Publications by authors named "Masahiko Morioka"

The novel sudden acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is an enveloped virus currently causing severe illness and death worldwide. Common antiseptics such as alcohol have some efficacy in disinfecting everyday surroundings, but development of more effective disinfectants is imperative. A series of studies focusing on cationic antimicrobials resulted in the development of a safe and effective novel coronavirus disinfectant, DEA-171, which provides ≥99.

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Gestational nutrition is widely recognized to affect an offspring's future risk of lifestyle-related diseases, suggesting the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms. As folic acid (FA) is a nutrient essential for modulating DNA methylation, we sought to determine how maternal FA intake during early pregnancy might influence tumor sensitivity in an offspring. Dams were maintained on a FA-depleted (FA(-)) or normal (2 mg FA/kg; FA(+)) diet from 2 to 3 days before mating to 7 days post-conception, and their offspring were challenged with chemical tumorigenesis using 7,12-dimethylbenz[a)anthracene and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate for skin and 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide for tongue.

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Collagen type XVII (COL17) is expressed in various tissues and its aberrant expression is associated with tumour progression. In this study, we investigated the regulation of COL17 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using the cell lines NA, SAS, Ca9-22, and Sa3. COL17 was induced upon p53 activation by cisplatin in SAS; however, this effect was more limited in NA and hardly in Ca9-22 and Sa3, with mutated p53.

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We previously reported that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was mediated by ΔNp63β in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In this study, DNA microarray analyses were performed using ΔNp63β-overexpressing OSCC cells to identify genes associated with ΔNp63β-mediated EMT. Thereby, we focused on kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) 6, most up-regulated following ΔNp63β-overexpression, that activates protease-activated receptors (PARs).

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We previously revealed that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was mediated by ΔNp63β, a splicing variant of ΔNp63, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Recent studies have highlighted the involvement of microRNA (miRNA) in EMT of cancer cells, though the mechanism remains unclear. To identify miRNAs responsible for ΔNp63β-mediated EMT, miRNA microarray analyses were performed by ΔNp63β-overexpression in OSCC cells; SQUU-B, which lacks ΔNp63 expression and displays EMT phenotypes.

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Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes over 90% of all cancers in the oral cavity. The prognosis for patients with invasive OSCC is poor; therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms of invasion and subsequent metastasis not only to prevent cancer progression but also to detect new therapeutic targets against OSCC. Recently, extracellular vesicles-particularly exosomes-have been recognized as intercellular communicators in the tumor microenvironment.

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A new class of a dual inhibitor of Aurora kinase and tubulin polymerization was created by introducing various substituted phenoxyethylamino or pyridyloxyethylamino groups to the 2-position of 3-cyano-4-methyl-6-(5-methyl-3-pyrazoloamino)-pyridine. Compound 3g exhibited Aurora kinase inhibition, excellent protein kinase selectivity to Aurora kinase in comparison with 66 other kinases, inhibition of phosphorylation of Ser10 of histone H3 as an Aurora kinase inhibitor, inhibition of tubulin polymerization in vitro, good cell membrane permeability, and a good PK profile. Therefore compound 3g was effective in some antitumor mouse models at a dose of 30mg/kgpoqd.

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Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is often associated with lymphatic rather than hematogenous metastasis; however, a determinant factor for this process has not been elucidated. This study examined the effect of OSCC-derived exosomes on angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, closely related with hematogenous and lymphatic metastasis, respectively. Our data demonstrated that OSCC-derived exosomes stimulated the expression of VEGFs and their receptors, essential regulators of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, in human lymphatic endothelial cells but not in human vein endothelial cells.

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15-Deoxyspergualin (DSG) is an immunosuppressive agent being clinically used. Unlike tacrolimus and cyclosporine A, it does not inhibit the calcineurin pathway, and its mechanism of action and target molecule have not been elucidated. Therefore, we previously prepared biotinylated derivative of DSG (BDSG) to fish up the target protein.

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A new class of Aurora A kinase inhibitor was created by transforming 4-(5-methyl-3-pyrazoloamino)pyrimidine moiety of VX-680 to 3-cyano-6-(5-methyl-3pyrazoloamino)pyridine. Compound 6 exhibited a potent Aurora A kinase inhibitory activity, excellent selectivity to Aurora B kinase and other 60 kinases, good cell permeability and good PK profile. Therefore compound 6 was effective in antitumor mice model at a dose of 30 mg/kg po qd without decrease of body weight.

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Bone deficiency causes osteoporosis and often decreases quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Estrogens are known to protect elderly women from bone loss. Synthesis of new estradiol-bisphosphonate conjugates (E(2)-BPs) was accomplished and their in vivo activity as bone-specific estrogens were examined.

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