• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2005

The effect of capsaicin on apoptotic cell death was investigated in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. Capsaicin induced apoptosis in time- and dose-dependent manners. Capsaicin induced a rapid and sustained increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, and BAPTA, an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, significantly inhibited capsaicin-induced apoptosis. The capsaicin-induced increase in the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and apoptosis were not significantly affected by the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelation with EGTA, whereas blockers of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release (dantrolene) and phospholipase C inhibitors, U-73122 and manoalide, profoundly reduced the capsaicin effects. Interestingly, treatment with the vanilloid receptor antagonist, capsazepine, did not inhibit either the increased capsaicin-induced $Ca^{2+}$ or apoptosis. Collectively, these results suggest that the capsaicin-induced apoptosis in the HepG2 cells may result from the activation of a PLC-dependent intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release pathway, and it is further suggested that capsaicin may be valuable for the therapeutic intervention of human hepatomas.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.253-269
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• 1996

Infection of fish cells with IHNV resulted in gradual increase in cytosolic free Ca$\^$2+/ concentration ([Ca$\^$2+/)] in CHSE, gradual decrease in [Ca$\^$2+/] in FHM, and no significant change in RTG cells. The degree of [Ca$\^$2+/] increase or decrease was dependent on the amount of infectious virus, and these [Ca$\^$2+/] variations were maximal at 16 hours after virus infection (p. i.) in both cell lines. When the fish cells were infected with inactivated IHNV, evident variation in [Ca$\^$2+/] was not observed. Thus, infectivity of IHNV appears to correlate with changes in [Ca$\^$2+/] in virus-infected cells. These IHNV-induced [Ca$\^$2+/] changes were partially blocked by cycloheximide, but not affected by cordycepin. It seems to be that virus-induced Ca$\^$2+/ variations were more related with protein synthesis than RNA synthesis. Various Ca$\^$2+/ related drugs were used in search for the mechanisms of the [Ca$\^$2+/], changes following IHNV infection of CHSE cells. Decreasing extracellular Ca$\^$2+/ concentration or blocking Ca$\^$2+/ influx from extracellular media inhibited the IHNV-induced increase in [Ca$\^$2+/], in CHSE cells. Similar results were obtained with intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ sources are important in IHNV-induced [Ca$\^$2+/] increase in CHSE cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2009

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) is an adenosine analogue isolated from Cordyceps militaris, and it has been used as an anti-cancer and anti-inflammation ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. We investigated the effects of cordycepin on human platelet aggregation induced by thapsigargin, and determined the cytosolic free $Ca^{2+}$ levels ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), an aggregation-stimulating factor. Cordycepin significantly inhibited thapsigargin-induced platelet aggregation. Its inhibitory effect was continually sustained at the maximal aggregation concentration of thapsigargin. The thapsigargin-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ were clearly reduced by cordycepin in the presence of exogenous $CaCl_2$ or extracellular $Ca^{2+}$-chelator (EDTA). These results suggest that cordycepin inhibited thapsigargin-induced $Ca^{2+}$-influx from extracellular domain and thapsigargin-induced $Ca^{2+}$-mobilization from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ storage. Accordingly, our data demonstrated that cordycepin may have a beneficial effect on platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic diseases by inhibiting a $[Ca^{2+}]_i$-elevation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.177-183
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• 2015

The mechanism of melanogenesis induced by cyclosporin A (CsA) was investigated in B16 melanoma cells. CsA stimulated the production of melanin in a dose-dependent manner in the cells. In addition, CsA increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in a dose-related fashion. Treatment with BAPTA/AM, an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator significantly inhibited the CsA-induced intracellular melanin synthesis. CsA profoundly induced $Cl^-$ efflux, which was significantly blocked by niflumic acid (NFA) and flufenamic acid (FFA), specific and nonspecific inhibitors of $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channels (CaCCs), respectively. Furthermore, these inhibitors of CaCCs significantly inhibited the CsA-induced stimulation of melanin synthesis. Taken together, these results suggest that the activation of CaCCs may play an important role in the CsA-induced stimulation of melanin synthesis in B16 cells. These results further suggest that CaCCs may be a good target for the management of hyperpigmentation of the skin reported in the patients treated with CsA.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 2017

Intracellular calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) oscillation is an initial event in digestive enzyme secretion of pancreatic acinar cells. Reactive oxygen species are known to be associated with a variety of oxidative stress-induced cellular disorders including pancreatitis. In this study, we investigated the effect of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation in mouse pancreatic acinar cells. Perfusion of $H_2O_2$ at $300{\mu}M$ resulted in additional elevation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels and termination of oscillatory $Ca^{2+}$ signals induced by carbamylcholine (CCh) in the presence of normal extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. Antioxidants, catalase or DTT, completely prevented $H_2O_2$-induced additional $Ca^{2+}$ increase and termination of $Ca^{2+}$ oscillation. In $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, $H_2O_2$ still enhanced CCh-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels and thapsigargin (TG) mimicked $H_2O_2$-induced cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ increase. Furthermore, $H_2O_2$-induced elevation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels was abolished under sarco/endoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase-inactivated condition by TG pretreatment with CCh. $H_2O_2$ at $300{\mu}M$ failed to affect store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ entry or $Ca^{2+}$ extrusion through plasma membrane. Additionally, ruthenium red, a mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$ uniporter blocker, failed to attenuate $H_2O_2$-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ elevation. These results provide evidence that excessive generation of $H_2O_2$ in pathological conditions could accumulate intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ by attenuating refilling of internal $Ca^{2+}$ stores rather than by inhibiting $Ca^{2+}$ extrusion to extracellular fluid or enhancing $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization from extracellular medium in mouse pancreatic acinar cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2004

Fluoxetine, a widely used anti-depressant compound, has several additional effects, including blockade of voltage-gated ion channels. We examined whether fluoxetine affects ATP-induced calcium signaling in PC12 cells by using fura-2-based digital calcium imaging and assay for $[^3H]-inositol$ phosphates (IPs). Treatment with ATP $(100\;{\mu}M)$ for 2 min induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increases. The ATP-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increases were significantly decreased by removal of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and treatment with the inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase thapsigargin $(1\;{\mu}M)$. Treatment with fluoxetine for 5 min blocked the ATP-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase concentration-dependently. Treatment with fluoxetine $(30\;{\mu}M)$ for 5 min blocked the ATP-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase following removal of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and depletion of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores. While treatment with the L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonist nimodipine for 10 min inhibited the ATP-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increases significantly, treatment with fluoxetine alone blocked the ATP-induced responses. Treatment with fluoxetine also inhibited the 50 mM $K^+-induced$ $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increases completely. However, treatment with fluoxetine did not inhibit the ATP-induced $[^3H]-IPs$ formation. Collectively, we conclude that fluoxetine inhibits ATP-indueed $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increases in PC12 cells by inhibiting both an influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and a release of $Ca^{2+}$ from intracellular stores without affecting IPs formation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.413-420
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• 2015

Dexmedetomidine is a sedative and analgesic agent that exerts its effects by selectively agonizing ${\alpha}2$ adrenoceptor. Histamine is a pathophysiological amine that activates G protein-coupled receptors, to induce $Ca^{2+}$ release and subsequent mediate or progress inflammation. Dexmedetomidine has been reported to exert inhibitory effect on inflammation both in vitro and in vivo studies. However, it is unclear that dexmedetomidine modulates histamine-induced signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. This study was carried out to assess how dexmedetomidine modulates histamine-induced $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes encoding interleukin (IL)-6 and -8. To elucidate the regulatory role of dexmedetomidine on histamine signaling, HeLa cells and human salivary gland cells which are endogenously expressed histamine 1 receptor were used. Dexmedetomidine itself did not trigger $Ca^{2+}$ peak or increase in the presence or absence of external $Ca^{2+}$. When cells were stimulated with histamine after pretreatment with various concentrations of dexmedetomidine, we observed inhibited histamine-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ signal in both cell types. Histamine stimulated IL-6 mRNA expression not IL-8 mRNA within 2 hrs, however this effect was attenuated by dexmedetomidine. Collectively, these findings suggest that dexmedetomidine modulates histamine-induced $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and IL-6 expression and will be useful for understanding the antagonistic properties of dexmedetomidine on histamine-induced signaling beyond its sedative effect.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.664-670
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• 1998

The role of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, in the regulation of tumor cell proliferation by products of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism was investigated using U-373 MG human as trocytoma cells. Treatment with nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor, or caffeic acid (CA), a specific 5-LOX inhibitor, suppressed proliferation of the tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, indomethacin (indo), a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, did not significantly alter proliferation of the tumor cells. At anti-proliferative concentrations, NDGA and CA significantly inhibited intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release induced by carbachol, a known intracelluar $Ca^{2+}$ agonist in the tumor cells. Exogenous administration of leukotriene $B_4(LTB_4)$, an AA metabolite of LOX pathway, enhanced proliferation of the tumor cells in a concentration-dependent fashion. In addition, $LTB_4$, induced intracelluar $Ca^{2+}$ release. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-inhibitors, such as an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator (BAPTA) and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-release inhibitors (dantrolene and TMB-8), significantly blocked the LTB4-induced enhancement of cell proliferation and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release. These results suggest that LOX activity may be critical for cell proliferation of the human astrocytoma cells and that intracelluar $Ca^{2+}$ may play a major role in the mechanism of action of LOX.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2000

To investigate the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores, we measured isometric contraction and $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx. $CaCl_2$ increased $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying- induced contraction in dose-dependent manner, but phospholipase C activity was not affected by the $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying-induced contraction. The contraction was inhibited by voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists dose dependently, but not by TMB-8 (intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blocker). Both PKC inhibitors (H-7 and staurosporine) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamic acid) significantly inhibited the contraction, but calmodulin antagonists (W-7 and trifluoperazine) had no inhibitory effect on the contraction. The combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were greater than that of each one alone. In $Ca^{2+}$ store-emptied condition, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx was significantly inhibited by verapamil, H-7 or genistein but not by trifluoperazine. However combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were not observed. Therefore, this kinase pathway may modulate the sensitivity of contractile protein. These results suggest that contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores was mediated by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel, also protein kinase C and/or tyrosine kinase pathway modulates the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile protein.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.355-362
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• 2002

Pathophysiological elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_1$) in the neuron has been considered as an important responsible factor in the neuronal cell damages. However the mechanism of increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ and the relationship between $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ level and cytotocixity have not been fully demonstrated. In the present study, real-time alteration of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$and cellular response (cell damages) in the pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) stimulated by glutamate were investigated. Glutamate dose dependently decreased cell viability determined propidium iodide fluorescence method and morphology change. Conversely related with cell damages, glutamate dose dependently increased the level of［Ca$^{2+}$］$_{i}$ . To investigate the mechanism of glutamate-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$,$[Ca^{2+}]_1$, was first measured in the cell cultured in calcium free media and in the presence of dantrolene, an inhibitor of calcium release from ryanodine receptor located in endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Similar to the increase$[Ca^{2+}]_1$ in the calcium-containing media, glutamate dose dependently increased $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ in the cell cultured in free calcium media. However pretreatment (2 hr) with 20~50 $\mu\textrm{M}$ dantrolene substantial lowered glutamate-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$, suggesting that release of calcium from ER may be major sourse of increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ in PC12 cells. Dantrolene-induced inhibition of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ resulted in recovery of cytotoxicity by glutamate. Relevance of N-methy-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a type of glutamte receptor on glutamate-induced incense of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$,$[Ca^{2+}]_1$ was also determined in the cells pretreated (2 hr) with NMDA receptor antagonist MK-80l. Glutamate-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ was reduced by MK-801 dose dependently. Furthermore, glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was also prevented by MK-80l. These results demonstrate that glutamte increase $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ dose dependently and thereby cause cytotoxicity. The increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ may release from ER, especially through ryanodine receptor and/or through NMDA receptor Alteration of calcium homeostasis through disturbance of ER system and/or calcium influx through NMDA receptor could contribute glutamate-induced cell damages.s.