• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.107-112
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• 2007

Gap junction protein, connexin, is expressed in endothelial cells of vessels, glomerulus, and renin secreting cells of the kidney. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of gap junction in renin secretion and its underlying mechanisms using As 4.1 cell line, a renin-expressing clonal cell line. Renin release was increased proportionately to incubation time. The specific gap junction inhibitor, 18-beta glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) increased renin release in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners. Heptanol and octanol, gap junction blockers, also increased renin release, which were less potent than GA. GA-stimulated renin release was attenuated by pretreatment of the cells with amiloride, nifedipine, ryanodine, and thapsigargin. GA dose-dependently increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, which was attenuated by nifedipine, nimodipine, ryanodine, and thapsigargin. However, RP-cAMP, chelerythrine, tyrphostin A23, or phenylarsine oxide did not induced any significant change in GA-stimulated increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. These results suggest that gap junction plays an important role on the regulation of renin release and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in As 4.1 cells.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

In the present study, we investigated the role of peripheral ionotropic receptors in artemin-induced thermal hyperalgesia in the orofacial area. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 230 to 280 g were used in the study. Under anesthesia, a polyethylene tube was implanted in the subcutaneous area of the vibrissa pad, which enabled drug-injection. After subcutaneous injection of artemin, changes in air-puff thresholds and head withdrawal latency time were evaluated. Subcutaneous injection of artemin (0.5 or $1{\mu}g$) produced significant thermal hyperalgesia in a dose-dependent manner. However, subcutaneous injection of artemin showed no effect on air-puff thresholds. IRTX ($4{\mu}g$), a TRPV1 receptor antagonist, D-AP5 (40 or $80{\mu}g$), an NMDA receptor antagonist, or NBQX (20 or $40{\mu}g$), an AMPA receptor antagonist, was injected subcutaneously 10 min prior to the artemin injection. Pretreatment with IRTX and D-AP5 significantly inhibited the artemin-induced thermal hyperalgesia. In contrast, pretreatment with both doses of NBQX showed no effect on artemin-induced thermal hyperalgesia. Moreover, pretreatment with H-89, a PKA inhibitor, and chelerythrine, a PKC inhibitor, decreased the artemin-induced thermal hyperalgesia. These results suggested that artemin-induced thermal hyperalgesia is mediated by the sensitized peripheral TRPV1 and NMDA receptor via activation of protein kinases.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.998-1005
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• 2006

The effects of imipramine on A-type delayed rectifier $K^{+}$ currents and ATP-sensitive $K^{+}\;(K_{ATP)$ currents were studied in isolated murine proximal colonic myocytes using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Depolarizing test pulses between-80 mV and +30 mV with 10 mV increments from the holding potential of-80 mV activated voltage-dependent outward $K^{+}$ currents that peaked within 50 ms followed by slow decreasing sustained currents. Early peak currents were inhibited by the application of 4-aminopyridine, whereas sustained currents were inhibited by the application of TEA. The peak amplitude of A-type delayed rectifier $K^{+}$ currents was reduced by external application of imipramine. The half-inactivation potential and the half-recovery time of A-type delayed rectifier $K^{+}$ currents were not changed by imipramine. With 0.1 mM ATP and 140 mM $K^{+}$ in the pipette and 90 mM $K^{+}$ in the bath solution and a holding potential of -80 mV, pinacidil activated inward currents; this effect was blocked by glibenclamide. Imipramine also inhibited $K_{ATP}$ currents. The inhibitory effects of imipramine in A-type delayed rectifier $K^{+}$ currents and $K_{ATP}$ currents were not changed by guanosine 5-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) ($GDP{\beta}S$) and chelerythrine, a protein kinase C inhibitor. These results suggest that imipramine inhibits A-type delayed rectifier $K^{+}$ currents and $K_{ATP}$ currents in a manner independent of G-protein and protein kinase C.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.237-243
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• 2006

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neuromodulator of nociceptive responses in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord. BDNF synthesis increases in response to nerve growth factor (NGF) in trkA-expressing small and medium-sized DRG neurons after inflammation. Previously we demonstrated differential activation of multiple BDNF promoters in the DRG following peripheral nerve injury and inflammation. Using reporter constructs containing individual promoter regions, we investigated the effect of NGF on the multiple BDNF promoters, and the signaling pathway by which NGF activates these promoters in PC12 cells. Although all the promoters were activated 2.4-7.1-fold by NGF treatment, promoter IV gave the greatest induction. The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, SB203580, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) inhibitor, LY294003, protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H89, and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, chelerythrine, had no effect on activation of promoter IV by NGF. However, activation was completely abolished by the MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitors, U0126 and PD98059. In addition, these inhibitors blocked NGF-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2. Taken together, these results suggest that the ERK1/2 pathway activates BDNF promoter IV in response to NGF independently of NGF-activated signaling pathways involving PKA and PKC.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2008

Although many studies show that thromboxane $A_2\;(TXA_2)$ has the action of gastrointestinal (GI) motility using GI muscle cells and tissue, there are no reports on the effects of $TXA_2$ on interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) that function as pacemaker cells in GI tract. So, we studied the modulation of pacemaker activities by $TXA_2$ in ICC with whole cell patch-clamp technique. Externally applied $TXA_2\;(5{\mu}M)$ produced membrane depolarization in current-clamp mode and increased tonic inward pacemaker currents in voltage-clamp mode. The tonic inward currents by $TXA_2$ were inhibited by intracellular application of GDP-${\beta}$-S. The pretreatment of ICC with $Ca^{2+}$ free solution and thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in endoplasmic reticulum, abolished the generation of pacemaker currents and suppressed the $TXA_2$-induced tonic inward currents. However, chelerythrine or calphostin C, protein kinase C inhibitors, did not block the $TXA_2$-induced effects on pacemaker currents. These results suggest that $TXA_2$ can regulate intestinal motility through the modulation of ICC pacemaker activities. This modulation of pacemaker activities by $TXA_2$ may occur by the activation of G protein and PKC independent pathway via extra and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ modulation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2008

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a metabolite of membrane phospholipids by phospholipase $A_2$, has been considered responsible for the development of abnormal vascular reactivity during atherosclerosis. $Ca^{2+}$ influx was shown to be augmented in atherosclerotic artery which might be responsible for abnormal vascular reactivity. However, the mechanism underlying $Ca^{2+}$ influx change in atherosclerotic artery remains undetermined. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of LPC on L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current $(I_{Ca(L)})$ activity and to elucidate the mechanism of LPC-induced change of $I_{Ca(L)}$ in rabbit portal vein smooth muscle cells using whole cell patch clamp. Extracellular application of LPC increased $I_{Ca(L)}$ through whole test potentials, and this effect was readily reversed by washout. Steady state voltage dependency of activation or inactivation properties of $I_{Ca(L)}$ was not significantly changed by LPC. Staurosporine (100 nM) or chelerythrine $(3{\mu}M)$, which is a potent inhibitor of PKC, significantly decreased basal $I_{Ca(L)}$, and LPC-induced increase of $I_{Ca(L)}$ was significantly suppressed in the presence of PKC inhibitors. On the other hand, application of PMA, an activator of PKC, increased basal $I_{Ca(L)}$ significantly, and LPC-induced enhancement of $I_{Ca(L)}$ was abolished by pretreatment of the cells with PMA. These findings suggest that LPC increased $I_{Ca(L)}$ in vascular smooth muscle cells by a pathway that involves PKC, and that LPC-induced increase of $I_{Ca(L)}$ might be, at least in part, responsible for increased $Ca^{2+}$ influx in atherosclerotic artery.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2005

배 경: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)은 양의 시상하부에서 추출된 신경펩타이드 호르몬으로 난소에도 존재하여 배양된 과립막 세포에서 스테로이드합성과 cyclic AMP 형성을 촉진함이 보고되었다. 목 적: 흰쥐 난소를 실험 모델로 사용하여 배란시 황체화호르몬 (luteinizing hormone; LH)에 의해 유도된 PACAP과 PACAP 수용체의 유전자 발현양상과 신호 전달경로를 규명하고자 하였다. 재료 및 방법: 미성숙 흰쥐의 배란전 난포를 체외 배양하면서 LH로 처리하고 PACAP 및 PACAP수용체의 유전자 발현을 보기 위해서는 Northern blot 분석과 in situ hybridization (ISH)을, 그리고 단백질 수준의 PACAP 검색을 위해서는 enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 분석을 이용하였다. 결 과: LH 처리 후 Northern blot상의 PACAP 유전자 발현은 6~9시간에 일시적으로 최고치에 도달하였으며 ISH로 보아 과립막 세포에서 발현됨을 알 수 있었다. ELISA 분석 상 PACAP 단백질도 LH처리 후 6~12시간에 최고치를 나타내었으며, PACAP 수용체 mRNA 역시 3~9시간에 최고치로 과립막 세포에서 발현되었다. Adenylate cyclase (AC) 억제제인 MDL12330A 처리시 LH로 발현된 PACAP mRNA가 감소되며, AC의 활성제인 forskolin 처리에는 LH시와 유사한 PACAP mRNA의 발현양상을 나타내었다. 그러나 protein kinase C (PKC)의 억제제인 chelerythrine과 2-0-tetradecanolphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) 처리로는 PACAP 의 유전자 발현에 영향을 주지 못하였다. 5-lipoxygenase의 억제제인 MK886이나 nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)로 처리한 결과 LH로 유도된 PACAP 유전자의 발현이 감소되었으나, cyclooxygenase의 억제제인 indomethacin은 별로 영향을 주지 못하였다. MEK와 p38의 억제제인 PD98059와 SB203580도 LH로 촉진 된 PACAP의 유전자 발현을 농도 의존적으로 억제하였다. 결 론 : 배란전 난포에서 PACAP과 PACAP 수용체의 유전자 발현은 모두 LH의 폭발적 분비에 의해 유도되어 일시적으로 과립막 세포에서 나타나 배란을 위한 국소적인 조절 작용을 할 것으로 추정되며, LH로 촉진된 PACAP 유전자 발현을 위한 신호전달은 cAMP-PKA, lipoxygenase 및 MAP kinase 경로를 통하는 것으로 사료된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2019

Most diabetic patients experience diabetic mellitus (DM) urinary bladder dysfunction. A number of studies evaluate bladder smooth muscle contraction in DM. In this study, we evaluated the change of bladder smooth muscle contraction between normal rats and DM rats. Furthermore, we used pharmacological inhibitors to determine the differences in the signaling pathways between normal and DM rats. Rats in the DM group received an intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin and measured blood glucose level after 14 days to confirm DM. Bladder smooth muscle contraction was induced using acetylcholine (ACh, $10^{-4}M$). The materials such as, atropine (a muscarinic receptor antagonist), U73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor), DPCPX (an adenosine $A_1$ receptor antagonist), udenafil (a PDE5 inhibitor), prazosin (an ${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist), papaverine (a smooth muscle relaxant), verapamil (a calcium channel blocker), and chelerythrine (a protein kinase C inhibitor) were pre-treated in bladder smooth muscle. We found that the DM rats had lower bladder smooth muscle contractility than normal rats. When prazosin, udenafil, verapamil, and U73122 were pre-treated, there were significant differences between normal and DM rats. Taken together, it was concluded that the change of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release mediated by PLC/IP3 and PDE5 activity were responsible for decreased bladder smooth muscle contractility in DM rats.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.449-454
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• 2023

Free-living amoebae (FLA) rarely cause human infections but can invoke fatal infections in the central nervous system (CNS). No consensus treatment has been established for FLA infections of the CNS, emphasizing the urgent need to discover or develop safe and effective drugs. Flavonoids, natural compounds from plants and plant-derived products, are known to have antiprotozoan activities against several pathogenic protozoa parasites. The anti-FLA activity of flavonoids has also been proposed, while their antiamoebic activity for FLA needs to be emperically determined. We herein evaluated the antiamoebic activities of 18 flavonoids against Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba species which included A. castellanii and A. polyphaga. These flavonoids showed different profiles of antiamoebic activity against N. fowleri and Acanthamoeba species. Demethoxycurcumin, kaempferol, resveratrol, and silybin (A+B) showed in vitro antiamoebic activity against both N. fowleri and Acanthamoeba species. Apigenin, costunolide, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, rosmarinic acid, and (-)-trans-caryophyllene showed selective antiamoebic activity for Acanthamoeba species. Luteolin was more effective for N. fowleri. However, afzelin, berberine, (±)-catechin, chelerythrine, genistein, (+)-pinostrobin, and quercetin did not exhibit antiamoebic activity against the amoeba species. They neither showed selective antiamoebic activity with significant cytotoxicity to C6 glial cells. Our results provide a basis for the anti-FLA activity of flavonoids, which can be applied to develope alternative or supplemental therapeutic agents for FLA infections of the CNS.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2010

We have shown that myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) was required for the off-contraction in response to the electrical field stimulation (EFS) of feline esophageal smooth muscle. In this study, we investigated whether protein kinase C (PKC) may require the on-contraction in response to EFS using feline esophageal smooth muscle. The contractions were recorded using an isometric force transducer. On-contraction occurred in the presence of $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), suggesting that nitric oxide acts as an inhibitory mediator in smooth muscle. The excitatory composition of both contractions was cholinergic dependent which was blocked by tetrodotoxin or atropine. The on-contraction was abolished in $Ca^{2+}$-free buffer but reappeared in normal $Ca^{2+}$-containing buffer indicating that the contraction was $Ca^{2+}$ dependent. 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), voltage-dependent $K^+$ channel blocker, significantly enhanced on-contraction. Aluminum fluoride (a G-protein activator) increased on-contraction. Pertussis toxin (a $G_i$ inactivator) and C3 exoenzyme (a rhoA inactivator) significantly decreased on-contraction suggesting that Gi or rhoA protein may be related with $Ca^{2+}$ and $K^+$ channel. ML-9, a MLCK inhibitor, significantly inhibited on-contraction, and chelerythrine (PKC inhibitor) affected on the contraction. These results suggest that endogenous cholinergic contractions activated directly by low-frequency EFS may be mediated by $Ca^{2+}$, and G proteins, such as Gi and rhoA, which resulted in the activation of MLCK, and PKC to produce the contraction in feline distal esophageal smooth muscle.