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Biomedical subjects

T Kaneko

Publications and source records attributed to T Kaneko.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A novel orally active inhibitor of IL-1 generation: synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 3-(4-hydroxy-1-naphthalenyl)-2-propenoic acid derivatives.

A new series of 3-(4-hydroxy-1-naphthalenyl)-2-propenoic acids was prepared and the inhibitory activities of its members on IL-1 generation were evaluated both by in vitro systems using human monocytes and/or rat exudated macrophages stimulated with LPS, and by an in vivo system using the rat CMC-LPS air-pouch model. Many compounds in this series were found to be potent inhibitors of IL-1 generation both in vitro and in vivo. Structure-activity relationships indicated that in the rat CMC-LPS air-pouch model by oral administration the (Z)-2-substituted propenoic acids with 3-alkoxy, 5-alkyl, and 4-hydroxy substituents on the naphthalene ring exhibit optimal inhibition. Among the compounds evaluated, (Z)-3-(5-ethyl-4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-1-naphthalenyl)-2-methyl-2-propeno ic acid (20a), which inhibited IL-1 generation from human monocytes with an IC50 value of 3.0 microM and had an IC50 value of 1.4 microM for rat exudated macrophages, showed the most potent inhibitory activity in the rat CMC-LPS model by oral administration. Compound 20a also showed antiinflammatory effects in animal models of inflammation.

Acrylates

Glutamate immunoreactive terminals in the lateral amygdaloid nucleus: a possible substrate for emotional memory.

The ultrastructure and synaptic associations of terminals immunoreactive for L-glutamate (Glu) were examined in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (AL). All results reported here involved tissue fixed only with paraformaldehyde. The specificity of the antiserum with paraformaldehyde fixation conditions was assessed and confirmed by immuno-dot blot analysis: the reactivity of anti-Glu to glutamic acid was at least 1,000 times greater than the reactivity to other amino acids. At the light microscopic level, Glu-immunoreactive punctate processes and somata were present in AL. At the electron microscopic level, many Glu-immunoreactive terminals were identified. Data analysis was performed on 365 of these labeled terminals. Glu-immunoreactive terminals were 0.3-1.5 microns in diameter and contained numerous small, clear vesicles as well as mitochondria. Many (77%) of the terminals analyzed had morphologically identifiable synaptic specializations. Most (90%) of the Glu-immunoreactive terminals with synaptic specializations formed asymmetric synapses on spines or small dendrites; synaptic specializations on soma or proximal dendrites were rarely seen (< 1%). Glu-immunoreactive terminals were qualitatively compared to terminals in AL labeled with two other antisera: anti-glutaminase, a marker for the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of glutamine to the releasable or transmitter form of Glu, and anti-gamma-aminobutyric acid (anti-GABA), a marker for the major inhibitory amino acid transmitter in the brain. Terminals immunoreactive for glutaminase, like those immunoreactive for Glu, formed mostly asymmetric synaptic specializations on spines or small dendrites. In contrast, GABA-immunoreactive terminals usually formed symmetric synapses on soma or proximal dendrites and were never observed to form asymmetric axo-spinous contacts. Although Glu is a metabolic precursor to GABA, these data indicate that the majority of Glu-immunoreactive terminals reflect the site of synthesis and release of Glu and not of GABA. In addition, these results provide morphological evidence that Glu plays a role in excitatory neurotransmission at synapses in AL and support the growing body of data implicating excitatory amino acid-mediated synaptic plasticity in-emotional learning and memory processes in AL.

Amino Acids

Stimulation of phosphoinositol turnover and protein kinase C activation by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in HL-60 cells.

Phosphoinositol turnover, diacylglycerol generation, protein kinase C (PK-C) activity, and intracellular cyclic nucleotides were studied in an established human leukemia cell line, HL-60, in response to one of the hematopoietic cytokines, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Continuous exposure of HL-60 cells to GM-CSF induced the cell differentiation that was evaluated by the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing activity. GM-CSF also exhibited a proliferative effect on HL-60 cells. GM-CSF at 1 nmol/L, an optimal concentration for cell growth and cell differentiation, induced significant changes in the intracellular inositoltriphosphate (IP3). Diacylglycerol generation was also stimulated by GM-CSF treatment. GM-CSF increased the membrane PK-C activity by 10-fold of the control, whereas no measurable change in cyclic nucleotides was observed. These data indicated that phosphoinositol turnover and the activation of PK-C were included in the GM-CSF signal transducing pathway in HL-60 cell. Phosphoinositol response leading to PK-C activation may act as a trigger signal of cell differentiation by GM-CSF.

Cell Differentiation

Paucity of glutaminase-immunoreactive nonpyramidal neurons in the rat cerebral cortex.

Glutaminase has been considered to be a synthesizing enzyme of transmitter glutamate in pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex. In the present study, an attempt was made to examine with a double immunofluorescence method whether or not nonpyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex are immunoreactive for glutaminase. Glutaminase was stained with mouse anti-glutaminase IgM and FITC-labeled anti-[mouse IgM] antibody. In the same section, parvalbumin (PA), calbindin (CB), choline acetyltransferase (CAT), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin (SS), or neuropeptide Y (NPY) was visualized as a marker for nonpyramidal neurons with an antibody to each substance, biotinylated secondary antibody and Texas Red-labeled avidin. Virtually no glutaminase immunoreactivity was seen in PA-, CB-, CAT-, VIP-, CRF-, CCK-, SS-, or NPY-immunoreactive neuronal perikarya in the neocortex and mesocortex (cingulate and retrosplenial cortices), although it was detected in a few PA-, CB-, VIP-, CCK-, SS-, or NPY-immunoreactive nonpyramidal neurons in the piriform, entorhinal, and hippocampal cortices. PA- and CB-positive neurons have been reported to constitute the major population of GABAergic neurons in the cerebral cortex. Thus, the present results, together with the previous reports, suggest that most GABAergic, cholinergic and peptidergic nonpyramidal neurons in the neo- and mesocortex do not contain glutaminase.

Animals

[Relationship between endothelial cells and extracellular matrix: investigation using the model of angiogenesis in vitro].

Using model of angiogenesis in vitro, the relationship between endothelial cells and extracellular matrix was studied. Endothelial cells of bovine brain microvascular vessels (BBECs), carotid artery (BCECs) and aorta (BAECs) were cultured on type I collagen gel and Matrigel. BBECs make tubular structures and BCECs and BAECs grow and make confluent monolayer on type I collagen gel. BCECs and BAECs make tubular structures when second layer of collagen gel was overlaid. BBECs, BCECs and BAECs rapidly make tubular structures on Matrigel. These morphological changes were not affected by basic fibroblast growth factor. The effect of extracellular matrices on the cell kinetics and morphology of cultured bovine carotid artery endothelial cells was studied. Endothelial cells show a cobble stone appearance on plastic and type I collagen gel. They proliferate and make capillary-like structures on reconstituted gels composed of type I collagen and basement membrane substrata. And that endothelial cells forming capillary-like structures were increased with the increase in the concentration of basement membrane substrata. Transmission electromicroscopic examination study revealed endothelial cells forming capillary-like structures have junctional complexes on type I collagen and its mixture with basement membrane substrata. But endothelial cells on basement membrane substrata have no junctional complexes. These results suggest that BBECs have more potent angiogenic ability than BCECs and BAECs. And that proliferation and morphogenesis of endothelial cells are regulated by extracellular matrices.

Animals

[The effect of nicardipine on angiogenesis in vitro].

We studied the effect of nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, on the morphological change of endothelial cells in vitro. Cultured endothelial cells derived from bovine carotid artery make tubular structures between collagen gel layers. Tube formation of endothelial cells was suppressed by culture with 10(-9)-10(-5) M of nicardipine in a dose dependent manner. Migration of endothelial cells was also suppressed by the same dose of nicardipine. However, proliferation of endothelial cells was not enhanced. These findings suggest that nicardipine acts as an inhibitor of angiogenesis in vitro by inhibiting the migration of endothelial cells.

Animals

Plasma thrombomodulin as a marker of vascular disorders in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Plasma thrombomodulin (TM) levels were significantly elevated at disease onset in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), but was not in those with essential thrombocythemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. However, in patients with TTP and DIC, TM levels decreased significantly after they achieved complete remission. In both TTP and DIC patients, plasma TM levels at onset in those with poor prognosis were higher than that in those with good prognosis. Among DIC patients, the plasma TM level was higher in those with organ failure than in those without, but there were no differences among patients with various underlying diseases associated with DIC. It is speculated that the plasma TM level reflects damage to vascular endothelial cells or organ failure and that it is useful in assessing prognosis for patients with DIC and TTP.

Biomarkers

Expression of high affinity binding sites for erythropoietin on L8057 cells, a mouse megakaryoblastic cell line, associated with cell differentiation.

In this study, specific binding sites were examined for erythropoietin (EPO) on the mouse leukemic cell line, L8057. This cell line is megakaryoblastic in origin as evidenced by an enlargement of cell size, multinuclearity, intense activity of acetylcholinesterase, more expression of glycoprotein IIb and IIIa antigen, and higher ploidy distribution after the treatment with 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbor-13-acetate (TPA). The original undifferentiated cells possessed a single class of low affinity binding sites for recombinant human (rh) EPO with a Kd of 3.5 nM. Following the treatment with TPA, high affinity binding sites (Kd; 440 pM) were expressed in addition to the low affinity sites. EPO stimulated the incorporation of 3H-leucine into TPA-treated L8057 cells, and the maximal effect of EPO was observed at the same order as the Kd value of high affinity sites. The present data demonstrates that the expression of high affinity binding sites for EPO is associated with the differentiation of L8057 cells which have megakaryocytic characteristics. Furthermore, protein synthesis stimulated by EPO may be mediated through the high affinity sites.

Acetylcholinesterase

Plasma cytokine levels in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Plasma cytokine levels were examined in 13 patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Auto-antibodies, platelet-associated immunoglobulin G, and platelet aggregating factor were detected in many of these patients and high-molecular-weight bands of von Willebrand factor multimers were reduced in 9 of 10 patients examined. Complete remission (CR) was attained in 7 of the 13 patients, but 6 died. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), Interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and soluble IL-2 receptor showed marked increases at onset and decreased at CR. The prognosis tended to be poor in patients with increased IL-6 and soluble IL-2 receptor levels. These findings suggest that immunological mechanisms, such as the activation of macrophage, are involved in the pathogenesis of TTP and are reflected in the plasma cytokine levels.

Adolescent

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with advanced cirrhosis by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using autologous blood clot: a preliminary report.

Twenty-two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated by a new method of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using an autologous blood clot as an embolizing agent. All had underlying advanced cirrhosis (14 Child's class B and 8 Child's class C patients). The median follow-up interval was 11 mo (range = 2 to 30 mo). The results of the treatment were compared with those of conventional chemoembolization using gelatin sponge particles for 19 Child's class B patients as historical controls. The survival rate for Child's class B patients treated by the new procedure estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 100% at 2 yr, whereas the survival rate for Child's class B patients treated by conventional chemoembolization was 89% at 1 yr and 72% at 2 yr. The survival rate for Child's class C patients was 75% at 1 yr and 50% at 2 yr. Side effects such as pyrexia of more than 38 degrees C or an elevation of the serum bilirubin level of more than 1.5-fold were less common in patients treated by the new method than in those treated by conventional chemoembolization, and thus the new procedure could be performed even for Child's class C patients. The autologous blood clot did not collapse the hepatic arteries even when the embolization was performed repeatedly, and thus fine collateral vessels feeding recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma did not develop. The results suggest that the new chemoembolization using an autologous blood clot is a promising therapeutic procedure in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with advanced cirrhosis.

Aged

Embryonic origin and development of the corpuscles of Stannius in chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta).

An immunocytochemical technique was used to follow the embryological origin and development of the corpuscles of Stannius (CS) in the chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta. Stanniocalcin immunoreactive (ir-) cells can be observed as early as 13 days before hatching. The ir-CS cells appear in clusters of variable size in close association with nephric ducts. In addition, individual ir-cells also occur at this stage among epithelial cells of the nephric ducts. These individual cells may give rise to clusters which subsequently increase in size, the largest reaching 100 microns in diameter by the time of hatching. During this period, dispersed CS cells become evident and develop into secondary clusters in the vicinity of the primary clusters. These clusters appear to fuse to form larger clusters with a lobular structure. Transfer of the larvae (20 days after hatching) from fresh water to 50% seawater, accelerates the development of the CS tissue, suggesting an important role of the CS in seawater adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological

Demonstration of inguinal hernia by means of peritoneal 99mTc-MAA scintigraphy with a load produced by standing in a patient treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

A 45-year-old man receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis developed scrotal swelling and edema which was aggravated in the standing position. Physical examination failed to find inguinal hernia and although ultrasonography revealed the patent had processus vaginalias, it failed to prove its continuity to the peritesticular space of the tunica vaginalis. Peritoneal scintigraphy with intraperitoneal instillation of 99mTc-Macroaggregated albumin followed by standing clearly demonstrated the connection. The use of the standing load makes possible faster visualization of a positive finding and more accurate diagnosis than examination in the supine position.

Hernia, Inguinal

Multiday driving patterns and motor carrier accident risk: a disaggregate analysis.

A method has been developed to estimate the relative accident risk posed by different patterns of driving over a multiday period. The procedure explicitly considers whether a driver is on duty or off duty for each half hour of each day during the period of analysis. From a data set of over 1,000 drivers, nine distinct driving patterns are identified. Membership in the patterns is determined exclusively by the pattern of duty hours for seven consecutive days; for some drivers an accident occurred on the eighth day while others had no accident, therefore each pattern can be associated with a relative accident risk. Additional statistical modeling allowed the consideration, in addition to driving pattern, of driver age, experience with the firm, hours off duty prior to the last trip and hours driving on the last trip (either until the accident or successful completion of the trip). The finding of the modeling is that driving patterns over the previous seven days significantly affect accident risk on the eighth day. In general, driving during the early and late morning (e.g., midnight to 10 A.M.) has the highest accident risk while all seven other multiday patterns had indistinguishable risk. Consecutive hours driven also has a significant effect on accident risk: the first hour through the fourth hour having the lowest risk with a fluctuating increase in risk to a maximum beyond nine hours. Driver age and hours off duty immediately prior to a trip do not appear to affect accident risk significantly. These findings quantitatively assess the relative accident risk of multiday driving patterns using data from actual truck operations. Further research is recommended in the areas of refining model structures, adding explanatory variables (such as highway type), and testing more complex models.

Accidents, Occupational

Calcitonin gene-related peptide: an inhibitor of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) gallbladder contraction in vitro.

The presence of a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like material was demonstrated in the gallbladder of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, using immunocytochemistry and confirmed by radioimmunoassay. An intense immunocytochemical reaction was observed in nerves located in the smooth muscle layers and associated with blood vessels. No immunoreactive nerve fibers were associated with ganglia, nor were immunoreactive cell bodies observed. Radioimmunoassay showed that 25.03 +/- 2.5 pmol/g tissue of CGRP-like material was present. In vitro tension studies using gallbladder strips showed that CGRP exerted an inhibitory effect on both acetylcholine- and cholecystokinin octapeptide-induced tension but had no effect on KCl-, norepinephrine-, or cerulein-induced tension. CGRP may act directly on the gallbladder smooth muscle to inhibit contraction.

Acetylcholine

Effects of tolbutamide on fructose-2,6-bisphosphate formation and ketogenesis in hepatocytes from diabetic rats.

To assess the extrapancreatic action of sulfonylurea directly in the diabetic, effects of tolbutamide on hepatocyte fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (F-2,6-P2) formation and ketone production were investigated using isolated hepatocytes from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The basal level of hepatocyte F-2,6-P2 was significantly higher in diabetic rats within 2 weeks after STZ (40 mg/kg body weight) injection compared with that in the nondiabetic control group. Ultimately, a marked decrease in the F-2,6-P2 level was observed at 4 weeks after STZ administration (10% of the control). Although the addition of tolbutamide further increased the hepatocyte F-2,6-P2 level during the first week after STZ injection, no significant effect was observed after the second week and on from the initial STZ. Treatment of diabetes with insulin restored the stimulatory effect of tolbutamide on the hepatocyte F-2,6-P2 formation. Tolbutamide, independently of insulin treatment, lowered the ketone production of hepatocytes from diabetic rats. The present results indicate that insulin is necessary, in advance, for sulfonylurea to stimulate the liver F-2,6-P2 formation, while tolbutamide inhibition of hepatocyte ketone production is independent of insulin. These results provide further support for the role of sulfonylurea in regulating hepatic energy metabolism in the diabetic.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid