Yasuko Soejima

Increased expression of thrombomodulin on the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells and mouse hemangioma cells by cyclic AMP.

We previously reported that the expression of thrombomodulin on the MEG-01, a cell line from human megakaryoblastic leukemia, was increased by agents that increase intracellular cAMP. In this paper we examine the effect of these agents on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and mouse hemangioma cells. Incubation of the cells with 3 mM dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) increased functionally active thrombomodulin by about 2-fold on HUVEC and 4-fold on hemangioma cells. This effect was observed from 1 hour after the incubation and continued up to 24 hours. Dot hybridization of mRNA demonstrated a dose dependent increase in thrombomodulin mRNA in response to dbcAMP. Treatment of HUVEC with 20 microM forskolin or 100 microM isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) also increased cell-surface thrombomodulin on HUVEC. These agents prevented the interleukin I (IL-I) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced decrease in thrombomodulin on HUVEC. These data suggest that the expression of thrombomodulin on HUVEC and mouse hemangioma cells may be regulated by intracellular cAMP level.

A rapid enzymatic assay for total blood polyamines

We have designed a rapid, reliable enzymatic assay for total blood polyamines, as based on the combination of substrate specificity of polyamine oxidase (PAO) from Aspergillus terreus and putrescine oxidase (PUO) from Micrococcus rubens. Quinone dye, derived from hydrogen peroxide generated in the oxidation reaction, is measured spectrophotometrically at 555 nm, and total amounts of putrescine (Put), cadaverine (Cad), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm) can be readily determined. The minimum detection limit is about 0.4 mumol/L whole blood. Bilirubin, hemoglobin, reducing substances, and anticoagulants show no apparent interference. Analytical recovery averaged 98.5%. Within-run and between-day precisions ranged from 1.02% (61.04 mumol/L) to 2.84% (13.07) and 1.54% (50.67) to 3.27% (14.74), respectively. Results obtained with this method and those by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (r = 0.955) or the enzymatic differential method (r = 0.944) correlated well. In our opinion, this method is superior to other assays being used to determine blood polyamines.

An enzymatic differential assay for urinary diamines, spermidine, and spermine

SummarySubsequent to the hydrolysis of urinary conjugated amines by heating with hydrochloric acid, free amines were isolated by cation-exchange chromatography. SPD and SPM in an aliquot of amine extract were first oxidized by PAO from Penicillium chrysogenum, producing PUT and hydrogen peroxide. DIAs, which consist of the initially present DIAs plus PUT produced by PAO, were subsequently oxidized by PUO from Micrococcus rubens, producing hydrogen peroxide. In an another aliquot of the amine extract DIAs and SPD were oxidized by PUO, producing hydrogen peroxide. Quinone dye, derived from hydrogen peroxide generated in each end-point reaction, was measured spectrophotometrically at 555 nm, and the amounts of the respective amines in urine were calculated. Significantly elevated levels of DIA, SPD, SPM, and an elevated DIA to SPD ratio were found in urine from 46 cancer patients, as compared to 34 normal control subjects. An increase in DIA and the ratio of DIA to SPD was found at clinical tumor stage I of the alimentary tract. The levels of DIA remained fairly constant and the ratio of DIA to SPD was consistently decreased with advancing clinical tumor stages. In patients who had undergone curative resection, there were greater decreasing rates (80% of cases for DIA and 80% for SPD) than in patients who had undergone noncurative resection (45.5% for DIA and 36.4% for SPD).

A simple enzymatic differential assay for diamines, spermidine, and spermine in urine and blood

This rapid, reliable enzymatic differential assay method for diamines (putrescine plus cadaverine), spermidine, and spermine in urine and blood is suitable for practical routine use and does not require special and expensive equipment. The method is based on a combination of the substrate specificities of two amine oxidases, i.e., polyamine oxidase from A. terreus and putrescine oxidase from M. rubens. Quinone dye, derived from hydrogen peroxide generated in each of three end-point reactions, is measured spectrophotometrically at 555 nm, and the amounts of the respective amines are simply calculated. Analytical recoveries and precisions are acceptable. The proposed method produces results which correlate with high-performance liquid chromatography. Twenty or more assays can be done within 3 hr by one technician.