• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2002

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine whether Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract (SbG) exerts the protective effect against oxidant-induced alterations in organic cation transport in the renal proximal tubule. Methods : Organic cation transport was estimated by examining alterations in tetraethylammonium (TEA) uptake in rabbit renal cortical slices. The slices were treated with 0.2 mM tBHP for 60 min at $37^{\circ}C$. tBl-IP caused an inhibition in TEA uptake by renal cortical slices. Such an effect was accompanied by depressed Na+-K+-ATPase activity and ATP depletion. Result : SbG prevented tBHP-induced inhibition of TEA uptake in a dose-dependent manner at the concentration ranges of 0.05-0.1%. SbG also prevented H2O2-induced reduction in TEA uptake. tBHP-induced inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity and ATP depletion were significantly prevented by 0.05% SbG. Oxidants increased LDH release, which was blocked by SbG. Oxidants caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and its effect was prevented by SbG. Conclusion : These results suggest that SbG prevents oxidant-induced alterations in organic cation transport in rabbit renal cortical slices. Such protective effects of SbG may be attributed to inhibition of peroxidation of membrane lipid.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.840-848
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• 2017

Proper intracellular transport is essential for normal cell function. Intracellular transport is mediated by microtubule-dependent molecular motor proteins, as well as kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein, which move their cargo along long, microtubule tracks in cells. Kinesins are ATP-dependent plus-end-directed motor proteins in the intracellular transport of organelles, vesicles, RNA complexes, and protein complexes. The mislocalization of these different types of cargo has been linked to cell dysfunction and degeneration. The cargo transport of kinesins can be described by the following steps: binding to the appropriate cargo and/or adaptor proteins, activation of the kinesin's motility and movement along the microtubule, and the release of the cargo at the correct destination. Recently, several studies have revealed the mechanisms for the regulation of kinesin motor activity, including cargo loading and unloading. Intracellular cargo transport is also modulated by adaptor proteins, which link the kinesins to their cargo. The regulatory proteins, which include protein kinases and phosphatases, regulate kinesin motor activity directly through the phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of kinesins and indirectly through the modification of adaptor proteins, such as c-Jun NH-terminal kinase-interacting proteins, or of the microtubule network. These findings lay the groundwork for understanding how kinesins are differentially engaged in intracellular cargo transport. In addition, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of each kinesin is an area of key interest within cell biology and neurophysiology. In this study, we reviewed kinesins' regulation proteins and discuss how their regulation affects cargo recognition and transport.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2019

Platelet aggregation is essential for the formation of a hemostatic plug in the case of blood vessel damage. On the other hand, excessive platelet aggregation may cause cardiovascular disorders, such as thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. Scopoletin, which found in the root of plants in the genus Scopolia or Artemisia, has anti-coagulation and anti-malaria effects. This study examined the effects of scopoletin on human platelet aggregation induced by collagen. Scopoletin had anti-platelet effects via the down-regulation of thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) production and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), which are aggregation-inducing molecules produced in activated platelets. On the other hand, scopoletin increased both the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels, which are known as intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-antagonists and aggregation-inhibiting molecules. In particular, scopoletin increased the potently cAMP level more than cGMP, which led to suppressed fibrinogen binding to ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}_3$ in collagen-induced human platelet aggregation. In addition, scopoletin inhibited collagen-elevated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that aggregation amplification through granule secretion is inhibited by scopoletin. Therefore, scopoletin has potent anti-platelet effects and may have potential for the prevention of platelet-derived vascular diseases.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2022

Excessive activation and aggregation of platelets is a major cause of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, inhibition of platelet activation and aggregation is considered an attractive therapeutic target in preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases. In particular, strong platelet activation and aggregation by collagen secreted from the vascular endothelium are characteristic of vascular diseases. Artesunate is a compound extracted from the plant roots of Artemisia or Scopolia species, and has been reported to be effective in anticancer and Alzheimer's disease fields. However, the effect and mechanism of artesunate on collagen-induced platelet activation and aggregation have not been elucidated. In this study, the effect of artesunate on collagen-induced human platelet aggregation was confirmed and the mechanism of action of artesunate was clarified. Artesunate inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt and Mitogen-activated protein kinases, which are phosphoproteins that are known to act in the signal transduction process when platelets are activated. In addition, artesunate decreased TXA₂ production and decreased granule secretion in platelets such as ATP and serotonin release. As a result, artesunate strongly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, a strong aggregation inducer secreted from vascular endothelial cells, with an IC₅₀ of 106.41 µM. These results suggest that artesunate has value as an effective antithrombotic agent for inhibiting the activation and aggregation of human platelets through vascular injury.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.398-406
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• 2000

Background: Cardiac atrium is an endocrine gland secreting a family of natriuretic peptides. The secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) had been shown to be controlled by variable factors. The change in atrial dynamics have been considered as one of the most prominent stimuli for the stimulation of ANP secretion. Hypoxic stress has been shown to increase cardiac ANP secretion. However, the mechanism by which hypoxia increases ANP secretion cardiac ANP secretions. However, the mechanism by which hypoxia increases ANP secretion has not to be defined. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was tow-fold: to develop a protocol to defined the effect of hypoxia on ANP secretion in perfused beating rabbit atria and to clarify the mechanism responsible for the accentuation by hypoxia of ANP secretion. Material and Method: Experiments have been done in perfused beating rabbit atria. ANP was measured by radioimmunoassay. Result: Hypoxic stimulus with nitrogen decreased atrial stroke volume. The decrease in atrial stroke volume recovered basal level during the period of recovery with oxygen. ANP secretion and the concentration of perfusate ANP in terms of extracellular fluid(ECF) translocation which reflects the rate of myocytic release of ANP were increased by hypoxia and returned to basal levels during the recovery. Changes in ECF translocation paralleled by hypoxia and returned to basal levels during the recovery. Changes in ECF translocation paralleled to that of atrial stroke volume. At the start of recovery in atrial storke volume, ECF tranalocation incrased for several minutes. The above responses were stable and reproducible. Glibenclamide treatment prevented the recovery in atrial stroke volume. Increments by hypoxia of ANP secretion and ANP concentration were suppressed by glibenclamide. Conclusion: These results indicate that hypoxia incrased atrial myocytic ANP release and that the mechanism responsible for the accentuation is partially related to the change in K+ATP channel activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-70
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the effects of cordycepin-enriched (CE)-WIB801C, a n-butanol extract of Cordyceps militaris-hypha on collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation. CE-WIB801C dose dependently inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation, and had a synergistic effect together with cordycepin (W-cordycepin) from CE-WIB801C on the inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. CE-WIB801C and cordycepin stimulated the phosphorylation of VASP ($Ser^{157}$) and the dephosphorylation of PI3K and Akt, and inhibited the binding of fibrinogen to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}3$) and the release of ATP and serotonin in collagen-induced platelet aggregation. A-kinase inhibitor Rp-8-Br-cAMPS reduced CE-WIB801C-, and cordycepin-increased VASP ($Ser^{157}$) phosphorylation, and increased CE-WIB801C-, and cordycepin-inhibited the fibrinogen binding to ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}3$. Therefore, we demonstrate that CE-WIB801C-, and cordycepin-inhibited fibrinogen binding to ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}3$are due to stimulation of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of VASP ($Ser^{157}$), and inhibition of PI3K/Akt phosphorylation. These results strongly indicate that CE-WIB801C and cordycepin may have preventive or therapeutic potential for platelet aggregation-mediated diseases, such as thrombosis, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, and ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.259-268
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• 2016

Objective : Accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) and mitochondrial glycation is importantly implicated in the pathological changes of the brain associated with diabetic complications, Alzheimer disease, and aging. The present study was undertaken to determine whether sildenafil, a type 5 phosphodiesterase type (PDE-5) inhibitor, has beneficial effect on neuronal cells challenged with AGE-induced oxidative stress to preserve their mitochondrial functional integrity. Methods : HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cells were exposed to AGE and changes in the mitochondrial functional parameters were determined. Pretreatment of cells with sildenafil effectively ameliorated these AGE-induced deterioration of mitochondrial functional integrity. Results : AGE-treated cells lost their mitochondrial functional integrity which was estimated by their MTT reduction ability and intracellular ATP concentration. These cells exhibited stimulated generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, induction of mitochondrial permeability transition, and release of the cytochrome C, activation of the caspase-3 accompanied by apoptosis. Western blot analyses and qRT-PCR demonstrated that sildenafil increased the expression level of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). CoPP and bilirubin, an inducer of HO-1 and a metabolic product of HO-1, respectively, provided a similar protective effects. On the contrary, the HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP IX blocked the effect of sildenafil. Transfection with HO-1 siRNA significantly reduced the protective effect of sildenafil on the loss of MTT reduction ability and MPT induction in AGE-treated cells. Conclusion : Taken together, our results suggested that sildenafil provides beneficial effect to protect the HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cells against AGE-induced deterioration of mitochondrial integrity, and upregulation of HO-1 is involved in the underlying mechanism.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.338-343
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• 2003

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the bidirectional transport of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) using isolated rat hepatocytes. The initial uptake rate of ANS by isolated hepatocytes was determined. The uptake process of ANS was saturable, with a $K_m of 29.1\pm3.2 \mu M and V_{max} of 2.9\pm0.1$ mmol/min/mg protein. Subsequently, the initial efflux rate of ANS from isolated hepatocytes was determined by resuspending preloaded cells to 3.0% (w/v) BSA buffer. The efflux process for total ANS revealed a little saturability. The mean value of the efflux clearance was $2.2\pm0.1 \mu$ L/min/mg protein. The efflux rate of ANS from hepatocytes was markedly decreased at $4^{\circ}C$, indicating that the apparent efflux of ANS might not be attributed to the release of ANS bound to the cell surface, but to the efflux of ANS from intracellular space. The efflux clearance was furthermore corrected for the unbound intracellular ANS concentration on the basis of its binding parameters to cytosol. The relation between efflux rate and unbound ANS concentration was fitted well to the Michaelis-Menten equation with a saturable and a nonsaturable components. The $V_{max} and K_m$ values were 0.54 mmol/min/mg protein, and 10.0 $\mu$ M, respectively. Based on the comparison of the ratios of $V_{max} to K_m (V_{max}/K_m)$ corresponding to the transport clearance, the influx clearance was two times higher than the efflux clearance. Together with our preliminary studies that ATP suppression in hepatocytes substantially inhibited ANS influx rate, we concluded that the hepatic uptake of ANS is actively taken up into hepatocytes via the carrier mediated transport system.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.142-151
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• 2002

The present study was attempted to investigate the effect of apamin on catecholamine (CA) secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, cyclopiazonic acid and Bay-K-8644 from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland and to establish the mechanism of its action. The perfusion of apamin (1 nM) into an adrenal vein for 20 min produced greatly potentiation in CA secretion evoked by ACh (5.32 $ imes$ $10^{-3}$ M), high $K^+$, (5.6 $ imes$ $10^{-2}$), DMPP ($10^{-4}$ M for 2 min), McN-A-343 ($10^{-4}$ M for 2 min), cyclopiazonic acid ($10^{-5}$ M for 4 min) and Bay-K-8644 ($10^{-5}$ M for 4 min). However, apamin itself did fail to affect basal catecholamine output. Furthermore, in adrenal glands preloaded with apamin (1 nM) under the presence of glibenclamide ($10^{-6}$ M), an antidiabetic sulfonylurea that has been shown to be a specific blocker of ATP-regulated potassium channels (for 20 min), CA secretion evoked by DMPP and McN-A-343 was not affected. However, the perfusion of high concentration of apamin (100 nM) into an adrenal vein for 20 min rather inhibited significantly CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, cyclopiazonic acid and Bay-K-8644. Taken together, these results suggest that the low concentration of apamin causes greatly the enhancement of CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors as well as by membrane depolarization. These findings suggests that apamin-sensitive SK ($Ca^{2+}$) channels located in rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells may play an inhibitory role in the release of catecholamines mediated by stimulation of cholinergic nicotinic and muscarinic receptors as well as membrane depolarization. However, it is thought that high concentration of apamin cause the inhibitory responses in catecholamine secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic receptors as well as by membrane depolarization from the rat adrenal gland without relevance with the SK channel blockade.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.198-207
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• 1997

To explore the action mechanism of Ijintang in the brain, the authors investigated the effects of Ijintang fractions on MgNaK ATPase and MgCa ATPase in rat brain synaptosomes prepared from cerebral cortex. The activities of MgNaK ATPase and MgCa ATPase were assayed by the level of inorganic phosphate liberated from the hydrolysis of ATP. Fraction WH-95-7 at the concentration of $10^{-2}%$ decreased the activity of MgNaK ATPase about 34.1% and also reduced the activity of MgCa ATPase about 49.3% But, other fractions (WB-95-7, WC-95-7, MB-95-7, MC-95-7, MH-95-7) did not significantly changed the activities of the MgNaK ATPase and MgCa ATPase The decreased activity of MgNaK ATPase by WH-95-7 will decrease the rate of $Ca^{2+}$ efflux, probably via an Na-Ca exchange mechanism and will increase the rate of $Ca^{2+}$ entry by the depolarization of nerve terminals. The reduced activity of MgCa ATPase by WH-95-7 will result in the decreased efflux of $Ca^{2+}$. As a conclusion, it can be speculated that lithium elevates the intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration via inhibition of the activities of MgNaK ATPase and MgCa ATPase. and this increased $[Ca^{2+}]i$ will cause the release of neurotransmitters.