Biomedical subjects

T Kitamoto

Publications and source records attributed to T Kitamoto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Successful transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from human to mouse verified by prion protein accumulation in mouse brains.

The accumulation of prion protein (PrP) was revealed in the brains of mice inoculated with the brain homogenate from seven patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) by immunohistochemistry using hydrolytic autoclaving. It was not found in the brains of mice inoculated with material from either two patients with Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome or two with other dementing illnesses. PrP accumulation took the forms of diffuse neuropil accumulation in the gray matter and plaque-like accumulation in the white matter and was observed in particular areas in the supratentorial structure. Its distribution was narrower than that in the brains of mice infected with a mouse-adapted CJD strain. PrP accumulation was found not only in all histopathologically positive mice, but also in some histopathologically negative mice. In all groups of mice inoculated with the material from each CJD patient, the percentage of mice with PrP accumulation was equal to or exceeded that of mice with the histopathological findings. PrP immunohistochemistry using formic acid pretreatment stained such plaque-like accumulation less intensely than that using hydrolytic autoclaving and did not stain diffuse neuropil accumulation. Therefore, PrP accumulation which can be revealed in the brains of first-passage CJD mice by this new immunohistochemical method may be the most sensitive hallmark of successful transmission.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Cellular retinoic acid binding protein type II was preferentially localized in medium and posterior parts of the progress zone of the chick limb bud.

The expression and distribution of cellular retinoic acid binding protein II (CRABP II) was examined in chick limb buds. CRABP II was detected in the limb buds at Hamburger and Hamilton (1) stage 21 and the amount of CRABP II was gradually increased during stages 21-27 and thereafter decreased. CRABP II was mainly located in the progress zone, and the dorsal and ventral premuscular mass in the proximal region of the limb buds at stage 23. CRABP II was preferentially localized in the medium and posterior parts rather than the anterior part of the progress zone; The content of CRABP II in the medium and posterior parts was 8-9 times more than that in the anterior part.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein accumulates within axonal swellings in human brain lesions.

By using a monoclonal antibody and polyclonal antibodies to human beta amyloid precursor protein (APP), we immunohistochemically examined axonal swellings (spheroids). The immunoreactivity of APP was observed in numerous spheroids, which were found around the areas of old cerebral infarctions, in the globus pallidus with Hallervorden-Spatz disease as well as in or around brain abscesses. The axonal swellings were not immunolabeled with beta protein. These results implied that APP accumulated in spheroids regardless of beta protein depositions.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with codon 129 polymorphism (valine): a comparative study of patients with codon 102 point mutation or without mutations.

We examined 7 patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) with a methionine-to-valine change at prion protein (PrP) codon 129 (CJD129 patients). These CJD129 patients did not have either a codon 117 or 198 point mutation. For comparison, we also examined 7 patients with Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome (GSS) with a proline-to-leucine change at PrP codon 102 (GSS102 patients) and 13 patients without any known mutations at codons 102, 117, 129, 178, or 200 (CJDwild patients). CJD129 patients had a long clinical duration and ataxia at onset, but rarely had any periodic synchronous discharge in their electroencephalogram. Unlike CJDwild patients, all CJD129 patients have typical congophilic PrP plaques in their brain. These clinicopathological findings were similar to those of GSS102. However, the distribution and morphology of PrP deposits revealed by immunohistochemistry were different between CJD129 and GSS102. In GSS102 more numerous and various types of PrP plaques are seen throughout the brain, while in CJD129 patients a unicentric core was the major feature of PrP plaques. The change in codon 129 influences the clinical course and pathological findings in CJD.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

The coexistence of Alzheimer's disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a patient with dementia of long duration.

We report here a 75-year-old-male with a slowly progressive dementia of 5-year duration along with a rapid exacerbation of symptoms in the terminal 3 months. Neuropathological examinations revealed findings consistent with conspicuous Alzheimer's disease and mild Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The plaque amyloid was exclusively composed of beta-protein. The immunohistochemistry of prion protein using hydrolytic autoclaving pretreatment showed diffuse gray matter stainings in the sections of both the cerebral and cerebellar cortices. This method was thus considered useful in confirming the diagnosis of CJD for this case.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with amyloid angiopathy: diagnosis by immunological analyses and transmission experiments.

It was difficult to make a definite pathological diagnosis in a 73-year-old man with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) due to extensive amyloid angiopathy which lacked any severe spongiform changes. Immunostaining using anti-prion protein (PrP) antibody revealed fine granular deposits in the gray matter, after hydrolytic autoclaving pretreatment on tissue sections. Western blotting also revealed an abnormal isoform of PrP, but PrP gene analysis did not show any abnormalities. The primary transmission experiments were repeated three times and induced spongiform encephalopathy in a few mice after a long incubation period.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Colocalization of prion protein and beta protein in the same amyloid plaques in patients with Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome.

We examined paraffin-embedded brain sections from three patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and four patients with Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome (GSS) who also had beta protein deposits in the brains. Immunostaining using anti-prion protein (PrP) and anti-beta protein coupled with formic acid pretreatment, revealed PrP deposits and beta protein deposits, respectively. In all four GSS patients examined, sequential double immunostaining and single immunostaining in serial sections or simultaneous double immunofluorescence revealed the colocalization of PrP and beta protein in the same amyloid plaques. The plaques labeled with both antibodies were designated as beta-PrP plaques. Small kuru plaques of less than 15 microns in diameter were rarely found to coexist with beta deposits. The percentages of beta-PrP plaques in larger kuru plaques were not constant among the four GSS patients. The colocalization patterns of both deposits were observed as being roughly of two types as follows: (1) diffuse beta protein deposits located around the PrP core; and (2) a beta protein core and PrP core simultaneously existing in one amyloid plaque. Under an electron microscope, we were able to confirm the presence of both beta protein and PrP in a single plaque in four GSS patients older than 60 years old. In contrast, no colocalization of either deposits was seen in the amyloid plaque core fractions of a young GSS patient who had no beta protein deposits, even at the electron microscopic level. Therefore, the colocalization of both proteins in a single plaque is believed to be age-related and incidental in GSS patients but suggests a similar morphogenesis of both amyloid deposits.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease in an Alsatian family: clinical and genetic studies.

The clinical progression of Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease in a family of Alsatian origin is reported. The age of onset and the duration of evolution were variable. The clinical picture became more complex over the generations: in the first generations, isolated dementia and in later generations a triad of pyramidal, pseudobulbar syndromes and dementia associated with spinal cord and cerebellar features. Prion gene analysis showed that four surviving patients carry double missense changes at codons 117 and 129, identical to those found in one case at necropsy and 10 other healthy members of the family. The missense changes were not found in 100 controls. No member of the family had modification of condons 102, 178, or 200. The lod score suggests linkage between the missense change at codon 117 and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease in this family.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Abnormal isoform of prion proteins accumulates in the synaptic structures of the central nervous system in patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

A new method, which enabled the first immunohistochemical documentation of abnormal prion protein (PrP) in all patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), was established. This method designated as "hydrolytic autoclaving" revealed punctate PrPCJD stainings around the neuronal cell bodies and dendrites in CJD brains. These punctate stainings were almost identical with that of synaptophysin, suggesting PrPCJD accumulations in the synaptic structures. Subcellular fractionation revealed that prion protein in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (PrPCJD) was most concentrated in the synaptosomal fraction. In CJD patients with a long clinical course, synaptophysin immunoreactivity decreased, and synaptic PrPCJD accumulated with a wider distribution. These results suggest that synaptic PrPCJD accumulations might be responsible for the neuronal dysfunction and degeneration in CJD.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome↗

PubMed1992

The primary structure of the prion protein influences the distribution of abnormal prion protein in the central nervous system.

We immunohistochemically examined tissue sections from patients with prion protein (PrP) polymorphism using hydrolytic autoclaving enhancement. Abnormal PrP accumulations could be classified into plaque formations (plaque-type) and the diffuse gray matter stainings including synaptic structures (synaptic-type). Insertional polymorphism, a point mutation in codon 102 or 117/129, and a polymorphism in codon 129 (Val129) result in plaque-type PrP accumulations. The patients with codon 102 mutation also have synaptic-type PrP accumulations. However, a point mutation in codon 200 did not show plaque-type accumulations, and only showed synaptic-type PrP accumulations. Likewise, sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease patients without any known mutations only have synaptic type accumulations. These results imply that the primary structures of PrP influence the phenotype of prion diseases, especially in abnormal PrP distributions of the central nervous system.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Massive accumulation of modified tau and severe depletion of normal tau characterize the cerebral cortex and white matter of Alzheimer's disease. Demonstration using the hydrated autoclaving method.

Using the hydrated autoclaving method, a new immunohistochemical procedure to enhance tau immunoreactivity in formalin-fixed brain tissue, the authors recently reported that tau protein is detected in neuronal cell bodies and proximal dendrites, gray matter neuropil, axons, and glial cells in normal human hippocampus and neocortex. In the this study, the authors performed a comparative study of the distribution of normal and modified forms of tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and control brains. In the cerebral cortex and white matter of AD brains, a massive accumulation of modified tau and/or severe depletion of normal tau were documented in all the tau compartments. In mild AD cases, gray matter neuropil, axons, and glial cells were less severely involved than neuronal perikarya. In the controls, neuronal perikarya were often involved by modified tau accumulation, but the other compartments showed normal distribution. These observations suggest that modifications of tau which lead to neurofibrillary lesions in AD may begin in neuronal perikarya and extend to the other tau compartments in advanced stages of the disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Analysis of cis-regulatory elements in the 5' flanking region of the Drosophila melanogaster choline acetyltransferase gene.

We have analyzed the cis-regulatory elements in the 5' flanking region of the Drosophila choline acetyltransferase gene (ChAT, E.C.2.3.1.6). DNA fragments were fused to the Escherichia coli lacZ reporter gene and introduced into the Drosophila germ line by P-element-mediated transformation. A 7.4 kb 5' flanking sequence directed beta-galactosidase expression in the adult optic lobes and other well-defined CNS structures with a pattern very similar to the distribution of endogenous ChAT protein. In contrast, the proximal 3.3 kb and 1.2 kb of 5' flanking DNA directed lacZ expression in only selected subsets of the structures seen with the 7.4 kb lacZ construct. Our results indicate that both qualitative and quantitative regulatory elements are present in the 5' flanking DNA and that these elements distinguish various subsets of cholinergic neurons. We have also fused the same 5' flanking DNA sequences to wild-type ChAT cDNA and used these constructs to transform Chatsl mutant flies. Not only the 7.4 kb cDNA construct, but also the 3.3 and 1.2 kb constructs, rescued Chatsl from temperature-dependent paralysis and adult lethality, indicating that the regulatory information in any of these genomic fragments can drive sufficient wild-type ChAT expression to overcome these mutant phenotypes.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

The sequential development of abnormal prion protein accumulation in mice with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

The distribution and sequential development of prion protein (PrP) accumulation in the central nervous system (CNS) and non-neuronal organs of mice infected with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) were investigated immunohistochemically using a new pretreatment method that greatly enhanced the immunoreactivity of PrP. Prion protein accumulation in the CNS was first detected at 30 days after inoculation and then developed near the inoculation site or periventricular area, and later spread to the whole cerebrum and then to the pons. Its staining took some characteristic forms. Among non-neuronal organs, PrP accumulated in the follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in spleen, lymph node, Peyer's patch, and thymus. FDCs staining appeared in spleen, lymph node, and Peyer's patch at 21 or 30 days after inoculation, and in thymus at 90 days. Germinal centers developed in the thymus of some CJD-infected mice. No PrP staining was detected in any examined organs of age-matched control mice.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

[Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease with heterozygous codon change at prion protein codon 129].

A 53-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for progressive dementia and gait disturbance which had started at the age of 48. Examination indicated dementia, dysarthria, dysphagia, bilateral pyramidal signs, apraxia of the limbs, and extrapyramidal signs such as fine finger tremors, and rigidity of limbs. There were no cerebellar signs or myoclonus. His mother and elder brother showed similar symptoms and died at the ages of 53 and 50, respectively. EEG was normal. CT and MRI showed mild brain atrophy, but no cerebellar atrophy. T2 weighted image indicated low intensity areas covering bilateral caudate nuclei and putamina. A heterozygous amino acid change from methionine to valine was noted at codon 129 of the prion protein of the patient as well as in one of his son. The most likely diagnosis was Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) disease without cerebellar atrophy. GSS may include a broad spectrum of brain pathology. Whether the codon change is associated with pathology without cerebellar atrophy is a problem that awaits further investigation.

Atrophy↗

PubMed1991

CJD discrepancy.

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Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

N-terminal sequence of prion protein is also integrated into kuru plaques in patients with Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome.

Kuru plaques are one of the pathological hallmarks in Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome, and are composed of prion protein (PrP). To elucidate whether N-terminal sequence of PrP is related to amyloid formation in vivo, we prepared antibody against synthetic N-terminal peptide (anti-PrP-N). Anti-PrP-N immunolabeled kuru plaques positively. Positive reactions were observed in the periphery of large kuru plaque cores, but not in the center. It is therefore postulated that one of the modifications of PrP is N-terminal truncation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Diffuse deposition of immunohistochemically labeled prion protein in the granular layer of the cerebellum in a patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Amyloid plaques in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru, and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome are known to contain an abnormal isoform of a cellular protein, the prion protein (PrP). The prion protein in its normal cellular isoform is a membrane-bound glycoprotein of unknown function. The mechanisms causing a modification of PrP and accumulation in amyloid plaques are unknown. Here we present a case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with widespread deposition of immunohistochemically labeled PrP in the internal granular layer of the cerebellum. Immunohistochemically labeled PrP was deposited in delicate granules, which often were associated with cellular processes or the cytoplams of undefined cells, or diffusely deposited in the neuropil.

Cerebellum↗

PubMed1991

Increased senile plaques without microglia in Alzheimer's disease.

To clarify the association of microglia with senile plaques, the brains from 13 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 23 nondemented aged controls were investigated immunohistochemically by a double-labeling method using anti-beta-protein antiserum and anti-ferritin antibody, which is a recently reported microglia marker. In addition, a quantitative analysis was performed. The senile plaques which appeared initially in the nondemented aged controls consisted of a diffuse type without any amyloid cores and these were found in the group aged 50-59 years. The great majority of them were found to contain no ferritin-positive microglia. The number and proportion (percentage) of microglia-containing diffuse plaques increased with age. Classical and compact plaques began to appear in the brains of the group aged 70 years and over, and practically all of them contained microglia. These results suggest that microglia are not associated with initial plaque formation, but correlate with amyloid core formation. In AD, the most prominent feature was that the diffuse plaques, which contained either no or only a few ferritin-positive microglia, increased markedly.

Adult↗