Publications by authors named "Muneyoshi Yamazaki"

Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is a sulfated and phosphorylated glycoprotein found almost exclusively in mineralized connective tissues. Recent studies on the developmental expression of BSP mRNA and temporo-spatial appearance of the protein during bone formation in vivo and in vitro have demonstrated that BSP is expressed by differentiated osteoblasts, and that it may function in the initial nucleation of hydroxyapatite crystals in de novo bone formation. Physical forces may play a fundamental role in the regulation of cell function in bone, but little is known about how cells are able to sense mechanical loads and signal transduction.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bone sialoprotein (BSP), an early marker of osteoblast differentiation, has been implicated in the nucleation of hydroxyapatite during de novo bone formation. Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) is recognized as a potent mitogen for a variety of mesenchymal cells. In skeletal tissues, FGF2 produced by osteoblasts accumulates in the bone matrix and acts as an autocrine/paracrine regulator of bone cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bradykinin (1 microM) and histamine (100 microM) evoked an initial transient increase and a subsequent sustained increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in fura-2-loaded human gingival fibroblasts, which may be attributed to Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores and Ca(2+) entry from extracellular sites, respectively. In fibroblasts pretreated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as herbimycin A (1 microM) and tyrphostin 47 (20 microM), the sustained level of [Ca(2+)](i) induced by bradykinin and histamine increased, but not the initial peak level. In the absence of external Ca(2+), bradykinin and histamine induced only the transient increase in [Ca(2+)](i), but a subsequent addition of Ca(2+) to the medium resulted in a sustained increase in [Ca(2+)](i) caused by Ca(2+)entry.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bone sialoprotein (BSP), an early marker of osteoblast differentiation, has been implicated in the nucleation of hydroxyapatite during de novo bone formation. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has anabolic effects on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts via diverse signal transduction systems. Because PGE2 increases the proportion of functional osteoblasts in fetal rat calvarial cell cultures, we investigated the regulation of BSP, as an osteoblastic marker, by PGE2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Generation of free radical and/or active oxygen by light or laser irradiation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), which have been used for tooth whitening or root canal irrigation, was investigated using electron spin resonance spectroscopy combined with a spin-trapping technique. When H2O2 was exposed to light or laser radiation, the amount of hydroxyl radical generated changed according to the concentration of H2O2 and irradiation time. The amount of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidone-(2)-oxyl-(1) (DMPO-X) also changed in accordance with irradiation time.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a major mediator of inflammatory responses in many diseases that inhibits bone formation and stimulates bone resorption. To determine molecular mechanisms involved in the suppression of bone formation we have analyzed the effects of TNF-alpha on BSP gene expression. Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is a mineralized tissue-specific protein that appears to function in the initial mineralization of bone.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) is a transcription factor and plays a key role in the expression of several genes involved in the inflammatory process. Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the key regulatory enzyme of the prostaglandin/eicosanoid synthetic pathway. COX-2 is a highly inducible enzyme by proinflammatory cytokines, of which gene expression is regulated by NFkappaB.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF