N-acetyl transferase 2 polymorphisms associated with isoniazid pharmacodynamics: molecular features for ligand interaction.

Background: Isoniazid is mainly metabolized by arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2). Rapid acetylator types have NAT2*4/*4 alleles. Intermediate acetylator types have any of the following alleles: NAT2*4/*5, *4/*6, or *4/*7.

Functional analysis of transcriptional activity of cytosine and adenine (CA) repeats polymorphism in the estrogen receptor beta gene.

Cytosine and adenine (CA) repeats polymorphism (D14S1026) iterating "cytosine and adenine" nucleotide motifs is one of the genomic microsatellites in intron 5 of the estrogen receptor beta (ER beta) gene (14q22-24). Relations between CA repeats polymorphism and several diseases have been shown. Although the relation between number of CA repeats and gene transcription has been actively studied using several genes, results have remained contradictory until this time.

Effects of N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), CYP2E1 and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) genotypes on the serum concentrations of isoniazid and metabolites in tuberculosis patients.

For the purpose of a side-effect monitoring of isoniazid (INH), we investigated the relationship between the genotypes of drug-metabolizing enzymes involved in INH metabolism and the serum concentrations of INH and its metabolites in 129 tuberculosis patients hospitalizing in the National Hospital Organization Chiba-East Hospital. Genotype distributions of N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), CYP2E1*5B, CYP2E1*6, Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) M1 and GST T1 were similar to those already reported in Japanese populations. Acetylating pathway of INH to acetyl isoniazid (AcINH) tended to shift to the hydrolytic pathway generating hydrazine (Hz) with the increase of mutant alleles in NAT2 gene.

A comparative study of histamine activities on differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

The effects of histamine and its receptor antagonists on mouse bone marrow cells (MBMC) and MC3T3-E1 cells were studied to elucidate the precise molecular mechanisms underlying histamine activities in the respective cell types. The studied parameters were osteoclast differentiation and expressions of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL), histamine receptors (HR), and osteoblast differentiation markers. The osteoclastogenesis was assessed by TRAP-dye method.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and reduced folate carrier-1 genotypes and methotrexate serum concentrations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We investigated the genotypes of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and reduced folate carrier-1 (RFC-1), and the serum concentrations of methotrexate (MTX) in 100 outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Frequencies of MTHFR C677T and A1298C were similar to those reported in Japanese RA patients, while frequencies of RFC-1 G80A genotypes differed from those reported in RA patients in the United States. No correlations were found between these genotypes and serum MTX levels.

Sex differences in PPARgamma expressions in rat adipose tissues.

Clinical studies had suggested that there were sex differences in pharmacological and side effects of pioglitazone. However, there are few studies on the sex differences of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma expressions in rat adipose tissues. We investigated the sex differences in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma expressions in rat adipose tissues.