Tadashi Katagiri

The Role of G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 5 in Pathogenesis of Sporadic Parkinson's Disease

Sporadic Parkinsons disease (sPD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Although the pathogenesis of the disease remains undetermined, phosphorylation of α-synuclein and its oligomer formation seem to play a key role. However, the protein kinase(s) involved in the phosphorylation in the pathogenesis of sPD has not been identified. Here, we found that G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 (GRK5) accumulated in Lewy bodies and colocalized with α-synuclein in the pathological structures of the brains of sPD patients. In cotransfected cells, GRK5 phosphorylated Ser-129 of α-synuclein at the plasma membrane and induced translocation of phosphorylated α-synuclein to the perikaryal area. GRK5-catalyzed phosphorylation also promoted the formation of soluble oligomers and aggregates of α-synuclein. Genetic association study revealed haplotypic association of the GRK5 gene with susceptibility to sPD. The haplotype contained two functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms, m22.1 and m24, in introns of the GRK5 gene, which bound to YY1 (Yin Yang-1) and CREB-1 (cAMP response element-binding protein 1), respectively, and increased transcriptional activity of the reporter gene. The results suggest that phosphorylation of α-synuclein by GRK5 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of sPD.

Lewy body-like hyaline inclusions in sporadic motor neuron disease are ubiquitinated

SummaryRound eosinophilic hyaline inclusion bodies with halos in the somata of anterior horn cells from a case of sporadic lower motor neuron disease (MND) were intensely immunostained with the monoclonal anti-ubiquitin antibody (DF2). A few similar, DF2-positive inclusions were also observed in the nerve cell processes of anterior horn cells or in the neuropil. Most inclusions showed intense homogeneous staining of the entire inclusion, whereas a few had intense staining of their periphery with no or pale staining of the central areas. Other DF2-positive structures in the somata of anterior horn cells included cytoplasmic granular structures, eosinophilic thread-like or reticular structures, and small eosinophilic profiles different from Bunina bodies. The DF2-staining intensity of Bunina bodies and spheroids did not exceed the background level. These results suggest that ubiquitination is associated with a pathological process of anterior horn cell degeneration in this MND case.

Marked increase in cerebrospinal fluid ubiquitin in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

We have established the radioimmunoassay for ubiquitin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and measured the ubiquitin concentration in CSF from 4 cases of neuropathologically verified Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), 10 cases of multi-infarct dementia (MID), 7 cases of senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT), and 18 controls. The normal values were determined to range from 7.3 to 21.0 ng/ml, 14.3 +/- 1.1 ng/ml in the mean +/- S.E.M. The CSF ubiquitin levels in the cases of MID and SDAT were 16.6 +/- 6.4 ng/ml and 21.3 +/- 6.1 ng/ml, respectively. In the cases of CJD, the CSF ubiquitin was markedly increased at the early and middle stages of the disease (230.6 ng/ml in Case 1, 107.6 ng/ml in Case 2, 212.5 ng/ml in Case 3, and 377.0 ng/ml in Case 4) and these gradually decreased as the disease progressed. The measurement of CSF ubiquitin seems useful to make an early diagnosis of CJD.

The binding of basic fibroblast growth factor to Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques

Brain sections from Alzheimers disease (AD) patients and controls were treated with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and then immunostained with anti-bFGF. Additional sections were treated with biotinylated bFGF without using the anti-bFGF. Labelling was visualized by the ABC method. Both protocols above intensely labelled neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques and amyloidotic vessels in AD brains. Omission of the bFGF treatment abolished the staining of the AD lesions. The pretreatment of sections with heparitinase also reduced their staining. These results indicate that AD lesions contain bFGF-binding sites and that the chemical substrate for bFGF binding to AD lesions was heparan sulfate.

Deposits of eosinophil granule proteins in eosinophilic cholecystitis and eosinophilic colitis associated with hypereosinophilic syndrome.

SummaryA case of hypereosinophilic syndrome with eosinophilic colitis, eosinophilic cholecystitis, and increased serum levels of interleukin-5 (IL-5) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) is reported. Immunohistochemical studies of cholecystectomy and colon biopsy specimens with monoclonal antibodies, which are specific for activated eosinophils, secreted eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and for major basic protein (MBP), demonstrated the presence of numerous activated eosinophils, secretion of ECP, and deposition of MBP in areas of tissue damage. These findings suggest that in eosinophilic cholecystitis and eosinophilic colitis, activated eosinophils infiltrate and degranulate in each tissue, releasing eosinophil granule proteins that produce tissue damage.

Species difference of glucagon-like materials in the brain

Abstract Glucagon-like materials were found in the canine, porcine, bovine, rat and human brain. Both glucagon immunoreactivity measured with an antibody against the C-terminal portion of glucagon and glucagon-like immunoreactivity measured with an antibody against the N-terminal portion of glucagon were detected in the thalamus-hypothalamus, brain stem and spinal cord, but not in the cerebrum, basal ganglia, pituitary gland or cerebellum. The distribution of glucagon-like material in the brain was common in all tested mammals.

Immunohistochemical detection of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and transforming growth factor beta-1 in tracheopathia osteochondroplastica

Abstract Tracheopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is an unusual condition characterized by cartilaginous or bony submucosal nodules in the tracheobronchial tree. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) are potent inducers for new bone formation. We studied the precise localization of BMP-2 and TGF-β1 in two autopsied cases of TO, using immunohistochemical methods. Positive BMP-2 immunoreactivity was detected in numerous mesenchymal cells and chondroblasts lining the nodules in the tracheal submucosa. BMP-2 was not found in mature lamellar bony nodules. TGF-β1 was not seen in mesenchymal cells, though it did appear in chondrocytes and osteocytes in the nodules. These results suggest that BMP-2 plays an important role in nodule formation and acts synergistically with TGF-β1 to promote the nodules inductive cascade in the tracheal submucosa.

Localization of the gustatory pathway in the human midbrain

The localization of the secondary gustatory pathway in the human brainstem still remains uncertain. Here we report two patients with small vascular lesions in the unilateral midbrain tegmentum who presented with taste disturbance on the ipsilateral side of the tongue. In both cases, the dorsomedial mesencephalic tegmental region lateral to the oculomotor nucleus, including the central tegmental tract and the ventral part of the periaqueductal gray, was involved commonly in the lesions. The secondary gustatory pathway arising from the nucleus of the solitary tract appears to run rostrally, without crossing, to the ipsilateral thalamic nucleus through the dorsomedial part of the tegmental region at the rostral level of the midbrain.

The binding of basic fibroblast growth factor to ischaernic neurons in the rat

Transient occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 15 min produced a small ischaemic lesion in the dorsal portion of the right striatum in rats as seen on days 3, 7 and 14 post‐operatively. The lesions consisted mainly of reactive astrocytes and ‘ischaemic neurons’ with chromatin‐condensed (pyknotic) nuclei and homogeneously eosinophilic cytoplasm. The incubation of tissue sections with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) followed by anti‐bFGF, or with biotinylated bFGF without anti‐bFGF, labelled virtually all ischaemic neurons, indicating that bFGF had bound to the latter. The pretreatment of sections with heparitinase prevented the binding of bFGF to these cells, suggesting that the chemical substrate for the bFGF binding was heparan sulphate. In light of the findings that many normal‐looking neurons were observed in the corresponding portion of the right striatum in most rats on post‐operative days 28 and 90, the appearance of bFGF‐binding sites in ischaemic neurons may contribute to the repair process of injured neurons.

Segmental copy-number gain within the region of isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase genes in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

AIMS Sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS) seems to be a multifactorial disease, the pathogenesis of which may involve both genetic and environmental factors. The present study aims at identifying a possible genetic change that confers risk for SALS. METHODS We performed whole-genome screening of a copy-number variation (CNV) using a CNV beadchip, followed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and region-targeted high-density oligonucleotide tiling microarray. RESULTS Within the 40-kb region on 10p15.3 subtelomere, which harbours two genes encoding isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase 1 (IDI1) and IDI2, we found a segmental copy-number gain in a large proportion of SALS patients. qPCR analysis demonstrated the copy-number gain in 46 out of 83 SALS patients, as compared with 10 out of 99 controls (p=4.86×10(-11), Odds Ratio 10.8); subsequent tiling microarray validated qPCR results and elucidated the fine structure of segmental gains. CONCLUSIONS A segmental copy-number gain in the IDI1/IDI2 gene region may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of SALS.