Ryoichi Yamaji

Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka-fu, Japan

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Publications (45)115.3 Total impact

  • Source
    Article: Oligosaccharides from agar inhibit murine intestinal inflammation through the induction of heme oxygenase-1 expression.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Agarose is hydrolyzed easily to yield oligosaccharides, designated as agaro-oligosaccharides (AGOs). Recently, it has been demonstrated that AGOs induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in macrophages and that they might lead to anti-inflammatory property. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism of AGO-mediated HO-1 induction remains unknown, as does AGOs' ability to elicit anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. This study was undertaken to uncover the mechanism of AGO-mediated HO-1 induction and to investigate the therapeutic effect of AGOs on intestinal inflammation. METHODS: Mice were treated with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) to induce colitis. The respective degrees of mucosal injury of mice that had received AGO and control mice were compared. We investigated HO-1 expression using Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was measured using qRT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: AGO administration induced HO-1 expression in colonic mucosa. The induction was observed mainly in F4/80 positive macrophages. Increased colonic damage and myeloperoxidase activity after TNBS treatment were inhibited by AGO administration. TNBS treatment induced TNF-α expression, and AGO administration suppressed induction. However, HO inhibitor canceled AGO-mediated amelioration of colitis. In RAW264 cells, AGOs enhanced HO-1 expression time-dependently and concentration-dependently and suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-α expression. Furthermore, agarotetraose-mediated HO-1 induction required NF-E2-related factor 2 function and phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinase. CONCLUSIONS: We infer that AGO administration inhibits TNBS-induced colitis in mice through HO-1 induction in macrophages. Consequently, oral administration of AGOs might be an important therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel disease.
    Journal of Gastroenterology 11/2012; · 4.16 Impact Factor
  • Article: The preventive effect of β-carotene on denervation-induced soleus muscle atrophy in mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Muscle atrophy increases the production of reactive oxygen species and the expression of atrophy-related genes, which are involved in the ubiquitin-proteasome system. In the present study, we investigated the effects of β-carotene on oxidative stress (100 μm-H2O2)-induced muscle atrophy in murine C2C12 myotubes. β-Carotene (10 μm) restored the H2O2-induced decreased levels of myosin heavy chain and tropomyosin (P < 0·05, n 3) and decreased the H2O2-induced increased levels of ubiquitin conjugates. β-Carotene reduced the H2O2-induced increased expression levels of E3 ubiquitin ligases (Atrogin-1 and MuRF1) and deubiquitinating enzymes (USP14 and USP19) (P < 0·05, n 3) and attenuated the H2O2-induced nuclear localisation of FOXO3a. Furthermore, we determined the effects of β-carotene on denervation-induced muscle atrophy. Male ddY mice (8 weeks old, n 30) were divided into two groups and orally pre-administered micelle with or without β-carotene (0·5 mg once daily) for 2 weeks, followed by denervation in the right hindlimb. β-Carotene was further administered once daily until the end of the experiment. At day 3 after denervation, the ratio of soleus muscle mass in the denervated leg to that in the sham leg was significantly higher in β-carotene-administered mice than in control vehicle-administered ones (P < 0·05, n 5). In the denervated soleus muscle, β-carotene administration significantly decreased the expression levels of Atrogin-1, MuRF1, USP14 and USP19 (P < 0·05, n 5) and the levels of ubiquitin conjugates. These results indicate that β-carotene attenuates soleus muscle loss, perhaps by repressing the expressions of Atrogin-1, MuRF1, USP14 and USP19, at the early stage of soleus muscle atrophy.
    The British journal of nutrition 10/2012; · 3.45 Impact Factor
  • Article: Coordinated Action of Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α and β-Catenin in Androgen Receptor Signaling.
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    ABSTRACT: The androgen receptor (AR) acts as a ligand-dependent transcriptional factor and plays a critical role in the development and progression of androgen-dependent and castration-resistant prostate cancer. Castration results in hypoxia in prostate cancer cells, and hypoxia enhances transcriptional activity of AR through hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α at low serum androgen levels mimicking the castration-resistant stage. However, HIF-1α is necessary but not sufficient for hypoxia-activated AR transactivation, and the molecular mechanism that regulates AR function in castration-resistant prostate cancer remains unclear. Here, we report that β-catenin is required for HIF-1α-mediated AR transactivation in hypoxic LNCaP prostate cancer cells under low androgen conditions. HIF-1α and β-catenin coordinately enhanced AR N-terminal and C-terminal interaction. β-Catenin accumulated in the nucleus in the HIF-1α protein-positive cells of LNCaP xenografts in castrated mice. In LNCaP cells, when HIF-1α was knocked down or was exogenously expressed in the cytoplasm, hypoxia-induced nuclear localization of β-catenin was inhibited. β-Catenin formed a complex with HIF-1α both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. Hypoxia increased the amount of a complex composed of AR and β-catenin, and knockdown of HIF-1α attenuated the recruitment of AR and β-catenin to the androgen response elements (AREs) of androgen-responsive genes. Furthermore, together with β-catenin, HIF-1α bound to the AREs in the presence of androgen. These results demonstrate that (i) HIF-1α and β-catenin coordinately enhance AR transactivation by accelerating N-terminal and C-terminal interaction; (ii) HIF-1α promotes nuclear translocation of β-catenin in hypoxia; and (iii) AR, HIF-1α, and β-catenin form a ternary complex on AREs.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 08/2012; 287(40):33594-606. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Androgen deprivation causes truncation of the C-terminal region of androgen receptor in human prostate cancer LNCaP cells.
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    ABSTRACT: The androgen receptor (AR) acts as a ligand-dependent transcription factor, whereas mutant AR lacking the C-terminal ligand-binding domain functions in a ligand-independent manner. In the present study we report that the C-terminal truncated AR, which we named AR-NH1 (the N-terminal fragment of AR cleaved in the neighborhood of helix 1 of the ligand-binding domain), is produced in LNCaP prostatic carcinoma cells. The AR-NH1 of ~90 kDa was observed in an androgen-independent LNCaP subline and was further accumulated by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. MG132 treatment caused the accumulation of AR-NH1 even in parent LNCaP cells. AR-NH1 was produced in the absence of ligand or in the presence of the AR antagonist bicalutamide, whereas AR agonists suppressed its production. AR-NH1 was detected with different AR antibodies recognizing amino acid residues 1-20 and 300-316 and was also generated from exogenous AR. Both siRNA-mediated AR knockdown and treatment with a serine protease inhibitor (4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride) reduced AR-NH1 levels. According to the predicted cleavage site (between amino acid residues 660-685) and its nuclear localization, it is assumed that AR-NH1 functions as a constitutively active transcription factor. These data suggest that AR-NH1 is produced under hormone therapy and contributes to the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer due to its ligand-independent transcriptional activity.
    Cancer Science 02/2012; 103(6):1022-7. · 3.33 Impact Factor
  • Article: 17β-estradiol represses myogenic differentiation by increasing ubiquitin-specific peptidase 19 through estrogen receptor α.
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    ABSTRACT: Skeletal muscles express estrogen receptor (ER) α and ERβ. However, the roles of estrogens acting through the ERs in skeletal muscles remain unclear. The effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) on myogenesis were studied in C2C12 myoblasts. E2 and an ERα-selective agonist propylpyrazole-triol depressed myosin heavy chain (MHC), tropomyosin, and myogenin levels and repressed the fusion of myoblasts into myotubes. ER antagonist ICI 182,780 cancelled E2-repressed myogenesis. E2 induced ubiquitin-specific peptidase 19 (USP19) expression during myogenesis. E2 replacement increased USP19 expression in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of ovariectomized mice. Knockdown of USP19 inhibited E2-repressed myogenesis. Mutant forms of USP19 lacking deubiquitinating activity increased MHC and tropomyosin levels. E2 decreased ubiquitinated proteins during myogenesis, and the E2-decreased ubiquitinated proteins were increased by knockdown of USP19. Propylpyrazole-triol increased USP19 expression, and ICI 182,780 inhibited E2-increased USP19 expression. Overexpression of ERα or knockdown of ERβ enhanced the effects of E2 on the levels of USP19, MHC, and tropomyosin, whereas knockdown of ERα, overexpression of ERβ, or an ERβ-selective agonist diarylpropionitrile abolished their effects. A mutant form of ERα that is constitutively localized in the nucleus increased USP19 expression and decreased MHC and tropomyosin expression in the presence of E2. Furthermore, in skeletal muscle satellite cells, E2 inhibited myogenesis and increased USP19 expression, and diarylpropionitrile repressed E2-increased USP19 expression. These results demonstrate that (i) E2 induces USP19 expression through nuclear ERα, (ii) increased USP19-mediated deubiquitinating activity represses myogenesis, and (iii) ERβ inhibits ERα-activated USP19 expression.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 12/2011; 286(48):41455-65. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Kelch-like 20 up-regulates the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-2α through hypoxia- and von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein-independent regulatory mechanisms.
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    ABSTRACT: Despite their structural similarity, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and HIF-2α have distinct functional properties and exhibit distinct spatiotemporal expression patterns, suggesting that the expressions of the two proteins are regulated by different mechanisms. To clarify the HIF-2α-specific regulatory mechanism, we screened HIF-2α-associated proteins in a yeast two-hybrid system and identified kelch-like 20 (KLHL20). HIF-2α, but not HIF-1α, interacted with KLHL20. siRNA-mediated knockdown of KLHL20 decreased HIF-2α protein, but not HIF-2α mRNA or HIF-1α protein. Depletion of KLHL20 decreased hypoxia-induced HIF activity, and consequently resulted in decreased expression levels of HIF-2α-responsive genes such as VEGF and CITED2. In contrast, overexpression of KLHL20 increased the expression levels and transcriptional activities of the O(2)-sensitive wild-type and O(2)-insensitive mutant forms of HIF-2α. KLHL20 siRNA also inhibited HIF-2 activity in von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL)-deficient 786-O cells. These results indicate that KLHL20 is a novel player that regulates HIF-2α protein expression through mechanisms independent of hypoxia and pVHL.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 08/2011; 413(2):201-5. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: Up-regulation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene expression by HIF-1 activity depending on Sp1 in hypoxic breast cancer cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Hypoxia up-regulates the expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in a cell type-specific manner. It is unknown whether this occurs in breast cancer. Here, we report that hypoxia up-regulates the GAPDH gene expression through breast cancer-specific molecular mechanisms in MCF-7 cells. Mutation analysis identified a novel hypoxia response element (HRE), in addition to the HRE found previously in prostate cancer LNCaP cells. Knockdown and overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α indicated that HIF-1 contributed to the up-regulation of GAPDH gene expression by hypoxia. Although chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and plasmid immunoprecipitation analyses revealed the presence of HIF-1α on the novel HRE in both hypoxic cell lines, a mutation in either the novel HRE or its 3'-flanking GC-box resulted in a reduction of hypoxia-increased GAPDH promoter activity only in MCF-7 cells. ChIP analysis showed that Sp1 bound to the GC-box in MCF-7 cells, but not in LNCaP cells, in normoxia and hypoxia. Knockdown of Sp1 reduced hypoxia-increased promoter activity and expression level of GAPDH in MCF-7 cells. These results indicate that in MCF-7 cells, the activation of HIF-1 on the novel HRE contributes to the breast cancer-specific hypoxic induction of GAPDH gene expression and absolutely depends on the presence of Sp1 on the GC-box.
    Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 02/2011; 509(1):1-8. · 2.93 Impact Factor
  • Article: (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate suppresses growth of AZ521 human gastric cancer cells by targeting the DEAD-box RNA helicase p68.
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    ABSTRACT: (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant and biologically active polyphenol in green tea, induces apoptosis and suppresses proliferation of cancer cells by modulating multiple signal transduction pathways. However, the fundamental mechanisms responsible for these cancer-preventive effects have not been clearly elucidated. Recently, we found that EGCG can covalently bind to cysteine residues in proteins through autoxidation and subsequently modulate protein function. In this study, we demonstrate the direct binding of EGCG to cellular proteins in AZ521 human gastric cancer cells by redox-cycle staining. We comprehensively explored the binding targets of EGCG from EGCG-treated AZ521 cells by proteomics techniques combined with the boronate-affinity pull-down method. The DEAD-box RNA helicase p68, which is overexpressed in a variety of tumor cells and plays an important role in cancer development and progression, was identified as a novel EGCG-binding target. Exposure of AZ521 cells to EGCG lowered the p68 level dose dependently. The present findings show that EGCG inhibits AZ521 cell proliferation by preventing β-catenin oncogenic signaling through proteasomal degradation of p68 and provide a new perspective on the molecular mechanism of EGCG action.
    Free radical biology & medicine 01/2011; 50(10):1324-35. · 5.42 Impact Factor
  • Article: Hypoxia enhances transcriptional activity of androgen receptor through hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in a low androgen environment.
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    ABSTRACT: The androgen receptor (AR) acts as a ligand-dependent transcriptional factor controlling development or progression of prostate cancer. Androgen ablation by castration is an effective therapy for prostate cancer, whereas eventually most of the tumors convert from a hormone-sensitive to a hormone-refractory disease state and grow even in a low androgen environment (e.g., 0.1nM 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT)) like the castration-resistant stage. Androgen ablation results in hypoxia, and solid tumors possess hypoxic environments. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1, which is composed of HIF-1α and HIF-1β/ARNT subunits, functions as a master transcription factor for hypoxia-inducible genes. Here, we report that hypoxia enhances AR transactivation in the presence of 0.05 and 0.1nM DHT in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. siRNA-mediated knockdown of HIF-1α inhibited hypoxia-enhanced AR transactivation. Its inhibition by HIF-1α siRNA was canceled by expression of a siRNA-resistant form of HIF-1α. HIF-1α siRNA repressed hypoxia-stimulated expression of the androgen-responsive NKX3.1 gene in the presence of 0.1nM DHT, but not in the absence of DHT. In hypoxia, HIF-1α siRNA-repressed AR transactivation was restored in mutants in which HIF-1α lacked DNA-binding activity. Furthermore, a dominant negative form of HIF-1α canceled hypoxia-enhanced AR transactivation, and HIF-1β/ARNT siRNAs had no influence on hypoxia-enhanced AR transactivation. These results indicate that hypoxia leads to HIF-1α-mediated AR transactivation independent of HIF-1 activity and that HIF-1β/ARNT is not necessarily required for the transactivation.
    The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology 11/2010; 123(1-2):58-64. · 2.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: Inhibitory mechanisms of the transcriptional activity of androgen receptor by resveratrol: Implication of DNA binding and acetylation of the receptor.
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    ABSTRACT: Androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor and plays a key role in the development of prostate cancer. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound, inhibits AR function and reduces the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a notable target gene of AR. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which resveratrol inhibits AR function. Although the protein levels of AR were decreased by resveratrol treatment for 24h, the decrease could not fully account for the suppression of AR function. The total and the nuclear AR levels were not affected after incubation with 10μM resveratrol for 3h, whereas resveratrol inhibited the binding of AR to the enhancer region of PSA and decreased the acetylation of AR even at this early phase. Inhibition of transcription by resveratrol was weaker in the AR acetylation site mutant than in the wild-type. In later phase (24h) after incubation with resveratrol, the ligand-induced nuclear accumulation of AR was markedly decreased by resveratrol. These data show that resveratrol inhibits DNA binding of AR, presumably by decreasing its level of acetylation and suggest that acetylation of AR is involved in its accumulation in the nucleus.
    The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology 11/2010; 123(1-2):65-70. · 2.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: Construction of a dominant negative form of human hypoxia-inducible factor-2α.
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    ABSTRACT: We constructed a dominant negative form of human hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α, HIF-2αDoN, which inhibited HIF transcriptional activity induced by hypoxia and by HIF-2α. HIF-2αDoN formed a complex with HIF-1β and interacted with DNA containing hypoxia response elements (HREs). Thus, the complex appears to inhibit the binding of HIF-2 to HREs, and HIF-2αDoN might provide a useful therapeutic tool for HIF-2α-related diseases.
    Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry 10/2010; 74(10):2100-2. · 1.28 Impact Factor
  • Article: Methyladeninylcobamide functions as the cofactor of methionine synthase in a Cyanobacterium, Spirulina platensis NIES-39.
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    ABSTRACT: To clarify the physiological function of pseudovitamin B(12) (or adeninylcobamide; AdeCba) in Spirulina platensis NIES-39, cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase (MS) was characterized. We cloned the full-length Spirulina MS. The clone contained an open reading frame encoding a protein of 1183 amino acids with a molecular mass of 132 kDa. Deduced amino acid sequences of the Spirulina MS contained critical residues identical to cobalamin-, zinc-, S-adenosylmethionine-, and homocysteine-binding motifs. The recombinant Spirulina enzyme showed higher affinity for methyladeninylcobamide than methylcobalamin as a cofactor. These results indicate that Spirulina cells can utilize AdeCba synthesized as the cofactor for MS.
    FEBS letters 07/2010; 584(14):3223-6. · 3.54 Impact Factor
  • Article: Sensitive and convenient yeast reporter assay for high-throughput analysis by using a secretory luciferase from Cypridina noctiluca.
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    ABSTRACT: The yeast reporter assay has been widely used in various applications such as detection of endocrine disruptors and analysis of protein-protein interactions by the yeast two-hybrid system. The molecular characteristics of the reporter enzyme are critical determinants for this assay. We herein report the establishment of a novel yeast reporter assay using a secretory luciferase, Cypridina noctiluca luciferase (CLuc), as an alternative to the conventional beta-galactosidase. The CLuc reporter assay in yeast is more sensitive and convenient than the conventional assay. A yeast high-throughput reporter assay was established with a laboratory automation system, and the transcriptional activity of hundreds of yeast promoter fragments was comprehensively determined. Our results indicate that the yeast CLuc reporter assay is a promising tool for large-scale and sensitive analysis in the development of new drugs and in various fields of biotechnology research.
    Analytical Chemistry 07/2010; 82(13):5768-76. · 5.86 Impact Factor
  • Article: A yeast bioassay for androgenic and anti-androgenic compounds based on the NH2- and COOH-terminal interaction of androgen receptor.
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    ABSTRACT: Androgenic compounds induce an interaction between the NH(2)- and COOH-terminal regions (N-C interaction) of androgen receptor (AR). We describe a rapid yeast bioassay for androgenic and anti-androgenic compounds based on androgen-dependent β-catenin-enhanced N-C interaction. The bioassay was also effective at detecting compounds that inhibit the N-C interaction in ways that do not involve binding to the ligand-binding domain.
    Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry 01/2010; 74(9):1965-8. · 1.28 Impact Factor
  • Article: Occurrence of pseudovitamin B12 and its possible function as the cofactor of cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase in a cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.
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    ABSTRACT: To clarify the physiological function of pseudovitamin B(12) in cyanobacteria, we determined pseudovitamin B(12) contents and cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase activity in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 grown under CoSO(4)-sufficient and -limited conditions. Pseudovitamin B(12) and cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase activity (0.8 nmol/min/mg protein) were found in a homogenate of the Synechocystis cells grown for 10 d in the CoSO(4)-sufficient medium. The cellular pseudovitamin B(12 )contents increased significantly at the early logarithmic growth phase and thereafter decreased rapidly at the stationary phase; a similar fluctuation pattern was shown in the cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase activity. Although the CoSO(4)-limited conditions did not reduce the cell growth, pseudovitamin B(12) contents and methionine synthase activity decreased significantly in the limited cells relative to the sufficient cells. These results indicate that the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 can synthesize pseudovitamin B(12) de novo and utilize it as the cofactor for cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase.
    Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 12/2009; 55(6):518-21. · 1.20 Impact Factor
  • Article: Involvement of three glutamine tracts in human androgen receptor transactivation.
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    ABSTRACT: The androgen receptor (AR) possesses a polymorphic polyglutamine tract (polyQ), whose length is inversely correlated with its transcriptional activity. Here, we investigated whether 6 and 5 repetitive glutamine tracts (Q6 and Q5, respectively) in the N-terminal domain of AR also have effects on AR transactivation. In a reporter gene assay using two-tandem repeats of an androgen response element, deletion of glutamine tracts significantly increased AR transactivation in the following order: wild-type<a single deletion of polyQ or Q5<double deletion of polyQ and Q6<double deletion of polyQ and Q5<triple deletion. Deletion of polyQ alone or combined deletion of polyQ and Q5 from an AR mutant lacking the ligand-binding domain, which is constitutively active due to activation function-1, increased AR transactivation. However, the glutamine tracts had no influence on activation function-1 activity, suggesting that the glutamine tracts modulate the binding of AR to DNA. Q5, like polyQ, was found to be involved in the interaction between the NH(2)- and COOH-terminal regions of AR (N-C interaction). These results indicate that the inhibitory effects of polyQ and Q5 on AR transactivation are the due, at least in part, to their negative regulation of N-C interaction.
    The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology 10/2009; 118(1-2):77-84. · 2.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: Inhibitive effects of alkyl gallates on hyaluronidase and collagenase.
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    ABSTRACT: A series of the gallate esters of n-alkanols (C(1)-C(12)) was examined to determine their inhibitory activities against hyaluronidase and collagenase. Hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, and decyl gallates inhibited both hyaluronidase and collagenase, and the most potent inhibitor was octyl gallate against both enzymes. Octyl 3,5-dihydroxybenzoate showed inhibitory effects on hyaluronidase, whereas collagenase was inhibited by octyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate.
    Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry 10/2009; 73(10):2335-7. · 1.28 Impact Factor
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    Article: Rats fed fructose-enriched diets have characteristics of nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis.
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    ABSTRACT: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are increasing in adults and are likely to be increasing in children. Both conditions are hepatic manifestations of metabolic syndrome. Experimental animals fed fructose-enriched diets are widely recognized as good models for metabolic syndrome. However, few reports have described the hepatic pathology of these experimental animals. In this study, 5-wk-old Wistar specific pathogen-free rats, which are a normal strain, were fed experimental diets for 5 wk. We then evaluated the degree of steatohepatitis. The 5 diet groups were as follows: cornstarch (70% wt:wt) [control (C)], high-fructose (70%) (HFr), high-sucrose (70%) (HS), high-fat (15%) (HF), and high-fat (15%) high-fructose (50%) (HFHFr) diets. The macrovesicular steatosis grade, liver:body weight ratio, and hepatic triglyceride concentration were significantly higher in the HFr group than in the other 4 groups. However, the HFr group had a significantly lower ratio of epididymal white fat:body weight than the other 4 groups and had a lower final body weight than the HF and HFHFr groups. The HF group had a greater final body weight than the C, HFr, and HS groups, but no macrovesicular steatosis was observed. The HFr group had a significantly higher grade of lobular inflammation than the other 4 groups. The distribution of lobular inflammation was predominant over portal inflammation, which is consistent with human NASH. In conclusion, rats fed fructose-enriched diets are a better model for NASH than rats fed fat-enriched diets.
    Journal of Nutrition 09/2009; 139(11):2067-71. · 3.92 Impact Factor
  • Article: Hydrolyzable tannins as antioxidants in the leaf extract of Eucalyptus globulus possessing tyrosinase and hyaluronidase inhibitory activities.
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    ABSTRACT: The aqueous ethanolic extract of Eucalyptus globulus leaves has been used as an antioxidant in food additives. From the extract, five ellagitannins and four gallotannins were isolated as the major antioxidative components. Heterophylliin A, 1,3-di-O-galloyl-4,6-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-β-D-glucose, 1,2,4-tri-Ogalloyl-β-D-glucose, 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose and 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose are the first to be isolated from this plant. These hydrolyzable tannins exhibited more potent antioxidant activity (superoxide dismutase-like activity) than ascorbic acid, as well as inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and hyaluronidase. Thus, the eucalyptus leaf extract may be useful in food and cosmetics for not only an tioxidation, but also anti-melanogenesis, anti-allergy and anti-inflammation.
    Food Science and Technology Research 08/2009; 15(3):331-336. · 0.56 Impact Factor
  • Article: Effect of carotenoids and ascorbic acid of Japanese persimmons on cellular lipid peroxidation in HepG2 cells
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    ABSTRACT: In this experiment, we examine the functional property of carotenoids; β-cryptoxanthin (Cry), zeaxanthin (Zea), β-carotene (Car)) and ascorbic acid (AsA). The accumulation amounts of Cry, Zea and Car in HepG2 cells cultured in the high concentration medium were larger than that in a low concentration. Further those accumulation amounts in long incubation time within 24∼hours were greater than that in a shorter time. When the added carotenoid concentration, with or without hydrogen peroxide, increased from 0 to 5 μM in the culture medium, the thiobarbituric acid reaction substance (TBARS) values in the HepG2 cells decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The decrease of TBARS values shows the antioxidative property of the carotenoids. When AsA and Tocopherol(Toc) were added to the medium from 0 to 20 μM, the TBARS values, with or without hydrogen peroxide, decreased significantly with increasing concentrations of AsA and Toc respectively (p < 0.05). The decreased amount of TBARS in 5 μM Cry compared with control(0 μM) was the largest among 6 antioxidants (Cry, Car, Zea, Retinol(Ret), AsA, Toc) used in this experiment.
    BioFactors 12/2008; 21(1‐4):241 - 245. · 4.93 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2002–2012
    • Osaka Prefecture University
      • • Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences
      • • Department of Applied Biological Chemistry
      • • Graduate School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences
      • • College of Agriculture
      Sakai, Osaka-fu, Japan
  • 2009
    • Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
      Tokyo, Tokyo-to, Japan
  • 2008
    • Hyogo University
      • School of Human Science and Environment
      Akō, Hyogo-ken, Japan
  • 2004
    • Wakayama University
      • Faculty of Education
      Wakayama-shi, Wakayama-ken, Japan
  • 2002–2003
    • Kochi Women's University
      Kōchi-shi, Kochi-ken, Japan