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Biomedical subjects

Y Yatabe

Publications and source records attributed to Y Yatabe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Molecular basis for sensitivity and acquired resistance to gefitinib in HER2-overexpressing human gastric cancer cell lines derived from liver metastasis.

Gastric cancer metastasised to the liver was found to overexpress HER2 at a significantly higher incidence than primary gastric cancers. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possibility of molecular therapy targeting HER2 overexpression in gastric cancer liver metastasis. We developed three new HER2-overexpressing gastric cancer cell lines (GLM-1, GLM-2, GLM-4) without epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations derived from such liver metastasis, two of which had HER2 gene amplifications. All these GLM series of cell lines were highly sensitive to gefitinib in vitro, a specific inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase (Iressa) rather than anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin), whereas most of the HER2 low-expressing counterparts were not. In these HER2-overexpressing GLM series, protein kinase B (Akt), but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), was constitutively phosphorylated, and gefitinib efficiently inhibited this Akt phosphorylation, induced strong apoptosis in vitro and exhibited antitumour activity in tumour xenografts in nude mice. This gefitinib-mediated antitumour effect in xenograft was significantly potentiated by trastuzumab treatment. On the other hand, gefitinib-resistant cells (GLM-1R) exhibited increased EGFR expression, followed by constitutive activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. These results suggest that the antitumour effect of gefitinib is due to the effective inhibition of HER2-driven constitutive activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, and that the acquired resistance to gefitinib is due to the constitutive activation of Ras/MAPK pathway in compensation for PI3K/Akt pathway. Gastric cancer liver metastasis with HER2 overexpression would be a potential molecular target for gefitinib and trastuzumab.

Animals↗

The human cathepsin H gene encodes two novel minor histocompatibility antigen epitopes restricted by HLA-A*3101 and -A*3303.

Minor histocompatibility antigens (mHags) play crucial roles in the induction of graft versus host disease (GVHD) and/or graft versus leukaemia (GVL) effects following human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-identical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Using HLA-A*3101- and -A*3303-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones generated from different post-HSCT recipients, we identified two novel mHag epitopes encoded by the leader sequence of cathepsin H (CTSH) isoform a. The nonameric sequence ATLPLLCAR was defined as an HLA-A*3101-restricted epitope (CTSH(R)/A31), while a decameric peptide featuring a one N-terminal amino acid extension, WATLPLLCAR, was presented by HLA-A*3303 (CTSH(R)/A33). The immunogenicity of both epitopes was totally dependent on the polymorphic C-terminal arginine residue and substitution with glycine completely abolished binding to the corresponding HLA molecules. Thus, the immunogenicity of this mHag is exerted by differential HLA binding capacity. CTSH is relatively ubiquitously expressed at protein levels, thus it may be involved in GVHD and anti-leukaemic/tumour responses. Interestingly, however, CTL clones predominantly lysed targets of haematopoietic cell origin, which could not be explained in terms of the immunoproteasome system. Although the mechanisms involved in the differential susceptibility remain to be determined, these data suggest that CTSH-encoded mHags could be targets for GVL effects.

Acute Disease↗

Suppressive effects of F-1322 on the antigen-induced late asthmatic response and pulmonary eosinophilia in guinea pigs.

We investigated the effects of F-1322 (N-[2-[4-(benzhydryloxy)piperidino]ethyl]-3-hydroxy-5-(3-pyridylmethoxy)-2-naphthamide), a new compound that inhibits both thromboxane A2 synthetase and 5-lipoxygenase and that functions as a histamine antagonist, on the Ascaris antigen-induced late asthmatic response and pulmonary eosinophilia in guinea pigs. Oral administration of F-1322 (10-100 mg/kg) inhibited the antigen-induced late asthmatic response in a dose-dependent manner. Histological analysis revealed that F-1322 prevented the accumulation of eosinophils in the airways and this was paralleled by a decrease in the number of eosinophils and lymphocytes recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. F-1322 (0.1-10 microM) inhibited eotaxin-induced chemotaxis and actin polymerization of eosinophils in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner, while oral administration of F-1322 dose-dependently suppressed the migration of eosinophils into the airways in vivo in response to infusion of interleukin 5 and eotaxin in combination. F-1322 may, thus, improve the late asthmatic response in this model, in part, by preventing the accumulation of eosinophils in the airways. The pharmacological profile of F-1322 indicates that this drug is likely to be useful in the treatment of allergic diseases such as asthma.

Airway Resistance↗

Investigating stem cells in human colon by using methylation patterns.

The stem cells that maintain human colon crypts are poorly characterized. To better determine stem cell numbers and how they divide, epigenetic patterns were used as cell fate markers. Methylation exhibits somatic inheritance and random changes that potentially record lifelong stem cell division histories as binary strings or tags in adjacent CpG sites. Methylation tag contents of individual crypts were sampled with bisulfite sequencing at three presumably neutral loci. Methylation increased with aging but varied between crypts and was mosaic within single crypts. Some crypts appeared to be quasi-clonal as they contained more unique tags than expected if crypts were maintained by single immortal stem cells. The complex epigenetic patterns were more consistent with a crypt niche model wherein multiple stem cells were present and replaced through periodic symmetric divisions. Methylation tags provide evidence that normal human crypts are long-lived, accumulate random methylation errors, and contain multiple stem cells that go through "bottlenecks" during life.

Adolescent↗

Dietary factors and lung cancer risk in Japanese: with special reference to fish consumption and adenocarcinomas.

To investigate risk modification for lung cancer with diet in Japanese, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study and evaluated variation in influence with the histological type. We recruited 367 male and 240 female cases with adenocarcinomas, and 381 male and 57 female cases with squamous cell and small cell carcinomas. Controls comprised 2964 male and 1189 female cancer-free outpatients matched for sex and age with the cases. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for lung cancer were calculated with adjustment for potential confounding factors, using an unconditional logistic model. We found decreased ORs for adenocarcinomas in both males (OR = 0.51, 95% CI 0.31-0.84) and females (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.24-0.94) who consumed cooked/raw fish, but not dried/salted fish at the highest quartile frequency, compared with the lowest. Soybean curd consumption was associated with a decreased OR for female adenocarcinomas. Decreased ORs for squamous cell and small cell carcinomas were observed in males with frequent consumption of raw and green vegetables, fruit and milk, but consumption of carrot, pumpkin, egg and coffee was associated with increased ORs. This study suggests cooked/raw fish consumption lowers the risk of adenocarcinoma of the lung in Japanese.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Peripheral T/natural killer-cell lymphoma involving the female genital tract: a clinicopathologic study of 5 cases.

Malignant lymphoma of the female genital tract (FGT) is rare. In this study, 5 peripheral T/natural killer (NK)-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) involving the FGT are reported. They include 2 from the uterus and 1 each from ovary, uterus and ovary, and vagina, and were detected between 1996 and 2000. One of the 2 ovarian tumors was bilateral. In all cases, the FGT was the initial site of clinical presentation of disease. Age at presentation ranged from 21 to 52 years (median, 36 years). One case was stage I disease, 2 were stage II, and 2 were stage IV. All 5 tumors were positive for CD3epsilon, and 3 harbored the Epstein-Barr virus, although the detailed immunophenotypic profiles varied. Three were diagnosed as nasal type T/NK-cell lymphoma, 1 as anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (anaplastic lymphoma kinase [ALK]-positive), and 1 as unspecified PTCL of cytotoxic phenotype, according to the forthcoming World Health Organization classification. Four of 5 patients received laparotomy and chemotherapy. Four patients (in stages II and IV) died of disease within 16 months of the initial diagnosis, whereas only 1 patient (in stage I) is alive without disease at 39 months of follow-up. Our experience in this series provided clinically relevant information on diagnosis, treatment, and outcome for extremely rare tumors of the FGT.

Adult↗

Protective function of p27(KIP1) against apoptosis in small cell lung cancer cells in unfavorable microenvironments.

A previous study of ours unexpectedly found that in contrast to frequent reductions in non-small cell lung cancer, high expression of the p27(KIP1) cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor was retained in virtually all small cell lung cancers (SCLCs), suggesting the possibility of high expression of nonfunctional p27(KIP1) in this virulent tumor. The study presented here, however, shows that p27(KIP1) in SCLC biochemically functions as a CDK inhibitor, clearly showing induction apparently associated with G(1)/G(0) arrest and efficient binding to and inhibition of the cyclin E-CDK2 complex. Interestingly, induction of p27(KIP1) seems to confer on SCLC cells the ability to survive under culture conditions unfavorable for cell growth such as a lack of nutrients and hypoxia. Subsequent experiments manipulating p27(KIP1) levels by using a sense p27(KIP1) expression construct or an antisense oligonucleotide supported this notion. These observations suggest that high expression of p27(KIP1) in vivo may favor the survival of SCLC by preventing apoptosis in a microenvironment unfavorable for cell proliferation.

Animals↗

Effects of carbamazepine on the first ovulation in gonadotropin-primed immature female rats.

1. The effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) and its possible mechanisms on the first ovulation were investigated in immature female rats. The first ovulation was induced by administration of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) at 0800 h at 26 days of age. 2. A single s.c. injection of 360 mg x kg(-1) CBZ at 1300 h on the first pro-oestrus (day 28) completely inhibited the first ovulation on the morning of day 29. A marked elevation in 13, 14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2alpha (13, 14H2-PGF2alpha) forming capacity, a sensitive indicator of luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, was not detected in the CBZ-treated group at 0800 h on day 29 (72 h after eCG treatment). The elevation in serum LH levels at 57 h after eCG treatment was not observed in the CBZ-treated group, either. The blocking of the first ovulation and 13, 14H2-PGF2alpha forming capacity were recovered by an i.p. injection of human CG on day 28 in all animals. 3. However, the first ovulation was not blocked by repeated injections of 360 mg x kg(-1) CBZ at 1300 h once daily for 3 days (days 26 - 28). The repeated injections of CBZ caused a great fall (64% decrease) in the serum levels of CBZ at 4 h after the final CBZ injection as compared with the case of a single injection of CBZ and resulted in a delay for 5 h the occurrence of LH surge, which is normally observed around 57 h after eCG injection. 4. A significant increase in the activity of microsomal CBZ catabolism by the repeated injections of CBZ was quantitatively verified by the HPLC analysis. But, the activity of CBZ metabolism in the single injected-animals showed almost similar levels to that in the control. 5. The present results demonstrated that a single injection of CBZ blocks the ovulation by inhibiting LH surge but that the failure of the inhibition of ovulation by repeated injections of CBZ is due to a decrease in serum CBZ levels mediated through CBZ-induced hepatic enzyme induction.

Animals↗

Morphological spectrum of cyclin D1-positive mantle cell lymphoma: study of 168 cases.

Immunostaining for cyclin D1 is essential for reliable diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). However, a small number of cyclin D1-positive lymphomas other than MCL have been encountered. Our goal was to investigate the morphological spectrum of MCL as a disease entity, based on cyclin D1 overexpression. We reviewed 181 biopsy specimens obtained from 168 cases of cyclin D1-positive MCL. Typical findings were the presence of nodular (53.9% of cases) or diffuse (46.1%) histological patterns, containing mantle zone patterns (16.8%), naked germinal centers (33.5%) and perivascular hyaline deposition (83.2%). Unusual findings of residual germinal centers with a mantle cuff (four cases) and follicular colonization (two cases) were seen. High magnification showed a monotonous proliferation of tumor cells with cytological diversity including small (3.0%), intermediate (43.1%), medium (34.1%), medium-large (13.2%) and large (6.6%) cells. Pleomorphic and blastic/blastoid variants were encountered in 9.6 and 7.2% of cases, respectively. Three cases had foci of cells of considerable size, with a moderately abundant pale cytoplasm resembling marginal zone B cells. Two cases showed an admixture of cells which appeared transformed and mimicked the histology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic leukemia. In one, neoplastic mantle zones were surrounded by sheets of mature plasma cells, resembling the plasma cell type of Castleman's disease. An admixture of areas characteristic of MCL and of other larger cells, indicating histological progression or a composite lymphoma, were observed in seven cases. In high-grade lesions of five cases, nuclear staining of cyclin D1 was rarely detected. In our experience, cyclin D1 expression was also found in nine lymphomas other than MCL (five plasma cell myelomas, three Hodgkin's disease and one anaplastic large cell lymphoma). The application of cyclin D1 staining prompted us to recognize the broad morphological spectrum of MCL. MCL can be diagnosed with the application of cyclin D1 immunostaining, if careful attention is given to architectural and cytological features.

Adult↗

Significance of cyclin D1 overexpression for the diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma: a clinicopathologic comparison of cyclin D1-positive MCL and cyclin D1-negative MCL-like B-cell lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a distinct clinicopathologic entity of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, characterized by a monotonous proliferation of small to medium-sized lymphocytes with co-expression of CD5 and CD20, an aggressive and incurable clinical course, and frequent t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation. We examined 151 cases of lymphoma with MCL morphology from a viewpoint of cyclin D1 overexpression, which is now easily detectable by immunohistochemistry. 128 cases (85%) showed positive nuclear staining for cyclin D1, while the remaining 23 (15%) were negative. Except for cyclin D1 immunohistochemistry, current diagnostic methods, including morphological and phenotypical examinations, could not make this distinction. Although both the cyclin D1-positive and -negative groups were characterized by male predominance, advanced stages of the disease, frequent extranodal involvement, and low CD23 reactivity, the cyclin D1-positive group showed a higher age distribution (P =.04), larger cell size (P =.02), higher mitotic index (P =.01), more frequent gastrointestinal involvement (P =.05), higher international prognostic index score (P =.05), and lower p27(KIP1) expression (P <.0001). Of particular interest is that cyclin D1-positive MCL showed significantly worse survival than cyclin D1-negative lymphoma (5-year survival: 30% versus 86%, P =.0002), which was confirmed by multivariate analysis to be independent of other risk factors. These data suggest that cyclin D1-positive and -negative groups may represent different entities and that the former closely fits the characteristics of classical, typical MCL. We therefore propose that cyclin D1-positivity should be included as one of the standard criteria for MCL, and that innovative therapies for this incurable disease should be explored on the basis of the new criteria.

Adult↗

Genetic reconstruction of individual colorectal tumor histories.

It is difficult to observe human tumor progression as precursor lesions are systematically removed. Alternatives to direct observations, commonly used to reveal the hidden past of species and populations, are sequence comparisons or molecular clocks. Noncoding microsatellite (MS) loci were employed as molecular tumor clocks in 13 human mutator phenotype (MSI(+)) colorectal tumors. Quantitative analysis revealed that specific patterns of somatic MS mutations accumulate with division after loss of mismatch repair (MMR). Tumors had unique patterns of MS mutation, and, therefore, based on this model, each tumor had its own unique history. Loss of MMR occurred very early relative to terminal clonal expansion, with an estimated average of 2,300 divisions since loss of MMR and 280 divisions since expansion. Contrary to the classical adenoma-cancer sequence, MSI(+) adenomas were nearly as old as cancers (2,000 versus 2,400 divisions since loss of MMR). Negative clinical examinations preceded six tumors, independently documenting an absence of visible precursors during early MSI(+) adenoma or cancer progression. These findings further extend a window beyond visible progression since loss of MMR appears to start a genetic phase involving clone sizes or phenotypes below a threshold of clinical detection. This previously occult prologue before visible neoplasia is longer and therefore likely more important than generally appreciated.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Bladder cancer genotype stability during clinical progression.

Genomic instability is manifested by the accumulation of large numbers of mutations. The rate at which mutations accumulate has been difficult to estimate because serial comparisons are required. For further insight into how quickly mutations accumulate during clinical progression, cell lines sequentially isolated 6 or 11 months apart from two patients with metastatic bladder cancer were compared for loss of heterozygosity (LOH). The genomes were scanned at approximately 200 polymorphic microsatellite loci to increase the resolution and sensitivity for losses. The cell lines from both patients had evidence of genomic instability, with aneuploidy, chromosomal instability, and fractional allelic losses of 0.15 and 0. 48, respectively. However, additional changes were relatively infrequent, with more than 90% identity between the initial and recurrent cell lines. Allelic losses were not randomly scattered, but clustered on specific chromosomes. Therefore, the numbers of loci with further LOH during the clinical progression of some bladder cancers are small relative to the total number of loci with LOH, suggesting that most allelic losses accumulate before clinical presentation.

Alleles↗

Topographical distributions of allelic loss in individual non-small-cell lung cancers.

Non-small-cell carcinomas of the lung, especially adenocarcinomas, are characterized by a high degree of morphological heterogeneity. As carcinogenesis has been suggested to be a multistep process involving sequential accumulation of multiple genetic alterations, morphological heterogeneity may represent a cross-sectional view of genetic alterations within individual tumors. We therefore examined the topographical distribution of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) events within 10 non-small-cell lung cancers to investigate whether, and which, genetic alterations are accumulated in relation to morphological progression. LOH at the TP53, 17p13.3, and 3p loci was detected in six, eight, and six of 10 informative cases, respectively. In each case, all portions of the tumor shared concordant LOH despite morphological diversity. In contrast, distributions of LOH at 2q, 9p, and 22q, which have been reported to be associated with the advanced stages of tumors, were divergent in two of three, four of eight, and one of one cases with LOH, respectively. In these cases, presence of LOH was mostly related to the morphological tumor grades. These findings suggest the accumulative feature of genetic alterations in particular loci that can be seen even in individual tumors. Furthermore, the present study indicated that cross-sectional examination of individual tumors is also important for better understanding of molecular pathogenesis of lung cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Saturation transfer ratio imaging in invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast.

A prospective study was performed to investigate the correlations between saturation transfer ratio (STR) and histologic parameters of invasive ductal carcinomas in human breast. The histologic parameters investigated were the extent of fibrosis in the intercellular matrix, dysplastic changes of nuclei, and mitotic index. Twenty-seven patients with breast carcinoma were examined using an off-resonance saturation pulse in conjunction with conventional field-echo T(1)-weighted imaging at frequency offsets of 448 Hz and 1200 Hz from water resonance. The values of STR at frequency offset of 1200 Hz (STR(1200)) increased from non-scirrhous carcinoma to scirrhous carcinoma. Although STR(1200) showed correlation with the extent of fibrosis in the intercellular matrix (p<0.01, n = 27), they did not correlate with the dysplastic changes of nuclei or mitotic index. On the other hand, the values of STR at frequency offset of 448 Hz (STR(448)) demonstrated close correlation to dysplastic changes of nuclei and mitotic index (p<0.01, n = 27). STR(1200) correlates with the structural characteristics and STR(448) correlates with the nature of malignant cells with regard to nuclear dysplasia and mitotic potential.

Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous↗

Helicobacter pylori and the t(11;18)(q21;q21) translocation in gastric low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type.

The reported regression of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type gastric low-grade B-cell lymphoma following treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has not yet been comprehensively analyzed, especially in relation to the recently identified c-IAP2-MALT1 / MLT gene alteration resulting from the t(11;18)(q21;q21) chromosomal translocation found in MALT lymphoma. The relationship between MALT lymphomas and H. pylori was investigated in 30 patients who received an antibacterial treatment. Patients were followed up by means of endoscopy and biopsy. Molecular genetic analyses focused on the presence or absence of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene and / or MALT1 / MLT gene alteration resulting from t(11;18)(q21;q21) translocation. H. pylori was positive in 26 of the 30 patients. The overall success rate of cure of H. pylori infection was 96% (25 / 26). Thirteen patients (52%) showed complete remission (CR) of lymphoma, nine (36%) partial remission (PR), and three (12%) registered no change (NC). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between CR and PR / NC patients in age ( < 60 or 60), in lymphoma location (single or multiple sites) and in the presence or absence of gene rearrangement before eradication (P < 0.05). Endoscopy showed a cobblestone appearance only in PR cases and polypoid features predominantly in NC cases. Two NC patients with polypoid gross appearance showed rearrangements involving either c-IAP2 or MALT1 gene in Southern blot analysis, while none of seven other resected patients with non-polypoid superficial gross appearance showed rearrangement. Gastric MALT lymphoma could be pragmatically subdivided into three groups, CR (MALT-A), PR (MALT-B), and NC (MALT-C) on the basis of the reaction to eradication of H. pylori. We speculate that MALT-A may represent an incipient neoplasm or dysplasia, MALT-B a neoplasm activated by antigenic stimulation of H. pylori, and MALT-C a lymphoma independent of H. pylori. Polypoid lesions in MALT-C were associated with c-IAP2-MALT1 / MLT gene alteration resulting from t(11;18)(q21;q21). This classification is thought to be clinically significant for deciding the most appropriate mode of treatment of MALT-type lymphoproliferative disorders.

Adult↗

Characterization of high-grade neuroendocrine tumors of the lung in relation to menin mutations.

It has been suggested that mutations in the menin gene play a role in the development of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)-associated and of sporadic forms of low- and intermediate-grade neuroendocrine tumors of the lung. In the present study, eight tumor specimens of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and 13 of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which represent a high-grade category of neuroendocrine tumors, were examined for the potential involvement of menin alterations as well as for the expression of various neuroendocrine markers and p53 and Rb abnormalities. All specimens expressed multiple neuroendocrine markers as expected and almost invariably carried p53 and Rb alterations. Unexpectedly, however, mutations in the menin gene were not detected in any of the high-grade neuroendocrine tumors examined. We thus conclude that menin mutations do not play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of high-grade subsets, in contrast to their suggested significant role in the development of low- and intermediate-grade subsets. Interestingly, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the menin gene appeared to be more prevalent in LCNEC (50%) than in SCLC (22%), suggesting a possible distinction between SCLC and LCNEC.

Carcinoma, Large Cell↗