Biomedical subjects

T Fujie

Publications and source records attributed to T Fujie.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Vascular endothelial growth factor expression and neovascularisation in non-small cell lung cancer.

Many recent studies have demonstrated that tumour angiogenesis is a potent prognostic factor for various malignant tumours, but this has not been clearly shown in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate the prognostic value of MVD associated with VEGF in patients with NSCLC by comparing the immunohistochemical results obtained for CD34 with those obtained for vWf. Microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were investigated in 108 cases of NSCLC by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between von Willebrand factor (vWf) and CD34 staining for MVD was not strong, and vWf staining did not correlate with VEGF expression, but CD34 staining did. Staining for CD34 significantly correlated with survival in adenocarcinoma, distant metastasis and postoperative recurrence, but staining for vWf did not. CD34 was more sensitive and specific than vWf for staining endothelial cells associated with VEGF expression. It is suggested that research on neovascularisation should be investigated on every histological subtype or should focus on the early stages of NSCLC which are not under the influence of a variety of complications facilitating tumour neovascularisation.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

A MAGE-1-encoded HLA-A24-binding synthetic peptide induces specific anti-tumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Although several MAGE-1 peptides have already been identified, the MAGE-1-encoded peptide presented by HLA-A24, which is the most common allele in Japanese population and is also frequently present in Caucasians, might have a wide applicability for immunotherapy using these peptides. To identify this potential peptide, we examined the induction of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from the peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in HLA-A24 healthy donors by in vitro stimulation with MAGE-1-encoded synthetic peptides with a binding affinity for HLA-A24, by a simplified method. Of the 5 peptides tested, the highest HLA binder (NYKHCFPEI) was able to elicit CTL from unseparated PBMC by stimulation with freshly isolated, peptide-pulsed PMBC as antigen-presenting cells (APC) and by also using interleukin 7 and keyhole-limpet hemocyanin for a primary culture. The induced CTL could thus lyse HLA-A24 tumor cells expressing MAGE-1, as well as the peptide-pulsed target cells, in an HLA-class-I-restricted manner. By using the MAGE-1/HLA-A24 peptide, NYKHCFPEI, we found it possible to immunize many more patients, especially Japanese patients, by means of such peptide-based immunotherapeutic approaches to MAGE-1-positive malignant tumors.

Alleles↗

PubMed1999

Generation of specific antitumor reactivity by the stimulation of spleen cells from gastric cancer patients with MAGE-3 synthetic peptide.

The induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using MAGE peptide has been investigated in order to use MAGE antigens immunotherapeutically. We therefore developed a simplified method for inducing peptide-specific CTL that kill tumor cells expressing MAGE from the PBMC of either healthy donors or even cancer patients. Since the spleen is a major lymphoid organ, we used a simple method to examine the capacity of spleen cells to generate MAGE-specific CTL by in vitro stimulation with MAGE peptide in gastric cancer patients. The CTL responses could thus be induced from unseparated spleen cells in HLA-A2 patients with gastric carcinoma expressing MAGE-3 by stimulating these cells with autologous spleen cells pulsed with HLA-A2-restricted MAGE-3 peptide as antigen-presenting cells and by using keyhole limpet hemocyanin and interleukin-7 for the primary culture. The induced CTL were thus able to lyse HLA-A2-positive carcinoma cells transfected with MAGE-3 and expressing MAGE-3, as well as the target cells pulsed with the peptide, in an HLA-class-I or -A2-restricted manner. Since MAGE-specific CTL could be induced from the spleen cells of gastric cancer patients, the spleen appears to play an important role in either clinical tumor vaccination or the treatment of cancer patients by adoptive immunotherapeutic approaches using the MAGE peptide.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1999

A pilot study of a response oriented chemotherapeutic regimen combined with autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Fourteen consecutive patients with poor-risk aggressive NHL who at presentation had any one of four risk factors underwent response oriented induction chemotherapy and successive high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous PBPC transplantation. After treatment with three cycles of conventional CHOP with G-CSF support (CHOP-G), the response was evaluated. For patients who achieved a complete remission (CR), an additional three cycles of CHOP-G were administered, while for partial response patients, another induction regimen including some non-cross-resistant agents was given; three cycles of VIPDexa-G (etoposide, ifosfamide, cisplatinum and dexamethasone) +/- two cycles of ENAP-G (mitoxantrone, etoposide, cytosine arabinoside and prednisone), were given. The scheduled induction chemotherapy, was followed by treatment with a high-dose cytoreductive regimen followed by autologous PBPC transplantation. After three cycles of CHOP-G, four patients (29%) achieved a CR, and 10 (71%) achieved a partial response (PR). When all scheduled induction therapy was completed, 10 patients (71%) had a CR. All 14 patients received high-dose therapy and obtained a complete hematologic recovery, except for one with a bone marrow relapse two months after transplantation. Evaluation of response after high-dose therapy showed 12 CRs (86%) which included three additional CRs, one PR, and one toxicity-related death. With a median follow-up of 12 months (range, 4 to 40), 12 are alive, with 11 in continuous first CR, and one relapse. The 2-year overall survival (OS) rate and event-free survival (EFS) rate are 77% and 79%, respectively, while the disease-free survival (DFS) rate is 92%. In conclusion, this pilot study suggests that response oriented induction chemotherapy and successive high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous PBPC transplantation is commendable and can be associated with a high rate of remission and DFS for poor risk subjects with aggressive NHL.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

[Endoscopic resection of the thoracic sympathetic trunk for the treatment of frequent syncopal attack of idiopathic long QT syndrome].

A 22 year old man was diagnosed as having Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS), which includes a prolonged QTc, congenital neural deafness, and syncopal attacks or sudden death. In spite of medication with beta blocker, syncopal attack increased in frequency since his sister suddenly had died of JLNS. Because left stellate ganglion block improved the QTc dispersion, left cardiac sympathectomy was scheduled under the video-assisted thoracic surgery. After the premedication with midazolam, anesthesia was induced with thiamylal, and maintained with nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, and fentanyl. Serious arrhythmias were not observed throughout the perioperative period. Sympathetic trunk was successfully resected from the top of 1st ganglion to the bottom of 4th ganglion of left thoracic sympathetic trunk. Horner's sign did not appear after the surgery. Although the shortening of QTc was not significant, QTc dispersion during exercise was improved, and syncopal attack was not observed until 6 months after the surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Induction of antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes with a MAGE-3-encoded synthetic peptide presented by human leukocytes antigen-A24.

For the development of immunotherapy using MAGE peptides, the identification of additional tumor antigens is required. Because HLA-A24 is the most common allele in Japanese and is also frequently present in Caucasians, MAGE-3-encoded synthetic peptides with binding affinity for HLA-A24 were thus tested for the induction of specific CTLs from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HLA-A24 healthy donors using a simplified method. By using a peptide with a sequence of IMPKAGLLI (amino acid position in MAGE-3 195-203), the CTL responses could thus be induced from unseparated PBMCs by stimulation with freshly isolated, peptide-pulsed PBMCs as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and by also using interleukin 7 and keyhole limpet hemocyanin for a primary culture. The induced CTLs could lyse HLA-A24 carcinoma cells expressing MAGE-3, as well as the peptide-pulsed target cells, in an HLA class-I restricted manner. The identification of the MAGE-3/HLA-A24 peptide, IMPKAGLLI, may thus potentially offer the opportunities to design peptide-based immunotherapeutic approaches that might prove to be effective in treating patients with MAGE-3-positive malignant tumors.

Alleles↗

PubMed1997

Analysis of MT1-MMP and MMP2 expression in human gastric cancers.

Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is a presumed activator of MMP2, which is one of the major proteinases in tumor cell invasion. In this study, we determined the clinico-pathologic significance of MT1-MMP expression in 68 human gastric carcinomas. The tumor-normal ratio (T/N ratio) of MTI-MMP expression was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. To visualize the localization of MT1-MMP, an immunohistochemical study was performed. In addition, a gelatin zymography was done to examine the activation ratio of MMP2, and a correlation between MT1-MMP expression and activation of MMP2 was studied. The expression of MT1-MMP mRNA was higher in tumor tissue than in corresponding normal tissue in most cases. The mean value of the T/N ratio was 4.8. Twenty cases with T/N > or = 4.8 showed significantly deeper invasion and higher frequency of lymph node metastasis than 48 cases with T/N < 4.8. MT1-MMP expression was an independent factor influencing both tumor invasion of the gastric wall and lymph node metastasis. Although MT1-MMP expression was not an independent prognostic factor, the patients with T/N > or = 4.8 showed a significantly worse prognosis than those with T/N < 4.8. An immunohistochemical study demonstrated that MT1-MMP expression was mainly recognized in the tumor cells. There was a significant correlation between MT1-MMP expression and activation of MMP2. Our findings suggest that: 1) the expression of MT1-MMP may influence prognosis via tumor invasion of the gastric wall and lymph node metastasis, and 2) MT1-MMP activation of MMP2 may be clinically relevant in gastric carcinoma tumors.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Analysis of ornithine decarboxylase messenger ribonucleic acid expression in colorectal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a rate-limiting enzyme for polyamine synthesis. An elevated protein level of ODC was observed in the tumors. There has been, however, little information reported so far on the expression of ODC messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in clinical colorectal carcinomas. In vitro studies disclosed that the transcriptions of the ODC gene is regulated by the c-myc gene. METHODS: The expression of ODC and c-myc mRNA in biopsy specimens obtained from both tumor tissue and the corresponding normal tissue was examined by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method in 40 cases of colorectal carcinoma. RESULTS: The expression of ODC mRNA was observed in both tumor tissue and normal tissue. The tumor to normal ratio of ODC mRNA was higher in cases with deeply invasive tumors than in cases with shallow tumors, and it was also higher in Dukes B or C cases than in Dukes A cases. There was a significant correlation between the tumor to normal ratio of c-myc mRNA and that of ODC mRNA in each case. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that 1) the study of the expression of ODC mRNA may be useful for preoperatively predicting more advanced disease of colon carcinoma, and 2) there was a significant correlation between expression of ODC and c-myc mRNA in the clinical samples, which was similar to the findings of a previous in vitro study.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Efficient induction of antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes from a healthy donor using HLA-A2-restricted MAGE-3 peptide in vitro.

The antigenic peptides encoded by tumor-rejection antigen genes, MAGE-1 and -3, have been identified, and various methods have been utilized for the in vitro induction of MAGE-specific, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using synthetic peptides. However, all of these methods are technically demanding and thus have a relatively limited usefulness. We herein report a simple and efficient method for the vitro induction of specific CTL by using the HLA-A2-restricted MAGE-3 peptide from the PBMC of a healthy donor. CTL responses could thus be efficiently induced from unseparated PBMC by stimulation with freshly isolated, peptide-pulsed PBMC as antigen-presenting cells and by using interleukin-7 and keyhole limpet hemocyanin for the primary culture. The induced CTL could thus recognize and lyse not only HLA-A2 target cells pulsed with the peptide but also HLA-A2 tumor cells expressing MAGE-3, in an HLA-class-I-restricted manner. This simple method may, therefore, become a useful tool for investigating the potential peptides for tumor antigens as well as for developing various immunotherapeutic approaches for human malignant tumors.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed1997

Expression of MAGE and BAGE genes in Japanese breast cancers.

BACKGROUND: The MAGE and BAGE genes code for distinct antigens, which are recognized on melanoma cells as well as on other various tumor cells by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes. These antigens may thus constitute useful targets for specific immunotherapy, since no expression of MAGE or BAGE genes has been recognized in normal tissue except for the testis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied the MAGE-1, MAGE-3, and BAGE gene expression observed in 49 Japanese breast cancers. Gene expression was evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Out of 49 tumor tissue specimens of primary breast cancers, the expression of MAGE-1, -3 and BAGE was recognized in 15 (31%), 12 (24%), and 4 (8%) tumors, respectively. The expression of MAGE and BAGE genes is not recognized in normal breast tissue. The expression of the MAGE-3 gene was frequently recognized in tumors with lymphatic and/or vascular vessel permeations. Either MAGE-1 or -3 gene expressions were induced in 1 of 3 MAGE-1 negative breast cell lines or 1 of 3 MAGE-3 negative breast cell lines by the treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that: 1) the identification of such antigens coded by MAGE or BAGE genes may thus offer the possibility of using specific immunotherapy, and 2) the use of a demethylating agent may increase the number of patients who might be candidates for MAGE specific immunotherapy.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed1997

Clinical significance of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase expression in gastric carcinoma.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) has been reported to inhibit tumour invasion through an inactivation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) both in vitro and in vivo. Among the TIMP family, TIMP-1 possesses not only proteinase inhibitory activity but also a growth-promoting function. However, the significance of the expression of TIMP-1 in human gastric carcinoma tissue has yet to be clarified. In 50 examined cases of gastric carcinoma, 44 (88%) cases showed a higher expression of TIMP-1 mRNA in the biopsy samples from the tumour tissue (T) than in the biopsy samples from the corresponding normal tissue (N), as determined by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In a multivariate analysis, the T/N ratio of TIMP-1 mRNA was found to be an independent factor influencing the depth of tumour invasion and was the second most important factor in determining the prognosis of patients. As RT-PCR assay can be performed on biopsy specimens obtained before surgery, an evaluation of the TIMP-1 expression in biopsy specimens by RT-PCR may thus provide useful preoperative information on tumour aggressiveness.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Induction of antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of cancer patients using HLA-A2-restricted MAGE-3 peptide in vitro.

As the basis for the application of MAGE antigens to therapeutic use, the induction of peptide-specific CTLs has been investigated by the stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with antigenic peptides derived from MAGE genes. However, the cross-reactivity of the peptide-induced CTLs to the target cells endogenously presenting the MAGE epitope, especially in cancer patients, remains controversial, despite the use of complicated manipulations. Because we recently developed a new simplified method to induce peptide-specific CTLs that killed MAGE expressing tumor cells from the PBMCs of a healthy donor, we examined the induction of specific CTLs by stimulation of PBMCs with HLA-A2-restricted MAGE-3 peptide in HLA-A2(+) cancer patients whose tumors expressed MAGE-3 by using the simple method. The CTL responses could thus be induced from unseparated PBMCs by stimulation with freshly isolated, peptide-pulsed PBMCs as antigen-presenting cells and by using interleukin 7 and keyhole limpet hemocyanin for the primary culture. All CTLs induced from the PBMCs of four cancer patients tested could thus lyse the HLA-A2 target cells pulsed with the peptide, and moreover, two of the CTLs were also able to kill HLA-A2 tumor cells expressing MAGE-3 in a HLA class I and A2-restricted manner. Therefore, these findings seem to indicate that HLA-A2-restricted MAGE-3 peptide may be potentially useful for specific immunotherapy in cancer patients.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed1996

Culture of cells derived from the human sebaceous gland under serum-free conditions without a biological feeder layer or specific matrices.

We succeeded in serially culturing cells derived from human sebaceous gland (sebocytes) under serum-free conditions. Sebaceous glands were isolated from dispase-treated facial skin specimens and cultured using two different methods, explant culture and dispersed cell culture, in KGM. In both types of culture the sebocytes proliferated rapidly without a biological feeder layer or specific matrices. It was possible to cultivate the cells serially for at least three passages (explant culture) and six passages (dispersed cell culture), and to store the cells in liquid nitrogen with good recovery. Analytical thin-layer chromatography revealed that the cells synthesized a large amount of sebum-specific lipids, squalene and wax esters in vitro. Both testosterone and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone significantly stimulated the proliferation of the sebocytes. The methods presented here may permit a large series of studies on the function of sebaceous glands or cells derived from sebaceous glands.

Cell Culture Techniques↗

PubMed1996

Anticholinesterase drugs stimulate phosphatidylinositol response in rat tracheal slices.

Some anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) drugs induce airway smooth muscle contraction. Whether anti-ChE drugs stimulate muscarinic receptors in airway smooth muscle as well as nicotinic receptors in neuromuscular junction is unknown. Since there is a direct relationship between phosphatidylinositol (PI) response and airway smooth muscle contraction induced by muscarinic agonists, we examined the effects of neostigmine, physostigmine, pyridostigmine, and edrophonium on PI response in the airway smooth muscle. The rat tracheal slices were incubated in Krebs-Henseleit solution containing LiCl and [3H]myo-inositol in the presence of carbachol, anti-ChE, or none of them. [3H]inositol monophosphate (IP1), which is a degradation product of PI response, was counted with a liquid scintillation counter. Inositol monophosphate accumulation was stimulated by neostigmine, physostigmine, and pyridostigmine in a dose-dependent manner, but was not affected by edrophonium. These increases were completely inhibited by atropine. The results suggest that neostigmine, physostigmine, and pyridostigmine stimulate PI response in the airway smooth muscle, which would cause bronchoconstriction, while edrophonium does not affect PI response.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Expression of BAGE, GAGE, and MAGE genes in human gastric carcinoma.

The MAGE, BAGE, and GAGE genes code for distinct antigens that are recognized by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes. We investigated the expression of these genes in both cell lines and surgical samples of gastric carcinoma, using reverse transcription-PCR. Furthermore, the induction of these genes by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC), a demethylating agent, was also examined in several cell lines. Of 11 cell lines, BAGE, GAGE1-6, GAGE1-2, MAGE-1, and MAGE-3 were detected in 7 (64%), 4 (36%), 3 (27%), 8 (73%), and 8 (73%) cell lines, respectively. After the in vitro treatment of the negative cell lines with DAC, the expression of these genes became positive in 46 to 91% of these cell lines. No expression of these genes was seen in any of the 57 samples of normal gastric tissue. In contrast, the tumor tissue samples expressed BAGE, GAGE1-6, GAGE1-2, MAGE-1, and MAGE-3 in 13 (23%), 9 (16%), 6 (11%), 25 (44%), and 23 (40%) tissue samples, respectively. Thus, at least one of these genes was expressed in 35 (61%) of 57 carcinomas. An analysis of the relationship between clinicopathological factors and the expression of these genes revealed that either BAGE or one of these genes was more frequently expressed in histologically intestinal-type than in diffuse-type carcinomas. Our results suggest that, because of the higher expression of these genes and the possible induction of these genes by DAC, patients with gastric carcinoma may, therefore, be potential candidates for tumor-specific immunotherapy directed against these antigens.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Accumulation of lauric acid in skin as an enhancer for the percutaneous absorption of thiamine disulfide.

The permeation and accumulation of lauric acid (12:0) in rat skin as an enhancer for the percutaneous absorption of thiamine disulfide (TDS), using propylene glycol as a vehicle, were determined in vitro. 12:0 barely permeated through skin, and accumulated in skin. The accumulated amount increased increasing concentrations in the vehicle (1-20%). The proportion of the accumulation to total dose was highest at a dose of 5%. A positive relationship was found between the accumulated amount of TDS and 12:0. It was suggested that the penetration of 12:0 into skin contributes to the enhanced partition of TDS to skin.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Experimental approaches for the reconstitution of hair in vitro.

When plucked follicles were cultured together with isolated dermal papillae in a collagen gel matrix, outer root sheath cells (ORSCs) grew more rapidly and actively than without the papillae. Cultured dermal papilla cells also activated the colony growth of ORSCs in vitro. These results may suggest the existence of some papilla-derived factor(s) activating the growth of ORSCs. In cultures of excised whole follicles whose dermal papilla had been removed, epithelial cells of bulb matrix origin grew out from the bulbous portion, and formed spikes. When a dermal papilla was implanted close to the follicle, the spikes elongated toward the papilla, and finally reached and surrounded it. This finding suggests that dermal papillae may produce some factor(s) attracting epithelial cells of hair bulb origin. In cultures of excised whole follicles, when the dermal papilla remained originally positioned in contact with the hair bulb matrix, the hair and follicle elongated for more than 1 week. But when the dermal papilla was detached from the bulb matrix, the matrix cells proliferated into the gel and formed a hair-follicle-like structure (folliculoid). In cultures of excised whole follicles whose papilla-matrix junction had been damaged by dispase, elongation of the hair and follicle was almost completely suppressed. Thus, the attachment of the dermal papilla to the bulb matrix appears to be necessary for normal hair and follicle growth.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1994

Effect of fatty acid on the accumulation of thiamine disulfide in rat skin.

The effect of long chain fatty acid (FA) and its analogs on the accumulation of thiamine disulfide (TDS) in rat skin using propylene glycol as a vehicle was studied in vitro. Lauric acid (12:0) increased the accumulation of TDS in skin, while myristic acid and stearic acid caused a slight decrease in accumulation. Lauryl alcohol and lauric acid methyl ester did not change the accumulation of TDS in the skin. The ratio of the amount of TDS accumulated in skin to the solubility of TDS in the vehicle increased dependent on the concentration of 12:0 added in the vehicle. It was suggested that the increase in the permeability coefficient of TDS by 12:0 results from the enhanced transport of TDS from the vehicle to skin.

Animals↗