Inhibitory effect of a marine microalgal polysaccharide on the telomerase activity in K562 cells

An extracellular polysaccharide from marine microalga, dinoflagellate Gymnodinium sp. A3 (GA3), showed cytotoxicity to human myeloid leukemia K562 cells. We measured telomerase activity in K562 cells cultured with GA3 polysaccharide. 10.0 micrograms/ml of GA3 polysaccharide inhibited the telomerase activity in the cells completely. Also, we found a decrease in expression of the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase (PP) type 1, PP1 gamma 1, in K562 cells cultured with GA3 polysaccharide.

Alteration of expression of liver-enriched transcription factors in the transition between growth and differentiation of primary cultured rat hepatocytes

In the present study, we showed the role of the liver-enriched transcription factors in the transition during which proliferating hepatocytes become quiescent. We used primary rat hepatocytes cultured in modified L-15 medium. The cells proliferated and, after the addition of 2% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) from day 4, they stopped growing and gradually differentiated. During hepatic proliferation, expression of hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNF)1alpha, HNF4, C/EBP alpha, and C/EBP beta mRNAs was depressed, whereas that of HNF3alpha and HNF3beta transcripts was enhanced. After the addition of DMSO, the expression of HNF1alpha, HNF3gamma, and HNF4 returned to the level in isolated cells and HNF1beta mRNA expression gradually increased. However, expression of C/EBP alpha and C/EBP beta mRNAs was partially recovered. The mitoinhibitory agents, IL-1beta, IL-6, TGF-beta, and activin A, were examined to determine whether they could induce differentiation of proliferating hepatocytes as shown in cells treated with DMSO. Although these factors inhibited cell growth, the cells did not differentiate. The expression pattern of HNF3gamma mRNA was quite different in the cells cultured with DMSO and those cultured with cytokines. Therefore, hepatic differentiation requires not only inhibition of DNA synthesis but also induction of appropriate transcription factors. Thus, expression of HNF3gamma, C/EBP alpha, and C/EBP beta may be necessary for hepatocytes to acquire highly differentiated functions in addition to coexpression of certain amounts of transcripts of HNF1alpha, HNF1beta, HNF3alpha, HNF3beta, and HNF4 as well as suppression of C/EBP delta.

Decrease of nuclear protein phosphatase 1 activity and induction of mitotic arrest and apoptosis by a marine microalgal polysaccharide in human myeloid leukemia U937 cells

An extracellular polysaccharide, which we designate GA3P, produced from a marine microalga dinoflagellate Gymnodinium sp. A3, has been previously reported to induce apoptosis in lymphoid and myeloid cell lines. We found that the GA3P accumulates cells into the mitotic phase of the cell cycle and decreases nuclear protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) activity in a dose-dependent manner in myeloid leukemia U937 cells. Dose-dependent patterns in the decrease of nuclear PP1 activity and in the accumulation of cells into mitotic phase or apoptotic status by the GA3P were concordant with each other, indicating that the decrease of nuclear PP1 activity at least mediates some of the etiological steps in development of mitotic arrest and apoptosis induced by the GA3P. In addition, the GA3P repressed the expression of protein levels of the PP1 catalytic subunit isoform PP1 gamma 1 gamma 1. We thus suggest that the decrease of nuclear PP1 activity is due to down-regulation of the protein levels of the PP1 gamma 1.

Increasing effect of dietary taurine on the serum HDL-cholesterol concentration in rats

Taurine, 2-amino ethanesulfonic acid, is the major free intracellular amino acid present in many tissues and plays an important role in lipid metabolism such as that of bile acid conjugation for fat absorption. The effect of taurine on the serum cholesterol level in normal rats was investigated. Taurine enhanced the serum HDL-cholesterol concentration in a dose-dependent manner without any change in total cholesterol.

HPLC on Chiralcel OJ-R for enantiomer separation and analysis of ketoprofen, from horse plasma, as the 9-aminophenanthrene derivative

Racemic ketoprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat musculoskeletal and colic conditions in horses. The enantioselective chiral inversion of ketoprofen administered to horses has been studied by use of cellulose tris(4-methylbenzoate), also known as Chiralcel OJ-R, as chiral stationary phase; acetonitrile - 0.02 M perchlorate buffer (pH 2.0)-methanol, 60:15:25 (v/v/v) was used as mobile phase. Before chromatography, to effect adequate chiral interaction with the chiral stationary phase ketoprofen was derivatized with 9-aminophenanthrene, under acid conditions, after solid-phase (C18) extraction and then liquid-liquid extraction, to ensure effective removal of endogenous plasma materials. The 9-aminophenanthrene derivative of S-ibuprofen was used as internal standard. The enantiomers of ketoprofen were separated to baseline (Rs = 6.44, alpha = 1.76) within a short analysis time. The results indicate that the bio-inversion of R-ketoprofen to the S isomer is significant in equine species. However, considerable differences in pharmacokinetic parameters were observed, indicating large inter-animal variation.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in human male reproductive organs and seminal plasma

Prostaglandin D synthase (PGDS) activity was detected in human seminal plasma (0.05-1.83 nmol/min per milligram protein). The enzyme was purified from human seminal plasma by immunoaffinity chromatography and found to be 27 kDa in size and N-glycosylated, similar to PGDS in the cerebrospinal fluid. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of 16 residues of the seminal enzyme, APEAQVSVQPNFQQDK, was identical to that of the cerebrospinal fluid PGDS. Although PGDS activity and the content determined by the immunoassay each highly varied in the seminal plasma, the concentration was significantly (p < 0.001) lower in the oligozoospermic group (2.47 +/- 0.51 microg/ml) than in the normozoospermic group (9.75 +/- 1.49 microg/ml). Prostaglandin (PG) D2 was detected in the seminal plasma (5.00 +/- 0.65 ng/ml) with a positive correlation to the PGDS concentration (p < 0.05). PGD2 was converted to the J series of PGs in the seminal plasma with a half-life of 6.5 h. Northern blot analysis revealed that mRNA for PGDS was expressed in the testis, prostate, and epididymis. Through immunohistochemistry, PGDS was localized in Leydig cells of the testis and in epithelial cells of the prostate and ductus epididymidis.

Loss of imprinting of igf2 in renal-cell carcinomas

Loss of imprinting (LOI) of the igf2 and h19 genes has been found not only in embryonal tumors but also in common adult cancers. To determine any possible role of genomic imprinting in the development of renal-cell carcinomas (RCCs), we examined the imprinting status of igf2 and h19 in a series of 22 such tumors, and studied its relation to their mRNA expression. Of 14 RCC specimens heterozygous for the ApaI polypmorphism, 7 (50%) showed LOI of igf2. In contrast, for h19 all 9 informative cases maintained imprinting. Furthermore, all 7 cases with LOI transcribed igf2 mRNA at elevated levels, while H19 expression was low regardless of the imprinting status compared with that of background level in each case. These results suggest that LOI of igf2, but not of h19, plays a role in the case of human RCC. However, in contrast to that in Wilms' tumor, LOI in RCC was not associated with any specific down-regulation of h19.

Immune function and lifestyle of taxi drivers in Japan

Many studies have reported that stress affects the immune system. It is known that professional drivers are exposed to various forms of job-related stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the job stress of taxi drivers based on the mitogen responses and cytokine production of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBMC), combined with interviews on lifestyles and income. We examined randomly selected male taxi drivers aged 40-59 years who were members of the Kansai District Union of Private Railway, Hire, and Taxi at the end of 1992 and 1993. At the end of 1993, they were struck by a severe economic depression. The lymphocyte proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA), poke weed mitogen (PWM), and PHA-induced interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 production of the taxi drivers were at the same level as those of the control subjects as measured in 1992. The mitogen responses and IL-2 production of taxi drivers were found to have significantly decreased in 1993, while their IL-4 production was significantly elevated. Lifestyles of normal PHA respondents were significantly different from those of low-PHA respondents in 1992. However, in 1993, these differences were unclear. The immune alterations of taxi drivers who were prohibited from working overtime were more profound than those of the drivers who were allowed to do so. These results indicate that in addition to driving stress, the daily earnings affect taxi drivers as a strong stress or that induces immunological changes.

Expression of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (beta-trace) in human heart and its accumulation in the coronary circulation of angina patients

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) is localized in the central nervous system and male genital organs of various mammals and is secreted as beta-trace into the closed compartment of these tissues separated from the systemic circulation. In this study, we found that the mRNA for the human enzyme was expressed most intensely in the heart among various tissues examined. In human autopsy specimens, the enzyme was localized immunocytochemically in myocardial cells, atrial endocardial cells, and a synthetic phenotype of smooth muscle cells in the arteriosclerotic intima, and accumulated in the atherosclerotic plaque of coronary arteries with severe stenosis. In patients with stable angina (75-99% stenosis), the plasma level of L-PGDS was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the great cardiac vein (0.694 +/- 0.054 microg/ml, n = 7) than in the coronary artery (0.545 +/- 0.034 microg/ml), as determined by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. However, the veno-arterial difference in the plasma L-PGDS concentration was not observed in normal subjects without stenosis. After a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed to compress the stenotic atherosclerotic plaques, the L-PGDS concentration in the cardiac vein decreased significantly (P < 0.05) to 0.610 +/- 0.051 microg/ml at 20 min and reached the arterial level within 1 h. These findings suggest that L-PGDS is present in both endocardium and myocardium of normal subjects and the stenotic site of patients with stable angina and is secreted into the coronary circulation.

HNF-6 is expressed in endoderm derivatives and nervous system of the mouse embryo and participates to the cross-regulatory network of liver-enriched transcription factors

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-6 (HNF-6) is a liver-enriched transcription factor that contains a single cut domain and a novel type of homeodomain. Here we have studied the developmental expression pattern of HNF-6 in the mouse. In situ hybridization experiments showed that HNF-6 mRNA is detected in the liver at embryonic day (E) 9, at the onset of liver differentiation. HNF-6 mRNA disappeared transiently from the liver between E12.5 and E15. In transfection experiments HNF-6 stimulated the expression of HNF-4 and of HNF-3 beta, two transcription factors known to be involved in liver development and differentiation. HNF-6 was detected in the pancreas from E10.5 onward, where it was restricted to the exocrine cells. HNF-6 was also detected in the developing nervous system. Both the brain and the spinal cord started to express HNF-6 at E9-9.5 in postmitotic neuroblasts. Later on, HNF-6 was restricted to brain nuclei, to the retina, to the ventral horn of the spinal cord, and to dorsal root ganglia. Our observations that HNF-6 contributes to the control of the expression of transcription factors and is expressed at early stages of liver, pancreas, and neuronal differentiation suggest that HNF-6 regulates several developmental programs.

Irbesartan lowers blood pressure and ameliorates renal injury in experimental non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In the present study, we investigated the effects of the angiotensin (Ang) II receptor antagonist, irbesartan, on blood pressure and renal structural injury in obese Zucker rats (OZR), an experimental model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Twenty-six-week-old OZR with established renal disease were administered either low-dose (15 mg/kg) or high-dose (50 mg/kg) irbesartan in the drinking water for a period of 18 weeks. Irbesartan caused dose-related reductions in blood pressure, and reduced by 47 to 60% the percent of glomeruli with sclerosis at 44 weeks of age (P < 0.05). In addition, irbesartan at the higher dose reduced the tubulointerstitial injury score at 44 weeks by approximately 75% (P < 0.05). By contrast, irbesartan did not significantly reduce albuminuria in OZR. The results of the present study demonstrate that the Ang II receptor antagonist irbesartan can reduce blood pressure and ameliorate glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury in an experimental model of NIDDM.

[A case of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus terreus]

A 66-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a cough, wheezing, and expectoration. Chest X-ray and CT scanning revealed atelectasis and infiltration of the middle lobe, but no central bronchiectatic change. The patient had eosinophilic infiltration elevated serum IgE, RAST against Aspergillus )(A.) fumigatus, a positive immediate skin reaction, and a positive test for antibodies against A. funmigatus. Bronchoscopy demonstrated mucoid impaction that plugged the middle lobe bronchus. The mucoid plug contained A. terreus and numerous eosinophils. Because the level of the precipitating antibody for counter immunoelectrophoresis against A. terreus was higher than that at A. fumigatus, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillus caused be A. terreus was diagnosed. Oral and inhalation therapy of corticosteroids ameliorated the symptoms and abnormal laboratory findings.

Endothelin enhances lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in rat glial cells

Lipopolysaccharide is known to stimulate production of nitrite via expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase in not only macrophages but also glial cells. We found that in glial cell cultures lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inducible NO synthase expression and nitrite accumulation were synergistically enhanced by pretreatment with endothelin, whereas endothelin itself did not induce these responses. Pretreatment with endothelin-1, endothelin-3, and the selective endothelin type B (ETB) receptor agonist IRL 1620 caused the same effect with similar potencies, suggesting that the synergism was mediated via the endothelin ETB receptor. A protein kinase C inhibitor, calphostin C, suppressed endothelin-3-enhanced inducible NO synthase expression. Pretreatment with either endothelin-3 or phorbol ester enhanced lipopolysaccharide-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Simultaneous addition of TNF-alpha increased lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inducible NO synthase expression. These results suggest that the increase in inducible NO synthase expression by endothelin was due to the elevated TNF-alpha production via protein kinase C. Our findings present the possibility that endothelin is implicated in neurotoxicity via enhancement of inducible NO synthase expression.

A new mechanism of bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis: synovial fibroblasts induce osteoclastogenesis

Bone-resorbing multinucleated cells were efficiently formed in primary culture of cells isolated from synovial tissues of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in 2-3 weeks in the presence of 1,25(OH)2vitaminD3 without any additional stromal cells, and that formation was further facilitated by macrophage-colony stimulating factor. Furthermore, we show that osteoclast-like cells are formed in co-culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts obtained by continued sub-cultures. The multinucleated cells showed all the phenotypical and functional characteristics of osteoclasts including the expression of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, vitronectin receptors, receptors for human calcitonin and the ability to resorb bone. These results indicate that synovial macrophages are capable of differentiating into osteoclasts in the presence of rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts which can support differentiation of monocytes/ macrophages, implicating that osteoclasts generated within the synovial membrane are probably involved in bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.

bor1-1, an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant that requires a high level of boron

bor1-1 (high boron requiring), an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant that requires a high level of B, was isolated. When the B concentration in the medium was reduced to 3 microM, the expansion of rosette leaves was severely affected in bor1-1 but not in wild-type plants. In a medium containing 30 microM B the mutant grew normally but showed female sterility, whereas the wild type was able to set seeds. These defects of the bor1-1 mutant were not detected with supplementation of 100 microM B. In vivo concentrations of B in bor1-1 mutants were lower than those of the wild type, especially in the inflorescence stems. Tracer experiments using 10B suggested that the mutant has defects in uptake and/or translocation of B. The mutation was mapped on the lower arm of chromosome 2.

Lipids in progression of renal disease

There is increasing evidence for the role of hyperlipidemia as a contributing factor to the progression of chronic renal disease. Experimental studies in animal models suggest that lipids might be important modulators in progressive renal disease. On one hand maneuvers designed to elevate cholesterol worsen renal disease while reduction of lipid-lowering agents have demonstrated beneficial effects. In humans, correcting abnormalities in lipid metabolism with antilipemic therapy may help slow the rate of functional decline in patients with progressive renal disease as well as reduce the frequency of acute rejection after renal transplantation. However, large controlled clinical trials examining the effect of lipid-lowering strategies on progression of renal disease have not been carried out. Further clinical trials delineating the precise role of antilipemic agents in treating patients with renal disease appears warranted.

Cord blood IgE against milk and egg antigens

The aim of the present study was to reevaluate the prenatal production of specific IgE for eggs and milk and, in those cases, to determine whether there is a relation to the amount of maternal egg and milk intake. Total and specific IgEs from 160 cord blood-samples were determined by immunoassays using a paramagnetic particle solid phase and an enzyme-mediated chemiluminescent reaction for signal detection. The levels of cord blood IgE for total, egg, and milk were 0.63 +/- (SD) 1.10 IU/ml, 0.020 +/- 0.055, and 0.036 +/- 0.053 IU/ml, respectively. IgE levels specific to egg and milk over 0.03 IU/ml were observed in 33 and 70 out of 160 cases, respectively. To address whether the maternal intake of eggs and milk affects the level of cord blood IgEs, all mothers except 9 were interviewed, and the amount of eggs and milk taken during pregnancy was recorded. No correlation was seen between egg and milk intakes and cord blood IgE levels. Our data demonstrate a high incidence of the prenatal production of specific IgE for eggs and milk which is independent of maternal egg and milk intakes.

Localization of hepatocyte growth factor and tubulointerstitial lesions in IgA nephropathy

To investigate the relationship between localization of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and tubulointerstitial lesions (TILs) in the cortical area of renal biopsy specimens, a clinicopathological study was performed in 35 patients with IgA nephropathy. HGF was detected by an enzyme-antibody method and TILs were assessed semiquantitatively by light microscopy. HGF was observed mainly on epithelial cells in the tubules, but not in the glomeruli. Fourteen patients had biopsies that were positive for HGF. There was a correlation between HGF positivity and histological damage, the TIL grade, and several clinical parameters determined at biopsy. Thus, HGF is related to TILs in IgA nephropathy, and may be a factor in the exacerbation of this disease.

Accumulation of Armadillo induced by Wingless, Dishevelled, and dominant-negative Zeste-White 3 leads to elevated DE-cadherin in Drosophila clone 8 wing disc cells

Drosophila genetic studies suggest that in the Wingless (Wg) signaling pathway, the segment polarity gene products, Dishevelled (Dsh), Zeste-white 3 (ZW-3), and Armadillo (Arm), work sequentially; wg and dsh negatively regulate zw-3, which in turn down-regulates arm. To biochemically analyze interactions between the Wg pathway and Drosophila E-cadherin (DE-cadherin) which bind to Arm, we overexpressed Dsh, ZW-3, and Arm, in the Drosophila wing disc cell line, clone 8, which responds to Wg signal. Dsh overexpression led to accumulation of Arm primarily in the cytosol and elevation of DE-cadherin at cell junctions. Overexpression of wild-type and dominant-negative forms of ZW-3 decreased and increased Arm levels, respectively, indicating that modulation in zw-3 activity negatively regulates Arm levels. Overexpression of an Arm mutant with an amino-terminal deletion elevated DE-cadherin levels, suggesting that Dsh-induced DE-cadherin elevation is caused by the Arm accumulation induced by Dsh. Moreover, the Dsh-, dominant-negative ZW-3-, and truncated Arm-induced accumulation of DE-cadherin protein was accompanied by a marked increase in the steady-state levels of DE-cadherin mRNA, suggesting that transcription of DE-cadherin is activated by Wg signaling. In addition, overexpression of DE-cadherin elevated Arm levels by stabilizing Arm at cell-cell junctions.

p16INK4 gene mutations are relatively frequent in ampullary carcinomas

A high incidence of gene mutations or deletions of p16INK4, a cell cycle regulator which inhibits the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/cyclin D complex and blocks the G1-to-S transition, has been reported in pancreato-biliary tract cancers. In order to investigate p16INK4 gene alterations in sporadic ampullary carcinomas, 17 sporadic ampullary carcinomas were examined. After histological diagnosis, DNA samples extracted separately from both cancerous and normal paraffin-embedded tissues were investigated. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was investigated utilizing 3 microsatellite markers on 9p21-22, and a mutational analysis was performed by cloning and sequencing. LOH was observed in 3 cases (17.6%) and somatic mutations with retention of heterozygosity were found in 7 cases (41.2%). Of note was that two mutations resulted in truncated incomplete proteins and one was a point mutation at the consensus site in the conserved ankyrin repeats, which would be crucial for function. Although two-hit inactivation was not evident in any of the mutation cases and further investigation would be needed to elucidate the role of altered p16INK4, these results suggest that the p16INK4 gene mutations are relatively frequent and its inactivation might be important in ampullary carcinogenesis.

Analysis of low-molecular-mass proteins in cerebrospinal fluid by sodium dodecyl sulfate capillary gel electrophoresis

Proteins of low molecular (M(r)) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis in a sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing polymer solution. Under the conditions employed, peaks of beta 2-microglobulin (beta MG) (M(r): 11,700), gamma-trace protein (12,300), myelin basic protein (18,000), beta-trace protein (beta TP) (23,000 to 30,000) and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (42,000) were detected on the electropherograms. The concentrations of beta MG and beta TP were determined based on the peak area relative to that of an internal standard, Orange G, which was added at a constant amount as the front marker. It was demonstrated that their levels in CSF change under various pathological conditions in the central nervous system.

High responsiveness to thyroid hormone of adult rat primary hepatocytes cultured on EHS-gel

The induction of malic enzyme gene expression by triiodothyronine and insulin was severely blunted in rat monolayer hepatocytes cultured on type I collagen compared with that in spherical hepatocytes cultured on a reconstituted basement membrane gel (EHS-gel). Although the mRNA level of thyroid hormone receptor beta (TR beta) gradually decreased in the monolayer hepatocytes during culture, the mRNA level in the hepatocytes on EHS-gel was maintained at around the in vivo level. Our results suggest that the maintenance of TR beta mRNA on EHS-gel is responsible for the high responsiveness to thyroid hormone in a hepatocyte culture.