Molecular cloning of glycoprotein antigens MGP57/53 recognized by monoclonal antibodies raised against bovine milk fat globule membrane

A cDNA encoding 57 kDa and 53 kDa antigens (MGP57/53) recognized by monoclonal antibodies raised against bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1199 (1994) 87-95) was cloned from lactating bovine mammary gland by a combination of reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (3'-RACE). The deduced amino-acid sequence showed that mature MGP57/53 consists of 409 amino-acid residues and the calculated molecular weight and isoelectric point are 45,544 and 6.42, respectively. Computer analysis reveals that it has a significant similarity to mouse mammary epithelial cell surface protein, MFG-E8 and a human breast tumor-associated glycoprotein antigen, BA46-1. An N-terminal cysteine-rich domain and a C-terminal tandemly repeated sequence were highly conserved among them, but bovine MGP57/53 lacks 36 amino-acid residues containing a cluster of 5 prolines found in mouse MFG-E8. Northern blot analysis showed that the cDNA hybridized to about 2.0 kb mRNA of lactating bovine mammary gland. These results strongly support our previous report that the two MFGM antigens originate from a single gene and are isoforms with different N-linked sugar chains.

Carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic domain of mouse butyrophilin specifically associates with a 150-kDa protein of mammary epithelial cells and milk fat globule membrane

A cDNA encoding mouse butyrophilin was obtained by reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using poly (A)+ RNA from lactating mouse mammary gland as a template and screening a cDNA library with the RT-PCR-amplified fragment as a probe. DNA sequencing and computer analysis revealed that it has a rather long 3'-untranslated sequence and that the carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic domain was well conserved between mouse and bovine butyrophilins. To elucidate the biological function of butyrophilin, the cytoplasmic region expressed as fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST) was purified and incubated with the cell lysate of mouse mammary epithelial cell lines, COMMA-ID and HC11. A 150-kDa protein was shown to specifically associate with the cytoplasmic domain and the protein increased in amount when the cells were treated with basal medium supplemented with lactogenic hormones such as prolactin, insulin and glucocorticoid. N-terminal amino acid sequencing indicated that the protein is xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase which has been cloned from mouse liver. Further, the cytoplasmic domain also bound xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase from bovine milk fat globule membrane. These results suggest that butyrophilin might be physiologically associated with xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase and might function in a complex form in milk fat secretion.

Selective degeneration of inhibitory interneurons in the rat spinal cord induced by intrathecal infusion of acromelic acid

We investigated the characteristics of the neurotoxicity mediated by non-N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-type glutamate receptors in the spinal cord by infusing rats intrathecally with three specific agonists (acromelic acid A (ACRO), kainic acid and 1-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA)). When ACRO was infused intrathecally continuously for 2 h, the rats developed dose-dependent flaccid paraplegia during the infusion, followed by pure motor, rigid-spastic, long-lasting paraparesis (ED50: 220 pmol/h). The paraparetic rats showed selective degeneration of interneurons in the spinal cord with about 50% loss of their contents of glycine and aspartic and glutamic acids. The alpha-motoneurons in the ventral horns were largely free from permanent damage. These changes were selectively ameliorated by concomitant administration of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), an antagonist at non-NMDA receptors. Kainate induced long-lasting paraplegia with neuronal damage at doses about 40-times higher than those of ACRO that caused paraplegia. When examined 30 days after kainate infusion, the neurotransmitter markers had decreased markedly in the lumbar cords of the rats with long-lasting paraplegia. Intrathecal infusion of large doses of AMPA caused long-lasting flaccid paraplegia, which were accompanied by extensive necrosis in the caudal spinal cord. It seems that ACRO exerts its unique pharmacological actions by activating a subclass of non-NMDA receptors distinct from those activated by kainate and AMPA, and may become a useful tool for investigating the biological roles of glutamate receptors.

Fitness of the formulae of simplified version of recovery evaluating system-3 (RES-3) for stroke patients

Using the formulae for prediction of functional status at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after admission in the stroke patient (simplified version of Recovery Evaluating System-3; RES-3) and demographic data at the admission of 128 stroke patients, the estimated scores of four measures, Motor Age Score (MOA), Manual Function Score (MFS), Barthel Index (BI) and Mini-Mental State (MMS), were obtained. Fitness of the formulae was tested in terms of the agreement between the estimated and the measured scores. The results indicated that the differences between the measured and the estimated scores were statistically not significant except BI. The measured scores of BI were 3 to 5 points high compared to the estimated ones. When the confidence limits of the differences were examined at a confidence coefficient of 95%, they were within 5% of the full score for MOA, MFS and MMS, and were within 10% for BI. Accordingly, by setting the allowable limit to 5% of the full score around the means, the fitness of prediction would be more than a probability of 95%. The formulae of simplified version of RES-3 were practically useful.

[A case of urachal carcinoma associated with elevated levels of CA19-9]

A 53-year-old man was admitted with the chief complaint of gross hematuria. Cystoscopic examination revealed a non-papillary tumor at the dome of the bladder. The plasma level of CA19-9 was markedly elevated before treatment. Total cystectomy with en bloc removal of the tumor and radical lymphadenectomy were performed under the diagnosis of urachal carcinoma. The plasma CA19-9 level decreased to the normal level after operation and was well correlated with postoperative course. The monitoring of CA19-9 may be useful for follow up in patients showing a high elevation of CA19-9.

Classification of rice allergenic protein cDNAs belonging to the alpha-amylase/trypsin inhibitor gene family

Seven cDNA clones encoding rice allergenic proteins were newly isolated. Comparison of the sequences of ten cDNA clones, including the previously isolated three clones results in their classification into four subfamilies. Homologies in the nucleotide sequences among and within subfamilies are 70-85% and above 95%, respectively. A sequence of twenty five amino-acid residues at the C-terminal proximal region is highly conserved among all clones and resembles that of plant lipid transfer proteins.

A case of massive adrenal malignant pheochromocytoma: management of a large pheochromocytoma

A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital for a left abdominal tumor measuring about 30 cm in diameter. Laboratory examination revealed an elevation of norepinephrine in plasma and of its metabolites in urine. CT scan disclosed a huge cystic tumor in the retroperitoneal space and an enlarged aortocaval lymph node, suggesting a diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma. The hemodynamic studies showed low blood volume and high vascular resistance, and therefore, he was treated with vasodilators and volume expansion. His hemodynamic status normalized and a complete excision was performed. Pathological examination revealed that the patient had a pheochromocytoma with metastasis to a lymph node. The total weight of the tumor was 5,930 g. Since pheochromocytomas can become a large with a risk of malignancy, they should be surgically excised as completely as possible with further treatment after making a definite diagnosis.

Immunological characterization and localization of a Porphyromonas gingivalis BApNA-hydrolyzing protease possessing hemagglutinating activity

A monoclonal antibody (mAb-PC) was produced against a BA pNA-hydrolyzing protease possessing hemagglutinating activity (Pase-C) from Porphyromonas gingivalis. Other P. gingivalis BA pNA-hydrolyzing enzymes (Pase-B and Pase-S) did not react with this antibody. By ELISA or SDS-PAGE and Western immunoblotting analysis, mAb-PC recognized all P. gingivalis and P. endodontalis strains tested but did not recognize other members of the Porphyromonas genus nor other putative periodontopathogenic organisms. Pase-C, extracellular vesicles (ECV) and human strains of P. gingivalis showed two major immunoreactive bands (44 kDa and 40 kDa), whereas a different pattern was obtained with animal strains of P. gingivalis. Biotinylarginyl chloromethane, an irreversible inhibitor of trypsin-like proteases, did not affect the reactivity of Pase-C with mAb-PC on immunoblot. By reversed-phase electronmicroscopy following immunogold labeling, the antibody was shown to bind to the cell surface of P. gingivalis. mAb-PC inhibited the hemagglutinating activity of both P. gingivalis cells and ECV whereas a monoclonal antibody against LPS of P. gingivalis did not. These results suggest that Pase-C is located on the cell surface of P. gingivalis and may participate in erythrocyte binding.

Different effects of subclasses of HDL containing apoA-I but not apoA-II (LpA-I) on cholesterol esterification in plasma and net cholesterol efflux from foam cells

We investigated the effects of subclasses of plasma LpA-I (HDL containing apoA-I but not apoA-II) on cholesterol esterification in plasma and net cholesterol efflux from foam cells. LpA-I was composed of particles of three diameters: large (11.1 nm; Lg-LpA-I), medium (8.8 nm; Md-LpA-I), and small (7.7 nm; Sm-LpA-I). Plasma concentrations of LpA-I were positively correlated only with the level of Lg-LpA-I. Plasma concentrations of Lg-LpA-I were inversely correlated with the rate of cholesterol esterification in plasma and VLDL- and LDL-depleted plasma. Plasma concentrations of Md-LpA-I and Sm-LpA-I did not correlate with the rate of cholesterol esterification in plasma or VLDL- and LDL-depleted plasma. When macrophage foam cells were incubated with Md- and Sm-LpA-I, cellular cholesterol mass was reduced by approximately 70%. In contrast, the cellular cholesterol-reducing capacity of Lg-LpA-I was negligible. Lg-LpA-I inhibited net cholesterol removal from foam cells that was mediated by Md- and Sm-LpA-I and cholesteryl ester production with these particles. These results suggest that Md- and Sm-LpA-I may actively participate in cellular cholesterol removal and cholesterol esterification in plasma and HDL, while Lg-LpA-I may regulate these functions of Md- and Sm-LpA-I.

Four rice seed cDNA clones belonging to the alpha-amylase/trypsin inhibitor gene family encode potential rice allergens

Four rice seed proteins encoded by cDNAs belonging to the alpha-amylase/trypsin inhibitor gene family were overexpressed as TrpE-fusion proteins in E. coli. The expressed rice proteins were detected by SDS-PAGE as major proteins in bacterial cell lysates. Western blot analyses showed that all the recombinant proteins were immunologically reactive to rabbit polyclonal antibodies and to a mouse monoclonal antibody (25B9) specific for a previously isolated rice allergen of 16 kDa. Some truncated proteins from deletion mutants of the cDNAs retained their reactivity to the specific antibodies. These results suggest that the cDNAs encode potential rice allergens and that some epitopes of the recombinant proteins are still immunoreactive when they are expressed as their fragments.

Precursor-product relationship between chicken vitellogenin and the yolk proteins: the 40 kDa yolk plasma glycoprotein is derived from the C-terminal cysteine-rich domain of vitellogenin II

Chicken vitellogenin, a serum lipoprotein specific for laying hens, has been thought to be proteolytically cleaved into the heavy and light chain lipovitellins and phosvitin, the major yolk granule proteins, during or after transportation into oocyte. In this study, another proteolytic product of vitellogenin has newly been isolated from the 'beta-livetin' fraction of yolk plasma. It is a yolk glycoprotein of 40 kDa (YGP40) with asparagine-linked carbohydrate chain(s) recognized by Concanavalin A and castor bean lectin (RCA-I), and it is identified as a C-terminal cysteine-rich fragment of the major vitellogenin (vitellogenin II), the cysteine-rich domain homologous to D2 region of von Willebrand factor. Another yolk plasma glycoprotein of 42 kDa is suggested to be one of the proteolytic products of the minor vitellogenin (vitellogenin I). Both 40 kDa and 42 kDa glycoproteins were shown to be present in growing oocytes but absent in laying hen's serum. Limited proteolysis of vitellogenin II with cathepsin D produced a 40 kDa protein with reactivity to anti-YGP40 antibody. Gel filtration analysis of vitellogenin II digested with cathepsin D showed that YGP40 dissociated from lipovitellin-phosvitin complex after the proteolytic cleavage. These results suggest that after incorporation from serum via a specific receptor vitellogenin II is cleaved in the oocyte into four fragments, heavy and light chain lipovitellins, phosvitin and YGP40, and that YGP40 is released into the yolk plasma before or during compartmentation of lipovitellin-phosvitin complex into the yolk granule.

Magnetic resonance imaging of multiple brain abscesses of the bilateral basal ganglia

A 64-year-old woman developed multiple brain abscesses of the basal ganglia associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae septicemia. Magnetic resonance (MR) images showed three different stages of the brain abscesses. The images of early cerebritis of this site mimicked lacunar infarctions or dilated Virchow-Robin spaces. The differentiation of the brain abscess from lacunae and dilated Virchow-Robin spaces is discussed, together with the evolution of the brain abscesses on MR images.

Arthroscopic assessment of Kienböck's disease

Arthroscopic examination was performed on 32 wrists of 32 patients with Kienböck's disease to relate the appearance of the intraarticular structures, particularly the articular cartilage, to the radiographic stage. The articular cartilage showed osteoarthritic changes in stage III, although this was not evident on plain radiographs. Cracking in the distal facet and flapping at the proximal facet of the lunate were identified as features of Kienböck's disease. The incidence of interosseous ligament tears was correlated with radiographically determined stage, whereas changes in triangular fibrocartilage were correlated with age and ulnar variance. Wrist arthroscopy is a useful staging tool for Kienböck's disease, supplying helpful information about the intraarticular pathoanatomy which can be used to guide patient management.

A bovine IgG heavy chain contains N-acetylgalactosaminylated N-linked sugar chains

A 56K protein co-purified with bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proteins bound to Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) like most MFGM glycoproteins. Treatment with N-glycanase or beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase abolished the lectin binding to the protein. Amino acid sequence and immunoblot analyses revealed that the 56K protein is an IgG heavy chain. Lectin column chromatography of the oligosaccharides released by hydrazinolysis from the purified IgG heavy chains revealed that 0.08% of the total N-linked sugar chains bind to a WFA-agarose column, suggesting that they contain the beta-N-acetylgalactosaminylated structure.

Does bacitracin have an absorption-enhancing effect in the intestine?

We studied the absorption enhancement effects of three types of protease inhibitors, aprotinin, bacitracin and soybean trypsin inhibitor, in the rat intestine. Of these protease inhibitors, bacitracin enhanced the absorption of FD-4 and phenol red from the rat small and large intestine without mucosal toxicity. Thus, it was suggested that bacitracin has not only a protease-inhibitory but also an absorption-enhancing capability.

Acute and late neurotoxicity in the rat spinal cord in vivo induced by glutamate receptor agonists

We investigated glutamate receptor-mediated neurotoxicity in vivo by means of infusing three specific agonists for non-NMDA receptors (acromelic acid A (ACRO), kainic acid and 1-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA)) into the adult rat spinal subarachnoid space. ACRO induced long-lasting pure motor, rigid-spastic paraparesis in a dose-dependent manner (EC50: 220 pmol/h) that was accompanied by selective degeneration of spinal interneurons; leaving large anterior horn cells intact. Kainate and AMPA induced paraplegia but with relatively non-selective neuronal damage when given in doses more than 40-fold larger than those required for ACRO. When AMPA (> 100 nmol/h) was infused continuously using a mini-osmotic pump for more than 2 days, rats displayed progressive changes in motor behavior due to extensive damage in the caudal spinal cord where small neurons in the dorsal horns were the most vulnerable. Co-administration of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) specifically prevented neurotoxicity, suggesting a non-NMDA receptor-mediated mechanism. These results indicate that the non-NMDA receptor is heterogeneous, mediating neuronal damage with different selectivity. It is also suggested that chronic activation of glutamate receptors is capable of inducing slowly progressive neuronal death, which suggests relevance to the pathogenesis of ALS.

Characterization of subspecies of lipoprotein containing apolipoprotein A-I in heterozygotes for familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency

We characterized two species of lipoproteins containing apo A-I, one containing only apo A-I (LpA-I) and the other containing both apo A-I and apo A-II (LpA-I/A-II), in three heterozygotes for familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency (LCAT). In these patients, particle size and the chemical composition of LpA-I differed from those in normal controls. Small particles < 8.8 nm in diameter were predominant, and protein content was higher in patients' LpA-I than that in normal LpA-I. Changes in LpA-I/A-II were mostly quantitative. Percent lipid and protein composition in LpA-I/A-II were similar to those in normal controls. Despite low LCAT mass and activity in the heterozygotes, the molar and fractional rate of cholesterol esterification in their LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II particles were similar to, or higher than, that of normal controls. We conclude that: (i) low LCAT mass and activity is the likely cause of the quantitative and qualitative differences in LpA-I in heterozygotes; and (ii) a deficiency of normal LpA-I particles 11.1 nm in diameter and the existence of small particles < 8.8 nm in diameter may be responsible for the normal, or higher than normal, cholesterol esterification rate of LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II in heterozygotes.

[A pharyngeal carcinoma after resection of a upper esophageal web]

Dysphagia suddenly progressed in a 69-year-old woman who had a 50-year history of intermittent difficulty in swallowing solid food. A thick circumferential who in the upper esophagus was extensive enough to be the cause of dysphagia. There was another thin semicircular web in the pharynx. Bouginage resulted in only 6-months relief of symptoms, and the same esophageal who was reformed with the same severe symptoms 3 years later. Surgical resection of the esophageal web was performed. Extensive pharyngeal carcinoma was found 4 years after surgery. She died of heart failure during combination therapy of irradiation and chemotherapy.

Analysis of proximal fragment sclerosis and surgical outcome of scaphoid non-union by magnetic resonance imaging

32 patients with scaphoid non-union were examined to clarify the relationship between pre-operative radiographic sclerosis in the proximal fragment and signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, the correlation between changes in signal intensity in the proximal fragment and surgical outcome after bone grafting and internal fixation was investigated. Proximal fragment sclerosis was observed in seven patients. Comparison of the T1 and T2-weighted images with those of the 25 patients without proximal fragment sclerosis revealed no differences. Therefore, there was no relationship between sclerotic changes on plain radiography and the degree of avascularity of the proximal fragment assessed by MRI. None of the patients who had low signal intensity on both T1 and T2-weighted images achieved union within 5 months after surgery. Thus the detection of signal intensity on both T1 and T2-weighted images can be useful to predict the prognosis after the surgery.

Structural and functional differences of subspecies of apoA-I-containing lipoprotein in patients with plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein deficiency

ApoA-I-containing lipoproteins exist in plasma in two main forms: one contains only apoA-I (LpA-I) while the other contains both apoA-I and apoA-II (LpA-I/A-II). We characterized structural and functional changes of these lipoproteins in six patients with cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) deficiency. In these patients, the amount of LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II had increased significantly. Sixty-five percent of plasma apoA-I was associated with LpA-I/A-II, which indicated that LpA-I/A-II was predominant. The chemical composition of both LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II was characterized by increased ratios of neutral to polar lipid, compared with findings in normal subjects. Particle sizes of these lipoproteins shifted to larger diameter ranges, as compared to the size seen in normal subjects. Incubation of patients' LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II with CETP markedly corrected the chemical and physical abnormalities in these lipoproteins. Cholesterol-reducing capacities of these lipoproteins from macrophage foam cells were significantly lower than in normal controls. Cholesterol esterification rates in LpA-I, LpA-I/A-II, and plasma were significantly lower in patients than in normal controls. We propose that the structure and function of LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II are severely affected in the presence of CETP deficiency.

Identification of activins and follistatin proteins in human follicular fluid and placenta

Follistatin, an activin-binding protein, is able to neutralize the various activities of activin by forming an inactive complex with it. The widespread tissue localization of follistatin is very similar to that of activin, which suggests that it plays a local modulatory role in the various paracrine/autocrine actions of activin. We detected significant activin-binding activities in human follicular fluid and placental homogenates, although they were much lower than those in porcine and bovine follicular fluids, which raised the possibility that follistatin is present in human follicular fluid and placenta. Therefore, we attempted to identify the protein molecules responsible for this activin-binding activity in human follicular fluid and placental homogenates. Human follicular fluid, collected from in vitro fertilization patients, was processed by affinity chromatography successive steps on sulfated gel matrices and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The final HPLC yielded abundant follistatin and almost equimolar amounts of activin-A, -AB, and -B. The follistatin protein showed characteristic multiple bands when analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ability of each band to bind activin specifically was determined by activin binding assay and ligand blotting analysis. Several pieces of evidence, including the immunoblotting analysis and functional assay results, demonstrated the presence of three activin isoforms, A, AB, and B, in the follicular fluid. In contrast, human placental homogenates were found to contain follistatin and activin-A proteins only. Activin-AB and -B were not detected in any HPLC fraction, indicating that activin-A is the major form of activin in the human placenta. The present data indicate that the three activin isoforms and multiple forms of follistatin exist in human follicular fluid, and the activin-A isoform and follistatin exist in human placenta. They suggest that the physiological functions of the activin isoforms during embryonic development differ and that follistatin plays a functional role in the local control system(s) that regulates human reproduction.

Changes in wound healing factors in liver cirrhosis after esophageal transection for esophageal varices

Quantitative changes in plasma wound healing factors in cirrhotic patients after esophageal transection were evaluated and compared with those of non-cirrhotic esophageal cancer patients (controls) after esophageal resection. Serum total protein, albumin and fibronectin were maintained at the same levels as those in controls when multiple units of fresh frozen plasma and albumin products were employed. Nevertheless, the principle protease inhibitors including alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein showed little increase by the 3rd postoperative day, while those of controls increased as much as twofold at this time. Levels of complements C3 and C4 showed consistent depression, with little change during the study period. We conclude that the levels of some of the plasma proteins essential in wound healing are depressed in cirrhotic patients during the critical period after surgery.