• Toxicological Research
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.363-370
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• 2018

Many studies reported reduced antioxidant capacity in the vasculature under hypertensive conditions. However, little is known about the effects of antihypertensive treatments on the regulation of vascular antioxidant enzymes. Thus, we hypothesized that antihypertensive treatments prevent the reduction of antioxidant enzyme activity and expression in the small vessels of angiotensin II-induced hypertensive rats (ANG). We observed the small mesenteric arteries and small renal vessels of normotensive rats (NORM), ANG, and ANG treated with a triple antihypertensive therapy of reserpine, hydrochlorothiazide, and hydralazine (ANG + TTx). Systolic blood pressure was increased in ANG, which was attenuated by 2 weeks of triple therapy (127, 191, and 143 mmHg for NORM, ANG, and ANG + TTx, respectively; p < 0.05). Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the small mesenteric arteries of ANG was lower than that of NORM. The protein expression of SOD1 was lower in ANG than in NORM, whereas SOD2 and SOD3 expression was not different between the groups. Reduced SOD activity and SOD1 expression in ANG was not restored in ANG + TTx. Both SOD activity and SOD isoform expression in the small renal vessels of ANG were not different from those of NORM. Interestingly, SOD activity in the small renal vessels was reduced by TTx. Between groups, there was no difference in catalase activity or expression in both the small mesenteric arteries and small renal vessels. In conclusion, SOD activity in the small mesenteric arteries decreased by angiotensin II administration, but not by hypertension, which is caused by decreased SOD1 expression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.127-134
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• 2018

Myofibrillogenesis regulator-1 (MR-1) is a novel protein involved in cellular proliferation, migration, inflammatory reaction and signal transduction. However, little information is available on the relationship between MR-1 expression and the progression of atherosclerosis. Here we report atheroprotective effects of silencing MR-1 in a model of Ang II-accelerated atherosclerosis, characterized by suppression focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and nuclear factor kappaB ($NF-{\kappa}B$) signaling pathway, and atherosclerotic lesion macrophage content. In this model, administration of the siRNA-MR-1 substantially attenuated Ang II-accelerated atherosclerosis with stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques and inhibited FAK, Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and NF-kB activation, which was associated with suppression of inflammatory factor and atherogenic gene expression in the artery. In vitro studies demonstrated similar changes in Ang II-treated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and macrophages: siRNA-MR-1 inhibited the expression levels of proinflammatory factor. These studies uncover crucial proinflammatory mechanisms of Ang II and highlight actions of silencing MR-1 to inhibit Ang II signaling, which is atheroprotective.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.447-456
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• 2018

Angiotensin-(1-9) [Ang-(1-9)], generated from Ang I by Ang II converting enzyme 2, has been reported to have protective effects on cardiac and vascular remodeling. However, there is no report about the effect of Ang-(1-9) on pulmonary hypertension. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether Ang-(1-9) improves pulmonary vascular remodeling in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats. Sprague-Dawley rats received Ang-(1-9) ($576{\mu}g/kg/day$) or saline via osmotic mini-pumps for 3 weeks. Three days after implantation of osmotic mini-pumps, 50 mg/kg MCT or vehicle were subcutaneously injected. MCT caused increases in right ventricular weight and systolic pressure, which were reduced by co-administration of Ang-(1-9). Ang-(1-9) also attenuated endothelial damage and medial hypertrophy of pulmonary arterioles as well as pulmonary fibrosis induced by MCT. The protective effects of Ang-(1-9) against pulmonary hypertension were inhibited by Ang type 2 receptor ($AT_2R$) blocker, but not by Mas receptor blocker. Additionally, the levels of LDH and inflammatory cytokines, such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, MCP-1, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6, in plasma were lower in Ang-(1-9) co-treated MCT group than in vehicle-treated MCT group. Changes in expressions of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bax, Bcl2, Caspase-3 and -9 in the lung tissue of MCT rats were attenuated by the treatment with Ang-(1-9). These results indicate that Ang-(1-9) improves MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension by decreasing apoptosis and inflammatory reaction via $AT_2R$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.117-123
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• 2005

A cumulative evidence indicates that consumption of tea catechin, flavan-3-ol derived from green tea leaves, lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, a precise mechanism for this cardiovascular action has not yet been fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of different green tea catechins, such as epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin-3 gallate (ECG), and epicatechin (EC), on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertrophy in primary cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC). [$^3H$]-leucine incorporation was used to assess VSMC hypertrophy, protein kinase assay, and western blot analysis were used to assess mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, and RT-PCR was used to assess c-jun or c-fos transcription. Ang II increased [$^3H$]-leucine incorporation into VSMC. However, EGCG and ECG, but not EGC or EC, inhibited [$^3H$]-leucine incorporation increased by Ang II. Ang II increased phosphorylation of c-Jun, extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38 MAPK in VSMC, however, EGCG and ECG , but not EGC or EC, attenuated c-Jun phosphorylation increased by Ang II. ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation induced by Ang II were not affected by any catechins. Ang II increased c-jun and c-fos mRNA expression in VSMC, however, EGCG inhibited c-jun but not c-fos mRNA expression induced by Ang II. ECG, EGC and EC did not affect c-jun or c-fos mRNA expression induced by Ang II. Our findings indicate that the galloyl group in the position 3 of the catechin structure of EGCG or ECG is essential for inhibiting VSMC hypertrophy induced by Ang II via the specific inhibition of JNK signaling pathway, which may explain the beneficial effects of green tea catechin on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases observed in several epidemiological studies.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.57-66
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• 1993

Effects of a voltage dependent calcium channel antagonist, nifedipine, on the responses of blood pressure, and secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and aldosterone to angiotensin II (Ang II) were compared in male Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). A low, control or high sodium diet (2, 10 or 25 mmol Na/100 g diet) was fed for 6 weeks from the age of 6 weeks. On the morning of the experiment catheters were inserted under ether anesthesia in the femoral artery for pressure recording and blood sampling, and in the femoral vein for drug infusion. Ang II was infused at a rate of 250 ng/kg/min for 20 min. Nifedipine mixed with Ang II was infused at a rate of $16{\mu}g/kg/min$ for 20 min. Arterial blood samples were collected before and after infusion of Ang II with or without nifedipine. The control plasma level of aldosterone was inversely related to the amount of salt intake, whereas the plasma ANP level was not different between the salt groups. SHR showed a higher basal plasma ANP but a lower aldosterone concentration than Wistar rats. Infusion of Ang II produced a significant increase in blood pressure and plasma levels of aldosterone and ANP: The % increase was not significantly different either between the salt groups or between SHR and Wistar rats. SHR showed a greater pressor response to Ang II but a remarkably smaller decrease in heart rate after Ang II infusion than Wistar rats, With increasing sodium intake, the effect of Ang II on aldosterone secretion was decreased, whereas that on ANP secretion or blood pressure was not changed. Nifedipine decreased the responses of blood pressure and heart rate to Ang II in all groups. Nifedipine caused almost a complete inhibition of Ang II induced ANP secretion, but only a partial inhibition of Ang II induced aldosterone secretion or vasoconstriction. These results indicate that calcium dependent processes were involved in Ang II induced vasoconstriction, and secretions of aldosterone and ANP. However, the calcium dependent process far ANP secretion was considerably different from that for aldosterone secretion or vasoconstriction evoked by ang II. The ang II induced increase in ANP secretion appeared to be caused primarily by activating voltage-dependent calcium channels, whereas Ang II induced aldosterone secretion and vasoconstriction was not.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권4호
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• pp.413-423
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• 1997

The importance of the kidney in the development of hypertension was first demonstrated by Goldblatt and his colleagues more than fifty years ago. Many hormones and other regulatory factors have been proposed to play a major role in the development of hypertension. Among these factors angiotensia II (ANG II) is closely involved in renal hypertension development since it directly regulates $Na^+$ reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule. Thus the aim of the present study was to examine signaling pathways of low dose of ANC II on the $Na^+$ uptake of primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs) in hormonally defined seum-free medium. The results were as follows: 1) $10^{-11}$ M ANG II has a significant stimulatory effect on growth as compared with control. Alkaline phosphatase exhibited significantly increased activity. However, leucine aminopeptidase and ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transpeptidase activity were not significant as compared with control. In contrast to $10^{-11}$ M ANG II stimulated $Na^+$ uptake $(108.03{\pm}2.16% of that of control)$, $10^{-9}$ M ANG II inhibited ($92.42{\mu}2.23%$ of that of control). The stimulatory effect of ANG II on $Na^+$ uptake was amiloride-sensitive and inhibited by losartan (ANG II receptor subtype 1 antagonist) and not by PD123319 (ANG II receptor subtype 2 antagonist). 2) Pertussis toxin (PTX) alone inhibited $Na^+$ uptake by $85.52{\pm}3.52%$ of that of control. In addition, PTX pretreatment prevented the AMG II-induced stimulation of $Na^+$ uptake. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP), forskolin, and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) alone inhibited $Na^+$ uptake by $88.79{\pm}2.56,\;80.63{\pm}4.38,\;and\;84.47{\pm}4.74%$ of that of control, respectively, and prevented the ANG II-induced stimulation of $Na^+$ uptake. However, $10^{-11}$ M ANG II did not stimulate cAMP production. 3) The addition of 12-O-te-tradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 0.01 ng/ml) to the PTCs produced significant increase in $Na^+$ uptake ($114.43{\pm}4.05%$ of that of control). When ANG II and TPA were added together to the PTCs, there was no additive effect on $Na^+$ uptake. Staurosporine alone had no effect on $Na^+$ uptake, but led to a complete inhibition of ANG II- or TPA-induced stimulation of Na'uptake. ANG II treatment resulted in a $111.83{\mu}4.51%$ increase in total protein kinase C (PKC) activity. In conclusion, the PTX-sensitive PKC pathway is the main signaling cascade involved in the stimulatory effects of ANG II on $Na^+$ uptake in the PTCs.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.518-524
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• 1998

신장 근위세뇨관세포들은 사구체에서 여과된 물질의 재흡수, 분비 및 대사에 관여하는 여러 호르몬들의 수용체들을 가지고 있다. 이들중에서 dopamine(DA)과 angiotensin II(ANG II)가 $Na^{+}/H^{+}$ 상호운반계 조절에 중요한 역할을 하고 있다. 본 연구는 초대배양한 토끼 신장 근위세뇨관세포의 $Na^+$ uptake에 있어서 DA과 ANG II의 상호관계를 알아보고자 실시하였다. DA은 농도의존적으로 $Na^+$ uptake를 유의성 있게 억제하였다($10^{-6}M$ ; $83.2{\pm}7.2%$, $10^{-3}M$ ; $67.2{\pm}3.8%$ vs. control)(p<0.05). $DA_1$ 작동제(SKF 38393, $10^{-6}M$)는 대조군의 $81.4{\pm}6.7%$ 까지 $Na^+$ uptake를 유의성 있게 억제하였으나(p < 0.05) $DA_2$ 작동제는 영향을 미치지 않았다. $DA_1$ 길항제(SCH 23390, $10^{-6}M$)에 의해 DA의 $Na^+$ uptake 억제효과는 차단되었으나 $DA_2$ 길항제(spiperone, $10^{-6}M$)에 의해서는 영향을 받지 않았다. DA과 대조적으로 $10^{-11}M$ ANG II는 $AT_1$ 수용체를 통하여 대조군의 $120.7{\pm}4.9%$까지 $Na^+$ uptake를 유의성 있게 촉진하였다. (p < 0.05). DA 및 $10^{-11}M$ ANG II를 병합처리하였을 때 DA은 농도의존적으로 ANG II에 유도된 $Na^+$ uptake 촉진효과를 유의성 있게 차단하였다(p<0.05). 한편 ANG II에 의해 유도된 $Na^+$ uptake촉진작용은 $DA_1$ 또는 $DA_2$ 작동제에 의해 차단되었으나 DA에 의한 차단 효과는 $DA_1$ 및 $DA_2$ 길항제를 병합처리하였을 때만 반전되었다. 결론적으로 DA은 $DA_1$ 수용체를 통하여 $Na^+$ uptake를 억제하였으나 ANG II에 의한 $Na^+$ uptake 촉진작용의 억제에는 $DA_1$ 및 $DA_2$ 수용체 모두가 관여하였다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.325-329
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• 2010

Vascular NADPH oxidase plays a pivotal role in producing superoxide in endothelial cells and thus acts in the initiation and development of inflammatory cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major catechin derived from green tea, has multiple beneficial effects for treating cardiovascular disease but the effect of EGCG on the expression of vascular NADPH oxidase remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanism(s) by which EGCG might inhibit the expression of subunits of NADPH oxidase, namely $p47^{phox}$, $p67^{phox}$ and $p22^{phox}$, induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Ang II increased the expression levels of $p47^{phox}$, $p67^{phox}$, and $p22^{phox}$, but EGCG counteracted this effect on $p47^{phox}$. Moreover, EGCG did not affect the production of reactive oxygen species induced by Ang II. These data suggest a novel mechanism whereby EGCG might provide direct vascular benefits for treating inflammatory cardiovascular diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.299-304
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• 2010

Losartan is a selective angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 ($AT_1$) receptor antagonist which inhibits vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contraction and proliferation. We hypothesized that losartan may prevent cell proliferation by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in VSMCs. VSMCs were treated with various concentrations of losartan. AMPK activation was measured by Western blot analysis and cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and flowcytometry. Losartan dose- and time-dependently increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream target, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in VSMCs. Losartan also significantly decreased the Ang II- or 15% FBS-induced VSMC proliferation by inhibiting the expression of cell cycle associated proteins, such as p-Rb, cyclin D, and cyclin E. Compound C, a specific inhibitor of AMPK, or AMPK siRNA blocked the losartan-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and the $G_0/G_1$ cell cycle arrest. These data suggest that losartan-induced AMPK activation might attenuate Ang II-induced VSMC proliferation through the inhibition of cell cycle progression.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.187-194
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• 2018

표고버섯으로부터 유래한 eritadenine (EA)은 혈중 low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), phospholipid를 감소시키는 물질이다. 최근 저희 연구팀은 in vitro 연구에서 EA가 angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)의 활성을 저해함을 밝혔다. 본 연구에서는 EA와 EA 함유한 표고버섯균사체 고체배양 효소추출물(EA-LEMCEE)이 본태성 고혈압 쥐 SHR의 혈압을 낮추었음을 보고한다. EA 및 EA-LEMSCEE는 인체 탯줄 혈관내피세포 EA.hy926 세포의 ACE 활성을 억제하였다. EA-LEMSCEE는 SHR의 수축기 및 이완기 혈압을 Control 처리구에 비해 유의성 있게 낮추어 처리 5주에는 Positive control인 captopril (CP) 처리와 비슷한 혈압감소 효과를 나타내었다. EA-LEMCE는 LEMSCEE에 비해 수축기 및 이완기 혈압을 감소시켰지만 유의성은 없었다. EA- LEMSCEE는 renin과 ACE 활성을 Control 처리에 비해 유의성 있게 억제하였고, angiotensin II (Ang II) 함량을 감소시켜, 처리 5주 후에 이러한 CP의 효과와 유사하였다. 또한 EA-LEMCEE는 LEMCEE에 비해 유의성 있게 renin 및 ACE 활성을 억제하였고 및 Ang II 함량을 감소시켰다. 이와 같은 결과는 EA 및 EA-LEMCEE는 본태성 고혈압 SHR의 renin과 ACE 활성을 억제하여 혈압을 낮추었고, EA 및 EA-LEMSCEE는 인체 고혈압을 낮출 수 있음을 의미한다.