• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.137-142
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• 2006

Apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in a variety of vegetables and fruits, has been shown to possess many biological functions. In this study we investigated the role of apigenin in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the modulation of activity of $K^+-Cl^-$-cotransport (KCC) in IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells. Apigenin induced $Cl^-$-dependent $K^+$ efflux, a hallmark of KCC activity, which was markedly prevented by different kinds of KCC inhibitors (calyculin-A, genistein and $BaCl_2$). These results indicate that KCC is functionally present, and activated by apigenin in the IMR-32 cells. Treatment with apigenin also induced a sustained increase in the level of intracellular ROS. The KCC inhibitors also significantly inhibited the apigenin-induced ROS generation. Taken together, these results suggest that apigenin can modulate ROS generation through the activation of a membrane ion transporter, KCC. These results further suggest that the alteration of KCC activity may play a role in the mechanism of degenerative diseases and/or carcinogenesis in neuronal tissues through the regulation of ROS production.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.500-506
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• 2008

Apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in a variety of vegetables and fruits, has been shown to possess many biological functions. In this study we found that apigenin stimulated melanin synthesis in a dose-dependent manner in B16 murine melanoma cells. Since in our previous study $K^+$-$Cl^-$-cotransport (KCC) has been shown to mediate the mechanism of action of apigenin in neuronal cells, we further investigated the role of KCC in the melanogenesis-stimulating effect of apigenin in B16 cells. At nontoxic concentrations apigenin induced $Cl^-$-dependent $K^+$ efflux, a hallmark of KCC activity, which was markedly prevented by a specific KCC inhibitor R-(+)-[(2-n-butyl-6,7-dichloro-2-cyclopentyl-2,3-dihydro-1-oxo-1H-inden-5-yl)oxy]acetic acid (DIOA). These results indicate that KCC is functionally present, and activated by apigenin in the B16 cells. In addition, the apigenin-induced stimulation of melanogenesis was also significantly inhibited by DIOA. NEthylmaleimide (NEM), a known KCC activator, induced $Cl^-$ efflux and stimulated melanogenesis in a concentration-dependent fashion. Both effects of NEM were significantly inhibited by DIOA. Taken together, these results suggest that apigenin can modulate melanogenesis through the activation of a membrane ion transporter, KCC in B16 cells. These results further suggest that apigenin may be a good candidate in the therapeutic strategy for hypopigmentation disorders, such as vitiligo.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.401-408
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• 2009

$K^+$-$Cl^-$-cotransport (KCC) has been reported to have various cellular functions, including proliferation and apoptosis of human cancer cells. However, the signal transduction pathways that control the activity of KCC are currently not well understood. In this study we investigated the possible role of phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$)-arachidonic acid (AA) signal in the regulatory mechanism of KCC activity. Exogenous application of AA significantly induced $K^+$ efflux in a dose-dependent manner, which was completely blocked by R-(+)-[2-n-butyl-6,7 -dichloro-2-cyclopentyl-2,3-dihydro-1-oxo-1Hinden-5-yl]oxy]acetic acid (DIOA), a specific KCC inhibitor. N-Ethylmaleimide (NEM), a KCC activatorinduced $K^+$ efflux was significantly suppressed by bromoenol lactone (BEL), an inhibitor of the calciumindependent $PLA_2$ ($iPLA_2$), whereas it was not significantly altered by arachidonyl trifluoromethylketone ($AACOCF_3$) and p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), inhibitors of the calcium-dependent cytosolic $PLA_2$ ($cPLA_2$) and the secretory $PLA_2$ ($sPLA_2$), respectively. NEM increased AA liberation in a doseand time-dependent manner, which was markedly prevented only by BEL. In addition, the NEM-induced ROS generation was significantly reduced by DPI and BEL, whereas $AACOCF_3$ and BPB did not have an influence. The NEM-induced KCC activation and ROS production was not significantly affected by treatment with indomethacin (Indo) and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX), respectively. Treatment with 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), a non-metabolizable analogue of AA, markedly produced ROS and activated the KCC. Collectively, these results suggest that $iPLA_2$-AA signal may be essentially involved in the mechanism of ROS-mediated KCC activation in HepG2 cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.485-491
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• 2011

Previously, we have reported that apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in a variety of vegetables and fruits, stimulated melanogenesis through the activation of $K^+-Cl^-$-cotransport (KCC) in B16 melanoma cells. In this study we investigated the possible involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the mechanism of apigenin-induced melanogenesis in B16 cells. Apigenin elevated intracellular ROS level in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with various inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, diphenylene iodonium (DPI), apocynin (Apo) and neopterine (NP) significantly inhibited both the generation of ROS and melanogenesis induced by apigenin. In addition these inhibitors profoundly inhibited apigenin-induced $Cl^-$-dependent $K^+$ efflux, a hallmark of KCC activity. However, the apigenin-induced ROS generation was not significantly affected by treatment with a specific KCC inhibitor R-(+)-[(2-n-butyl-6,7-dichloro-2-cyclopentyl-2,3-dihydro-1-oxo-1H-inden-5-yl)oxy]acetic acid (DIOA). These results indicate that the ROS production may be a upstream regulator of the apigenin-induced KCC stimulation, and in turn, melanogenesis in the B16 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the NADPH oxidase-mediated ROS production may play an important role in the apigenin-induced melanogenesis in B16 cells. These results further suggest that NADPH oxidase may be a good target for the management of hyperpigmentation disorders.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.513-519
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• 1999

Direct exposure of renal tubular brush-border membranes (BBM) to free cadmium (Cd) causes a reduction in phosphate (Pi) transport capacity. Biochemical mechanism of this reduction was investigated in the present study. Renal proximal tubular brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were isolated from rabbit kidney outer cortex by Mg precipitation method. Vesicles were exposed to $50{\sim}200\;{\mu}M\;CdCl_2$ for 30 min, then the phosphate transporter activity was determined. The range of Cd concentration employed in this study was comparable to that of the unbound Cd documented in renal cortical tissues of Cd-exposed animals at the time of onset of renal dysfunction. The rate of sodium-dependent phosphate transport $(Na^+-Pi\;cotransport)$ by BBMV was determined by $^{32}P-Iabeled$ inorganic phosphate uptake, and the number of $Na^+-Pi$ cotransporters in the BBM was assessed by Pi-protectable $^{14}C-labeled$ phosphonoformic acid $([^{14}C]PFA)$ binding. The exposure of BBMV to Cd decreased the $Na^+-Pi$ cotransport activity in proportion to the Cd concentration in the preincubation medium, but it showed no apparent effect on the Pi-protectable PFA binding. These results indicate that an interaction of renal BBM with free Cd induces a reduction in $Na^+-Pi$ cotransport activity without altering the carrier density in the membrane. This, in turn, suggest that the suppression of phosphate transport capacity $(V_{max})$ observed in Cd-treated renal BBM is due to a reduction in $Na^+-Pi$ translocation by existing carriers, possibly by Cd-induced fall in membrane fluidity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.379-387
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• 2009

We have previously reported that N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) induces apoptosis through activation of $K^+$, $Cl^-$-cotransport (KCC) in HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells. In this study we investigated the possible role of phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$)-arachidonic acid (AA) signals in the mechanism of the NEM-induced apoptosis. In these experiments we used arachidonyl trifluoromethylketone ($AACOCF_3$), bromoenol lactone (BEL) and p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) as inhibitors of the calcium-dependent cytosolic $PLA_2$ ($cPLA_2$), the calcium-independent $PLA_2$ ($iPLA_2$) and the secretory $PLA_2$ ($sPLA_2$), respectively. BEL significantly inhibited the NEM-induced apoptosis, whereas $AACOCF_3$ and BPB did not. NEM increased AA liberation in a dose-dependent manner, which was markedly prevented only by BEL. In addition AA by itself induced $K^+$ efflux, a hallmark of KCC activation, which was comparable to that of NEM. The NEM-induced apoptosis was not significantly altered by treatment with indomethacin (Indo) and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX), respectively. Treatment with AA or 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), a non-metabolizable analogue of AA, significantly induced apoptosis. Collectively, these results suggest that AA liberated through activation of $iPLA_2$ may mediate the NEMinduced apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.321-326
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• 1993

Sugar uptake is accompanied with H+-substrate-symport generally. Both H+/sugar-and H+/K+ stoichiometries during the sugar-uptake have been reported to be exactly 1 : 1. This paper reports that the stoichiometries were enhanced dramatically by the addition of CaCl2 into the medium and by the high cell density of 200 $\mu$L pc/mL. The concentration of free Ca2+ ions in the cells increased significantly with cell density. It is suggested that the free Ca2+ ions are responsible for the change of stoichiometry of sugar transport system by regulation of H+ ion level of biomembrane.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.242.2-243
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• 2002

We have previously reported that activation of $K^{+}$-$Cl^{-}$-cotransport (KCC) by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) induces apoptosis through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells. In this study we investigated the possible role of phospholipase $A_2$($PLA_2$)-arachidonic acid (AA) signals in the mechanism of the NEM actions. (omitted)