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Biomedical subjects

Yuh Fukuda

Publications and source records attributed to Yuh Fukuda.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Long-term systemic therapy of Fabry disease in a knockout mouse by adeno-associated virus-mediated muscle-directed gene transfer.

Fabry disease is a systemic disease caused by genetic deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme, alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-gal A), and is thought to be an important target for enzyme replacement therapy. We studied the feasibility of gene-mediated enzyme replacement for Fabry disease. The adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector containing the alpha-gal A gene was injected into the right quadriceps muscles of Fabry knockout mice. A time course study showed that alpha-gal A activity in plasma was increased to approximately 25% of normal mice and that this elevated activity persisted for up to at least 30 weeks without development of anti-alpha-gal A antibodies. The alpha-gal A activity in various organs of treated Fabry mice remained 5-20% of those observed in normal mice. Accumulated globotriaosylceramide in these organs was completely cleared by 25 weeks after vector injection. Reduction of globotriaosylceramide levels was also confirmed by immunohistochemical and electronmicroscopic analyses. Echocardiographic examination of treated mice demonstrated structural improvement of cardiac hypertrophy 25 weeks after the treatment. AAV vector-mediated muscle-directed gene transfer provides an efficient and practical therapeutic approach for Fabry disease.

Animals↗

Wound healing involves induction of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in rat skin.

Cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme essential for prostaglandin biosynthesis, has two isoforms, COX-1 and -2. We investigated temporal and spatial changes in localization of these two COX proteins and mRNAs after excisional injury in rat skin. We also quantified the expression of these proteins and studied the effects of a specific COX-2 inhibitor on healing. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization respectively indicated that the COX-2 protein and mRNA were expressed mainly within the basal layer of the epidermis, peripheral cells in the outer root sheath of hair follicles, and fibroblast-like cells and capillaries near epidermal wound edges. Much less intense expression was observed in normal skin than in injured skin. Western analysis demonstrated marked induction of COX-2 protein beginning within 12 hours and peaking 3 days after injury. In contrast, localization of COX-1 protein and mRNA, as well as the amount of protein expression, showed no significant change during wound healing. Administration of the COX-2 inhibitor delayed re-epithelialization in the early phase of wound healing and also inhibited angiogenesis. Thus, COX-2 induction may be important in cutaneous wound healing.

Animals↗

[Clinicopathological analysis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis which became acutely exacerbated after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical lung biopsy].

Nine patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical (VATS) lung biopsy over a five-year period from 1997 to 2001 with the ultimate diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonia without underlying connective tissue disease were identified. In two of nine patients, acute exacerbation occurred six days after VATS lung biopsy. We reviewed the clinical records and pathology of all nine cases, and found that the two cases of exacerbation had higher peripheral white blood cell counts and KL-6, lower PaO2, VC and FEV 1, and a longer inhalation of FIO 2 = 1.0 during VATS, and needed a longer period of chest drainage after VATS. Abundant inflammatory cell infiltration and fibroblastic foci were observed in the exacerbation cases. Thus, patients with usual interstitial pneumonia of the idiopathic type, who have high disease activity and low pulmonary function, may be at high risk of acute exacerbation following VATS lung surgery.

Biopsy↗