• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.36-39
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• 2000

Acorenone, a diterpene isolated from Acorus gramineus, showed strong resistance inhibitory activity against multi-drug resistant microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus SA2, which has resistance to 10 usual antibiotics including chloramphenicol (Cm). At the level of $5\;{\mu}g/ml$ when combined with $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ of Cm. Bacterial resistance to Cm is due to the presence in resistant bacteria of an enzyme, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), which catalyses the acetyl-CoA dependent acetylation of the antibiotic at C-3 hydroxyl group. To elucidate the mechanism of resistant inhibitory effect, the acorenone which had the strongest resistant inhibitory activity, was investigated on the CAT assay. As the result, the combination of Cm and acorenone showed the strongest inhibitory activity on CAT as noncompetitive and dose dependent manner.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 1999

Muscle strips and muscle cells from cat stomach were used to investigate whether spontaneously formed cyclic nucleotides were involved in the inhibition of gastric smooth muscle contraction. A phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), increased the levels of both cyclic GMP (cGMP) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) in resting state cells, while decreasing acetylcholine-induced muscle contraction. Under the influence of IBMX, SQ22536, an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor and methylene blue, a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor completely blocked increases in cAMP and cGMP respectively, without any effect on contraction. However, the combination of SQ22536 and methylene blue completely blocked increases in both cAMP and cGMP levels and stimulated contractions markedly even in the presence of IBMX. Muscle contraction inhibitors such as isoprenaline, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and sodium nitroprusside also appeared to increase cyclic nucleotide levels which decreased contraction. Which nucleotide increased the most was dependent on the agonist used. Therefore, irrespective of the cyclic nucleotide class, the spontaneous formation of cyclic nucleotides should be considered in evaluating the mechanism of gastric smooth muscle relaxation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.189-193
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• 2021

An 11-years old spayed female Persian chinchilla cat presented with acute onset of blindness from bilateral retinal detachment and systemic hypertension. On physical examination, the cat was tachycardic (240 beats/min) with a systolic blood pressure of around 250 mmHg. Clinical findings, blood works, urinalysis, thyroid function test, radiography, echocardiogram, and ultrasonography were performed to rule out underlying diseases. Organ injury induced by systemic hypertension including bilateral retinal detachment and left ventricular hypertrophy were confirmed by ultrasound. Based on these results, it was diagnosed as feline idiopathic hypertension with target organ damage (TOD). The cat was treated with a combination therapy using high doses of amlodipine, telmisartan, and atenolol. After the treatment, its hypertension and TOD were improved. This case showed that appropriate therapeutic management can help prevent TOD associated with feline hypertension.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.315-319
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• 1998

Gastric smooth muscle of cats was used to investigate the involvement of protein kinase in vanadate-induced contraction. Vanadate caused a contraction of cat gastric smooth muscle in a dose-dependent manner. Vanadate-induced contraction was totally inhibited by 2 mM EGTA and 1.5 mM $LACI_3$ and significantly inhibited by $10\mu$M verapamil and $1\mu$M nifedipine, suggesting that vanadate-induced contraction is dependent on the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, and the influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ was mediated through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel. Both protein kinase C inhibitor and tyrosine kinase inhibitor significantly inhibited the vanadate-induced contraction and the combined inhibitory effect of two protein kinase inhibitors was greater than that of each one. But calmodulin antagonists did not have any influence on the vanadate-induced contraction. On the other hand, both forskolin ($1\mu$M) and sodium nitroprusside ($1\mu$M) significantly inhibited vanadate-induced contraction. Therefore, these results suggest that both protein kinase C and tyrosino kinase are involved in the vanadate-induced contraction which required the influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in cat gastric smooth muscle, and that the contractile mechanism of vanadate may be different from that of agonist binding to its specific receptor.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.55-70
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• 2005

Objective: Ulmus davidiana Planch (Ulmaceae) has long been known to have anti-inflammnatory in the traditional Korean medicine. UD has been reported as a good enhancer for bone healing. Methods : In this experiment, we investigate the Inhibitory effects of UD on bone resorption using the bone cells culture. Different concentrations of crude extract of UD were added to mouse bone cells culture. The mitochondria activity of the bone cells after exposure was determined by colorimetric MIT assay. It was demonstrated that UD has potential effects on bone cells culture without any cytotoxicity. The most effective concentration of UD on bone cells were $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. Cathepsin K (Cat K) is the major cysteine protease expressed in osteoclasts and is thought to play a key role in matrix degradation during bone resorption. Results : When mouse long bone cells including osteoclasts and osteoblast were treated with the PI3-Kinase inhibitor, wortmannin (WT), WT prevented the osteoclast-mediated intracellular processing of Cat K. Similarly, treatment of osteoclasts-containing long bone cells with UD extracts prevented the intracellular maturation of Cat K, suggesting that UD may disrupt the intracellular trafficking of pro Cat K. This is similar to that of WT. Since secreted proenzymes have the potential to reenter the cell via mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) receptor, to prevent this possibility, we tested WT and UD in the absence or presence of M6P. Inhibition of Cat K processing by WT or UD was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the addition of M6P resulted in enhanced potency of WT and UD. Conclusion : UD dose-dependently inhibited in vitro bone resorption with a potency similar to that observed for inhibition of Cat K processing.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.330-341
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• 2024

The Trichinella spiralis novel cystatin (TsCstN) inhibits cathepsin L (CatL) activity and inflammation of macrophages during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction. To identify the protease inhibitory region, this study applied an in silico modeling approach to simulate truncation sites of TsCstN (Ts01), which created four truncated forms, including TsCstN^∆1-39 (Ts02), TsCstN^∆1-71 (Ts03), TsCstN^{∆1-20, ∆73-117} (Ts04), and TsCstN^{∆1-20, ∆42-117} (Ts05). The superimposition of these truncates modeled with AlphaFold Colab indicated that their structures were more akin to Ts01 than those modeled with I-TASSER. Moreover, Ts04 exhibited the closest resemblance to the structure of Ts01. The recombinant Ts01 (rTs01) and truncated proteins (rTs02, rTs03, and rTs04) were successfully expressed in a prokaryotic expression system while Ts05 was synthesized, with sizes of approximately 14, 12, 8, 10, and 2.5 kDa, respectively. When determining the inhibition of CatL activity, both rTs01 and rTs04 effectively reduced CatL activity in vitro. Thus, the combination of the α1 and L1 regions may be sufficient to inhibit CatL. This study provides comprehensive insights into TsCstN, particularly regarding its protein function and inhibitory domains against CatL.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2010

A Persian chinchila (2 years old, intact female) and a Korean domestic shorthaired cat (3 months, intact male) were referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungnam National University with tachypnea. The two cats were diagnosed as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) by blood and blood chemical examination, radiographic examination, RT-PCR and electrophoresis analysis of pleural effusion. Thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (Ozagrel HCl, 5 mg/kg, twice a day) was administered to the Persian chinchila and Korean domestic shorthair for 13 days and 16 days, respectively. Pleural effusion disappeared after treatment with Ozagrel HCl. Further study is needed to establish a new application protocol of Ozagrel HCl for FIP cases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2006

We investigated the mechanism of contraction induced by S1P in esophageal smooth muscle cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated that $S1P_1$, $S1P_2$, $S1P_3$, and $S1P_5$ receptors existed in the cat esophagus. Only penetration of EDG-5 ($S1P_2$) antibody into permeabilized cells inhibited S1P-induced contraction. Pertussis toxin (PTX) also inhibited contraction, suggesting that it was mediated by $S1P_2$ receptors coupled to a PTXsensitive $G_i$ protein. Specific antibodies to $G_{i2}$, $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ inhibited contraction, implying that the S1P-induced contraction depends on PTX-insensitive $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ dimers as well as the PTX-sensitive $G_{i2}$. Contraction was not affected by the phospholipase $A_2$ inhibitor DEDA, or the PLD inhibitor ${\rho}$-chloromercuribenzoate, but it was abolished by the PLC inhibitor U73122. Incubation of permeabilized cells with $PLC{\beta}3$ antibody also inhibited contraction. Contraction involved the activation of a PKC pathway since it was affected by GF109203X and chelerythrine. Since $PKC{\varepsilon}$ antibody inhibited contraction, $PKC{\varepsilon}$ may be required. Preincubation of the muscle cells with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 blocked S1P-induced contraction, but the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB202190 did not. In addition, co-treatment of cells with GF 109203X and PD98059 did not have a synergistic effect, suggesting that these two kinases are involved in the same signaling pathway. Our data suggest that S1P-induced contraction in esophageal smooth muscle cells is mediated by $S1P_2$ receptors coupled to PTX-sensitive $G_{i2}$ proteins, and PTX-insensitive $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ proteins, and that the resulting activation of the $PLC{\beta}3$ and $PKC{\varepsilon}$ pathway leads to activation of a p44/p42 MAPK pathway.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.273-288
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• 1991

To elucidate the physiological and biochemical differences between chondrichthyes and osteichthyes, the properties of the specific digestive enzymes in cat-shark, Cephaloscyllium umbratile, and mackerel, Scomber japonicus, were studied. Homogenous trypsin proved through the disc-electrophoresis, SDS-PAG electrophoresis and gel filtration was obtained from the pancreas of cat-shark by $50-70\%$ saturated ammonium sulphate fractionation, DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography, benzamidine-Sepharose 6B affinity chromatography and Sephadex G-75-120 gel filtration. Two types of trypsins were also obtained from the pyloric caeca of mackerel by $30-70\%$ saturated ammonium sulphate fractionation and the slightly modified procedure from the method adopted in the purification of cat-shark trypsin. The two trypsins, designated trypsin A and B, were proved their homogeneity by disc- and SDS-PAG electrophoresis and gel filtration. The molecular weights of the trypsins were estimated to be 31,700 for cat-shark trypsin, 30,000 for mackerel trypsin A and 29,000 for mackerel trypsin B by SDS-PAG electrophoresis, but those were estimated to be 21,500 for cat-shark trypsin, 23,700 for mackerel trypsin A and 21,500 for mackerel trypsin B by gel filtration. The trypsins exhibited their optimum conditions at pH 9.0 and on temperature ranged from $45^{\circ}C\;to\;50^{\circ}C$ for cat-shark, and at pH 8.0 and a temperature of $50^{\circ}C$ for mackerel trypsin A and B, respectively. The cat-shark trypsin was stable at pH 10.0 and the temperature below $10^{\circ}C$, whereas the mackerel trypsin A and B, were stable in the range over pH 7.0 to pH 9.0 below $10^{\circ}C$ and at pH 8.0 below $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. The mackerel trypsins were severely inhibited by some heavy metal ions such as $Ag^{2+},\;Cu^{2+}\;and\;Hg^{2+}$ compared to cat-shark trypsin. All of the enzymes were also inhibited by antipain, leupeptin, TLCK(tosyllysine chloromethyl ketone) and SBTI(soybean trypsin inhibitor) remarkably. The inhibitory effects of PMSF(phenylmethane sulphonylfluoride), DFP(diisopropyl fluorophosphate) and benzamidine were indicated that these enzymes belong to serine-proteases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2013

Lysolipids such as LPA, S1P and SPC have diverse biological activities including cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. We investigated signaling pathways of LPA-induced contraction in feline esophageal smooth muscle cells. We used freshly isolated smooth muscle cells and permeabilized cells from cat esophagus to measure the length of cells. Maximal contraction occurred at $10^{-6}M$ and the response peaked at 30s. To identify LPA receptor subtypes in cells, western blot analysis was performed with antibodies to LPA receptor subtypes. LPA1 and LPA3 receptor were detected at 50 kDa and 44 kDa. LPA-induced contraction was almost completely blocked by LPA receptor (1/3) antagonist KI16425. Pertussis toxin (PTX) inhibited the contraction induced by LPA, suggesting that the contraction is mediated by a PTX-sensitive G protein. Phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors U73122 and neomycin, and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X also reduced the contraction. The PKC-mediated contraction may be isozyme-specific since only $PKC{\varepsilon}$ antibody inhibited the contraction. MEK inhibitor PD98059 and JNK inhibitor SP600125 blocked the contraction. However, there is no synergistic effect of PKC and MAPK on the LPA-induced contraction. In addition, RhoA inhibitor C3 exoenzyme and ROCK inhibitor Y27632 significantly, but not completely, reduced the contraction. The present study demonstrated that LPA-induced contraction seems to be mediated by LPA receptors (1/3), coupled to PTX-sensitive G protein, resulting in activation of PLC, PKC-${\varepsilon}$ pathway, which subsequently mediates activation of ERK and JNK. The data also suggest that RhoA/ROCK are involved in the LPA-induced contraction.