• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권9호
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• pp.656-663
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• 2014

Gintonin, a novel, ginseng-derived G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand, elicits $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transients in neuronal and non-neuronal cells via pertussis toxin-sensitive and pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins. The slowly activating delayed rectifier $K^+$ ($I_{Ks}$) channel is a cardiac $K^+$ channel composed of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 subunits. The C terminus of the KCNQ1 channel protein has two calmodulin-binding sites that are involved in regulating $I_{Ks}$ channels. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of gintonin-mediated activation of human $I_{Ks}$ channel activity by expressing human $I_{Ks}$ channels in Xenopus oocytes. We found that gintonin enhances $I_{Ks}$ channel currents in concentration- and voltage-dependent manners. The $EC_{50}$ for the $I_{Ks}$ channel was $0.05{\pm}0.01{\mu}g/ml$. Gintonin-mediated activation 1 of the $I_{Ks}$ channels was blocked by an LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, an active phospholipase C inhibitor, an $IP_3$ receptor antagonist, and the calcium chelator BAPTA. Gintonin-mediated activation of both the $I_{Ks}$ channel was also blocked by the calmodulin (CaM) blocker calmidazolium. Mutations in the KCNQ1 $[Ca^{2+}]_i$/CaM-binding IQ motif sites (S373P, W392R, or R539W)blocked the action of gintonin on $I_{Ks}$ channel. However, gintonin had no effect on hERG $K^+$ channel activity. These results show that gintonin-mediated enhancement of $I_{Ks}$ channel currents is achieved through binding of the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$/CaM complex to the C terminus of KCNQ1 subunit.

• 한국운동역학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.287-293
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Hoehn-Yahr scale on the activation of lower-extremity muscles during walking. Electromyography (EMG) analysis was carried out on 36 patients with Parkinson's disease in the off phase of the medication cycle. We recorded EMG signals of the tibialis anterior (TA), medial gastrocnemius (MG), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), soleus (SOL), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), semitendinosus (ST) and biceps femoris (BF) using Noraxon 16 channels EMG system during walking at preferred speed. Rectified EMG signals were normalized to reference voluntary contractions (RVC) over a gait cycle at the preferred speed, allowing for an assessment of how the activity was distributed over the gait cycle. Compared to the H & Y Scale 1, H & Y Scale 3 exhibited greater activation of the vastus lateralis during mid-stance and greater activation of the medial gastrocnemius during terminal swing. Compared to the H & Y Scale 1, H & Y Scale 2 and 3 exhibited less activation of the tibialis anterior during initial swing. We conclude that the more Hoen & Yahr Scale increase, the more abnormal lower-extremity muscles activation.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권12호
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• pp.677-684
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• 2015

Cardiovascular function is regulated by the rhythmicity of circadian, infradian and ultradian clocks. Specific time scales of different cell types drive their functions: circadian gene regulation at hours scale, activation-inactivation cycles of ion channels at millisecond scales, the heart's beating rate at hundreds of millisecond scales, and low frequency autonomic signaling at cycles of tens of seconds. Heart rate and rhythm are modulated by a hierarchical clock system: autonomic signaling from the brain releases neurotransmitters from the vagus and sympathetic nerves to the heart's pacemaker cells and activate receptors on the cell. These receptors activating ultradian clock functions embedded within pacemaker cells include sarcoplasmic reticulum rhythmic spontaneous Ca²⁺ cycling, rhythmic ion channel current activation and inactivation, and rhythmic oscillatory mitochondria ATP production. Here we summarize the evidence that intrinsic pacemaker cell mechanisms are the end effector of the hierarchical brain-heart circadian clock system.

• 한국가시화정보학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.74-79
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• 2023

Thrombogenesis, which is the process of blood clot formation, can be initiated by platelet activation. Excessive formation of blood clot in the bloodstream can lead to thrombosis. Therefore, when dealing with patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or children, it is necessary to use small amounts of blood. Hence, it is important to develop methods for the rapid and accurate measurement of the platelet function using a small amount of blood. In this study, 3D printing technology was utilized to facilitate the production of micro channels. The amount of platelet adhesion in smokers and non-smokers was compared by repeatedly exposing the structure of the channel to adjust the number of blood injections and facilitate thrombosis attachment to simple stenosis structures.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.259-265
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• 2017

Excessive influx and the subsequent rapid cytosolic elevation of $Ca^{2+}$ in neurons is the major cause to induce hyperexcitability and irreversible cell damage although it is an essential ion for cellular signalings. Therefore, most neurons exhibit several cellular mechanisms to homeostatically regulate cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ level in normal as well as pathological conditions. Delayed rectifier $K^+$ channels ($I_{DR}$ channels) play a role to suppress membrane excitability by inducing $K^+$ outflow in various conditions, indicating their potential role in preventing pathogenic conditions and cell damage under $Ca^{2+}$-mediated excitotoxic conditions. In the present study, we electrophysiologically evaluated the response of $I_{DR}$ channels to hyperexcitable conditions induced by high $Ca^{2+}$ pretreatment (3.6 mM, for 24 hours) in cultured hippocampal neurons. In results, high $Ca^{2+}$-treatment significantly increased the amplitude of $I_{DR}$ without changes of gating kinetics. Nimodipine but not APV blocked $Ca^{2+}$-induced $I_{DR}$ enhancement, confirming that the change of $I_{DR}$ might be targeted by $Ca^{2+}$ influx through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels (VDCCs) rather than NMDA receptors (NMDARs). The VDCC-mediated $I_{DR}$ enhancement was not affected by either $Ca^{2+}$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release (CICR) or small conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels (SK channels). Furthermore, PP2 but not H89 completely abolished $I_{DR}$ enhancement under high $Ca^{2+}$ condition, indicating that the activation of Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) is required for $Ca^{2+}$-mediated $I_{DR}$ enhancement. Thus, SFKs may be sensitive to excessive $Ca^{2+}$ influx through VDCCs and enhance $I_{DR}$ to activate a neuroprotective mechanism against $Ca^{2+}$-mediated hyperexcitability in neurons.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.245-254
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• 1995

The density of ATP-sensitive potassium($K_{APT}$) channels, that open as intracellular ATP concentration falls below a critical level, is very high in skeletal muscle surface membrane and those high density may imply that $K_{ATP}$ channels have very important physiological roles. To elucidate a role of $K_{ATP}$ in relation to fatigue, the modulating effects of potassium channel openers and blockers on the fatigue velocity(FV) of mouse extensor hallucis longus muscle(EHL) were investigated in vitro. Twitch contraction was induced by an electrical field stimulation (EFS: 24-48V, 20ms, 0.2-4Hz) and resulting contraction force was isometrically recorded. The twitch forces were gradually decreased to 25% of initial contraction force(ICF) in $37.52{\pm}1.55sec$($mean{\pm}s.e.m.$, n=135), indicating the fatigue phenomena. The mean velocity for development of the fatigue was measured during the period that twitch force decreased to half($FV_{0/0.5}$) and during the period from half to 25%($FV_{0.5/0.25}$) of ICF. The fatigue was induced once every one hour and the tissue response was stable for up to 4 hours. In control condition, ICF was $5.8{\pm}0.12g$ (n=144) and decreased to 50% of ICF with the mean fatigue velocity of $0.182{\pm}0.006g/sec$($FV_{0/0.5}$, n=135) and from 50% to 25% of ICF with $0.084{\pm}0.004g/sec$($FV_{0.5/0.25}$, n=135). Cromakalim($50{\mu}M$) significantly increased $FV_{0.5/0.25}$(n=4). Glibenclamide($IC_{50}>50{\mu}M$), $Ba^{2+}$($IC_{50}=10{\mu}M$), 4-aminopyridine($FV_{0/0.5}$, $IC_{50}=0.5mM$; $FV_{0.5/0.25}$, $IC_{50}=2mM$) decreased both $FV_{0/0.5}$ and $FV_{0.5/0.25}$ concentration-dependently up to 75%. $TEA^+$(30mM), E-4031($10{\mu}M$), tolbutamide(1mM) decreased $FV_{0.5/0.25}$, but apamin(300nM) and $TEA^+$(10mM) showed no significant effects. Our results suggest that activation of the $K_{ATP}$ channels may be major cause of $K^+$ outflux during development of the fatigue and the isolated EHL muscle could be an useful experimental preparation in studying the fatigue phenomena in skeletal muscle. In addition, the possibility of activation of delayed rectifier during the fatigue development remains to be studied further.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제62권4호
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• pp.425-431
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• 2019

Platelet activation is essential for hemostatic process on blood vessel damage. However, excessive platelet activation can cause some cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and myocardial infarction. Scoparone is commonly encountered in the roots of genus Artemisia or Scopolia, and has been studied for its potential pharmacological properties including immunosuppression and vasorelaxation, but antiplatelet effects of scoparone have not been reported yet. We investigated the effect of scoparone on human platelet activation prompted by an analogue of thromboxane A₂, U46619. As the results, scoparone dose-dependently increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels as well as cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels, both being aggregation-inhibiting molecules. In addition, scoparone strongly phosphorylated inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), substrates of cAMP dependent kinase and cGMP dependent kinase. Phosphorylation of IP₃R by scoparone resulted in inhibition of Ca²⁺ mobilization in calcium channels in a dense tubular system, and phosphorylation of VASP by scoparone led to an inability of fibrinogen being able to bind to αIIb/β3. Finally, scoparone inhibited thrombin-induced fibrin clotting, thereby reducing thrombus formation. Therefore, we suggest that scoparone has a strong antiplatelet effect and is highly probable to prevent platelet-derived vascular disease.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제63권3호
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• pp.235-241
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• 2020

An essential component of the hemostatic process during vascular damage is platelet activation. However, many cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and myocardial infarction, can develop due to excessive platelet activation. Isoscopoletin, found primarily in plant roots of the genus Artemisia or Scopolia, has been studied to demonstrate potential pharmacological effects on Alzheimer's disease and anticancer, but its mechanisms and role in relation to thrombus formation and platelet aggregation have not yet been discovered. This research investigated the effect of isoscopoletin on collagen-induced human platelet activation. As a result, isoscopoletin strongly increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, isoscopoletin greatly phosphorylated inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP₃R) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), known substrates of cAMP-dependent kinase and cGMP dependent kinase. Phosphorylation of IP₃R by isoscopoletin induced Ca²⁺ inhibition from the dense tubular system Ca²⁺ channels, and VASP phosphorylation was involved in fibrinogen binding inhibition by inactivating αIIb/β₃ in the platelet membrane. Isoscopoletin finally reduced thrombin-induced fibrin clot production and finally reduced thrombus formation. Therefore, this research suggests that isoscopoletin has strong antiplatelet effects and is likely to be helpful for thrombotic diseases involving platelets by acting as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2017

We demonstrated the effect of nortriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant drug and serotonin reuptake inhibitor, on voltage-dependent $K^+$ (Kv) channels in freshly isolated rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells using a whole-cell patch clamp technique. Nortriptyline inhibited Kv currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with an apparent $IC_{50}$ value of $2.86{\pm}0.52{\mu}M$ and a Hill coefficient of $0.77{\pm}0.1$. Although application of nortriptyline did not change the activation curve, nortriptyline shifted the inactivation current toward a more negative potential. Application of train pulses (1 or 2 Hz) did not change the nortriptyline-induced Kv channel inhibition, suggesting that the effects of nortiprtyline were not use-dependent. Preincubation with the Kv1.5 and Kv2.1/2.2 inhibitors, DPO-1 and guangxitoxin did not affect nortriptyline inhibition of Kv channels. From these results, we concluded that nortriptyline inhibited Kv channels in a concentration-dependent and state-independent manner independently of serotonin reuptake.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.95-100
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• 2004

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been accepted as a heart protection phenomenon against ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. The activation of ATP-sensitive potassium $(K_{ATP})$ channels and the release of myocardial nitric oxide (NO) induced by IPC were demonstrated as the triggers or mediators of IPC. A common action mechanism of NO is a direct or indirect increase in tissue cGMP content. Furthermore, cGMP has also been shown to contribute cardiac protective effect to reduce heart I/R-induced infarction. The present investigation tested the hypothesis that $K_{ATP}$ channels attenuate DNA strand breaks and oxidative damage in an in vitro model of I/R utilizing rat ventricular myocytes. We estimated DNA strand breaks and oxidative damage by mean of single cell gel electrophoresis with endonuclease III cutting sites (comet assay). In the I/R model, the level of DNA damage increased massively. Preconditioning with a single 5-min anoxia, diazoxide $(100\;{\mu}M)$, SNAP $(300\;{\mu}M)$ and 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-guanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-pCPT-cGMP) $(100\;{\mu}M)$ followed by 15 min reoxygenation reduced DNA damage level against subsequent 30 min anoxia and 60 min reoxygenation. These protective effects were blocked by the concomitant presence of glibenclamide $(50\;{\mu}M)$, 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) $(100\;{\mu}M)$ and 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-guanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, Rp-isomer (Rp-8-pCPT-cGMP) $(100\;{\mu}M)$. These results suggest that NO-cGMP-protein kinase G (PKG) pathway contributes to cardioprotective effect of $K_{ATP}$ channels in rat ventricular myocytes.