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Biomedical subjects

Y Shimomura

Publications and source records attributed to Y Shimomura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Dexamethasone attenuates altered insulin secretion elicited by interleukin-1 beta in HIT cells.

The effects of dexamethasone on the modulation of insulin secretion by recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) were examined in HIT-T 15 cells. The addition of IL-1 from 1.2 x 10(-8) to 10(-10) M increased insulin secretion in the 0-4-h period after IL-1 administration and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was suppressed by IL-1 from 1.2 x 10(-8) to 10(-12) M. At all doses used, IL-1 inhibited insulin secretion in the 4-24-h period after IL-1 administration and PGE2 levels were increased in the culture medium. In the second experiment, the addition of 10(-7) M dexamethasone prevented the inhibitory effects of IL-1 on insulin secretion. In the third experiment, dexamethasone at 10(-7) M attenuated both the short-term stimulation of insulin release and the long-term suppression of insulin release caused by IL-1. It also prevented the effects of IL-1 on PGE2 production. The present studies suggest that dexamethasone may have a suppressive action on the effects of IL-1 on in vitro insulin secretion.

Binding Sites

Carboxyl-terminal tripeptide of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone antagonizes interleukin-1-induced anorexia.

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1), a cytokine released from inflammatory cells, is thought to be involved in the anorexia associated with severe infection. To assess a possible role of the amino acid sequence found in the supposed IL-1 receptor binding sites, we determined the antagonistic effects of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and the carboxyl-terminal tripeptide of alpha-MSH-(11-13) (alpha-MSH-(11-13)) on the anorexia induced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of 0.5 pmol IL-1. The parent alpha-MSH molecule completely prevented the induction of anorexia by IL-1 at both doses tested, 0.5 and 5.0 pmol. In contrast, alpha-MSH-(11-13) prevented the IL-1-induced anorexia only at 5.0 pmol, but not at 0.5 pmol. Intracerebroventricular injection of 5 pmol of the parent alpha-MSH molecule alone temporarily decreased food consumption at 1-2 h; 5.0 pmol of alpha-MSH-(11-13) alone did not affect food consumption. These data indicate that alpha-MSH can antagonize the anorexic effects of IL-1. The carboxyl-terminal tripeptide portion of alpha-MSH may be important for the antagonistic action of alpha-MSH on the anorexia induced by IL-1.

Amino Acid Sequence

Branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase. Molecular cloning, expression, and sequence similarity with histidine protein kinases.

A cDNA for branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase was cloned from a rat heart cDNA library. The cDNA had an open reading frame encoding a protein of 382 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 43,280. The clone codes for the branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase based on the following: 1) the deduced amino acid sequence contained the partial sequence of the kinase determined by direct sequencing; 2) expression of the cDNA in Escherichia coli resulted in synthesis of a 43,000-Da protein that was recognized specifically by kinase antibodies; and 3) enzyme activity that phosphorylated and inactivated the branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex was found in extracts of E. coli expressing the protein. Northern blot analysis indicated the mRNA for the branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase was more abundant in rat heart than in rat liver, as expected from the relative amounts of kinase activity expressed in these tissues. The deduced sequence of the kinase aligned with a high degree of similarity within subdomains characteristic of procaryotic histidine protein kinases. This first mitochondrial protein kinase to be cloned appears more closely related in sequence to procaryotic histidine protein kinases than to eucaryotic serine/threonine protein kinases.

Amino Acid Sequence

[Mechanism of suppressed prolactin secretion due to medium hyperosmolarity--the importance of Ca2+ influx].

It is still unknown how extracellular hyperosmolarity suppresses exocytosis. To evaluate the possibility that extracellular hyperosmolarity affects one of the most important second messenger system, Ca2+ signal, we evaluated the effect of hyperosmolarity on the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)-induced changes in both intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and prolactin (PRL) secretion in GH4C1 cells. TRH caused two phases of [Ca2+]i: an initial high-amplitude phase (first phase), which was not inhibited by Ca2+ free medium, and a sustained low-amplitude phase (second phase), which was abolished by Ca2+ free medium. Medium hyperosmolarity (isotonic = 300mOsm, hypertonic = 338, 375, 450, and 600mOsm) suppressed both TRH-induced phases of [Ca2+]i in a dose dependent manner, however, the suppressive effect was clearly stronger in the second phase of [Ca2+]i than in the first phase of [Ca2+]i. Low doses of medium hyperosmolarity (338 and 375mOsm) suppressed PRL secretion, which was dependent on Ca2+ influx. However, high doses of medium hyperosmolarity (450 and 600mOsm) also blocked PRL secretion, which was dependent on Ca2+ mobilized from cytosolic Ca2+ pools. These data indicate that in GH4C1 cells medium hyperosmolarity may inhibit PRL secretion by both blocking Ca2+ influx and a mechanism unrelated to Ca2+.

Calcium

Formation of glycine conjugate and (-)-(R)-enantiomer from (+)-(S)-2-phenylpropionic acid suggesting the formation of the CoA thioester intermediate of (+)-(S)-enantiomer in dogs.

It has been proposed that the chiral inversion of the 2-arylpropionic acids is due to the stereospecific formation of the (-)-R-profenyl-CoA thioesters which are putative intermediates in the inversion. Accordingly, amino acid conjugation, for which the CoA thioesters are obligate intermediates, should be restricted to those optical forms which give rise to the (-)-R-profenyl-CoA, i.e., the racemates and the (-)-(R)-isomers. We have examined this problem in dogs with respect to 2-phenylpropionic acid(2-PPA). Regardless of the optical configuration of 2-phenylpropionic acid administered, the glycine conjugate was the major urinary metabolite and this was shown to be exclusively the (+)-(S)-enantiomer by chiral HPLC. Both (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-2-phenylpropionic acid were present in plasma after the administration of either antipode, and further evidence of the chiral inversion of both enantiomers was provided by the presence of some 25% of the opposite enantiomer in the free 2-phenylpropionic acid and its glucuronide excreted in urine after administration of (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-2-phenylpropionic acid. The (+)-(S)-enantiomer underwent chiral inversion to the (-)-(R)-antipode when incubated with dog hepatocytes. These data suggests that both enantiomers of 2-phenylpropionic acid are substrates for canine hepatic acyl CoA ligase(s) and thus undergo chiral inversion, but that the CoA thioester of only (+)-(S)-2-phenylpropionic acid is a substrate for the glycine N-acyl transferase. These studies are presently being extended to the structure and species specificity of the reverse inversion and amino acid conjugation of profen NSAIDs.

Animals

Effect of short-term exercise training on muscle glycogen in resting conditions in rats fed a high fat diet.

It has been reported that exercise training increases muscle glycogen storage in rats fed a high carbohydrate (CHO) diet in resting conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a 3-week swimming training programme would increase muscle glycogen stores in rats fed a high-fat (FAT) diet in resting conditions. Rats were fed either the FAT or CHO diet for 7 days ad libitum, and then were fed regularly twice a day (between 0800 and 0830 hours and 1800 and 1830 hours) for 32 days. During this period of regular feeding, half of the rats in both dietary groups had swimming training for 3 weeks and the other half were sedentary. The rats were not exercised for 48 h before sacrifice. All rats were killed 2 h after their final meal (2030 hours). The glycogen contents in red gastrocnemius muscle, heart and liver were significantly higher in sedentary rats fed the CHO diet than in those fed the FAT diet. Exercise training clearly increased glycogen content in soleus, red gastrocnemius and heart muscle in rats fed the CHO diet. In rats fed the FAT diet, however, training did not increase glycogen content in these muscles or the heart. Exercise training resulted in an 87% increase of total glycogen synthase activity in the gastrocnemius muscle of rats fed the CHO diet. However, this was not observed in rats fed the FAT diet. The total glycogen phosphorylase activity in the gastrocnemius muscle of the rats of both dietary groups was increased approximately twofold by training.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Mechanism of inhibitory action of ketone bodies on the production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIS) by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

We determined an effect of acetoacetic acid (AcAc) and 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) on the production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) in polymorphonuclear leukocytes from healthy volunteers. Both AcAc and 3-OHB inhibited the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL) activities assessed with initial slope and the inhibition rates were about 42%, 44% respectively by AcAc and 3-OHB when the leukocytes were preincubated with 10 mM AcAc or 3-OHB for 60 minutes. The LDCL activity was reduced by 16% and 42% following the addition of 1mM and 10 mM AcAc. The similar reduction of the LDCL activity was observed in the addition of 3-OHB. Either 3-OHB or AcAc failed to show a significant reduction of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. However, both 3-OHB and AcAc dose-dependently inhibited superoxide anion (O2-) production, measured by using cytochrome c. These data provided evidence that both 3-OHB and AcAc suppress neutrophil oxidative metabolism with respect with O2- production.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid

Both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitor partially restore the anorexia by interleukin-1 beta.

Since the peripheral prostaglandin synthetizing system may at least partly involved in the anorexia that follows central interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) administration, this study was undertaken to investigate the effect of ibuprofen (ip), selective cyclooxygenase blocker and AA 861, selective lipoxygenase inhibitor, on changes of food and water intake by a single injection of IL-1 (2 micrograms/rat, ip). We demonstrated that food and water intake were suppressed by peripheral administration of IL-1. Throughout the entire observation periods, suppressed food intake was partially restored to control levels by ibuprofen, while water intake completely restored. In addition, no significant differences about water/food intake were observed in the IL-1 + ibuprofen-treated groups, respectively. In the next experiment, IL-1 induced anorexia was also partially restored to the control level following pretreatment with AA 861. These results may suggest that other mechanism including lipoxygenase blocker besides prostaglandin production may be involved in IL-1 induced anorexia.

Analysis of Variance

Feeding behavior and ambulatory activity in rats with D-galactosamine-induced hepatic failure.

This study was undertaken to investigate changes in feeding behavior and ambulatory activity, in rats with D-galactosamine (D-GAL)-induced hepatic failure. D-GAL was administered (1000 mg/kg) IP at 1800, just before the dark phase. The first significant decrease of ambulatory activity in rats with hepatic failure was observed between 0000 and 0300 h. A significant increase in drinking behavior was observed between 1800 and 2100 h, and a significant decrease was observed between 2100 and 0300 h. A significant decrease in food intake occurred between 1800 and 2400 h. Thereafter, there was no difference in food intake. In conclusion, we demonstrated significant changes in ambulatory activity, drinking behavior and food intake produced by D-GAL. A wide variation in systems, including monoamine turnover, and amino acid disturbance could be expected in these animals, and such changes might also have contributed to the results observed.

Amino Acids, Branched-Chain

Purification, characterization, regulation and molecular cloning of mitochondrial protein kinases.

The mitochondrial kinases responsible for the phosphorylation and inactivation of rat heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and the rat liver and heart branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes have been purified to homogeneity. The branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase is composed of one subunit with a molecular weight of 44 kDa; pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase has two subunits with molecular weights of 48 (alpha) and 45 kDa (beta). Proteolysis maps of branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase and the two subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase are different, suggesting that all subunits are different entities. The alpha subunit of the rat heart pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase was selectively cleaved by chymotrypsin with concomitant loss of kinase activity, as previously shown for the bovine kidney enzyme, suggesting that the catalytic activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase resides in this subunit. Polyclonal antibodies against branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase, purified by an epitope selection method, bound only to the 44 kDa polypeptide of the branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex, substantiating that the 44 kDa protein corresponds to the kinase for this complex. Both kinases exhibited strong substrate specificity toward their respective complexes and would not inactivate heterologous complexes. The kinases possessed slightly different substrate specificities toward histones. Phosphorylation and inactivation of the branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex by its purified kinase was inhibited by alpha-chloroisocaproate and dichloroacetate, established inhibitors of the phosphorylation of the complex. cDNAs encoding the branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase have been isolated from rat heart and rat liver lambda gt11 libraries. This represents the first successful cloning of a mitochondrial protein kinase. Preliminary data suggest that two different isoforms of the kinase may exist in different ratios in various tissues. No evidence was found for induction of the branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex nor its kinase by clofibric acid. Rather, clofibric acid is a potent inhibitor of the activity of the branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase and this may be the molecular mechanism responsible for the myotonic effects of clofibric acid in man.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)

Changes in urinary retinol binding protein excretion and other indices of renal tubular damage in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes.

Changes in urine retinol binding protein (RBP, M(r) 21,000) excretion and other indices of renal tubular damage were investigated in the patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Changes in urine RBP excretion were well paralleled with those of urine NAG excretion. In RBP-negative patients, the subjects with hypertension (systolic blood pressure > or = 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > or = 90 mmHg) showed higher beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) excretion and albumin (Alb)/Cr ratios than normotensive ones. In addition, both urine beta 2-MG excretions and Alb/Cr ratios were significantly increased in RBP-positive patients. The measurement of urine RBP excretion may have an additional role in the diagnosis of renal tubular dysfunction in diabetic patients.

Acetylglucosaminidase

Osteogenic activity of growth cartilage examined by implanting decalcified or devitalized ribs and costal cartilage zone, and living growth cartilage cells.

The formation of cartilage prior to bone in an endochondral bone formation process suggests that some osteogenic factors exist in the cartilage. This osteogenic activity of cartilage or cartilage cells was examined by implanting ribs and costal cartilage zone into a subcutaneous pocket of abdominal wall, or the growth cartilage (GC) cells into a peritoneal cavity. Rib segments of young (four-week-old) rabbits and rats were decalcified (DCed) in 0.6 N HCl for 24 h at 4 degrees C, or devitalized (DVed) by freezing/thawing and submerged in water for 48 h at 4 degrees C. These specimens were implanted into the subcutaneous pocket of abdominal wall of eight-week-old rabbits and rats. Both the DCed ribs and the DVed ones formed bone at costal GC zone after four to six weeks. Costal cartilage zone of young rabbits and rats was DCed or DVed as stated above, and implanted into the subcutaneous pocket of abdominal wall of eight-week-old rabbits and rats. The DVed costal cartilage zone specimens formed bone after three to four weeks, but the DCed ones did not, even after eight weeks. GC cells were dissociated enzymatically from rat costal GC zone, centrifuged to be made into pellets (5 x 10(5) cells/pellet), and implanted into the peritoneal cavity of eight-week-old syngeneic rats. After four weeks, implanted GC cells formed bone. These results suggest that there are some osteogenic factors in the GC zone produced by GC cells, whose activity is lost by decalcification, and which are different from known BMPs.

Abdominal Muscles

Reduced ability of neutrophils to produce active oxygen species in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

We investigated a possible alteration in the ability of neutrophils to produce active oxygen species in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The production of superoxide of the neutrophils was assessed by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL) after the stimulation by opsonized zymosan. Four days after STZ (60 mg/kg, ip) injection, blood glucose level increased by 399 +/- 9 mg/dl and the LDCL activity was significantly reduced in diabetic rats (control group: 5.12 +/- 1.53 KC/min2/10(6) cells, STZ group: 1.10 +/- 0.07 KC/min2/10(6) cells, p less than 0.01). At Day 17, blood glucose level was maintained high (598 +/- 8 mg/dl) and the LDCL activity (1.01 +/- 0.39 KC/min2/10(6) cells) was almost at the same level as that of diabetic rats at Day 4. Subcutaneous injection of insulin for 10 consecutive days increased the LDCL activity of diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner (vehicle: 0.82 +/- 0.27 KC/min2/10(6) cells, 0.04 U/day: 1.61 +/- 0.09 KC/min2/10(6) cells, 0.40 U/day: 1.99 +/- 0.47 KC/min2/10(6) cells, 4.00 U/day: 3.33 +/- 0.43 KC/min2/10(6) cells). The data obtained herein indicate that an increased susceptibility to bacterial infection in diabetic rats results from impaired neutrophil function to produce active oxygen species.

Analysis of Variance

Altered monoamine metabolism in the hypothalamus of the genetically obese yellow (Ay/a) mouse.

Changes in hypothalamic monoamine metabolism were investigated in the genetically obese yellow (Ay/a) mouse. At the age of 6 weeks when there was no difference in body weight between black (a/a) and yellow (Ay/a) mice, the contents of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and their main metabolites (MHPG, DOPAC) were already significantly reduced in yellow (Ay/a) mice. Reduction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level and an increasing 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio has been observed. When a significant increase in body weight in the yellow (Ay/a) mouse at the age of 12 weeks was present, both NE and DA contents have been increased in the hypothalamus of the obese mouse. MHPG level was lower than in the lean mouse, resulting in an increase of MHPG/NE ratio. The present study suggests that the observed reduction in hypothalamic NE and DA metabolism might be involved in the development of overweight gain in the yellow (Ay/a) mouse.

Animals

Hypothermia in insulin-treated obese rats.

Changes of colonic temperature were investigated to examine a mechanism of hypothermia in the obese rats which received subcutaneous administration of intermediate type-insulin (8 U/day) for 8 weeks. Although diurnal rhythmicity of colonic temperature levels was maintained similarly with those of vehicle-injected controls, the overall colonic temperature levels were significantly lowered in insulin-treated animals. In the condition of cold exposure at 5 degrees C, colonic temperature levels of insulin-treated animals were immediately and significantly decreased at 60 minutes after the start of cold exposure. The data obtained herein demonstrated that hyperinsulinemia accompanying with hyperphagia should be profoundly involved in hypothermia, observed in various experimental models of obesity.

Animals

Colonic temperature was not changed in the development of obesity after ovariectomy.

We tested the hypothesis that altered heat production ability after ovariectomy may be involved in the development of obesity. Two weeks after ovariectomy, food intake of ovariectomized (Ovx) rats was increased and body weight gain was obvious, compared with sham-operated animals. However, colonic temperature of Ovx rats was not different from that of sham-operated animals. Food intake of Ovx rats was similar with that of sham-operated rats at 8 weeks later. In this period, colonic temperature of Ovx rats was not different from that of sham-operated animals and diurnal rhythmicity was maintained. The present data suggested that changes in heat production may be not an important inducer of obesity in both the dynamic and static phases of the development of obesity after ovariectomy.

Animals

Possible involvement of glucocorticoids in the reduction of serum insulin levels by interleukin-1 in the rat.

Evidence is accumulating that adrenal steroids may be involved in the metabolic effects of cytokines. We evaluated the possible involvement of glucocorticoids in the inhibition of pancreatic insulin secretion by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), one of the cytokines produced by inflammatory cells. In the first group of experiments, adrenalectomized rats showed a significant reduction in basal and glucose (0.5 g/kg, i.v.)-stimulated immunoreactive insulin (IRI) levels after injection of IL-1 beta (1.0 microgram/kg), but intact rats did not. Pretreatment with IL-1 beta increased plasma glucose levels 2 and 15 min after an i.v. bolus of glucose in adrenalectomized rats. In the second group of experiments, dexamethasone supplement (0.1 mg/kg) given to adrenalectomized rats cancelled the reduction in plasma glucose levels by IL-1 beta, and rats treated with 1.0 mg dexamethasone/kg showed a significant increase in basal IRI levels and enhanced serum IRI levels after IL-1 beta injection. However, 1.0 mg deoxycorticosterone/kg given daily for 7 days failed to cancel the effect of IL-1 beta on the reduction of serum IRI levels, although it attenuated the weight loss after adrenalectomy. The data suggested that withdrawal of glucocorticoids after adrenalectomy potentiates the effect of IL-1 beta on the reduction of serum IRI levels. Glucocorticoids may have a protective action against the reduction of serum IRI levels by IL-1 beta.

Adrenal Glands