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Abe N, Okamura N, Ishibashi S. Properties of NADPH oxidase in specific granule-rich fraction prepared from guinea pig neutrophils. Biol Pharm Bull 2000; 23:537-41. [PMID: 10823659 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.23.537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Both the plasma membrane-rich fraction and specific granule-rich fraction prepared from human neutrophil lysate by Percoll centrifugation have been reported to contain cytochrome b558, a membrane activation factor for NADPH oxidase. In this study, the plasma membrane-rich fraction and specific granule-rich fraction of guinea pig neutrophils were prepared, and the abilities of both fractions to activate NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system consisting of either fraction, cytosol and arachidonate were compared. There was no difference in the Km value for NADPH between NADPH oxidase activated by specific granules or by plasma membranes. Optimum concentrations of arachidonate for the activation of NADPH oxidase in both the fractions were also the same. However, after freeze-thawing, the specific granules markedly lost the ability, compared to plasma membranes. Such instability of specific granules was also observed on hypotonic- or deoxycholate-treatment. The inactivation by freeze-thawing was not suppressed by proteinase inhibitors, and gp91-phox, a large subunit of cytochrome b558, was not degraded by freeze-thawing. Freeze-thawed specific granules did not affect the ability in plasma membranes, indicating the absence of an inactivating factor in specific granules. The increase in the amount of cytosol in the cell-free assay mixture did not compensate for the markedly decreased ability of freeze-thawed specific granules. Translocation of p47-phox, one of the cytosolic activation factors, to specific granules was not affected by freeze-thawing. We found that the ability of specific granules to activate NADPH oxidase was fragile, though it is unclear what is responsible for the instability, at present.
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Higuchi M, Tashiro M, Arai H, Okamura N, Hara S, Higuchi S, Itoh M, Shin RW, Trojanowski JQ, Sasaki H. Glucose hypometabolism and neuropathological correlates in brains of dementia with Lewy bodies. Exp Neurol 2000; 162:247-56. [PMID: 10739631 DOI: 10.1006/exnr.2000.7342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral glucose metabolism using positron emission tomography (PET) with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose was examined in 11 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD), 6 patients with probable, and 1 patient with autopsy-confirmed dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) as well as in 10 age-matched normal control subjects. Among widespread cortical regions showing glucose hypometabolism in the DLB group, the metabolic reduction was most pronounced in the visual association cortex compared to that in the AD group. Using a metabolic ratio of 0.92 in the visual association cortex as a cutoff (mean-2 SD of normal control subjects), DLB could be distinguished from AD with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 91%. In contrast, apolipoprotein E4 allele frequency and cerebrospinal fluid tau levels did not differ significantly between the two groups. In order to further dissect out neuropathological correlates of the dysfunctional occipital lobe, postmortem brains from 19 patients with AD and 17 with DLB as well as 11 brains from normal controls were examined. A distinct and extensive spongiform change with coexisting gliosis was variably noted throughout cerebral white matter with relative sparing of gray matter in DLB. Notably, the white matter spongiform change and gliosis was most prominently and consistently found in the occipital region of DLB, and the severity of the spongiform change in each brain region generally paralleled to the regional difference in reduced glucose metabolism between the living AD and DLB patients. These findings suggest that (1) among several potential antemortem biomarkers in the diagnosis of DLB, measures of the glucose metabolism in the occipital cortex may be an informative diagnostic aid to distinguish DLB from AD; and (2) a pathological process that generates widespread spongiform change and gliosis in long projection fibers may contribute, at least in part, to the characteristic imaging features of DLB.
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Haba N, Matsui Y, Okamura N. Analytic Solutions to the RG Equations of the Neutrino Physical Parameters. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2000. [DOI: 10.1143/ptp.103.807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Suzuki K, Yamada M, Kurakake S, Okamura N, Yamaya K, Liu Q, Kudoh S, Kowatari K, Nakaji S, Sugawara K. Circulating cytokines and hormones with immunosuppressive but neutrophil-priming potentials rise after endurance exercise in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 2000; 81:281-7. [PMID: 10664086 DOI: 10.1007/s004210050044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the mechanisms of exercise-induced immune perturbations, we measured promising immunomodulatory hormones and cytokines in plasma of 16 male marathon runners before and after a competitive 42.195-km race. Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1beta) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) concentrations remained unchanged after the marathon. The cytokines IL-12, IFN-alpha and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) could not be detected even using highly sensitive specific immunoassays, indicating at least that overshooting responses of these cytokines had not occurred after exercise. As mechanisms for the small changes in these cytokines, we demonstrated for the first time a significant rise in concentrations of inhibitory cytokine IL-10 in addition to the immunosuppressive hormone cortisol, although concentrations of IL-4 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) were unaffected by the race. Furthermore, concentrations of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and IL-6, which are negative-feedback inhibitors of cytokine production, increased by more than 100 times. As for humoral mediators of neutrophil mobilization, concentrations of growth hormone (GH), cortisol and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) increased significantly. In addition, concentrations of neutrophil-priming substances (IL-6, IL-8, G-CSF, GH and prolactin) also increased significantly and the induction of IL-8 and G-CSF with exercise was demonstrated for the first time in the present study. In contrast, IL-2 concentration decreased, by 32%, and this was correlated with the induction of nitric oxide (NO) production. Muscle damage, monitored using changes in concentrations of creatine kinase and myoglobin, was also observed. These results suggested that exercise-induced pathogenesis including previously reported immunosuppression and neutrophil hyper-reactivity might be attributed, at least partly, to the systemic dynamics of the above bioactive substances.
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Kakuda T, Nozawa A, Unno T, Okamura N, Okai O. Inhibiting effects of theanine on caffeine stimulation evaluated by EEG in the rat. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2000; 64:287-93. [PMID: 10737183 DOI: 10.1271/bbb.64.287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the inhibiting action of theanine on the excitation by caffeine at the concentration regularly associated with drinking tea was investigated using electroencephalography (EEG) in rats. First, the stimulatory action by caffeine i.v. administration at a level higher than 5 micromol/kg (0.970 mg/kg) b.w. was shown by means of brain wave analysis, and this level was suggested as the minimum dose of caffeine as a stimulant. Next, the stimulatory effects of caffeine were inhibited by an i.v. administration of theanine at a level higher than 5 micromol/kg (0.781 mg/kg) b.w., and the results suggested that theanine has an antagonistic effect on caffeine's stimulatory action at an almost equivalent molar concentration. On the other hand, the excitatory effects were shown in the rat i.v. administered 1 and 2 micromol/kg (0.174 and 0.348 mg/kg) b.w. of theanine alone. These results suggested two effects of theanine, depending on its concentration.
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Haba N, Okamura N, Sugiura M. Renormalization Group Analysis of Large Lepton Flavor Mixing and the Neutrino Mass. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2000. [DOI: 10.1143/ptp.103.367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Dacheux JL, Druart X, Fouchecourt S, Syntin P, Gatti JL, Okamura N, Dacheux F. Role of epididymal secretory proteins in sperm maturation with particular reference to the boar. JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTION AND FERTILITY. SUPPLEMENT 2000; 53:99-107. [PMID: 10645270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
This review considers the role of proteins secreted by the epididymis on post-testicular sperm maturation and storage. Two-dimensional gels show that 150 to 200 proteins are secreted into the epididymal lumen. Most are secreted in relatively small amounts; in rams, for example, fewer than ten contribute 90% of the total secretion and only two contribute 52% of the total protein secreted. Most of the proteins are confined to specific regions of the epididymis. The changing pattern of protein secretion along the epididymis corresponds to change in surface protein on spermatozoa, but no epididymal proteins have been identified that appear to be directly involved in modifying the sperm membrane. Most of the major proteins that have been identified seem to be playing a homeostatic role in maintaining the epididymal milieu for spermatozoa.
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Haba N, Matsui Y, Okamura N, Sugiura M. The Effect of Majorana Phase in Degenerate Neutrinos. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2000. [DOI: 10.1143/ptp.103.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Matsui T, Higuchi M, Okamura N, Arai H, Sasaki H. A practical method to predict rate of cognitive decline in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Neurology 1999; 53:2208-9. [PMID: 10599813 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.53.9.2208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Okamura N, Arai H, Higuchi M, Tashiro M, Matsui T, Itoh M, Iwatsubo T, Tomita T, Sasaki H. Cerebrospinal fluid levels of amyloid beta-peptide1-42, but not tau have positive correlation with brain glucose metabolism in humans. Neurosci Lett 1999; 273:203-7. [PMID: 10515194 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00644-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To address the question of whether assay for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of amyloid beta-peptide 1-42 (A(beta)1-42) and tau allow us to monitor the neurodegenerative processes that lead to a progressive and massive death of neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-AD patients, cerebral glucose metabolism using 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose was quantified by positron emission tomography in fifteen AD patients and nine non-AD patients with defined levels of CSF-A(beta)1-42 and CSF-tau. The CSF-A(beta)1-42 levels, but not the CSF-tau levels, in both AD and non-AD patients consistently and significantly correlated with global and, in particular, temporal lobe glucose metabolism. Results from our study suggest that the CSF-A(beta)1-42 levels may reflect residual brain function and help monitoring progression of dementing disorders.
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Okamura N, Miki H, Ishida S, Ono H, Yano A, Tanaka T, Ono Y, Yagi A. Simultaneous determination of baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, berberine, coptisine, palmatine, jateorrhizine and glycyrrhizin in Kampo medicines by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography. Biol Pharm Bull 1999; 22:1015-21. [PMID: 10549848 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.22.1015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
An ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of four flavonoids, namely baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein and wogonin, and four berberine-type alkaloids, namely berberine, coptisine, palmatine and jateorrhizine, and glycyrrhizin in Kampo medicines is described. The analysis can be accomplished within 30 min with a Wakosil-II 5C18 HG column by linear gradient elution using a mobile phase containing aqueous phosphoric acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate and acetonitrile at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml x min(-1), a thermostatic oven at 45 degrees C, and detection at 265 nm. The method was applied to quantifying these components in three Kampo decoctions: Oren-gedoku-to, San'o-shashin-to and Hange-shashin-to. The decoctions were diluted with 65% methanol at the final stage because a large quantity of precipitate, mainly from baicalin and berberine, was formed. The within-day relative standard deviations were less than 2.02% (n=10). The recoveries of these compounds were 90.3-102%. The detection limits of these compounds were 0.02-1.96 microM per injection (5 microl).
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Okamura N, Sakai T, Nishimura Y, Sakai M, Araki S, Yamaguchi M, Ishibashi S. Decavanadate inhibits the cell-free activation of neutrophil NADPH oxidase without affecting tyrosine phosphorylation. Biol Pharm Bull 1999; 22:799-804. [PMID: 10480316 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.22.799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
NADPH oxidase was activated by arachidonate in a cell-free system consisting of membrane and cytosol fractions prepared from guinea pig neutrophils. Vanadate apparently inhibited the NADPH oxidase activity in the cell-free system (IC50=2 microM) without phosphotyrosine accumulation. The pH dependency and stability of the inhibitory effect observed for vanadate solution indicated that decavanadate, an isopolyanion of vanadate, was responsible for the inhibition. Pervanadate (vanadyl hydroperoxide) also inhibited the oxidase activity but at a higher concentration (IC50=0.2 mM). Decavanadate lowered the Vmax but did not affect the Km value of NADPH oxidase for NADPH. Decavanadate inhibited the activation process of NADPH oxidase but not the oxidase activity itself. Decavanadate-pretreatment of membrane and cytosol fractions irreversibly decreased the abilities of both fractions to activate NADPH oxidase in the cell-free system. Translocation of p47-phox, one of the cytosolic activation factors of NADPH oxidase, from cytosol to membrane, was little affected by decavanadate. These results suggest that decavanadate inhibits the activation of NADPH oxidase in the cell-free system without affecting the phosphotyrosine phosphatase, and that decavanadate can bind to both the membrane and cytosolic activation factors when they are in a dormant state, but not to the active oxidase complex.
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Jin YZ, Dacheux F, Dacheux JL, Bannai S, Sugita Y, Okamura N. Purification and properties of major alpha-D-mannosidase in the luminal fluid of porcine epididymis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 1999; 1432:382-92. [PMID: 10407159 DOI: 10.1016/s0167-4838(99)00117-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
A lysosomal type alpha-D-mannosidase was successfully purified by DEAE-Sephacel, Red-Amicon and Superdex 200 column chromatographies from porcine cauda epididymal fluid. The purified enzyme consisted of 63 and 51 kDa subunits at equimolar amounts. It cleaved alpha1-2 linked mannosyl residues and less but significantly cleaved alpha1-3 and alpha1-6 linked mannosyl residues in the high-mannose oligosaccharides. The optimal pH to hydrolyze oligosaccharide was in the acidic pH range (pH 3.5 approximately 4.0). Total alpha-D-mannosidase activities in the porcine epididymal fluid increased from proximal to distal caput epididymis, which maintained to cauda epididymis. At least two kinds of alpha-D-mannosidase (lysosomal type enzyme and 135 kDa alpha-D-mannosidase (MAN2B2)) were contained in the porcine epididymal fluid. The activity of the lysosomal type enzyme is much higher than MAN2B2 at the physiological pH. These results suggest that the lysosomal type alpha-D-mannosidase is the predominantly active enzyme in the luminal fluid of porcine epididymis and that it participates in the glycoprotein modification on the sperm surface during epididymal transit.
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Yanai K, Okamura N, Tagawa M, Itoh M, Watanabe T. New findings in pharmacological effects induced by antihistamines: from PET studies to knock-out mice. Clin Exp Allergy 1999; 29 Suppl 3:29-36; discussion 37-8. [PMID: 10444209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Antihistamines are efficacious drugs to be used for the symptomatic relief of allergic diseases. The safety issue of antihistamines is of central importance because of their widespread use in current medical practice. To better understand the pharmacological effects of antihistamines on the central nervous system (CNS), we used two kinds of new methods, positron emission tomography (PET) and gene targeting regarding on histamine H1 receptors. The histamine H1 receptor occupancy was examined in young male volunteers with[11C]-doxepin (a potent H1 antagonist) after the oral or intravenous administration of antihistamines. In other studies, the cognitive performance was also measured tachistoscopically before and after taking antihistamines. The mutant mice lacking H1 receptors were used in the behavioural and neurochemical experiments to re-evaluate the role of H1 receptors. The H1-receptor occupancy in the human frontal cortex caused by antihistamines is significantly correlated with the reported values of incidence of sleepiness in clinical trials, and the occupancy is well proportional to the impaired cognitive performance. The behavioural studies of the H1-receptor knock-out mice confirmed the role of H1 receptors in arousal, the sleep-wake cycle, locomotion, nociception and aggressive behaviour. The pharmacological effects induced by H1 antagonism were re-evaluated by the PET and gene-targetting. Although any serious effects could not be observed in mice by the destruction of the H1-receptor gene, the cognitive performance was impaired in humans after taking first generation antihistamines in recommended doses.
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Morikawa Y, Arai H, Matsushita S, Kato M, Higuchi S, Miura M, Kawakami H, Higuchi M, Okamura N, Tashiro M, Matsui T, Sasaki H. Cerebrospinal fluid tau protein levels in demented and nondemented alcoholics. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1999. [PMID: 10235290 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1999.tb04156.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The tau protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-tau) were examined in 27 patients with alcohol dependence (20 demented and 7 nondemented), 36 age and dementia severity-matched patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 23 age-matched normal control subjects. The CSF-tau levels in the demented alcoholic group (alcohol-induced organic brain disorders, 25.4 +/- 10.2 pg/ml) was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) than that in the AD group (96.1 +/- 53.3 pg/ml), but not significantly different from that in the nondemented alcoholics (18.1 +/- 10.2 pg/ml) or the controls (19.2 +/- 12.9 pg/ml). Using a 44.9 pg/ml as a cut-off value (mean + 2 SD of the normal control group), only one patient with alcohol-induced organic brain disorders exceeded the value, whereas 3 of 36 of the AD group showed CSF-tau levels less than this level. These findings suggest that alcohol-induced organic brain disorders are a group of dementias that are characterized by normal CSF-tau levels, and that the CSF examination for tau in combination with other clinical findings may help in differentiating alcohol-induced organic brain disorders from AD.
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Okamura N, Kiuchi S, Tamba M, Kashima T, Hiramoto S, Baba T, Dacheux F, Dacheux JL, Sugita Y, Jin YZ. A porcine homolog of the major secretory protein of human epididymis, HE1, specifically binds cholesterol. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 1999; 1438:377-87. [PMID: 10366780 DOI: 10.1016/s1388-1981(99)00070-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A porcine homolog of the major secretory protein of human epididymis, HE1, was for the first time purified from the porcine cauda epididymal fluid. The HE1 homolog was secreted into the epididymal fluid as a 19-kDa glycoprotein, whose sugar moiety was gradually processed to form a 16-kDa protein during transit through the epididymis. The HE1 homolog mRNA was detected only in the caput and corpus epididymis among the porcine tissues examined. The purified HE1 homolog specifically bound cholesterol with high affinity (Kd=2. 3 microM). The binding stoichiometry was determined to be 0.94 mol/mol, suggesting that 1 mol of cholesterol binds to 1 mol of the protein. It was also found that the HE1 homolog is a major cholesterol-binding protein in the porcine epididymal fluid. The possibility that the HE1 homolog is involved in the regulation of the lipid composition of the sperm membranes during the maturation in epididymis is discussed.
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Okamura N, Miki H, Harada T, Yamashita S, Masaoka Y, Nakamoto Y, Tsuguma M, Yoshitomi H, Yagi A. Simultaneous determination of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine and methylephedrine in Kampo medicines by high-performance liquid chromatography. J Pharm Biomed Anal 1999; 20:363-72. [PMID: 10704044 DOI: 10.1016/s0731-7085(99)00065-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
A simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine and methylephedrine (ephedrine alkaloids) in Kampo medicines which contain Ephedrae Herba was established. The analysis can be accomplished within 25 min with a Wakosil-II 5C18 HG column by isocratic elution using a mixture of water, acetonitrile and sodium dodecyl sulfate (65:35:0.4) as the mobile phase at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml min(-1), and detection at 210 nm. The detection limits of ephedrine alkaloids are 0.37-1.06 microM per injection (5 microl). This method was applied to analyze the quantities in eight Kampo decoctions; Mao-to, Makyo-yokukan-to, Makyo-kanseki-to, Yokuinin-to, Sho-seiryu-to, Keima-kakuhan-to, Kakkon-to and Kakkon-to-ka-senkyu-sin'i. The concentration (per Ephedrae Herba gram) of ephedrine alkaloids was higher in the Makyo-kanseki-to decoction than in the others. Calcium sulfate from Gypsum Fibrosum raised ephedrine alkaloids dissolution in the Makyo-kanseki-to decoction.
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Shimada T, Arakawa E, Okitsu T, Yamai S, Matsushita S, Kudoh Y, Okamura N. Additional O antigens of Vibrio fluvialis and Vibrio furnissii. Jpn J Infect Dis 1999; 52:124-6. [PMID: 10507993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
A total of 297 strains of Vibrio fluvialis and Vibrio furrnissii, which were collected from various countries for the past 15-year period of 1984-1998, were serogrouped. Of those examined, 239 strains of V. fluvialis and V. furnissii were classified into 29 known O serogroups; 9 strains were found to belong to R-form cultures, and the rest of the 49 strains could not be serogrouped. Of those serologically untypable strains, 26 novel O serogroups (O36 to O61) were established and added to our reference of the V. fluvialis and V. furnissii antigenic scheme. As all antisera against the O reference strains of the organisms contained some amount of antibody to the rough (R) antigen, all diagnostic O antisera were absorbed with the reference rough strain, V. fluvialis GF25.
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Kawakami N, Takemasa H, Okamura N, Hayakawa T, Shimohama S, Fujimoto S. Participation of cytosolic protein phosphatase in regulation of NADPH oxidase in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Biol Pharm Bull 1999; 22:556-60. [PMID: 10408225 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.22.556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Calyculin A, a protein phosphatase inhibitor, enhanced phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced superoxide anion (O2-) production and translocation of the cytosolic NADPH oxidase factor, p47phox, to the plasma membrane in guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). When PMNs were treated with t-(5-isoquino-line-sulfonyl)-3-methyl-piperazine (H-7), a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, after exposure to PMA, inhibition of O2- production and of translocation of p47phox to the membrane fraction in PMA-stimulated PMNs were observed. When calyculin A was added to the PMA-stimulated PMNs after the addition of H-7, O2- production was again observed, and translocation of p47phox to the membrane fraction also occurred. The activity of NADPH oxidase, the amount of p47phox and the level of phosphorylation of p47phox in the membrane fraction prepared from PMA-stimulated PMNs, were reduced by the addition of the cytosol fraction from unstimulated PMNs. These reductions were attenuated by calyculin A. These results indicate that the active form of NADPH oxidase in PMNs can be reconstituted after the active complex of the enzyme has disappeared once, and that one of the mechanisms of regulation of this enzyme activity involves the phosphorylation of p47phox in the cyotosol and dephosphorylation of phosphorylated p47phox in the NADPH oxidase complex by protein kinase and protein phosphatase, respectively.
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Okamura N, Miki H, Orii H, Masaoka Y, Yamashita S, Kobayashi H, Yagi A. Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of puerarin, daidzin, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde and glycyrrhizin in Kampo medicines. J Pharm Biomed Anal 1999; 19:603-12. [PMID: 10704126 DOI: 10.1016/s0731-7085(98)00262-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We report a high-performance liquid chromatographic method to determine the quantities of puerarin, daidzin, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde and glycyrrhizin in Kampo medicine. All seven compounds were separated in less than 30 min with a Wakosil-II 5C18 AR column by linear gradient elution using 0.01% (v/v) phosphoric acid acetonitrile (0 min 90:10, 10 min 88:12, 22 min 70:30, 30 min 30:70) as the mobile phase at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min(-1), and detection at 250 nm. The detection limits of these compounds are 0.15-0.3 microM with response linearity. This method was applied to determine the quantities in eight Kampo decoctions; Mao-to, Makyo-yokukan-to, Makyo-kanseki-to, Yokuinin-to, Sho-seiryu-to, Keima-kakuhan-to, Kakkon-to and Kakkon-to-ka-senkyu-sin'i. Glycyrrhizin content was lower in both the decoction and the methanol-diluted decoction of Sho-seiryu-to compared with the others. Low pH due to organic acids of Schisandrae fructus in the decoction caused inhibition for glycyrrhizin dissolution in Sho-seiryu-to.
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Ishimoto T, Chida T, Okamura N. Molecular typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a university teaching hospital. KANSENSHOGAKU ZASSHI. THE JOURNAL OF THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES 1999; 73:225-32. [PMID: 10222668 DOI: 10.11150/kansenshogakuzasshi1970.73.225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Plasmid analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were used to study the epidemiologic relationship among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital. We found that 263 of 276 MRSA isolates had plasmids, which could be classified into 30 different patterns according to the number and plasmid molecular weight. Strains which harboured a single plasmid of approximately 13.4 Mds in molecular weight were the most numerous (55.7% of the isolates). These strains were isolated from 14 of 17 hospital wards. The largest number of strains with this plasmid pattern (33 strains) were isolated from a single ward. PFGE typing was then performed to further confirm the relationships among these 33 strains. The PFGE banding patterns of these strains were highly similar. The antibiogram profiles of these strains were also correlated with the PFGE pattern. Thus, the results suggest that these strains are epidemiologically related and spread throughout the ward. Combined plasmid analysis and PFGE were effective for discriminating the various MRSA isolates.
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Yaname H, Fukunaga T, Nigorikawa K, Okamura N, Ishibashi S. Pervanadate activates NADPH oxidase via protein kinase C-independent phosphorylation of p47-phox. Arch Biochem Biophys 1999; 361:1-6. [PMID: 9882422 DOI: 10.1006/abbi.1998.0947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We studied differences between the NADPH oxidase activation pathways triggered by pervanadate, a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C activator, in guinea pig neutrophils. Previously, pervanadate has been shown to activate NADPH oxidase via the tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway (Yamaguchi et al. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 323, 382-386, 1995). Both pervanadate and PMA induced superoxide anion (O-2) production, translocation of the 47-kDa protein component of the phagocyte oxidase (p47-phox) to the plasma membrane, and phosphorylation of p47-phox in the membrane. A selective protein kinase C inhibitor, GF 109203X, markedly inhibited PMA-induced O-2 production, p47-phox translocation, and p47-phox phosphorylation, but did not inhibit pervanadate-induced O-2 production and only slightly suppressed pervanadate-induced translocation and phosphorylation. These results demonstrate that pervanadate activates NADPH oxidase independently of protein kinase C. Phosphopeptide mapping of p47-phox revealed differences in the mechanism between pervanadate-induced and PMA-induced phosphorylation. Furthermore, some protein kinases which phosphorylate p47-phox-derived peptide are activated by pervanadate. These results suggest the existence of novel protein kinases responsible for the phosphorylation of p47-phox and the activation of these protein kinases by tyrosine kinase.
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Akiba T, Shibuta T, Amano Y, Asanuma A, Okubo M, Nishigaki K, Moriwaki T, Yamada H, Okamura N, Watanabe T, Koga T, Tanaka M, Takimoto M. Six-month repeated oral toxicity study of NK-104 in rats. J Toxicol Sci 1998; 23 Suppl 5:713-20. [PMID: 9891909 DOI: 10.2131/jts.23.supplementv_713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
NK-104 is a novel potent inhibitor of the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, and has been shown to be a highly effective agent in lowering blood cholesterol. In the present study, NK-104 was orally administered to Wistar rats at a dose of 0.3, 1, 3 or 010 mg/kg for 6 months for examination of toxicity. Additional recovery groups of 8 rats each of both sexes receiving 0 and 10 mg/kg were maintained without treatment for 1 month in order to assess recovery. As a result, no toxicological changes were observed in general signs, body weight, food intake, ophthalmological examination, urinalysis, hematological and blood chemical examinations for organ weights. An autopsy revealed thickening of the forestomach mucosa in both sexes at a dose of 1 mg/kg or more. This change was microscopically recognized as hyperkeratosis and hypertrophy of the spinous layer associated with both cell infiltration of the mucosal propria and edema of sub-mucosa in the forestomach in both sexes at doses of 3 and 10 mg/kg. Forestomach changes were not observed in any cases after 1 month cessation of drug treatment. The non-toxic dose of NK-104 in the 6-month repeated oral toxicity study in rats is estimated to be 1 mg/kg/day.
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Yanai K, Okamura N, Itoh M, Watanabe T. [Functional neuropharmacology in the human brain using positron emission tomography: PET imaging of impaired cognitive performance induced by sedative antihistamines]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 1998; 112 Suppl 1:48P-52P. [PMID: 10190133 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.112.supplement_48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Antihistamines are the efficacious drugs to be used for the symptomatic relief of allergic diseases. The safety issue of antihistamines is of central importance because of their widespread use in current medical practice. Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to better understand the pharmacological effects of antihistamines on the central nervous system. The H1 receptor occupancy was examined in young male volunteers with [11C]-doxepin after the oral or intravenous administration of antihistamines. In other studies, the cognitive performance was also measured tachistoscopically before and after taking antihistamines. The H1 receptor occupancy in the human cortex caused by antihistamines is significantly correlated with the reported values of incidence of sleepiness in clinical trials, and the occupancy is well proportional to the impaired cognitive performance. To understand the brain mechanism of antihistamine-induced "sleepiness and impaired cognition", the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during the task was measured using 3D-PET and H2(15)O before and after administration of d-chlorpheniramine. After its administration, the rCBF was significantly decreased on the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, midbrain and anterior cingulate. These findings suggest that H1 receptor blockade would be affected on the activity of the attention and cognitive system in the brain.
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