Showing papers by "Kyushu University published in 1996"

Targeted disruption of the Rad51 gene leads to lethality in embryonic mice.

Abstract: The mouse Rad51 gene is a mammalian homologue of the Escherichia coli recA and yeast RAD51 genes, both of which are involved in homologous recombination and DNA repair. To elucidate the physiological role of RAD51 protein, the gene was targeted in embryonic stem (ES) cells. Mice heterozygous for the Rad51 null mutation were intercrossed and their offspring were genotyped. There were no homozygous (Rad51-/-) pups among 148 neonates examined but a few Rad51-/- embryos were identified when examined during the early stages of embryonic development. Doubly knocked-out ES cells were not detected under conditions of selective growth. These results are interpreted to mean that RAD51 protein plays an essential role in the proliferation of cell. The homozygous Rad51 null mutation can be categorized in cell-autonomous defects. Pre-implantational lethal mutations that disrupt basic molecular functions will thus interfere with cell viability.

The importance of the hyperpolarizing mechanism increases as the vessel size decreases in endothelium-dependent relaxations in rat mesenteric circulation.

Abstract: Endothelium-dependent relaxations are achieved by a combination of endothelium-derived prostacyclin (PGI2), nitric oxide (NO), and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). However, it remains to be fully clarified whether the relative contribution of these three mechanisms to endothelium-dependent relaxations varies as a function of the vessel size. This study was designed to clarify this point. Acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations were examined in isolated blood vessels taken from the aorta and the proximal and distal mesenteric arteries of the rat. The contributions of PGI2, NO, and EDHF were evaluated by the inhibitory effects of indomethacin, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in the presence of indomethacin, and KCl in the presence of indomethacin and L-NAME, respectively. The membrane potentials were recorded with microelectrodes. The expression of endothelial No synthase (eNOS) was examined by both immunostaining and immunoblotting. The contribution of PGI2 was negligible in three different-sized blood vessels. The contribution of NO was most prominent in the aorta, whereas that of EDHF was most prominent in the distal mesenteric arteries. The resting membrane potential was significantly deeper and the ACh-induced hyperpolarization was greater in the distal mesenteric arteries than those in the aorta. The expression of eNOS was the highest in the aorta and the lowest in the distal mesenteric arteries. These results indicate that the importance of EDHF increases as the vessel size decreases in endothelium-dependent relaxations in the rat mesenteric circulation.

High‐temperature thermoelectric properties of (Zn1−xAlx)O

Abstract: A mixed oxide (Zn1−x Al x )O exhibits promising thermoelectricproperties attaining a dimensionless figure of merit ZT of 0.30 at 1000 °C, which value is much superior to other oxides and quite comparable to conventional state‐of‐the‐art thermoelectricmaterials. The addition of a small amount of Al2O3 to ZnO results in a large power factor of 10–15×10−4 W/mK2, showing a marked increase in the electrical conductivity while retaining moderate thermoelectric power. A large product of the carrier mobility and density of states would be responsible for the favorable electrical properties of the present oxide. A figure of merit Z=0.24×10−3 K−1 is attained by (Zn0.98Al0.02)O at 1000 °C, even with a high thermal conductivity. A predominant proportion of the phononthermal conductivity promises a further improvement in the thermoelectric performance by selective enhancement of phonon scattering.

Breast lesions: correlation of contrast medium enhancement patterns on MR images with histopathologic findings and tumor angiogenesis.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To compare qualitative and quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) mammographic features of breast lesions with histopathologic findings, especially tumor angiogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three patients (72 women, one man; aged 30-78 years; mean age, 51.0 years) with suspicious breast lesions underwent MR imaging. Noncontrast medium-enhanced localization imaging and then gadolinium-enhanced dynamic fast spoiled gradient-recalled-echo (SPGR) imaging were performed in all patients. In selected patients, subtraction fast SPGR images were obtained. The Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were used to determine the strength of the relationships between enhancement parameters and microvessel determinations. RESULTS: Time intensity curve type correlated with microvessel density grade (Spearman rank correlation test: r = .90, P < .001). The steepest slope of contrast medium uptake correlated with microvessel counts (Pearson correlation test; r = .83, P < .001). Peripheral enhancement in invas...

A Human Canalicular Multispecific Organic Anion Transporter (cMOAT) Gene Is Overexpressed in Cisplatin-resistant Human Cancer Cell Lines with Decreased Drug Accumulation

Abstract: By targeting the ATP binding conserved domain in three ATP binding cassette superfamily proteins (P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance protein, and cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator), we isolated the cDNA of a new ATP binding cassette superfamily that was specifically enhanced in a cisplatin-resistant human head and neck cancer KB cell line. A human clone homologous to rat canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT) was found and designated human cMOAT. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated the chromosomal locus of the gene on chromosome 10q24. The human cMOAT cDNA hybridized a 6.5-kb mRNA that was expressed 4- to 6-fold higher by three cisplatin-resistant cell lines derived from various human tumors exhibiting decreased drug accumulation. Human cMOAT may function as a cellular cisplatin transporter.

Generalised information criteria in model selection

Abstract: SUMMARY The problem of evaluating the goodness of statistical models is investigated from an information-theoretic point of view. Information criteria are proposed for evaluating models constructed by various estimation procedures when the specified family of probability distributions does not contain the distribution generating the data. The proposed criteria are applied to the evaluation of models estimated by maximum likelihood, robust, penalised likelihood, Bayes procedures, etc. We also discuss the use of the bootstrap in model evaluation problems and present a variance reduction technique in the bootstrap simulation.

Complexes derived from the reaction of manganese(III) Schiff base complexes and hexacyanoferrate(III): Syntheses, multidimensional network structures, and magnetic properties

Abstract: The reaction between the [Mn(BS)(H2O)]+ monomeric and [Mn2(μ-BS)2(H2O)2]2+ dimeric cations and [Fe(CN)6]3- gave rise to cation−anion interaction via the formation of [FeC⋮NMn] bridges. Depending on the nature of the Schiff base and regardless of the stoichiometry used, either the trimeric anion [{Mn(BS)}2{Fe(CN)6}]- (BS = 3-MeOsalen, 6; 5-Clsalen, 7; 5-Brsalen, 8; salcy, 10) or the pentameric cation [{Mn(BS)}4{Fe(CN)6}]+ (BS = saltmen, 9) is formed, which has been assembled by the K+ cation or the ClO4- anion, respectively. The X-ray analysis of 6 revealed a two-dimensional network layer structure. The magnetic measurements showed its metamagnetic behavior, where the ferromagnetic interaction operates within each layer and the antiferromagnetic interaction operates between the layers. The Neel temperature, TN, is 9.2 K, and the critical field at 2 K is 300 Oe. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibilities of 7 and 8 are in agreement with a discrete, symmetrical, trinuclear structure Mn(III)Fe(III)Mn...

Impairment of hippocampal mossy fiber LTD in mice lacking mGluR2.

Abstract: Subtype 2 of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR2) is expressed in the presynaptic elements of hippocampal mossy fiber-CA3 synapses. Knockout mice deficient in mGluR2 showed no histological changes and no alterations in basal synaptic transmission, paired-pulse facilitation, or tetanus-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) at the mossy fiber-CA3 synapses. Long-term depression (LTD) induced by low-frequency stimulation, however, was almost fully abolished. The mutant mice performed normally in water maze learning tasks. Thus, the presynaptic mGluR2 is essential for inducing LTD at the mossy fiber-CA3 synapses, but this hippocampal LTD does not seem to be required for spatial learning.

P21Waf1/Cip1/Sdi1 and p53 expression in association with DNA strand breaks in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Abstract: The tumor suppressor p53 protein is a transcription factor that plays a central role in the cellular response to DNA damage, and it can cause either G1 arrest or apoptosis. Recently, it was shown to induce the tumor suppressor p21Waf1/Cip1/Sdi1 (p21), which inhibits cyclin-CDK complex kinase activity. Although the etiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is still uncertain, it is postulated that IPF begins with an initial inflammatory lesion localized to the alveolus and progresses on to chronic inflammation with alveolitis. We examined whether p53 and p21 are upregulated in association with chronic DNA damage in the bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells in patients with IPF in an attempt to repair the injury. We performed in situ detection of DNA strand breaks or apoptosis (TUNEL) in the tissues as well as immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p53 and p21. Positive signals by TUNEL were detected mainly in the bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cells in 10 of 14 lung specimens from patients with IPF. On the other hand, no positive signal by TUNEL was detected in normal lung parenchyma or in specimens of pulmonary emphysema. The IHC demonstrated that p53 and p21 were expressed especially in hyperplastic bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells of lung tissues from all patients with IPF, except five specimens for p21. These results are consistent with those obtained by TUNEL. In normal lung parenchyma and specimens of pulmonary emphysema, p53 and p21 were not detected except in scattered alveolar macrophages and in the epithelial cells within localized fibrotic regions. These results suggest that p53 and p21 are upregulated in association with chronic DNA damage, resulting in either G1 arrest or apoptosis so that the DNA damage can be repaired in IPF. We speculate that chronic DNA damage and repair may lead to mutation of the p53 gene and tumorigenesis in IPF.

An investigation of grain boundaries in submicrometer-grained al-mg solid solution alloys using high-resolution electron microscopy

Abstract: High-resolution electron microscopy was used to examine the structural features of grain boundaries in Al–1.5% Mg and Al–3% Mg solid solution alloys produced with submicrometer grain sizes using an intense plastic straining technique. The grain boundaries were mostly curved or wavy along their length, and some portions were corrugated with regular or irregular arrangements of facets and steps. During exposure to high-energy electrons, grain boundary migration occurred to reduce the number of facets and thus to reduce the total boundary energy. The observed features demonstrate conclusively that the grain boundaries in these submicrometer-grained materials are in a high-energy nonequilibrium configuration.

Western versus asian types of multiple sclerosis: Immunogenetically and clinically distinct disorders

Abstract: The polymorphism of HLA-DRB1, -DRB3, and -DRB5 genes as well as magnetic resonance images of the brain and spinal cord were studied in 57 Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Twenty-three patients clinically displayed selective involvement of the optic nerve and spinal cord and were classified as having Asian-type MS. The other 34 patients had disseminated central nervous system involvement and were classified as having Western-type MS. Patients with Asian-type MS had fewer brain lesions shown by magnetic resonance imaging, but more gadolinium-enhanced spinal cord lesions than did patients with Western-type MS (47% vs 17%). Furthermore, the DR2-associated DRB1*1501 allele and DRB5*0101 allele were associated with Western-type MS (41.2%), but not with either Asian-type MS (0%) or healthy control subjects (14.2%). Heterogeneity in the immunogenetic background and in the magnetic resonance imaging features between the two subtypes of MS thus suggests the presence of two etiologically distinct diseases in Asians.

Mn-salen catalyst, competitor of enzymes, for asymmetric epoxidation

Abstract: Asymmetric epoxidation of simple olefins using (salen)manganese(III) complexes as catalysts has made a great advances in the last half decade and now finds wide application in organic synthesis. In this article, we describe the scope of the reaction, and the principal achievements to date are presented in Tables. The mechanistic aspect of the reaction is also discussed briefly.

The role of the electric field in confinement

Abstract: Theories of the electric field effect on toroidal plasma confinement are reviewed with the emphasis placed on recent progress in the areas of anomalous transport, structural formation and bifurcation, research which has been motivated by the discovery of improved confinement. Topics include single-particle physics, such as particle orbits or collisional transport, turbulent transport, transport matrix, structural formation and dynamics, bifurcation, and improved confinement.

Impaired locomotor activity and exploratory behavior in mice lacking histamine H1 receptors

Abstract: From pharmacological studies using histamine antagonists and agonists, it has been demonstrated that histamine modulates many physiological functions of the hypothalamus, such as arousal state, locomotor activity, feeding, and drinking. Three kinds of receptors (H1, H2, and H3) mediate these actions. To define the contribution of the histamine H1 receptors (H1R) to behavior, mutant mice lacking the H1R were generated by homologous recombination. In brains of homozygous mutant mice, no specific binding of [3H]pyrilamine was seen. [3H]Doxepin has two saturable binding sites with higher and lower affinities in brains of wild-type mice, but H1R-deficient mice showed only the weak labeling of [3H]doxepin that corresponds to lower-affinity binding sites. Mutant mice develop normally, but absence of H1R significantly increased the ratio of ambulation during the light period to the total ambulation for 24 hr in an accustomed environment. In addition, mutant mice significantly reduced exploratory behavior of ambulation and rearings in a new environment. These results indicate that through H1R, histamine is involved in circadian rhythm of locomotor activity and exploratory behavior as a neurotransmitter.

Chronic treatment with interleukin-1 beta induces coronary intimal lesions and vasospastic responses in pigs in vivo. The role of platelet-derived growth factor.

Abstract: Studies in vitro have suggested that inflammatory cytokines may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, little is known about their effects in vivo. Thus, the present study was designed to determine in vivo what histological and functional changes may be induced by chronic treatment with IL-1 beta, one of the major inflammatory cytokines, and also to clarify what mechanisms are involved in those changes. Under aseptic conditions, proximal segments of the left porcine coronary arteries were gently wrapped with cotton mesh absorbing Sepharose beads either with or without recombinant human IL-1 beta. From 1 to 4 wk after the operation, coronary vasospastic responses to intracoronary serotonin or histamine were noted at the IL-1 beta-treated site but not at the control site. Histologically, intimal thickening was greater at the IL-1 beta-treated site than at the control site. Those functional and histological changes induced by the chronic treatment with IL-1 beta were significantly inhibited by the simultaneous treatment with a neutralizing antibody to either IL-1 beta or PDGF. These results indicate that chronic treatment with Il-1 beta induces coronary intimal lesions and vasospastic responses in porcine coronary arteries in vivo and also suggest that these changes are substantially mediated by PDGF.

Identical origin of adrenal cortex and gonad revealed by expression profiles of Ad4BP/SF-1

Abstract: Background: Ad4BP/SF-1 was originally identified as a steroidogenic tissue-specific transcription factor. Recent gene disruption studies with the mammalian Ftz-F1 gene encoding Ad4BP/SF-1 clearly revealed the essential function of the factor for adrenal and gonadal differentiation. Results: In this study, we examined the early development of these tissues using Ad4BP/SF-1 as the marker. In rat foetuses of 11.5 days post-coitum (d.p.c.), a cell population designated adreno-genital primordium was firstly observed on symmetrical lines extending from the dorsal aorta to the dorsal coelomic epithelia of the primitive urogenital ridges. From 12.5 d.p.c., the rostral half of the adreno-genital primordium started to separate into two distinct cell populations. Judging from the distribution of primordial germ cells, the cell population on the dorsal aortal side is a primordium for the adrenal cortex whereas that on the coelomic epithelial side is for the gonads. At 13.5 d.p.c., these two primordia have separated completely. Conclusion: These observations clearly identified a novel adreno-genital primordium from which both the adrenal cortex and the gonads originate. An RT-PCR study conducted to detect adrenal- and gonad-specific mRNAs supported the above observations.

Positive Indirect Effects Between Prey Species that Share Predators

Abstract: Mathematical models are used to explore the interaction between two prey species that share a common predator. The models assume that the predator experiences density dependence via some mechanism other than prey depletion. The models also assume that the predator's functional response to each prey decreases as the density of the other prey species increases. This can occur either because of predator satiation or predator switching. The results suggest that positive indirect effects of one prey on the equilibrium density of others should occur frequently, especially when there is predator switching. Decreasing the mortality rate of one prey or adding a prey species may make it easier for additional prey species to invade the system and coexist. This occurs because the resulting decrease in the predator's functional response is greater than its positive numerical response. In many cases, different magnitudes of perturbation to one prey species will have opposite effects on the population density of the other prey species.

Film Thickness Dependence of the Surface Structure of Immiscible Polystyrene/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Blends

Abstract: The film thickness dependence of surface structure for immiscible polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS/PMMA) films was investigated on the basis of atomic force microscopic observation and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurement. In the case of the PS/PMMA film of 25 μm thickness, the air−polymer interfacial region was covered with a PS rich overlayer due to its lower surface free energy compared with that of PMMA and a well-defined macroscopic phase-separated structure was formed in the bulk phase. Also, in the case of the PS/PMMA thin film of 100 nm thickness, the phase-separated structure, in which the PMMA rich domains separated out of the PS rich matrix, formed at the film surface. The formation of the surface structure for the PS/PMMA thin film can be attributed to either the chain conformation or chain aggregation structure being frozen at the air−polymer interfacial region before the formation of a PS rich overlayer due to the fairly fast evaporation of solvent molecules. On the other h...

VEGF and flt Expression Time Kinetics in Rat Brain Infarct

Abstract: Background and Purpose Vascular endothelial growth/vascular permeability factor (VEGF) is a candidate for an angiogenic and hyperpermeability inducing factor in an infarct because it is a secretable mitogen specific for endothelial cells and is upregulated by hypoxia. Our study attempts to clarify the chronological expression of VEGF and its receptor (flt) system in experimental cerebral infarction. Methods With the use of a reproducible middle cerebral artery occlusion model in rats, VEGF expression was identified by Western blotting with anti-VEGF antibody. The chronological expression of the VEGF/flt system was analyzed semiquantitatively by immunohistochemical means in infarcts with different time courses from 3 hours to 3 weeks. Results VEGF and flt were expressed exclusively in the ischemic brain. The bands obtained on the immunoblot at 38 and 45 kD are related to those of VEGF121 and VEGF165 isoforms. Macrophages, neurons, and glial cells chronologically expressed VEGF immunoreactivity in a different fashion. Both VEGF (bound) and flt were detected in endothelial cells along with the development of angiogenesis. Conclusions In the ischemic brain the macrophages, neurons, and glial cells appear to contain VEGF. The VEGF receptor flt was induced in endothelial cells along with the progression of angiogenesis in infarct. The VEGF/flt system is thus considered to be involved in the healing process of brain infarct.

Vascular variant of prion protein cerebral amyloidosis with tau-positive neurofibrillary tangles: the phenotype of the stop codon 145 mutation in PRNP.

Abstract: Deposition of PrP amyloid in cerebral vessels in conjunction with neurofibrillary lesions is the neuropathologic hallmark of the dementia associated with a stop mutation at codon 145 of PRNP, the gene encoding the prion protein (PrP). In this disorder, the vascular amyloid in tissue sections and the approximately 7.5-kDa fragment extracted from amyloid are labeled by antibodies to epitopes located in the PrP sequence including amino acids 90-147. Amyloid-laden vessels are also labeled by antibodies against the C terminus, suggesting that PrP from the normal allele is involved in the pathologic process. Abundant neurofibrillary lesions are present in the cerebral gray matter. They are composed of paired helical filaments, are labeled with antibodies that recognize multiple phosphorylation sites in tau protein, and are similar to those observed in Alzheimer disease. A PrP cerebral amyloid angiopathy has not been reported in diseases caused by PRNP mutations or in human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies; we propose to name this phenotype PrP cerebral amyloid angiopathy (PrP-CAA).

Role of the Human Y Box-binding Protein YB-1 in Cellular Sensitivity to the DNA-damaging Agents Cisplatin, Mitomycin C, and Ultraviolet Light

Abstract: The Y box-binding protein (YB-1) binds to DNA sequences, present in the control regions of many genes, that contain an inverted CCAAT box. The binding activity of a nuclear factor, designated MDR-NF1, to an inverted CCAAT box in the promoter of the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene has previously been shown to be increased in nuclear extracts of cells exposed to UV radiation or various anticancer agents. The MDR-NF1 cDNA has now been cloned by screening a human colon library with an active fragment of the MDR1 promoter. The amino acid sequence encoded by the cloned cDNA was identical to that of YB-1. Northern blot analysis revealed that YB-1 mRNA was present in all human tissues examined. Rabbit antibodies were generated against synthetic peptides corresponding to YB-1, and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with these antibodies showed that the concentration of YB-1 in all cisplatin-resistant cell lines examined was higher than that in the respective drug-sensitive parental cells. Transfection of human epidermoid cancer KB cells with a YB-1 antisense construct established two cell lines with reduced concentrations of YB-1. These transfectants showed increased sensitivity to cisplatin, mitomycin C, and UV radiation but not to vincristine, doxorubicin, camptothecin, or etoposide. Thus, YB-1 may protect cells from the cytotoxic effects of agents that induce cross-linking of DNA, suggesting a novel function of this ancestor DNA-binding protein.