Publications by authors named "Hitoshi Kojo"
Adipocyte dysfunction is strongly associated with the development of obesity and insulin resistance. It is accepted that the regulation of adipocytokine secretion or the adipocyte specific gene expression is one of the most important targets for the prevention of obesity and amelioration of insulin sensitivity. Recently, we demonstrated that anthocyanins, which are pigments widespread in the plant kingdom, have the potency of anti-obesity in mice and the enhancement adipocytokine secretion and its gene expression in adipocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA novel estrogen receptor-related protein (ERR) gamma splice variant cDNA (ERRgamma3) was found in human full-length cDNA libraries. ERRgamma3 cDNA consists of 3362 base pairs and has an open reading frame of 1188bp. The predicted peptide sequence of ERRgamma3 differs from both ERRgamma1 and ERRgamma2 in missing 39 amino acid residues corresponding to the second zinc finger motif of the DNA binding domain (DBD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdipocyte dysfunction is strongly associated with the development of obesity and insulin resistance. It is accepted that the regulation of adipocytokine secretion or the adipocyte specific gene expression is one of the most important targets for the prevention of obesity and amelioration of insulin sensitivity. Recently, we demonstrated that anthocyanins, which are pigments widespread in the plant kingdom, have the potency of anti-obesity in mice and the enhancement adipocytokine secretion and adipocyte gene expression in adipocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecular cloning and characterization of two novel human RXR alpha splice variants.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol
September 2004
Article Synopsis
- Two new variants of RXR alpha, named RXR alpha 2 and RXR alpha 3, were found in human cDNA libraries, lacking parts of the protein compared to the main RXR alpha 1.
- RXR alpha 3 is expressed in brain, spleen, and prostate tissues, while RXR alpha 2's expression is very low or undetectable.
- Both variants demonstrate transcriptional activity similar to RXR alpha 1, but show differences in response to coactivators, indicating they may have unique physiological functions.
Article Synopsis
- The study assessed the antidiabetic effects of a new compound, FK614, in comparison with existing medications like rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, using diabetic mice models.
- FK614 demonstrated comparable effectiveness in reducing blood sugar and significantly improved triglyceride levels, particularly in db/db mice, highlighting its strong therapeutic potential.
- While FK614 activated PPARgamma similar to thiazolidinedione drugs, it showed a lower maximum effect, and toxicity studies indicated it may have a safer profile than rosiglitazone, suggesting FK614 could be a promising candidate for type 2 diabetes treatment.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the subtypes of the PPAR nuclear receptor, which includes alpha, delta, and gamma, and their interactions with various drugs like antihyperglycaemic agents and NSAIDs.
- A new assay method was developed to measure PPAR delta activity, allowing for a more accurate analysis of how different compounds activate this receptor.
- The research revealed that certain NSAIDs and a novel LTD(4) antagonist show selective agonistic activity towards specific PPAR subtypes, which could impact understanding their molecular pharmacological actions.