Takayuki Okamoto

Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Ōsaka-shi, Osaka-fu, Japan

Are you Takayuki Okamoto?

Claim your profile

Publications (26)124.16 Total impact

  • Article: The thrombin inhibitor, argatroban, inhibits breast cancer metastasis to bone.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Breast cancer has the potential to metastasize to bone, causing debilitating symptoms. Although many tumor cells have thrombin-generating systems originating from tissue factor (TF), therapy in terms of the coagulation system is not well established. To elucidate the efficacy of the thrombin inhibitor, argatroban, on bone metastasis, we investigated TF activation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion on treatment with thrombin and argatroban. METHODS: MDA-231 breast cancer cells were treated with thrombin in presence or absence of argatroban, and TF activity was measured in the form of activated factor X. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure VEGF concentrations in the medium. MDA-231 cells were injected into the left heart ventricle of mice, and then argatroban or saline was administered intraperitoneally for 28 days. After 28 days, incidence of bone metastasis was evaluated in the limbs by radiography. RESULTS: TF activity and VEGF secretion were upregulated by thrombin. Argatroban inhibited the enhancement of TF activity and VEGF secretion induced by thrombin. In vivo analysis revealed that the number of metastasized limbs in the argatroban group was significantly lower compared with the saline group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thrombin not only enhances VEGF secretion but also has a positive feedback mechanism to reexpress TF. These results indicate that inhibition of thrombin is of great value in suppression of tumor metastasis. Argatroban is a noteworthy and useful thrombin inhibitor because it has already been used in the clinical setting and has antimetastatic effects in vivo.
    Breast Cancer 02/2012; · 1.36 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Thrombomodulin: a bifunctional modulator of inflammation and coagulation in sepsis.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Deregulated interplay between inflammation and coagulation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Therapeutic approaches that simultaneously target both inflammation and coagulation hold great promise for the treatment of sepsis. Thrombomodulin is an endogenous anticoagulant protein that, in cooperation with protein C and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, serves to maintain the endothelial microenvironment in an anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant state. A recombinant soluble form of thrombomodulin has been approved to treat patients suffering from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and has thus far shown greater therapeutic potential than heparin. A phase II clinical trial is currently underway in the USA to study the efficacy of thrombomodulin for the treatment of sepsis with DIC complications. This paper focuses on the critical roles that thrombomodulin plays at the intersection of inflammation and coagulation and proposes the possible existence of interactions with integrins via protein C. Finally, we provide a rationale for the clinical application of thrombomodulin for alleviating sepsis.
    Critical care research and practice 01/2012; 2012:614545.
  • Article: Anti-integrin therapy for multiple sclerosis.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Integrins are the foremost family of cell adhesion molecules that regulate immune cell trafficking in health and diseases. Integrin alpha4 mediates organ-specific migration of immune cells to the inflamed brain, thereby playing the critical role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Anti-alpha4 integrin therapy aiming to block infiltration of autoreactive lymphocytes to the inflamed brain has been validated in several clinical trials for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. This paper provides readers with an overview of the molecular and structural bases of integrin activation as well as rationale for using anti-alpha4 integrin therapy for multiple sclerosis and then chronicles the rise and fall of this treatment strategy using natalizumab, a humanized anti-alpha4 integrin.
    Autoimmune diseases. 01/2012; 2012:357101.
  • Article: Astroglial integrins in the development and regulation of neurovascular units.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: In the neurovascular units of the central nervous system, astrocytes form extensive networks that physically and functionally connect the neuronal synapses and the cerebral vascular vessels. This astrocytic network is thought to be critically important for coupling neuronal signaling activity and energy demand with cerebral vascular tone and blood flow. To establish and maintain this elaborate network, astrocytes must precisely calibrate their perisynaptic and perivascular processes in order to sense and regulate neuronal and vascular activities, respectively. Integrins, a prominent family of cell-adhesion molecules that support astrocytic migration in the brain during developmental and normal adult stages, have been implicated in regulating the integrity of the blood brain barrier and the tripartite synapse to facilitate the formation of a functionally integrated neurovascular unit. This paper describes the significant roles that integrins and connexins play not only in regulating astrocyte migration during the developmental and adult stages of the neurovascular unit, but also in general health and in such diseases as hepatic encephalopathy.
    Pain research and treatment. 01/2012; 2012:964652.
  • Article: Connexin32 protects against vascular inflammation by modulating inflammatory cytokine expression by endothelial cells.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Gap junctions (GJs) play an important role in vascular function, stability, and homeostasis in endothelial cells (ECs), and GJs are comprised of members of the connexin (Cx) family. GJs of vascular ECs are assembled from Cx37, Cx40, and Cx43, and we showed that ECs also express Cx32. In this study, we investigated a potential role for Cx32 during vascular inflammation. Expression of Cx32 mRNA and protein by human umbilical venous ECs (HUVECs) decreased following treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, but lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interleukin (IL)-1β did not affect Cx32 expression. Intracellular transfer of an inhibitory anti-Cx32 monoclonal antibody significantly enhanced TNF-α-induced monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and IL-6 expression, but overexpression of Cx32 abrogated TNF-α-induced MCP-1 and IL-6 expression. LPS treatment of Cx32 knock-out mice significantly increased the serum concentrations of TNF-α, interferon-γ, IL-6 and MCP-1, compared to wild-type littermate mice. These data suggest that Cx32 protects ECs from inflammation by regulating cytokine expression and plays an important role in the maintenance of vascular function.
    Experimental Cell Research 10/2010; 317(3):348-55. · 3.58 Impact Factor
  • Article: An in vitro method for screening anti-platelet agents using a microchannel array flow analyzer.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: New in vitro methods are desirable for the analysis of platelet aggregation and screening novel anti-platelet agents using whole blood. To this end, we examined platelet aggregation and thrombus formation in whole human blood from healthy volunteers using a microchannel array flow analyzer (MC-FAN). Platelet aggregation in whole blood, treated with the activating agents ADP, collagen or ristocetin was detected in the MC-FAN by measuring the decrease in flow rate as a function of agent concentration. The results were compared with aggregation in platelet rich plasma (PRP) in a conventional aggregometer, as measured by the increase in optical density. The MC-FAN detected platelet aggregation in whole blood at two- to four-fold lower concentrations of agonist compared to those in PRP in the aggregometer. Anti-platelet agents attenuated the decrease in blood flow rate in the MC-FAN by inhibiting fibrin formation and platelet aggregation, but anticoagulants only inhibited fibrin formation and did not affect blood flow rates. These findings suggest that the MC-FAN system may be a useful method for the evaluation of platelet activation and facilitate the development of novel anti-platelet agents.
    Biorheology 01/2010; 47(2):153-61. · 1.93 Impact Factor
  • Article: Activated protein C stimulates osteoblast proliferation via endothelial protein C receptor.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Bone is continually remodeled by the action of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. Resting osteoblasts are able to proliferate and differentiate into mature osteoblasts when physiologically required, as after tissue injury. Activated protein C (APC) is a serine protease that functions in anticoagulation, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, cell proliferation, and wound repair. In this study, we examined the effect of APC on osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. We examined the presence of protein C in human fracture hematoma by immunohistochemical staining. We then evaluated the effect of APC, diisopropyl fluorophosphate-inactivated APC (DIP-APC) or protein C zymogen on normal human osteoblast (NHOst) proliferation using tetrazolium salt assay in the presence or absence of aprotinin, hirudin, protein C, antibody against protein C, endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) or protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1. Finally, activation of p44/42 MAP kinase was evaluated by Western blot analysis. Both APC and DIP-APC increased osteoblast proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, while protein C did not. The APC-induced increased proliferation of osteoblast was not affected by aprotinin, hirudin, and anti-protein C antibody which inhibits the protease activity of APC. Treatment with protein C or anti-EPCR antibody which inhibits APC binding to EPCR inhibited APC-mediated osteoblast proliferation, while treatment with anti-PAR-1 antibody did not. APC promoted the phosphorylation of p44/42 MAP kinase within osteoblasts; this effect was inhibited by the anti-EPCR antibody. APC stimulates osteoblast proliferation by activating p44/42 MAP kinase through a mechanism that requires EPCR but not PAR-1 or the proteolytic activity of APC. APC generated at fracture sites may contribute to fracture healing by promoting osteoblast proliferation.
    Thrombosis Research 10/2009; 125(2):184-91. · 2.44 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Connexin32 is expressed in vascular endothelial cells and participates in gap-junction intercellular communication.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Endothelial cells (ECs) play many roles in vascular biology, including control of blood pressure, blood clotting, atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Gap junctions (GJs) are channel-like assemblies of connexin (Cx) family proteins that connect neighboring cells and modulate and synchronize their intracellular environments by the transfer of intracellular mediators. It has been reported that vascular ECs express Cx37, Cx40, and Cx43, but not Cx32. Here, we showed that Cx32 mRNA and protein are expressed in various cultured human ECs. We confirmed Cx32 expression in blood vessel ECs using wild-type and Cx32 knock-out mice. We observed that dye transfer between cultured ECs through gap junctions is suppressed by an anti-Cx32 monoclonal antibody. These findings suggest that vascular ECs express Cx32, which participates in endothelial gap-junction intercellular communication.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 06/2009; 382(2):264-8. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Creation of novel cell-penetrating peptides for intracellular drug delivery using systematic phage display technology originated from Tat transduction domain.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Many biologically active proteins need to be delivered intracellularly to exert their therapeutic action inside the cytoplasm. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been developed to efficiently deliver a wide variety of cargo in a fully biological active form into a range of cell types for the treatment of multiple preclinical disease models. To further develop this methodology, we established a systematic approach to identify novel CPPs using phage display technology. Firstly, we screened a phage peptide library for peptides that bound to the cell membrane. Secondly, to assess functionality as intracellular carriers, we recombined cDNAs of binding peptides with protein synthesis inhibitory factor (PSIF) to create fusion proteins. Randomly chosen clones were cultured and expression of peptide-PSIF fusion proteins induced, followed by screening of protein synthesis activity in cells. Using this systematic approach, novel and effective CPPs were rapidly identified. We suggest that these novel cell-penetrating peptides can utilized as drug delivery tools for protein therapy or an analytical tool to study mechanisms of protein transduction into the cytoplasm.
    Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 03/2007; 30(2):218-23. · 1.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: A novel method for construction of gene fragment library to searching epitopes.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Identification of the epitope sequence or the functional domain of proteins is a laborious process but a necessary one for biochemical and immunological research. To achieve intensive and effective screening of these functional peptides in various molecules, we established a novel screening method using a phage library system that displays various lengths and parts of peptides derived from target protein. Applying this library for epitope mapping, epitope peptide was more efficiently identified from gene fragment library than conventional random peptide library. Our system may be a most powerful method for identifying functional peptides.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 08/2006; 346(1):198-204. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: Functionalization of tumor necrosis factor-alpha using phage display technique and PEGylation improves its antitumor therapeutic window.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: In this study, the optimization of antitumor therapy with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was attempted. Using the phage display technique, we created a lysine-deficient mutant TNF-alpha (mTNF-K90R). This mutant had higher affinities to both TNF receptors, despite reports that certain lysine residues play important roles in trimer formation and receptor binding. The mTNF-K90R showed an in vivo therapeutic window that was 13-fold higher than that of the wild-type TNF-alpha (wTNF-alpha). This was due to the synergistic effect of its 6-fold stronger in vitro bioactivity and its 2-fold longer plasma half-life derived from its surface negative potential. The reason why the mTNF-K90R showed a higher bioactivity was understood by a molecular modeling analysis of the complex between the wTNF-alpha and TNF receptor-I. The mTNF-K90R, which was site-specifically mono-PEGylated at the NH2 terminus (sp-PEG-mTNF-K90R), had a higher in vitro bioactivity and considerably longer plasma half-life than the wTNF-alpha, whereas the randomly mono-PEGylated wTNF-alpha had 6% of the bioactivity of the wTNF-alpha. With regard to effectiveness and safety, the in vivo antitumor therapeutic window of the sp-PEG-mTNF-K90R was 60-fold wider than that of the wTNF-alpha. These results indicated that this functionalized TNF-alpha may be useful not only as an antitumor agent but also as a selective enhancer of vascular permeability in tumors for improving antitumor chemotherapy.
    Clinical Cancer Research 01/2005; 10(24):8293-300. · 7.74 Impact Factor
  • Article: Optimal construction of non-immune scFv phage display libraries from mouse bone marrow and spleen established to select specific scFvs efficiently binding to antigen.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are widely applied in basic research, medicine, and the pharmaceutical industry. Recently, applications and generations of MAbs have been increasingly attracting attention in many research areas since MAbs could be produced in large quantities with the development of genetic technology and antibody engineering. On the other hand, in recent years, phage display system has been developed for high-throughput isolation and generation of novel MAbs that have high affinity with various antigens. This technology is capable of constructing "Library" containing billions of phage repertoires displaying various antibody fragments, and rapid selection of a specific MAb from this phage library. Additionally, this technology has a great advantage that MAbs can be generated without immunization to animals. However, there are still relatively few reports confirming that useful MAbs can be derived from non-immune antibody libraries. The latter, as undertaken by current methods, seem unable to achieve the high quality required to produce useful MAbs for any desired antigen because cloning of antibody gene from non-immune donors is inefficient. This problem is caused by the fact that their RT-PCR primer sets, PCR conditions, and efficiency of subcloning through construction of antibody gene library cannot encompass all the antibody diversity. In an attempt to overcome some of these earlier problems, here we describe an optimized method to establish a high quality, non-immune library from mouse bone-marrow and spleen, and assess its diversity in terms of content of multiple antibodies for a wide antigenic repertoire. As an example of the application of the methodology, we describe the selection of specific MAbs binding to Luciferase and identify at least 18 different clones. Using this non-immune mouse antibody library, we also obtained MAbs for VEGF, VEGF receptor 2, TNF-alpha, and Pseudomonas Exotoxin, confirming the high quality of the library and its suitability for this application.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 11/2004; 323(2):583-91. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: The targeting of anionized polyvinylpyrrolidone to the renal system.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: We reported that the co-polymer composed of vinylpyrrolidone and maleic acid selectively distributed into the kidneys after i.v. injection. To further optimize the renal drug delivery system, we assessed the renal targeting capability of anionized polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) derivatives after intravenous administration in mice. The elimination of anionized PVP derivatives from the blood decreased with increasing anionic groups, and the clearance of carboxylated PVP and sulfonated PVP from the blood was almost similar. But carboxylated PVP efficiently accumulated in the kidney, whereas sulfonated PVP was rapidly excreted in the urine. The renal levels of carboxylated PVP were about five-fold higher than sulfonated PVP. Additionally, carboxylated PVP was effectively taken up by the renal proximal tubular epithelial cells in vivo after i.v. injection. These anionized PVP derivatives did not show any cytotoxicity against renal tubular cells and endothelial cells in vitro. Thus, these carboxylated and sulfonated PVPs may be useful polymeric carriers for drug delivery to the kidney and bladder, respectively.
    Biomaterials 09/2004; 25(18):4309-15. · 7.40 Impact Factor
  • Article: Effective accumulation of poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl laurate) into the spleen.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: To optimize polymer-conjugated drugs as a polymeric drug delivery system, it is essential to design polymeric carriers with tissue-specific targeting capacity. Previously, we showed that polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was the most suitable polymeric carrier for prolonging the blood-residency of drugs, and was one of the best parent polymers to design the polymeric carriers with targeting capacity. In this study, we synthesized some hydrophobic PVP derivatives, poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-styrene) [poly(VP-co-S)] and poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl laurate) [poly(VP-co-VL)], and assessed their biopharmaceutical properties after intravenous administration in mice. The elimination of hydrophobic PVP derivatives from blood was the same as PVP, and the plasma half-lives of poly(VP-co-S) were almost similar to that of poly(VP-co-VL). Poly(VP-co-VL) efficiently accumulated in the spleen, whereas poly(VP-co-S) effectively accumulated in the liver. The level of poly(VP-co-VL) in the spleen was about 20 times higher than PVP and poly(VP-co-S). These hydrophobic PVP derivatives did not show any cytotoxicity against endothelial cells in vitro. Thus, poly(VP-co-VL) may be a useful polymeric carrier for drug delivery to the spleen. This study will provide useful information to design optimal polymeric carriers with targeting capacity to the spleen and liver.
    Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A 09/2004; 70(2):219-23. · 2.63 Impact Factor
  • Article: The use of PVP as a polymeric carrier to improve the plasma half-life of drugs.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: To achieve an optimum drug delivery such as targeting or controlled release utilizing bioconjugation with polymeric modifier, the conjugate between drugs and polymeric modifiers must be designed to show desirable pharmacokinetic characteristics in vivo. In this study, we assessed the biopharmaceutical properties of various nonionic water-soluble polymers as polymeric drug carriers. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) showed the longest mean resident time (MRT) after i.v. injection of all nonionic polymers with the same molecular size. In fact, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) bioconjugated with PVP (PVP-TNF-alpha) circulated longer than TNF-alpha bioconjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG-TNF-alpha) with the same molecular size. Each nonionic polymeric modifier showed a different tissue distribution. Dextran was accumulated in the spleen and liver. Polydimethylacrylamide (PDAAm) tended to distribute in the kidney. However, PVP showed the minimum volume of tissue distribution. These results suggested that PVP is the most suitable polymeric modifier for prolonging the circulation lifetime of a drug and localizing the conjugated drug in blood.
    Biomaterials 08/2004; 25(16):3259-66. · 7.40 Impact Factor
  • Article: Design of a pH-sensitive polymeric carrier for drug release and its application in cancer therapy.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: In this study, to optimize the polymeric drug delivery system for cancer chemotherapy, we developed a new pH-sensitive polymeric carrier, poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-dimethylmaleic anhydride) [PVD], that could gradually release native form of drugs with full activity, from the conjugates in response to changes in pH. We examined the usefulness of PVD as a polymeric drug carrier. PVD was radically synthesized with vinylpyrrolidone and 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride, which is known to be a pH-reversible amino-protecting reagent. Conjugates between PVD and other drugs, such as Adriamycin (ADR), were prepared under the slightly basic conditions (pH 8.5). The drug-release pattern and the antitumor activity of PVD were examined. At pH 8.5, the release of the drugs from the conjugate was not observed. In contrast, PVD could release fully active drugs in the native form in response to the change in pH near neutrality, and gradually released drugs at neutral pH (7.0) and slightly acidic pH (6.0). The drug-release pattern in serum was almost similar to that observed during these physiological conditions. The PVD-conjugated ADR showed superior antitumor activity against sarcoma-180 solid tumor in mice, and it had less toxic side effects than free ADR. This enhancement in the antitumor therapeutic window may be due to not only the improvement of plasma half-lives and tumor accumulation of ADR, but also its controlled and sustained release from the conjugates in vivo. These results indicate that PVD is an effective polymeric carrier for optimizing cancer therapy.
    Clinical Cancer Research 05/2004; 10(7):2545-50. · 7.74 Impact Factor
  • Article: Optimal site-specific PEGylation of mutant TNF-alpha improves its antitumor potency.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Recently, we created a lysine-deficient mutant tumor necrosis factor-alpha [mTNF-alpha-Lys(-)] with full bioactivity in vitro compared with wild-type TNF-alpha (wTNF-alpha), and site-specific PEGylation of mTNF-alpha-Lys(-) was found to selectively enhance its in vivo antitumor activity. In this study, we attempted to optimize this PEGylation of mTNF-alpha-Lys(-) to further improve its therapeutic potency. mTNF-alpha-Lys(-) was site-specifically modified at its N-terminus with linear polyethylene glycol (LPEG) or branched PEG (BPEG). While randomly mono-PEGylated wTNF-alpha (ran-LPEG5K-wTNF-alpha) with 5 kDa of LPEG (LPEG5K) had about only 4% in vitro bioactivity of wTNF-alpha, mono-PEGylated mTNF-alpha-Lys(-) [sp-PEG-mTNF-alpha-Lys(-)] with LPEG5K, LPEG20K, BPEG10K, and BPEG40K had 82%, 58%, 93%, and 65% bioactivities of mTNF-alpha-Lys(-), respectively. sp-LPEG-mTNF-alpha-Lys(-) and sp-BPEG10K-mTNF-alpha-Lys(-) had much superior antitumor activity to those of both unmodified TNF-alphas and ran-LPEG5K-wTNF-alpha, though sp-BPEG40K-mTNF-alpha-Lys(-) did not show in vivo antitumor activity. Thus, the molecular shape and weight of PEG may strongly influence the in vivo antitumor activity of sp-PEG-mTNF-alpha-Lys(-).
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 04/2004; 315(4):808-14. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: Poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-dimethyl maleic acid) as a novel renal targeting carrier.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-dimethyl maleic acid) (PVD) was found to have high renal-targeting capability and safety as a drug carrier. To optimize the renal drug delivery system using PVD, the relationship between the molecular weight of PVD and its renal accumulation were evaluated in mice by their intravenous injection. It was found that the molecular size of 6-8 kDa was associated with the highest renal accumulation. The specific bioactivity of PVD-conjugated superoxide dismutase (SOD) relative to that of unmodified SOD gradually decreased with an increase in the degree of modification to SOD with PVD6K. The conjugated SOD (L-PVD-SOD) with the molecular size of 73 kDa, which had comparable specific bioactivity with native SOD, showed longer plasma half-life than native SOD. About sixfold more L-PVD-SOD was distributed to the kidneys than native SOD 3 h after intravenous injection, whereas extensive PVD modification did not enhance the renal accumulation of SOD. This L-PVD-SOD effectively accelerated recovery from mercuric chloride-induced acute renal failure in vivo. These results suggest that L-PVD-SOD may be the optimal derivative as a potential therapeutic agent to various renal diseases.
    Journal of Controlled Release 04/2004; 95(2):229-37. · 5.73 Impact Factor
  • Article: Selective enhancer of tumor vascular permeability for optimization of cancer chemotherapy.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Clinical approach using tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as selective destruction against tumor endothelial cells and selective enhancer of tumor vascular permeability for effective accumulation of antitumor chemotherapeutic agents has attracted attention. However, the clinical application of TNF-alpha as a systemic antitumor agent has been limited because of toxic side-effects. To systemically use TNF-alpha as an antitumor agent and the selective enhancer of tumor vascular permeability, we assessed the usefulness of PEGylated TNF-alpha (PEG-TNF-alpha). PEG-TNF-alpha at a dose of 1000 JRU showed marked hemorrhagic necrosis in S-180 tumors without side-effects due to selective destruction of tumor vasculature, whereas wild-type TNF-alpha at a dose of 10,000 JRU showed a little hemorrhagic necrosis with severe side-effects. PEG-TNF-alpha induced the enhancement of tumor vascular permeability. The permeability was increased at 1 h, after an i.v. injection of PEG-TNF-alpha and returned to the basal level at 2 h. In addition, high molecular weight of PEG (molecular weight; 500K) accumulated in tumor tissue as well as low molecular weight of PEG (molecular weight; 12K). On the other hand, PEG-TNF-alpha didn't affect the permeability of normal tissue and inflammation site. This data suggested that PEG-TNF-alpha was useful agent as selective enhancer of tumor vascular permeability with safe.
    Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 04/2004; 27(3):437-9. · 1.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: Combination effects of complement regulatory proteins and anti-complement polymer.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: We previously reported the development of a "cytomedicine" that consists of cells trapped in alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate (APA) microcapsules and agarose microbeads. The functional cells that are entrapped in semipermeable polymer are completely isolated from cellular immune system. However, the ability of cytomedicine to isolate cells from the humoral immune system, which plays an essential role in xenograft rejection, is low. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to develop a novel cytomedicine that could protect the entrapped cells from injury of the complement system. We investigated the applicability of the complement regulatory protein (CRP), Crry, to cytomedicine. Crry-transfected cells entrapped within agarose microbeads resisted injury by complement to a degree, while entrapment of Crry transfected cells within agarose microbeads containing polyvinyl sulfate (PVS), a novel cytomedical device with anti-complement activity, clearly protected against complement attack. These data indicate that the combination of a CRP and a cytomedical device with anti-complement activity is a superior device for cytomedical therapy.
    Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 01/2004; 1624(1-3):54-9. · 4.66 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2012
    • Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases
      Ōsaka-shi, Osaka-fu, Japan
  • 2010–2012
    • Mie University
      • Department of Molecular Pathobiology
      Tsu-shi, Mie-ken, Japan
  • 2002–2004
    • Osaka University
      • School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
      Ōsaka-shi, Osaka-fu, Japan