• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2016

Specific gene expressions of host cells by spontaneous STAT6 phosphorylation are major strategy for the survival of intracellular Toxoplasma gondii against parasiticidal events through STAT1 phosphorylation by infection provoked $IFN-{\gamma}$. We determined the effects of small molecules of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on the growth of T. gondii and on the relationship with STAT1 and STAT6 phosphorylation in ARPE-19 cells. We counted the number of T. gondii RH tachyzoites per parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) after treatment with TKIs at 12-hr intervals for 72 hr. The change of STAT6 phosphorylation was assessed via western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Among the tested TKIs, Afatinib (pan ErbB/EGFR inhibitor, $5{\mu}M$) inhibited 98.0% of the growth of T. gondii, which was comparable to pyrimethamine ($5{\mu}M$) at 96.9% and followed by Erlotinib (ErbB1/EGFR inhibitor, $20{\mu}M$) at 33.8% and Sunitinib (PDGFR or c-Kit inhibitor, $10{\mu}M$) at 21.3%. In the early stage of the infection (2, 4, and 8 hr after T. gondii challenge), Afatinib inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT6 in western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Both JAK1 and JAK3, the upper hierarchical kinases of cytokine signaling, were strongly phosphorylated at 2 hr and then disappeared entirely after 4 hr. Some TKIs, especially the EGFR inhibitors, might play an important role in the inhibition of intracellular replication of T. gondii through the inhibition of the direct phosphorylation of STAT6 by T. gondii.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.95-105
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• 2008

Objectives : Although herbal medicines containing flavonoids have been reported to exert anti-tumor activities, it has not been explored whether Hwang-Jeong (Polygonati sibirici Rhizoma, PsR) exerts anti-tumor activity in human glioma. The present study was therefore undertaken to examine the effect of PsR on cell viability and to determine its underlying mechanism in A172 human glioma cells. Methods : Cell viability was estimated by MTT assay. Reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by the fluorescence dyes. The phosphorylation of kinases was evaluated by western blot analysis and caspase activity was estimated using colorimetric assay kit. Results : PsR resulted in loss of cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PsR did not increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the PsR-induced cell death was also not affected by antioxidants, suggesting that ROS generation is not involved in loss of cell viability. Western blot analysis showed that PsR treatment caused rapid reduction in phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) without changes in p38 and Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). U0126, an inhibitor of ERK, increased the PsR-induced cell death, but inhibitors of p38 and JNK did not affect the cell death. PsR induced depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. Caspase activity was not stimulated by PsR and caspase inhibitors did not prevent the PsR-induced cell death. Conclusion : Taken together, these findings suggest that PsR results in human glioma cell death through caspaseindependent mechanisms involving down-regulation of ERK.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 1988

Verapamil, tetrodotoxin and tetraethylammonium chloride in the stated amount did not affect the $Na^{++}$ induced $Ca^{++}$ release. $Cd^{++}$ and $Zn^{++}$ significantly inhibited the $Na^{++}$ induced $Ca^{++}$ release. $Mn^{++}$ also inhibited $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ exchange. $Cd^{++}$ inhibited $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ exchange noncompetitively with an apparent inhibition constant (Ki) of $100\;{\mu}M$. $Cd^{++}$ caused loss of sulfhydryl group, whereas $Zn^{++}$ did not show any significant effect. $Cd^{++}$ and $Zn^{++}$ effectively inhibited $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ ATPase and slightly inhibited $Ca^{++}-Mg^{++}$ ATPase. Carbonyl cyanide chlorophenylhydrazone, 2,4-dinitrophenol and sodium arsenate stimulated the $Na^{++}$ induced $Ca^{++}$ release. Dibucaine and oligomycin slightly inhibited it. The results suggest that the $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ exchange on the synaptosomal plasma membrane may be not accomplished by ion channels. The $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ exchange is sensitively inhibited by $Cd^{++}$ and this transport process appears to be partially regulated by sulfhydryl groups of the synaptosomal plasma membrane. It is also postulated that $Na^+-Ca^{++}$ exchange is suppressed during the phosphorylation reaction of protein component on the neuronal membrane.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.182-187
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• 2001

Phospholiapse D (PLD), and phosphatidic acid generated by it, have been implicated in receptor-mediated intracellular signaling. Carbachol (CCh) is known to activate PLD1, and protein kinase C (PKC) is known to mediate in this signaling pathway In recent reports (Kim et al., 1999b; Kim et al., 2000), we published our observations of the direct phosphorylation of PLD1 by PKC and we described the phosphorylation-dependent regulation of PLD1 activity. In this study, we investigated the phasphorylation and compartmentalization of PLD1 in terms of CCh signaling in M3 muscarinic receptor (M3R)-expressing COS-7 cells. CCh treatment of COS-7 cells transiently coexpressing PLD1 and M3R stimulated PLD1 activity and induced direct phosphorylation of PLD1 by PKC. The CCh-induced activation and phosphorylation of PLD1 was completely blocked upon pretreatment of the cells with PKC-specific inhibitors. We looked at the localization of the PLD1 phosphorylation by PKC and found that PLD1 was mainly located in the caveolin-enriched membrane (CEM) fraction. Based on these results, we conclude that CCh induces the activation and phosphorylation of PLD1 via PKC and that the phosphorylation of PLD1 occurs in caveolae.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 1995

For understanding physiological nature of phototaxis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 PTX(S. 6803 PTX), we examined the effects of some metabolic inhibitors and cation ionophore on the phototactic movement. In the presence of DCMU, which blocks the photosynthetic electron transport just after photosystem II acceptor, there was no inhibitory effect on the phototaxis up to $100\;\mu\textrm{M}$. Instead, the respiratory electron chain inhibitor such as sodium azide dramatically impaired the phototaxis in S. 6803 PTX. These observations indicate that the phototaxis is linked not to photo-phosphorylation, but to respiratory phosphorylation. When the cells were treated with un couplers such as CCCP or DNP, which dissipate the electrochemical gradient of proton($\Delta\mu_{H}+$) across the cytoplasmic membrane, these chemicals did not affect phototaxis. In contrast, when cells were treated with DCCD or NBD which deprive cells of A TP but leave $\Delta\mu_{H}+$ intact across the membrane, the phototactic movement was severly reduced. These results imply that ATP production, not proton motive force, is involved in the phototactic movement in this organism as a driving motive force. The application of specific calcium ionophore A23187 strongly impaired positive phototaxis. Calcium fluxes should be engaged in the sensory trans-duction of phototactic orientation. Finally, when ethionine was supplimented to culture media, the photomovement of this organism was inhibited. This implies that methylation/demethylation mechanism controls the process of phototaxis in S. 6803 PTX like chemotaxis in E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium.murium.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.343-348
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• 1995

Treatment of Pisum sativum tissue with the protein kinase inhibitor staurosphorine resulted in impairment of 3H-indoleacetic acid transport in etiolated stem segments. The transport inhibitiion was accompanied by an increase in net uptake of labeled auxin in the tissue. The magnitude of auxin accumulation in tissue treated with the phytotropin N-1-naphthylphthalaic acid (NPA) which specifically blocks the efflux of auxin in the plasma membrane was reduced by the protein kinase inhibitor, suggesting that inhibition of protein phosphorylation could lead to hindrance of the auxin-exporting function of NPA receptors. The flavonoid genistein which is also known to inhibit protein kinase likewise reduced NPA-induced auxin accumulation. However, the flavonoid did not bring about auxin accumulation by itself, nor did it inhibit auxin transport. In view of the finding that the flavonoid also competes with NPA for a common binding site, a mechanism for the flavonoid effect on the NPA action will be proposed.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.260-266
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• 2005

IgE-dependent histamine releasing factor (HRF), previously known as P23/P21 or translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), induces the degranulation of histamine in mast cell and basophil. Yeast two hybrid results showed that HRF interacts with the alpha subunit of Na, K-ATPase, suggesting that HRF is a regulator for governing the activity of Na, K-ATPase. In this study, we examined the interaction of HRF and Wa,K-ATPase after treatments of various PKC isotype inhibitors. Membrane fractionation, pull-down assay and immunoprecipitation results showed that PKC $\alpha,\;PKC\;\beta,\;\delta$ subunits are involved in the phosphorylation of HRF. However, these results did not correlate with the results of histamine release assay since histamine release assay results suggested that some PKC isotype inhibitors induced the histamine release in RBL-2H3 cell.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.249-254
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• 2006

It has been reported that liver is a very important organ to xenotransplantation. Pig is known to be a most suitable species in transplantation of human organs. However, the physiological function of pig hepatocytes is not clear elucidated. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to be a mitogen in various cell systems. Thus, we examined the effect of EGF on cell proliferation and its related signal cascades in primary cultured pig hepatocytes. EGF stimulates cell proliferation in a dose (>1ng/ml) dependent manner. EGF-induced increase of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was blocked by AG 1478 ($10^{-6}M$, an EGF receptor antagonist) genistein and herbymycin A (tyrosine kinase inhibitors, $10^{-6}M$), suggesting the role of activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor. In addition, EGF-induced increase of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was prevented by neomycin $(10^{-4}M)$, U73122 $(10^{-5}M)$ (phospholipase C [PLC] inhibitors), staurosporine ($(10^{-8}M)$, or bisindolylmaleimide I $(10^{-6}M)$ (protein kinase C [PKC] inhibitors), suggesting the role of PLC and PKC. Moreover, EGF-induced increase of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was blocked by PD 98059 (a p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase [MAPK] inhibitor), SB 203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor), and SP 600125 (a JNK inhibitor). EGF increased the translocation of PKC from cytosol to membrane fraction and activated p42/44 MAPK, p38 MAPK and JNK. In conclusion, EGF stimulates cell proliferation via PKC and MAPK in cultured pig hepatocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2002

It has been suggested that $Ca^{2+}$ sensitization mechanisms might contribute to myogenic tone, however, specific mechanisms have not yet been fully identified. Therefore, we investigated the role of protein kinase C (PKC)- or RhoA-induced $Ca^{2+}$ sensitization in myogenic tone of the rabbit basilar vessel. Myogenic tone was developed by stretch of rabbit basilar artery. Fura-2 $Ca^{2+}$ signals, contractile responses, PKC immunoblots, translocation of PKC and RhoA, and phosphorylation of myosin light chains were measured. Stretch of the resting vessel evoked a myogenic contraction and an increase in the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ only in the presence of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. Stretch evoked greater contraction than high $K^+$ at a given $[Ca^{2+}]_i.$ The stretch-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and contractile force were inhibited by treatment of the tissue with nifedipine, a blocker of voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel, but not with gadolinium, a blocker of stretch-activated cation channels. The PKC inhibitors, H-7 and calphostin C, and a RhoA-activated protein kinase (ROK) inhibitor, Y-27632, inhibited the stretch-induced myogenic tone without changing $[Ca^{2+}]_i.$ Immunoblotting using isoform-specific antibodies showed the presence of $PKC_{\alpha}$ and $PKC_{\varepsilon}$ in the rabbit basilar artery. $PKC_{\alpha},$ but not $PKC_{\varepsilon},$ and RhoA were translocated from the cytosol to the cell membrane by stretch. Phosphorylation of the myosin light chains was increased by stretch and the increased phosphorylation was blocked by treatment of the tissue with H-7 and Y-27632, respectively. Our results are consistent with important roles for PKC and RhoA in the generation of myogenic tone. Furthermore, enhanced phosphorylation of the myosin light chains by activation of $PKC_{\alpha}$ and/or RhoA may be key mechanisms for the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitization associated with myogenic tone in basilar vessels.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.527-538
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 was shown to exert ligand-independent activation of estrogen receptor (ER) via mitogen-activated protein kinase-mediated pathway. Our study aimed to delineate the mechanisms by which Rg1 activates the rapid ER signaling pathways. Methods: ER-positive human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and ER-negative human embryonic kidney HEK293 cells were treated with Rg1 ($10^{-12}M$, $10^{-8}M$), $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($10^{-8}M$), or vehicle. Immunoprecipitation was conducted to investigate the interactions between signaling protein and ER in MCF-7 cells. To determine the roles of these signaling proteins in the actions of Rg1, small interfering RNA or their inhibitors were applied. Results: Rg1 rapidly induced $ER{\alpha}$ translocation to plasma membrane via caveolin-1 and the formation of signaling complex involving linker protein (Shc), insulin-like growth factor-I receptor, modulator of nongenomic activity of ER (MNAR), $ER{\alpha}$, and cellular nonreceptor tyrosine kinase (c-Src) in MCF-7 cells. The induction of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) phosphorylation in MCF-7 cells by Rg1 was suppressed by cotreatment with small interfering RNA against these signaling proteins. The stimulatory effects of Rg1 on MEK phosphorylation in these cells were suppressed by both PP2 (Src kinase inhibitor) and AG1478 [epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor]. In addition, Rg1-induced estrogenic activities, EGFR and MEK phosphorylation in MCF-7 cells were abolished by cotreatment with G15 (G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1 antagonist). The increase in intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation, but not Ca mobilization, in MCF-7 cells by Rg1 could be abolished by G15. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 exerted estrogenic actions by rapidly inducing the formation of ER containing signalosome in MCF-7 cells. Additionally, Rg1 could activate EGFR and c-Src ER-independently and exert estrogenic effects via rapid activation of membrane-associated ER and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor.