Kumamoto University

About: Kumamoto University is a education organization based out in Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 19602 authors who have published 35513 publications receiving 901260 citations. The organization is also known as: Kumamoto Daigaku.

Regulation by Chemokines of Circulating Dendritic Cell Precursors, and the Formation of Portal Tract–Associated Lymphoid Tissue, in a Granulomatous Liver Disease

Abstract: We have studied the recruitment and roles of distinct dendritic cell (DC) precursors from the circulation into Propionibacterium acnes–induced granulomas in mouse liver. During infection, F4/80−B220−CD11c+ DC precursors appeared in the circulation, migrated into the perisinusoidal space, and matured within newly formed granulomas. Recruited DCs later migrated to the portal area to interact with T cells in what we term “portal tract–associated lymphoid tissue” (PALT). Macrophage inflammatory protein 1α attracted blood DC precursors to the sinusoidal granuloma, whereas secondary lymphoid organ chemokine (SLC) attracted mature DCs to the newly identified PALT. Anti-SLC antibody diminished PALT expansion while exacerbating granuloma formation. Therefore, circulating DC precursors can migrate into a solid organ like liver, and participate in the granulomatous reaction in response to specific chemokines.

The variation of plasma concentrations of a novel, adipocyte derived protein, adiponectin, in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Abstract: Adiponectin is a new member of adipocyte derived proteins belonging to the soluble defence collagens.1 Plasma adiponectin concentrations in obese subjects are decreased in spite of an adipose specific expression.1 More interestingly, the patients with chronic coronary artery disease exhibited lower plasma adiponectin concentrations compared to body mass index (BMI) matched control subjects.2 On the other hand, adiponectin accumulates in the vascular subendothelial space when the endothelial barrier is damaged.3 In vitro, adiponectin suppresses the expression of adhesion molecules in the vascular endothelial cells and cytokine production from macrophages.2,4 Therefore, the molecule may be involved in the inflammation and tissue repairing processes. Acute coronary syndrome is often precipitated by acute thrombosis.5 It is commonly accepted that the rupture or the erosion of plaques by the inflammatory process leads to coronary thrombosis and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The C reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in the acute phase are suggested to reflect pre-existing coronary plaque instability associated with the onset of AMI. The significance of adiponectin in acute coronary syndrome has never been investigated. In the present study, we examined the serial change in plasma adiponectin concentrations and its relation to plasma CRP concentration in …

Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress (E-PASS) as a new prediction scoring system for postoperative morbidity and mortality following elective gastrointestinal surgery

Abstract: Overwhelming surgical stress exceeding a patient’s reserve capacity causes a disruption of homeostasis, leading to various postoperative complications. This study was under-taken to develop a new scoring system, “E-PASS”, standing for the Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress, that predicts the postsurgical risk by quantification of the patient’s reserve and surgical stress. E-PASS comprises the preoperative risk score (PRS), the surgical stress score (SSS), and the comprehensive risk score (CRS) that is determined by both scores. These scores were computed by a multiple regression analysis conducted on 292 consecutive patients who underwent elective common gastrointestinal operations at one hospital between 1992 and 1995 (internal group). The usefulness of the scores was evaluated in 989 consecutive patients who underwent the same surgical procedures during the same period at another hospital (external group). The morbidity and mortality rates increased similarly in both groups as the CRS increased. A marked step-up of both rates was observed at a CRS>1.0, reaching mortality rates of 20% in the internal subjects and 28.5% in the external subjects. These results suggest that the E-PASS scoring system is reproducible, and that it may be useful for surgical decision making. This system requires no special examinations and can be used in every hospital.

IL-34 and M-CSF share the receptor Fms but are not identical in biological activity and signal activation

Abstract: Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) regulates the production, survival and function of macrophages through Fms, the receptor tyrosine kinase. Recently, interleukin-34 (IL-34), which shares no sequence homology with M-CSF, was identified as an alternative Fms ligand. Here, we provide the first evidence that these ligands indeed resemble but are not necessarily identical in biological activity and signal activation. In culture systems tested, IL-34 and M-CSF showed an equivalent ability to support cell growth or survival. However, they were different in the ability to induce the production of chemokines such as MCP-1 and eotaxin-2 in primary macrophages, the morphological change in TF-1-fms cells and the migration of J774A.1 cells. Importantly, IL-34 induced a stronger but transient tyrosine phosphorylation of Fms and downstream molecules, and rapidly downregulated Fms. Even in the comparison of active domains, these ligands showed no sequence homology including the position of cysteines. Interestingly, an anti-Fms monoclonal antibody (Mab) blocked both IL-34-Fms and M-CSF-Fms binding, but another MAb blocked only M-CSF-Fms binding. These results suggested that IL-34 and M-CSF differed in their structure and Fms domains that they bound, which caused different bioactivities and signal activation kinetics/strength. Our findings indicate that macrophage phenotype and function are differentially regulated even at the level of the single receptor, Fms.

The role of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (mcp‐1) in the pathogenesis of collagen‐induced arthritis in rats

Abstract: Collagen-induced arthritis was produced in rats by intradermal immunization with type II collagen and the expression and production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were examined by immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Northern blot analysis. Two to three weeks after the immunization, the hindfeet showed swelling and redness, followed by the development of severe arthritis, particularly in the ankle joints. During this period, prominent infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages was observed. Sandwich ELISA and Northern blot analysis revealed that MCP-1 concentrations in the joint lavages and MCP-1 mRNA levels in the joint tissues both peaked at 2 weeks after the immunization. By immunohistochemistry, various types of cells, particularly neutrophils, macrophages, synovial cells, and vascular endothelial cells, stained positively for MCP-1. Finally, injection of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody against rat MCP-1 significantly decreased the number of exudate macrophages in the lesions and reduced the ankle swelling by about 30 per cent compared with controls. These results suggest that MCP-1 plays a critical role in this model in the recruitment of monocytes and in the development of arthritis.