• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.247-254
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• 2015

In this presentation, I describe the expression and purification of the recombinant liver X receptor β-ligand binding domain proteins in E. coli using a commercially available double cistronic vector, pACYCDuet-1, to express the receptor heterodimer in a single cell as the soluble form. I describe here the expression and characterization of a biologically active heterodimer composed of the liver X receptor β-ligand binding domain and retinoid X receptor α-ligand binding domain. Although many of these proteins were previously seen to be produced in E. coli as insoluble aggregates or "inclusion bodies", I show here that as a form of heterodimer they can be made in soluble forms that are biologically active. This suggests that co-expression of the liver X receptor β-ligand binding domain with its binding partner improves the solubility of the complex and probably assists in their correct folding, thereby functioning as a type of molecular chaperone.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.175-179
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• 2009

High concentrations of ATP induce membrane blebbing. However, the underlying mechanism involved in epithelial cells remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) in membrane blebbing using Par C5 cells. We stimulated the cells with 5 mM of ATP for 1${\sim}$2 hrs and found the characteristics of membrane blebbing, a hallmark of apoptotic cell death. In addition, 500 ${\mu}M$ Bz-ATP, a specific P2X7R agonist, induced membrane blebbing. However, 300 ${\mu}M$ of Ox-ATP, a P2X7R antagonist, inhibited ATP-induced membrane blebbing, suggesting that ATP-induced membrane blebbing is mediated by P2X7R. We found that ATP-induced membrane blebbing was mediated by ROCK I activation and MLC phosphorylation, but not by caspase-3. Five mM of ATP evoked a biphasic $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ response; a transient $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ peak and sustained $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase secondary to ATP-stimulated $Ca^{2+}$ influx. These results suggest that P2X7R plays a role in membrane blebbing of the salivary gland epithelial cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제12권6호
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• pp.315-321
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• 2008

Eugenol is widely used in dentistry to relieve pain. We have recently demonstrated voltage-gated $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ channels as molecular targets for its analgesic effects, and hypothesized that eugenol acts on $P2X_3$, another pain receptor expressed in trigeminal ganglion (TG), and tested the effects of eugenol by whole-cell patch clamp and $Ca^{2+}$ imaging techniques. In the present study, we investigated whether eugenol would modulate 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-induced currents in rat TG neurons and $P2X_3$-expressing human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. ATP-induced currents in TG neurons exhibited electrophysiological properties similar to those in HEK293 cells, and both ATP- and $\alpha$, $\beta$-meATP-induced currents in TG neurons were effectively blocked by TNP-ATP, suggesting that $P2X_3$ mediates the majority of ATP-induced currents in TG neurons. Eugenol inhibited ATP-induced currents in both capsaicin-sensitive and capsaicin-insensitive TG neurons with similar extent, and most ATP-responsive neurons were IB4-positive. Eugenol inhibited not only $Ca^{2+}$ transients evoked by $\alpha$, $\beta$-meATP, the selective $P2X_3$ agonist, in capsaicin-insensitive TG neurons, but also ATP-induced currents in $P2X_3$-expressing HEK293 cells without co-expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). We suggest, therefore, that eugenol inhibits $P2X_3$ currents in a TRPV1-independent manner, which contributes to its analgesic effect.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.123-128
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• 2016

본 연구는 안면부 신경병증 통증 모델에서 간극결합을 분리하는 Carbenoxolone(CBX)과 P2X 수용체의 길항제(iso-PPADS)의 진통작용을 확인하고자 수행되었다. 실험동물은 Sprague-Dawley계 수컷 흰쥐(240~280g)를 사용하였으며, 안면부 신경병증 통증을 유발하기 위해 흰쥐의 하악 왼쪽 두 번째 어금니를 발거하고, 아랫 이틀신경의 손상을 유도하기 위해 소형 치과용 임플란트를 식립하였다. CBX를 복강으로 하루 2번 투여 했을 때, 25ug/kg에서 유의한 진통반응이 나타났다(p<0.05). iso-PPADS 역시 복강으로 하루 2번 투여 했을 때, 25ug/kg에서 유의한 진통반응이 나타났다(p<0.05). 두 약물의 각각의 효과가 나타나지 않은 저 농도에서 함께 투여하였을 때, CBX 1ug/kg, iso-PPADS 2.5ug/kg를 투여 시 유의한 진통 효과가 나타났다(p<0.05). 저 농도의 CBX를 이용한 간극결합의 차단과 저 농도의 P2X 수용체의 길항제를 함께 투여 시 구강 안면신경병증통증기전에서 통증을 억제하는 효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과를 통하여 CBX를 이용한 간극결합의 차단과 P2X 수용체의 길항제의 투여가 안면부 통증조절에 중요한 역할을 담당할 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국생물물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물물리학회 2003년도 정기총회 및 학술발표회
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• pp.55-55
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• 2003

P2X$_3$ receptor, a member of P2 purine receptors, is a ligand-gated ion channel activated by extracellular ATP as an endogenous ligand, and highly localized in peripheral and central sensory neurons. The activation of P2X3 receptor by ATP as the pronociceptive effect has been known to initiate the pain signaling involved in chronic inflammatory nociception and neuropathic pain by nerve injury, implicating the possibility of new drug development to control pains. In this study, we have developed a two electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) assay system to evaluate the inhibitory activity of several newly synthesized PPADS and a novel non-ionic antagonist against ATP activation of human P2X3 receptor. PPADS derivatives include several pyridoxine and pyridoxic acid analogs to study the effects of phosphate and aldehyde functional groups in PPADS. All new PPADS analogs were less potent than PPADS at human P2X$_3$ receptors, however, LDD130, a non-ionic analog showed potent antagonistic property with $IC_{50}$/ of 8.34 pM. In order to uncover the structure activity relationships of LDD130, and design new structural analogs, we synthesized and investigated a few structural variants of LDD130, and the results will be discussed in this presentation.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2012

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1)은 $17^{\circ}C$보다 낮은 유해한 온도 및 자극적인 화합물에 의해 활성화되며 통각을 조절한다. 그러나 TRPA1에 의한 통각정보가 어떻게 처리되는지에 대한 정보는 많이 알려져 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 흰쥐의 삼차신경절에서 TRPA1을 발현하는 신경세포의 특성을 규명하기 위해서, 면역형광기법을 사용하여 TRPA1을 발현하는 신경세포에서 다른 통각수용기들에서 발현되며, 특징적인 기능을 수행하는 수용기인 transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)와 $P2X_3$와의 발현양상을 조사하였다. TRPA1을 발현하는 신경세포에서 열감각수용기이며, 통각표지자인 TRPV1과의 공존을 조사해 본 결과, TRPA1 면역양성 신경세포 중에서 58.8% (328/558)가 TRPV1을 동시에 발현하였으며, 41.2% (230/558)가 TRPA1만 발현하고 TRPV1을 발현하지 않았다. TRPA1을 발현하는 신경세포 중 TRPV1을 동시에 발현하는 신경세포는 대부분 작거나 중간크기였다. 또한 TRPA1과 조직의 손상, 그리고 염증 시 분비되는 ATP와 결합하는 $P2X_3$와의 공존을 조사해 본 결과, TRPA1 면역양성 신경세포 중에서 26.1% (310/1186)의 신경세포에서 $P2X_3$을 동시에 발현하였으며, 73.9% (876/1186)의 신경세포에서 TRPA1만 발현하였다. TRPA1을 발현하는 신경세포 중 $P2X_3$을 동시에 발현하는 신경세포는 대부분 작거나 중간크기였다. 이러한 결과는 TRPA1을 발현하는 신경세포가 TRPV1 또는 $P2X_3$를 동시에 발현함으로써 동일한 신경세포가 구강안면영역에서의 냉통각 및 열통각을 조절할 뿐 아니라, 냉통각 및 염증성동통을 동시에 전달하는 등 하나의 신경세포가 여러 가지 통각의 전달에 관여하는 것을 시사한다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제29권11호
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• pp.1032-1041
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• 2006

Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) affects the function of many tissues and cells. To confirm the biological activity of ATP on human myeloid leukemic cells, F-36P and HL-60, cells were treated with a variety of concentrations of ATP. The stimulation with extracellular ATP induced the arrest of cell proliferation and cell death. from the analysis of Annexin-V staining and caspase activity by flow cytometry. The Annexin-V positive cells in both cell lines were dramatically increased following ATP stimulation. The expression of P2 purinergic receptor genes was confirmed, such as P2X1, P2X4, P2X5, P2X7 and P2Y1, P2Y2, P2Y4, P2Y5, P2Y6, P2Y11 in both leukemic cell lines. Interestingly, ATP induced intracellular calcium flux in HL-60 cells but not in F-36P cells, as determined by Fluo-3 AM staining. Cell cycle analysis revealed that ATP treatment arrested both F-36P and HL-60 cells at G1/G0. Taken together, these data showed that extracellular ATP via P2 receptor genes was involved in the cell proliferation and survival in human myeloid leukemic cells, HL-60 and F-36P cells by the induction of apoptosis and control of cell cycle. Our data suggest that treatment with extracellular nucleotides may be a novel and powerful therapeutic avenue for myeloid leukemic disease.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.143-150
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• 2019

Chronic neuropathic pain is one of the primary causes of disability subsequent to spinal cord injury. Patients experiencing neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury suffer from poor quality of life, so complementary therapy is seriously needed. Dehydrocorybulbine is an alkaloid extracted from Corydalis yanhusuo. It effectively alleviates neuropathic pain. In the present study, we explored the effect of dehydrocorybulbine on neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury and delineated its possible mechanism. Experiments were performed in rats to evaluate the contribution of dehydrocorybulbine to P2X4 signaling in the modulation of pain-related behaviors and the levels of pronociceptive interleukins and proteins after spinal cord injury. In a rat contusion injury model, we confirmed that chronic neuropathic pain is present on day 7 after spinal cord injury and P2X4R expression is exacerbated after spinal cord injury. We also found that administration of dehydrocorybulbine by tail vein injection relieved pain behaviors in rat contusion injury models without affecting motor functions. The elevation in the levels of pronociceptive interleukins ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-18, MMP-9) after spinal cord injury was mitigated by dehydrocorybulbine. Dehydrocorybulbine significantly mitigated the upregulation of P2X4 receptor and reduced ATP-evoked intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Both P2XR and dopamine receptor2 agonists antagonized dehydrocorybulbine's antinociceptive effects. In conclusion, we propose that dehydrocorybulbine produces antinociceptive effects in spinal cord injury models by inhibiting P2X4R.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.143-148
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• 2011

The present study investigated the role of peripheral P2X receptors in inflammatory pain transmission in the orofacial area in rats. Experiments were carried out on male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220 to 280 g. Formalin (5%, 50 ${\mu}L$) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, 25 ${\mu}L$) was applied subcutaneously to the vibrissa pad to produce inflammatory pain. TNP-ATP, a $P2X_{2,2/3,4}$ receptor antagonist, or OX-ATP, a $P2X_7$ receptor antagonist, was then injected subcutaneously at 20 minutes prior to formalin injection. One of the antagonists was administered subcutaneously at three days after CFA injection. The subcutaneous injection of formalin produced a biphasic nociceptive behavioral response. Subcutaneous pretreatment with TNP-ATP (80, 160 or 240 ${\mu}g$) significantly suppressed the number of scratches in the second phase produced by formalin injection. The subcutaneous injection of 50 ${\mu}g$ of OX-ATP also produced significant antinociceptive effects in the second phase. Subcutaneous injections of CFA produced increases in mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. Both TNP-ATP (480 ${\mu}g$) and OX-ATP (100 ${\mu}g$) produced an attenuation of mechanical hypersensitivity. However, no change was observed in thermal hypersensitivity after the injection of either chemical. These results suggest that the blockade of peripheral P2X receptors is a potential therapeutic approach to the onset of inflammatory pain in the orofacial area.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.141-148
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• 2006

The effects of adenosine triphosphate(ATP) on salivary glands have been recognized since 1982. The presence of purinergic recepetors(P2Rs) that mediate the effects of ATP in various tissues, including parotid and submandibular salivary gland, has been supported by the cloning of receptor cDNAs and the expression of the receptor proteins. P2Rs have many subtypes, and the activation of these receptor subtypes increase intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, a key ion in the regulation of the secretion in the salivary gland. The apical pores of taste buds in circumvallate and foliate papillae are surrounded by the saliva from von Ebner salivary gland(vEG). Thus, it is important how the secretion of vEG is controlled. This study was designed to elucidate the roles of P2Rs on salivary secretion of vEG. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (about 200 g) were used for this experiment. vEG-rich tissues were obtained from dissecting $500-1,000\;{\mu}m$ thick posterior tongue slices under stereomicroscope view. P2Rs mRNA in vEG acinar cells were identified with RT-PCR. To observe the change in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ activity, we employed $Ca^{2+}-ion$ specific fluorescence analysis with fura-2. Single acinar cells and cell clusters were isolated by a sequential trypsin/collagenase treatment and were loaded with $10\;{\mu}M$ fura -2 AM for 60 minutes at room temperature. Several agonists and antagonists were used to test a receptor specificity. RT-PCR revealed that the mRNAs of $P2X_4$, $P2Y_1$, $P2Y_2$ and $P2Y_3$ are expressed in vEG acinar cells. The intracellular calcium activity was increased in response to $10\;{\mu}M$ ATP, a P2Rs agonist, and 2-MeSATP, a $P2Y_1$ and $P2Y_2R$ agonist. However, $300\;{\mu}M\;{\alpha}{\beta}-MeATP$, a $P2X_1$ and $P2X_3R$ agonist, did not elicit the response. The responses elicited by $10\;{\mu}M$ ATP and UTP, a $P2Y_2R$ agonists, were maintained when extracellular calcium was removed. $10\;{\mu}M$ suramin, a P2XR antagonist, and reactive blue 2, a P2YR antagonist, partially blocked ATP-induced response. However, when extracellular calciums were removed, suramin did not abolish the responses elicited by ATP. These results suggest that P2Rs play an important role in salivary secretion of vEG acinar cells and the effects of ATP on vEG salivary secretion may be mediated by $P2X_4$, $P2Y_1$, $P2Y_2$, and/or $P2Y_3$.