• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.543-551
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• 2002

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small molecule (mol. wt. 30 Da) and oxidative free radical. It is uncharged and can therefore diffuse freely within and between cells across membrane. Such characteristics make it a biologically important messenger in physiologic processes such as neurotransmission and the control of vascular tone. NO is also highly toxic and is known to acts as a mediator of cytotoxicity during host defense. NO is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) through L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway which is a dioxygenation process. NO synthesis involves several participants, three co-substrates, five electrons, five co-factors and two prosthetic groups. Under normal condition, low levels of NO are synthesized by type I and III NOS for a short period of time and mediates many physiologic processes. Under condition of oxidant stress, high levels of NO are synthesized by type II NOS and inhibits a variety of metabolic processes and can also cause direct damage to DNA. Such interaction result in cytostasis, energy depletion and ultimately cell death. NO has the potential to interact with a variety of intercellular targets producing diverse array of metabolic effects. It is known that NO is involved in hemodynamic regulation, neurogenic inflammation, re-innervation, management of dentin hypersensitivity on teeth. Under basal condition of pulpal blood flow, NO provides constant vasodilator tone acting against sympathetic vasoconstriction. Substance P, a well known vasodilator, was reported to be mediated partly by NO, while calcitonin-gene related peptide has provided no evidence of its relation with NO. This review describes the roles of NO in dental pulp in addition to the known general roles of it.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.337-342
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• 2006

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that activate the periodic spontaneous depolarization (pacemaker potentials) responsible for the production of slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscle. The effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. Addition of VIP (50 nM-$1{\mu}M$) decreased the amplitude of pacemaker potentials and depolarized resting membrane potentials. To examine the type of receptors involved in ICC, we examined the effects of the $VIP_1$ agonist and found that it had no effect on pacemaker potentials. Pretreatment with $VIP_1$ antagonist ($1{\mu}M$) for 10 min also did not block the VIP (50 nM)-induced effects. On the other hand exposure to 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-A)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, $100{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, prevented VIP inhibition of pacemaker potentials. Similarly KT-5823 ($1{\mu}M$) or RP-8-CPT-cGMPS ($10{\mu}M$), inhibitors of protein kinase G (PKG) blocked the effect of VIP (50 nM) on pacemaker potentials as did N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA, $100{\mu}M$), a non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. These results imply that the inhibition of pacemaker activity by VIP depends on the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.807-815
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• 1996

허혈전처치(ischemic preconditioniiIE)의 허혈심장 보호효과와 그 기전을 규명하기 위한 일환으로 citric oxide(HO)가 허혈전처치의 심보호 효과에 미치는 영향을 검토하였다. 흰쥐 적출심장의 Langendorrr관류표본에서 실험적인 허할(30분)-재관류(30분) 손상을 유도하였고, 허혈전처치는 재관류손상 유도 전에 5분 허혈 - 5분 재관류를 3회 반복하여 시행하였다. 허혈심근 손상의 지표로 심수축기능 세질효소 유출 및 미세형태학적 변화를, 그리고 HO 합성 억제제인 L-HAME 를 투여하여 허혈전처치와 비전처치 허혈-재관류 심장들에서 손상의 정도를 비교하였다. 그 결과 허혈- 재관류 심장에서 심기능의 저하및 세포질 유출이 현저하게 증가하였고 전자현미경상의 미세구조에서도 세포내 소기관 및 myofibril의 파괴가 관찰되 어 심근손상이 심함을 알 수 있었다. 허 혈-재관류에 의한 심 장손상은 허혈전처치를 시행한 허혈-재관류 심장에서는 현격하게 감소돼 심회복률이 77%로 증가하였 고 세포질유출도 현저하게 감소되었으며 미세소견에서도 세포구조가 비교적 잘 보존되었다. 허혈전처 치에 의한 심보호 효과에 NO가 관여하는지를 관찰하기 위하여 NO합성 억제제인 L-NAME를 투여하 여 허혈전처치를 시행하였다. 결과 L-UAME투여로 허혈전처치에 의하여 회복된 심기능 및 LDH유출 감소에 아무런 영향을 주지 않았고 허혈전처치에 의하여 비교적 잘 보존된 미세구조 역시 영향을 받지 않았다. 이상의 결과들로부터 허혈전처치는 세포수준에서 허혈심근의 재관류손상을 방지하며, NO합성의 증가가 횐쥐 적출 심장에서 허혈전처치에 의한 허혈심장 보호효과에 크게 기여하지 않을 것으로 사료되었다.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.69-80
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• 2000

ADP-rubosylation may be involved in the process of macrophage activation. Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as an important intracellular and interacellular regulatory molecule with function as diverse as vasodilation, neural communication or host defense. NO is derived from the oxidation of the terminal guanidino nitrogen atom of L-arginine by the NADPH -dependent enzyme, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) which is one of the three different isomers in mammalian tissues. Since NO can exert protective or regulatory functions in the cell at a low concentration while toxic effects at higher concentrations, its role may be tightly regulated in the cell. Therefore, this paper was focused on signal transduction pathway of NO synthesis, role of endogenous TGF-$\beta$ in NO production. effect of NO on superoxide formation. Costimulation of murine peritoneal macrophages with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased both NO secretion and mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) when PMA abolished costimulation. Pretreatmnet of the cells with PMA abolished costimuation effects due to the depletion of protein kinase C (PKC) activities . The involvement of PKC in NO secretion could be further confirmed by PKC inhibitor, stauroprine, and phorbol ester derivative, phorbol 12,13-didecanoate. Addition of actinomycine D in IFN-γ plus PMA stimulated cells inhibited both NO secretion and mRNA expression of iNOS indication that PMA stabilizes mRNA of iNOS . Exogenous TGF-$\beta$ reduced NO secretion in IFN -γ stimulated murine macrophages. However addition of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to TGF-$\beta$ to this system recovered the ability of NO production and inhibited mRNA expression of TGF-$\beta$. ACAS interactive laser cytometry analysis showed that transportation of FITC -labeled antisense ODN complementary to TGF-$\beta$ mRNA could be observed within 5 min and reached maximal intensity in 30 min in the murine macrophage cells. NO released by activated macrophages inhibits superoxide formation in the same cells . This inhibition nay be related on NO-induced auto -adenosine diphosphate (ADP) -ribosylation . In addition, ADP-ribosylation may be involved in the process of macrophage activation .

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.5-14
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• 2002

Alteration in the syntesis or enhanced inactivation of nitric oxide(NO) can induce impairment of endothelial cell function. Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus(IDDM) is characterized by impaired endothelial function and vascular disease. NO is produced through L-arginine pathway To elucidate the hypothesis that the decreased production on NO in IDDM reflects vascular damage and the NO production can be manipulated by either dietary fat(7% of kg diet) or the oral supplementation with L-arginine(2g/kg bw), plasma markers for vascular endothelial damage and plasma lipid profiles were measured in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic or normal Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 6 different experimental diets for 4 weeks(SO : soybean oil, SOA: soybean oil + L-arginine supplementation, BT : beef tallow, BTA_ beef tallow + L-arginine supplementation, OV olive oil, OVA : olive oil + L-arginine supplementation). Plasma glucose, total cholesterel, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were measured. Endothelial markers, plasma von Willebrand factor(vWf), thromboxane B$_2$, and 6-keto PGF1$\alpha$ of aorta were measured by ELISA. Plasma NO production was evaluated through the measurement of nitrite by EIA. Feeding saturated fatty acid(SFA, BT) increased relative liver size(RLS) in diabetic rats compared to either polyunsatunted fatty acid(PUFA, SO) or monounsaturated fatty acid(MUFA, OV) The supplementation of L-arginine inhibited the liver and kidney enlargement in olive oil find diabetic rats. Plasma glucose was lower in diabetic animal find the olive oil compared to fed beef tallow and the supplementation L-arginine decreased it in diabetic rats find beef tallow significantly(p < 0.05). Plasma TXB$_2$ levels were increased due to diabetes and the value of beef tallow group showed highest value. Plasma vWf concentration of beef tallow group was higher value in normal rats and was elevated more in diabetes. In diabetic groups, the vWf concentration of olive oil group was lower than beef tallow or soybean oil group. The supplementation of L-arginine in diabetic rats decreased plasma TXB$_2$ and vWf levels significantly(p < 0.05). NO production was higher in normal olive oil fed rats and was tend to be decreased in diabetic rats and the supplementation of L-arginine recovered to normal value(p < 0.05), Olive oil supplemented with L-arginine tended to lower plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol after 4 week treatment. These results suggest that generalized vascular endothelial changes based on plasma TXB$_2$and vWf occurs in diabetic rats. and olive oil with L-arginine supplementation contributes to a better control of the hyperglycemia, endothelial changes and hypercholesterolemia accompanying diabetes as compared with beef tallow or soy bean oil in this rat model.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.437-445
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• 2013

This study was investigated to evaluate the vasorelaxant effect of Rubus coreanus(RC) extract on contracted rabbit carotid artery and its mechanism. To study the effect of RC extract on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, arterial strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for experiment using organ bath. The pre-contracted arterial strips with norepinephrine(NE) or potassium chloride(KCl) was treated with various concentrations of an extract of RC(0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 $mg/m{\ell}$). To determine the mechanisms of RC-induced vasorelaxant, RC extract was infused into contracted arterial rings which had been pretreated by indomethacin(IM), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), methylene blue(MB). And calcium chloride(Ca) 1 mM was infused into precontracted arterial ring induced by NE or KCl after treatment of RC extract in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution. Cytotoxic activity of RC extract on human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) was measured by MTT assay, and nitric oxide(NO) prodution was measured by Griess reagent. RC extract revealed significant relaxation on NE-induced arterial contraction, but didn't relax on KCl-induced arterial contraction. RC extract also had an effective relaxation to the intact endothelium arterial ring, but not the damaged endothelium arterial ring. Treatment of IM, TEA, L-NNA, MB reduced the relaxation of RC extract. Pretreatment of RC extract inhibited the contraction by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in contracted arterial ring induced by NE, but it didn't work the contraction by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in contracted arterial ring induced by KCl in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution. RC extract increased nitric oxide production on HUVEC. This study indicated that the relaxation effect of RC extract on contracted rabbit carotid artery is related with NO-cGMP pathway, EDHF, prostacyclin.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제42권5호
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• pp.576-587
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• 2009

배경: Nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP 신호전달체계의 상향 조절(up-regulation)이 급성심근경색 3일 후 흰쥐의 혈관반응성의 변화에 관여한다고 알려져 있으나 그 기전에 대해서는 명확히 규명되지 않았다. 대상 및 방법: 좌전하행관상동맥을 30분간 폐쇄한 후 급성심근경색을 유도한 군을 AMI군으로, 동일한 모의 수술(sham operation)을 하였으나 관상동맥을 폐쇄하지 않은 군을 SHAM군으로 하였다 AMI 혹은 SHAM수술 3일 후 흰쥐의 대동맥 고리절편(내피를 보존한 대동맥 절편을 E(+), 내피를 제거한 대동맥 절편을 E(-))에서 phenylephrine (PE), KCl, acetylcholine (Ach) 및 sodium nitroprusside (SNP)에 대한 농도-반응 관계를 측정하였다 AMI군의 E(+) 대동맥 절편에서 PE의 농도-반응 관계를 NO synthase (NOS) 억제제인 $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)와 cyclooxygenase 억제제인 indomethacin으로 각각 전처치한 대동맥 절편과 비교하였다. 혈장 nitrite/nitrate 농도는 Griess reaction으로 측정하였고, 방사면역 분석법을 이용한 흉부 대동맥 절편의 cGMP정량과 real time PCR을 이용한 endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA 발현양상 측정을 하였다. 결과: AMI군에서의 심근경색의 평균 크기는 $21.3{\pm}0.62%$였다. AMI군에서 심박수와 수축기 및 이완기 혈압은 의미있는 변화가 없었다. E(+)와 E(-) 대동맥 절편에서 PE와 KCl에 대한 수축반응의 민감도는 AMI군 대동맥 절편에서 의미 있게 감소하였다(p<0.05). L-NAME은 이러한 수축반응을 완전하게 역전시켰으나 indomethacin은 효과가 없었다(p<0.05). 또한 AMI군에서 Ach에 대한 이완반응의 민감도가 의미 있게 감소하였다(p<0.05). AMI군에서 SHAM군에 비해 혈장 nitrite/nitrate 농도(p<0.05), 기저 cGMP 농도(p<0.05), 및 eNOS mRNA 발현양상(p=0.056)이 증가하였다. 결론: 이상의 결과들로 보아 eNOS의 발현 증가와 NO-cGMP 신호전달체계의 상향조절이 급성심근경색 3일 후 흰쥐 흉부대동맥에서의 수축 및 이완 반응성 감소의 원인으로 생각된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.343-351
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• 2001

This study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and nitric oxide (NO) as a regulator of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. VSMC was primarily cultured from rat aorta and confirmed by the immunocytochemistry with anti-smooth muscle myosin antibody. The number of viable VSMCs were counted, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was measured to assess the degree of cell death. Concentrations of nitrite in the culture medium were measured as an indicator of NO production. LPS was introduced into the medium to induce the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in VSMC, and Western blot for iNOS protein and RT-PCR for iNOS mRNA were performed to confirm the presence of iNOS. Inhibitors of iNOS and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and L-arginine were employed to observe the action of LPS on the iNOS-NO-cGMP signalling pathway. LPS and SNP decreased number of VSMCs and increased the nitrite concentration in the culture medium, but there was no significant change in LDH activity. A cell permeable cGMP derivative, 8-Bromo-cGMP, decreased the number of VSMCs with no significant change in LDH activity. L-arginine, an NO substrate, alone tended to reduce cell count without affecting nitrite concentration or LDH level. Aminoguanidine, an iNOS specific inhibitor, inhibited LPS-induced reduction of cell numbers and reduced the nitrite concentration in the culture medium. LY 83583, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, suppressed the inhibitory actions of LPS and SNP on VSMC proliferation. LPS increased amounts of iNOS protein and iNOS mRNA in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that LPS inhibits the VSMC proliferation via production of NO by inducing iNOS gene expression. The cGMP which is produced by subsequent activation of guanylate cyclase would be a major mediator in the inhibitory action of iNOS-NO signalling on VSMC proliferation.

• BMB Reports
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.116-126
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• 2002

Nitric oxide (NO), synthesized from L-arginine by NO synthases, is a small, lipophilic, diffusible, highly reactive molecule with dichotomous regulatory roles in many biological events under physiological and pathological conditions. NO can promote apoptosis (pro-apoptosis) in some cells, whereas it inhibits apoptosis (anti-apoptosis) in other cells. This complexity is a consequence of the rate of NO production and the interaction with biological molecules such as metal ion, thiol, protein tyrosine, and reactive oxygen species. Long-lasting overproduction of NO acts as a pro-apoptotic modulator, activating caspase family proteases through the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into cytosol, up-regulation of the p53 expression, and alterations in the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins, including the Bcl-2 family. However, low or physiological concentrations of NO prevent cells from apoptosis that is induced by the trophic factor withdrawal, Fas, $TNF{\alpha}$/ActD, and LPS. The anti-apoptotic mechanism is understood on the basis of gene transcription of protective proteins. These include: heat shock protein, hemeoxygenase, or cyclooxygenase-2 and direct inhibition of the apoptotic executive effectors caspase family protease by S-nitrosylation of the cysteine thiol group in their catalytic site in a cell specific way. Our current understanding of the mechanisms by which NO exerts both pro- and anti-apototic action is discussed in this review article.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.325-330
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• 2011

Red ginseng saponin fraction-A (RGSF-A) contains a high percentage of panaxadiol saponins that were isolated from Korean red ginseng by ultrafiltration. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of RGSF-A on the porcine distal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. The relaxant responses to RGSF-A were examined during contractions induced by 100 nM U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-9a,11a-methanoepoxy-prostaglandin F2a), a stable analogue of thromboxane A2. RGSF-A dose-dependently induced biphasic (fast- and slow-) relaxation in the distal LAD coronary artery in the presence of an intact endothelium. The fast-relaxation was quickly achieved in a minute, and then the slow-relaxation was slowly developed and sustained for more than thirty minutes after the administration of RGSF-A. The slow-relaxation had a tendency to be bigger than the fast-relaxation. Fast relaxation induced by RGSF-A was almost blocked by $N_{\omega}$-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase synthase inhibitor and 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor. However slow relaxation induced by RGSF-A was only partially inhibited by L-NAME and ODQ. In the endothelium-removed ring, RGSF-A evoked only slowrelaxation to a certain extent. These data suggest that RGSF-A induced both endothelium dependent fast- and slow-relaxation and endothelium independent slow-relaxation in the porcine distal LAD coronary artery. The endothelium dependent fast-relaxation is mediated by the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway, and the endothelium dependent slow-relaxation is at least partially mediated by the NO-cGMP pathway. However, the endothelium-independent slow-relaxation remains to be elucidated.