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Panska L, Nedvedova S, Vacek V, Krivska D, Konecny L, Knop F, Kutil Z, Skultetyova L, Leontovyc A, Ulrychova L, Sakanari J, Asahina M, Barinka C, Macurkova M, Dvorak J. Uncovering the essential roles of glutamate carboxypeptidase 2 orthologs in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20230502. [PMID: 38108122 PMCID: PMC10794815 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20230502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Human glutamate carboxypeptidase 2 (GCP2) from the M28B metalloprotease group is an important target for therapy in neurological disorders and an established tumor marker. However, its physiological functions remain unclear. To better understand general roles, we used the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to genetically manipulate its three existing orthologous genes and evaluate the impact on worm physiology. The results of gene knockout studies showed that C. elegans GCP2 orthologs affect the pharyngeal physiology, reproduction, and structural integrity of the organism. Promoter-driven GFP expression revealed distinct localization for each of the three gene paralogs, with gcp-2.1 being most abundant in muscles, intestine, and pharyngeal interneurons, gcp-2.2 restricted to the phasmid neurons, and gcp-2.3 located in the excretory cell. The present study provides new insight into the unique phenotypic effects of GCP2 gene knockouts in C. elegans, and the specific tissue localizations. We believe that elucidation of particular roles in a non-mammalian organism can help to explain important questions linked to physiology of this protease group and in extension to human GCP2 involvement in pathophysiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Panska
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Stepanka Nedvedova
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Vacek
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Krivska
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Lukas Konecny
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, Prague 2 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Knop
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, Prague 2 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Zsofia Kutil
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Prumyslova 595, Vestec 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Lubica Skultetyova
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Prumyslova 595, Vestec 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Adrian Leontovyc
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 160 00, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Ulrychova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, Prague 2 128 00, Czech Republic
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 160 00, Czech Republic
| | - Judy Sakanari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 4th Street, CA 94143, USA
| | - Masako Asahina
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16th Street, CA 94143, U.S.A
| | - Cyril Barinka
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Prumyslova 595, Vestec 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Macurkova
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, Prague 2 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Dvorak
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Center of Infectious Animal Diseases, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 160 00, Czech Republic
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Sano K, Asahina M, Araki N, Uehara T, Iwaya M, Okuyama R. Type 1 interferon signature and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation targeted against sweat ducts in inflammatory acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2023; 37:2124-2132. [PMID: 37338336 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA) leads to heat intolerance due to the loss or reduction in thermoregulatory sweating over an extensive area of the body. The pathomechanism of AIGA is still unclear but is believed to be autoimmune. OBJECTIVES We investigated the clinical and pathological features of inflammatory AIGA (InfAIGA) and noninflammatory AIGA (non-InfAIGA) within the skin. METHODS We compared anhidrotic and normohidrotic skin samples from 30 patients with InfAIGA and non-InfAIGA, as well as skin samples of melanocytic nevus as a negative control. We conducted morphometric analysis and immunohistochemical analysis of cell types and expression of inflammatory molecules (TIA1, CXCR3 and MxA). MxA expression was used as a proxy for type 1 interferon activity. RESULTS We found that tissue samples from patients with InfAIGA exhibited inflammation within the sweat duct and atrophy of the sweat coil, whereas patients with non-InfAIGA exhibited only atrophy of the sweat coil. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration and MxA expression were only observed in the sweat ducts of patients with InfAIGA. CONCLUSIONS InfAIGA is associated with increased sweat duct inflammation and sweat coil atrophy, whereas non-InfAIGA is only associated with sweat coil atrophy. These data suggest that inflammation leads to epithelial destruction of sweat ducts associated with the sweat coil atrophy and subsequent loss of function. Non-InfAIGA may be regarded as a postinflammatory state of InfAIGA. These observations indicate the contribution of both type 1 and type 2 interferons to sweat gland injury. The mechanism involved is similar to the pathomechanism of alopecia areata (AA).
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Affiliation(s)
- K Sano
- Department of Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Iida Municipal Hospital, Shinshu University Hospital, Iida, Matsumoto, Japan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shinshu University Hospital, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - M Asahina
- Department of Neuromedicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Kawakitagun, Japan
| | - N Araki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - T Uehara
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shinshu University Hospital, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - M Iwaya
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shinshu University Hospital, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - R Okuyama
- Department of Dermatology, Shinshu University Hospital, Matsumoto, Japan
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Ehmsen KT, Knuesel MT, Martinez D, Asahina M, Aridomi H, Yamamoto KR. Computational resources to define alleles and altered regulatory motifs at genomically edited candidate response elements. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:9117-9131. [PMID: 34417596 PMCID: PMC8450113 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Unequivocal functional assessment of candidate genomic regulatory regions, such as transcriptional response elements, requires genetic alteration at their native chromosomal loci. Targeted DNA cleavage by Cas9 or other programmable nucleases enables analysis at virtually any genomic region, and diverse alleles generated by editing can be defined by deep sequencing for functional analysis. Interpretation of disrupted response elements, however, presents a special challenge, as these regions typically comprise clustered DNA binding motifs for multiple transcriptional regulatory factors (TFs); DNA sequence differences, natural or engineered, that affect binding by one TF can confer loss or gain of binding sites for other TFs. To address these and other analytical complexities, we created three computational tools that together integrate, in a single experiment, allele definition and TF binding motif evaluation for up to 9216 clones isolated, sequenced and propagated from Cas9-treated cell populations. We demonstrate 1) the capacity to functionally assess edited TF binding sites to query response element function, and 2) the efficacy and utility of these tools, by analyzing cell populations targeted by Cas9 for disruption of example glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binding motifs near FKBP5, a GR-regulated gene in the human adenocarcinoma cell line A549.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirk T Ehmsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, 600 16th Street, GH S572D, Box 2280, San Francisco, CA 94143-2280, USA
| | - Matthew T Knuesel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, 600 16th Street, GH S572D, Box 2280, San Francisco, CA 94143-2280, USA
| | - Delsy Martinez
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, 600 16th Street, GH S572D, Box 2280, San Francisco, CA 94143-2280, USA
| | - Masako Asahina
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, 600 16th Street, GH S572D, Box 2280, San Francisco, CA 94143-2280, USA
| | - Haruna Aridomi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, 600 16th Street, GH S572D, Box 2280, San Francisco, CA 94143-2280, USA
| | - Keith R Yamamoto
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, 600 16th Street, GH S572D, Box 2280, San Francisco, CA 94143-2280, USA
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Yamanaka Y, Beppu M, Araki N, Katagiri A, Fujinuma Y, Yamamoto T, Hirano S, Asahina M, Kuwabara S. Proposal of modified autonomic failure criteria for the diagnosis of multiple system atrophy. J Neurol Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.08.2527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Sano K, Asahina M, Uehara T, Matsumoto K, Araki N, Okuyama R. Degranulation and shrinkage of dark cells in eccrine glands and elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2017; 31:2097-2103. [PMID: 28662305 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.14443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA) is characterized by anhidrosis/hypohidrosis without other autonomic and neurological dysfunctions. Pathologically, AIGA is considered to usually present no significant morphological alterations in eccrine glands, the secretory portion which consists of clear cells, dark cells, and myoepithelial cells. AIGA patients recently have been reported to show high serum concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). OBJECTIVE Our aim is to reveal morphological abnormalities of dark cells and investigate their relationship with serum CEA. METHODS We performed comparative analysis of eccrine glands between sweat-preserved and non-sweating skin in four AIGA patients. Serum CEA concentrations in 22 cases with AIGA were measured with healthy volunteers. Furthermore, we semiquantitatively investigated dermcidin, FoxA1 and CEA expression in eccrine glands of 12 cases with AIGA and 5 cases with non-AIGA. RESULTS Marked degranulation and shrinkage of dark cells consistently occurred in AIGA. Furthermore, high serum CEA concentrations were found in 14 of 22 AIGA patients (over 60%), but serum CEA levels were not correlated with CEA expression in eccrine glands. Dermcidin expression in dark cells apparently decreased in AIGA patients, severely in those with high serum CEA and moderately in those with low serum CEA, while well-preserved expression was found in non-AIGA subjects. CONCLUSION Our study suggests morphological damage and molecular dysregulation of dark cells, leading to impairment of their functions in AIGA patients. Severely damaged dark cells correspond to high serum CEA. Accordingly, these pathological changes in eccrine dark cells may be involved in anhidrosis/hypohidrosis of AIGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Sano
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shinshu University Hospital, Nagano, Japan
| | - M Asahina
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - T Uehara
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shinshu University Hospital, Nagano, Japan
| | - K Matsumoto
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
| | - N Araki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - R Okuyama
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
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Ward JD, Yamamoto KR, Asahina M. SUMO as a nuclear hormone receptor effector: New insights into combinatorial transcriptional regulation. Worm 2014; 3:e29317. [PMID: 25254154 DOI: 10.4161/worm.29317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Animal development is driven by robust, cell-specific gene expression programs. Understanding mechanistically how a single transcription factor (TF) can govern distinct programs with exquisite precision is a major challenge. We view TFs as signal integrators, taking information from co-regulator interactions, post-translational modifications, other transcription factors, chromatin state, DNA sequence and in some cases, specific noncovalent ligands, to determine the collection of genes regulated by a TF at any given time. Here, we describe a reductionist approach to combinatorial transcriptional regulation, focusing on a single C. elegans TF, the nuclear hormone receptor NHR-25, and a single post-translational modification, SUMO. We suggest that the ratio of sumoylated to unsumoylated NHR-25 could specify a switch-like cell-fate decision during vulval development. Direct examination of this "SUMO ratio" in vivo is challenging and we discuss possible solutions going forward. We also consider how sumoylation of multiple substrates might be coordinated during vulval development. Finally, we note that iteration of this approach could leverage our sumoylation findings to define the roles of other effectors of NHR-25 in the developing vulva and in other tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan D Ward
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; University of California; San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Keith R Yamamoto
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; University of California; San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Masako Asahina
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; University of California; San Francisco, CA USA ; Institute of Parasitology; Biology Centre ASCR; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic ; University of South Bohemia; Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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Ward JD, Bojanala N, Bernal T, Ashrafi K, Asahina M, Yamamoto KR. Sumoylated NHR-25/NR5A regulates cell fate during C. elegans vulval development. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003992. [PMID: 24348269 PMCID: PMC3861103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual metazoan transcription factors (TFs) regulate distinct sets of genes depending on cell type and developmental or physiological context. The precise mechanisms by which regulatory information from ligands, genomic sequence elements, co-factors, and post-translational modifications are integrated by TFs remain challenging questions. Here, we examine how a single regulatory input, sumoylation, differentially modulates the activity of a conserved C. elegans nuclear hormone receptor, NHR-25, in different cell types. Through a combination of yeast two-hybrid analysis and in vitro biochemistry we identified the single C. elegans SUMO (SMO-1) as an NHR-25 interacting protein, and showed that NHR-25 is sumoylated on at least four lysines. Some of the sumoylation acceptor sites are in common with those of the NHR-25 mammalian orthologs SF-1 and LRH-1, demonstrating that sumoylation has been strongly conserved within the NR5A family. We showed that NHR-25 bound canonical SF-1 binding sequences to regulate transcription, and that NHR-25 activity was enhanced in vivo upon loss of sumoylation. Knockdown of smo-1 mimicked NHR-25 overexpression with respect to maintenance of the 3° cell fate in vulval precursor cells (VPCs) during development. Importantly, however, overexpression of unsumoylatable alleles of NHR-25 revealed that NHR-25 sumoylation is critical for maintaining 3° cell fate. Moreover, SUMO also conferred formation of a developmental time-dependent NHR-25 concentration gradient across the VPCs. That is, accumulation of GFP-tagged NHR-25 was uniform across VPCs at the beginning of development, but as cells began dividing, a smo-1-dependent NHR-25 gradient formed with highest levels in 1° fated VPCs, intermediate levels in 2° fated VPCs, and low levels in 3° fated VPCs. We conclude that sumoylation operates at multiple levels to affect NHR-25 activity in a highly coordinated spatial and temporal manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan D. Ward
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Nagagireesh Bojanala
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre ASCR, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Teresita Bernal
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Kaveh Ashrafi
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Masako Asahina
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre ASCR, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- * E-mail: (MA); (KRY)
| | - Keith R. Yamamoto
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MA); (KRY)
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Asahina M, Mathias C, Katagiri A, Low D, Vichayanrat E, Fujinuma Y, Yamanaka Y, Kuwabara S. Autonomic dysfunction in patients with early untreated Parkinson'/INS;s disease. J Neurol Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2013.07.384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Kawata M, Nemoto Y, Asahina M, Moroo I, Shinomiya M, Yamada T. Risk factors for cerebral arteriosclerosis in Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2012; 2:75-9. [PMID: 18591022 DOI: 10.1016/1353-8020(95)00025-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/1995] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A previous study showed a lower incidence of ischemic stroke in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) than in controls. It has been speculated that this may be related to less severe atherosclerosis in PD. In this study we examined the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood chemistry in 106 parkinsonian patients and compared the data with those from control cases. Abnormal MRI findings (état criblé, lacunar infarctions or periventricular hyperintensity) were found in 55.7% of cases. No case of cortical artery infarction was found. In comparison with a control population, the PD group showed a lower frequency of hypercholesterolemia, a higher frequency of low HDL cholesterol and a lower frequency of obesity. These results suggest that patients with PD have a reduction in risk factors for cortical artery infarction.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kawata
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Chiba University Chiba, Japan
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Fujinuma Y, Asahina M, Fukushima T, Katagiri A, Yamanaka Y, Misawa S, Kuwabara S. Preserved autonomic function in patients with POEMS syndrome. J Neurol Sci 2012; 318:131-4. [PMID: 22507753 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2012.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2011] [Revised: 02/18/2012] [Accepted: 03/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AIM We systematically performed autonomic testing on patients with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein and skin changes syndrome (POEMS) to determine whether autonomic function is preserved in such patients. METHODS We studied 17 POEMS patients, 17 diabetic neuropathy (DN) patients and 17 age-matched normal subjects. Blood pressure responses to the head-up tilt test and heart rate variability were used to evaluate cardiovascular autonomic function. Sweat responses and cutaneous vasoconstriction to several stimuli were recorded via the finger tips to estimate cutaneous sympathetic function. In addition, motor nerve conduction studies were performed. RESULTS Although the results of the autonomic testing were normal in POEMS patients, motor disability was severe, and motor nerve conduction studies provided evidence of extensive axonal loss. The DN patients showed significantly impaired autonomic responses despite mild motor dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Autonomic function was normal in POEMS patients, indicating the preservation of autonomic fibers and selective involvement of large fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Fujinuma
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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Shimada H, Hirano S, Shinotoh H, Aotsuka A, Sato K, Tanaka N, Ota T, Asahina M, Fukushi K, Kuwabara S, Irie T, Ito H, Suhara T. 2.021 DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES CAN BE WELL-DIFFERENTIATED FROM ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE BY MEASUREMENT OF BRAIN ACETYLCHOLIN ESTERASE ACTIVITY BY PET. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s1353-8020(11)70454-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Hada K, Asahina M, Hasegawa H, Kanaho Y, Slack FJ, Niwa R. The nuclear receptor gene nhr-25 plays multiple roles in the Caenorhabditis elegans heterochronic gene network to control the larva-to-adult transition. Dev Biol 2010; 344:1100-9. [PMID: 20678979 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.05.508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2010] [Revised: 05/16/2010] [Accepted: 05/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Developmental timing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is controlled by heterochronic genes, mutations in which cause changes in the relative timing of developmental events. One of the heterochronic genes, let-7, encodes a microRNA that is highly evolutionarily conserved, suggesting that similar genetic pathways control developmental timing across phyla. Here we report that the nuclear receptor nhr-25, which belongs to the evolutionarily conserved fushi tarazu-factor 1/nuclear receptor NR5A subfamily, interacts with heterochronic genes that regulate the larva-to-adult transition in C. elegans. We identified nhr-25 as a regulator of apl-1, a homolog of the Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein-like gene that is downstream of let-7 family microRNAs. NHR-25 controls not only apl-1 expression but also regulates developmental progression in the larva-to-adult transition. NHR-25 negatively regulates the expression of the adult-specific collagen gene col-19 in lateral epidermal seam cells. In contrast, NHR-25 positively regulates the larva-to-adult transition for other timed events in seam cells, such as cell fusion, cell division and alae formation. The genetic relationships between nhr-25 and other heterochronic genes are strikingly varied among several adult developmental events. We propose that nhr-25 has multiple roles in both promoting and inhibiting the C. elegans heterochronic gene pathway controlling adult differentiation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazumasa Hada
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
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Hirano S, Asahina M, Uchida Y, Shimada H, Sakakibara R, Shinotoh H, Hattori T. Reduced perfusion in the anterior cingulate cortex of patients with pure autonomic failure: an 123I-IMP SPECT study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2009; 80:1053-5. [PMID: 19684240 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2008.152678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pure autonomic failure (PAF) is a selective peripheral disorder in which Lewy bodies form within the autonomic ganglia. Patients with this disorder usually have no central lesions; however, chronic autonomic failure may secondarily affect the central nervous system. This study evaluated brain perfusion in patients with PAF by using N-isopropyl-p-(123)I iodoamphetamine ((123)I-IMP) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS Six patients with PAF (all men; mean (SD) age 68+/-5 years) who had experienced autonomic symptoms for more than 5 years and six age-matched healthy control subjects (all men; mean (SD) age 67+/-5 years) were included in this study. The regions of interest (ROI) on spacially normalized (123)I-IMP SPECT images were automatically computed for both groups. RESULTS Perfusion of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex was decreased in the PAF group compared with the healthy control group (0.93 vs 1.01; p<0.001). In the other brain regions measured, there was no significant difference in regional perfusion between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex is poorly perfused and may be functionally altered in patients with PAF. The reduced perfusion in such individuals may be a secondary change that results from chronic autonomic failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hirano
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
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Akaogi Y, Asahina M, Yamanaka Y, Koyama Y, Hattori T. Sudomotor, skin vasomotor, and cardiovascular reflexes in 3 clinical forms of Lewy body disease. Neurology 2009; 73:59-65. [PMID: 19564585 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181aae83c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To elucidate the differences among dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Parkinson disease with dementia (PDD), and Parkinson disease without dementia (PD), with respect to the involvement of the autonomic nervous system, we clinically investigated the cutaneous and cardiovascular autonomic functions in patients with Lewy body disease. METHODS We studied 36 patients with Lewy body disorders, including 12 patients with DLB (age, 75.4 +/- 5.9 years), 12 patients with PDD (71.0 +/- 6.8 years), and 12 patients with PD (70.9 +/- 4.2 years), and 12 healthy control subjects (69.9 +/- 5.3 years). Sympathetic sweat response (SSwR) and skin vasomotor reflex (SkVR) on the palm were recorded to estimate the cutaneous sympathetic function, and the head-up tilt test was performed and coefficient of variation of R-R intervals (CV(R-R)) was studied to estimate the cardiovascular function. RESULTS The patients with DLB, patients with PDD, and patients with PD showed severely reduced SSwR amplitudes, significantly lower than that in the controls. The mean SkVR amplitudes in the patients with DLB and patients with PDD were significantly lower than that in the controls, but not in the patients with PD. The mean decreases in the systolic blood pressure during the head-up tilt test in the patients with DLB and patients with PDD were less than that in the controls. The mean CV(R-R) value was significantly lower in the patients with DLB. CONCLUSION Sudomotor function on the palm may be severely affected in Lewy body disorders, while skin vasomotor function and the cardiovascular system may be more severely affected in dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease with dementia than in Parkinson disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Akaogi
- Department of Neurology, Chiba University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
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15
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Hajduskova M, Jindra M, Herman MA, Asahina M. The nuclear receptor NHR-25 cooperates with the Wnt/beta-catenin asymmetry pathway to control differentiation of the T seam cell in C. elegans. J Cell Sci 2009; 122:3051-60. [PMID: 19654209 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.052373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Asymmetric cell divisions produce new cell types during animal development. Studies in Caenorhabditis elegans have identified major signal-transduction pathways that determine the polarity of cell divisions. How these relatively few conserved pathways interact and what modulates them to ensure the diversity of multiple tissue types is an open question. The Wnt/beta-catenin asymmetry pathway governs polarity of the epidermal T seam cell in the C. elegans tail. Here, we show that the asymmetry of T-seam-cell division and morphogenesis of the male sensory rays require NHR-25, an evolutionarily conserved nuclear receptor. NHR-25 ensures the neural fate of the T-seam-cell descendants in cooperation with the Wnt/beta-catenin asymmetry pathway. Loss of NHR-25 enhances the impact of mutated nuclear effectors of this pathway, POP-1 (TCF) and SYS-1 (beta-catenin), on T-seam-cell polarity, whereas it suppresses the effect of the same mutations on asymmetric division of the somatic gonad precursor cells. Therefore, NHR-25 can either synergize with or antagonize the Wnt/beta-catenin asymmetry pathway depending on the tissue context. Our findings define NHR-25 as a versatile modulator of Wnt/beta-catenin-dependent cell-fate decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Hajduskova
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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16
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Hajduskova M, Jindra M, Herman MA, Asahina M. 08-P006 The Caenorhabditis elegans nuclear receptor NHR-25 controls epidermal T cell differentiation. Mech Dev 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2009.06.313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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17
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Hajduskova M, Jindra M, Herman MA, Asahina M. Nuclear receptor NHR-25 interacts with Wnt/β-catenin signaling to direct differentiation of the C. elegans T cell. Dev Biol 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.05.473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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18
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Shimada H, Hirano S, Shinotoh H, Aotsuka A, Sato K, Tanaka N, Ota T, Asahina M, Fukushi K, Kuwabara S, Hattori T, Suhara T, Irie T. Mapping of brain acetylcholinesterase alterations in Lewy body disease by PET. Neurology 2009; 73:273-8. [PMID: 19474411 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181ab2b58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize brain cholinergic deficits in Parkinson disease (PD), PD with dementia (PDD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). METHODS Participants included 18 patients with PD, 21 patients with PDD/DLB, and 26 healthy controls. The PD group consisted of nine patients with early PD, each with a disease duration of less than 3 years, five of whom were de novo PD patients, and nine patients with advanced PD, each with a disease duration greater than or equal to 3 years. The PDD/DLB group consisted of 10 patients with PDD and 11 patients with DLB. All subjects underwent PET scans with N-[11C]-methyl-4-piperidyl acetate to measure brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Brain AChE activity levels were estimated voxel-by-voxel in a three-compartment analysis using the arterial input function, and compared among our subject groups through both voxel-based analysis using the statistical parametric mapping software SPM5 and volume-of-interest analysis. RESULTS Among patients with PD, AChE activity was significantly decreased in the cerebral cortex and especially in the medial occipital cortex (% reduction compared with the normal mean = -12%) (false discovery rate-corrected p value <0.01). Patients with PDD/DLB, however, had even lower AChE activity in the cerebral cortex (% reduction = -27%) (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between early PD and advanced PD groups or between DLB and PDD groups in the amount by which regional AChE activity in the brain was reduced. CONCLUSIONS Brain cholinergic dysfunction occurs in the cerebral cortex, especially in the medial occipital cortex. It begins in early Parkinson disease, and is more widespread and profound in both Parkinson disease with dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Shimada
- Molecular Neuroimaging Group, Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8555, Japan.
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Ning YP, Kanai K, Tomiyama H, Li Y, Funayama M, Yoshino H, Sato S, Asahina M, Kuwabara S, Takeda A, Hattori T, Mizuno Y, Hattori N. PARK9-linked parkinsonism in eastern Asia: mutation detection in ATP13A2 and clinical phenotype. Neurology 2008; 70:1491-3. [PMID: 18413573 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000310427.72236.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Y P Ning
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
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Ito S, Shirai W, Asahina M, Hattori T. Clinical and brain MR imaging features focusing on the brain stem and cerebellum in patients with myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers due to mitochondrial A8344G mutation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2007; 29:392-5. [PMID: 17989367 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a0865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY We report 3 patients with myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF) diagnosed by mitochondrial A8344G mutation. Cerebellar ataxia was the first symptom in all patients. Conventional brain MR imaging showed atrophy of the superior cerebellar peduncles and the cerebellum in all patients and brain stem atrophy in 2 patients. In diffusion tensor analysis, fractional anisotropy of the superior cerebellar peduncles was mildly decreased in 1 patient. There was a discrepancy between clinical disabilities (severe) and radiologic abnormalities (mild). This discrepancy and atrophy of the superior cerebellar peduncles and the cerebellum may be important findings suggesting a diagnosis of MERRF.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ito
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
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21
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Asahina M, Valenta T, Silhankova M, Korinek V, Jindra M. Crosstalk between a nuclear receptor and beta-catenin signaling decides cell fates in the C. elegans somatic gonad. Dev Cell 2006; 11:203-11. [PMID: 16890160 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2006.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2005] [Revised: 05/18/2006] [Accepted: 06/06/2006] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
beta-Catenin signaling determines the proximal-distal axis of the C. elegans gonad by promoting distal fate in asymmetrically dividing somatic gonad precursor cells (SGPs). Impaired function of the Wnt effector POP-1/TCF, its coactivator SYS-1/beta-catenin, and of upstream components including beta-catenin WRM-1 causes all SGP daughters to adopt the proximal fate. Consequently, no distal tip cells (DTCs) that would lead differentiation of gonad arms form in the affected hermaphrodites. Here, we show that deficiency of the nuclear receptor NHR-25 has the opposite effect: extra DTCs develop instead of proximal cells. NHR-25 knockdown restores DTC formation and fertility in pop-1 and sys-1 mutants, suggesting that a balance between NHR-25 and beta-catenin pathway activities is required to establish both proximal and distal fates. This balance relies on direct crossregulation between NHR-25 and the distinct beta-catenin proteins WRM-1 and SYS-1. The nuclear receptor-beta-catenin interaction may be an ancient mechanism of cell-fate decision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masako Asahina
- Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Budweis 37005, Czech Republic.
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22
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Young TM, Asahina M, Nicotra A, Mathias CJ. Skin vasomotor reflex responses in two contrasting groups of autonomic failure. J Neurol 2006; 253:846-50. [PMID: 16845569 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-006-0913-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2004] [Revised: 11/23/2004] [Accepted: 03/22/2005] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIM A variety of stimuli such as deep inspiration, isometric exercise and mental arithmetic, result in a transient vasoconstriction,mediated by sympathetic efferent nerves, in the skin of the fingers and toes of healthy controls (Skin Vasomotor Reflex: SkVR). Multiple system atrophy (MSA) and pure autonomic failure (PAF) provide contrasting models of autonomic failure. In MSA the lesion is central and preganglionic, whilst in PAF the lesion site is peripheral and postganglionic. We evaluated the SkVR in response to various stimuli in MSA and PAF, to determine differences in skin vasomotor involvement between these two patient groups. METHODS 25 subjects (10 MSA, 7 PAF, 8 healthy controls) were studied. Baseline recordings of skin blood flow were obtained with a laser Doppler probe on the left index finger pulp and forearm. The subject then underwent a variety of stimuli with rest periods in between to reestablish baseline SkBF. These stimuli were: single deep inspiration (inspiratory gasp); mental arithmetic; bilateral leg elevation and cutaneous cold. RESULTS Healthy control subjects demonstrated marked SkVRs on the finger pulp to each of the stimuli of a magnitude similar to those seen in previous studies, but no SkVRs on the forearm. In MSA SkVRs to inspiratory gasp on the finger pulp were reduced relative to controls. In PAF SkVRs were reduced relative to controls or MSA. The magnitude of SkVR response to gasp and cutaneous cold in PAF was significantly less than in healthy controls. In addition, the magnitude of the response in PAF was significantly less than in MSA for inspiratory gasp. CONCLUSIONS PAF showed a decreased SkVR response to all 4 stimuli, the response being significantly less than controls (for inspiratory gasp and cutaneous cold) or MSA (cutaneous cold inspiratory gasp). The decreased responses in PAF may reflect the extensive postganglionic sympathetic denervation seen in this group. The measurement of SkVR may therefore provide a non-invasive aid to the differentiation of MSA and PAF.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M Young
- Autonomic Unit, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery University College London, London, UK.
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23
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Shimada J, Sakakibara R, Uchiyama T, Liu Z, Yamamoto T, Ito T, Mori M, Asahina M, Hattori T. Intestinal pseudo-obstruction and neuroleptic malignant syndrome in a chronically constipated parkinsonian patient. Eur J Neurol 2006; 13:306-7. [PMID: 16618352 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2006.01151.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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24
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Yamanaka Y, Sakakibara R, Asahina M, Uchiyama T, Liu Z, Yamamoto T, Ito T, Suenaga T, Odaka T, Yamaguchi T, Uehara K, Hattori T. Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction as the initial feature of pure autonomic failure. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2006; 77:800. [PMID: 16705209 PMCID: PMC2077441 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2005.079905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Hatano Y, Sato K, Elibol B, Yoshino H, Yamamura Y, Bonifati V, Shinotoh H, Asahina M, Kobayashi S, Ng AR, Rosales RL, Hassin-Baer S, Shinar Y, Lu CS, Chang HC, Wu-Chou YH, Ataç FB, Kobayashi T, Toda T, Mizuno Y, Hattori N. PARK6-linked autosomal recessive early-onset parkinsonism in Asian populations. Neurology 2006; 63:1482-5. [PMID: 15505170 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000142258.29304.fe] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The authors performed linkage analysis in 39 families with autosomal recessive early-onset PD (AR-EOPD) negative for parkin and DJ-1 mutations. Eight families including three Japanese, two Taiwanese, one Turkish, one Israeli, and one Philippine showed evidence of linkage with PARK6 with multipoint log of the odds (lod) score of 9.88 at D1S2732. The results indicate worldwide distribution of PARK6-linked parkinsonism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Hatano
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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26
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Uzawa A, Sakakibara R, Tamura N, Asahina M, Yamanaka Y, Uchiyama T, Ito T, Yamamoto T, Liu Z, Hattori T. Laryngeal abductor paralysis can be a solitary manifestation of multiple system atrophy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2005; 76:1739-41. [PMID: 15946984 PMCID: PMC1739434 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2005.069344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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27
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Suzuki A, Asahina M, Ishikawa C, Asahina KM, Honma K, Fukutake T, Hattori T. Impaired circadian rhythm of gastric myoelectrical activity in patients with multiple system atrophy. Clin Auton Res 2005; 15:368-72. [PMID: 16362538 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-005-0294-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2004] [Accepted: 02/17/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
In order to evaluate gastric motility and its circadian rhythm in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and healthy control subjects, we measured gastric myoelectrical activity (GMA) for 24 hours using a cutaneous electrogastrogram (EGG) recorder in 14 MSA patients and 9 age-matched controls. We analyzed six 10-minute segments of EGG before and after each meal and two 20-minute EGG segments during sleep; three parameters were used for the analysis: dominant frequency (DF), instability coefficient of dominant frequency (ICDF), and dominant power (DP). DF increased during daytime and decreased during sleep in the control, while this circadian variation was blunted in the patients with MSA. The average DF of the eight segments in the MSA patients did not differ from that of the control. Both MSA patients and control subjects did not show the circadian variation of ICDF and DP. The average ICDF of the eight segments in the patients with MSA was significantly decreased when compared with that of the control (p < 0.01). No differences were observed in DP between the two groups. This study indicates that the healthy subjects appear to have a circadian rhythm of DF, and the patients with MSA appear to have impaired circadian rhythm of DF and decreased ICDF possibly due to the degeneration of the central autonomic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuya Suzuki
- Dept. of Neurology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Japan.
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Nicotra A, Asahina M, Young TM, Mathias CJ. Heat-provoked skin vasodilatation in innervated and denervated trunk dermatomes in human spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 2005; 44:222-6. [PMID: 16172627 DOI: 10.1038/sj.sc.3101837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional, observational, controlled study. OBJECTIVE High spinal cord injury (SCI) results in disruption of sympathetic vasomotor control. Vasodilatation as a response to local heating is a biphasic mechanism: the first phase (neurogenic) is mediated by the axon-reflex and is modulated by activity of sympathetic nerves. Our objective was to determine whether the response to heat provocation in trunk dermatomes may provide a measure of vasomotor sympathetic function in SCI. SETTING National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire, UK; Autonomic Unit, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK; Neurovascular Medicine Unit, Imperial College London at St Mary's Hospital, UK. SUBJECTS A total of 30 subjects were studied; 18 had chronic complete SCI (level C6-T11) and 12 were healthy controls. METHODS Recordings of skin blood flow (SkBF) were obtained with thermostatic laser Doppler probes placed in the upper trunk (at C4) and lower trunk (T10 or T12) dermatomes. RESULTS SkBF at baseline (SkBF(bas)) and SkBF at the first peak of vasodilatation (SkBF(max)) showed no significant differences between SCI and controls either in upper or lower trunk dermatomes. However, the ratio of SkBF(max)/SkBF(bas) was significantly different in lower trunk dermatomes in SCI at C6-T5 level (7.5+/-3.5 PU) compared to SCI at T6-T11 level (3.5+/-1.5 PU) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Measurement of SkBF in response to local heating may provide a safe, noninvasive method to assess integrity of sympathetic spinal pathways to the local vasculature. This may aid the classification of the SCI lesions, as the autonomic component currently is not included in the accepted American Spinal Injury Association scoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Nicotra
- Neurovascular Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London at St Mary's Hospital, London, UK
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Silhánková M, Jindra M, Asahina M. Nuclear receptor NHR-25 is required for cell-shape dynamics during epidermal differentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Cell Sci 2005; 118:223-32. [PMID: 15615786 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.01609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cell shape changes underlie important events in animal development. During the postembryonic life of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, stem epidermal seam cells lose and actively renew mutual adherens junction contacts after each asymmetric division that separates them. The seam cell contacts are important for epidermal differentiation, but what regulates the cell-shape changes that restore them is unknown. Here, we show that NHR-25, a transcription factor of the nuclear receptor family, is expressed in the seam cells and is necessary for these cells to elongate and reach their neighbors after the asymmetric divisions. A failure to do so, caused by nhr-25 RNA interference, compromises the subsequent fate of seam-cell anterior daughters. Unexpectedly, the lack of cell-cell contacts does not prevent a unique seam cell to produce a neuroblast, even though a homeotic gene (mab-5) that normally prevents the neuroblast commitment is ectopically expressed in the absence of nhr-25 function. Seam cells lacking mutual contacts display reduced expression of a Fat-like cadherin marker cdh-3::gfp. Although some seam cells retain the ability to fuse at the final larval stage, the resulting syncytium shows gaps and bifurcations, translating into anomalies in cuticular ridges (alae) produced by the syncytium. nhr-25 RNAi markedly enhances branching of the alae caused by a mutant cuticular collagen gene rol-6. Silencing of nhr-25 also disturbs epidermal ultrastructure, which is probably the cause of compromised cuticle secretion and molting. Cell shape dynamics and molting thus represent distinct roles for NHR-25 in epidermal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Silhánková
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia, CZ-370 05, Czech Republic
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Dementia of Lewy body (DLB) type is the second commonest degenerative cause of dementia and autonomic dysfunction has been recognised in DLB. Lower urinary tract (LUT) function in DLB has not been fully delineated. We investigated LUT function in DLB by evaluating clinical and urodynamic data. METHODS We examined 11 patients (eight men, three women; age range 65-81; disease duration 2-14 years) with probable DLB. Urodynamic studies consisted of: measurement of postvoid residual in all patients, uroflowmetry in five, and electromyography (EMG) cystometry in seven. RESULTS All patients had symptoms of LUT: urinary incontinence (urgency type/functional type due to dementia and immobility/both urgency and stress type in 7/2/1 patients, respectively); night-time frequency; urgency; and daytime frequency and voiding difficulty. Seven had postvoid residuals, and three had residual urine volume >100 ml. Decreased urinary flow was seen in all five and detrusor overactivity in 5/7 patients who underwent flowmetry and EMG cystometry, respectively. Low compliance detrusor (storage phase, n = 2; with bethanechol supersensitivity), an underactive detrusor (n = 4), an acontractile detrusor (n = 1), and detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (voiding phase) (n = 1) were also seen; 2/3 patients who underwent motor unit potential analysis had neurogenic changes. CONCLUSION LUT dysfunction is a common feature in DLB, not only due to dementia and immobility, but also to central and peripheral types of somato-autonomic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Sakakibara
- Neurology Department, Chiba University, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) occasionally have episodes of syncope or pre-syncope after micturition. OBJECTIVE To clarify the mechanism of these episodes by investigating the haemodynamic changes associated with micturition. METHODS 25 patients with probable MSA and 16 age matched normal controls were studied. Continuous records of blood pressure and heart rate were made during water cystometry, along with the Valsalva manoeuvre, head up tilt testing, measurement of plasma noradrenaline, and calculation of coefficient of variance of RR intervals. RESULTS Compared with normal controls, MSA patients had a lower baseline blood pressure, smaller blood pressure and heart rate increases during bladder filling, and an abnormal fall in blood pressure for a longer duration after voiding, resulting in significantly lower blood pressure than at baseline (mean systolic blood pressure reduction -15.2 mm Hg), and hypotension compared with control blood pressure (-29.0 mm Hg). The blood pressure fall was greater in patients with micturition syncope/pre-syncope than in those without. It was also greater in patients with abdominal straining resulting from difficulty in voiding. Other cardiovascular indices did not correlate with the fall in blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS Hypotension after voiding in MSA patients may result from generalised autonomic dysfunction and abnormal abdominal straining, resulting in micturition syncope.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Uchiyama
- Department of Neurology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
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Abstract
Local heating evokes an increase in skin blood flow (SkBF), which consists of an initial peak (axon-reflex mediated) followed by a brief nadir and a secondary rise to a plateau. The aim of this study was to investigate whether heat provoked vasodilatation detects sympathetic vasomotor dysfunction and completeness of injury in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Twelve (seven complete, and five incomplete; level C4-L4) SCI patients, and nine healthy subjects as controls were studied. Thermostatic laser Doppler probes, which heat the skin locally, were placed on the dorsum of the hand and foot. SkBF was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry at baseline and at the first peak of vasodilatation (SkBF(max)). On the hand, SkBF at baseline and SkBF(max) were similar between the three groups. On the foot, SkBF at baseline was similar between the three groups but SkBF(max) was significantly diminished in complete SCI patients compared with controls (P < 0.01). In conclusion, heat provoked axon-reflex vasodilatation was diminished in the foot, below the level of lesion, in complete SCI. This test, that evaluates localized sympathetic vasomotor dysfunction, may be a useful non-invasive technique to detect completeness of autonomic disruption after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Nicotra
- Neurovascular Medicine Unit, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Asahina
- Department of Neurology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
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Pellis-van Berkel W, Verheijen MHG, Cuppen E, Asahina M, de Rooij J, Jansen G, Plasterk RHA, Bos JL, Zwartkruis FJT. Requirement of the Caenorhabditis elegans RapGEF pxf-1 and rap-1 for epithelial integrity. Mol Biol Cell 2004; 16:106-16. [PMID: 15525675 PMCID: PMC539156 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e04-06-0492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Rap-pathway has been implicated in various cellular processes but its exact physiological function remains poorly defined. Here we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of the mammalian guanine nucleotide exchange factors PDZ-GEFs, PXF-1, specifically activates Rap1 and Rap2. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter constructs demonstrate that sites of pxf-1 expression include the hypodermis and gut. Particularly striking is the oscillating expression of pxf-1 in the pharynx during the four larval molts. Deletion of the catalytic domain from pxf-1 leads to hypodermal defects, resulting in lethality. The cuticle secreted by pxf-1 mutants is disorganized and can often not be shed during molting. At later stages, hypodermal degeneration is seen and animals that reach adulthood frequently die with a burst vulva phenotype. Importantly, disruption of rap-1 leads to a similar, but less severe phenotype, which is enhanced by the simultaneous removal of rap-2. In addition, the lethal phenotype of pxf-1 can be rescued by expression of an activated version of rap-1. Together these results demonstrate that the pxf-1/rap pathway in C. elegans is required for maintenance of epithelial integrity, in which it probably functions in polarized secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Pellis-van Berkel
- Department of Physiological Chemistry and Centre for Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Sakakibara R, Hirano S, Asahina M, Sawai S, Nemoto Y, Hiraga A, Uchiyama T, Hattori T. Primary Sjogren's syndrome presenting with generalized autonomic failure. Eur J Neurol 2004; 11:635-8. [PMID: 15379743 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2004.00846.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A 64 year-old woman developed Raynaud's phenomenon and dry eyes/mouth. Laboratory examination revealed positive Schirmer's test, rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibody, and lymphocytic sialoadenitis on salivary gland biopsy. These features strongly suggested the diagnosis of primary Sjogren's syndrome. Three years later, she gradually developed generalized autonomic failure without apparent sensory neuropathy on nerve conduction study. She had systolic pressure fall of 51 mmHg on head-up tilt test, cardiovascular supersensitivity to diluted norepinephrine infusion, cardiac denervation in [123I]-MIBG scintigraphy, impaired R-R variability, decreased sweating and prolonged colonic transit time. Autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy was mostly responsible for her autonomic failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Sakakibara
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
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Sakakibara R, Uchiyama T, Asahina M, Suzuki A, Yamanishi T, Hattori T. Micturition disturbance in acute idiopathic autonomic neuropathy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2004; 75:287-91. [PMID: 14742606 PMCID: PMC1738903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To define the nature of micturition disturbance in patients with acute idiopathic autonomic neuropathy (AIAN). METHODS Micturitional symptoms were observed during hospital admissions and the in outpatient clinics in six patients with clinically definite AIAN (typical form in four, cholinergic variant in one, autonomic-sensory variant in one). Urodynamic studies included medium-fill water cystometry, external sphincter electromyography, and a bethanechol test. RESULTS Four patients had urinary retention and two had voiding difficulty as the initial presentation. Patients with retention became able to urinate within a week (two to seven days). The major symptoms at the time of urodynamic studies (three weeks to four months after disease onset in most cases) were voiding difficulty and nocturnal frequency. None had urinary incontinence. Complete recovery from the micturition disturbance took from three months to >18 years. The recovery period was shorter in a patient with cholinergic variant, and it was longer in two patients who had a longer duration of initial urinary retention. Micturition disturbance tended to improve earlier than orthostatic hypotension. The major urodynamic abnormalities were detrusor areflexia on voiding (5), denervation supersensitivity to bethanechol (3); low compliance detrusor (1); and impaired bladder sensation (2). None had neurogenic motor unit potentials of the external sphincter muscles. CONCLUSIONS In patients with AIAN, urinary retention and voiding difficulty are common initial presentations. The underlying mechanisms seem to be pre- and postganglionic cholinergic dysfunction with preservation of somatic sphincter function. The bladder problems tend to improve earlier than orthostatic hypotension.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Sakakibara
- Department of Neurology, Chiba University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
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Shionoya M, Matsubayashi H, Asahina M, Kuniyoshi H, Nagata S, Riddiford LM, Kataoka H. Molecular cloning of the prothoracicotropic hormone from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2003; 33:795-801. [PMID: 12878226 DOI: 10.1016/s0965-1748(03)00078-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A cDNA encoding a putative precursor of prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, was isolated and sequenced. This clone contains an open reading frame encoding a 226-amino acid prepropeptide hormone. The deduced amino acid sequence is composed of a signal sequence, a precursor domain and a mature hormone and shows similarities to the other PTTHs that have been cloned from closely related lepidopteran species, Bombyx mori, Samia cynthia ricini, Antheraea peryni, and Hyalophora cecropia. Although these cDNAs showed slightly less similarities in predicted amino acid sequences, seven cysteine residues and the hydrophobic regions within those mature peptides were conserved. In situ hybridization using a cDNA probe encoding the Manduca PTTH showed that PTTH mRNA was in two pairs of neurosecretory cells in the Manduca brain. The recombinant putative Manduca PTTH produced in E. coli was biologically active, both causing a larval molt in neck-ligated Manduca 4th instar larvae (ED(50)=50 pM) and the adult molt of diapausing Manduca pupae (ED(50)=79 pM), but was unable to stimulate molting of debrained Bombyx pupae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoko Shionoya
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha 5-1-5, Kashiwa 277-8562, Japan
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Ditrich O, Asahina M. C.V. Holland, M.W. Kennedy (Eds.): The Geohelminths: Ascaris, Trichuris and Hookworm. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2003. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2003.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Sakakibara R, Odaka T, Uchiyama T, Asahina M, Yamaguchi K, Yamaguchi T, Yamanishi T, Hattori T. Colonic transit time and rectoanal videomanometry in Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003; 74:268-72. [PMID: 12531969 PMCID: PMC1738286 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.74.2.268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Constipation is a prominent lower gastrointestinal tract dysfunction that occurs frequently in Parkinson's disease (PD). OBJECTIVE To investigate colonic transport and dynamic rectoanal behaviour during filling and defecation in patients with PD. METHODS Colonic transit time (CTT) and rectoanal videomanometry analyses were performed in 12 patients with PD (10 men and 2 women; mean age, 68 years, mean duration of disease, five years; mean Hoehn and Yahr grade, 3; decreased stool frequency (<3 times a week) in six, difficulty in stool expulsion in eight) and 10 age matched normal control subjects (7 men and 3 women; mean age, 62 years; decreased stool frequency in two, difficulty in stool expulsion in two). RESULTS In the PD patients, CTT was significantly prolonged in the rectosigmoid segment (p<0.05) and total colon (p<0.01) compared with the control subjects. At the resting state, anal closure and squeeze pressures of PD patients were lower than those in control subjects, though not statistically significant. However, the PD patients showed a smaller increase in abdominal pressure on coughing (p<0.01) and straining (p<0.01). The sphincter motor unit potentials of the patients were normal. During filling, PD patients showed normal rectal volumes at first sensation and maximum desire to defecate, and normal rectal compliance. However, they showed smaller amplitude in phasic rectal contraction (p<0.05), which was accompanied by an increase in anal pressure that normally decreased, together with leaking in two patients. During defecation, most PD patients could not defecate completely with larger post-defecation residuals (p<0.01). PD patients had weak abdominal strain and smaller rectal contraction on defecation than those in control subjects, though these differences were not statistically significant. However, the PD patients had larger anal contraction on defecation (p<0.05), evidence of paradoxical sphincter contraction on defecation (PSD). CONCLUSIONS Slow colonic transit, decreased phasic rectal contraction, weak abdominal strain, and PSD were all features in our PD patients with frequent constipation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Sakakibara
- Department of Neurology, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
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Uhlírová M, Asahina M, Riddiford LM, Jindra M. Heat-inducible transgenic expression in the silkmoth Bombyx mori. Dev Genes Evol 2002; 212:145-51. [PMID: 11976953 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-002-0221-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2001] [Accepted: 01/22/2002] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Germline transformation with new transposon vectors now enables causal tests of gene function via ectopic protein expression or RNA interference in non-drosophilid insects. The problem remains of how to drive the transgene expression in vivo. We employed germline transformation using the piggyBac 3xP3-EGFP vector to test whether the Drosophila heat shock hsp70 promoter will be active in the live silkworm. We modified the original vector by cloning the coding sequence for Bombyx nuclear receptor Ftz-F1 between the hsp70 promoter and the terminator. Three independent transgenic lines expressing the Pax-6-driven EGFP marker in larval and adult photoreceptors were obtained with efficiencies of up to 1.7% of fertile G0 adults that gave GFP-positive progeny. Chromosomal integration of the transposon was confirmed with inverse PCR. Heat induction of the transgenic BmFtz-F1 was proven at both the mRNA and protein levels. RT-PCR data showed that the Drosophila heat shock promoter was functional in all three transgenic lines. Although basal activity was apparent at 25 degrees C, 1 h at 42 degrees C induced BmFtz-F1 mRNA at different stages of development and in diverse tissues. The relative levels of induction differed among the transgenic lines. Northern blot hybridization detected transgenic BmFtz-F1 only after heat shock and low levels of the mRNA were still present 6 h after the heat treatment. Immunostaining of epidermis using anti-BmFtz-F1 antibody showed a clear increase of nuclear signal 90 min after a heat shock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirka Uhlírová
- University of South Bohemia, Branisovká 31, Ceské Budejovice 370 05, Czech Republic
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Shinotoh H, Namba H, Yamaguchi M, Fukushi K, Nagatsuka S, Iyo M, Asahina M, Hattori T, Tanada S, Irie T. In vivo mapping of brain cholinergic function in Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. Adv Neurol 2002; 86:249-55. [PMID: 11553984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- H Shinotoh
- Division of Advanced Technology for Medical Imaging, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate whether or not the pattern and extent of autonomic involvement differ between the two subtypes of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), namely acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) and acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN). METHODS Head-up tilt test, R-R interval variation, plasma noradrenaline concentration, skin vasomotor reflex (SVR) and sympathetic sweat response (SSwR) were used to estimate autonomic function in seven AIDP and eight AMAN patients. RESULTS Heart rate and plasma noradrenaline concentration were significantly high in the AIDP group but not in the AMAN group. Skin vasomotor reflexes were generally preserved and SSwRs were impaired in patients with severe neurological deficits for both AIDP and AMAN groups. CONCLUSION The patterns of autonomic involvement are qualitatively different between AIDP and AMAN. Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is characterized by cardio-sympathetic hyperactivity, excessive or reduced sudomotor function and preserved skin vasomotor function, while AMAN is not necessarily generally associated with marked autonomic dysfunction except for the sudomotor hypofunction seen in patients with severe neurological deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Asahina
- Department of Neurology, Chiba University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
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Ogawa K, Kaminuma O, Kikkawa H, Nakata A, Asahina M, Egan RW, Akiyama K, Mori A. Transient contribution of mast cells to pulmonary eosinophilia but not to hyper-responsiveness. Clin Exp Allergy 2002; 32:140-8. [PMID: 12002731 DOI: 10.1046/j.0022-0477.2001.01248.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have recently demonstrated that the transfer of interleukin (IL)-5-producing CD4+ T cell clones into unprimed mice is sufficient for the development ofeosinophilic inflammation in the bronchial mucosa upon antigen inhalation. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to elucidate the possible contribution of mast cells in eosinophilic inflammation and bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR), and to discriminate between the roles of CD4+ T cells and mast cells. METHODS Mast cell-deficient mice (WBB6F1-W/Wv) and their congenic normal littermates (WBB6F1-+/+) were immunized with ovalbumin and challenged by inhalation with the relevant antigen. RESULTS Airway eosinophilia was induced with equivalent intensity in +/+ and W/Wv mice 6, 24, 96 and 216 h after antigen inhalation. In contrast, 48 h after antigen challenge, eosinophilic infiltration into the bronchial mucosa was significantly less pronounced in W/Wv mice than in +/+ mice. Anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb), anti-IL-5 mAb, and cyclosporin A were administered next, demonstrating that the airway eosinophilia of W/Wv mice induced 48 h after antigen challenge was almost completely inhibited by each of these three treatments, but that of +/+ mice was significantly less susceptible. Bronchial responsiveness to acetylcholine was increased 48 h after antigen challenge and was not significantly different between +/+ and W/Wv mice. Administration of anti-IL-5 mAb completely inhibited the development of BHR in both +/+ and W/Wv mice. CONCLUSION These results indicate that, in mice, mast cells do have a supplemental role in the development of pulmonary eosinophilia but not BHR. CD4+ T cells totally regulate these responses by producing IL-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Ogawa
- Discovery Research Laboratory, Tanabe Seiyaku Co., Ltd, Saitama, Japan.
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Yuasa K, Ohgaru T, Asahina M, Omori K. Identification of rat cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 11A (PDE11A): comparison of rat and human PDE11A splicing variants. Eur J Biochem 2001; 268:4440-8. [PMID: 11502204 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2001.02366.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We have isolated and characterized rat cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE)11A, which exhibits properties of a dual-substrate PDE, and its splice variants (RNPDE11A2, RNPDE11A3, and RNPDE11A4). The deduced amino-acid sequence of the longest form of rat PDE11A splice variant, RNPDE11A4, was 94% identical with that of the human variant (HSPDE11A4). Rat PDE11A splice variants were expressed in a tissue-specific manner. RNPDE11A4 showed unique tissue distribution distinct from HSPDE11A4, which is specifically expressed in the prostate. Rat PDE11A splice variants were expressed in COS-7 cells, and their enzymatic characteristics were compared. Although the Km values for cAMP and cGMP were similar for all of them (1.3-1.6 and 2.1-3.9 microM, respectively), the Vmax values differed significantly (RNPDE11A4 >> RNPDE11A2 > RNPDE11A3). Human PDE11A variants also displayed very similar Km values and significantly different Vmax values (HSPDE11A4 >> HSPDE11A2 > HSPDE11A3 >> HSPDE11A1). The Vmax values of HSPDE11A4 for cAMP and cGMP were at least 100 times higher than those of HSPDE11A1. These observations indicate unique characteristics of PDE11A splicing variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Yuasa
- Discovery Research Laboratory, Tanabe Seiyaku Co. Ltd, Saitama, Japan
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Asahina M, Yoshiyama Y, Hattori T. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and urinary-type plasminogen activator in Alzheimer's disease brain. Clin Neuropathol 2001; 20:60-3. [PMID: 11327298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Urinary-type plasminogen activator (uPA) binding to uPA receptor (uPAR) promotes the activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which degrades amyloid beta protein (Abeta) in vitro. We investigated the expression of MMP-9, uPA, and uPAR in post-mortem brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and those with vascular dementia (VD). MATERIAL AND METHODS We used immunohistochemistry to examine the sections of the parietal lobe and hippocampus from 4 AD and 3 VD patients. The anti-MMP-9 antibody, anti-uPA antibody, and anti-uPAR antibody were used to perform immunohistological analysis. RESULTS In the brain tissues from the AD patients, we found expression of MMP-9 in the cytoplasm of neurons, neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques, vascular walls and uPAR expression in the cytoplasm of neurons and vascular walls. uPA was detected only in the vascular walls. On the other hand, we could not find expression of MMP-9, uPAR and uPA in the brain tissues of the VD patients, except for the vascular walls. CONCLUSION The neurons in the AD brains expressed MMP-9 and uPAR. MMP-9 may be produced for the degradation of Abeta, but uPA, which activates MMP-9, was not immunolocalized to the neurons in the AD brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Asahina
- Department of Neurology, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan.
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Asahina M, Hattori T. [Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis]. Ryoikibetsu Shokogun Shirizu 2001:333-6. [PMID: 11031962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M Asahina
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Chiba University
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Asahina M, Hattori T. [Paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy]. Ryoikibetsu Shokogun Shirizu 2001:363-6. [PMID: 11031970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M Asahina
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Chiba University
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Ito S, Asahina M, Asahina M, Oki T, Hattori T. [Severe chronic pain with allodynia in Parkinson's disease: a case report]. Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2001; 41:147-9. [PMID: 11481860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
We report a 61-year-old man with Parkinson's disease, who had a 3-year history of severe chronic pain with allodynia in the lower extremities prior to motor symptoms. He always had tingling pain around the ankles, and tactile sensation induced severe burning pain expanding to the toes and thighs, so his pain was considered to be allodynia. Pain and motor symptoms were ameliorated by L-dopa therapy and exacerbated by withdrawal of L-dopa. Pain is known to occur in Parkinson's disease, but severe pain rarely occurs. To our knowledge, allodynia, which is usually recognized in causalgia or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, has never been reported in Parkinson's disease. Patients with Parkinson's disease may complain severe causalgia-like pain as an initial symptom.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ito
- Department of Neurology, Chiba University School of Medicine, Chiba
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Asahina M, Ishihara T, Jindra M, Kohara Y, Katsura I, Hirose S. The conserved nuclear receptor Ftz-F1 is required for embryogenesis, moulting and reproduction in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genes Cells 2000; 5:711-23. [PMID: 10971653 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2443.2000.00361.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nuclear receptors are essential players in the development of all metazoans. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans possesses more than 200 putative nuclear receptor genes, several times more than the number known in any other organism. Very few of these transcription factors are conserved with components of the steroid response pathways in vertebrates and arthropods. Ftz-F1, one of the evolutionarily oldest nuclear receptor types, is required for steroidogenesis and sexual differentiation in mice and for segmentation and metamorphosis in Drosophila. RESULTS We employed two complementary approaches, direct mutagenesis and RNA interference, to explore the role of nhr-25, a C. elegans ortholog of Ftz-F1. Deletion mutants show that nhr-25 is essential for embryogenesis. RNA interference reveals additional requirements throughout the postembryonic life, namely in moulting and differentiation of the gonad and vulva. All these defects are consistent with the nhr-25 expression pattern, determined by in situ hybridization and GFP reporter activity. CONCLUSIONS Our data link the C. elegans Ftz-F1 ortholog with a number of developmental processes. Significantly, its role in the periodical replacement of cuticle (moulting) appears to be evolutionarily shared with insects and thus supports the monophyletic origin of moulting.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Asahina
- Department of Developmental Genetics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka-ken 411-8540, Japan
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