The clinical utility of measuring total PSA, PSA density, gamma-seminoprotein and gamma-seminoprotein/total PSA in prostate cancer prediction

BACKGROUND

To evaluate whether serum total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA density (serum total PSA level divided by prostate volume), gamma-seminoprotein and gamma-seminoprotein/total PSA ratio could predict prostate cancer (PCa) prior to biopsy.

METHODS

A total of 316 consecutive patients who had undergone transrectal prostate biopsy and/or transurethral resection were examined. The prostate volume was determined by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and the ability of the above-mentioned four variables to distinguish PCa from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was evaluated.

RESULTS

PCa was detected in 61 cases. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that both the PSA density and serum total PSA were the most useful predictors of PCa among the four variables. For the patients with a serum total PSA level of 4.1-10.0 ng/ml, PSA density was significantly more accurate than total PSA (p < 0.005). An optimum PSA density value of 0.18 was chosen as a cutoff because it showed the highest sum of sensitivity and specificity, 92 and 54%, respectively. Using this PSA density cutoff, the number of biopsies could have been reduced to 57 from 63% when compared with a PSA density of 0.15.

CONCLUSIONS

PSA density was significantly more accurate than other variables in predicting PCa. To avoid unnecessary biopsies, the PSA density cutoff value of 0.18 would be recommendable for determining a prostate biopsy for Japanese males with a serum total PSA level of 4.1-10.0 ng/ml.

Parasporin, a human leukemic cell-recognizing parasporal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis

An unusual property, human leukemic cell-recognizing activity, associated with parasporal inclusions of a noninsecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis soil isolate was investigated, and a protein (named parasporin in this study) responsible for the activity was cloned. The parasporin, encoded by a gene 2,169 bp long, was a polypeptide of 723 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 81, 045. The sequence of parasporin contained the five conserved blocks commonly found in B. thuringiensis Cry proteins; however, only very low homologies (<25%) between parasporin and the existing classes of Cry and Cyt proteins were detected. Parasporin exhibited cytocidal activity only when degraded by proteases into smaller molecules of 40 to 60 kDa. Trypsin and proteinase K activated parasporin, while chymotrypsin did not. The activated parasporin showed strong cytocidal activity against human leukemic T cells (MOLT-4) and human uterus cervix cancer cells (HeLa) but not against normal T cells.

In vitro cytotoxicity of non-cyt inclusion proteins of a Bacillus thuringiensis isolate against human cells, including cancer cells

A soil isolate designated 90-F-45-14, belonging to Bacillus thuringiensis serovar dakota (H15), was examined for characterization of in vitro cytotoxicity, associated with parasporal inclusion proteins, against human cells. When activated with proteolytic processing, inclusion proteins of the isolate 90-F-45-14 exhibited a moderate cytotoxicity against the human uterus cervix cancer cells (HeLa) with an EC(50) value of 60.8 microg ml(-1), while showing extremely high activities on the human leukaemic T cells (MOLT-4) and the normal T cells with EC(50) values of 0.27 and 0.20 microg ml(-1), respectively. Anti-leukaemic cell activity of the 90-F-45-14 proteins was eight to nine times greater than that of the B. thuringiensis serovar israelensis proteins containing the Cyt1 protein, a broad-spectrum cytolysin. The cytopathy by the 90-F-45-14 proteins was characterized by marked cell-ballooning, while the israelensis proteins induced early breakdown of the cells due to cytolysis. Inclusions of the isolate consisted of five major polypeptides of 170, 103, 73, 40 and 32 kDa. A 100% homology was observed in the sequence of 15 N-terminal amino acids between the proteins of 170 and 103 kDa. There was no N-terminal sequence homology between 90-F-45-14 proteins and the existing Cry/Cyt proteins of B. thuringiensis. Proteolytic processing by proteinase K yielded several proteins with molecular masses ranging from 40 to 28 kDa.

Unique appendages associated with spores of Bacillus cereus isolates

Electron microscopic observations revealed the presence of a new type of large appendage on the spores of two Bacillus cereus strains isolated from phylloplanes. The appendages were thin and sword-like in shape, having the sizes of 1.5 to 2.8 microns in length and 0.03 to 0.6 micron in width. There were no core or sheath structures in these appendages. The number of appendages on a spore ranged from three to more than twenty, radiating from the swelling on one end of the exosporium. These appendages gave a unique octopus- or jellyfish-like feature to the spores.

Noninsecticidal parasporal proteins of a Bacillus thuringiensis serovar shandongiensis isolate exhibit a preferential cytotoxicity against human leukemic T cells

A Bacillus thuringiensis isolate, 89-T-34-22, belonging to the serovar shandongiensis (H22) produced noninsecticidal and nonhemolytic proteins crystallizing into irregular-shaped parasporal inclusions. The proteins showed in vitro cytotoxicity to human cells, including cancer cells, only when activated by protease treatment. The human leukemic T (MOLT-4) cells were > 100 times more susceptible than HeLa and normal T cells to the proteins of 89-T-34-22. The cytotoxicity was dose dependent and the median effective concentration for the MOLT-4 was 3.5 microg/ml. The cytopathy induced by the 89-T-34-22 proteins was characterized by remarkable condensation of the nucleus and cell-ballooning. Five major parasporal proteins of 89-T-34-22, with molecular masses in the range of 16-160 kDa, shared no similarity with the previously reported proteins in terms of the N-terminal sequence.

Occurrence of Bacillus thuringiensis in fresh waters of Japan

Bacillus thuringiensis was recovered at a relatively high frequency from both running and still fresh waters in natural environments of Kyushu, Japan. Of 107 water samples examined, 53 (49.5%) contained this organism. The frequency of B. thuringiensis colonies was 4.4% among 4414 colonies of the Bacillus cereus/B. thuringiensis group. The density of this bacterium in fresh waters averaged 0.45 cfu/ml. Serologically, B. thuringiensis isolates were assigned to 26 H serotypes. Of these, H14/36 (H serovar israelensis/malaysiensis) was the predominant, followed by the serotypes H3abc (kurstaki), H27 (mexicanensis), H3ad (sumiyoshiensis), and H35 (seoulensis). Of 195 isolates, 52 (26.7%) exhibited larvicidal activity against aquatic Diptera; 21 killed Culex pipiens molestus (Culicidae) only, and 31 were active on both the culicine mosquito and the moth-fly, Clogmia albipunctata (Psychodidae). The Diptera-toxic isolates produced spherical or irregularly pointed parasporal inclusions.

Competition in the metabolism of glycyrrhizin with glycyrrhetic acid mono-glucuronide by mixed Eubacterium sp. GLH and Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3

Eubacterium sp. GLH possessing glycyrrhizin (GL) and glycyrrhetic acid mono-glucuronide (GAMG) beta-D-glucuronidases, Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 possessing GL and GAMG beta-D-glucuronidases and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and these mixed bacteria were cultured in GAM medium with and without GL, GAMG or both. GL added to Eubacterium sp. GLH accelerated the peaks of enhanced GL beta-D-glucuronidase activity and suppressed GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase activity, and GAMG delayed the peaks of the enhanced growth with GL and GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase activities. GL added to Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 enhanced gradually the growth with GL and GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase activities, and GAMG enhanced slowly GL beta-D-glucuronidase activity and rapidly the growth with GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase activity. The metabolite glycyrrhetic acid (GA) was produced by Eubacterium sp. GLH and Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 in larger amounts and faster from GAMG than from GL. GL (1.0 mM) and 1.0 mM GAMG added to these mixed bacteria enhanced the growth with GL and GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase activities and were metabolized almost completely to GA in culture of 2 d and 1 d, respectively. It was found that the metabolism of GAMG was faster than that of GL. GL with GAMG added to mixed Eubacterium sp. GLH and Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 cultured for 0 and 1 d led to a lower level of these enzyme activities and the consumption of GAMG more quickly, not GL. Low GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase had the ability to hydrolyze GAMG well.

Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia in a Japanese population

Recent studies have suggested that vitamin D is an important determinant of prostate cancer risk and inherited polymorphisms in the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene are associated with the risk and progression of prostate cancer. This study was conducted to explore the association of VDR gene polymorphisms with prostate cancer risk in Japanese men who are considered to be much less influenced by environmental risk factors for prostate cancer. We studied 222 prostate cancer patients, 209 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients, 128 male controls who were over 60 years old and without any evidence of prostate cancer or BPH, and 198 female controls. A PCR-RFLP method was used to determine three VDR gene polymorphisms in the 3'UTR characterized by restriction enzymes BsmI, ApaI and TaqI. In the BsmI polymorphism, heterozygosity or homozygosity for the absence of the BsmI restriction site was associated with one-third the risk of prostate cancer (P < 0.0001; odds ratio, 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 2.05-5.32) and with one-half the risk of BPH (P < 0.005; odds ratio, 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-3.22) compared with the male controls. The TaqI and ApaI polymorphisms did not show any significant association with either prostate cancer or BPH. The results indicate that the BsmI polymorphism in the VDR gene plays a significant role in protection against prostate cancer and BPH. Because of the racial difference in the strength of the linkage disequilibrium between the three polymorphisms, additional studies are required to apply the present results to other racial-ethnic groups.

Hasty effect on the metabolism of glycyrrhizin by Eubacterium sp. GLH with Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 and Clostridium innocuum ES24-06 of human intestinal bacteria

Eubacterium sp. GLH with Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 and Clostridium innocuum ES24-06 possessing enzymes involved in the metabolism of glycyrrhizin (GL) was cultured in GAM medium with and without 1.0 mM GL or 1.0 mM glycyrrhetic acid (GA). GL (1.0 mM) enhanced 3alpha-hydroxyglycyrrhetinate (3alpha-hydroxyGA) dehydrogenase activity, GA (1.0 mm) suppressed 3alpha-hydroxyGA dehydrogenase activity, GL beta-D-glucuronidase activity and the mixed bacterial growth, and GL and GA showed almost no change in a lower level of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) activity during 5 d of culture. GL (1.0 mM) and GA (1.0 mM) were metabolized to a small amount of GA and a negligible amount of 3-oxo-glycyrrhetic acid (3-oxo-GA) and 3alpha-hydroxyGA, and to a negligible amount of 3-oxo-GA, respectively, by these mixed bacteria. These amounts coincided with those of metabolites produced from 1.0 mM GL and 1.0 mM GA added to these mixed bacteria after 24 h culture. Whole bacteria and sonicated bacteria derived from the collection of these mixed bacteria reached a maximal stage and metabolized GL to a relatively large amount of GA and 3-oxo-GA, and a negligible amount of 3alpha-hydroxyGA and GA to a small amount of 3-oxo-GA and 3alpha-hydroxyGA within 180 min. GL beta-D-glucuronidase with 3beta-HSD and 3alpha-hydroxyGA dehydrogenase partially purified from each bacterium was converted GL to 3alpha-hydroxyGA, producing metabolites of about 60% after 10 min of incubation. These mixed bacteria possessed high enzyme activities could produce the metabolites of GL in under one hour under conditions.

Effects of glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid on the growth, glycyrrhizin beta-D-glucuronidase and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of human intestinal bacteria

The peak of glycyrrhizin (GL) beta-D-glucuronidase activity for Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 and Eubacterium sp. GLH changed to 24 h from 12 h of culture and to 12 h from 48 h, respectively, at almost the same level by the addition of 1.0 mM GL. This enzyme activity was about 20-fold higher in Eubacterium sp. GLH than in Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3. GL beta-D-glucuronidase activity of Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 with Eubacterium sp. GLH and the intestinal flora showed a maximal peak at 12 h of culture in the presence and absence of 1.0 mM GL. This enzyme activity was about 2.5-fold higher in mixed bacteria than in intestinal flora. 3Beta-hydrosteroid dehydrogenase activity of Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 and Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 with Eubacterium sp. GLH was suppressed greater in the presence of GL than without GL. Also, Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3, Eubacterium sp. GLH, and a mixture of both and intestinal flora, metabolized 1.0 mM GL to glycyrrhetic acid (GA) in yields of about 10, 70, 40 and 100%, respectively, with 24 h culture. From the level of GL beta-D-glucuronidase activity, it is considered that the metabolism of GL by intestinal flora is due to both enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions. Moreover, GA at a concentration of 1.0 mM suppressed growth of Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3, Eubacterium sp. GLH, and the mixture of both and intestinal flora, which metabolized 1.0 mM GA to a negligible amount of 3-oxo-glycyrrhetic acid, indicating the accumulation of unchanged GA. GL beta-D-glucuronidase activity of intestinal flora was enhanced by GA, which stimulated bacteria possessing particular this characteristic.

Lectin activity of Bacillus thuringiensis parasporal inclusion proteins

Parasporal inclusion proteins from a total of 151 Bacillus thuringiensis strains, consisting of 139 Japanese isolates and the type strains of 12 H serovars, were screened for haemagglutination (HA) activity against sheep erythrocytes. Of 58 B. thuringiensis strains with HA activity, nine strains exhibited high activity and the remaining 49 strains were moderately active. The strains with high HA activity were derived from phylloplanes and soils of five geographically different localities, and belonged to H serovars kurstaki and other undefined serotype(s). The HA activities in the four selected strains were generated only when alkali-solubilised parasporal inclusion proteins were proteolytically processed. Furthermore, the lectin activity of the four strains was strongly inhibited by preincubation with N-acetylgalactosamine. The lectin-producing B. thuringiensis strains were heterogeneous in other biological activities of parasporal inclusions: insecticidal activity and cytocidal action on human leukaemia T cells.

Influence of various bile acids on the metabolism of glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid by Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3 of human intestinal bacteria

Ruminococcus sp. PO1-3, an intestinal bacterium isolated from human feces, metabolized glycyrrhizin (GL) to glycyrrhetic acid (GA) and GA to 3-oxo-glycyrrhetic acid (3-oxo-GA) and possessed GL beta-D-glucuronidase and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) involved in the metabolism of GL. This bacterial growth was enhanced by GL at a concentration of 0.4 mm and was suppressed by GA at concentration of 1.0 mM. Chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid among the bile acids added to this bacterium suppressed the growth and GL beta-D-glucuronidase activity and 3beta-HSD activity incident to it at a concentration of 1.0 mM, while cholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid and glycine and taurin conjugates of cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid had almost no effect on this bacterium at a concentration of 0.2 to 1.0 mm. However, these enzyme activities of this sonicated bacteria were inhibited by all of these bile acids. Although each bile acid and GL added to bacteria at the same time suppressed the growth and the amount of metabolite GA by all bile acids used except cholic acid, taurocholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid with GL, a combination of each bile acid and GA eased the growth inhibition caused by GA at a concentration of 0.2 mM and enhanced the amount of metabolite 3-oxo-GA by the glycine conjugate of bile acids with GA. GL or GA added after 6 h culture with each of these bile acids and bacteria was metabolized to a relatively large amount of GA by chenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid and their glycine and taurine conjugates, glycocholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid, or had almost no effect on the amount of metabolite 3-oxo-GA, respectively. These results showed that although GL added after the exposure to bile acid and GA and bile acid added at the same time as bacteria had different bile acid action, these conditions enhanced the amount of metabolite GA from GL and metabolite 3-oxo-GA from GA.

Unique activity associated with non-insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis parasporal inclusions: in vitro cell-killing action on human cancer cells

Parasporal inclusion proteins from a total of 1744 Bacillus thuringiensis strains, consisting of 1700 Japanese isolates and 44 reference type strains of existing H serovars, were screened for cytocidal activity against human leukaemia T cells and haemolytic activity against sheep erythrocytes. Of 1684 B. thuringiensis strains having no haemolytic activity, 42 exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity against leukaemia T cells. These non-haemolytic but leukaemia cell-toxic strains belonged to several H-serovars including dakota, neoleonensis, shandongiensis, coreanensis and other unidentified serogroups. Purified parasporal inclusions of the three selected strains, designated 84-HS-1-11, 89-T-26-17 and 90-F-45-14, exhibited no haemolytic activity and no insecticidal activity against dipteran and lepidopteran insects, but were highly cytocidal against leukaemia T cells and other human cancer cells, showing different toxicity spectra and varied activity levels. Furthermore, the proteins from 84-HS-1-11 and 89-T-26-17 were able to discriminate between leukaemia and normal T cells, specifically killing the former cells. These findings may lead to the use of B. thuringiensis inclusion proteins for medical purposes.

Purification and characterization of glycyrrhetic acid mono-glucuronide beta-D-glucuronidase in Eubacterium sp. GLH

Glycyrrhetic acid mono-glucuronide (GAMG), 1-(18beta-glycyrrhet-3-yl)-beta-D-glucopyranuroic acid, was hydrolyzed to glycyrrhetic acid (GA) by GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase in Eubacterium sp. GLH from human intestinal bacteria. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 5.0 and was purified from a crude extract by Butyl Toyopearl 650 S, Toyopearl HW-55 S, Hydroxyapatite and DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M column chromatography. The purified enzyme showed a specific activity of 495 nmol/min/mg protein and a single band on Coomassie brilliant blue staining and a molecular weight of about 43 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The apparent molecular weight was 49.5 kDa, as estimated by Toyopearl HW-55 S column chromatography. Also, the enzyme seemed to have a sulfhydryl group(s) in its active site with a Km value of 77 x 10(-3) M.

Unique synthetic peptides stimulating streptolysin S production in streptococci

A peptide has been isolated from pronase digest of bovine serum albumin as the stimulatory factor of streptolysin S (SLS) production by Streptococcus pyogenes, and its primary structure has been deduced [Akao et al. (1992) Infect. Immun. 60, 4777-4780]. To determine the essential structure for the stimulation, a peptide (P-1) having the deduced structure, in which three peptide fragments are linked by two disulfide bonds, and shorter analogs (P-2 to P-4) of peptide P-1 were chemically synthesized. Another peptide (P-5), in which Ala is inserted between the two Cys residues in the middle peptide chain of P-1, was also synthesized. These synthetic peptides were identified by mass spectrometry and analysis of amino acid compositions. The synthetic P-1 stimulated SLS production in a dose-dependent manner. Other peptide analogs also showed remarkable stimulation of SLS production. Treatment of P-1 with performic acid resulted in loss of its stimulatory activity, indicating that disulfide bridges of the peptides are necessary for their activity on SLS production. These results suggest that the unique primary structure of three peptide chains linked by two disulfide bridges is requisite for the stimulatory effect on SLS production.

Clonal and chronological genetic analysis of multifocal cancers of the bladder and upper urinary tract

Recent molecular genetic studies have suggested that multifocal urothelial cancers are derived from an identical progenitor cell. However, the clonal origin of multifocal urothelial cancers of a low-grade superficial type has not been fully defined. Using microsatellite markers, we examined genetic alterations at 20 loci on eight chromosomal arms (2q, 4p, 4q, 8p, 9p, 9q, 11p, and 17p) in 87 metachronous and/or synchronous multifocal urothelial cancers, which included 84 low-grade superficial papillary tumors from 29 patients. Judging from the patterns of loss of heterozygosity, microsatellite shifts, and the subchromosomal partial deletion, multifocal tumors in at least 20 (80%) of the 25 evaluable patients were considered to be derived from a single progenitor cell, although the possibility remained that multifocal tumors in a small subset of patients might develop from distinct progenitor cells due to field cancerization. In 13 of the 20 patients, a chronological genetic analysis was available: genetic heterogeneity was detected in 3 (23%) patients, and an apparent accumulated pattern of genetic alterations was detected in only 1 (8%) patient. In the 20 patients with multifocal tumors of an identical clonal origin, discordant microsatellite alterations were observed, with significantly lower frequencies on chromosome 9 compared to those on the other chromosomes tested. The results indicate that most multifocal low-grade superficial urothelial cancers are genetically stable despite their incidence of frequent recurrence, and genetic divergence occurs in a subset of patients. This heterotopic spread and genetic divergence may occur long before the clinical manifestation of multiplicity from a single transformed cell. These data support the previous view that heterotopic spread of transformed progenitor cells and genetic divergence occur after chromosome 9 alterations in most of low-grade superficial urothelial cancers.

Distribution of enzymes involved in the metabolism of glycyrrhizin in various organs of rat

Glycyrrhizin (GL) was hydrolyzed to glycyrrhetic acid (GA), glycyrrhetic acid mono-beta-D-glucuronide (GAMG) or both by glucuronidases in various organs of rat. GL beta-D-glucuronidase I, hydrolyzing GL to GA; GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase, hydrolyzing GAMG to GA; and 3alpha-hydroxyglycyrrhetinate (3alpha-hydroxyGA) dehydrogenase, oxidizing 3alpha-hydroxyGA to 3-oxo-GA were found in the organs of this animal. GL beta-D-glucuronidase II was distributed in the lysosomal fraction of all organs except brain; 3alpha-hydroxyGA dehydrogenase was distributed in the microsomal fraction of the liver; but other enzymes were distributed in the nuclear, lysosomal, microsomal and soluble fractions of a variety of organs. GL beta-D-glucuronidase I, GL beta-D-glucuronidase II and GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase activities in a mixture of lysosomes and microsomes of rat liver exhibited different patterns on hydroxyapatite column chromatography. These results showed the metabolic pathways of GL to be of two types: a beta-D-glucuronidase hydrolyzing GL to GA, and the other consisting of two different beta-D-glucuronidases hydrolyzing GL to GAMG and GAMG to GA.

Intestinal bacterial hydrolysis is required for the appearance of compound K in rat plasma after oral administration of ginsenoside Rb1 from Panax ginseng

Ginsenoside Rb1 from Panax ginseng root is transformed into compound K via ginsenosides Rd and F2 by intestinal bacterial flora. Among 31 defined intestinal strains from man, only Eubacterium sp. A-44 transformed ginsenoside Rb1 into compound K via ginsenoside Rd. The ginsenoside Rb1-hydrolysing enzyme isolated from Eubacterium sp. A-44 was identical to a previously purified geniposide-hydrolysing beta-D-glucosidase. When ginsenoside Rb1 (200 mg kg-1) was administered orally to germ-free rats, neither compound K nor any other metabolite was detected in the plasma, intestinal tract or cumulative faeces 7 or 15 h after administration. Most of the ginsenoside Rb1 administered was recovered from the intestinal tract, especially the caeca, and cumulative faeces indicating poor absorption of ginsenoside Rb1. When ginsenoside Rb1 was administered orally to gnotobiote rats mono-associated with Eubacterium sp. A-44, a significant amount of compound K was detected in the plasma and considerable amounts were found in the caecal contents and cumulative faeces 7 and 15 h after administration. A small amount of ginsenoside Rb1 was detected in the caecal contents only 7 h after administration. These results indicate that orally administered ginsenoside Rb1 is poorly absorbed from the gut but that its metabolite compound K, produced by ginsenoside Rb1-hydrolysing bacteria such as Eubacterium sp. A-44 in the lower part of intestine, is absorbed.

Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of orally administered saikosaponin b1 in conventional, germ-free and Eubacterium sp. A-44-infected gnotobiote rats

The metabolic fate of saikosaponin b1 (1) was investigated using conventional, germ-free and Eubacterium sp. A-44-infected gnotobiote rats. After the oral administration of 1 to germ-free rats at a dose of 50 mg/kg, no metabolite was detected in the plasma, the cecal contents or the cumulative feces through the experiment. On the other hand, when 1 was orally given to the Eubacterium sp. A-44-infected gnotobiote rats, considerable amounts of its metabolites, prosaikogenin A (2) and saikogenin A (3), were detected in the rat plasma with the respective AUC0-10 h values of 17,424 and 22,260 pmol.min/ml, similar to the case of its oral administration to conventional rats (AUC0-10 h values of 9,936 and 12,414 pmol.min/ml for 2 and 3, respectively). Furthermore, significant amounts of both metabolites were detected in the cecal contents and the cumulative feces of the gnotobiote and conventional rats, but not in those of the germ-free rats, within 10 h after the administration. Fecal and cecal activities of hydrolyzing 1 and 2 were found in the gnotobiote and conventional rats, though there were no detectable activities in the germ-free rats. Accordingly, both hydrolyzing activities in the intestinal bacteria, such as Eubacterium sp. A-44, are essential for the appearance of 2 and 3 in the rat plasma and cumulative feces, since orally administered 1 was poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

Appearance of compound K, a major metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1 by intestinal bacteria, in rat plasma after oral administration--measurement of compound K by enzyme immunoassay

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the determination of compound K (C-K), a major metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1) from Panax ginseng root by intestinal bacterial flora, was explored. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was coupled to the C-26 position on the unsaturated side chain of C-K. Beta-D-galactosidase was introduced at the C-26 position of the saturated side chain. Antiserum, obtained by immunization of rabbits with C-K-BSA conjugate, possessed high affinity and specificity toward C-K. The EIA for C-K by the double antibody method was established in the range of 0.1--100 ng/tube. Plasma C-K after the oral administration of C-K and G-Rb1 to rats was determined by the established EIA. C-K was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after the administration, then slowly decreased. On the other hand, C-K appeared late and was retained for a long period of time in the plasma after the administration of G-Rb1, which itself is hardly absorbed.

Hydrolysis of glycyrrhetyl mono-glucuronide to glycyrrhetic acid by glycyrrhetyl mono-glucuronide beta-D-glucuronidase of Eubacterium sp. GLH

Glycyrrhetyl mono-glucuronide (GAMG) is an intermediate in the hydrolysis of glycyrrhizin (GL) to glycyrrhetic acid (GA). An enzyme responsible for its hydrolysis, characterized as a GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase of Eubacterium sp. (species) GLH, has been isolated from human intestinal bacteria. The pattern of GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase activity was different from that of GL beta-D-glucuronidase activity by Butyl-Toyopearl 650 S column chromatography. Thus, these enzymes showed differences in the purification ratio and substrate specificity. After this step, GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase was completely separated from GL beta-D-glucuronidase by gel filtration through Toyopearl HW-55 S, indicating that the GAMG beta-D-glucuronidase is a novel type of beta-D-glucuronidase which hydrolyzes one glucuronic acid linkage of GA.

Enzymes responsible for the metabolism of saikosaponins from Eubacterium sp. A-44, a human intestinal anaerobe

From a human intestinal bacterium, Eubacterium sp. A-44, which is capable of hydrolyzing saikosaponins to saikogenins, two glycosidases, beta-D-glucosidase and a novel type of beta-D-fucosidase, were isolated and characterized as saikosaponin-hydrolyzing beta-D-glucosidase and prosaikogenin-hydrolyzing beta-D-fucosidase. Relative to the hydrolyzing activities toward saikosaponins a, b1 and b2, the beta-D-glucosidase showed lower ability to hydrolyze saikosaponin d, but no ability to hydrolyze saikosaponin c or prosaikogenins. By Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography, the molecular weight of prosaikogenin-hydrolyzing beta-D-fucosidase was estimated to be about 130 kDa. The beta-D-fucosidase could hydrolyze prosaikogenins A and F, but not prosaikogenins D and G or saikosaponins. Relative to p-nitrophenyl beta-D-fucoside-hydrolyzing activity, this enzyme had 32.0% and 22.2% of its hydrolyzing ability toward p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucoside and p-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactoside, respectively. p-Nitrophenyl beta-D-fucoside-hydrolyzing activity was inhibited by D-fucose, and was weakly inhibited by D-glucose, D-glucono delta-lactone, D-galactose and D-galactono delta-lactone. By combining these two glycosidases, saikosaponins a and b1 were converted to their saikogenins via the corresponding prosaikogenins.

Development of the computerized dental cast form analyzing system--three dimensional diagnosis of dental arch form and the investigation of measuring condition

To analyze the functional and morphological harmonies of the tooth and dental arch, a computerized system to measure a dental cast and to detect the apex of dental cusps and angle points of incisors was developed. Detailed morphology in the measured dental cast could be displayed distinctively by computer graphics (CG) with a surface model. Accuracy in determining the position of the apex of the dental cusp was examined by increasing the measuring pitch from 50 microns to 400 microns, the error increased gradually with increased measuring pitch. Taking the measuring error, the time for measurement and the memory size for analysis into account, a measuring pitch of 200 microns was determined to be reasonable. Three-dimensional data measurements from the apex of the dental cusp in molar, and the mesial and distal angles in canine and incisor were fitted to a polynomial formula. In the present measured model, the 4th order polynomial formula was used for the dental arch, and the 2nd order polynomial formula was used for the anteroposterior and lateral occlusal curves. These formulae could be simultaneously superimposed on the surface model of the dental cast, and displayed using CG.

A high prevalence of functional inactivation by methylation modification of p16INK4A/CDKN2/MTS1 gene in primary urothelial cancers

We analyzed the genetic and epigenetic alterations of p16INK4A/CDKN2/MTS1 gene (MTS1 gene) in 38 primary urothelial cancers. Genetic alterations of the MTS1 gene consisted of one base substitution mutation in exon 2 (2.6%) and 6 homozygous deletions (16.2%). Hypermethylation of the 5' CpG island in exon 1 of the MTS1 gene was observed in 12 tumors (37.5%). Consequently, 19 of 38 tumors (50%) showed genetic alterations or epigenetic hypermethylation of the MTS1 gene. Retention of hypermethylated MTS1 gene(s) in 36% of the tumors showing loss of heterozygosity at the critical region indicates that the methylation modification could be an initial event followed by genomic rearrangements associated with total loss of MTS1 gene function. Immunohistochemical analysis of MTS1 expression revealed that all the tumors with genetic alterations of the MTS1 gene and 9 of 12 highly methylated tumors displayed an absence of MTS1 nuclear antigen. Genetic and epigenetic changes of the MTS1 gene were not correlated with the grade and stage of tumors, indicating that these alterations are early events in urothelial carcinogenesis, in which functional inactivation by hypermethylation is a predominant mechanism.