Expression and localization of matrix metalloproteinase-12 in the aorta of cholesterol-fed rabbits: relationship to lesion development

Degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the aorta is a critical step for the development of atherosclerosis. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12 (macrophage elastase), an elastin-degrading proteinase in the MMP family, was investigated in the thoracic aorta of rabbits fed a 1% cholesterol-containing diet for 16 weeks. In the atherosclerotic lesions, MMP-12 was produced abundantly at both the mRNA and protein levels, whereas no expression was observed in the normal rabbit aortas. The principal source of MMP-12 was macrophage foam cells (MFCs) that had infiltrated the atherosclerotic intima; this was demonstrated in both in vitro culture studies of MFCs purified from atherosclerotic lesions and immunohistochemical studies of aortic lesions. Additional biochemical studies using recombinant rabbit MMP-12 revealed that MMP-12 digested elastin, type IV collagen, and fibronectin and also activated MMP-2 and MMP-3. Expression of MMP-12 by human macrophage cell lines was increased by stimulation with acetylated low-density lipoprotein, implying augmentation of MMP-12 production during foam cell formation. Increased expression of MMP-12 in atherosclerotic lesions, concomitant with foam cell generation, which triggers the acceleration of ECM breakdown, is likely to be a critical step in the initiation and progression of the atherosclerotic cascade.

Activin A regulates the production of mature interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in human monocytic cells

Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family, is produced by a variety of cells and implicated in the regulation of the reproductive endocrine system, mesoderm induction, and erythropoiesis. In the present study, we showed that activin A inhibited the production of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), a potent proinflammatory cytokine, and enhanced the production of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), in activated THP-1 and U-937 human monocytic cells, resulting in the reduction of IL-1 biologic activity. Northern blot analysis revealed that activin A had no effect on mRNA accumulation of IL-1beta and IL-1ra, indicating that activin A regulates IL-1beta and IL-1ra production at a posttranscriptional level. As it is well known that an inactive precursor form of IL-1beta (pro-IL-1beta) is converted to an active mature form (mature IL-1beta), we examined the expression levels of pro-IL-1beta and mature IL-1beta by immunoblot analysis. Although activin A inhibited the production of mature IL-1beta in activated U-937 cells, the relative protein expression of pro-IL-1beta was unaltered by activin A, suggesting that activin A inhibits IL-1beta production by blocking proteolytic conversion of pro-IL-1beta into mature IL-1beta. Taken together, these findings suggest that activin A may function as an anti-inflammatory cytokine by modulating mature IL-1beta and IL-1ra production in inflammatory sites.

New types of liposidomycins that inhibit bacterial peptidoglycan synthesis and are produced by Streptomyces. II. Isolation and structure elucidation

Various new liposidomycins were isolated from a culture of the strain Streptomyces sp. SN-1061M by changing medium components and they were classified into four types (I-IV) based on their structures. They were purified by butanol extraction, silica gel and LH-20 column chromatographies, and high performance liquid chromatography on ODS columns. Type (I) has the original structure which has sulfate and 3-methylglutaric acid moieties. Type (II) has no 3-methylglutaric acid moiety and type (III) has no sulfate moiety. Type (IV) has neither moiety. Type (III) and (IV) compounds, which have no sulfate moiety, exhibited more potent antimicrobial activity.

Involvement of Fas-mediated apoptosis in the hematopoietic progenitor cells of graft-versus-host reaction-associated myelosuppression

The influence of graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction on the host hematopoietic cells clinically manifests itself both as adverse reactions in transfusion-associated GVH disease (GVHD) and as a therapeutic graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect in either donor lymphocytes transfusion (DLT) or allogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation. We examined the effect of GVH reaction on the host hematopoiesis in the murine parent-into-F1 (P1 --> F1) model of GVHD. The systemic transfer of 5 x 10(7) of C57BL/6 (B6) splenocytes into (B6xDBA/2)F1 mice (BDF1), which results in acute GVHD, reduced the peripheral blood cell counts, the number of BM cells, and colony-forming unit-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM), whereas the injection of 10(8) of DBA/2 cells into BDF1, which results in chronic GVHD, did not affect hematopoiesis 2 weeks after the transfer. To clarify the mechanism of such myelosuppression, we examined the Fas expression in both hematopoietic progenitor cells as well as whole BM cells. The Fas expressions in each fraction significantly increased in BDF1 mice 2 weeks after the induction of acute GVHD, whereas no such effects were observed in the BDF1 mice with chronic GVHD. Furthermore, when such BM cells were incubated with anti-Fas antibody (Jo2), which induces apoptosis through Fas, the fraction of apoptotic cells increased and the number of CFU-GM decreased significantly. The in vivo administration of neutralizing anti-FasL antibody into BDF1 mice receiving with B6 spleen cells thus protected the host mice from BM failure. These results indicate that the functional expression of Fas on hematopoietic cells plays an essential role in the myelosuppressive effect of GVHD.

[Clinical efficacy of fosfomycin in combination with sulbactam/cefoperazone in the treatment of severe infections complicated to blood dyscrasia. Working Group of Kanto Combination Therapy for FOM + SBT/CPZ]

In the treatment of severe infections complicated to blood dyscrasia, the efficacy and usefulness of fosfomycin (FOM) in combination with sulbactam (SBT)/cefoperazone (CPZ) were compared between patients receiving FOM in the first followed by SBT/CPZ (Group A) and those receiving both drugs simultaneously (Group B). The following results were obtained. 1. The efficacy rate was 56.3% for Group A and 47.9% for Group B, with no significant difference. 2. The efficacy for patients suspected of the presence of septicemia, the efficacy rate was 57.9% for Group A and 54.3% for Group B, with no significant difference. 3. As for underlying disease, patients with acute myelogenous leukemia were most prevailing. In these patients, the efficacy rate was 57.1% for Group A and 27.3% for Group B, with no statistically significant difference. However, the efficacy rate tended to be higher in Group A. 4. The administration of antibiotics was effective to restore the neutrophil count to 501/microliters or higher in 77.8% and 45.5% of the cases for Groups A and B, respectively, with significantly higher efficacy for Group A. 5. In the safety evaluation a total of 115 cases were included. Side effects and laboratory abnormalities were seen in 3 cases each, but none of them were serious in degree. From these results, it was confirmed that the combination therapy consisting of administration of FOM followed by SBT/CPZ with some interval is effective for severe infections complicated to blood dyscrasia.

[Reproductive and developmental toxicity study of sodium N-[2-[4-(2,2-dimethylpropionyloxy) phenylsulfonylamino] benzoyl] aminoacetate tetrahydrate (ONO-5046.Na) (2). Study for effects on pre- and postnatal development in rats, including maternal function]

Prenatal and postnatal toxicity of sodium N-[2-[4-(2,2-dimethylpropionyloxy) phenylsulfonylamino] benzoyl] aminoacetate tetrahydrate (ONO-5046.Na), a novel inhibitor of human neutrophil elastase, was studied in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. ONO-5046.Na was injected intravenously at doses of 0, 18.75, 37.5 and 75 mg/kg/day to pregnant rats from day 7 of pregnancy to day 20 after delivery. All pregnant rats were allowed to deliver naturally for postnatal examination of their offspring. No adverse effects on dams were observed in clinical signs, body weight change, food consumption, pregnant, delivery or lactating performances. ONO-5046.Na did not affect the postnatal development of offspring, including birth index, survival index, physical and functional development, motor activity, emotionality, learning ability and reproductive performance. From these results, it is considered that the NOAEL of ONO-5046.Na is 75 mg/kg/day for dams and their offspring.

Effects of doxorubicin and/or cilostazol on cancer cells during liver regeneration after two-thirds hepatectomy in rats

A rat model of liver metastases generated by intraportal injection of syngeneic tumor cells after two-thirds hepatectomy to determine the optimal benefit of doxorubicin and/or cilostazol for early hepatic metastases. Four groups of WKA rats had viable tumor cells injected directly into the portal vein after two-thirds hepatectomy. Group A underwent to further treatment. Group B had doxorubicin injected 24 h post-operatively. Group C had cilostazol administered prior to two-thirds hepatectomy. Group D received cilostazol, and doxorubicin injections. The mean survival period in each group was 22.2, 20.0, 28.8, and 22.8 days, respectively. The mean survival was significantly longer in group C than in groups A, B and D (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, we believe that during the phase of liver regeneration adjuvant chemotherapy is not recommended. Cilostazol exerts an important antiproliferative effect on liver metastases after hepatectomy.

Longitudinal study of cerebrospinal fluid levels of tau, A beta1-40, and A beta1-42(43) in Alzheimer's disease: a study in Japan

To clarify the alterations of tau, amyloid beta protein (A beta) 1-40 and A beta1-42(43) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that accompany normal aging and the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), CSF samples of 93 AD patients, 32 longitudinal subjects among these 93 AD patients, 33 patients with non-AD dementia, 56 with other neurological diseases, and 54 normal control subjects from three independent institutes were analyzed by sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Although the tau levels increased with aging, a significant elevation of tau and a correlation between the tau levels and the clinical progression were observed in the AD patients. A significant decrease of the A beta1-42(43) levels and a significant increase of the ratio of A beta1-40 to A beta1-42(43) were observed in the AD patients. The longitudinal AD study showed continuous low A beta1-42(43) levels and an increase of the ratio of A beta1-40 to A beta1-42(43) before the onset of AD. These findings suggest that CSF tau may increase with the clinical progression of dementia and that the alteration of the CSF level of A beta1-42(43) and the ratio of A beta1-40 to A beta1-42(43) may start at early stages in AD. The assays of CSF tau, A beta1-40, and A beta1-42(43) provided efficient diagnostic sensitivity (71%) and specificity (83%) by using the production of tau levels and the ratio of A beta1-40 to A beta1-42(43), and an improvement in sensitivity (to 91%) was obtained in the longitudinal evaluation.

Combination assay of CSF tau, A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-42(43) as a biochemical marker of Alzheimer's disease

Cerebrospinal fluid samples from a total of 157 subjects consisting of 55 patients with sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), 34 normal controls, 23 patients with non-AD dementia, and 45 with other neurological diseases were examined by ELISA of tau, A beta 1-40, and A beta 1-42(43). The AD group had a significantly higher level of tau than the normal control group (P < 0.001), and the diagnostic sensitivity was 31% and specificity was 94%. CSF A beta 1-40 levels did not show any significant differences. Although the level of A beta 1-42(43) was decreased significantly in the AD group compared to the control group (P < 0.005), the overlap of A beta 1-42(43) levels among all groups meant that none of the AD samples exceeded the cut-off value, the mean 2SD of normal control subjects. Reduction of A beta 1-42(43) levels in AD resulted in a significant increase in the ratio of A beta 1-40 to A beta 1-42(43) (A beta ratio) as an improved marker. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of A beta ratio were 51% and 82% respectively. The three indexes, using the tau level and A beta ratio (tau or A beta ratio, deviation score and tau x A beta ratio), showed better sensitivity (58%, 67%, 69%) and specificity (82%, 86%, 88%) than previously reported methods. Combination assay for CSF tau, A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-42(43) in CSF is a biological marker of AD and may be useful to biochemically monitor subjects under treatment.

Prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with diabetes mellitus after hepatic resection

We evaluated the effect of diabetes mellitus on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after an elective hepatic resection. Of the 342 patients who underwent a hepatic resection between April 1985 and March 1995, 87 (25.4%) were diabetic. Postoperative morbidity was more common among diabetics than among nondiabetics (36.0% vs. 22.5%, P = .0239). The postoperative survival rate and the cancer-free survival rate were also better in patients without diabetes than in those with diabetes (P = .0333, P = .0149). The results of a multivariate analysis show diabetes mellitus to be an independent and prognostic indicator after a hepatic resection with hepatocellular carcinoma. According to the above findings, diabetes mellitus is thus considered to be a risk factor for prognosis after hepatic resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Fluid shear stress attenuates tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced tissue factor expression in cultured human endothelial cells

Hemodynamic forces modulate various endothelial cell functions under gene regulation. Previously, we have shown that fibrinolytic activity of endothelial cells is enhanced by the synergistic effects of shear stress and cytokines. In this study, we investigated the effect of shear stress on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced tissue factor (TF) expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), using a modified cone-plate viscometer. Shear stresses at physiological levels reduced TNF-alpha (100 U/mL)-induced TF expression at both mRNA and antigen levels, in a shear-intensity and exposure-time dependent manner, whereas shear stress itself did not induce TF expression in HUVECs. TF expressed on the cell surfaces measured by flow cytometry using an anti-TF monoclonal antibody (HTF-K180) was also decreased to one third by shear force applied at 18 dynes/cm2 for 15 hours before and 6 hours after TNF-alpha stimulation. Furthermore, functional activity of TF, as assessed by the activation of factor X in the presence of FVIIa and Ca2+, was also decreased by shear application. However, the stability of TF mRNA was not decreased in the presence of shear stress. These results suggest that shear force acts as an important regulator of TF expression in endothelium at the transcriptional level.

[A case of systemic lupus erythematosus developed with intestinal perforation]

A case of intestinal perforation associated with SLE is presented. A 54-year-old woman was diagnosed as having SLE twenty-five years ago when she had facial erythema, photosensitivity, oral aphtha, polyarthraliga, leukopenia, positive LE cell and positive antinuclear antibody. She had been treated with prednisolone and admitted to Kushiro City General Hospital because of one month history of fever and anorexia in February 1996. Laboratory findings did not reveal activity of SLE, and a diagnosis of urinary tract infection was made based on the findings of urinalysis. After severe diarrhea, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) developed. A rectal perforation was revealed by endoscopic and radiological examination. An emergency laparotomy revealed necrosis of the rectum and sigmoidostomy was performed. The biopsied specimen of the rectum were diagnosed as gangrene of ischemic colitis histologically. Because of a penetration to the urinary bladder, an ureterocutaneostomy was performed. She died of sepsis and DIC on the 127th day of admission. Only 11 cases of intestinal perforation associated with SLE have been reported in Japan, and the association of vasculitis has been considered. In the present case, the prolonged use of prednisolone might cause the necrotizing ischemic colitis.

[Intraperitoneal dissemination of testicular tumor: a case report]

A 42-year-old male presented with bilateral scrotal swelling and sense of abdominal fullness. Ultrasonography and computed tomographic (CT) scan showed right testicular tumor, left scrotal hydrocele and excessive ascites, but no distant metastases. The serum lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) value was as high as 4,060 IU/L and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) value was 4.0 ng/ml while alpha fetoprotein (AFP) value was within the normal range. Right high orchiectomy was performed as well as the ascites and the left scrotal fluid sampling. Histological examinations revealed anaplastic seminoma in the right testis, and similar cells were found in the ascites and the left scrotal fluid. The patient received three courses of BEP chemotherapy consisting of bleomycin, VP-16 and cisplatin. The ascites and tumor markers (LDH and beta hCG) decreased markedly. Intraperitoneal dissemination of the tumor cells seems to be caused by invasion along the right spermatic cord, but the route of dissemination into the left hydrocele fluid is not known. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of testicular tumor that showed intraperitoneal dissemination without any evidence of metastasis to the lymph nodes or distant organs.

A novel retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-selective antagonist inhibits differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells: implications of RARalpha-mediated signals in myeloid leukemic cells

Retinoic acid (RA) induces HL-60 cells to differentiate terminally into mature granulocytes, which subsequently die by apoptosis. The biological effects of RA are mediated by two distinct families of transcription factors: retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). RARs and RXRs form heterodimers and regulate retinoid-mediated gene expression. We have recently developed a novel RAR-selective antagonist (ER27191) which prevents RAR activation by retinoids. Using this RAR-selective antagonist, and RXR and RAR agonist, we demonstrate the RAR-mediated signaling pathway is important for differentiation and apoptosis of myeloid leukemic cells. Simple activation of RXRs is not sufficient to induce apoptosis of the cells. Interestingly, the combination of the RAR-selective antagonist and 9-cis RA resulted in partial differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 and NB4 cells, whereas the RAR antagonist completely blocked all-trans RA-induced differentiation and apoptosis of the cells. Additional experiments showed that levels of BCL-2 protein decreased during differentiation of myeloid leukemic cells. Furthermore, HL-60 cells transduced with a bcl-2 expression vector showed the same differentiation response to retinoids as did parental HL-60 cells even though apoptosis was inhibited in these bcl-2-transduced cells, suggesting that differentiation and apoptosis are regulated independently in myeloid leukemic cells.

Characterization of cDNA encoding full-length mouse platelet glycoprotein IX

Glycoprotein (GP) IX is a platelet membrane 20 kD protein, which is associated with GPIbalpha, GPIb beta, and GPV to form GPIb/IX/V complex. GPIb/IX/V complex is a major receptor for von Willebrand factor, which mediates platelet adhesion and aggregation under high shear stress conditions. The relevance of this receptor for hemostasis has been implicated by a congenital bleeding disorder lacking the receptor, Bernard-Soulier syndrome. All subunits for the human receptor have been cloned and characterized. However, the function of GPIX is still elusive. To obtain further information of GPIX, we have determined a cDNA sequence of mouse GPIX (811 bp). The deduced amino-acid sequence (177aa) was 71% identical to the human GPIX protein. All cysteine residues in extracytoplasmic domain and putative N-linked glycosylation site (Asn44) were conserved. Mouse GPIX contained a leucine-rich glycoprotein sequence composed of 24 amino acids, as did human GPIX.

[Two cases of polymyositis associated with interstitial pneumonia with anti-OJ (isoleucyl tRNA synthetase) antibodies]

We present two cases of polymyositis (PM) associated with interstitial pneumonia (IP) whose sera contain autoantibodies to OJ (isoleucyl tRNA synthetase). The first patient is a 51 year-old female who was diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and treated with gold and corticosteroid at another hospital. She was admitted to Keio University Hospital due to worsening of dyspnea on exertion and polyarthritis. Laboratory findings revealed elevation of serum CK and LDH. A diagnosis of PM was made based on the myogenic pattern of EMG and pathological feature by muscle biopsy. Chest radiography and CT showed interstitial fibrosis. Because of clinical deterioration, the dose of corticosteroid was increased (prednisolone 50 mg/day) and her symptom was stabilized. The second patient, a 62 year-old male, was admitted to Kawasaki Municipal Hospital because of dyspnea on exertion, polyarthritis, and fever. He was diagnosed as PM associated with IP on the basis of his clinical and laboratory findings, and chest radiography. He was treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy (800 mg/day for three days) and his symptoms were improved. Both patients were found to have autoantibodies to OJ. Autoantibodies to aminoacyl tRNA synthetase have been described to be associated with myositis and/or IP. In North American, it was reported that all patients with anti-OJ had either myositis or IP or both. This suggests that anti-OJ was commonly associated with the anti-synthetase syndrome observed with other anti-synthetases. This is the first report of Japanese patients with anti-OJ antibody. The clinical features of these patients were likely to be similar to those observed in North American patients. However, further studies are necessary to clarify the precise clinical significance of this antibody.

A non-peptide compound which can mimic the effect of thrombopoietin via c-Mpl

Thrombopoietin (TPO) is a cytokine which plays a central role in megakaryopoiesis and platelet production by binding to its cell surface receptor, termed c-Mpl. In the present study, two benzodiazepinones that compete with the binding of TPO to the extracellular region of c-Mpl were identified, and one of them stimulated the proliferation of a human TPO-dependent megakaryocytic cell line, UT-7/TPO. It stimulated the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 in UT-7/TPO cells. These results suggest that a non-peptide compound can mimic the effect of TPO via c-Mpl.

Allosteric regulation of pyruvate kinase M2 isozyme involves a cysteine residue in the intersubunit contact

Pyruvate kinase M2 isozyme mutants with amino acid substitutions in the subunit interface were prepared and characterized. The substitutions were made in the allosteric M2 isozyme by the corresponding residues of the nonallosteric M1 isozyme to identify the residue involved in the allosteric effects. The replacement of Cys-423 by Leu led to substantial loss of both homotropic and heterotropic allosteric effects while the substitutions at Phe-389, Arg-398, Ala-401, Pro-402, Thr-408, and Ile-427 did not. The altered kinetic properties of the Cys-423-substituted mutant resulted from the shift of the allosteric transition toward the active R-state since the mutant exhibits the allosteric properties in the presence of an allosteric inhibitor, L-phenylalanine. The inverse correlation between the hydrophobicity of residue 423 and the extent of stabilization of the R-state was found by analysis of mutants with un-ionizable amino acids at position 423. Furthermore, the modification of Cys-423 with methyl methanethiosulfonate led to a shift of the allosteric transition toward the R-state, probably the result of increased hydrophobicity of the residue. These results suggest that Cys-423 is involved in the allosteric regulation of the enzyme through hydrophobic interactions.

Construction of a recombinant feline herpesvirus type 1 expressing Gag precursor protein of feline immunodeficiency virus

We constructed a deletion mutant of feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) and a recombinant FHV-1. The deletion mutant is the virus with a region (367 bp) deleted from the start codon of thymidine kinase (TK) gene to the SmaI site within the TK gene, and the other is a recombinant FHV-1 expressing Gag protein of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), in which a cDNA encoding the Gag protein of FIV was inserted at the TK deletion site of the former deletion mutant. These viruses were designated as C7301ddlTK and C7301ddlTK-gag, respectively. Growth kinetics of these viruses in Crandell feline kidney cells was similar to that of the parent C7301 strain. By immunoblot analysis, C7301 ddlTK-gag was confirmed to express the FIV Gag precursor protein in the cells.

Serum paraoxonase activity and its relationship to diabetic complications in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Paraoxonase (PON) is an esterase associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Serum PON activity is affected by PON gene polymorphism (L/M, Leu-Met54, and Q/R, Gln-Arg191). We investigated PON activity and polymorphism in 108 patients (53 men and 55 women) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and 161 control subjects (82 men and 79 women) matched to the patients by age and gender. Serum PON activity was determined using paraoxon as a substrate. PON gene polymorphisms were detected by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method after a polymerase chain reaction. The mean PON activity in the patients was significantly lower than in the controls (116+/-55 and 162+/-57 U/L, respectively, P < .001). The distribution of each genotype showed no difference between the patient and control groups, and PON activity increased in the order of the QQ < OR < RR genotype and MM < LM < LL genotype in both groups. However, among each genotype subgroup, the activity was lower in patients than in controls. Forty-one patients with retinopathy had lower PON activity than those without the complication (94+/-36 and 129+/-61 U/L, respectively, P < .002). There was also a significant difference in PON activity between patients with and without overt proteinuria (93+/-38 and 122+/-58 U/L, respectively, P < .05). Logistic analysis showed that serum PON activity was one of the significant factors for retinopathy. These results suggest that decreased PON activity in patients with NIDDM is involved in diabetic vascular complications.

[Regulation of megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis by thrombopoietin]

Thrombopoietin (TPO) is a major hematopoietic growth factor which regulates the production of megakaryocytes and platelets. Recent cloning of its c-DNA and availability of recombinant TPO have enabled us to examine the biological effects of TPO in various systems, including human platelets. In this review, we briefly describe the recent progresses made in the studies of TPO and its cognate receptor, c-Mp1.