• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.147-153
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• 2004

The oocyte and its surrounding granulosa cells co-exist in a closed compartment called a follicle, although they receive many signals from other parts of the body. It is well established that the intercellular communications between the oocyte and granulosa cells are required for normal oocyte development and ovulation during folliculogenesis. Gap junctions are intercellular channels allowing the direct transmission of ions and small molecules between coupled cells. Several lines of studies have shown that multiple connexins (Cx, subunits of gap junction) are expressed in mammalian ovarian follicles. Among them, two major connexins Cx37 and Cx43 are expressed in different manner. While the gap junction channels formed by Cx37 are localized between the oocyte and encompassing granulosa cells, the intercellular channels by Cx43 are located between granulosa cells. In this review, I will summarize the general properties of gap junction channels and discuss their possible formation (or compatibility) of intercellular channels formed by the oocyte and granulosa cells.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.882-890
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• 2004

간극결합(gap junction)은 이웃하는 두 세포사이에 형성된 막 구조물로 이를 통하여 각종 이온들과 여러 가지 분자들이 통과한다. 일반적으로 알려진 세포의 이온채널(예를 들어 $Na^{+}$ 이온채널과$K^+$이온채널)과 구별하여 두 세포사이에 형성된 간극결합을 세포간 채널(intercellular channel)이라고도 부른다. 간극결합채널(gap junction channel)은 단순히 수동적으로 열려있는 통로가 아니라 여러 가지 자극 즉 pH, 칼슘이온(calcium ion), 전압(voltage), 그리고 화학적인 변형(주로 인산화, phosphorylation)에 의해서 개폐(gating, opening and closing)가 조절되는 이온채널이다. 그 가운데서도 전압에 의한 간극결합채널 개폐 변화가 가장 많이 연구되었다. 세포안과 바깥에 형성된 전압차이(membrane potential, $V_m$) 보다는 주로 두 세포 사이에 형성된 전압차이(transjunctional voltage, $V_j$)에 의해서 간극결합채널은 민감하게 반응한다. 본 총설에서는 간극결합채널의 일반적인 특성을 정리해보고 전압-의존적인(voltage-dependent) 채널개폐에 관한 기전을 논의하고자 한다.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.212-220
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• 2001

본 연구는 비수술적 중기 발암성 모델과 gap junction intercellular communication(GJIC)수식을 이용하여 태국에서 회춘약으로 알려진 Pueraria mirfica (Kawo Keur)식물의 항암 및 발암성 유무의 관계를 알아보기 위해 실시했다. 비수술적 중기 발암성 모델 시험의 경우, Pueraria mirifica 식물이 수컷 F344 랫드에 대하여 전암 병변의 발달에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지를 알기 위한 것으로 GST-p양성 병소의 수와 면적을 측정하여 그 수식 효과를 알아보았다. 6주령의 수컷 F344 랫트를 10 개군으로 나누어 간암을 유발하기 위하여 모든 동물에 대하여 시험 시작일에 200 mg/kg의 DEN을 투여하였고, 2주와 5주 말에 각각 300mg/kg의 DGA를 복강 투여하였다. 3군에서 6군까지에 대해서는 sodium phenobarbital을 0.05%의 농도로 음수 투여하였으며, 2군에 대해서는 발암유발 후의 6주 동안 AIN-76A에 10mg/kg의 PM 혼합 사료를, 6군은 시험 전 기간에 걸쳐 8주 동안 10mg/kg의 PM 혼합사료를 급여한 군이다. 또한, 7, 8, 9 및 10군은 2, 4, 5 및 6군과 같은 방법으로 1000mg/kg의 PM을 투여한 군으로 모든 동물은 DEN 투여 후 8주 째에 부검하였다. GST-p 면역염색 결과 양성 병소의 면적과 수에서 10mg/kg의 PM을 투여한 군들은 대조군과 비교시 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았고, 1000mg/kg의 PM을 투여한 7, 8, 9 및 10군에서도 GST-p 양성 병소의 수와 면적에서 대조군과 비교해 보았을 때 유의한 차이를 관찰할 수 없었다. 또한 PM이 gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC)수식에 어떤 영향을 미치는지를 조사하기 위하여 사람 피부세포에서 SL/DT assay를 실시해 보았으나 이러한 gap junction assay에서도 PM은 GJIC에 영향을 주지 않았다. 이상의 결과를 종합하여 볼 때 Pueraria mirifica는 랫드에서의 실험적 간암 발생과정과 human keratinocyte에 gap junction intercellular communication에서 수식 효과를 가지고 있지 않는 것으로 보아 항암 및 발암성 여부와 관련이 없는 것으로 사료된다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.264-268
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• 1996

Panax-ginseng saponin has been known to exert various pharmacological effects on cellular metabolism. This study was performed to determine the effect of ginseng saponin on gap junction channel-mediated intercellular communication, using an established in vitro system of reconstituted gap junction channels. Gap junction channels are a specialized plasma membrane fraction, which are permeable to relatively large water-soluble molecules. The sucrose permeable property of reconstituted gap junction channels was completely inhibited with 0.1 % (w/v) of ginseng saponin. We also compared the effect of ginseng saponin with that of Triton X-100, a nonionic detergent, on the same system. Triton X-100 showed significantly different effect on sucrose-permeability of gap junction channel from that was affected by ginseng saponin. The structures of liposomes containing gap junction channels was significantly destroyed by Triton X-100.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.64-69
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• 2006

Gap junctional channels, allowing rapid intercellular communication and synchronization of coupled cell activities, play crucial roles in many signaling processes, including a variety of cell activities. Consequently, a modulation of the gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) should be a potential pharmacological target. In the present, the GJIC of a epithelial-derived rat mammary cells (BICR-M1Rk) was assessed in the presence of ginseng saponin, by using an established method of scrape-loading dye transfer assay. The transfer of Lucifer yellow (diameter: 1.2 nm) among the neighboring BICR-M1Rk cells, in which connexin43 (Cx43) is a major gap junction channel-forming protein, was significantly retarded at a concentration of $10{\mu}g/ml$ ginseng saponin. By using both methods of RT-PCR and Western blotting, it was demonstrated that ginseng saponin modulated neither the mRNA synthesis of Cx43 nor the translational process of Cx43. This ginseng saponin-induced modification of GJIC was a similar phenomenon observed under the $\beta$-glycyrrhetinic acid treatment, a well-known gap junction channel blocker. Taken together, it is reasonable to conclude that the ginseng saponin inhibits GJIC only by modulating the gating property of gap junction channels.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.630-635
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• 2009

This study was performed to analyze various antioxidants, to evaluate the antioxidative activities, and to measure the protective effect for gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) to assess the functional potency of the cherry tomato. The ascorbic acid, lycopene, and ${\beta}-carotene$ were measured at $503.4{\pm}9.6$, $39.7{\pm}1.5$, and $7.4{\pm}0.3$ mg/100 g d.w., and ${\alpha}-$, ${\beta}+{\gamma}-$, ${\delta}-tocopherol$ contents were measured at $8.3{\pm}0.1$, $1.7{\pm}0.0$, and $0.1{\pm}0.0$ mg/100 g d.w., respectively. Cherry tomato extract using hexane/acetone/EtOH (2:1:1, CTE) exhibited a ABTS radical scavenging activity with an $IC_{50}$ value of $48.83{\pm}0.30\;{\mu}g/mL$. The cherry tomato protected against the inhibition of GJIC induced by $H_2O_2$ in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells, and the reduction in phosphorylated Cx43 was most clearly correlated with the concentration of CTE. These results demonstrated that the cherry tomato harbors a wealth of potent antioxidants and might be protect human body against the inhibition of the GJIC by toxic components.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.164-171
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• 1991

To evaluate the effect of damaged bronchial epithelium on epithelial permeability and physiologic changes of the airway in patients with bronchial asthma, we measured the concentration of protein and albumin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the width of intercellular junction and bronchial hyperreactivity in 22 patients with bronchial asthma and 21 healthy subjects. The results were as follows: 1) The concentration of protein in BALF from patients with bronchial asthma was higher when compared with that of normal subjects ($237{\pm}182$ vs $113{\pm}78\;{\mu}g/mL$, p<0.05), and the concentration of albumin was also higher than that of normal subjects ($116{\pm}126$ vs $32{\pm}88\;{\mu}g/mL$, p<0.05). The ratio of the concentration of protein in BALF to that in serum was increased in patients with bronchial asthma when compared with that of normal subjects ($0.35{\pm}0.30$ vs $0.16{\pm}0.11%$, p<0.05). 2) The intercellular junction of bronchial epithelium was widened in 14 of 20 patients with bronchial asthma, in contrast, 5 of 14 normal subjects (p<0.05). The mean width of intercellular junction was greater when compared with that of normal subjects ($1.71{\pm}1.81$ vs $0.56{\pm}0.85\;{\mu}m$, p<0.05). The width was well correlated with the ratio of protein in BALF to that of serum (r=0.3226, p=0.047) when observed in 18 patients with bronchial asthma and 10 patients with normal subjects. 3) The bronchial hyperreactivity, expressed as $PC_{20}$, was inversely correlated with the concentration of protein in BALF (r=-0.3030, p=0.038) in when observed in 18 patients with bronchial asthma and 19 normal subjects. 4) The width of intercellular junction was well inversely correlated with $PC_{20}$ (r=-0.5006, p=0.002) when observed in 19 patients with bronchial asthma and 11 patients with normal subjects. In conclusion, increased permeability and the damage of bronchial epithelium may lead to change of bronchial hyperreactivity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.88-92
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• 1999

Inhibition of gap junction-mediated intercellular communication (GJIC) has been considered as an important factor in the tumor promotion phase of carcinogenesis. Recovery effects of natural products on gap junctional intercellular communication are measured by scrape-loading and dye transfer method using Lucifer yellow after administration of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) on WBF344 cells. Among tested natural products, the hexane fraction and subfractions (F-01 and F-04) of Setaria italica were relatively effective for recovery of GJIC. The hexane fraction of Setaria italica $(EC_{25},\;12.14\;{\mu}g/ml)$ and subfractions $(F-01:EC_{50},\;10.74\;{\mu}g/ml;EC_{25},\;1.58\;{\mu}g/ml,\;F-04:EC_{50},\;11.03\;{\mu}g/ml;\;EC_{25},\;3.12\;{\mu}g/ml)$ revealed dose-dependent recovery effects on GJIC. Our data show GJIC activity measurement by Lucifer yellow spread on cells can be an effective tool for the screening of natural products with possible cancer chemopreventive effects.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.269-273
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• 2006

소르빈산 칼륨은 소르빈산의 일종으로 항세균 및 곰팡이 발육 저지 효과를 갖고 있다. 이러한 성질로 인하여 소르빈산 칼륨은 곰팡이와 진균에 대한 식품 방부제로서 사용되고 있다. 소르빈산 칼륨은 많은 양에 노출되었을 때도 체내에서 수분과 이산화탄소로 분해되는 특성으로 인하여 독성이 없는 것으로 알려져 있다. gap junction을 통한 세포 간 신호 전달(GJIC)는 생체의 성장과 분화에 있어서 조직의 항상성 유지에 본질적인 역할을 하고 있다. 본 연구는 WB-F344 랫드의 정상 간 상피 세포(WB 세포)에서 소르빈산 칼륨을 노출하였을 때 GJIC에 대하여 어떤 영향을 미치는지 알아보았다. 그 결과 소르빈산 칼륨에 노출에 의하여 WB세포의 GJIC가 농도 및 시간 의존적으로 현격하게 감소하는 것을 관찰하였다. 소르빈산 칼륨은 GJIC를 강력하게 억제하며, 이는 WB 세포에서 gap junction을 구성하는 connexin 43의 인산화와 병행하는 것을 확인하였다. 소르빈산 칼륨이 gap junction의 기능을 방해함으로 인해 소르빈산 칼륨에 의한 간독성이 유발될 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.477-482
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• 2011

There are accumulating evidences suggesting that connexin (Cx), a gap junction channel-forming protein, acts as a growth suppressor in various cancer cells, and this effect is attributeed to the gap junction-mediated intercellular communication (GJIC). In order to characterize the relationship between the growth-arresting activity of Cx26 and its cytoplasmic localizations after expression, we linked a nuclear export signal (NES) sequence to Cx26 cDNA before transfecting into a rat breast cancer cell line. A confocal fluorescent microscopic observation revealed that the insertion of NES minimized the nuclear expression of Cx26, and increased its cytoplasmic expression, including plasma membrane junctions. Total cell counting and BrdUrd-labeling experiments showed that the growth of the breast cancer cells was inhibited by 74% upon transfection of Cx26-NES, whereas only 9% inhibition was observed with only Cx26 cDNA.