Cdc42 regulates cell polarity and Rac works in membrane protrusion. However, the role of Rho in migration is little known. Rho acts on two major effectors, ROCK and mDia1, among which mDia1 produces straight actin filaments and aligns microtubules. Here we depleted mDia1 by RNA interference and found that mDia1 depletion impaired directed migration of rat C6 glioma cells by inhibiting both cell polarization and adhesion turnover. Apc and active Cdc42, which work together for cell polarization, localized in the front of migrating cells, while active c-Src, which regulates adhesion turnover, localized in focal adhesions. mDia1 depletion impaired localization of these molecules at their respective sites. Conversely, expression of active mDia1 facilitated microtubule-dependent accumulation of Apc and active Cdc42 in the polar ends of the cells and actin-dependent recruitment of c-Src in adhesions. Thus, the Rho-mDia1 pathway regulates polarization and adhesion turnover by aligning microtubules and actin filaments and delivering Apc/Cdc42 and c-Src to their respective sites of action.

Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome↗

PubMed2006

The effects of prostaglandin analogues on prostanoid EP1, EP2, and EP3 receptor-deficient mice.

PURPOSE: To determine the role of prostanoid EP receptors in the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of prostaglandin analogues in EP receptor-deficient mice. METHODS: Animals were bred and acclimatized in a 12-hour light-dark cycle. The diurnal IOP variation was measured by a microneedle method in EP1, EP2, and EP3 receptor-deficient mice (EP1KO, EP2KO and EP3KO) and in their wild-type (WT) background strain. IOP was measured in each mouse at night 3 hours after application of latanoprost, travoprost (0.004%), bimatoprost (0.03%), or unoprostone (0.12%). In WT and EP3KO mice, the effects of preapplication of diclofenac Na on drug-induced IOP reduction were examined. RESULTS: Baseline IOPs were the same for all strains. Higher baseline IOPs were observed at night. Maximum IOP reduction occurred in WT mice 3 hours after latanoprost application during the day and night. Three hours after instillation at night, each of the four drugs lowered IOP significantly in WT, EP1KO, and EP2KO mice, whereas EP3KO a significantly lesser effect was induced by latanoprost, travoprost, and bimatoprost. Preapplication of diclofenac Na significantly attenuated drug-induced IOP reduction in WT but not in EP3KO mice. CONCLUSIONS: Deficiency of EP receptors had no effect on physiological IOP. EP1 and EP2 receptors are not involved in prostaglandin analogue-induced IOP reduction, whereas EP3 receptors may play a role.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Recruitment of a prostaglandin E receptor subtype, EP3-expressing bone marrow cells is crucial in wound-induced angiogenesis.

E-type prostaglandins have been reported to be proangiogenic in vivo. Thus, we examined prostaglandin receptor signaling relevant to wound-induced angiogenesis. Full-thickness skin wounds were created on the backs of mice, and angiogenesis in wound granulation tissues was estimated. Wound closure and re-epithelization in EP3 receptor knockout mice (EP3-/-) were significantly delayed compared with their wild-type (WT) mice, whereas those in EP1-/-, EP2-/-, and EP4-/- were not delayed. Wound-induced angiogenesis estimated with CD31 immunohistochemistry in EP3-/- mice was significantly inhibited compared with that in WT mice. Immunoreactive vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in wound granulation tissues in EP3-/- mice was markedly less than that in WT mice. Wound closure in WT mice was delayed significantly by VEGF neutralizing antibody compared with control IgG. Wound-induced angiogenesis and wound closure were significantly suppressed in EP3-/- bone marrow transplantation mice compared with those in WT bone marrow transplantation mice. These were accompanied with the reductions in accumulation of VEGF-expressing cells in wound granulation tissues and in mobilization of VEGF receptor 1-expressing leukocytes in peripheral circulation. These results indicate that the recruitment of EP3-expressing cells to wound granulation tissues is critical for surgical wound healing and angiogenesis via up-regulation of VEGF.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Possible role of Rho/Rhotekin signaling in mammalian septin organization.

There is growing evidence for crosstalk between septin filaments and actin cytoskeleton which is regulated by Rho family of GTPases. Here we show that active Rho disrupts septin filament structures in rat embryonic fibroblast REF52 cells. Among Rho effector molecules tested, Rhotekin induced morphological changes of septin filaments similar to those by activated Rho. The center region of Rhotekin was sufficient for the septin reorganization in the cells, and likely to interact indirectly with the C-terminal half of a septin Sept9b, where a GTPase domain is located. Rhotekin and Sept9b are colocalized mainly in perinuclear regions in serum-starved REF52 cells. Upon stimulation with lysophosphatidic acid, they translocated to actin stress fibers in 10 min and then redistributed again to cytoplasm after 90 min treatment. In neuroblastoma Neuro2a cells, Rhotekin and Sept9b were enriched in the tip of neurites, a location where cortical actin reorganization is induced upon stimulation with lysophosphatidic acid. Taken together, we propose that Rhotekin is a novel regulator organizing mammalian septin structures and provide a new link between the septin and Rho-signaling.

Actins↗

PubMed2005

Prostaglandin E receptor EP1 controls impulsive behavior under stress.

Animals under stress take adaptive actions that may lead to various types of behavioral disinhibition. Such behavioral disinhibition, when expressed excessively and impulsively, can result in harm in individuals and cause a problem in our society. We now show that, under social or environmental stress, mice deficient in prostaglandin E receptor subtype EP1 (Ptger1(-/-)) manifest behavioral disinhibition, including impulsive aggression with defective social interaction, impaired cliff avoidance, and an exaggerated acoustic startle response. This phenotype was reproduced in wild-type mice by administration of an EP1-selective antagonist, whereas administration of an EP1-selective agonist suppressed electric-shock-induced impulsive aggression. Dopamine turnover in the frontal cortex and striatum was increased in Ptger1(-/-) mice, and administration of dopaminergic antagonists corrected their behavioral phenotype. These results suggest that prostaglandin E(2) acts through EP1 to control impulsive behavior under stress, a finding potentially exploitable for development of drugs that attenuate impulsive behavior in humans.

Animals↗