• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2005

Recently, we reported that high extracellular calcium increased receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL) expression via p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p44/42 MAPK) activation in mouse osteoblasts. However, the mechanism for p44/42 MAPK activation by high extracellular calcium is unclear. In this study, we examined the role of intracellular calcium increase in high extracellular calcium-induced RANKL induction and p44/42 MAPK activation. Primary cultured mouse calvarial osteoblasts were used. RANKL expression was highly induced by 10 mM calcium treatment. Ionomycin, a calcium ionophore, also increased RANKL expression and activated p44/42 MAPK. U0126, an inhibitor of MEK1/2, an upstream activator of p44/42 MAPK, blocked the RANKL induction by both high extracellular calcium and ionomycin. High extracellular calcium increased the phosphorylation of proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), one of the known upstream regulators of p44/42 MAPK activation. Bisindolylmaleimide, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, did not block RANKL induction and p44/42 MAPK activation induced by high extracellular calcium. 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, an inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor, blocked the RANKL induction by high extracellular calcium. It also partially suppressed the activation of Pyk2 and p44/42 MAPK. Cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of calcineurin, also inhibited high calcium-induced RANKL expression in dose dependent manner. However, cyclosporin A did not affect the activation of Pyk2 and p44/42 MAPK by high extracellular calcium treatment. These results suggest that 1) the increase in intracellular calcium via IP3-mediated calcium release is necessary for RANKL induction by high extracellular calcium treatment, 2) Pyk2 activation, but not protein kinase C, following the increase in intracellular calcium might be involved in p44/42 MAPK activation, and 3) calcineurin-NFAT activation by the increase in intracellular calcium is involved in RANKL induction by high extracellular calcium treatment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.174-177
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• 2003

The present experiment was performed to investigate the protective effects of paeonol isolated from Moutan Cortex Radicis on primary cultured rat hepatocytes exposed to Br-A23187 ($Ca^{2+}$ ionophore). Br-A23187 is frequently used as a model of cell killing as inducing both necrotic and apoptotic cell death. Hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase perfusion from livers of fasted male Sprague Dawley rats and cultured overnight. Cell viability was determined by propidium iodide using fluorocytometry in Krebs-Ringer-HEPES buffer at pH 7.4. In addition, intracellular calcium was measured by excitation at 340 and 380 nm and emission at 505 nm using a luminescence spectrophotometer. Paeonol (20-100 ${\mu}M$) inhibited cell killing induced by 10 ${\mu}M$ Br-A23187, in a dose-dependent manner. Paeonol also reduced increased intracellular calcium level when hepatocytes were exposed to Br-A23187. Therefore, the present results suggest that paeonol protects the hepatocytotoxicity induced by Br-A23187, via inhibiting the influx of calcium into into rat hepatocytes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.185-193
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• 2004

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which invades a wide range of hosts including humans. The exact mechanisms involved in its invasion are not fully understood. This study focused on the roles of $Ca^{2+}$ in host cell invasion and in T. gondii replication. We examined the invasion and replication of T. gondii pretreated with several calcium modulators, the conoid extrusion of tachyzoites. Calmodulin localization in T. gondii were observed using the immunogold method, and $Ca^{2+}$ levels in tachyzoites by confocal microscopy. In light microscopic observation, tachyzoites co-treated with A23187 and EGTA showed that host cell invasion and intracellular replication were decreased. The invasion of tachyzoites was slightly inhibited by the $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers, bepridil and verapamil, and by the calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium. We observed that calcium saline containing A23187 induced the extrusion of tachyzoite conoid. By immunoelectron microscopy, gold particles bound to anti-calmodulin or anti-actin mAb, were found to be localized on the anterior portion of tachyzoites. Remarkably reduced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ was observed in tachyzoites treated with BAPTA/AM by confocal microscopy. These results suggest that host cell invasion and the intracellular replication of T. gondii tachyzoites are inhibited by the calcium ionophore, A23187, and by the extracellular calcium chelator, EGTA.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.587-595
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate effects of calcium antagonists on endothelial and neuronal dysfunction of right coronary artery (RCA) induced by ischemia- reperfusion in anesthetized, open-chest pigs. After reperfusion, pigs were sacrificed and the RCA was rapidly dissected for in vitro experiments. Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups: control (C-RCA), ischemia-reperfusion only (I-RCA), verapamil infusion (VI-RCA) and nifedipine infusion (NI-RCA) group, respectively. The ischemia did not affect hemodynamics, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, LVdP/dtmax, and decreased RCA flow. Arterial pressure and heart rate during ischemia-reperfusion were decreased in VI-RCA and NI-RCA, and RCA flow during reperfusion was increased in NI-RCA. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) produced concentration-dependent contractions in C-RCA. The 5-HT-induced contractions were potentiated in I-RCA and VI-RCA, but not in NI-RCA. Endothelium-dependent relaxation by calcium ionophore A23187 was inhibited in I-RCA and VI-RCA, and recovered in NI-RCA. Cyclic GMP contents were decreased in I-RCA group alone. Electrical field stimulation in C-RCA produced transient and frequency-dependent contractions and at 50 Hz caused biphasic contractions. The transient contractions were not affected by pretreatment with phentolamine and atropine, but the biphasic contraction was altered by the pretreatment. Both contractions were inhibited in I-RCA, and were partially recovered in VI-RCA and NI-RCA. Ischemia-reperfusion of RCA in pigs causes endothelial and neuronal dysfunctions, and calcium antagonists partially prevent both.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.5
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• pp.537-546
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• 1997

It has been postulated that the intracellular taurine is co-transported with $Na^+$down a concentration gradient and prevents the intracellular accumulation of sodium. It is therefore, expected that an elevated level of intracellular taurine prevents the sodium-promoted calcium influx to protect the cellular damages associated with sodium and calcium overload. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of intra- and extracellular taurine on the myocardial $Na^+$and$Ca^{++}$ contents and the cardiac functions in isolated rat hearts which were loaded with sodium by monensin, a $Na^+-ionophore$. Monensin caused a dose-dependent increase in intracellular $Na^+$ accompanied with a subsequent increase in intracellular $Ca^{++}$ and a mechanical dysfunction. In this monensin-treated heart, myocardial taurine content was decreased with a concomittent increase in the release of taurine. The monensin-induced increases in intracellular $Na^+$, $Ca^{++}$ and depression of cardiac function were prevented in the hearts of which taurine content had been increased by high-taurine diet. Conversely, in the hearts of which taurine concentration gradient had been decreased by addition of taurine in the perfusate, the monensin-induced increases in $Na^+$, $Ca^{++}$ and functional depression were accelerated. These results suggest that taurine, depending on the intra-extracellular concentration gradient, can affect intracellular sodium and calcium concentrations, and that an increased intracellular taurine may play a role in protection of myocardial dysfunction associated with the sodium and calcium overload.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1994

The present study was undertaken to demonstrate whether or not bradykinin activates a phospholipase D in rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells. By measuring the formation of [$^3$H]phosphatidic acid and [$^3$H]phosphatidylethanol we could elucidate the direct stimulation of phospholipase D by bradykinin. Bradykinin leads to a rapid increase in [$^3$H]phosphatidic acid and [$^3$H]diacylglycerol, and [$^3$H]phosphatidic acid formation preceded the formation of [$^3$H]diacylglycerol. This result suggests that some phosphatidic acid seems to be formed directly from phosphatidylcholine by the action of phospholipase D, not from diacylglycerol by the action of diacylglycerol kinase. In addition, the other mechanisms by which phospholipase D is activated was examined. We have found that phospholipase D was activated and regulated by extracellular calcium ion and pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein, respectively. It has also been shown that bradykinin may activate phospholipase D through protein kinase C-dependent pathway. In conclusion, we are now, for the first time, strongly suggesting that bradykinin-induced activation of phospholipase D in the rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells is mediated by a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein and is dependent of protein kinase C.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2008

Clotrimazole (CLT), a potent antifungal drug, is known to inhibit tumor cell proliferation. In the present study, we examined the role of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in CLT-induced cell cycle arrest of colon adenocarcinoma HT29 cells. CLT inhibited growth of HT29 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with inhibition of cell cycle progression at the G(1)-S phase transition and an increase in the expression of cell cycle inhibitor proteins p27 and p53. CLT also suppressed the $Ca^{2+}$ overload by A23187, a calcium ionophore, suggesting its role in modulation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in HT29 cells. The simultaneous application of CLT and A23187 with addition of $CaCl_2$ (1mM) to the medium significantly reversed CLT-induced p27 and p53 protein level increase and growth suppression. Our results suggest that CLT induces cell cycle arrest of colon adenocarcinoma HT29 cells via induction of p27 and p53, which may, at least in part, be mediated by alteration of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.211-219
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• 1996

The inhibitory effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) on nitric oxide production is not related to the immunosuppressive action of the drug, but to the renal toxicity and arterial hyper-tension. In this study the experimental interventions to reverse the inhibition of nitric oxide production by cyclosporin A in rat aortic smooth muscle cells were examined. CsA inhibited the accumulation of nitrite, the stable end product of nitric oxide, in culture media in a concentration $(0.1{\sim}100{\mu}g/ml)-dependent$ manner. The inhibitory effect of CsA on nitrite accumulation were not antagonized by arginine (10 mM), a substrate of nitric oxide synthase, nor by calcium ionophore A23187 $(7{\mu}M)$. Forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, which enhanced iNOS induction at transcriptional level, completely reversed the inhibitory action of CsA on nitrite accumulation. However, PMA (2 nM) and PDB (50 nM), PKC activators, increased the inhibitory action of CsA on nitrite accumulalion. From these results, it is suggested that cyclic AMP-elevating agents may be candidates of therapeutic agents in prevention and treatment of renal toxicity and arterial hypertension induced by CsA. Among conventional antihypertensive drugs, calcium channel blockers and ${\alpha}-blockers$ are preferred to ${\beta}-blockers$.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2003

We examined the effect of polyether-type nonionic surfactants (Brij 35, Triton X-100, Tween 20 and Tween 80) on the potentiometric properties of sodium-, potassium- and calcium-selective membranes which are prepared with widely used ionophores and four kinds of polymer matrices [poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polyurethane (PU), PVC/PU blend, and silicone rubber (SR)]. It was found that the PVC-based membranes, which provide the best performance among all other matrix-based membranes in the absence of nonionic surfactants, exhibited larger change in their potentiometric properties when nonionic surfactants are added to the sample solution. On the other hand, the sodium-selective SR-based membrane with calix[4]arene, potassium-selective PVC/PU- or SR-based membrane with valinomycin, and the calcium-selective SR-based membrane with ETH 1001 provide almost identical analytical performance in the presence and absence of Tween 20 or Tween 80 surfactants. The origin of nonionic surfactants effect was also investigated by interpreting the experimental results obtained with various matrices and ionophores. The results suggest that the nonionic surfactant extracted into the membrane phase unselectively form complexes with the primary and interfering ions, resulting in increased background potential and lower binding ability for the ionophore. Such effects should result in deteriorated detection limits, reduced response slopes and lower selectivity for the primary ions.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.286-290
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• 2013

This study was carried out to the determine the effects of the water extract of Viticis Fructus (Verbenaceae, WEVF) on experimental allergic reactions and inflammation. WEVF was anally administered to mice for high and fast absorption. WEVF inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated local allergic reaction. Histamine releasing from mast cells was reduced by WEVF, which was mediated by modulation of intracellular calcium. In addition, WEVF decreased the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-stimulated HMC-1 cells. These findings demonstrate that the WEVF possesses antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities, which may be mediated by reducing the release of mediators such as histamine from mast cells and weakening the inflammatory action of these mediators.