著者

Takehiro Suzuki Hiroaki Yamaguchi Motoi Kikusato Tetsuro Matsuhashi Akihiro Matsuo Takeya Sato Yuki Oba Shun Watanabe Daichi Minaki Daisuke Saigusa Hiroko Shimbo Nobuyoshi Mori Eikan Mishima Hisato Shima Yasutoshi Akiyama Yoichi Takeuchi Akinori Yuri Koichi Kikuchi Takafumi Toyohara Chitose Suzuki Masahiro Kohzuki Jun-ichi Anzai Nariyasu Mano Shigeo Kure Teruyuki Yanagisawa Yoshihisa Tomioka Masaaki Toyomizu Sadayoshi Ito Hitoshi Osaka Ken-ichiro Hayashi Takaaki Abe

出版者

東北ジャーナル刊行会

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.236, no.3, pp.225-232, 2015 (Released:2015-06-26)

参考文献数

27

被引用文献数

2 34

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Mitochondria are key organelles implicated in a variety of processes related to energy and free radical generation, the regulation of apoptosis, and various signaling pathways. Mitochondrial dysfunction increases cellular oxidative stress and depletes ATP in a variety of inherited mitochondrial diseases and also in many other metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondrial diseases are characterized by the dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, caused by mutations in the genes encoded by either nuclear DNA or mitochondrial DNA. We have hypothesized that chemicals that increase the cellular ATP levels may ameliorate the mitochondrial dysfunction seen in mitochondrial diseases. To search for the potential drugs for mitochondrial diseases, we screened an in-house chemical library of indole-3-acetic-acid analogs by measuring the cellular ATP levels in Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. We have thus identified mitochonic acid 5 (MA-5), 4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-4-oxobutanoic acid, as a potential drug for enhancing ATP production. MA-5 is a newly synthesized derivative of the plant hormone, indole-3-acetic acid. Importantly, MA-5 improved the survival of fibroblasts established from patients with mitochondrial diseases under the stress-induced condition, including Leigh syndrome, MELAS (myopathy encephalopathy lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes), Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, and Kearns-Sayre syndrome. The improved survival was associated with the increased cellular ATP levels. Moreover, MA-5 increased the survival of mitochondrial disease fibroblasts even under the inhibition of the oxidative phosphorylation or the electron transport chain. These data suggest that MA-5 could be a therapeutic drug for mitochondrial diseases that exerts its effect in a manner different from anti-oxidant therapy.

著者

Ayako Saito Yoichi Takeuchi Saeko Kagaya Yoshie Ojima Hirotaka Fukami Hiroyuki Sato Ken Matsuda Tasuku Nagasawa

出版者

東北ジャーナル刊行会

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.242, no.1, pp.53-62, 2017 (Released:2017-05-24)

参考文献数

36

被引用文献数

7

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Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is systemic vascular inflammation. Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a major type of AAV in Japan. MPA often affects the kidneys and lungs, leading to death if untreated. Induction therapy (i.e., initial treatment) for MPA has not been optimized, although methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide are commonly used. Recently, rituximab (RTX) (a monoclonal antibody against the protein CD20) has also been used to treat refractory AAV. RTX at 375 mg/m2/week for 4 weeks (i.e., the conventional lymphoma dosing schedule) is used, but the optimal dosing schedule is controversial. Indeed, a single-dose of RTX successfully controlled nephrotic syndrome. However, to date, the effectiveness of a single RTX dose in treating MPA has not been fully investigated in Japan. This was a retrospective observational study. Six newly diagnosed patients with MPA were initially treated with methylprednisolone and a single dose of RTX (375 mg/m2). We investigated the patients’ clinical features, as well as the efficacy and safety of RTX treatment. All patients attained remission on a tapered prednisolone dose of < 10 mg/day during the first 12 months. One patient relapsed after 12 months whereas another required hospitalization owing to infective spondyloarthritis. Adverse reactions to RTX infusion and late-onset neutropenia were not observed. Therefore, a single-dose treatment with RTX induced remission with few complications, and allowed tapering the prednisolone treatment. We conclude that a single dose of RTX is a promising induction therapy for MPA, reducing the cost associated with multiple doses.

著者

Yoshie Ojima Kinya Sawada Hiroshi Fujii Tsuyoshi Shirai Ayako Saito Saeko Kagaya Satoshi Aoki Yoichi Takeuchi Tomonori Ishii Tasuku Nagasawa

出版者

The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine

雑誌

Internal Medicine (ISSN:09182918)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.57, no.9, pp.1301-1308, 2018-05-01 (Released:2018-05-01)

参考文献数

47

被引用文献数

7

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A previously healthy 58-year-old man was admitted for muscle pain and weakness [manual muscle testing (MMT) of 4/4 for upper and lower limbs]. We detected elevated levels of inflammatory makers and PR3-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). Subsequently, the muscle weakness rapidly progressed to an MMT of 2 for all limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated muscle edema, and the creatine kinase (CK) level increased to 29,998 U/L. Methylprednisolone (mPSL) and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy improved the patient symptoms. MMT recovered to 4 for all limbs. A muscle biopsy showed degenerated muscle fibers surrounded by neutrophil-predominant infiltration. In addition, lamina elastic breakdown and fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles were observed. A final diagnosis of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) limited to the muscles was made.

著者

Yoshie Ojima Kinya Sawada Hiroshi Fujii Tsuyoshi Shirai Ayako Saito Saeko Kagaya Satoshi Aoki Yoichi Takeuchi Tomonori Ishii Tasuku Nagasawa

出版者

The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine

雑誌

Internal Medicine (ISSN:09182918)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.9848-17, (Released:2017-12-27)

参考文献数

47

被引用文献数

7

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A previously healthy 58-year-old man was admitted for muscle pain and weakness (manual muscle testing [MMT] of 4/4 for upper and lower limbs). We detected elevated levels of inflammatory makers and PR3-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). Subsequently, the muscle weakness rapidly progressed to an MMT of 2 for all limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated muscle edema, and the CK level increased to 29,998 U/L. mPSL and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy improved the patient symptoms. MMT recovered to 4 for all limbs. A muscle biopsy showed degenerated muscle fibers surrounded by neutrophil-predominant infiltration. In addition, lamina elastic breakdown and fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles were observed. A final diagnosis of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) limited to the muscles was made.