• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.603-608
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• 2006

In activated macrophage, large amounts of nitric oxide (NO) are generated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), resulting in acute or chronic inflammatory disorders. In Raw 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic inflammation, water extracts from the fruit of Chaenomeles sinensis, the root of Polygonum cuspidatum and Boswellia carterii inhibited the LPS-induced NO production in a parallel dose-dependent manner. To investigate the mechanism by which those extracts inhibits NO production, we examined the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in both mRNA and protein levels. We observed a significant change in the iNOS expression between LPS alone and LPS plus those extracts-treated cells. However, water extracts from Chaenomeles sinensis, Polygonum cuspidatum and Boswellia carterii did not inhibit COX-2 expression which was induced by LPS treatment in Raw 264.7 cells. These data suggest that water extracts from Chaenomeles sinensis, Polygonum cuspidatum and Boswellia carterii can modulate anti-inflammatory immune response, which may be in part associated with the regulation of NO synthesis through the regulation of iNOS expression in mouse macrophage cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.691-696
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• 2002

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an active and broad spectrum chemotherapeutic agent. Increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and/or activity have been reported in several human tumors. While the relationship between DOX treatment and the enzymatic activity of endothelial NOS has been well characterized, little is known about the effects of DOX on the expression of iNOS in human cancer cells. In the present study, we characterized the effects of DOX on the nitric oxide (NO) production by colorectal cancer cells, DLD-1. IFN-${\gamma}$/IL-1$\beta$ (CM) increased the production of NO, whereas pretreatment of DOX inhibited the production of NO in response to CM in a dose dependent manner. The increased expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein by CM were completely blocked by DOX without affecting the iNOS mRNA stability. However, DOX activated nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) in response to CM. Furthermore, the expression of inhibitor kB$\alpha$ was reduced by DOX in a dose dependent manner. Collectively, DOX inhibited the production of NO by DLD-1 cells, which is not linked to well known transcription factor, NF-kB. Therefore, further studies on the possible mechanisms of inhibitory effects of NO production by DOX would be worth pursuing.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.294-299
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of Red Ginseng-Ejung-tang (RE) on nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide production in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability was measured by modified MTT assay. NO production was measured by Griess reagent assay. Hydrogen peroxide production was measured by dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) assay. RE did not show cell toxicity against RAW 264.7 for 24 hr incubation at the concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/mL$ in RAW 264.7. RE significantly inhibited NO production for 24 hr incubation at the concentrations of 10, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/mL$ in RAW 264.7 (P < 0.05). RE significantly inhibited the LPS-induced production of NO for 24 hr incubation at the concentrations of 10, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/mL$ in RAW 264.7 (P < 0.05). RE significantly inhibited the LPS-induced production of hydrogen peroxide for 16, 24, 40, 48, 64, and 72 hr incubation at the concentrations of 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/mL$ in RAW 264.7 (P < 0.05). These results suggest that RE has anti-inflammatory property related with its inhibition of NO and hydrogen peroxide production in LPS-induced macrophages.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.413-422
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• 2022

Background: The neocortex, including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), contains many neurons expressing nitric oxide synthase (NOS). In addition, increasing evidence shows that the nitric oxide (NO) and opioid systems interact in the brain. However, there have been no studies on the interaction of the opioid and NO systems in the mPFC. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of administrating L-arginine (L-Arg, a precursor of NO) and N(gamma)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, an inhibitor of NOS) into the mPFC for neuropathic pain in rats. Also, we used selective opioid receptor antagonists to clarify the possible participation of the opioid mechanism. Methods: Complete transection of the peroneal and tibial branches of the sciatic nerve was applied to induce neuropathic pain, and seven days later, the mPFC was cannulated bilaterally. The paw withdrawal threshold fifty percent (50% PWT) was recorded on the 14th day. Results: Microinjection of L-Arg (2.87, 11.5 and 45.92 nmol per 0.25 µL) increased 50% PWT. L-NAME (17.15 nmol per 0.25 µL) and naloxonazine (an antagonist of mu opioid receptors, 1.54 nmol per 0.25 µL) inhibited anti-allodynia induced by L-Arg (45.92 nmol per 0.25 µL). Naltrindole (a delta opioid receptor antagonist, 2.45 nmol per 0.25 µL) and nor-binaltorphimine (a kappa opioid receptor antagonist, 1.36 nmol per 0.25 µL) were unable to prevent L-Arg (45.92 nmol per 0.25 µL)-induced antiallodynia. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the NO system in the mPFC regulates neuropathic pain. Mu opioid receptors of this area might participate in pain relief caused by L-Arg.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.447-458
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• 1995

This study was carried out to characterize nonadrenergic, noncholinergic(NANC) relaxation of porcine retractor penis(PRP) muscle induced by electrical field stimulation(EFS) and to investigate the actions of niric oxide(NO) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide(VIP) as candidates for NANC neurotransmitters. Biphasic relaxations of PRP muscle were induced by EFS to NANC nerve. Rapid-phase relaxation was observed at low frequency(0.5-16Hz) and slow-phase relaxation followed during high frequency(8-60Hz). Both relaxations were frequency-dependent and TTX($1{\times}10^{-6}M$)-sensitive. L-NAME($2{\times}10^{-5}M$) inhibited the rapid-phase relaxation, but not the slow-phase relaxation. The inhibition of the rapid-phase relaxation with L-NAME was reversed by L-arginine ($1{\times}10^{-3}M$) but not by D-arginine($1{\times}10^{-3}M$). Methylene blue($4{\times}10^{-5}M$) reduced the rapid-phase relaxation. Exogenous No(ExoNO, $1{\times}10^{-5}-1{\times}10^{-4}M$) induced dose-dependent relaxations of PRP muscle. Oxyhemoglobin($5{\times}1^{-5}M$) blocked the relaxation induced by ExoNO and inhibited EFS-induced relaxation. Hydroquinone($1{\times}10^{-4}M$) also abolished the relaxation induced by ExoNO, but did not affect EFS-induced relaxation. L-NAME resistant slow-phase relaxation to EFS was inhibited by ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin(2.5 U/ml). Both methylene blue($4{\times}10^{-5}M$) and Nethylmaleimide($1{\times}10^{-4}M$) reduced the slow-phase relaxation by EFS. [4-Cl-D-$Phe^6$, $Leu^{17}$]-VIP($3{\times}10^{-6}M$) inhibited the slow-phase relaxation by EFS. External applications of VIP ($1{\times}10^{-7}M$) caused relaxations that were simillar to the L-NAME resistant slow-phase relaxations induced by EFS, and relaxant effects of exogenous VIP were blocked by ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin(2.5 U/ml).

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.221-233
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• 2008

Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) has been known to regulate many physiological and pathological processes, especially the glandular secretion and blood flow. However, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) responsible for NO synthesis has not been well studied ultrastructurally in rat salivary gland. The present study was performed to investigate the distribution of nitric Oxide synthase isoforms (endothelial. neuronal, and inducible NOS). Immunoelectron microscopic study, using monoclonal mouse anti-endothelial NOS, anti-neuronal NOS, and anti-inducible NOS, was performed in the salivary gland of rat. Endothelial NOS (eNOS)-positive immunoreactivities were most prominent in the secretory granules of serous cells of the salivary gland of the rat. Immunoreactivities were well concentrated on serous secretory granules in the serous cells. However, weak eNOS-positive immunoreactivity was observed in the mucous secretory granules of the mucous cells. Positive endothelial NOS (eNOS) immunoreactivities were most prominent in the secretory granules of intralobular ducts. Ductal secretory granules and acinar serous secretory granules have a similar pattern of labeling as eNOS suggestings. Neural NOS (nNOS)-positive immunoreactivity was not detected in duct systems or in acinar cells. Inducible NOS (iNOS)-positive immunoreactivity was not seen in acinar and ductal cells. These results reveal the presence of eNOS in the salivary gland of the rat, which may be related with regulation of the glandular secretion and blood flow through the gland.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.336-344
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• 2017

The anti-inflammatory effects of cell-free extracts from wild yeasts, Meyerozyma guilliermondii YJ34-2 and Rhodotorula graminis YJ36-1, caused by the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) activity and cytotoxic effects were determined. Cell-free extracts from these two yeast strains had dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the production of lipopolysaccharide-induced NO and there were no cytotoxic effects on the treated cells or negative effects on their proliferation. Their cell-free extracts were also shown to have inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and $prostaglandin-E_2$, in a dose-dependent manner. Maximal inhibitory activity on NO production occurred in cell-free extracts of Meyerozyma guilliermondii YJ34-2 cultivated at $30^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr and Rhodotorula graminis YJ36-1 cultivated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr in the yeast extract-peptone-dextrose (YPD) media.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.212-221
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• 1999

The periapical response to injury is a complex interaction of inflammatory, immune, neural, vascular and synthetic activity. Nitric oxide(NO), synthesized by nitric oxide synthetase(NOS) from L-arginine, is becoming recognized as an important bio-regulatory molecule in a variety of tissue, but little is known about its possible role in periapical tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of nitric oxide synthetase(NOS) in tooth follicle, periapical abscess, granuloma and cyst. The expression of NOS in periapical lesions was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for $NOS_2$, and $NOS_3$. The immunoreactivity was evaluated by staining intensity, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Correlationship between the periapical lesion in immunoreractivity were statistically analyzed by SPSS. The degree of $NOS_2$ and $NOS_3$ expression in periapical abscess was higher than in any other periapical lesions, and stastically significant. The expression degree of $NOS_2$ and $NOS_3$ was not correlated with periapical abscess and granuloma, but expression of $NOS_2$ showed very significant in periapical cyst. The increased expression of $NOS_2$ and $NOS_3$ was correlated with inflammatory cell infiltration degree of the periapical cyst. These results suggested that NO should play an important role in progress and/or mediation of periapical lesions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.207-207
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• 1996

Through molecular cloning, five muscarinic receptors have been identified. The muscarinic receptors can be generally grouped according to their coupling to either stimulation of phospholipase C (m1, m3, and m5) or the inhibition of adenylate cyclase (m2 and m4). Each m1, m3, and m5 receptors has the additional potential to couple to the activation of phospholipase A$_2$, C, and D, tyrosine kinase, and the mobilization of Ca$\^$2+/. However, the differences in coupling efficiencies to different second messenger systems between these receptors have not been studied well. Ectopic expression of each of these receptors in mammalian cells has provided the opportunity to evaluate the signal transduction of each in some detail. In this work we compared the coupling efficiencies of the m1, m3 and m5 muscarinic receptors expressed in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to the Ca$\^$2+/ mobilization and the stimulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Because G protein/PLC/PI turnover/[(Ca$\^$2+/])i/NOS pathway was supposed as a main pathway for the production of nitric oxide via muscarinic receptors, we studied on ml, m3 and m5 receptors. Stimulation of guanylate cyclase activity in detector neuroblastoma cells was used as an index of generation nitric oxide (NO) in CHO cells. The agonist carbachol increased the cGMP formation and the intracellular [Ca$\^$2+/] in concentration dependent manner in three types of receptors and the increased cGMP formation was significantly attenuated by scavenger of NO or inhibitor of NOS. m5 receptors was most efficiently coupled to stimulation of nNOS, And, the coupling efficiencies to the stimulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in three types of receptors were parallel with them to the Ca$\^$2+/ mobilization.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.3 s.142
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• pp.245-251
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• 2005

Phytochemical examination of the barks of Actinidia arguta led to the isolation of five flavonoids. Structures of compounds were elucidated as catechin (1), (-)-epicatechin (2), quercetin (3), $quercetin-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (4), $quercetin-3-O-{\beta}-D-galactopyranoside$ (5) by comparison with previously reported spectral evidences. To investigate the anti-oxidative effect and nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory activity of these compounds, DPPH radical scavenging activity and nitric oxide production inhibitory activity in $IFN-{\gamma}$, LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cell were examined. The $IC_{50}s$ were determinied as follows : $1\;$IC_{50}=26.61\;{\mu}g/ml$, $2\;IC_{50}=25.30\;{\mu}g/ml$, $3\;IC_{50}=20.41\;{\mu}g/ml$, $4\;IC_{50}=18.23\;{\mu}g/ml$ , $5\;IC_{50}=30.46\;{\mu}g/ml$, $6\;IC_{50}=28.0;{\mu}g/ml$, $7\;IC_{50}=27.24\;{\mu}/ml$. These NO production inhibitory effects were significantly different compared with the positive control, L-NMMA $(IC_{50}=20.77\;{\mu}g/ml)$, respectively. Compound $1\;(IC_{50}=6.19\;{\mu}g/ml)$, $2\;(IC_{50}=8.98\;{\mu}g/ml)$, $3\;(IC_{50}=7.30\;{\mu}g/ml)$ and $4\;(IC_{50}=7.64\;{\mu}g/ml)$ also showed potent antioxidative activities similar level to ascorbic acid $(IC_{50}=9.22\;{\mu}g/ml)$. These results suggest that barks of A. arguta have a potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity.