Origin of regioselectivity in the reactions of nitronate and enolate ambident anions.

The reactions of nitronates of ring-substituted phenylnitromethanes and enolates of ring-substituted 1-phenyl-2-propanones with MeOBs gave exclusively the O-methylated and C-methylated products, respectively. DFT calculations suggested that two factors, namely, intrinsic barriers and metal-cation coordination, control the C/O selectivity. The kinetic preference for O-methylation in the reactions of nitronates arises from the intrinsic barriers, which are ca. 10 kcal/mol lower for O-methylation than for C-methylation. The situation is the same for the gas-phase reaction of an enolate, in which the O-methylation is more favorable than the C-methylation. The experimentally observed C-selectivity of enolate reactions in solution is due to the metal-cation coordination, which hinders O-methylation for enolates. The effects of the enolate reactivity and the solvent on the C/O selectivity are also rationalized to arise from the two factors.

DNA stable pentaploid H1 (ES) cells obtained from an octaploid cell induced from tetraploid cells polyploidized using demecolcine.

Pentaploid H1 (ES) cells (5H1 cells) were accidentally obtained through one-cell cloning of octaploid H1 (ES) cells (8H1 cells) that were established from tetraploid H1 (ES) cells (4H1 cells) polyploidized using demecolcine. The number of chromosomes of 5H1 cells was 100, unlike the 40 of diploid H1 (ES) cells (2H1 cells), 80 of 4H1, and 160 of 8H1 cells. The durations of G(1), S, and G(2)/M phases of 5H1 cells were 3, 7, and 6 h, respectively, almost the same as those of 2H1, 4H1, and 8H1 cells. The cell volume of 5H1 cells was half of that of 8H1 cells, suggesting that 5H1 cells were created through abnormal cell divisions of 8H1 cells. The morphology of growing 5H1 cells was a spherical cluster similar to that of 2H1 cells and differing from the flagstone-like shape of 4H1 and 8H1 cells. Pentaploid solid tumors were formed from 5H1 cells after interperitoneal injection into the mouse abdomen, and they contained endodermal, mesodermal, and ectodermal cells as well as undifferentiated cells, suggesting both that the DNA content of 5H1 cells was retained during tumor formation and that the 5H1 cells were pluripotent. The DNA content of 5H1 cells was stable in long-term culturing as 2H1 cells, meaning that 5H1 and 2H1 cells shared similarities in DNA structure. The excellent stability of the DNA content of 5H1 cells was explained using a hypothesis for the DNA structure of polyploid cells because the pairing of homologous chromosomes in 5H1 cells is spatially forbidden.

Alteration and preservation of cellular characteristics in long-term culture of tetraploid H-1 (ES) cells.

To examine the alteration in cellular characteristics of polyploid ES cells during long-term culturing, tetraploid H-1 (ES) cells were continuously cultured for 180 days. Cellular DNA content of the tetraploid cells decreased and reached a plateau of 3.3 C, where C represents the complement of haploid chromosomes. The chromosome number also decreased, indicating that the DNA loss was induced by chromosome loss. Cell volume was maintained, suggesting that the DNA loss did not involve cytoplasmic loss. The cell cycle parameters were almost the same during the DNA decay process, indicating that cell cycle progression was independent of the quantity of homologous chromosomes. Hypotetraploid cells showed alkaline phosphatase activity and formed teratocarcinomas in mouse abdomens, suggesting that the pluripotent potential was maintained. Cellular morphology was also retained, suggesting that the gene expression specifying morphological characteristics was conserved. We conclude that these initial cellular characteristics of tetraploid H1 (ES) cells were preserved in long-term culture, irrespective of chromosome loss.

Polyploidization of 2nH1 (ES) cells by K-252a and staurosporine.

Mouse 2nH1 (ES) cells were examined for polyploidization using K-252a and staurosporine. Though 2nH1 cells were polyploidized by both K-252a and staurosporine, tetraploid cells, 4nH1K cells, were obtained only from cell populations exposed to K-252a. The probability of successful establishment of tetraploid cells was 2/9, suggesting that the highly polyploidized-tetraploid transition might occur infrequently. Cell cycle parameters of 4nH1K cells were almost the same as those of 2nH1 cells, suggesting that the rate of DNA synthesis was about twice that of the diploid cells. The cell volume of 4nH1K cells was about twice of that of diploid cells, indicating that 4nH1K cells contained about twice as much total intracellular material as 2nH1 cells. The morphology of the 4nH1K cells was flagstone-like, thus differing from that of the spindle-shaped 2nH1 cells, suggesting that morphological transformation occurred during the diploid-tetraploid transition. 4nH1K cells exhibited alkaline phosphatase activity and formed teratocarcinomas, implying that they were pluripotent. These characteristics of 4nH1K cells were similar to those of tetraploid 4nH1 cells that have been established through polyploidization by demecolcine, suggesting that 4nH1K and 4nH1 cells are similar irrespective of the different mechanisms of polyploidization.

Utility of KRAS mutational analysis in the preoperative diagnosis of synchronous pancreatic cancer and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A case report.

RATIONALE: It is often challenging to discriminate between intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and metastatic liver tumors, especially when the hepatic tumor is small and of a mass-forming type. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a 69-year-old woman presented at our hospital with a small solid tumor in the head of the pancreas that was previously discovered during a medical checkup. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with synchronous pancreatic cancer and ICC. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent clinical, histological, immunohistological, and KRAS mutational analysis. OUTCOMES: Computed tomography revealed poorly enhanced small nodules in both the pancreatic head and liver. Biopsies of both nodules revealed adenocarcinoma; however, it was unclear whether the hepatic lesion was a metastasis of the pancreatic tumor or primary ICC. KRAS mutational analysis from FFPE biopsy samples revealed a discordance of mutation status between the tumors. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with synchronous pancreatic cancer and ICC, whereupon she underwent hepatopancreatoduodenectomy. LESSONS: KRAS mutational analysis of FFPE biopsy samples can be utilized for differentiating between ICC and metastatic liver tumor.

[Antihypertensive therapy for refractory morning hypertension in patients on peritoneal dialysis].

Due to excessive salt and water retention, hypertension often becomes refractory in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Management of high blood pressure (BP) appears to be of particular importance in such patients because of its substantial impact on the patients' prognosis. However, attempts to control hypertension in PD patients have not been successful in most cases. In this regard, the present study aimed to address the adequacy of current antihypertensive therapy for PD patients. A new antihypertensive strategy expected to improve the outcome was tested on the assumption that treatment with either angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) in the evening together with alpha1-blocker at bed time and long-acting Ca channel blocker (CCB) in the morning might ameliorate BP control associated with morning hypertension. Enrolled in the present study were 40 patients whose BP was evaluated by both office and home measurement. Due to an emerging concern about morning hypertension, home BP measured early in the morning was used for the analysis. Each patient was categorized into the following four groups in accordance with office and home BP: well-controlled, poorly-controlled, white-coat and masked (opposite to white-coat), hypertension. After the observation period, 28 patients with refractory hypertension were allocated to intensive antihypertensive therapy in which ARB or ACE-I previously prescribed in the morning or daytime was shifted to the night. In addition, alpha1-blocker was given at bed time. Furthermore, long-acting CCB and diuretics were shifted to the morning. The patients were then followed up for 4-6 months. The results were as follows: 1) Of the total number of 40 PD patients, systolic hypertension was noted in 50% of cases by office BP and in 80% by home BP. The former was less frequent than the latter (p=0.0047, n=40). Similarly, diastolic hypertension was noted in 20% by office BP and in 45% by home BP. The former was less frequent than the latter (p=0.0045, n=40 by McNemar's analysis). The distribution of BP control categories was well-controlled in 11%, poorly-controlled in 42%, masked hypertension in 39% and white-coat hypertension in 8% when determined by systolic BP. The distribution was well-controlled in 45%, poorly-controlled in 13%, masked hypertension in 34% and white-coat hypertension in 8% of cases when determined by diastolic BP. 2) In 28 patients subjected to the intensive therapy, the control category of systolic BP was changed from 11 to 37% in well-controlled cases, from 42 to 30% in poorly-controlled cases, from 39 to 26% in masked hypertension cases and from 8 to 7% in white-coat hypertension cases. The shift in categories in both poorly-controlled and masked hypertension cases to the better category (well-controlled), was statistically significant (p=0.001, by Wilcoxon's signed rank test). Similarly, the control category of diastolic BP was changed from 45 to 43% in well-controlled cases, from 13 to 15% in poorly-controlled cases, from 34 to 32% in masked hypertension cases and from 8 to 10% in white-coat hypertension cases. There was a tendency for the prevalence of poorly-controlled and masked hypertension to improve to the well-controlled category in response to intensive therapy (p=0.0625, by Wilcoxon's signed rank test). 3) The plasma concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1)/tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) complex (total PAI-1 complex) was significantly decreased after intensive therapy (17.3+/-7.8 ng/ml vs. 13.5+/-4.6 ng/ml, n=28, p<0.01 by paired t-test). In contrast, the plasma concentration of t-PA was unchanged even after intensive therapy (4.8+/-3.9 ng/ml vs. 6.2+/-2.9 ng/ml, n=28, ns). These data suggest that home BP obtained in the morning is a useful measure for evaluating morning hypertension in PD patients, most of whom have refractory hypertension categorized as either poorly-controlled or masked hypertension. Intensive treatment with ACE-I/ARB given in the evening along with alpha1-blocker at bed time combined with a diuretic and/or long-acting CCB in the morning is efficacious in controlling the BP of patients with refractory hypertension in PD patients. The link between the reduction in plasma total PAI-1 levels and the intensive therapy may suggest that this therapeutic strategy could prevent thrombotic events associated with morning hypertension in patients on PD.

Establishment of a triploid V79 cell line from tetraploid cells obtained through polyploidization using K-252a.

Triploid V79 cells were established from tetraploid cells. Diploid V79 cells were polyploidized by K-252a, an inhibitor of protein kinases, and then released from the drug for 10 days. At that time, the cell population was a mixture of diploid and tetraploid cells. Triploid cells were obtained through the cloning of tetraploid cells. They had 33 chromosomes (1.5 times the diploid number) and showed a karyotype of three homologueous chromosomes. The duration of the G1, S and G2/M phases was almost the same as for diploid cells. The cell volume of triploid V79 cells was about two times that of the diploid cells. An explanation for the diploid-tetraploid-triploid transition is proposed.

Octaploid Meth-A cells are established from a highly polyploidized cell population.

Tetraploid Meth-A cells were polyploidized by demecolcin, an inhibitor of spindle fibre formation in M phase, and then released from the drug 1, 2, 3 and 4 days after the addition. Octaploid cells were successfully established from cell populations including hexadecaploid cells produced by 2, 3 and 4 days of exposure to demecolcin. One-day-treated cells were polyploidized octaploid cells, but they returned to tetraploid cells. All of the octaploid Meth-A cells showed essentially the same features. The octaploid Meth-A cells had eight homologous chromosomes and double the DNA content of the parent tetraploid cells. The doubling time of octaploid Meth-A cells was 30.2 h, somewhat longer than the 28.3 and 24.0 h of tetraploid and diploid cells, respectively. The fractions of cells in the G1, S and G2/M phases were essentially the same in diploid, tetraploid and octaploid Meth-A cells. The cell volume of octaploid Meth-A cells was about two times that of the tetraploid cells. It was concluded that octaploid Meth-A cells were established from transient hexadecaploid cells produced by the polyploidization of tetraploid cells that had been established from diploid cells.

[Salt intake and the progression of chronic renal diseases].

To what extent dietary salt intake is involved in the pathogenesis of progressive renal diseases has never been fully understood in humans. To this aim, we investigated the relationship between urinary sodium excretion (under a low salt & low protein diet) and urinary protein excretion/renal function in patients with three major renal diseases: chronic glomerulonephritis(GN), diabetic nephropathy(DN) and nephrosclerosis(NS). The results were as follows; 1) A significant positive correlation was found between urinary sodium excretion (equivalent to the daily salt intake) and daily urinary protein excretion in patients with a GN and DN. However, no relationship was found between the two parameters in patients with NS. 2) Reduction in salt intake led to a significant decrease in daily protein excretion, the effect of which was prominent in patients with GN and DN. 3) A significant positive correlation was found between urinary sodium excretion and estimated protein intake(EPI) in all three groups. 4) There was a significant positive correlation between EPI and urinary protein excretion in DN, but not in GN. 5) Reduction in salt and protein intake(calculated as an EPI) ameliorates the slope of reciprocal creatinine concentration(1/Cr) in patients with GN and DN. These results indicate that slat restriction is strongly associated with the preservation of renal function in patients with GN and DN, suggesting that this dietary strategy can be a useful measure for retarding the progressive nature of these diseases. Of note is that both salt and protein restriction was renoprotective only in patients with DN. Thus, patients with GN and DN must be followed-up on the basis of a salt-restricted diet throughout their clinical course.

Dodecaploid H1 embryonic stem cells abolished pluripotency in L15F10 medium both with and without leukemia inhibitory factor.

Two lines of dodecaploid H1 embryonic stem cells, 12H1 and 12H1(-) cells (mouse-originated cells), were established through polyploidization of two hexaploid H1 cells, 6H1 and 6H1(-) cells, which were cultured in L15F10 (7:3) medium with and without leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), respectively. The G1, S, and G2/M phase fractions of 12H1 and 12H1(-) cells were almost the same as those of 6H1 and 6H1(-) cells, respectively, but the doubling time of cell proliferation was prolonged, suggesting that cell death occurred in 12H1 and 12H1(-)cells. The cell volumes of 12H1 and 12H1(-) cells were about double those of 6H1 and 6H1(-) cells, respectively. 12H1 and 12H1(-) cells showed near-negative activity of alkaline phosphatase and no ability to form teratocarcinomas in mouse abdomen, suggesting that 12H1 and 12H1(-) cells lost pluripotency. The DNA contents of 12H1 and 12H1(-) cells decayed in long-term culturing, suggesting that 12H1 and 12H1(-) cells were DNA-unstable. Possible explanations for the lost pluripotency and for the DNA decay in 12H1 and 12H1(-) cells are presented.

Effects of etoposide on the proliferation of hexaploid H1 (ES) cells.

Etoposide is a specific inhibitor of topoisomerase II, which is an enzyme that enables double-stranded DNA to pass through another double-stranded DNA. Topoisomerase II is a major constituent of chromosome scaffold, existing at appreciable amounts in cells. To examine the effects of etoposide on the cell cycle, hexaploid H1 (ES) cells (6H1 cells) were used with diploid H1 (ES) cells (2H1 cells) as a control. Exponentially growing 2H1 and 6H1 cells were exposed to etoposide at various concentrations, and cultured for about 60 days in L15F10 medium with leukemia inhibitory factor. With a high concentration of etoposide (1 µM), the DNA histograms showed G(2)/M accumulation, suggesting that etoposide arrested the cell cycle at the G(2)/M phase. With a low concentration of etoposide (50 nM), the cell proliferation was suppressed with a doubling time of 98.4 h for 2H1 cells and 51.6 h for 6H1 cells, and without significant alteration in DNA histograms. Time-lapse videography revealed that 6H1 cells survived in the medium containing 50 nM etoposide had a cell cycle time of 18.8 h, which was equivalent to 19.2 h of the doubling time for the 6H1 cell population in drug-free medium, suggesting that a part of the cell population died and was excluded from the cell system. It was concluded that etoposide affected the cell cycle at a wide range of concentrations.

Haploid unit-ploidy transition of tetraploid and octaploid H1 (ES) cells in long-term culturing.

Haploid unit-ploidy transition in tetraploid and octaploid mouse H1 (ES) cells (4H1 and 8H1 cells, respectively) during long-term culturing was observed using flow cytometry. The DNA content of 4H1 cells was elevated from 3.5C to 4.5C, and that of 8H1 cells was degraded from 6.5C to 5.5C, in addition to gradual DNA loss (C: complement). The timing of the transition was not predetermined. Cell cycle parameters, doubling time and phase durations, were essentially the same before and after the transition, suggesting that most cells in a cell population were induced to undergo the ploidy transition at the same time. Cellular morphology was altered before and after the transition, suggesting that the ploidy shift changed cellular characteristics; however, pluripotency was maintained irrespective of DNA content. Cell volume correlated with DNA content during the final stage of culturing. Diploid and hexaploid H1 (ES) cells--2H1 and 6H1 cells, respectively--were used as control cells in which the ploidy was maintained for about 300 days of culturing. The haploid unit-ploidy transition was explained using a hypothesis concerning the DNA structure of polyploid cells: closing homologous chromosomes causes inhomogeneous cell division accompanying a haploid DNA set, suggesting the existence of a coupling apparatus connecting DNA fibers with a single haploid DNA set.

Hexaploid H1 (ES) cells established from octaploid H1 cells are as DNA stable as pentaploid H1 cells.

Hexaploid H1 (ES) cells (6H1 cells) were established from octaploid H1 cells (8H1 cells), as were pentaploid H1 cells (5H1 cells). 6H1 cells were compared with 5H1 cells. The number of chromosomes of 6H1 cells was 115, 20 more than the 95 of 5H1 cells. The durations of G(1), S, and G(2)/M phases of 6H1 cells were 3, 7, and 6 h, respectively, almost the same as those of 5H1 cells. The cell volume of 6H1 cells was equivalent that of 5H1 cells. The morphology of 6H1 cells was flattened circular cluster, different from the spherical cluster of 5H1 cells. 6H1 cells exhibited alkaline phosphatase activity as well as 5H1 cells. The DNA content of 6H1 cells was stable and maintained for 300 days of culturing, the same as that of 5H1 cells. The DNA stability of 6H1 cells was explained using a hypothesis concerning the DNA structure of polyploid cells because the asymmetric configuration of homologous chromosomes in 6H1 cells inhibited chromosome loss.

Different responses between diploid and tetraploid H1 embryonic stem cells appeared during long-term culturing in L15F10 medium without leukemia inhibitory factor.

To examine the alteration in cellular characteristics of polyploid embryonic stem (ES) cells during long-term culturing without leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), mouse diploid and tetraploid H-1 (ES) cells (2H1 and 4H1 cells, respectively) were cultured without LIF for approximately 5 months. 2H1 and 4H1 cells were adapted to the medium without LIF by decreasing the concentration for several passages, and they were denoted as 2H1(⁻) and 4H1(⁻) cells, respectively. DNA content of 4H1(⁻) cells decreased gradually in the early stage, increased abruptly in the second stage, and then was maintained for a long time. 4H1(⁻) cells exhibited longer doubling time and equivalent phase fraction compared with those of 2H1(⁻) cells. The G1 phase fractions of 2H1(⁻) and 4H1(⁻) cells were increased compared with that of 2H1 cells. Cellular morphology and pluripotency were maintained in 4H1(⁻) cells but not in 2H1(⁻) cells. 2H1(⁻) cells showed a cell population consisting of several kinds of cells, and they lost alkaline phosphatase activity, suggesting that the cells had differentiated. 4H1(⁻) cells, however, exhibited alkaline phosphatase activity and formed teratocarcinoma in mouse abdomen, suggesting that the cells maintained their pluripotency in the medium without LIF.

Cell cycle, morphology and pluripotency of octaploid embryonic stem cells in comparison with those of tetraploid and diploid cells.

To examine the alteration of cellular characteristics on ploidy transition of embryonic stem (ES) cells, octaploid cells (8H1 cells) were established from tetraploid H-1 (ES) cells, and compared with tetraploid and diploid H-1 (ES) cells (4H1 and 2H1 cells, respectively). The duration of G(1), S, and G(2)/M phases were essentially the same among 2H1, 4H1, and 8H1 cells, suggesting that cell cycle progression is conserved. The ratio of cell volume of 2H1, 4H1, and 8H1 cells was about 1 : 2 : 4, indicating that these polyploid cells were generated through cell cycle progression without cell division. The morphology of 8H1 cells was flagstone-like and flatter than that of 4H1 cells, and differed from the spindle-like shape of 2H1 cells, suggesting that transformation occurred during the ploidy transitions. Alkaline phosphatase activity was expressed equivalently in 2H1, 4H1, and 8H1 cells, and solid tumors that contained endodermal, mesodermal, and ectodermal cells were formed by 2H1, 4H1 or 8H1 cells after interperitoneal injection into the mouse abdomen, suggesting that pluripotency was preserved in the ploidy transition.

Genetic evidence for Shc requirement in TCR-induced c-Rel nuclear translocation and IL-2 expression.

Shc, a prototypic adapter molecule, has been implicated in T cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction, but its role has not been identified clearly. Here we report that Shc is essential for TCR-induced IL-2 production but is dispensable for CD69 or CD25 expression. Engagement of TCR in mutant Jurkat T cells lacking Shc fails to produce IL-2 because of impaired mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Activation of c-Rel, a transcription factor essential for IL-2 expression, was impaired also. In contrast, activation of nuclear factor of activated T cell and expression of CD69/CD25 were comparable between the mutant and wild-type Jurkat cells. These defects were rescued by expression of exogenous Shc. Activation of c-Rel using the estrogen receptor fusion protein restored the activation of the IL-2 promoter in an estrogen-dependent manner. These results show that Shc plays an essential role in the TCR-induced activation of c-Rel and the IL-2 promoter.

A novel ERK-dependent signaling process that regulates interleukin-2 expression in a late phase of T cell activation.

Engagement of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) rapidly induces multiple signal transduction pathways, including ERK activation. Here, we report a critical role for ERK at a late stage of T cell activation. Inhibition of the ERK pathway 2-6 h after the start of TCR stimulation significantly impaired interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, whereas the same treatment during the first 2 h had no effect. ERK inhibition significantly impaired nuclear translocation of c-Rel with a minimum reduction of NF-AT activity. Requirement for sustained ERK activation was also confirmed using primary T cells. To induce sustained activation of ERK, T cells required continuous engagement of TCR. Stimulation of T cells with soluble anti-TCR antibody resulted in activation of ERK lasting for 60 min, but failed to induce IL-2 production. In contrast, plate-bound anti-TCR antibody activated ERK over 4 h and induced IL-2. Furthermore, T cells treated with soluble anti-TCR antibody produced IL-2 when phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which activates ERK, was present in the culture medium 2-6 h after the start of stimulation. Together, the data demonstrate the presence of a novel activation process following TCR stimulation that requires ERK-dependent regulation of c-Rel, a member of the NF-kappaB family.