PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Manabe

Publications and source records attributed to T Manabe.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Regulation of long-term potentiation by H-Ras through NMDA receptor phosphorylation.

The proto-oncogene ras plays a critical role in cell proliferation and differentiation. However, ras genes are abundantly expressed in the adult CNS, although neuronal cells normally do not proliferate. Recently, several lines of evidence implicated the involvement of Ras signaling pathway in synaptic plasticity. To explore the role of the Ras proteins in the CNS, we generated knock-out mice lacking the H-ras gene and then used them to study the roles of Ras in synaptic transmission and plasticity. An investigation of protein phosphorylation and synaptic transmission in H-ras null mutant mice has shown that the NMDA receptor is a final target molecule of the Ras protein pathway in the CNS. In the H-ras null mutant hippocampus, the tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2A (epsilon1) and NR2B (epsilon2) subunits of NMDA receptors is increased, and, correspondingly, NMDA synaptic responses are selectively enhanced. In addition, long-term potentiation is markedly enhanced in mutant mice, most likely because of a selective enhancement of NMDA synaptic responses. Therefore, although Ras proteins have been implicated in cell proliferation and differentiation, the regulation of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity in the adult animals by downregulation of the phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor may be another major and pivotal role for H-Ras protein.

Animals↗

Autocrine/Paracrine secretion of IL-6 family cytokines causes angiotensin II-induced delayed STAT3 activation.

We recently reported that angiotensin II (AngII) biphasically activates the JAK/STAT pathway and induces delayed phosphorylation of STAT3 in the late stage (120 min) in cardiomyocytes. This study was designed to determine the mechanism of delayed phosphorylation of STAT3. Conditioned medium prepared from AngII-stimulated cardiomyocytes could reproduce the tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 at 5 min. This delayed phosphorylation was almost completely inhibited by anti-gp130 blocking antibody RX435, but not by TAK044 (ET-A/B-R antagonist), prazosin, or propranolol. AngII induced phosphorylation of gp130 in the late stage, which was temporally in parallel with the delayed phosphorylation of STAT3. AngII augmented IL-6, CT-1, and LIF mRNA expression at 30-60 min, but not CNTF expression. AngII increased IL-6 protein levels by 3-fold in the conditioned media at 2 h compared with the control. These findings indicated that AngII-induced delayed activation of STAT3 is caused by autocrine/paracrine secreted IL-6 family cytokines.

Angiotensin II↗

Nuclear findings of ovarian surface epithelial tumors.

While cytoplasmic features of ovarian surface epithelial tumors are well-known, the nuclear findings have received little attention. We reviewed imprint cytology materials of the ovary which were collected at the Kawasaki Medical School Hospital between January 1989-July 1999, and identified 15 mucinous cystadenomas, 3 borderline mucinous tumors, 4 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 4 serous cystadenomas, 4 borderline serous tumors, 7 serous cystadenocarcinomas, 6 endometrioid carcinomas, and 2 clear-cell adenocarcinomas. We microscopically observed nuclear findings of the 45 cases. Coffee-bean nuclei were observed in 15.0%, 15.8%, and 10.1% of the tumor cells in mucinous adenomas, borderline mucinous tumors, and borderline serous tumors, respectively. The frequencies of the coffee-bean nuclei in the three tumors were higher than in the remaining tumors (P < 0.001). Intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions were observed in 2.1% of the tumor cells in mucinous cystadenoma, and their frequency was significantly higher than that in cases of other surface epithelial ovarian tumors (P < 0.001). Semilunar-shaped nuclei were seen in all cases of mucinous cystadenomas and borderline mucinous tumors, and in 3 of 4 mucinous adenocarcinomas. The remaining surface epithelial tumors did not reveal the semilunar-shaped nuclei. In the cytology of the ovary, the semilunar nuclei are characteristic of mucinous tumors, and the intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusion may be a diagnostic clue to mucinous cystadenoma, when it is conspicuous. The coffee-bean nuclei can be seen in mucinous cystadenoma, borderline mucinous tumors, and borderline serous tumors.

Cell Nucleus↗

Combination of electrophoretic techniques for comprehensive analysis of complex protein systems.

Analysis of proteins in complex mixtures such as cell lysates is presently performed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions (denaturing 2-D PAGE) followed by extraction of proteins from gel pieces and structural analysis of the proteins. This type of protein analysis is contributing to the correlation of information stored in DNA sequences with the structure of the product polypeptides. However, denaturing 2-D PAGE has its own limitations and it is necessary to develop various methods of protein analysis to reconstruct the total structure and function of proteins in complex systems. This review article summarizes the work in our laboratory to explore proteins in human plasma combining various electrophoretic techniques: nondenaturing and denaturing 2-D PAGE, capillary electrophoresis, and agarose gel isoelectric focusing.

Animals↗

Hypersegmentation of inflammatory cells in Langerhans cell granulomatosis.

Langerhans cell granulomatosis (LCG) is characterized by a mixture of Langerhans cells and eosinophils in varying proportions. The characteristic morphology of Langerhans cells have already been described in many articles, but little attention has been paid to inflammatory cells. We examined six cases of Langerhans cell granulomatosis, which had originally been diagnosed as eosinophilic granuloma. Inflammatory cells present in LCG showed hypersegmentation. Twenty percent to 70% of eosinophils had three or more segmented nuclei, and 10-25% of neutrophils had five or more segmented nuclei. Such findings have never been described, and we believe hypersegmentation to be a feature of LCG. Furthermore, we emphasize that eosinophils in LCG mimic neutrophils in ethanol-fixed preparations, and thus may be a pitfall in making a diagnosis in cytology and intraoperative consultation.

Adult↗

Loss of cadherin-11 adhesion receptor enhances plastic changes in hippocampal synapses and modifies behavioral responses.

Cadherins organize symmetrical junctions between the pre- and postsynaptic membranes in central synapses. One of them, cadherin-11 (cad11), is expressed in the limbic system of the brain, most strongly in the hippocampus. Immunohistochemical studies of the hippocampus showed that cad11 proteins were densely distributed in its synaptic neuropil zones; in cultured hippocampal neurons, their distribution often overlapped with that of synaptophysin, and also occasionally with that of GluR1 at spines. To assess the role of cad11 in synaptic formation and/or function, we analyzed brains of cad11-deficient mice. In these mice, long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was, unexpectedly, enhanced; and the level of LTP saturation was increased. In behavioral tests, the mutant mice showed reduced fear- or anxiety-related responses. These results suggest that the cad11-mediated junctions may modulate synaptic efficacy, confining its dynamic changes to a limited range, or these junctions are required for normal development of synaptic organization in the hippocampus.

Animals↗

Long-term outcome for right heart function after biventricular repair of pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum.

OBJECTIVES: The right heart function of the patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum was assessed periodically during the process of staged biventricular repair, and the implications for its long-term outcome were analyzed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: During the period from 1971 to 1990, 21 neonates or infants with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum had undergone initial palliative surgery. There were seven early postoperative deaths and one late death. Of the 13 survivors, 10 patients underwent subsequent biventricular repair and form the basis of this study. Their clinical records of roentgenography, electrocardiography, and catheterization studies at each staged period were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Arrhythmia occurred late in 2 patients, one of whom died by arrhythmia at 11 years after definitive surgical repair. Therefore the actuarial survival rate was 85.7% at 14 years. The catheterization study after the definitive biventricular repair revealed a significant fall in the right heart pressure (p = 0.0005) and significant improvement in the right ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.0004). In angiocardiography, dilatation of the right atrium was noted in all patients and was more marked in those who developed arrhythmia in conjunction with rapid growth of the right ventricle. Moreover, the serial repeated electrocardiography disclosed progressive and significant prolongation of both PQ interval (p = 0.003) and QRS duration (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Although biventricular repair for pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum proved to attain a satisfactory long-term result, it failed to resolve right heart dysfunction. Postoperative arrhythmia was prone to precipitate progressive dilatation of the right atrium.

Atrial Function, Right↗

Genetic linkage analysis of X-ray hypersensitivity in the LEC mutant rat.

The LEC rat has been reported to exhibit X-ray hypersensitivity and deficiency in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. The present study was performed to map the locus responsible for this phenotype, the xhs (X-ray hypersensitivity), as the first step in identifying the responsible gene. Analysis of the progeny of (BN x LEC)F(1) x LEC backcrosses indicated that the X-ray hypersensitive phenotype was controlled by multiple genetic loci in contrast to the results reported previously. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) linkage analysis revealed two responsible loci located on Chromosomes (Chr) 4 and 1. QTL on Chr 4 exhibited very strong linkage to the X-ray hypersensitive phenotype, while QTL on Chr 1 showed weak linkage. The Rad52 locus, mutation of which results in hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation and impairment of DNA DSB repair in yeast, was reported to be located on the synteneic regions of mouse Chr 6 and human Chr 12. However, mapping of the rat Rad52 locus indicated that it was located 23 cM distal to the QTL on Chr 4. Furthermore, none of the radio-sensitivity-related loci mapped previously in the rat chromosome were identical to the QTL on Chrs 4 and 1 in the LEC rat. Thus, it seems that X-ray hypersensitivity in the LEC rat is caused by mutation(s) in as-yet-undefined genes.

Animals↗

Interstitial pneumonia in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome: significance of florid foamy swelling/degeneration (giant lamellar body degeneration) of type-2 pneumocytes.

Although usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)-like IP has been known as the most serious complication of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS), its pathologic features and pathogenesis are poorly understood. We investigated biopsied and autopsied lung tissues from five patients who died of UIP-like IP associated with HPS (HPSIP). The salient histopathologic features of HPSIP observed were: (1) alveolar septa displaying florid proliferation of type-2 pneumocytes (2PCs) with characteristic foamy swelling/degeneration; (2) patchy fibrosis with lymphocytic and histiocytic infiltration centered around respiratory bronchioles, occasionally showing constrictive bronchiolitis; and (3) honeycomb change without predilection for the lower lobes or subpleural area. Those peculiar 2PCs were histochemically characterized by the over accumulation of phospholipid, immunohistochemically by a weak positivity for surfactant protein, and ultrastructurally by the presence of numerous giant lamellar bodies that compressed the nucleus with occasional cytoplasmic disruption, together suggesting a form of cellular degeneration with an over accumulation of surfactant (giant lamellar body degeneration). The present study strongly indicates that there is a basic defect in the formation/secretion process of surfactant by the 2PCs in HPS, which may well be the triggering factor for the HPSIP development. Other factors, such as macrophage dysfunction, may be working synergistically for further acceleration of the inflammatory process.

Adult↗

Ruptured sinus of a Valsalva aneurysm associated with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease in an elderly patient: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 71-year-old woman with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), who was referred to our hospital for investigation of facial edema. Echocardiography demonstrated a large aneurysm arising from the non-coronary sinus of Valsalva, with a left to right shunt and jets of blood passing from the aneurysm toward the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve. Surgical treatment was successfully carried out by resecting the aneurysmal wall and performing a patch closure of the orifice. It is well known that ADPKD predisposes patients to cardiovascular disease, and this case report serves to demonstrate that when a patient with ADPKD presents with progressive heart failure, the possibility of a ruptured sinus of a Valsalva aneurysm must be considered.

Aged↗

Role of nociceptin systems in learning and memory.

This article summarizes our recent finding that the nociceptin system is involved in the regulation of learning and memory. The nociceptin-knockout mice show greater learning ability in the water maze task, an enhanced latent learning in the water finding task, better memory in the passive avoidance task, and further, larger long-term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 region than wild-type mice. Nociceptin itself induces an impairment of passive avoidance task in wild-type mice, which is reversed by naloxone benzoylhydrazone (NalBzoH). Thus, the nociceptin system seems to play negative roles in learning and memory, and NalBzoH may act as a potent antagonist for the nociceptin receptor.

Animals↗

Differential expression and phosphorylation of particular fos family members by kainate in nuclear and cytosolic fractions of murine hippocampus.

An i.p. injection of kainate resulted in severe losses of neuronal cells stained by Cresyl Violet in the CA1 and CA3 pyramidal layers of the murine hippocampus within two weeks, without affecting those in the dentate granule layer up to six weeks. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed marked and predominant expression of Fos family members, including c-Fos, Fos-B and Fra-2 proteins, in the dentate granule layer of the hippocampus, but not in the pyramidal layers, 2-18h after administration. Immunoblotting experiments showed that kainate induced more potent expression of c-Fos protein in nuclear fractions obtained 2h after injection than those obtained 18h later, with similar expression between cytosolic fractions obtained 2 and 18h after administration. Both Fos-B and Fra-2 proteins were more potently expressed in nuclear and cytosolic fractions 18h after administration than 2h when determined on immunoblotting analysis. Two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed expression of several proteins immunoreactive to the anti-c-Fos antibody with different isoelectric points in response to kainate in nuclear and cytosolic fractions of the hippocampus for 2-18h after a single injection. Immunoprecipitation analysis using the anti-c-Fos antibody showed phosphorylation of c-Fos protein on serine residues in hippocampal nuclear fractions 2h after administration, with additional phosphorylation on tyrosine residues 18h later. Prior treatment of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide prevented the expression of immunoreactivities to the anti-c-Fos antibody detected on two-dimensional electrophoresis in hippocampal nuclear fractions obtained 2h after administration.These results suggest that in vivo kainate signals may lead to persistent expression of the transcription factor activator protein-1 that consists of different Fos family members, as well as of c-Fos protein phosphorylated on serine and/or tyrosine residues, at an early stage after administration. Such signal consolidation processes could play a role in mechanisms associated with neuronal survival after kainate in the dentate granular layer of murine hippocampus.

Animals↗