Soichiro Miura

Increased expression of an inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase and the formation of peroxynitrite in colonic mucosa of patients with active ulcerative colitis

Background—Increased production of reactive metabolites of oxygen and nitrogen has been implicated in chronic inflammation of the gut. The object of this study was to examine the magnitude and location of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and peroxynitrite formation in the colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis in relation to the degree of inflammation. Subjects—Thirty three patients with active ulcerative colitis (17 with mild or moderate inflammation, 16 with severe inflammation). Methods—Inducible NOS activity was determined in the colonic mucosa by measuring the conversion ofl-arginine to citrulline in the absence of calcium. The localisation of NOS and nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity was assessed immunohistochemically using the labelled streptavidin biotin method. Results—Inducible NOS activity increased in parallell with the degree of inflammation of the mucosa. Expression of inducible NOS was found not only in the lamina propria, but also in the surface of the epithelium. Peroxynitrite formation as assessed by nitrotyrosine staining was frequently observed in the lamina propria of actively inflamed mucosa. Conclusions—Nitric oxide and peroxynitrite formation may play an important role in causing irreversible cellular injury to the colonic mucosa in patients with active ulcerative colitis.

Oxidative stress on mitochondria and cell membrane of cultured rat hepatocytes and perfused liver exposed to ethanol.

BACKGROUND & AIMS The precise pathogenic significance of oxidative injury in the evolution of alcohol-induced liver disease is still obscure. The present report was designed to investigate whether ethanol alters the production of active oxidants and biological activities of hepatocytes. METHODS The following parameters in rat hepatocytes were investigated by using fluorescence probes in vitro and ex vivo: (1) mitochondrial membrane potential and membrane permeability transition, (2) oxygen radicals generation, (3) membrane barrier function, and (4) glutathione level. RESULTS Ethanol (50 mmol/L) increased oxidative stress in hepatocytes and subsequently induced an increased mitochondrial permeability transition and a decreased membrane potential. These ethanol-induced alterations were attenuated by an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase and an intracellular oxidant scavenger, whereas they were enhanced by diethyl maleic acid, a glutathione depletor. Ethanol plus diethyl maleic acid but not ethanol alone increased the number of hepatocytes with membrane barrier dysfunction. A continuous infusion of ethanol (50 mmol/L) increased oxidative stress and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in the pericentral area of isolated perfused rat liver. CONCLUSIONS Active oxidants generated during ethanol metabolism increase mitochondrial permeability transition and modulate mitochondrial energy synthesis in hepatocytes. Reduction of glutathione level enhances mitochondrial dysfunction and impairs membrane barrier function of hepatocytes.

Long-term follow-up study on gastric adenoma and its relation to gastric protruded carcinoma

A total of 191 gastric adenomas in 178 patients was studied macroscopically by endoscopy and histopathologically by endoscopic biopsy. Among the lesions, 85 in 74 patients were followed‐up for six months to 12 years. Gastric adenomas were found to be more frequent in the aged, with a rate of 0.1% in the third decade but 3.7% in the ninth decade, on gastroscopic examination. Gastric cancers coexistent with the gastric adenomas were seen in 14 cases (8%), and were more frequent in male than in female patients (sex ratio, 12:2). Only eight of the 85 lesions (9%) revealed macroscopic changes. Four of these showed a reduction in size, while the other four lesions showed enlargement. In 21 of the 85 lesions (25%), histologic changes were observed. Four (5%) changed from moderate dysplasia (Group III) to nondysplastic or intestinal metaplasia (Group I), eight lesions (9%) revealed histologic changes (Group III to IV, or vice versa) without malignant transformation, and nine lesions (11%) showed malignant changes. Neither submucosal invasion nor lymph node metastasis was found. These lesions consisted of carcinoma in situ with small foci in the lesions exhibiting moderate dysplasia, and a gradual transition from severe dysplasia to cancer was seen in resected lesions obtained by endoscopic polypectomy or surgical resection. In addition, a gradual increase in dysplasia of tissue from moderate to severe was revealed by repeated gastroscopic biopsy. These findings suggest that the gastric adenomas underwent malignant changes with gradual transformation from moderate through severe dysplasia.

The Relationship between Global Methylation Level, Loss of Heterozygosity, and Microsatellite Instability in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer

Purpose: The relationship between global hypomethylation, chromosomal instability (CIN), and microsatellite instability (MSI) remains unclear in colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between global methylation status, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and MSI in sporadic colorectal cancer. Experimental Design: We determined global methylation levels in 80 sporadic colorectal cancers, 51 adjacent normal tissues, and 20 normal tissues using the long interspersed nucleotide elements–combined bisulfite restriction analysis method. We also analyzed 80 colorectal cancers for MSI status and LOH at chromosomes 5q21, 8p12-22, 17p13, and 18q21. Results: We identified 14 cases of MSI (17.5%) and 58 cases of LOH (72.5%). LOH was observed more frequently in microsatellite stable (MSS) cancers than in MSI cancers at all loci. Colorectal cancers showed significantly lower global methylation levels than did normal tissues (41.0 ± 9.7% versus 54.3 ± 6.5%; P < 0.001). MSS cancers showed significantly lower global methylation levels when compared with MSI cancers (39.5 ± 9.4% versus 48.2 ± 8.2%; P = 0.003). Tumors with global hypomethylation (with ≤40% of methylation levels) had a significantly increased number of chromosomal loci with LOH than did tumors without global hypomethylation (1.9 versus 0.9; P < 0.001); 11 tumors (13.9%) lacked both MSI and LOH. This subgroup had significantly higher global methylation levels (46.8 ± 8.7%) than did MSS cancers with LOH (38.0 ± 9.0%; P = 0.006). Conclusions: These data showed a significant association between global hypomethylation and chromosomal instability in sporadic colorectal cancer. This suggests that global hypomethylation plays an important role in inducing genomic instability in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Omeprazole attenuates oxygen-derived free radical production from human neutrophils

Neutrophil-derived oxygen radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders such as acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion or by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The objectives of the present in vitro and clinical study were to determine whether omeprazole inhibits the production of toxic oxidants from neutrophils and to evaluate whether this drug affects intralysosomal pH. The respiratory burst of human neutrophils were was measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (ChL) assay. The lysosomal pH of neutrophil was assessed by the fluorescence intensity ratio of phagocytized FITC-dextran using a digital-fluorescence video microscope. In vitro studies revealed that omeprazole (1-100 microM) dose dependently inhibited the ChL value of purified neutrophils that were elicited by FMLP (f-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine) or opsonized zymosan. Lysosomal pH was also increased in a dose-dependent manner by pretreatment with omeprazole. Healthy volunteers administered omeprazole, 40 mg/d for 7 d, showed a significant reduction in ChL values in peripheral neutrophils. These results suggest that omeprazole can inhibit the production of toxic oxidants by activated neutrophils. The action of omeprazole may be associated with a malfunction of lysosomal oxidant-producing enzymes due to an elevated intralysosomal pH.

Rebamipide, a novel antiulcer agent, attenuates Helicobacter pylori induced gastric mucosal cell injury associated with neutrophil derived oxidants.

The effect of rebamipide, a novel antiulcer compound, on Helicobacter pylori activated neutrophil dependent in vitro gastric epithelial cell injury was investigated. Luminol dependent chemiluminescence (ChL), which detects toxic oxidants from neutrophils exhibited a 12-fold increase when the bacterial suspension of H pylori was added to the isolated human neutrophils. This change was significantly attenuated by rebamipide at a concentration less than 1 mM, showing that rebamipide may inhibit oxidant production from H pylori elicited neutrophils. To assess whether rebamipide attenuates gastric mucosal injury, we tested its inhibitory action on H pylori induced gastric mucosal damage associated with neutrophils in vitro. Rabbit gastric mucosal cells were monolayered in culture wells and coincubated with human neutrophils and H pylori, and the cytotoxicity index was then calculated. Cultured gastric cells were significantly damaged when they were incubated with human neutrophils activated by H pylori. This cellular damage was attenuated by rebamipide in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, spectrophotometrical measurement showed that rebamipide (1 mM) inhibits urease activity by 21.7%. As monochloramine (an oxidant yielded by reaction of neutrophil derived chlorinated oxidant and ammonia) is proposed as an important toxic molecule in this model, the current findings suggest that the preventive effect of rebamipide on H pylori elicited neutrophil induced gastric mucosal injury may result from its inhibitory actions on the neutrophilic oxidative burst as well as H pylori derived urease activity.

Propionibacterium freudenreichii component 1.4‐dihydroxy‐2‐naphthoic acid (DHNA) attenuates dextran sodium sulphate induced colitis by modulation of bacterial flora and lymphocyte homing

Background and aim: 1.4-Dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (DHNA), a bifidogenic growth stimulator from Propionibacterium freudenreichii, is thought to have a beneficial effect as a prebiotic; however, its in vivo effect on intestinal inflammation remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether oral administration of DHNA can ameliorate dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) induced colitis and to determine the possible underlying mechanisms. Method: Colitis was induced in mice by treatment with 2.0% DSS for seven days. DHNA (0.6 or 2.0 mg/kg) was given in drinking water prior to (preventive study) or after (therapeutic study) DSS administration. Colonic damage was histologically scored, and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1) expression and β7 positive cell infiltration were determined by immunohistochemistry. mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α)) were determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, bacterial flora in the caecum, concentrations of short chain acids, and luminal pH were examined. Results: DHNA improved survival rate and histological damage score in mice administered DSS in both the preventive and therapeutic studies. DHNA significantly attenuated the enhanced expression of MAdCAM-1, the increased β7 positive cell number, and the increased mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in DSS treated colon. In addition, the decreased number of Lactobacillus and Enterobacteriaceae induced by DSS was recovered by DHNA. Preventive effects on decrease in butyrate concentration and decrease in pH level in mice administered DSS were also observed in the DHNA preventive study. Conclusion: DHNA, a novel type of prebiotic, attenuates colonic inflammation not only by balancing intestinal bacterial flora but also by suppressing lymphocyte infiltration through reduction of MAdCAM-1.

Extensive DNA damage induced by monochloramine in gastric cells.

Colonization of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) to gastric mucosa plays an important role for the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal lesions. We previously reported the importance of monochloramine (NH2Cl), which was derived from the interaction between Hp-urease and infiltrated leukocytes, in the course of Hp-associated gastric mucosal injury. While the long-term infection of Hp in the gastric mucosa is known to be one of the virulent factors which closely link to the gastric carcinogenesis, the details of its pathogenetic mechanisms remain speculative. The present study is designed to examine whether a NH2Cl could damage the DNA of gastric cells. Rabbit gastric mucosal cells (RGMC) or KATO III cells were cultured and suspended. Cell suspensions were exposed to HOCl, NH3 or NH2Cl for 15 min to give a final concentration of 0.1 mM. The magnitude of a double strand break of DNA was quantified by measuring the remnant double strand stained by ethidium bromide (EB), and the fluorescence intensity of EB was analyzed by spectrophotometer. Separately, cell nuclei were stained by fluorescent dye (Hoechst No. 33258) in order to evaluate the levels of chromatin condensation evoked by DNA fragmentation. The number of cells with chromatin condensation was counted. During the entire experimental period, more than 85% of cells were persistently viable in all groups. NH2Cl significantly induced the DNA double strand break as well as chromatin condensation in RGMC and KATO III cells (P < 0.05). However, NH3 or HOCl did not induce the DNA double strand break as well as chromatin condensation in both cells. NH2Cl, but not its precursors (NH3 or HOCl), enhanced the levels of DNA injury, suggesting the possible involvement in the carcinogenesis of Hp-associated gastric mucosa.

Lansoprazole inhibits oxygen-derived free radical production from neutrophils activated by Helicobacter pylori

We studied the influence of lansoprazole on Helicobacter pylori- elicited neutrophil activation, including the oxidative burst and infiltration of gastric mucosa, and confirmed whether radiolabeled lansoprazole is actually detected in gastric neutrophils. The oxidative burst of purified human neutrophils was measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (ChL). [3H]Lansoprazole uptake sites in human gastric mucosa were observed by autoradiography. The magnitude of neutrophil infiltration of gastric mucosa was assessed by tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) content. ChL assay indicated that oxygen-derived free radical production was increased twofold by adding H. pylori water extract, which was significantly inhibited by lansoprazole (10-4 M). Gastric biopsy samples were obtained endoscopically from patients with H. pylori-positive gastritis. Autoradiographic examination revealed that the [3H]lansoprazole binding site was present in the cytoplasmic granules of infiltrated neutrophils. Tissue MPO content was significantly decreased after treatment with lansoprazole. These data suggest that lansoprazole binds directly to neutrophils, subsequently inhibiting neutrophil accumulation and release of toxic metabolites.

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage precedes gastric mucosal cell death induced by ethanol administration

Although it has been speculated that active oxidants and mitochondrial membrane damages play roles in ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damages, its detail remains unknown. The present study was designed to investigate whether ethanol induces oxidative stress and mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) before cell death of gastric mucosal cells. Rat gastric mucosal cells (RGM-1) were kept in serum-free Dulbeccos modified Eagles medium before addition of various concentrations of ethanol. Nuclear morphological aftemations and membrane barrier dysfunction of RGM-1 cells were assessed by staining with Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide, respectively. To assess the contribution of oxygen-derived free radicals and intracellular glutathione, scavenger of hydrogen peroxide and the hydroxyl radical, N,N-dimethylthiourea, glutathione precursor, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, 4-methylpyrazole were added before treatment with ethanol. To investigate MPT, calcein and tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester were loaded before addition of ethanol, and the changes of fluorescence intensity were monitored using a laser scanning confocal microscope. Ethanol (>5% v/v) dose-dependently increased the number of propidium iodide-positive cells, suggesting a diminished barrier function of cell membrane. After addition of ethanol, mitochondria were filled quickly with calcein indicating MPT, which was accompanied by mitochondrial depolarization, as shown by loss of tetramethylrodamine methyl ester before cell death. Ethanol-induced cell death was significantly attenuated by simultaneous incubation with either N,N-dimethylthiourea or N-acetyl-L-cysteine, suggesting the importance of intracellular redox states in inducing cellular damage, whereas such change was not attenuated by 4-methylpyrazole. Present results suggest that ethanol treatment induces intracellular oxidative stress and produces MPT and mitochondrial depolarization, which are preceding cell death in gastric mucosal cells. Intracellular antioxidants, such as glutathione, may have a significant protective action against ethanol in gastric mucosal cells.