• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.143-147
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• 2011

Defensins, cysteine-rich cationic polypeptides released from neutrophils, are known to have powerful antimicrobial properties. In this study, we sacrificed 30 rats to investigate the effects of ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 on detrusor muscle contractions in isolated rat bladder. From the experiments we found relaxing effects of ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 on the contractions induced by phenylephrine (PE) but not by bethanechol (BCh) in the detrusor smooth muscles. To determine the mechanisms of the effects of ${\alpha}$-defensin 1, the changes of effects on PE-induced contraction by ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 pretreatment were observed after pretreatment of Rho kinase inhibitor (Y-27632), protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (Calphostin C), potent activator of PKC (PDBu; phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate), and NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitors (PDTC; pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and sulfasalazine). The contractile responses of PE ($10^{-9}{\sim}10^{-4}$ M) were significantly decreased in some concentrations of ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 ($5{\times}10^{-9}$ and $5{\times}10^{-8}$ M). When strips were pretreated with NF-kB inhibitors (PDTC and sulfasalazine; $10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-6}$ M), the relaxing responses by ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 pretreatment were disappeared. The present study demonstrated that ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 has relaxing effects on the contractions of rat detrusor muscles, through NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Further studies in vivo are required to clarify whether ${\alpha}$-defensin 1 might be clinically related with bladder dysfunction by inflammation process.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.51-57
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• 2010

It was hypothesized that NaF induces calcium sensitization in $Ca^{2+}$-controlled solution in permeabilized rat mesenteric arteries. Rat mesenteric arteries were permeabilized with $\beta$-escin and subjected to tension measurement. NaF potentiated the concentration-response curves to $Ca^{2+}$ (decreased $EC_{50}$ and increased $E_{max}$). Cumulative addition of NaF (4.0, 8.0 and 16 mM) also increased vascular tension in $Ca^{2+}$-controlled solution at pCa 7.0 or pCa 6.5, but not at pCa 8.0. NaF-induced vasocontraction and $GTP{\gamma}S$-induced vasocontraction were not additive. NaF-induced vasocontraction at pCa 7.0 was inhibited by pretreatment with Rho kinase inhibitors H1152 or Y27632 but not with a MLCK inhibitor ML-7 or a PKC inhibitor Ro31-8220. NaF induces calcium sensitization in a $Ca^{2+}$ dependent manner in $\beta$-escin-permeabilized rat mesenteric arteries. These results suggest that NaF is an activator of the Rho kinase signaling pathway during vascular contraction.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.295-302
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• 2008

In the present study, we examined the changes of uptake and efflux of taurine under various conditions inducing oxidative stress using rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell line, TR-TBT cell, as blood-placental barrier in vitro model. In addition, we identified the characteristics of taurine transport in TR-TBT cells including general features, besides effect of calcium ion on taurine transport. Taurine uptake showed time, $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ dependency, and was decreased by PKC activator in TR-TBT cells. Also, calcium free condition decreased taurine uptake and evoked taurine efflux in the cells. Oxidative stress induced the change of taurine transport in TR-TBT cells, but the changes were different depending on the types of stimulation inducing oxidative stress. The taurine uptake was increased by TNF-$\alpha$, LPS and DEM stimulation but decreased by $H_2O_2$ and NO stimulation. Also, the taurine efflux was regulated by TNF-$\alpha$ stimulation. In conclusion, the taurine transport through the blood-placental barrier was regulated in oxidative stress conditions, and these results demonstrated that oxidative stress affected the taurine supplies to fetus and taurine level of fetus.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.211-219
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• 1996

The inhibitory effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) on nitric oxide production is not related to the immunosuppressive action of the drug, but to the renal toxicity and arterial hyper-tension. In this study the experimental interventions to reverse the inhibition of nitric oxide production by cyclosporin A in rat aortic smooth muscle cells were examined. CsA inhibited the accumulation of nitrite, the stable end product of nitric oxide, in culture media in a concentration $(0.1{\sim}100{\mu}g/ml)-dependent$ manner. The inhibitory effect of CsA on nitrite accumulation were not antagonized by arginine (10 mM), a substrate of nitric oxide synthase, nor by calcium ionophore A23187 $(7{\mu}M)$. Forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, which enhanced iNOS induction at transcriptional level, completely reversed the inhibitory action of CsA on nitrite accumulation. However, PMA (2 nM) and PDB (50 nM), PKC activators, increased the inhibitory action of CsA on nitrite accumulalion. From these results, it is suggested that cyclic AMP-elevating agents may be candidates of therapeutic agents in prevention and treatment of renal toxicity and arterial hypertension induced by CsA. Among conventional antihypertensive drugs, calcium channel blockers and ${\alpha}-blockers$ are preferred to ${\beta}-blockers$.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.291-297
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• 1995

본 연구의 목적은 protein kinase C의 활성물질인 phorbol ester의 수축에 대한 cGMP 및 cAMP의 조절기전을 명확히 하기 위하여 흰쥐의 대동맥을 재료로 실험을 수행하였다. Sodium nitroprusside는 guanylyl cyclase를 활성화시켜 cGMP를, forskolin은 adenylyl cyclase를 활성화시켜서 cAMP를 증가시키는 것으로 보고되어 있으므로 위의 두 약물을 선택하였다. Phorbol ester는 시간경과와 함께 지속적인 수축을 발생하였으며 30분경 안정상태에 도달하였다. 동시에 20-kDa myosin light chain (MLC)의 인산화도 증가하였으며 30분경 최대치를 나타내었다. Sodium nitroprusside와 forskolin은 phorbol ester에 의한 수축을 농도의존적으로 억제하였으나 sodium nitroprusside가 forskolin보다 더욱 민감하게 억제하였다. Phorbol ester는 $^{45}Ca^{2+}$의 유입을 증가시켰고 sodium nitroprusside와 forskolin은 이 증가된 $^{45}Ca^{2+}$을 유의하게 억제하였다. Phorbol ester에 의하여 증가된 MLC의 인산화는 sodium nitroprusside 및 forskolin 각각의 최대농도로 억제되었다. 이상과 같은 결과로 볼때 아마도 cGMP와 cAMP는 phorbol ester에 의한 수축을 $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ 유입억제에 이은 MLC 인산화 억제에 의하여 이완작용을 나타내는 것으로 추측되며 cGMP가 cAMP보다 protein kinase C 매개의 수축조절에 더 중요하게 작용하리라 추측된다.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.135-144
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• 1991

흰쥐 말초혈액에서 얻은 T 림프구를 아드레날린성 ${\beta}-$수용체 효현제 및 concanavalin A(Con-A)로 자극해 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 자극이 없는 상태에서의 주 인산화 단백은 분자량 44kD, 등전점 6.8의 단백이었으며 효현제로 자극시키면 분자량 44kD, 등전점 6.3의 단백이 새로이 인산화되어 나타났다. 이 분자량 44kD, 등전점 6.3의 단백은 forskolin에 의해 역시 인산화되며 A-kinase 억제제인 H-8을 전처치하면 인산화의 억제가 나타났다. 또한 Con-A로 자극시키면 44 kD/pI 6.3 단백의 인산화가 증가되었으며 이 인산화의 증가는 CaM kinase 억제제인 W-7 전처치에 의해 억제되었다. H-7은 분자량 44 kD, 등전점 6.8 단백의 인산화를 감소 시켰다. 이상의 결과로 분자량 44 kD 등전점 6.3의 단백은 A-kinase와 CaM kinase 모두에 의해 인산화 되는 기질단백으로서 tryptic peptide map상에서 44 kD/pI 6.8 단백과 44 kD/pI 6.3 단백은 서로 다른 단백임을 알 수 있었다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권12호
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• pp.1064-1070
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• 2015

Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) is a mitochondrial outer membrane protein and is abundantly expressed in a variety of organ and tissues. To date, the functional role of TSPO on vascular endothelial cell activation has yet to be fully elucidated. In the present study, the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 250 nM), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), was used to induce vascular endothelial activation. Adenoviral TSPO overexpression (10-100 MOI) inhibited PMA-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in a dose dependent manner. PMA-induced VCAM-1 expressions were inhibited by Mito-TEMPO ($0.1-0.5{\mu}m$), a specific mitochondrial antioxidants, and cyclosporin A ($1-5{\mu}m$), a mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitor, implying on an important role of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the endothelial activation. Moreover, adenoviral TSPO overexpression inhibited mitochondrial ROS production and manganese superoxide dismutase expression. On contrasts, gene silencing of TSPO with siRNA increased PMA-induced VCAM-1 expression and mitochondrial ROS production. Midazolam ($1-50{\mu}m$), TSPO ligands, inhibited PMA-induced VCAM-1 and mitochondrial ROS production in endothelial cells. These results suggest that mitochondrial TSPO can inhibit PMA-induced endothelial inflammation via suppression of VCAM-1 and mitochondrial ROS production in endothelial cells.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제10권5호
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• pp.456-466
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• 2000

Aquaperin 4 (AQP4) is the mercurial water channel expressed abundantly in brain, especially the region related with cerebrospinal fluid reabsorption and osmoregulation. The primary structure of AQP4 water channel was elucidated but the molecular mechanism of AQP4 channel regulation is still unknown. To investigate the possible regulation of AQP4 water channel by phosphorylation via various protein kinases, osmotic water permeability of AQP4 expressed in Xenopus oocytes was measured by videomicroscopy technique. Forskolin (10 $\mu$M) did not affect osmotic water permeability of oocytes injected with AQP4 cRNA, excluding the regulation of AQP4 water cnannel by protein kinase A. Osmotic water permeability (P아래첨자) of AQP4-expressed oocytes was ingibited by the pretreatmeat of BAPTA/AM (up to 500$\mu$M), an intracellular Ca윗첨자 chelator, and calmidazolium (100$\mu$M), a specific Ca윗첨자/calmodulin antagonist, in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of osmotic water permeability (P아래첨자) by the calmidazolium treatment was completely reversed by the addition of calyculin A (0.1$\mu$M), a nonspecific phosphatase inhibitor. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C activator, had biphasic effects on osmotic water permeability in AQP4 cRNA injected oocytes depending on its concentration; 21% increase by 100 nM PMA, 35% decrease by 1$\mu$M PMA. These effects were reversed with 2$\mu$M staurosporine, a nonspecific PKC inhibitor. These results suggest that phosphorylation of AQP4 water channel by Ca윗첨자/calmodulin kinase and protein kinase C might regulate the osmotic water permeability.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.319-325
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• 2001

Several recent studies demonstrate that cAMP accumulation evokes marked changes in magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$) homeostasis. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin, the principal hormone of the vertebral pineal gland, on $Mg^{2+}$ regulation in perfused guinea pig hearts. We hypothesized that melationin would regulate $Mg^{2+}$ efflux induced by adrenergic drugs and cAMP analogues because melatonin inhibites adneylate cyclase (AC) and phospholipase C(PLC) in the hearts. The $Mg^{2+}$ content in the perfusate was significantly higher in the presence than in the absence of melatonin. The addition of forskolin, isoproterenol or dimaprit to perfused hearts induced a marked $Mg^{2+}$ efflux. These effluxes were not inhibited by melatonin. The $Mg^{2+}$ efflux could also be induced by phenylephrine, a ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor agonist. This phenylephrine-induced $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was inhibited by melatonin. In addition, the phenylephrine-induced $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was potentiated by PMA, a protein kinase C(PKC) activator. This $Mg^{2+}$ efflux was inhibited by melatonin. In conclusion, these data suggest that melatonin regulates $Mg^{2+}$ homeostasis and the inhibitory effect of melatonin on ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor-stimulated $Mg^{2+}$ efflux may occur through an inhibition of PLC pathway in perfused guinea pig hearts.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.65-76
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• 2007

Purpose: It is generally accepted that smooth muscle contraction is triggered by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) released from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores such as sarcoplasmic teticulum (SR) and from the extracellular space. The increased $[Ca^{2+}]^i$ can phosphorylate the 20,000 dalton myosin light chain $(MLC_{20})$ by activating MLC kinase (MLCK), and this initiates smooth muscle contraction. In addition to the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$MACK-tension pathway, a number of intracellular signal molecules, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC) and others, play important roles in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. However, the mechanisms regulating contraction of depletion of SR $Ca^{2+}$ in mouse gastric smooth muscle strips is not still clear. Methods: To investigate the rotes of $Ca^{2+}$ influx and SR $Ca^{2+}$ release channel on gastric motility, isometric contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ were examined in mouse gastric smooth muscle strips. Results: High KCl, ryanodine, an activator of $Ca^{2+-}$induced $Ca^{2+}$ release channel, and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), an inhibitor of SR $Ca^{2+-}$ATPase evoked a sustained increase in muscle contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. These increases induced by high KCl, ryanodine, and CPA were partially blocked by application of verapamil ($10{\mu}M$), a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel inhibitor. Additionally, in $Ca^{2+-}$free solution (1 mM EGTA), ryanodine and CPA had no effect contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in fundic muscle strips. Conclusion: These results that extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx and depletion of SR trigger $Ca^{2+}$ influx through verapamil-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ channel, and extracellular and SR $Ca^{2+}$ store may functionally involve in the subcellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization in mouse gastric muscle.