• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.197-206
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• 2007

P2X receptors are membrane-bound ion channels that conduct $Na^+,\;K^+$, and $Ca^{2+}$ in response to ATP and its analogs. There are seven subunits identified so far ($P2X_1-P2X_7$). $P2X_2$ receptors are known to be expressed in a wide range of organs including brains and adrenal grands. PC12 cells are originated from adrenal grand and differentiated by nerve growth factor or pituitary adenylate cyclase activating poly peptide (PACAP). Previous studies indicate that $P2X_2$ receptor activation in PC12 cells couples to $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ release of catecholamine and ATP. It is known that acidic pH potentiates ATP currents at $P2X_2$ receptors. This leads to a hypothesis that $P2X_2$ receptors may play an important role in PC12 cell differentiation, one of the characteristics of which is neurite outgrowth, induced by the hormones under lower pH. In the present study, we isolated several clones which potentiate neurite outgrowth by PACAP in acidic pH (6.8), but not in alkaline pH (7.6). RT-PCR and electrophysiology data indicate that these clones express only functional $P2X_2$ receptors in the absence or presence of PACAP for 3 days. Potentiation of neurite outgrowth resulted from PACAP (100 nM) in acidic pH is inhibited by the two P2X receptor antagonists, suramin and PPADS ($100\;{\mu}M)$ each), and exogenous exprerssion of ATP-binding mutant $P2X_2$ receptor subunit ($P2X_2[K69A]$). However, acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are not involved in PACAP-induced neurite outgrowth potentiation in lower pH since treatments of an inhibitor of ASICs, amyloride ($10\;{\mu}M$), did not give any effects to neurite extension. The vesicular proton pump ($H^+-ATPase$) inhibitor, bafilomycin (100 nM), reduced neurite extension indicating that ATP release resulted from $P2X_2$ receptor activation in PC12 cells is needed for neurite outgrowth. These were confirmed by activation of mitogen activated protein kinases, such as ERKs and p38. These results suggest roles of ATP and $P2X_2$ receptors in hormone-induced cell differentiation or neuronal synaptogenesis in local acidic environments.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.485-493
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• 2005

We studied the effects of trazodone on arterial blood pressure in anesthesized guinea pigs, and on vascular responses in isolated thoracic aorta. Trazodone produced a concentration-dependent relaxation in phenylephrine-precontracted endothelium intact (+E) rings, but not in a KCl-precontracted aortic rings. These relaxant effects of trazodone on +E rings were significantly greater than those on denuded (-E) rings. The trazodone-induced relaxation was suppressed by glibenclamide and tetrabutylammonium, but not by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), methylene blue (MB), nifedipine, indomethacin, 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-n,n-diphenylcarbamate (NCDC) and clotrimazole. In vivo, infusion of trazodone elicited a significant decrease in arterial blood pressure. Trazodone-induced blood pressure lowering was markedly inhibited by intravenous pretreatment of prazosin but not by pretreatment of saponin, L-NNA, L-NAME, MB, nifedipine, glibenclamide, clotrimazole and NCDC. In addition, trazodone produced an increase in twitch force of isolated papillary muscle and left ventricular pressure of perfused heart. These findings suggest that the endothelium-independent vasorelaxant effect of trazodone may be explained by activation of $Ca^{2+}$-activated and ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels, and the hypotensive effect of trazodone is not associated with cardiac contraction.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.426-433
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• 2024

식물이 가장 쉽게 노출되는 환경적 위험은 수분 스트레스이다. Abscisic acid (ABA)는 환경 스트레스에 적응하기 위해 식물에서 생성되는 식물 호르몬이다. 식물에서 기공의 가장 중요한 역할은 광합성 활성에 크게 영향을 주는 CO₂를 흡수하여 슈크로스의 합성을 활발하게 유도하는 것이다. 또한 기공은 증산작용을 통해 H₂O를 방출하는 통로이며, 식물의 뿌리가 토양에서 물과 무기 물질을 지속적으로 흡수할 수 있도록 수분퍼텐셜의 기울기를 형성하는 기능을 한다. 식물은 수분 스트레스 환경에 노출되면, 기공을 닫아 수분 손실을 최소화하는 메커니즘을 가진다. 환경에 따른 기공 닫힘 메커니즘들과 관련하여 가장 잘 밝혀진 가설은 수분 스트레스에 대한 기공 반응이다. 식물이 충분한 수분을 공급받은 상태일 때, 기공은 일주기 리듬에 따라 낮에는 열리고 밤에는 닫힌다. 또한 세포간극 안에 CO₂ 농도가 증가하면 기공이 닫힌다. 그러나 일주기 리듬과 세포간극 안의 CO₂ 농도 증가로 인한 기공 닫힘 메커니즘은 명확하게 알려져 있지 않다. 식물이 수분 스트레스에 놓이면, 공변세포 세포질의 ABA 농도 증가는 동일한 세포질 내에 Ca²⁺ 농도 증가를 유도하여 원형질막에서 탈분극이 발생한다. 그 결과, 액포막에 있는 외향성 K⁺-채널과 느린 음이온 채널들인 SLAC1, SLAH3가 활성화되어 K⁺, Cl^-, 그리고 malate^2-를 방출하여 기공이 닫히는 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 본 논문은 수분 스트레스로 인한 기공 닫힘 메커니즘에 대하여 조사하였다.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.407-420
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• 2000

삼차신경절의 뉴런이 구강악안면영역에서의 촉각, 입각, 온도각 및 통각 등 다양한 감각을 중추신경계로 전달하는 역할을 하는 것은 주지의 사실이다. 이러한 신경전달에 있어서 이온통로는 감각정보를 전달하는데 핵심적인 역할을 수행하며 특히 소디움 통로는 활동전위의 발생에 중요하다. 소디움 통로는 tetrodotoxin-sensitive(TTX-s) 및 tetrodotoxin-resistant(TTX-r) 통로로 나누어지는 데 이 중 TTX-r 통로에 발생되는 tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium current(TTX-r $I_{Na}$)는 capsaicin에 민감한 일차구심신경세포에서 유해자극에 의해 통각신호를 발생시키고 전달하는데 중요하다. 또한 칼슘 통로는 시냅스 전도에 있어서 필수적인 역할을 수행하고 있다 한편 치과영역에서 치수의 진정 목적으로 eugenol이 흔히 사용되고 있다. 그러나 eugenol의 그 작용 기전에 대해서 현재까지 이온 통로에 대한 상세한 결과가 없는 실정이며 최근의 보고에 의하면 eugenol이 capsaicin 수용기를 통하여 감각신경에 대한 억제작용을 나타낸다고 한다. 따라서 본 실험은 eugenol과 capsaicin이 흰쥐의 삼차신경절의 TTX-r $I_{Na}$와 칼슘통로에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지를 알아보고 eugenol이 capsaicin 수용기를 통하여 작용하는지를 검증하고자 시행되었다. 삼차신경절 뉴런은 100~150g의 흰쥐의 삼차신경절로부터 외과적으로 절제하여 통법의 화학적 및 기계적 처리를 통해 단일세포로 분리하였고 이를 whole-cell patch clamp 방법을 이용하여 시행한 바 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 1. 1mM의 dugenol은 흰쥐 삼차신경절 뉴런의 TTX-r $I_{Na}$와 HVA $I_{Ca}$를 억제하였다. 2. $1{\mu}m$의 capsaicin은 흰쥐 삼차신경절 뉴런의 TTX-r $I_{Na}$와 HVA $I_{Ca}$를 억제하였다. 3. Capsazepine은 capsaicin의 HVA $I_{Ca}$에 대한 억제작용을 차단하였다. 4. Capsazepine은 capsaicin의 HVA $I_{Ca}$에 대한 억제작용을 차단하지 못하였다. 결론적으로 eugenol과 capsaicin은 tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium current(TTX-r $I_{Na}$)와 high voltage-activated calcium current(HVA $I_{Ca}$)를 모두 억제하는 것으로 나타났으며, 이러한 작용이 통각의 발생과 시냅스 전달과정을 차단하여 치수 진정 목적으로 많이 사용하는 eugenol의 작용기전으로 판단된다. 한편 capsaicin의 길항제인 capsazepine을 전처치하였을 때에도 eugenol의 HVA $I_{Ca}$에 대한 억제효과는 변화가 없었다. 이와같은 결과로 보아 HVA $I_{Ca}$에 관한 한 eugenol은 capsaicin 수용기를 통하여 나타나지 않는 것으로 사료된다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.202-207
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• 2000

The depletion of intracellular calcium stores by thapsigargin treatment evoked extracellular calcium-dependent membrane currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes. These currents have been compared to those evoked by microinjection of a calcium influx factor (CIF) purified from Jurkat T lymphocytes. The membrane currents elicited by thapsigargin treatment (peak current, $163{\pm}60$ nA) or CIF injection (peak current, $897{\pm}188$ nA) were both dependent on calcium entry, based on their eradication by the removal of extracellular calcium. The currents were, in both cases, attributed primarily to well-characterized $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ $Cl^-$ currents, based on their similar reversal potentials (-24 mV vs. -28 mV) and their inhibition by niflumic acid (a $Cl^-$ channel blocker). Currents induced by either thapsigargin treatment or CIF injection exhibited an identical pattern of inhibitory sensitivity to a panel of lanthanides, suggesting that thapsigargin treatment or CIF injection evoked $Cl^-$ currents by stimulating calcium influx through pharmacologically identical calcium channels. These results indicate that CIF acts on the same calcium entry pathway activated by the depletion of calcium stores and most lanthanides are novel pharmacological tools for the study of calcium entry in Xenopus oocytes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권7호
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• pp.616-623
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• 2015

P2 receptors are membrane-bound receptors for extracellular nucleotides such as ATP and UTP. P2 receptors have been classified as ligand-gated ion channels or P2X receptors and G protein-coupled P2Y receptors. Recently, purinergic signaling has begun to attract attention as a potential therapeutic target for a variety of diseases especially associated with gastroenterology. This study determined the ATP and UTP-induced receptor signaling mechanism in feline esophageal contraction. Contraction of dispersed feline esophageal smooth muscle cells was measured by scanning micrometry. Phosphorylation of $MLC_{20}$ was determined by western blot analysis. ATP and UTP elicited maximum esophageal contraction at 30 s and $10{\mu}M$ concentration. Contraction of dispersed cells treated with $10{\mu}M$ ATP was inhibited by nifedipine. However, contraction induced by $0.1{\mu}M$ ATP, $0.1{\mu}M$ UTP and $10{\mu}M$ UTP was decreased by U73122, chelerythrine, ML-9, PTX and $GDP{\beta}S$. Contraction induced by $0.1{\mu}M$ ATP and UTP was inhibited by $G{\alpha}i_3$ or $G{\alpha}q$ antibodies and by $PLC{\beta}_1$ or $PLC{\beta}_3$ antibodies. Phosphorylated $MLC_{20}$ was increased by ATP and UTP treatment. In conclusion, esophageal contraction induced by ATP and UTP was preferentially mediated by P2Y receptors coupled to $G{\alpha}i_3$ and $G{\alpha}q$ proteins, which activate $PLC{\beta}_1$ and $PLC{\beta}_3$. Subsequently, increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and activated PKC triggered stimulation of MLC kinase and inhibition of MLC phosphatase. Finally, increased $pMLC_{20}$ generated esophageal contraction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.481-491
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• 2023

The β subunits of high voltage-gated calcium channels (HGCCs) are essential for optimal channel functions such as channel gating, activation-inactivation kinetics, and trafficking to the membrane. In this study, we report for the first time the potent blood pressure-reducing effects of peptide fragments derived from the β subunits in anesthetized and non-anesthetized rats. Intravenous administration of 16-mer peptide fragments derived from the interacting regions of the β1 [cacb1(344-359)], β2 [cacb2(392-407)], β3 [cacb3(292-307)], and β4 [cacb4(333-348)] subunits with the main α-subunit of HGCC decreased arterial blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner for 5-8 min in anesthetized rats. In contrast, the peptides had no effect on the peak amplitudes of voltage-activated Ca²⁺ current upon their intracellular application into the acutely isolated trigeminal ganglion neurons. Further, a single mutated peptide of cacb1(344-359)-cacb1(344-359)_K357R-showed consistent and potent effects and was crippled by a two-amino acid-truncation at the N-terminal or C-terminal end. By conjugating palmitic acid with the second amino acid (lysine) of cacb1(344-359)_K357R (named K2-palm), we extended the blood pressure reduction to several hours without losing potency. This prolonged effect on the arterial blood pressure was also observed in non-anesthetized rats. On the other hand, the intrathecal administration of acetylated and amidated cacb1(344-359)_K357R peptide did not change acute nociceptive responses induced by the intradermal formalin injection in the plantar surface of rat hindpaw. Overall, these findings will be useful for developing antihypertensives.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제4권6호
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• pp.471-477
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• 2000

In the rabbit renal artery, acetylcholine $(ACh,\;1\;nM{\sim}10\;{\mu}M)$ induced endothelium-dependent relaxation of arterial rings precontracted with norepinephrine $(NE,\;1\;{\mu}M)$ in a dose-dependent manner. $N^G-nitro- L-arginine$ (L-NAME, 0.1 mM), an inhibitor of NO synthase, or ODQ $(1\;{\mu}M),$ a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, partially inhibited the ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation. The ACh-induced relaxation was abolished in the presence of 25 mM KCl and L-NAME. The cytochrome P450 inhibitors, 7- ethoxyresorufin $(7-ER,\;10\;{\mu}M),$ miconazole $(10\;{\mu}M),$ or 17-octadecynoic acid $(17-ODYA,\;10\;{\mu}M),$ failed to inhibit the ACh-induced relaxation in the presence of L-NAME. 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid $(11,12-EET,\;10\;{\mu}M)$ had no relaxant effect. The ACh-induced relaxation observed in the presence of L-NAME was significantly reduced by a combination of iberiotoxin $(0.3\;{\mu}M)$ and apamin $(1\;{\mu}M),$ and almost completely blocked by 4-aminopyridine (5 mM). The ACh-induced relaxation was antagonized by $P_{2Y}$ receptor antagonist, cibacron blue $(10\;and\;100\;{\mu}M),$ in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, 2-methylthio-ATP (2MeSATP), a potent $P_{2Y}$ agonist, induced the endothelium-dependent relaxation, and this relaxation was markedly reduced by either the combination of iberiotoxin and apamin or by cibacron blue. In conclusion, in renal arteries isolated from rabbit, ACh produced non-NO relaxation that is mediated by an EDHF. The results also suggest that ACh may activate the release of ATP from endothelial cells, which in turn activates $P_{2Y}$ receptor on the endothelial cells. Activation of endothelial $P_{2Y}$ receptors induces a release of EDHF resulting in a vasorelaxation via a mechanism that involves activation of both the voltage-gated $K^+$ channels and the $Ca^{2+}-activated\;K^+\;channels$. The results further suggest that EDHF does not appear to be a cytochrome P450 metabolite.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.617-623
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• 2017

The vascular actions and mechanisms of taurine were investigated in the isolated human radial artery (RA). RA rings were suspended in isolated organ baths and tension was recorded isometrically. First, a precontraction was achieved by adding potassium chloride (KCl, 45 mM) or serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT, $30{\mu}M$) to organ baths. When the precontractions were stable, taurine (20, 40, 80 mM) was added cumulatively. Antagonistic effect of taurine on calcium chloride ($10{\mu}M$ to 10 mM) -induced contractions was investigated. Taurine-induced relaxations were also tested in the presence of the $K^+$ channel inhibitors tetraethylammonium (1 mM), glibenclamide ($10{\mu}M$) and 4-aminopyridine (1 mM). Taurine did not affect the basal tone but inhibited the contraction induced by 5-HT and KCl. Calcium chloride-induced contractions were significantly inhibited in the presence of taurine (20, 40, 80 mM) (p<0.05). The relaxation to taurine was inhibited by tetraethylammonium (p<0.05). However, glibenclamide and 4-aminopyridine did not affect taurine -induced relaxations. Present experiments show that taurine inhibits 5-HT and KCl -induced contractions in RA, and suggest that large conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels may be involved in taurine -induced relaxation of RA.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.175-183
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• 1993

There are many report suggesting that influx and intracellular calcium concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ are related to cell signalling in various cells. However, it has not been reported that calcium channel activation is affected by the substances involved in signal transduction pathways in the mouse eggs. In this study, the effects of isoprenaline (ISP) and cyclic AMP on calcium influx through calcium channels were investigated to show their relationship with the signal transduction process in unfertilized mouse eggs. Using whole cell voltage clamp techniques, calcium currents, elicited by the depolarizing pulses of 300 ms duration (from -50 mV to 50 mV in 10 mV increments) from a holding potential of -80 mV, were recorded. The current-voltage (I-V) relation of calcium currents was shown to be bell-shaped; the current began to activate at -50 mV and reached its maximum $(-1.33{\pm}0.16\;nA:\;mean{\pm}S.E.,\;n=7)$ at -10 mV, then decayed at around 50 mV. Calcium currents were fully activated within $7\;ms{\sim}20\;ms$ and completely inactivated 200 ms after onset of the step pulse. ISP within the concentration ranges of $10^{-8}\;M{\sim}10^{-4}\;M$ dose-dependently increased the amplitude calcium current. The permeable cyclic AMP analogue,8-bromocyclic AMP, also increased its maximal amplitude by 46ft at $10^{-5}\;M$, while protein kinase inhibitor (PKI), which is known to inhibit 0.02 phosphorylating units of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) per microgram decreased calcium currents. Currents recorded in the presence of PKI were resistant to increase by the application of $10^{-5}\;M$. Also, PKI inhibited the calcium current increase elicited by ISP treatment. These results suggest that $\beta-adrenergic$ regulation of the calcium channel is mediated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. This signal transduction pathway might play a role in regulating $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, level due to the increase of calcium influx in mouse eggs.