• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.187-193
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• 2005

Several signal transduction pathways have been implicated in ischemic preconditioning induced by the activation of ATP-sensitive $K^+$ $(K_{ATP})$ channels. We examined whether protein kinase C (PKC) modulated the activity of $K_{ATP}$ channels by recording $K_{ATP}$ channel currents in rabbit ventricular myocytes using patch-clamp technique and found that phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (PDD) enhanced pinacidil-induced $K_{ATP}$ channel activity in the cell-attached configuration; and this effect was prevented by bisindolylmaleimide (BIM). $K_{ATP}$ channel activity was not increased by $4{\alpha}-PDD$. In excised insideout patches, PKC stimulated $K_{ATP}$ channels in the presence of 1 mM ATP, and this effect was abolished in the presence of BIM. Heat-inactivated PKC had no effect on channel activity. PKC-induced activation of $K_{ATP}$ channels was reversed by PP2A, and this effect was not detected in the presence of okadaic acid. These results suggest that PKC activates $K_{ATP}$ channels in rabbit ventricular myocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2002

To identify the presence of inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channels and its characteristics, membrane currents were measured using a whole-cell patch clamp from isolated gastric myocytes of guinea-pig. Change of external $K^+$ concentration from 5 to 90 mM induced an inward current at a holding potential of -80 mV. The high $K^+-induced$ inward current was blocked by $Ba^{2+}$ and $Cs^+,$ but not by glibenclamide. With 90 mM $K^+$ in bath, the $Ba^{2+}-$ and $Cs^+-sensitive$ currents showed strong inward rectification. Ten mM TEA weakly blocked the inward current only at potentials more negative than -50 mV. With 90 mM $K^+$ in bath, hyperpolarizing step pulses from -10 mV induced inward currents, which were inactivated at potentials more negative than -70 mV. Reduction of external $K^+$ to 60 mM decreased the amplitudes of the currents and shifted the reversal potential to more negative potential. The inactivation of inward $K^+$ current at negative clamp voltage was not affected by removing external $Na^+.$ These results suggest that the inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channels may exist in gastric smooth muscle.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.479-487
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• 2000

Several recent studies demonstrate that receptor-mediated cAMP (adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate) production evokes marked change in magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$) homeostasis. The effects of dimaprit or/and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors on the $Mg^{2+}$ release from perfused guinea pig heart and collagenase-dispersed myocytes was studied to clarify an association of $H_2-histaminergic$ receptor-mediated $Mg^{2+}$ regulation with intracellular cAMP-degradation system. $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was stimulated in perfused hearts and myocytes by IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine), a calmodulin-sensitive PDE inhibitor, but not by RO 20-1724(4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone) or papaverine, cAMP-specific PDE inhibitors. $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was also be induced by dimaprit, a H-2-agonist. $Mg^{2+}$ effluxes induced by dimaprit were augmented by the presence of the PDE inhibitors. The augmentation of dimaprit-induced $Mg^{2+}$ effluxes by the PDE inhibitors were inhibited by ranitidine, a $H_2-antagonist$, and imipramine, a $Na^{+}-Mg^{2+}$ exchange inhibitor, in perfused hearts and myocytes and were also inhibited by amiloride in perfused hearts. These results suggest that the $H_2$-stimulated $Mg^{2+}$ effluxes from guinea pig heart can be regulated by the cytosolic nonspecific-dependent PDE systems and that it is induced by the $Na^{+}-Mg^{2+}$ exchanger stimulation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.364-382
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• 1992

In order to investigate the effect of intracellular cyclic GMP on the calcium channel, whole cell patch clamp technique with internal perfusion method was used in the single ventricular myocytes of the rabbit. Cyclic GMP, cGMP analogues, cAMP, isopernaline and forskolin were perfused into cells and their effects on the calcium current were analysed by applying depolarizing step pulse of 10 mV in amplitude for 200 msec from holding potential of -40 mV. Calcium currents usually activated from -30 mV and then reached a peak at +10 mV. Amplitude of the calcium current was standardized with membrane capacitance, 50 pF. Peak amplitude at +10 mV in control was -0.15 nA/50pF. When 100 mM cAMP was applied from the pipette, peak amplitude of calcium current increased to -0.32 nA and addition of 1 mM isoprenaline further increased its amplitude. In the presence of cGMP it alone also produced an increase of the calcium current to -0.52 nA/50pF and addition of isoprenaline or forskolin increased its magnitude to -[0.55~0.95] nA/50pF. Simultaneous application of cGMP and cAMP increased the calcium current to -0.67 nA/50pF. Among the cGMP analogues, 8-Br-cGMP was the most potent stimulant for the calcium current activation. From the above results it could be concluded tlat cGMP increases the calcium current not through cAMP dependent protein kinase nor cAMP dependent phosphodiesterase pathway, but through independent phosphorylation pathway, possibly cGMP dependent protein kinase pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2001

Background: Recent in vivo experimental evidence suggests that isoflurane-induced cardioprotection may involve $K_{ATP}$ channel activation. However, it was demonstrated that isoflurane inhibited $K_{ATP}$ channel activities in the inside-out patch mode. To explain this discrepancy, the present investigation tested the hypothesis that a metabolite of isoflurane, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), contributes to isoflurnae-induced cardioprotection via $K_{ATP}$ channel activation during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Methods: Single ventricular myocytes were isolated from rabbit hearts by an enzymatic dissociation procedure. Patch-clamp techniques were used to record single-channel currents. $K_{ATP}$ channel activities were assessed before and after the application of TFA with the inside-out patch mode. Results: TFA enhanced channel activity in a concentration-dependent fashion. The concentration of TFA for half-maximal activation and the Hill coefficient were 0.03 mM and 1.2, respectively. TFA did not affect the single channel conductance of $K_{ATP}$ channels. Analysis of open and closed time distributions showed that TFA increased burst duration and decreased the interburst interval without changes in open and closed time distributions shorter than 5 ms. TFA diminished ATP sensitivity of $K_{ATP}$ channels in a concentration-response relationship for ATP. Conclusions: TFA, a metabolite of isoflurane, enhanced $K_{ATP}$ channel activity in a concentration-dependent fashion. These results imply that TFA could mediate isoflurane-induced cardioprotection via $K_{ATP}$ channel activation during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

Adenosine (Ado) is an important mediator of the endogenous defense against ischemia-induced injury in the heart. The action of Ado is mediated by activation of G protein-gated inwardly rectifying $K^+$ (GIRK) channels. In turn, GIRK channels are inhibited by reducing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate ($PIP_2$) through Gq protein-coupled receptors (GqPCRs). We previously found that GIRK channels activated by acetylcholine, a muscarinic M2 acetylcholine receptor agonist, are inhibited by GqPCRs in a receptor-specific manner. However, it is not known whether GIRK channels activated by Ado signaling are also regulated by GqPCRs. Presently, this was investigated in mouse atrial myocytes using the patch clamp technique. GIRK channels were activated by $100\;{\mu}M$ Ado. When Ado was repetitively applied at intervals of 5~6 min, the amplitude of second Ado-activated GIRK currents ($I_{K(Ado)}$) was $88.3{\pm}3.7%$ of the first $I_{K(Ado)}$ in the control. Pretreatment of atrial myocytes with phenylephrine, endothelin-1, or bradykinin prior to a second application of Ado reduced the amplitude of the second $I_{K(Ado)}$ to $25.5{\pm}11.6%$, $30.5{\pm}5.6%$, and $96.0{\pm}2.7%$, respectively. The potency of $I_{K(Ado)}$ inhibition by GqPCRs was different with that observed in acetylcholine-activated GIRK currents ($I_{K(ACh)}$) (endothelin-1>phenylephrine>bradykinin). $I_{K(Ado)}$ was almost completely inhibited by $500\;{\mu}M$ of the $PIP_2$ scavenger neomycin, suggesting low $PIP_2$ affinity of $I_{K(Ado)}$. Taken together, these results suggest that the crosstalk between GqPCRs and the Ado-induced signaling pathway is receptor-specific. The differential change in $PIP_2$ affinity of GIRK channels activated by Ado and ACh may underlie, at least in part, their differential responses to GqPCR agonists.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.112-112
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• 2003

Voltage-gated $K^{+}$ (Kv) channels represent a structurally and functionally diverse group of membrane proteins. These channels play an important role in determining the length of the cardiac action potential and are the targets for antiarrhythmic drugs. Many $K^{+}$ channel genes have been cloned from human myocardium and functionally contribute to its electrical activity. One of these channels, Kv1.5, is one of the more cardiovascular-specific $K^{+}$ channel isoforms identified to date and forms the molecular basis for an ultra-rapid delayed rectifier $K^{＋}$ current found in human atrium. Thus, the blocker of hKv1.5 is expected to be an ideal antiarrhythmic drug for atrial fibrillation. Chelidonine was isolated from Chelidonium majus L. We examined the effect of chelidonine on the hKv1.5 current expressed in Ltk-cells using whole cell mode of patch clamp techniques. Chelidonine selectively inhibited the hKv1.5 current expressed in Ltk-cells in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas did not affect the HERG current expressed in HEK-293 cells. Additionally, chelidonine reduced the tail current amplitude recorded at -50 mV after 250 ms depolarizing pulses to +60 mV, and slowed the deactivation time course resulting in a 'crossover' phenomenon when the tail currents recorded under control conditions and in the presence of chelidonine were superimposed. We found that chelidonine also inhibited the $K^{+}$ current in isolated human atrial myocytes where hKv1.5 channels were predominantly expressed. Furthermore, we examined the effects of chelidonine on the action potentials in rabbit hearts using conventional microelectrode technique. Chelidonine prolonged the action potential durations (APD) of atrial, ventricular myocytes and Purkinje fibers in a dose-dependent manner. However, the effect of chelidonine on atrial APD was frequency-dependent whereas the effect of chelidonine on the APDs of ventricular myocytes and Purkinje fibers was not frequency- dependent. Also, the selective action of chelidonine on heart was more potent than dofetilide, $K^{+}$ channel blocker.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.734-738
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• 1996

The development of the alpha2 isoform of (Na,K)ATPase which is high affinity ouabain receptors was studied in the differentiating nonfusing muscle cell line BC3H-1. T he differentiation process of BC3H-1 cell line was confirmed by 2-dexy-D-[$^3$H] glucose uptake experiment and the quantity of the expression of ${\alpha}_2$ isoform was measured using a whole cell [$^3$H] ouabain-binding assay. Undifferentiated growing BC3H-1 cells, myoblasts, exhibited low levels of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and [$^3$H] ouabain-binding sites. In contrast, differentiated BC3H-1 cells, myocytes, had a 5.6-fold increase in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and 5-fold increase in [$^3$H] ouabain-binding sites. Scatchard analysis showed that myocytes developed more [$^3$H] ouabain-binding sites than myoblasts vath a dissociation constant (kd) of 6${\times}10^{-8}$M and capacity of 6.l${\times}10^{-5}$ sites/cell. Therefore. it seems that myoblasts express low levels of ${\alpha}_2$ subunit and probably the majority of ${\alpha}_1$ subunit, whereas myocytes express high levels of ${\alpha}_2$ isoform. The results indicate that the expression of ${\alpha}_2$ isoform is developmentally regulated during differentiation and that BC3H-1 culture system provides an excellent model for the study of differentiation and mechanism of (Na,K)ATPase action in muscle which requires electrical excitability.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1992

We used the whole cell patch clamp technique to examine the ionic basis for the tail current after depolarizing pulse in single atrial myocytes of the rabbit. We recorded the tail currents during various repolarizations after short depolarizing pulse from a holding potential of -70 mV. The potassium currents were blocked by external 4-aminopyridine and replacement of internal potassium with cesium. The current was reversed to the outward direction above +10 mV. High concentrations of intracellular calcium buffer inhibited the activation of the current. Diltiazem and ryanodine blocked it too. These data suggest that the current is activated by intracellular calcium released from sarcoplasmic reticulumn. When the internal chloride concentration was increased, the inward tail current was increased. The current was partially blocked by the anion transport blocker niflumic acid. The current voltage curve of the niflumic acid sensitive current component shows outward rectification and is well fitted to the current voltage curve of the theoretically predicted chloride current calculated from the constant field equation. The currents recorded in rabbit atrial myocytes, with the method showing isolated outward Na Ca exchange current in ventricular cells of the guinea pig, suggested that chloride conductance could be activated with the activation of Na/ca exchange current. From the above results it is concluded that a chloride sensitive component which is activated by intracellular calcium contributes to tail currents in rabbit atrial cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2016

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The exploration of new biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis of AMI therefore becomes one of the primary task. In the current study, we aim to detect whether there is any heart specific long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) releasing into the circulation during AMI, and explore its function in the neonatal rat cardiac myocytes injury induced by $H_2O_2$. Our results revealed that the cardiac-specific lncRNA MHRT (Myosin Heavy Chain Associated RNA Transcripts) was significantly elevated in the blood from AMI patients compared with the healthy control ($^*p<0.05$). Using an in vitro neonatal rat cardiac myocytes injury model, we demonstrated that lncRNA MHRT was upregulated in the cardiac myocytes after treatment with hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) via real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, we knockdowned the MHRT gene by siRNA to confirm its roles in the $H_2O_2$-induced cardiac cell apoptosis, and found that knockdown of MHRT led to significant more apoptotic cells than the non-target control ($^{**}p<0.01$), indicating that the lncRNA MHRT is a protective factor for cardiomyocyte and the plasma concentration of MHRT may serve as a biomarker for myocardial infarction diagnosis in humans AMI.