Yoko Murayama

Production of adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory protein, in mesenteric adipose tissue in Crohn’s disease

Background and aims: A characteristic feature of Crohn’s disease (CD) is mesenteric adipose tissue hypertrophy. Mesenteric adipocytes or specific proteins secreted by them may play a role in the pathogenesis of CD. We recently identified adiponectin as an adipocyte specific protein with anti-inflammatory properties. Here we report on expression of adiponectin in mesenteric adipose tissue of CD patients. Methods and results: Mesenteric adipose tissue specimens were obtained from patients with CD (n = 22), ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 8) and, for controls, colon carcinoma patients (n = 28) who underwent intestinal resection. Adiponectin concentrations were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and adiponectin mRNA levels were determined by real time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Tissue concentrations and release of adiponectin were significantly increased in hypertrophied mesenteric adipose tissue of CD patients compared with normal mesenteric adipose tissue of CD patients (p = 0.002, p = 0.040, respectively), UC patients (p = 0.002, p = 0.003), and controls (p<0.0001, p<0.0001). Adiponectin mRNA levels were significantly higher in hypertrophied mesenteric adipose tissue of CD patients than in paired normal mesenteric adipose tissue from the same subjects (p = 0.024). Adiponectin concentrations in hypertrophied mesenteric adipose tissue of CD patients with an internal fistula were significantly lower than those of CD patients without an internal fistula (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Our results suggest that adipocytes in hypertrophied mesenteric adipose tissue produce and secrete significant amounts of adiponectin, which could be involved in the regulation of intestinal inflammation associated with CD.

Localization of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor in human gastric mucosa.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) has been recently identified as a member of the EGF family. EGF receptors to which HB-EGF can bind have been detected in some types of gastric epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether HB-EGF is produced in gastric epithelial cells to maintain normal gastric mucosa. METHODS Gene expression and production of HB-EGF protein were investigated using Northern hybridization and immunohistochemistry, and the types of cells producing this protein were determined in human gastric mucosa. RESULTS HB-EGF messenger RNA was detected in the body and antrum. Immunohistochemical staining showed that HB-EGF was localized mainly in parietal cells of fundic glands and in gastrin cells of pyloric glands. Also, the immunoreactivity of EGF receptors was observed in parietal cells and gastrin cells and faintly in surface epithelial cells and mucous neck cells of the proliferative zone. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that HB-EGF is synthesized mainly in parietal cells and gastrin cells and may act in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of the gastric mucosal cells through their surface EGF receptors.

Improved fold width and increased acid secretion after eradication of the organism in Helicobacter pylori associated enlarged fold gastritis.

This study examined the effects of eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection on gastric mucosal morphology and acid secretion. Sixteen H pylori positive patients with enlarged gastric body folds were divided into two groups: (a) patients with moderate enlargement (fold width: 6 to 10 mm, n = 8) and (b) patients with severe enlargement (> 10 mm, n = 8). After successful treatment, gastric body fold width was reduced in both groups (p < 0.01) with an associated decrease in inflammatory infiltrates in the body mucosa (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). Basal acid output and tetragastrin stimulated maximal acid output (mean (SEM)) in all 16 patients significantly increased from 1.1 (0.5) to 2.9 (0.9) mmol/h (p < 0.05) and from 5.4 (1.3) to 18.7 (2.3) mmol/h (p < 0.01), respectively, with a significant decrease in fasting serum gastrin concentrations, from 127.1 (16.1) to 59.6 (3.8) pg/ml (p < 0.01). The increase in acid secretion after eradication of H pylori was more noticeable in the severe group, who had shown lower acid secretion and higher serum gastrin concentrations (p < 0.05) before eradication, than the increase seen in the moderate group. The decreases in ammonia nitrogen content seen after eradication were significant in basal (from 0.91 (0.17) to 0.37 (0.08) mmol/h, p < 0.05) and stimulated gastric secretions (from 1.57 (0.19) to 0.37 (0.13) mmol/h, p < 0.01), although these changes were too small to explain the increases in basal acid output and maximal acid output. These results suggest that inflammation of the gastric body mucosa caused by H pylori infection is associated with enlarged gastric body folds and inhibition of acid secretion in H pylori positive patients with enlarged gastric body folds.

Increased production of interleukin 1 beta and hepatocyte growth factor may contribute to foveolar hyperplasia in enlarged fold gastritis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It has been reported that eradication of Helicobacter pylori improves fold width in H pylori associated enlarged fold gastritis. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of fold thickening in this condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In eight patients with enlarged fold gastritis and 13 patients without enlarged folds, the presence of H pylori infection, inflammatory infiltrates, mucosal plasia, and epithelial cell proliferation in the body mucosa were investigated, and production of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and interleukin 1 beta (IL 1 beta) was determined by a competitive reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction method and in vitro short-term culture of biopsy specimens. RESULTS: In the patients with enlarged fold gastritis, inflammatory infiltrates including macrophages increased with H pylori colonisation in the body. Foveolar thickness and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labelling index were increased. Messenger RNA levels of HGF, but not TGF alpha, were increased, and release of HGF and IL 1 beta was increased. HGF release, which was positively correlated with IL 1 beta release and foveolar thickness, decreased in the presence of IL 1 receptor antagonist. After eradication of H pylori, inflammatory infiltrates, IL 1 beta and HGF release decreased with concomitant decreases in PCNA labelling index, foveolar thickness and fold width. CONCLUSIONS: Increased IL 1 beta and HGF production caused by H pylori infection may contribute to fold thickening of the stomach by stimulating epithelial cell proliferation and foveolar hyperplasia in patients with enlarged fold gastritis.

The tetraspanin CD9 modulates epidermal growth factor receptor signaling in cancer cells

CD9 is a member of the tetraspanins, and has been shown to be involved in a variety of cellular activities such as migration, proliferation, and adhesion. In addition, it has been known that CD9 can associate with other proteins. Here we demonstrated the physical and functional association of CD9 with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on MKN‐28 cells. Double‐immunofluorescent staining and immunoprecipitation demonstrated the complex formation of CD9‐EGFR and CD9‐β1 integrin, and that both complexes are colocalized on the cell surface especially at the cell–cell contact site. Anti‐CD9 monoclonal antibody ALB6 induced a dotted or patch‐like aggregation pattern of both CD9‐EGFR and CD9‐β1 integrin. The internalization of EGFR after EGF‐stimulation was significantly enhanced by the treatment with ALB6. CD9 can associate with EGFR in hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2/CD9) and Chinese hamster ovary cancer cells (CHO‐HER/CD9), which were transfected with pTJ/human EGFR/CD9. Furthermore expression of CD9 specifically attenuated EGFR signaling in CHO‐HER/CD9 cells through the down regulation of surface expression of EGFR. These results suggest that CD9 might have an important role that attenuates EGFR signaling. Therefore, CD9 not only associates EGFR but also a new regulator, which may affect EGF‐induced signaling in cancer cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 135–143, 2008.

LINE-1 Hypomethylation Is Associated with Increased CpG Island Methylation in Helicobacter pylori–Related Enlarged-Fold Gastritis

Background: The molecular mechanism by which Helicobacter pylori infection leads to gastric cancer is not fully understood. Similarly, patients with enlarged-fold (EF+) gastritis, one cause of which is H. pylori infection, have an increased risk for gastric cancer, although again molecular mechanism is unclear. In the present study, we analyzed the methylation status of long interspersed nucleotide elements (LINE-1) and three cancer-related genes in a panel of gastric mucosae, with or without EF+ gastritis. Methods: We used bisulfite pyrosequencing to assess the levels of LINE-1, CDH1, CDH13, and PGP9.5 methylation in 78 gastric mucosa specimens from 48 patients. Results: Levels of LINE-1 methylation were significantly reduced in mucosae from patients with EF+ gastritis. This hypomethylation of LINE-1 was associated with increased methylation of the 5′ CpG islands of the genes, which suggests that, in EF+ gastritis, the methylation of the promoter regions of certain genes is accompanied by global demethylation of repetitive sequences. Conclusions: Our results indicate that genomewide hypomethylation and regional hypermethylation occur in EF+ gastritis and may contribute to the tumorigenesis of diffuse-type gastric cancers. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2555–64)

Cd9-mediated activation of the p46 Shc isoform leads to apoptosis in cancer cells

CD9, a member of the tetraspanin family, has been shown to be involved in a range of cellular activities, including migration, proliferation and adhesion, but the molecular mechanisms by which it mediates such events is unclear. Here, we found that anti-CD9 monoclonal antibody ALB6 inhibited cell proliferation, reduced cell viability and induced not only morphological changes specific to apoptosis but also molecular changes, as evidenced by TUNEL and annexin-V staining. For the possible mechanism of ALB6-induced apoptosis, ALB6 activated the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38 mitogen-activated-protein kinase (MAPK) within 5-15 minutes, as well as caspase-3 within 24-48 hours. It is noteworthy that ALB6 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the p46 Shc isoform specifically and that the overexpression of its dominant-negative form completely suppressed the ALB6-induced activation of JNK/SAPK, p38 MAPK and caspase-3, resulting in the inhibition of apoptotic cell death. These results suggest that CD9 might regulate apoptosis through the specialized signals in human cancer cell lines.

Significance of the association between heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and CD9 in human gastric cancer.

Heparin‐binding epidermal growth factor‐like growth factor (HB‐EGF) is a member of the EGF family. Juxtacrine activity of proHB‐EGF (the membrane‐anchored form of HB‐EGF) has been shown to be significantly potentiated when it is coexpressed with CD9 in vitro. The purpose of our study was to investigate the issue of whether proHB‐EGF and CD9 are coexpressed in gastric cancer. HB‐EGF gene expression and protein production in human gastric cancers was investigated, and EGF receptor and CD9 expressions were also evaluated. HB‐EGF mRNA levels in gastric cancers were elevated, compared with normal gastric tissues, especially in the intestinal type. ProHB‐EGF immunoreactivity was detected primarily in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane of gastric cancer cells. Of 66 patients, 40 (60.6%) exhibited proHB‐EGF immunoreactivity and the level of its expression was significantly associated with tumor status (p < 0.01) and histological differentiation (p < 0.001). In addition, proHB‐EGF mRNA was detected at high levels in the intestinal type by in situ hybridization. CD9 immunoreactivity was found to be preserved in 26 of 36 patients (72.2%) and CD9 protein expression was inversely associated with lymph node status (p < 0.05). A significant correlation between its expression and histological differentiation (p < 0.01) was found, and the association of CD9 with proHB‐EGF was increased in the intestinal type, as evidenced by an immunoprecipitation method. These results indicate that the coexpression of proHB‐EGF and CD9 may be involved in the tumorigenesis and/or proliferation of gastric cancers in a juxtacrine manner.

Morphological and functional restoration of parietal cells in Helicobacter pylori associated enlarged fold gastritis after eradication

BACKGROUND/AIM Helicobacter pylori infections are associated with hypochlorhydria in patients with pangastritis. It has previously been shown that eradication of H pylori leads to an increase in acid secretion in H pylori associated enlarged fold gastritis, suggesting that H pylori infection affects parietal cell function in the gastric body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects ofH pylori infection on parietal cell morphology and function in hypochlorhydric patients. PATIENTS/METHODS The presence of H pylori infection, mucosal length, and inflammatory infiltration were investigated in six patients with enlarged fold gastritis and 12 patients without enlarged folds. Parietal cell morphology was examined by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against the α subunit of H+,K+-ATPase and electron microscopy. In addition, gastric acid secretion and fasting serum gastrin concentration were determined before and after the eradication ofH pylori. RESULTS In theH pylori positive patients with enlarged fold gastritis, fold width, foveolar length, and inflammatory infiltration were increased. In addition, the immunostaining pattern of H+, K+-ATPase was less uniform, and the percentage of altered parietal cells showing dilated canaliculi with vacuole-like structures and few short microvilli was greatly increased compared with that in H pylori positive patients without enlarged folds. After eradication, fold width, foveolar length, and inflammatory infiltrates decreased and nearly all parietal cells were restored to normal morphology. On the other hand, altered parietal cells were negligible in H pylori negative patients. In addition, the basal acid output and tetragastrin stimulated maximal acid output increased significantly from 0.5 (0.5) to 4.1 (1.5) mmol/h and from 2.5 (1.2) to 13.8 (0.7) mmol/h (p<0.01), and fasting serum gastrin concentrations decreased significantly from 213.5 (31.6) to 70.2 (7.5) pg/ml (p<0.01) after eradication in patients with enlarged fold gastritis. CONCLUSION The morphological changes in parietal cells associated withH pylori infection may be functionally associated with the inhibition of acid secretion seen in patients with enlarged fold gastritis.

E-cadherin Gene Promoter Hypermethylation in H. pylori-Induced Enlarged Fold Gastritis

Background:  Promoter hypermethylation of E‐cadherin plays an important role on gastric carcinogenesis. We have previously reported that the odds ratio for gastric carcinoma and the prevalence of diffuse‐type early gastric carcinoma in Helicobacter pylori‐induced enlarged fold gastritis increased with increasing fold width. Thus, we examined E‐cadherin methylation in gastric mucosa from H. pylori‐induced enlarged fold gastritis before and after H. pylori eradication. Moreover, we analyzed the mechanism of H. pylori infection‐induced E‐cadherin hypermethylation.