• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.966-975
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• 2017

Excessive salt disrupts intracellular ion homeostasis and inhibits plant growth, which poses a serious threat to global food security. Plants have adapted various strategies to survive in unfavorable saline soil conditions. Here, we show that humic acid (HA) is a good soil amendment that can be used to help overcome salinity stress because it markedly reduces the adverse effects of salinity on Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. To identify the molecular mechanisms of HA-induced salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis, we examined possible roles of a sodium influx transporter HIGH-AFFINITY $K^+$ TRANSPORTER 1 (HKT1). Salt-induced root growth inhibition in HKT1 overexpressor transgenic plants (HKT1-OX) was rescued by application of HA, but not in wild-type and other plants. Moreover, salt-induced degradation of HKT1 protein was blocked by HA treatment. In addition, the application of HA to HKT1-OX seedlings led to increased distribution of $Na^+$ in roots up to the elongation zone and caused the reabsorption of $Na^+$ by xylem and parenchyma cells. Both the influx of the secondary messenger calcium and its cytosolic release appear to function in the destabilization of HKT1 protein under salt stress. Taken together, these results suggest that HA could be applied to the field to enhance plant growth and salt stress tolerance via post-transcriptional control of the HKT1 transporter gene under saline conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.91-102
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• 1992

In $Ca^{++}$ containing media, arachidonic acid markedly stimulated superoxide and $H_2O_2$ generation and activated NADPH oxidase. In $Ca^{++}$ free media, stimulatory action of arachidonic acid on NADPH oxidase was not detected. Arachidonic acid-stimulated respiratory burst was inhibited by EGTA, TMB-8, verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine, dibucaine, lidocaine, CCCP, 2,4-dinitrophenol, sodium arsenate, chlorpromazine, theophylline, $HgCl_2$, PCMB and PCMBSA but not affected by tetrodotoxin, tetraethylammonium chloride and procaine. EGTA almost completely inhibited release of ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ by arachidonic acid and verapamil, CCCP and theophylline slightly inhibited it, whereas dibucaine did not show any significant effect. Arachidonic acid induced $Ca^{++}$ release from intact neutrophils and it was decreased by TMB-8. Arachidonic acid-induced elevation of intracellular free $Ca^{++}$ level was inhibited by EGTA and CCCP and slightly inhibited by TMB-8. Amount of intracellular free $Ca^{++}$ increased by either arachidonic acid plus verapamil or arachidonic acid plus dibucaine was greater than that by arachidonic acid alone. These results suggest that various changes of biochemical events may be implicated in the functional expression in neutrophils activated by arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid appears to elevate cytosolic free $Ca^{++}$ level by stimulating $Ca^{++}$ release from intracellular $Ca^{++}$ storage sites. During activation of neutrophils, $Ca^{++}$ influx and efflux may be accomplished, simultaneously.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2006

Among poly aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin and PCBs are the most controversial environmental pollutants in our modern life. These pollutants are known as human carcinogens, and liver is the most sensitive target in animal cancer models. Specific aims of the study were focused on the mechanism of carcinogenesis in hepatocytes and the structure-activity relation among these diverse environmental chemicals. Because key mechanisms of dioxin-induced carcinogenesis in human epithelial cell model are the alteration of signal transduction pathway and PKC isoforms, the alteration of the signal transduction pathways and other factors associated with carcinogenesis were studied. Rat hepatocytes cultured under the sandwich protocols were exposed with the various concentration of dioxins and PCBs, and signal transduction pathway, protein kinase C isoforms, oxidant stress, and apoptotic nuclei were evaluated. Since it is important to understand the structure-activity relation among these chemicals to properly assess the carcinogenic potentials, the study analyzed the parameters associated with carcinogenic processes, based on their structural characteristics. In addition, signal transduction pathways and PKC isoforms involved in inhibition of UV-induced apoptosis were also analyzed to elaborate the tumor promotion mechanism of these chemicals. Induction of apoptosis by UV irradiation was optimal at $60\;J/m^2$ in primary hepatocyte in culture. Compared to non coplanar PCBs such as PCB 114 and PCB 153, coplanar PCBs such as PCB 77 and PCB126 showed a stronger inhibition of apoptosis induced by UV irradiation. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was more stimulated by non-coplanar PCBs than coplanar PCBs with the most potent induction of ROS by chlorinated non-coplanar PCB. As compared to the level of induction by PCB126, non-coplanar PCB153 showed a higher increase of intracellular concentrations. Besides the alteration of intracellular calcium concentration, translocation of PKC from cytosolic fraction to membrane fraction was clearly observed upon the exposure of non-coplanar PCB. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that there is a potent structure-activity relationship among PCB congeners and the mechanism of PAH-induced carcinogenesis is structure-specific. The study suggested that more diverse pathways of PAH-induced carcinogenesis should be taken into account beyond the boundary of Ah receptor dogma to assess the health impact of PAH with more accuracy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.349-360
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• 2024

Oxidative stress contributes to the onset of chronic diseases in various organs, including muscles. Morroniside, a type of iridoid glycoside contained in Cornus officinalis, is reported to have advantages as a natural compound that prevents various diseases. However, the question of whether this phytochemical exerts any inhibitory effect against oxidative stress in muscle cells has not been well reported. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate whether morroniside can protect against oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in murine C2C12 myoblasts. Our results demonstrate that morroniside pretreatment was able to inhibit cytotoxicity while suppressing H₂O₂-induced DNA damage and apoptosis. Morroniside also significantly improved the antioxidant capacity in H₂O₂-challenged C2C12 cells by blocking the production of cellular reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxide and increasing glutathione production. In addition, H₂O₂-induced mitochondrial damage and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were effectively attenuated by morroniside pretreatment, inhibiting cytoplasmic leakage of cytochrome c and expression of ER stress-related proteins. Furthermore, morroniside neutralized H₂O₂-mediated calcium (Ca²⁺) overload in mitochondria and mitigated the expression of calpains, cytosolic Ca²⁺-dependent proteases. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that morroniside protected against mitochondrial impairment and Ca²⁺-mediated ER stress by minimizing oxidative stress, thereby inhibiting H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity in C2C12 myoblasts.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.295-305
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• 2001

Protein kinase C (PKC) is known to play a pivotal role in neoplastic transformation cells and its high expression is often found in a variety of types of tumors including oral cancer. While PKC is associated with the altered signal transduction pathway of the tumor cells, it is still unclear which isoform is involved in the carcinogenesis process. Since the cellular distributions and the roles of PKC are isoform-specific, it is very important to identify the specific target molecules to improve our understanding of the carcinogenesis processes. Thus, the present study attempted to perform chemical carcinogen-induced neoplastic transformation of human epithelial cells and analyze the specific isoform of PKCs involved in the cellular transformation. The study analyzed overall PKC responses upon MNNG(N-Methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso guanidine) exposure with [$^3H$] PDBu binding assay. PKC translocation was observed at high doses of MNNG treatment in the presence of extracellular calcium. Such effects were not observed in the absence of extracellular calcium. Translocational effects with exposure of MNNG was further enhanced in the presence of hydrocortisone. The result suggests that the type of PKC involved may be $Ca^{2+}$-dependent classical isoform and steroid hormone enhances PKC activation. Among cPKC isoforms examined, only $PKC-{\alpha}$ and r showed significant translocation of protein levels from cytosolic fraction to membrane fraction, as analyzed by immunoblot. $PKC-{\varepsilon}$ in nPKC class showed an inch·eased translocation, but other forms in this class did not show the effect. None of isoforms in aPKC class was affected by MNNG treatment. The study demonstrated that there was a certain specificity in the patterns of isoform induction follwong chemical carcinogen exposure and helped identify all the types of PKC isoforms expressed in human epithelial cells. It was revealed that PKC isoforms were activated in an early resonse to chemical carcinogen, suggesting that PKC be associated with carcinogenesis process from an early stage in this particular cell system. The study will contribute to improving our understanding of chemical-induced carcinogenesis in human cells and may provide a scientific basis to introduce the specific PKC inhibitors as an anticancer drug of epithelial cell-origin cancers including oral cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 1991

The inhibitory effects of GS354 and GS389 on cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ level ($[Ca^{2+}]_{1}$; measured with fura-2 fluorescence) and muscle tension in vascular smooth muscle of rat thoracic aorta were investigated. Both GS354 and GS389 inhibited the contractions induced by high $K^+$ or by norepinephrine. The vasodilator effect of GS354 was accompanied by a decrease in $[Ca^{2+}]_{1}$. The inhibitory effect on high $K^+-stimulated$ $[Ca^{2+}]_{1}$ was antagonized by a $Ca^{2+}$ channel activator, Bay K8644. However, the inhibitory effect on muscle tension was not antagonized by Bay K8644. These results suggest that GS354 inhibits $Ca^{2+}$ channels to decrease $[Ca^{2+}]_{1}$ and also decreases $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile elements. The inhibitory effects of GS389 was accompanied by the increase in tissue fluorescence. This increment was not due to fura-2 fluorescence but to endogeneous pyridine nucleotides, suggesting that GS389 has an effect to inhibit mitochondrial function. Because of this interference, effects of GS389 on $[Ca^{2+}]_{1}$ was obscured. However, since sequential addition of Bay K8644 in the presence of GS389 further increased the fluorescence but not muscle tension, this compound seems to have the effects to inhibit $Ca^{2+}$ channels and to decrease $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile elements.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2011

Calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) signals have been implicated in regulating plant development and responses to the environmental stresses including a programmed cell death pathway. In animals and plants, cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ signals have been involved in the activation of programmed cell death (PCD). Recently, we reported that disruption of Arabidopsis vacuolar $\b{A}$utoinhibited $\underline{C}a^{2+}$-$\b{A}$TPases (ACAs), ACA4 and ACA11, resulted in the activation of a salicylic acid-dependent programmed cell death pathway. Although extensive studies have revealed various components of a PCD in plants, executors to directly induce PCD are well unknown. Here, we provide that the vacuolar processing enzymes (VPEs) are involved in a PCD induced by the double knockout mutant of vacuolar $Ca^{2+}$-ATPases in Arabidopsis. The gene expression of VPE was rapidly up-regulated and the enzyme activity of VPE was increased in the double mutant plants. We also generated aca4/aca11/avpe, aca4/aca11/${\gamma}$vpe and aca4/aca11/avpe/${\gamma}$vpe mutant plants. Although cell death phenotype of the double mutant plants was not completely disappeared in the triple and quadruple mutant plants, the triple and quadruple mutant plants showed to significantly delay cell death phenotype of the double mutant plants. These results suggest that the VPE is involved in the HR-like cell death in the double mutant of vacuolar $Ca^{2+}$-ATPases in Arabidopsis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2003

We have shown the $Ca^{2+}$-activated chloride current is present in cardiac myocyte in rabbit pulmonary vein (Kim et al., 2002). This current amplitude was increased as [N $a^{+}$]$_{i}$ was increased and we suggested this chloride current may be involve in the spontaneous action potential frequency change. Since this current is activated by the increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, we would like to test what is the inducer of the increase of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ between a L-type $Ca^{2+}$-current or a reverse mode of N $a^{+}$-C $a^{2+}$ exchange current. White rabbit (1.5 kg) was used and anesthetized with Ketamin (100 mg/kg). Pulmonary vein (PV) was isolated and sleeve area between left atrium and PV was dissected. Using collagenase (Worthington 0.7 mg/cc), single cardiac myocytes were isolated. In the presence of 15 mM of N $a^{＋}$, three steps of voltage pulses were applied (holding potential : -40 ㎷, -80 ㎷ for 50 msec, 30 ㎷ for 5 msec, 10 ㎷ steps from -70 ㎷ to 60 ㎷). The inward and outward tail current was activated after brief 5 msec prepulse. The outward tail current was blocked by the removal of extracellular chloride substituted by glucuronic acid or by a chloride channel blocker, 5 mM 9-AC. But the inward tail current was still remained even though the amplitude was decreased. The reversal potentials were changed to the direction of the change of chloride equilibrium potential ( $E_{Cl}$ ) but the shift of equilibrium potential was not enough to match to the theoretical equilibrium potential shift. In the presence of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, nifedipine 1 uM, inward tail currents were greatly reduced but the outward current tail currents were still remained. In the presence of N $a^{+}$-C $a^{2+}$ exchange current blocker, 10 uM KB-R7943, the inward and outward tail currents were blocked almost completely. We tried to test the $Ca^{2+}$sensitivity of the chloride current with various [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ in pipette solution from 100 nM to 1 uM but we failed to activate $Ca^{2＋}$-activated chloride currents even though the cell became contracted in the presence of 1 uM $Ca^{2+}$. From these results, we could conclude that the increase of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ to activate the outward $Ca^{2+}$-activated chloride current was mainly induced by the activation of the reverse mode of N $a^{+}$-C $a^{2+}$ exchanger, But for the increase of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ to activate the inward tail current, L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current may be the major provoking current. Since the cytosolic increase of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ through pipette solution have failed to activate $Ca^{2+}$-activated chloride current, this chloride current may have very low $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity or a comparmental increase $Ca^{2+}$ such as in subsarcolemmal space may activate the chloride current. Since there are several reports and models that the increase of $Ca^{2+}$ in subsarcolemmal space would be over several to tens of uM, both possibility may be valid together.uM, both possibility may be valid together.