• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제45권6호
• /
• pp.683-694
• /
• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) has been well documented to be effective against various cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Rg1 on mechanical stress-induced cardiac injury and its possible mechanism with a focus on the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) signaling pathway. Methods: Mechanical stress was implemented on rats through abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) procedure and on cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts by mechanical stretching with Bioflex Collagen I plates. The effects of Rg1 on cell hypertrophy, fibrosis, cardiac function, [Ca²⁺]_i, and the expression of CaSR and calcineurin (CaN) were assayed both on rat and cellular level. Results: Rg1 alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and improved cardiac decompensation induced by AAC in rat myocardial tissue and cultured cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. Importantly, Rg1 treatment inhibited CaSR expression and increase of [Ca²⁺]_i, which similar to the CaSR inhibitor NPS2143. In addition, Rg1 treatment inhibited CaN and TGF-b1 pathways activation. Mechanistic analysis showed that the CaSR agonist GdCl₃ could not further increase the [Ca²⁺]_i and CaN pathway related protein expression induced by mechanical stretching in cultured cardiomyocytes. CsA, an inhibitor of CaN, inhibited cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, [Ca²⁺]_i and CaN signaling but had no effect on CaSR expression. Conclusion: The activation of CaN pathway and the increase of [Ca²⁺]_i mediated by CaSR are involved in cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, that may be the target of cardioprotection of Rg1 against myocardial injury.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제29권6호
• /
• pp.630-636
• /
• 2021

Eupafolin, a constituent of the aerial parts of Phyla nodiflora, has neuroprotective property. Because reducing the synaptic release of glutamate is crucial to achieving pharmacotherapeutic effects of neuroprotectants, we investigated the effect of eupafolin on glutamate release in rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes and explored the possible mechanism. We discovered that eupafolin depressed 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced glutamate release, and this phenomenon was prevented in the absence of extracellular calcium. Eupafolin inhibition of glutamate release from synaptic vesicles was confirmed through measurement of the release of the fluorescent dye FM 1-43. Eupafolin decreased 4-AP-induced [Ca²⁺]_i elevation and had no effect on synaptosomal membrane potential. The inhibition of P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels reduced the decrease in glutamate release that was caused by eupafolin, and docking data revealed that eupafolin interacted with P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels. Additionally, the inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) prevented the effect of eupafolin on evoked glutamate release. Eupafolin also reduced the 4-AP-induced activation of CaMK II and the subsequent phosphorylation of synapsin I, which is the main presynaptic target of CaMKII. Therefore, eupafolin suppresses P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels and thereby inhibits CaMKII/synapsin I pathways and the release of glutamate from rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제43권11호
• /
• pp.909-920
• /
• 2020

Cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels ([Ca²⁺]_c) change dynamically in response to inducers, repressors, and physiological conditions, and aberrant [Ca²⁺]_c concentration regulation is associated with cancer, heart failure, and diabetes. Therefore, [Ca²⁺]_c is considered as a good indicator of physiological and pathological cellular responses, and is a crucial biomarker for drug discovery. A genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) was recently developed to measure [Ca²⁺]_c in single cells and animal models. GECI have some advantages over chemically synthesized indicators, although they also have some drawbacks such as poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), low positive signal, delayed response, artifactual responses due to protein overexpression, and expensive detection equipment. Here, we developed an indicator based on interactions between Ca²⁺-loaded calmodulin and target proteins, and generated an innovative GECI sensor using split nano-luciferase (Nluc) fragments to detect changes in [Ca²⁺]_c. Stimulation-dependent luciferase activities were optimized by combining large and small subunits of Nluc binary technology (NanoBiT, LgBiT:SmBiT) fusion proteins and regulating the receptor expression levels. We constructed the binary [Ca²⁺]_c sensors using a multicistronic expression system in a single vector linked via the internal ribosome entry site (IRES), and examined the detection efficiencies. Promoter optimization studies indicated that promoter-dependent protein expression levels were crucial to optimize SNR and sensitivity. This novel [Ca²⁺]_c assay has high SNR and sensitivity, is easy to use, suitable for high-throughput assays, and may be useful to detect [Ca²⁺]_c in single cells and animal models.

• 한국전자통신학회논문지
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.383-390
• /
• 2018

셀룰라 오토마타(이하 CA)는 LFSR보다 난수성이 우수하여 여러 분야에 LFSR의 대안으로 응용되고 있다. 그러나 주어진 다항식에 대응하는 CA를 구성하는 것이 LFSR보다 어렵다. Cattell 등과 Cho 등은 기약다항식들이 CA-다항식임을 보였다. 그리고 Cho 등과 Sabater 등은 기약다항식의 거듭제곱에 대응하는 90/150 CA의 합성 방법을 제시하였다. 이것은 수축생성기에 적용가능하다. Swan은 유한체 GF(2) 상에서 3항 다항식의 기약인수의 개수의 홀짝성을 분석하였다. 이런 3항 다항식들은 유한체 확장을 구현할 때 실제로 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 논문에서는 3항 다항식들 $x^{2^n-1}+X+1$ ($n{\geq}2$)이 CA-다항식임을 보인다. 또한 3항 다항식들 $x^{2^a(2^n-1)}+x^{2^a}+1$ ($n{\geq}2$, $a{\geq}0$)이 CA-다항식임을 보인다.

• 운동과학
• /
• 제26권3호
• /
• pp.229-237
• /
• 2017

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the Glycolysis mediated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) $Ca^{2+}$ signal regulates mitochondria $Ca^{2+}$ during skeletal muscle contraction by using glycolysis inhibitor. METHODS: To examine the effect of Glycolysis inhibitor on SR and mitochondria $Ca^{2+}$ content, we used skeletal muscle fiber from gastrocnemius muscle. 2-deoxy glucose and 3-bromo pyruvate used as glycolysis inhibitor, it applied to electrically stimulated muscle contraction experiment. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ content, SR, mitochondria $Ca^{2+}$ level and mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) was detected by confocal microscope. Mitochondrial energy metabolism related enzyme, citric acid synthase activity also examined for mitochondrial function during the muscle contraction. RESULTS: Treatment of 2-DG and 3BP decreased the muscle contraction induced SR $Ca^{2+}$ increase however the mitochondria $Ca^{2+}$ level was increased by treatment of inhibitors and showed and overloading as compared with the control group. Glycolysis inhibitor and thapsigargin treatment showed a significant decrease in MPP of skeletal muscle cells compared to the control group. CS activity significantly decreased after pretreatment of glycolysis inhibitor during skeletal muscle contraction. These results suggest that regulation of mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$ levels by glycolysis is an important factor in mitochondrial energy production during skeletal muscle contraction CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that mitochondria $Ca^{2+}$ level can be regulated by SR $Ca^{2+}$ level and glycolytic regulation of intraocular $Ca^{2+}$ signal play pivotal role in regulation of mitochondria energy metabolism during the muscle contraction.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제34권9호
• /
• pp.2769-2773
• /
• 2013

Red phosphors $Ca_{(1-1.5x)}Eu_xWO_4$ and $Ca_{(1-2x)}Eu^_xNa_xWO_4$ were synthesized with various concentrations x of $Eu^{3+}$ ions by using a solid-state reaction method. The crystal structure of the red phosphors were found to be a tetragonal scheelite structure with space group $I4_1/a$. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show the (112) main diffraction peak centered at $2{\theta}=28.71^{\circ}$, and indicate that there is no basic structural deformation caused by the vacancies ${V_{Ca}}^{{\prime}{\prime}}$ or the $Eu^{3+}$ (and $Na^+$) ions in the host crystals. Densities of $Ca_{(1-1.5x)}Eu_xWO_4$ were measured on a (helium) gas pycnometer. Comparative results between the experimental and theoretical densities reveal that $Eu^{3+}$ (and $Na^+$) ions replace the $Ca^{2+}$ ions in the host $CaWO_4$. Also, the photoluminescence (PL) emission and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra show the optical properties of trivalent $Eu^{3+}$ ions, not of divalent $Eu^{2+}$. Raman spectra exhibit that, without showing any difference before and after the doping of activators to the host material $CaWO_4$, all the gerade normal modes occur at the identical frequencies with the same shapes and weaker intensities after the substitution. However, the FT-IR spectra show that some of the ungerade normal modes have shifted positions and different shapes, caused by different masses of $Eu^{3+}$ ions (or $Na^+$ ions, or ${V_{Ca}}^{{\prime}{\prime}}$ vacancies) from $Ca^{2+}$.

• 한국재료학회지
• /
• 제33권10호
• /
• pp.400-405
• /
• 2023

Tb³⁺-doped CaNb₂O₆ (CaNb₂O₆:Tb³⁺) thin films were deposited on quartz substrates at a growth temperature of 300 ℃ using radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. The deposited thin films were annealed at several annealing temperatures for 20 min and characterized for their structural, morphological, and luminescent properties. The experimental results showed that the annealing temperature had a significant effect on the properties of the CaNb₂O₆:Tb³⁺ thin films. The crystalline structure of the as-grown CaNb₂O₆:Tb³⁺ thin films transformed from amorphous to crystalline after annealing at temperatures greater than or equal to 700 ℃. The emission spectra of the thin films under excitation at 251 nm exhibited a dominant emission band at 546 nm arising from the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ magnetic dipole transition of Tb³⁺ and three weak emission bands at 489, 586, and 620 nm, respectively. The intensity of the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ (546 nm) magnetic dipole transition was greater than that of the ⁵D₄→⁷F₆ (489 nm) electrical dipole transition, indicating that the Tb³⁺ ions in the host crystal were located at sites with inversion symmetry. The average transmittance at wavelengths of 370~1,100 nm decreased from 86.8 % at 700 ℃ to 80.5 % at an annealing temperature of 1,000 ℃, and a red shift was observed in the bandgap energy with increasing annealing temperature. These results suggest that the annealing temperature plays a crucial role in developing green light-emitting CaNb₂O₆:Tb³⁺ thin films for application in electroluminescent displays.

• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제10권4호
• /
• pp.375-383
• /
• 2004

It has been reported that osteoporosis induced by the deficiency of estrogens in menopause is associated with the unbalance of Ca/sup 2+/ and Pi levels. Proximal tubule is very important organ to regualte Ca/sup 2+/ and Pi level in the body. However, the effect of estrogens on Ca/sup 2+/ and Pi regulation was not elucidated. Thus, we examined the effect of 17-β estradiol (E₂) on Ca/sup 2+/ and Pi uptake in the primary cultured rabbit renal proxiaml tubule cells. In the present study, E₂(> 10/sup -9/M) decreases Ca/sup 2+/uptake and stimulates Pi uptake over 3 days. E₂-induced decrease of Ca/sup 2+/ uptake and stimulation of Pi uptake were blocked by actinomycin D (a gene transcription inhibitor), cycloheximide (a protein synthesis inhibitor). tamoxifen, and progesterone (estrogen receptor antagonists). E₂-induced decrease of Ca/sup 2+/ uptake and stimulation of Pi uptake were blocked by SQ22536 (an adenylate cyclase inhibitor), Rp-cAMP (a cAMP antagonist), and PKI (a protein kinase A inhibitor). Indeed, E₂ increased cAMP formation. In addition, E₂-induced decrease of Ca/sup 2+/ uptake and stimulation of Pi uptake were blocked by staurosporine, H-7, and bisindolylmaleimide I (protein kinase C inhibitors) and E₂ translocated PKC from cytoslic fraction to membrane fraction. In conclusion, E₂ decreased Ca/sup 2+/ uptake and stimulated Pi uptake via cAMP and PKC pathway in the PTCs.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제54권10호
• /
• pp.516-521
• /
• 2021

Although arginase primarily participates in the last reaction of the urea cycle, we have previously demonstrated that arginase II is an important cytosolic calcium regulator through spermine production in a p32-dependent manner. Here, we demonstrated that rhaponticin (RPT) is a novel medicinal-plant arginase inhibitor and investigated its mechanism of action on Ca²⁺-dependent endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation. RPT was uncompetitively inhibited for both arginases I and II prepared from mouse liver and kidney. It also inhibited arginase activity in both aorta and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Using both microscope and FACS analyses, RPT treatments induced increases in cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels using Fluo-4 AM as a calcium indicator. Increased cytosolic Ca²⁺ elicited the phosphorylations of both CaMKII and eNOS Ser1177 in a time-dependent manner. RPT incubations also increased intracellular L-arginine (L-Arg) levels and activated the CaMKII/AMPK/Akt/eNOS signaling cascade in HUVECs. Treatment of L-Arg and ABH, arginase inhibitor, increased intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations and activated CaMKII-dependent eNOS activation in ECs of WT mice, but, the effects were not observed in ECs of inositol triphosphate receptor type 1 knockout (IP3R1^-/-) mice. In the aortic endothelium of WT mice, RPT also augmented nitric oxide (NO) production and attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In a vascular tension assay using RPT-treated aortic tissue, cumulative vasorelaxant responses to acetylcholine (Ach) were enhanced, and phenylephrine (PE)-dependent vasoconstrictive responses were retarded, although sodium nitroprusside and KCl responses were not different. In this study, we present a novel mechanism for RPT, as an arginase inhibitor, to increase cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration in a L-Arg-dependent manner and enhance endothelial function through eNOS activation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제85권2호
• /
• pp.147-154
• /
• 2022

Background: The expression of calcium signaling pathway molecules is altered in various carcinomas, which are related to the proliferation and altered characteristics of cancer cells. However, changes in calcium signaling in anti-cancer drug-resistant cells (bearing a T790M mutation in epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR]) remain unclear. Methods: Afatinib-mediated changes in the level of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE)-related proteins and intracellular Ca²⁺ level in non-small cell lung cancer cells with T790M mutation in the EGFR gene were analyzed using western blot and ratiometric assays, respectively. Afatinib-mediated autophagic flux was evaluated by measuring the cleavage of LC3B-II. Flow cytometry and cell proliferation assays were conducted to assess cell apoptosis and proliferation. Results: The levels of SOCE-mediating proteins (ORAI calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 [ORAI1], stromal interaction molecule 1 [STIM1], and sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase [SERCA2]) decreased after afatinib treatment in non-small cell lung cancer cells, whereas the levels of SOCE-related proteins did not change in gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells (PC-9/GR; bearing a T790M mutation in EGFR). Notably, the expression level of SOCE-related proteins in PC-9/GR cells was reduced also responding to afatinib in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. Moreover, extracellular Ca²⁺ influx through the SOCE was significantly reduced in PC-9 cells pre-treated with afatinib than in the control group. Additionally, afatinib was found to decrease the level of SOCE-related proteins through autophagic degradation, and the proliferation of PC-9GR cells was significantly inhibited by a lack of extracellular Ca²⁺. Conclusion: Extracellular Ca²⁺ plays important role in afatinib-mediated autophagic degradation of SOCE-related proteins in cells with T790M mutation in the EGFR gene and extracellular Ca²⁺ is essential for determining anti-cancer drug efficacy.