Kumamoto University

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

Characterization of SIS3, a novel specific inhibitor of Smad3, and its effect on transforming growth factor-β1-induced extracellular matrix expression

Abstract: This is the first report that characterizes specific inhibitor of Smad3 (SIS3) as a potent and selective inhibitor of Smad3 function. In the reporter assay, the increased luciferase activity of p3TP-lux by the overexpression of constitutively active form of ALK-5 was abrogated by the treatment with SIS3 in a dose-dependent manner. Immunoprecipitation revealed that SIS3 attenuated the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1-induced phosphorylation of Smad3 and interaction of Smad3 with Smad4. On the other hand, this reagent did not affect the phosphorylation of Smad2. Thereafter, we evaluated the ability of SIS3 in the suppression of the TGF-beta1-induced type I procollagen up-regulation in human dermal fibroblasts. We found that the addition of SIS3 attenuated the effects of TGF-beta1 by reducing the transcriptional activity. SIS3 also inhibited the myofibroblast differentiation of fibroblasts by TGF-beta1. Moreover, we demonstrated that SIS3 completely diminished the constitutive phosphorylation of Smad3 as well as the up-regulated type I collagen expression in scleroderma fibroblasts. Together, our study suggested that SIS3 is a useful tool to evaluate the TGF-beta-regulated cellular mechanisms via selective inhibition of Smad3.

Precipitation processes in near-equiatomic TiNi shape memory alloys

Abstract: Metallographic studies have been made of precipitation processes in Ti-50 pct Ni and Ti-52 pct Ni (at. pct) shape memory alloys. The eutectoid and peritectoid reactions previously reported for near-equiatomic and Ni-rich TiNi alloys were not observed for either composition. In the Ti-52Ni alloy, diffusional transformations take place, similar to those in supersaturated alloys. The precipitation sequence can be written asβ 0 → Ti11Ni14 → Ti2Ni3 → TiNi3. The solidus line of the TiNi phase in the Ti-52Ni alloy lies at 812 ± 22 °C. Morphological characteristics of the various precipitate phases are described in detail.