Manabu Kubokawa

Quantitation by 1H‐NMR of dolichol, cholesterol and choline‐containing lipids in extracts of normal and phathological thyroid tissue

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 1.9 T was used to quantify dolichols, cholesterols, choline‐containing phospholipids and double bonds in unsaturated acyl chains in lipid extracts of four types of thyroid tissue [normal (n = 27), papillary cancer (n = 15), adenoma (n = 13) and Basedow disease (n = 6)]. In normal thyroid the mean concentrations of dolichol, cholesterol and phospholipids were 1.2, 3.6 and 2.1 µmol/g wet weight, respectively. The concentrations of these lipids exhibited positive mutual correlations and positive correlations with patient age. The increase in dolichol in elderly human thyroid may be due to the accumulation of lysosomes and may help to compensate for the decrease in the activity of lysosomal enzymes and in thyroid hormone production and release. Dolichol concentrations were significantly lower in papillary cancer (0.4 µmol/g) and Basedow disease (0.3 µmol/g) compared to normal thyroid (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), while cholesterol was enhanced only in cancer tissue (10.7 µmol/g). Benign adenoma exhibited normal levels of both dolichol and cholesterol. These results suggest that the synthesis and accumulation of isoprenoids are normal in adenoma but not in cancer. Copyright

Noninvasive Estimation of Temperature and pH in Human Lower Leg Muscles using 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

The temperature and pH of human lower leg muscles were estimated noninvasively using 1H-NMR spectroscopy at 3.0 and 1.5 T on five normal volunteers (21M, 24M, 27M, 34M, 47M). The chemical shifts of water and imidazole protons relative to cholines (–N

Interaction between Calcineurin and Ca2+/Calmodulin Kinase-II in Modulating Cellular Functions

Roles of calcineurin (CaN), a Ca2+/calmodulin- (CaM-) dependent protein phosphatase, and Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase-II (CaMKII) in modulating K+ channel activity and the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) have been investigated in renal tubule epithelial cells. The channel current through the cell membrane was recorded with the patch-clamp technique, and [Ca2+]i was monitored using fura-2 imaging. We found that a CaN-inhibitor, cyclosporin A (CyA), lowered the K+ channel activity and elevated [Ca2+]i, suggesting that CyA closes K+ channels and opens Ca2+-release channels of the cytosolic Ca2+-store. Moreover, both of these responses were blocked by KN-62, an inhibitor of CaMKII. It is suggested that the CyA-mediated response results from the activation of CaMKII. Indeed, Western blot analysis revealed that CyA increased phospho-CaMKII, an active form of CaMKII. These findings suggest that CaN-dependent dephosphorylation inhibits CaMKII-mediated phosphorylation, and the inhibition of CaN increases phospho-CaMKII, which results in the stimulation of CaMKII-dependent cellular actions.

Delayed and acute effects of interferon-γ on activity of an inwardly rectifying K+ channel in cultured human proximal tubule cells

The activity of an inwardly rectifying K(+) channel in cultured human renal proximal tubule cells (RPTECs) is stimulated and inhibited by nitric oxide (NO) at low and high concentrations, respectively. In this study, we investigated the effects of IFN-gamma, one of the cytokines which affect the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), on intracellular NO and channel activity of RPTECs, using RT-PCR, NO imaging, and the cell-attached mode of the patch-clamp technique. Prolonged incubation (24 h) of cells with IFN-gamma (20 ng/ml) enhanced iNOS mRNA expression and NO production. In these cells, a NOS inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 100 microM), elevated channel activity, suggesting that NO production was so high as to suppress the channel. This indicated that IFN-gamma would chronically suppress channel activity by enhancing NO production. Acute effects of IFN-gamma was also examined in control cells. Simple addition of IFN-gamma (20 ng/ml) to the bath acutely stimulated channel activity, which was abolished by inhibitors of IFN-gamma receptor-associated Janus-activated kinase [P6 (1 microM) and AG490 (10 microM)]. However, l-NAME did not block the acute effect of IFN-gamma. Indeed, IFN-gamma did not acutely affect NO production. Moreover, the acute effect was not blocked by inhibition of PKA, PKG, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). We conclude that IFN-gamma exerted a delayed suppressive effect on K(+) channel activity by enhancing iNOS expression and an acute stimulatory effect, which was independent of either NO pathways or phosphorylation processes mediated by PKA, PKG, and PI3K in RPTECs.

A nicardipine-sensitive Ca2+ entry contributes to the hypotonicity-induced increase in [Ca2+]i of principal cells in rat cortical collecting duct.

We examined the mechanisms involved in the [Ca(2+)](i) response to the extracellular hypotonicity in the principal cells of freshly isolated rat cortical collecting duct (CCD), using Fura-2/AM fluorescence imaging. Reduction of extracellular osmolality from 305 (control) to 195 mosmol/kgH(2)O (hypotonic) evoked transient increase in [Ca(2+)](i) of principal cells of rat CCDs. The [Ca(2+)](i) increase was markedly attenuated by the removal of extracellular Ca(2+)(.) The application of a P(2) purinoceptor antagonist, suramin failed to inhibit the hypotonicity-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increase. The [Ca(2+)](i) increase in response to extracellular hypotonicity was not influenced by application of Gd(3+) and ruthenium red. On the other hand, a voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel inhibitor, nicardipine, significantly reduced the peak amplitude of [Ca(2+)](i) increase in the principal cells. In order to assess Ca(2+) entry during the hypotonic stimulation, we measured the quenching of Fura-2 fluorescence intensity by Mn(2+). The hypotonic stimulation enhanced quenching of Fura-2 fluorescence by Mn(2+), indicating that a Ca(2+)-permeable pathway was activated by the hypotonicity. The hypotonicity-mediated enhancement of Mn(2+) quenching was significantly inhibited by nicardipine. These results strongly suggested that a nicardipine-sensitive Ca(2+) entry pathway would contribute to the mechanisms underlying the hypotonicity-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevation of principal cells in rat CCD.

Intracellular Mg2+ Influences Both Open and Closed Times of a Native Ca2+-activated BK Channel in Cultured Human Renal Proximal Tubule Cells

Effects of intracellular Mg2+ on a native Ca2+-and voltage-sensitive large-conductance K+ channel in cultured human renal proximal tubule cells were examined with the patch-clamp technique in the inside-out mode. At an intracellular concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) of 10−5–10−4 M, addition of 1–10 mM Mg2+ increased the open probability (Po) of the channel, which shifted the Po –membrane potential (Vm) relationship to the negative voltage direction without causing an appreciable change in the gating charge (Boltzmann constant). However, the Mg2+-induced increase in Po was suppressed at a relatively low [Ca2+]i (10−5.5–10−6 M). Dwell-time histograms have revealed that addition of Mg2+ mainly increased Po by extending open times at 10−5 M Ca2+ and extending both open and closed times simultaneously at 10−5.5 M Ca2+. Since our data showed that raising the [Ca2+]i from 10−5 to 10−4 M increased Po mainly by shortening the closed time, extension of the closed time at 10−5.5 M Ca2+ would result from the Mg2+-inhibited Ca2+-dependent activation. At a constant Vm, adding Mg2+ enhanced the sigmoidicity of the Po–[Ca2+]i relationship with an increase in the Hill coefficient. These results suggest that the major action of Mg2+ on this channel is to elevate Po by lengthening the open time, while extension of the closed time at a relatively low [Ca2+]i results from a lowering of the sensitivity to Ca2+ of the channel by Mg2+, which causes the increase in the Hill coefficient.

Proinflammatory Cytokines and Potassium Channels in the Kidney

Proinflammatory cytokines affect several cell functions via receptor-mediated processes. In the kidney, functions of transporters and ion channels along the nephron are also affected by some cytokines. Among these, alteration of activity of potassium ion (K+) channels induces changes in transepithelial transport of solutes and water in the kidney, since K+ channels in tubule cells are indispensable for formation of membrane potential which serves as a driving force for the transepithelial transport. Altered K+ channel activity may be involved in renal cell dysfunction during inflammation. Although little information was available regarding the effects of proinflammatory cytokines on renal K+ channels, reports have emerged during the last decade. In human proximal tubule cells, interferon-γ showed a time-dependent biphasic effect on a 40 pS K+ channel, that is, delayed suppression and acute stimulation, and interleukin-1β acutely suppressed the channel activity. Transforming growth factor-β1 activated KCa3.1 K+ channel in immortalized human proximal tubule cells, which would be involved in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. This review discusses the effects of proinflammatory cytokines on renal K+ channels and the causal relationship between the cytokine-induced changes in K+ channel activity and renal dysfunction.