• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.657-665
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• 2006

We recently reported that dimethylsphingosine (DMS), a metabolite of sphingolipids, increased intracellular pH and $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in U937 human monocytes. In the present study, we found that dimethylphytosphingosine (DMPH) induced the above responses more robustly than DMS. However, phytosphingosine, monomethylphytosphingosine or trimethylsphingosine showed little or no activity. Synthetic C3 deoxy analogues of sphingosine did show similar activities, with the C16 analogue more so than C18. The following structure-activity relationships were observed between DMS derivatives and the intracellular pH and $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations in U937 monocytes; 1) dimethyl modification is important for the DMS-induced increase of intracellular pH and $Ca^{2+}$, 2) the addition of an OH group on C4 enhances both activities, 3) the deletion of the OH group on C3 has a negligible effect on the activities, and 4) C16 appears to be more effective than C18. We also found that W-7, a calmodulin inhibitor, blocked the DMS-induced pH increase, whereas, KN-62, ML9, and MMPX, specific inhibitors for calmodulin-dependent kinase II, myosin light chain kinase, and $Ca^{2+}$-calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase, respectively, did not affect DMS-induced increases of pH in the U937 monocytes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.479-487
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• 2000

Several recent studies demonstrate that receptor-mediated cAMP (adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate) production evokes marked change in magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$) homeostasis. The effects of dimaprit or/and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors on the $Mg^{2+}$ release from perfused guinea pig heart and collagenase-dispersed myocytes was studied to clarify an association of $H_2-histaminergic$ receptor-mediated $Mg^{2+}$ regulation with intracellular cAMP-degradation system. $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was stimulated in perfused hearts and myocytes by IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine), a calmodulin-sensitive PDE inhibitor, but not by RO 20-1724(4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone) or papaverine, cAMP-specific PDE inhibitors. $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was also be induced by dimaprit, a H-2-agonist. $Mg^{2+}$ effluxes induced by dimaprit were augmented by the presence of the PDE inhibitors. The augmentation of dimaprit-induced $Mg^{2+}$ effluxes by the PDE inhibitors were inhibited by ranitidine, a $H_2-antagonist$, and imipramine, a $Na^{+}-Mg^{2+}$ exchange inhibitor, in perfused hearts and myocytes and were also inhibited by amiloride in perfused hearts. These results suggest that the $H_2$-stimulated $Mg^{2+}$ effluxes from guinea pig heart can be regulated by the cytosolic nonspecific-dependent PDE systems and that it is induced by the $Na^{+}-Mg^{2+}$ exchanger stimulation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2000

To investigate the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores, we measured isometric contraction and $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx. $CaCl_2$ increased $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying- induced contraction in dose-dependent manner, but phospholipase C activity was not affected by the $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying-induced contraction. The contraction was inhibited by voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists dose dependently, but not by TMB-8 (intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blocker). Both PKC inhibitors (H-7 and staurosporine) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamic acid) significantly inhibited the contraction, but calmodulin antagonists (W-7 and trifluoperazine) had no inhibitory effect on the contraction. The combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were greater than that of each one alone. In $Ca^{2+}$ store-emptied condition, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx was significantly inhibited by verapamil, H-7 or genistein but not by trifluoperazine. However combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were not observed. Therefore, this kinase pathway may modulate the sensitivity of contractile protein. These results suggest that contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores was mediated by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel, also protein kinase C and/or tyrosine kinase pathway modulates the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile protein.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 1997

The regulatory role of cyclic nucleotides in the expression of neutrophil responses has been examined. fMLP-stimulated superoxide production in neutrophils was inhibited by dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (DBcAMP), histamine, adenosine + theophylline, cAMP elevating agents, and 8-bromoguanosine 3' ,5' -cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcGMP) and sodium nitroprusside, cGMP elevating agents. Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, genistein, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor and chlorpromazine, a calmodulin inhibitor, inhibited superoxide production by fMLP, but they did not further affect the action of DBcAMP on the stimulatory action of fMLP. DBcAMP, histamine, adenosine+theophylline and genistein inhibited myeloperoxidease release evoked by fMLP, whereas BrcGMP, sodium nitroprusside and staurosporine did not affect it. The elevation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ evoked by fMLP was inhibited by genistein and chlorpromazine but was not affected by staurosporine. DBcAMP exerted little effect on the initial peak in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ response to fMLP but effectively inhibited the sustained rise. On the other hand, BrcGMP significantly inhibited both phases. fMLP-induced $Mn^{2+}$ influx was inhibited by either DBcAMP or BrcGMP. These results suggest that fMLP-stimulated neutrophil responses may be regulated by cAMP more than cGMP. cAMP and cGMP appear not affect stimulated responses by direct protein kinase C activation. Their regulatory action on the stimulated neutrophil responses may be not influenced by other activation processes.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.508-514
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• 2013

2Department of Marine Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University Recently, we reported that diarylheptanoid hirsutenone (HST) effectively inactivated T lymphocytes. However, it has not been evaluated whether HST is involved in calcineurin or calmodulin inactivation. In the present study, cells were treated with T-cell inhibitors with or without HST. Our results revealed that HST successfully inhibited expression of T-helper type I (Th1) and Th2 cytokines. Co-treatment with HST and nuclear factor-activated T cell (NFAT) activation inhibitor III (INCA-6) showed a more sensitive effect than that with other inhibitors, suggesting that HST contributes to inhibition of dephosphorylation of NFAT in the cytosol. HST up-regulated cell cycle arrest genes and inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. These effects were confirmed in an NFAT electrophoretic-mobility shift assay via successful inhibition of NFAT translocation and in the histological recovery in a 2,4-dinitrochloro benzene-induced in vivo model. Taken together, HST was shown to effectively inhibit T-cell activation via inhibition of cytosolic NFAT dephosphorylation, similar to INCA-6.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.220-227
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• 2004

In N-type $Ca^{2＋}$ channels, the mechanism of inactivation - decline of inward current during a depolarizing voltage step- is still controversial between voltage-dependent inactivation and $Ca^{2＋}$ -dependent inactivation. In the previous paper we demonstrated that fast component of inactivation of N-type calcium channels does not involve classic $Ca^{2＋}$ -dependent mechanism and the slowly inactivating component could result from a $Ca^{2＋}$ -dependent process. However, there should be signal transduction pathway which enhances inactivation no matter what the inactivation mechanism is. We have investigated the effect of phosphorylation on calcium channels of rat sympathetic neurons. Intracellular dialysis with the phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid markedly enhanced the inactivation. The rapidly inactivating component is N-type calcium current, which is blocked by $\omega$-conotoxin GVIA. Staurosporine, a nonselective protein kinase inhibitor, prevented the action of okadaic acid, suggesting that protein phosphorylation is involved. More specifically lavendustin C, inhibitor of CaM kinase II, prevented the action of okadaic acid, suggesting that calmodulin dependent pathway is involved in inactivation process. It is not certain to this point whether phosphorylation process is inactivation itself. Molecular biological research regarding binding site should be followed to address the question of how the divalent cation binding site is related to phoshorylation process.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 1999

We investigated the role of $Ca^{2+}$ and protein kinases/phosphatases in the stimulatory effect of insulin on glucose transport. In isolated rat adipocytes, the simple omission of $CaCl_2$ from the incubation medium significantly reduced, but did not abolish, insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy glucose (2-DG) uptake. Pre-loading adipocytes with intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, 5,5'-dimethyl bis (o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N'N' tetraacetic acetoxymethyl ester (5,5'-dimethyl BAPTA/AM) completely blocked the stimulation. Insulin raised intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ about 1.7 times the basal level of $72{\pm}5$ nM, and 5,5'-dimethyl BAPTA/AM kept it constant at the basal level. This correlation between insulin-induced increases in 2-DG uptake and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ indicates that the elevation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ may be prerequisite for the stimulation of glucose transport. Studies with inhibitors (ML-9, KN-62, cyclosporin A) of $Ca^{2+}-calmodulin$ dependent protein kinases/phosphatases also indicate an involvement of intracellular $Ca^{2+}.$ Additional studies with okadaic acid and calyculin A, protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) and 2A (PP-2A) inhibitors, indicate an involvement of PP-1 in insulin action on 2-DG uptake. These results indicate an involvement of $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ signaling pathway in insulin action on glucose transport.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2003

To investigate the effect of protein kinase on melanin production via cAMP-dependent pathway, we measured the melanin amount and tyrosinase activity in B16 melanoma cells stimulated by alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH), forskolin and 8-Br-cAMP. MSH, forskolin and 8-Br-cAMP significantly increased both melanin production and tyrosinase activity in B16 cells. Melanin production and tyrosinase activity by MSH are significantly inhibited by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor (KT5720) and protein kinase C down-regulation treated with PMA. Bisindolmaleimide (1$\mu$M), protein kinase C inhibitor, significantly inhibited melanin production and tyrosinase activity stimulated by MSH, forskolin and 8-Br-cAMP with the following order of potency: MSH＞forskolin＞8-Br-cAMP. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein and DHC, significantly inhibited both, but the inhibitory effect was more potent in 8-Br-cAMP-stimulated B16 cells than MSH-stimulated cells. NFkB inhibitor (parthenolide) significantly inhibited melanin production and tyrosinase activity. Neither melanin production nor tyrosinase activity induced by MSH, forskolin and 8-Br-cAMP were affected by KN-62 (calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor), PD098059 (mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, MAPKK) and worthmannin (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor). These results suggest that both protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase are involved in melanin production by cyclic AMP-dependent pathway and NFkB pathway may play an important role in cyclic AMP-dependent melanin production in B16 melanoma cells.

• 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 Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.243-250
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• 1995

Involvement of calcium in signal transduction of salt stress was investigated in 1.7 M NaCl adapted Dunaliella salina, extremely halotolerant, unicellular green alga. When hyperosmotic (3.4 M NaCl) or Hypoosmotic (0.8 M NaCl) stress was treated, extracellular calcium was influxed in or intracellular calcium effluxed from D. salina, respectively, and these fluxes were proportional to the degree of stress. This might indicate indirectly that the change of calcium level occurred within the cells. In addition, the change of calcium flux was ahead of glycerol synthesis which has been known as the physiological response to salt stress. Osmoregulation was affected byextracellular calcium concentration, and increase of glycerol content as an osmoticum was inhibited about 50% by treatment of TFP and W-7 known as calmodulin specific inhibitors. Furthermore, in the case of the hyperosmotic stressed cells, the amount of 21 kD and 39 kD protein appeared to be calcium binding protein were increased. Among these, the 39 kD protein was detected only in the hyperosmotic stressed cells. The results obtained in the present work suggest that the possibility of calcium as a second messenger in the transduction of salt stress signal exists in the osmoregulation system of D. salina.