• Journal of Plant Biology
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.233-239
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• 1993

Effect of Ca2+ on the conversion of 1-aminocycloprophane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) to ethylene was studied with 2.5 day-old mung bean hypocotyl segments. The conversion of ACC in these tissues was inhibited by plasmolysis and sulfosuccinimidyl (hydroxyphenyl) propionate (sulfo-SHPP). The ACC induced ethylene production in HC (high calcium)-tissue grown on the Ca2+ added medium was greater than that in N (normal)-tissue. HC-tissue had a lower inhibition rate of ACC conversion by EGTA and Ca2+ -channel blockers than N-tissue. The rates of the ACC conversion by both kinds of tissues were stimulated by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. From these results, we suggests a mechanism for the stimulative effect of Ca2+ on the conversion of ACC to ethylene as follows; in some tissues where ACC conversion is linked with plasma membrane, Ca2+ may be transported from apoplast through Ca2+ -channel into the cytoplasm ad stimulate ACC-oxidase activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.405-410
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• 1994

The present study was undetertaken to demonstrate whether or not angiotensin II activates a phopholipase D in rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells. By measuring the formation of [$^3H$] phosphatidic acid and [$^3H$]diacylglycerol. This result suggests that some phosphatidic acid seems to be formed directly from phosphatidylcholin by the action of phopholipase D, not from the action of diacylglycerol kinase on the diacylglycerol. In addition the other mechanisms by which phospholipase D is activated was examined. We have found that phospholipase D was activited by extracellular calium ion. It has also been shown that angiotensin II may activate phosphoilpase D through protein kinase C-independent pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.213-220
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• 2016

Mast cells are primary mediators of allergic inflammation. Beta-1,3-glucan (BG) protects against infection and shock by activating immune cells. Activation of the BG receptor induces an increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, which may induce exocytosis. However, little is known about the precise mechanisms underlying BG activation of immune cells and the possible role of mitochondria in this process. The present study examined whether BG induced mast cell degranulation, and evaluated the role of calcium transients during mast cell activation. Our investigation focused on the role of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) in BG-induced degranulation. Black mouse (C57) bone marrow-derived mast cells were stimulated with $0.5{\mu}g/ml$ BG, $100{\mu}g/ml$ peptidoglycan (PGN), or $10{\mu}M$ A23187 (calcium ionophore), and dynamic changes in cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium and membrane potential were monitored. BG-induced mast cell degranulation occurred in a time-dependent manner, and was significantly reduced under calcium-free conditions. Ruthenium red, a mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$ uniporter blocker, significantly reduced mast cell degranulation induced by BG, PGN, and A23187. These results suggest that the mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$ uniporter has an important regulatory role in BG-induced mast cell degranulation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.133-139
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• 1998

We have studied an activation mechanism of $pp60^{c-src}$ protein tyroslne kinase (PTK) by ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ (G-$Rg_1$ ) in NIH(pMcsrc/foc)B c-src overexpressor cells. It was previously reported that G--$Rg_1$ stimulated the activation of c-src kinase at 20 pM with a 18 hr-incubation, increasing the activity by 2-4-fold over that of untreated control, and this effect was blocked by treatments of in- hibitors of either protein synthesis (cycloheximide) or RNA synthesis (actinomycin D) (Hong, H.Y. et at. Arch. Pharm. Res. 16, 114 (1993)). However, an amount of c-src protein itself in wild-type cells was not changed by G-$Rg_1$. When the cells mutated at one or two tyrosine residue(s) (Y416/527) that are important sites to regulate the kinase activity were treated with G-$Rg_1$, increases both in the activity of c-src kinase and in the expression of the protein were not observed. In addition, removal of extracellular calcium ion by EGTA or inhibition of PKC by H-7 canceled the G-$Rg_1$-induced activation of the kinase. Although the activation was little affected by G-$Rg_1$ with a calcium ionophore A23187, it was synergistically stimulated by treatment of G-Rgl and PMA, a PKC activator. Taken together, these results suggest that the activation of c-src kinase by G-$Rg_1$ is caused by an increase in the specific activity of the kinase, but not in amount of it, and is involved with both collular calcium ion and PKC. Further the increase in the specific activity of c-src kinase may result from altered phosphorylation at tyro-416 and -527.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.251-260
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• 1998

It is well known that the clinical test for responsibility of accurate fertilization capacity in male partners is very important to diagnose and treat the infertility. However, it has been reported that the traditional semen analysis cannot accurately predict fertilization and pregnancy potential. The present study was performed to evaluate the acrosomal reaction to ionophore challenge (ARIC) test as a prognostic indicator for fertilization of sperm and oocyte in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program. From March 1996 to Februry 1997, 30 couples undergoing IVF program were allocated to this study group. All female partners in the study group were 35 years old or less and their serum level of basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol $(E_2)$ were normal. All the male partners have normal parameters of semen analysis. The ARIC tests were performed on the day of ovum pick up and in vitro insemination in all the male partners. The controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using luteal long protocol of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist was used in all couples for IVF-ET. The acrosomal reaction with $10{\mu}l$ of 10% DMSO was induced spontaneously in $10.1{\pm}9.8%$, and acrosomal reaction with calcium ionophore A 23187 was induced in $27.4{\pm}18.1%$, and the ARIC value was $17.4{\pm}16.2%$. There were no significant correlation between the ARIC value and the fertilization rate ($r^2$=0.044, p=0.268). There were also no significant correlation between the ARIC value and the percentage of the grade I, II embryos ($r^2$=0.046, p=0.261). On the basis of above results, it was suggested that ARIC test might not be a useful prognostic indicator for fertilization in IVF-ET in male partners with normal parameters of conventional semen analysis. We guessed that IVF-ET could be performed to the patients primarily without universal appilcation of ARIC test to all male partenrs, and if fertilization failure occurs, the micro assisted fertilization (MAF) such as intracytoplsmic sperm injection (ICSI) might be used as an alternative mode of treatment with acceptable success rate.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.165-174
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• 1993

$Ca^{2+}$ is an important regulator of neurite elongation and growth cone movements but the mechanism(s) mediating these $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ effects is unclear. Since cytoskeletal proteins are rapidly degraded by $Ca^{2+}-dependent $ proteinases (calpains) in vitro and in vivo, we investigated whether $Ca^{2+}-induced$ pruning or regression of neuronal processes is mediated by calpains. Isolated hippocampal pyramidal-like neurons were cultured and the ability of the membrane-permeable calpain inhibitors EST (etyl (+)-(2S,3S)-3-[(S)-methyl-1-(3-methlbutylcarbamoyl)-butylcarbamoyl]2-oxiranecarboxylate) and MDL28170 (carbobenzoxyl-Val-Phe-H) to block the $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore A23187-induced suppression in neurite outgrowth was investigated. Addition of 100 nM A23187 to the culture medium resulted in a retraction of dendrites without altering axonal elongation. The addition of 300 nM A23187 to the culture medium resulted in a signiciant decrease in the rate of axonal elongation as well as a retraction of dendritic processes. Administration of EST $(5\;or\;20{\mu}M)$ to the culture medium completely blocked the pruning effect of 100 nM A23187 on dendrites and of 300 nM A23187 on axons, while EST alone did not significantly affect neurite outgrowth rate. MDL 28170 $(20\;{\mu}M)$ showed the same effect as EST in preventing ionophore-induced pruning of dendrites and axons at 100 nM and 300 nM concentrations, respectively, of A23187. EST $(20\;{\mu}M)$ did not block the A23187-induced rise of $[Ca^{2+}]_{i}$ as measured with fura-2. These results show that $Ca^{2+}-induced$ pruning of neurites in isolated hippocampal pyramidal neurons is mediated by calpains.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.25-34
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• 2003

Human thrombopoietin (hTPO) is a cytokine that plays a central role in megakaryopoiesis. To direct hTPO expression in the mammary gland, an expression vector was constructed by combining the promoter of bovine beta-casein gene, cDNA of hTPO and neomycin resistance gene (pBT-L neo). Fibroblast cells derived from cow's ear skin tissue were transfected with the expression vector (pBT-L neo) using Lipofectamine. Transfected cells resistant to G418 trea？nt were cultured to form the colonies for more than 2 weeks. The transformed colonies identified by PCR were further expanded prior to nuclear transfer. Reconstructed oocytes with transformed cells were electrofused, activated using calcium ionophore and 6-DMAP, and cultured in vitro for 7 days. Of 35 cell colonies analyzed by PCR, 29 colonies (82.9%) were positive for the hTPO gene. Cleavage and developmental rates to the blastocyst stage of reconstructed embryos with the transformed cells were 65.1% and 23.8%, respectively Of 29 blastocysts that developed from reconstructed embryos with the transformed cells, 27 embryos (93.1%) were transgenic. These results indicate that transgenic bovine embryos can be efficiently produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer using transformed cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 1994

The occurrence and time course of capacitation, acrosomal loss, and hyperactivated motility require quantitative definition in order to characterize fertile human sperm. Recently the method has been developed to estimate the quality of spermatozoa by using kinematic parameters such as curvilinear velocity(VCL), average path velocity(VAP), linearity(LIN), straightness(STR), amplitude of lateral head displacement(ALH), and beat cross frequence(BCF) from Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). In this study, using the Hamilton Thorn motility analyzer HTM 2030(Hamilton Thorn Research, Beverly, MA), we attempted to identify the spermatozoa with hyperactivated motility (HA) objectively and to monitor hyperactivation of human spermatozoa during incubation in capacitating media and after treatment of calcium ionophore as compared with acrosome status. And we examined whether HA are related to the result of SPA. Semen samples obtained from 16 healthy men were prepared by swim up technique and preincubated in a capacitating media(modified BWW medium) for 5 hours and treated with calcium ionophore solution. The acrosome reaction was detected with PSA-FITC labelling of the acrosome and in vitro sperm ferilizing capacity was assessed by the zona free hamster ovum penetration assay (SPA). The incidence of hyperactivated sperm was 2.6% in fresh semen, 14.3% of the swim up population, 13.7% after 5h of incubation. Significant increase of percentage of hyperactivated sperm was observed after the incubation (p<0.05) but after treatment, no significant changes of percentage of hyperactivated sperm(l1.8%) in contrast to significant rise in the percentage of acrosome reacted cells. Correlation analysis failed to show any significant relationship between the percentage of sperm with HA and SPA score. In conclusion, although no direct correlations were found between the results of SPA and HA, hyperactivation of sperm is associated with capacitation and monitoring hyperactivated sperm will be expected as a method of evaluating the functional quality of sperm such as SPA.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.289-299
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• 2004

Background : Although the pathophysiology of asthma has been reported, its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The mast cell is an effector cells in allergic inflammation and secretes a number of chemokines. Chemokines are important for the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of infection, which is essential in host defense. Chemokines also contribute to the pathogenesis of several disorders such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Objective : In this study, the aim was to identify the effect of Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) on expression of chemokines. This was examined by RT-PCR using the human mast cell line (HMC-l) Materials and Methods : HMC-l cells were used, which is known to secrete and express chemokines. In order to investigate the protective effect of Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯), HMC-l cells were incubated with pretreatment of Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) for 24 hrs. RT-PCR analyses of chemokine genes of cells pretreated with Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) showed that expressions of IL-8, $MIP-l{\beta}$, and RANTES genes in these cells were lower and $MIP-l{\alpha}$ showed a similar pattern compared to the calcium ionophore-treated group. In addition, cell cytotoxicity concentration measurements were performed by MTT assay method. Results : After stimulation with 1 uM calcium ionophore A23178 for 2 hrs, IL-8, major one of CXC chemokines, was highly expressed, and expression of $MIP-l{\beta}$ and RANTES (CC chemokines) increased, while expression of $MIP-l{\alpha}$ did not change. The cell cytotoxicity of Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) with treatments at various concentrations and times was not observed, respectively. Conclusion : This study suggests that Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) has dose-dependent effects on mRNA expression of IL-8(CXC chemokines), $MIP-l{\beta}$ and RANTES(CC chemokines) in human mast cellline(HMC-l). So these herbal medicines may inhibit the inflammatory process of asthma. Advanced studies are required to investigate the mechanism of inhibition by herbal medicine in the asthma model. This study provides basic data on the possibility of the clinical treatment of Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) for allergic disorders.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.590-596
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• 2016

This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant activities of the ethanol extracts (GBE) of grape branches (Campbell Early). The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of GBE was $201.42{\pm}4.16$ and $11.85{\pm}0.44mg\;GAE/g$, respectively. The antioxidant activity of GBE was measured using the ABTS and DPPH assays, and the $IC_{50}$ values were $45.60{\pm}0.09$ and $299.13{\pm}0.22$, respectively. GBE inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, iNOS, $PGE_2$, COX-2, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, GBE treatment significantly suppressed the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 cytokines in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated HMC-1 human mast cells. Furthermore, the administration of GBE markedly inhibited the scratching behavior induced by the compound 48/80 in ICR mice. These results suggested that GBE has potential as a therapeutic agent against inflammation and itch-related skin diseases.