The interleukin-2 receptors: insights into a complex signalling mechanism.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Kono.
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Interleukin 2 (IL-2) can stimulate the proliferation of various kinds of T-cell lines. The receptor for IL-2 is composed of at least two subunits (alpha and beta), of which beta subunit plays the major role in transducing growth signals into the cells. A nonreceptor-type tyrosine kinase, Lck, is associated with IL-2 receptor beta subunit, and the binding of IL-2 to its receptor induces the activation of Lck. On the other hand, it has been shown that stimulation of T-cells with IL-2 causes rapid activation of Ras protein. In this paper, we describe that both of the two regions in IL-2 receptor beta subunit, the indispensable region for the induction of cell growth (serine-rich region) and the binding region of Lck protein (acidic region), are required for the activation of Ras. These two regions are also required for tyrosine phosphorylation of an 85-kDa cellular protein (p85) and the accumulation of fos and jun mRNAs. This observation suggests also that the activation of a receptor-associated tyrosine kinase in response to IL-2-stimulation is primarily responsible for subsequent activation of the pathway through Ras to Fos and Jun.
Neurotoxic effects of flunarizine (Fz), a selective calcium channel blocker, on the nigrostriatal dopamine system was investigated. Systemic injections of Fz to mice resulted in a transient loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive nigrostriatal neurons without cell loss. TH immunoreactivity in these neurons was greatly reduced as rapidly as one day after drug administration (regardless of dosage used) and thereafter recovered in both dose- and time-dependent manners. Such a novel neurotoxic action of Fz may constitute a morphological substrate for reversible drug-induced parkinsonian signs described in recent clinical case reports.
Substantial proportions of resting B cells constitutively express low levels of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) alpha and/or beta chains. The expression of these chains is differentially regulated by anti-IgM and IL-2/IL-4. The anti-IgM induces IL-2R alpha chain expression, whereas each of the two cytokines induces IL-2R beta chain expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, IL-2 induces the growth of B cells, when the cells were pretreated with IL-2 or IL-4 for 24 h. The magnitude of this IL-2-driven B-cell growth depends upon the level of IL-2R beta chain expression. Costimulation of the B cells with IL-2 and anti-IgM shifts the dose-response curve, and the cells proliferate at an IL-2 concentration as low as 40 pM. These results indicate that the levels of anti-IgM-induced IL-2R alpha chain and IL-2-induced IL-2R beta chain determine the sensitivity of the cells to IL-2.
The relationship between left ventricular (LV) shape and functional mitral regurgitation (MR) was examined in 18 dogs with long-standing heart failure produced by multiple sequential intracoronary microembolizations. Global LV shape changes were evaluated from angiographic silhouettes obtained at baseline (before embolization) and during heart failure. LV shape changes at end systole and end diastole were quantitated based upon the ratio of the major-to-minor axis and the sphericity index. Among the 18 dogs studied, 11 developed 1+ to 3+ MR during heart failure and seven did not. There was no difference among the two groups with respect to hemodynamics, LV ejection fraction, chamber volume, and regional wall motion. A significant difference, however, was observed between the two groups with respect to the global indexes of LV shape. In dogs with MR, the end-systolic major-to-minor axis ratio decreased 29 +/- 3% between baseline and heart failure compared with only a 16 +/- 3% decrease in dogs without MR (p less than 0.01). In dogs with MR, the end-systolic sphericity index increased 72 +/- 11% between baseline and heart failure compared with an increase of only 30 +/- 5% in dogs without MR (p less than 0.02). Significant and directionally similar differences were observed during end diastole. These data indicate that in heart failure functional MR is associated with a more spherical LV and is not the result of simple LV chamber enlargement. Shape changes of the LV that occur in heart failure may be an important determinant of functional MR.
The effects of fluorescein isothiocyanate II (FITC) on the actions of insulin in rat adipocytes were studied. When adipocytes were incubated with FITC at pH 7.4 (2 mM agent, 8 min), the cells were completely deprived of their specific insulin-binding activity and rendered unresponsive to the hormone. The effect of FITC on the insulin-binding activity was milder at pH 9.0, and cAMP phosphodiesterase in cells exposed to FITC at pH 9.0 was maximally stimulated if the insulin concentration was increased to 100 nM. Under identical conditions, however, glucose transport activity was rendered not only less sensitive but also less responsive to the hormone. When FITC was added to cells after insulin at pH 9.0, the glucose transport activity that had been stimulated by the hormone was considerably reduced. This reduction was largely, but not entirely, prevented if the cells were deprived of ATP, suggesting that FITC (a) elicited the ATP-dependent reversal of the hormonal effect and, simultaneously, (b) mildly inhibited the transport activity per se. Western blot assay of GLUT-4 (a major isoform of glucose transporter in adipocytes) indicated that FITC (a) partially blocked insulin-dependent translocation of GLUT-4 from the intracellular site to the plasma membrane while it (b) induced a mild "insulin-like" effect. It is concluded that FITC at pH 9.0 (a) renders both glucose transport and phosphodiesterase activities less insulin sensitive presumably by modifying the cellular hormone receptor and (b) makes glucose transport activity less responsive to insulin presumably by (i) blocking hormone-dependent translocation of glucose transporter and (ii) mildly inhibiting intrinsic glucose transport activity.
The number, size and structural integrity of mitochondria (MIT) were evaluated in the myocardium of 12 dogs with chronic heart failure (CHF) produced by sequential intracoronary microembolizations (EMB). Tissue specimens for transmission electron microscopy were obtained from the left ventricular (LV) free wall, septum and right ventricular free wall 3 to 4 months after the last EMB. Comparisons were made with samples obtained from identical sites in 9 control dogs. In dogs with CHF, LV ejection fraction decreased from 61 +/- 1% at baseline (prior to EMB) to 22 +/- 2% 3 to 4 months after the last EMB (P < 0.01) while plasma norepinephrine (PNE) concentration increased from 364 +/- 12 pg/ml to 837 +/- 150 pg/ml (P < 0.01). The number of MIT in an area of 100 square sarcomeres was greater in CHF dogs compared to controls (92 +/- 5 vs 64 +/- 2) (P < 0.001); whereas the average size of MIT was smaller (0.53 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.78 +/- 0.04 microm2) (P < 0.001). Injury ranging in severity from matrix depletion to myelinization and membrane disruption was present in 27 +/- 4% of MIT of CHF dogs compared to only 3 +/- 1% of MIT of controls (P < 0.001). MIT abnormalities were present to the same extent in all three regions of the heart. The severity of MIT injury, assessed on the basis of an injury index, was significantly higher in CHF dogs with PNE > or = 600 pg/ml (0.64 +/- 0.07) compared to CHF dogs with PNE < 600 pg/ml (0.32 +/- 0.08) (P < 0.01). Among CHF dogs, the MIT injury index was linearly related to PNE concentration (r = 0.57, P < 0.05), LV ejection fraction (r = 0.57, P < 0.05) and LV end-diastolic pressure (r = 0.57, P < 0.05). These data indicate that profound MIT abnormalities are present in the myocardium of dogs with CHF and are related to PNE concentration and to the severity of LV dysfunction.
Effects of chronic heart failure upon receptor binding and cardiac function were studied in mongrel dogs. Heart failure was induced by three to seven, graded, sequential, intracoronary microembolizations performed 1 to 3 weeks apart. Depressed systolic and diastolic left ventricular function, reduced cardiac output, increased systemic vascular resistance, increased plasma norepinephrine concentration, left ventricular hypertrophy, and dilation were associated with the development of heart failure in this model. Three months after the last embolization, the density and affinity of myocardial beta adrenoceptors and voltage sensitive calcium channels were quantified by analyzing saturation isotherms of specific radioligand binding. [3H]Dihydroalprenolol and [3H]nitrendipine bound specifically and with high affinity to cardiac beta adrenoceptors and calcium channels, respectively. Scatchard transformation of the specific binding of these radioligands in membranes prepared following intracoronary embolization demonstrated a 47% decrease in the density of [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding sites (605 +/- 20 fmol/mg, normal, vs. 323 +/- 18 fmol/mg, failed; P < 0.05) and a 20% decrease in [3H]nitredipine binding sites (371 +/- 11 fmol/mg, normal, vs. 298 +/- 17 fmol/mg, failed; P < 0.05). The binding equilibrium dissociation constants for [3H]dihydroalprenolol and [3H]nitrendipine were not significantly different between normal and failed myocardium. There was no difference in the sialic acid content in the sarcolemmal membranes prepared from normal and failed dog hearts (31.07 +/- 0.76 nmol/mg, normal, vs. 30.58 +/- 5.25 nmol/mg, failed). This is inconsistent with the selective purification of membranes utilized in these radioligand binding studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The mechanism and temporal manifestation of functional mitral regurgitation after acute myocardial ischemia were examined in eight dogs. Regional ischemia was produced by selective microembolization of the left circumflex coronary artery. Mitral regurgitation and regional left ventricular wall motion abnormalities were evaluated with use of Doppler color flow mapping and two-dimensional echocardiography, respectively. Measurements were made at baseline (before embolization) and were repeated at 30 min and 3 weeks after embolization. Mitral regurgitation developed in all dogs 30 min after embolization and completely subsided 3 weeks later. There was no evidence of mitral valve prolapse, mitral anulus dilation or left ventricular segmental dyskinesia at any time during the study. Regional wall motion analysis showed only hypokinesia of the left ventricular segment overlying the papillary muscle at 30 min with subsequent normalization of the segment at 3 weeks. Mitral regurgitation was accompanied by an increase of the end-systolic distance between the mitral anulus plane and the point of coaptation of the mitral leaflets. This distance was 0.5 +/- 0.1 cm at baseline, increased to 0.9 +/- 0.1 cm 30 min after the embolization (p less than 0.001) and returned to near baseline (0.6 +/- 0.1 cm) 3 weeks after the embolization. These data indicate that mitral valve prolapse, mitral anulus dilation and regional left ventricular dyskinesia are not necessary conditions for the development of functional mitral regurgitation after acute myocardial ischemia. Instead, hypokinesia of the ventricular segment overlying the papillary muscle and leading to retraction of the mitral leaflets toward the apex appears to be a sufficient condition for incomplete leaflet coaptation.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the temporal association between the onset of functional mitral regurgitation and the development of changes in left ventricular shape, chamber enlargement, mitral anulus dilation and regional wall motion abnormalities during the course of evolving heart failure. BACKGROUND: Despite extensive characterization, the exact etiology of functional mitral regurgitation in patients with chronic heart failure remains unknown. METHODS: Heart failure was produced in seven dogs by multiple sequential intracoronary microembolizations. Serial changes in left ventricular chamber volume and shape were evaluated from ventriculograms. Changes in mitral anulus diameter and ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities were evaluated echocardiographically. The presence and severity of mitral regurgitation were determined with Doppler color flow mapping. Measurements were obtained at baseline and then biweekly until mitral regurgitation was first observed. RESULTS: No dog had mitral regurgitation at baseline but all developed mild to moderate regurgitation 12 +/- 1 weeks after the first embolization. The onset of mitral regurgitation was not associated with an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume relative to baseline (58 +/- 3 vs. 62 +/- 3 ml), mitral anulus diameter (2.4 +/- 0.1 vs. 2.4 +/- 0.1 cm) or wall motion abnormalities of left ventricular wall segments overlying the papillary muscles. In contrast, the onset of mitral regurgitation was accompanied by significant changes in global left ventricular shape evidenced by increased end-systolic chamber sphericity index (0.22 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.30 +/- 0.01) (p < 0.01) and decreased end-systolic major axis/minor axis ratio (1.71 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.43 +/- 0.04) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that transformation of left ventricular shape (increased chamber sphericity) is the most likely substrate for the development of functional mitral regurgitation.
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The relationship between the incidence, frequency and complexity of spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias and the extent of haemodynamic compromise and sympathoadrenergic hyperactivity was evaluated in a canine model of chronic heart failure produced by multiple sequential intracoronary microembolizations. Ambulatory ECG Holter monitoring recorded during chronic heart failure in 18 dogs revealed spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias ranging from single ventricular premature beats (VPBs) to non-sustained episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Single VPBs were present in 94% of dogs, couplets in 67%, triplets in 28% and spontaneous episodes of non-sustained VT in 33%. Dogs with > 28 VPBs.h-1 (n = 9) had a markedly higher plasma norepinephrine (PNE) concentration (1001 +/- 185 vs 561 +/- 31 pg.ml-1) (P < 0.03), and a higher pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) (18 +/- 2 vs 12 +/- 1 mmHg) (P < 0.03) than dogs with < or = 28 VPBs.h-1 (n = 9). Dogs that developed spontaneous episodes of VT also had significantly higher PNE levels (1119 +/- 247 pg.ml-1) compared to dogs that did not develop VT (612 +/- 64 pg.ml-1) (P < 0.02). Programmed ventricular stimulation performed in seven of 18 dogs resulted in the development of sustained monomorphic VT in three and ventricular fibrillation in three dogs each (43%, 43%). Dogs with inducible sustained monomorphic VT had a significantly higher number of ambient arrhythmias and higher PAWP compared to dogs that did not develop sustained VT. The observed complexity, frequency and incidence of spontaneous and inducible ventricular arrhythmias in this canine model are similar to those described in patients with chronic heart failure.
The effects of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a representative phenolic antioxidant, on the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, an indicator of tumor promotion and epidermal hyperproliferation) induced by ultraviolet-B (UVB) or PUVA in mouse skin were investigated. By topical application of BHA (55 mumol), PUVA-induced ODC activity was suppressed by about 60% at both 12 h and 24 h after treatment. In contrast, BHA failed to suppress UVB-induced ODC activity in mouse skin. These results suggest that the induction of ODC activity by UVB or PUVA is mediated by different pathways.
Secondary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma may present with various types of skin lesions, but rarely produces ulceration in contrast to primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. We report a case of malignant lymphoma of the tonsil that recurred as a giant cutaneous ulcer on the back of a 45-year-old man. Biopsy of the ulcer revealed a malignant lymphoma of diffuse, mixed-cell type. Surface marker analysis of the tumour cells showed suppressor/cytotoxic T-cell characteristics. The skin lesions were treated by electron beam therapy.
The temporal relationship between left ventricular (LV) shape changes and the development of LV dysfunction, dilation, and sympathoadrenergic hyperactivity was examined in 10 dogs with chronic heart failure produced by multiple sequential intracoronary microembolizations. LV shape was quantitated from serial ventriculograms based on the ratio of the major to minor axis at end systole and end diastole. Measurements were made at baseline (before embolizations) and were repeated at 2, 8, and 16 wk after the last embolization. A significant increase of LV sphericity was present at 2 wk, with only minimal changes occurring thereafter. Despite the tendency for LV shape changes to plateau between 2 and 16 wk, LV ejection fraction continued to decline (31 +/- 1 vs. 20 +/- 2%; P less than 0.001), and LV end-diastolic volume continued to increase (86 +/- 6 vs. 103 +/- 9 ml; P less than 0.01) as did plasma norepinephrine concentration (456 +/- 30 vs. 868 +/- 172 pg/ml; P less than 0.02). These data indicate that in the course of evolving heart failure, LV shape abnormalities precede the development of profound LV dysfunction, dilation, and overt activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
BACKGROUND: Abnormal left ventricular (LV) filling has been observed in patients with heart failure and is characterized by marked heterogeneity of mitral inflow velocity. In the present study, the contribution of the left atrium to LV filling was examined in eight dogs during the course of evolving heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: Heart failure was produced by multiple sequential intracoronary embolizations with microspheres. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography was used to measure mitral inflow velocity at baseline, before embolization, and at 3, 8, 15, 23, and 33 weeks after initiation of microembolization. The early rapid LV filling (Ei) and late left atrial filling (Ai) components were quantitated based on the time-velocity integral of the early and late mitral inflow velocity waveforms, respectively. Ei decreased progressively from 7.6 +/- 1.5 cm at baseline to 4.0 +/- 0.4 cm at 33 weeks (p less than 0.01). In contrast, Ai initially increased from 1.8 +/- 0.9 cm at baseline to 2.7 +/- 0.4 cm at 3 weeks (p less than 0.01) and subsequently decreased gradually to below baseline values reaching 0.8 +/- 0.4 cm at 33 weeks (p less than 0.01). These temporal changes of Ei and Ai were accompanied by a gradual reduction of LV ejection fraction (56 +/- 5% versus 22 +/- 2%) (p less than 0.01) (baseline versus 33 weeks) and by a gradual increase of LV end-diastolic wall stress (24 +/- 7 versus 92 +/- 8 g/cm2) (p less than 0.01), left atrial dimension (2.4 +/- 0.2 cm to 3.3 +/- 0.3 cm) (p less than 0.01), and left atrial fractional shortening (22 +/- 3% versus 15 +/- 2%) (p less than 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The initial rise in left atrium contribution to LV filling may represent a compensatory response to the diminution of the rapid early component of LV filling. With further progression of LV dysfunction, the left atrium contribution to LV filling gradually decreased. This reduction may be mediated by increased workload imposed on the left atrial myocardium due to increased LV diastolic wall stress, which, over time, may have lead to intrinsic left atrium dysfunction.
It is generally believed that patients with dilated cardiomyopathy have a large cardiac silhouette on chest roentgenography. Contrary to this general belief, we have recently examined several patients with a dilated left ventricle (LV) on echocardiography but in whom the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) was within normal limits. To investigate this apparent discrepancy, we evaluated the relationship between LV dimensions, measured on M-mode echocardiography, and CTR in 49 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Among these patients, 11 (22%) had a CTR less than 50% and 38 (78%) had a CTR greater than 50%. The spatial orientation (cardiac rotation) of the LV within the thorax was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 5 patients with a CTR less than 50% and in 7 patients with a CTR greater than 50%, in comparison with 7 normal controls. In each of these patients, cardiac rotation was assessed from both a transverse and a frontal MRI section. In both groups, LV end-diastolic dimension was greater than 5 cm. Transverse cardiac rotation was 32 +/- 8 degrees in patients with a CTR less than 50%. This was significantly lower than in the 7 normal controls (43 +/- 7 degrees) (p less than 0.05). In patients with a CTR greater than 50%, however, transverse cardiac rotation (55 +/- 5 degrees) was significantly greater than in normal controls (p less than 0.01). No differences in frontal cardiac rotation was observed between the 2 groups. These data indicate that a normal cardiac silhouette in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy can be explained on the basis of a counterclockwise transverse rotation of the heart within the thorax, and it cannot always rule out the dilatation of the LV.
Gomishi and Shosaiko-to were administered to the rats at a dose of 10-100 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks, and their effects on lipid peroxidation of rat brain were compared with that of alpha-tocopherol. Administration of Gomishi and Shosaiko-to showed almost the same suppressive action on the lipid peroxidation. Gomishi and Shosaiko-to exhibited a radical-trapping action on a stable free radical, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), which was estimated photometrically. The effects of Gomishi or Shosaiko-to at concentrations of 10(-3) to 10(-5)g/ml on lipid peroxidation of rat brain homogenates were investigated. The lipid peroxidation was inhibited by the addition of these drugs, and the suppressive effect was also dependent on the concentration. These suppressive effects with Shosaiko-to were stronger than those of Gomishi. These results suggest that the radical trapping action of Gomishi or Shosaiko-to is the likely mechanism suppressing brain lipid peroxidation; Particularly, the suppressive effect on the brain's lipid peroxidation by Shosaiko-to is at least in part due to its radical trapping action and inhibition of O2-. production.