• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.504-509
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• 2008

Three G-protein-linked acetylcholine receptors (GARs) exist in the nematode C. elegans. GAR-3 is pharmacologically most similar to mammalian muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). We observed that carbachol stimulated ERK1/2 activation in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing GAR-3b, the predominant alternatively spliced isoform of GAR-3. This effect was substantially reduced by the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122 and the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X, implying that PLC and PKC are involved in this process. On the other hand, GAR-3b-mediated ERK1/2 activation was inhibited by treatment with forskolin, an adenylate cyclase (AC) activator. This inhibitory effect was blocked by H89, an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). These results suggest that GAR-3b-mediated ERK1/2 activation is negatively regulated by cAMP through PKA. Together our data show that GAR-3b mediates ERK1/2 activation in CHO cells and that GAR-3b can couple to both stimulatory and inhibitory pathways to modulate ERK1/2.

• Mycobiology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.161-170
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• 2009

Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycete human fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. The ability to sense and respond to diverse extracellular signals is essential for the pathogen to infect and cause disease in the host. Four major stress-activated signaling (SAS) pathways have been characterized in C. neoformans, including the HOG (high osmolarity glycerol response), PKC/Mpk1 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), calcium-dependent calcineurin, and RAS signaling pathways. The HOG pathway in C. neoformans not only controls responses to diverse environmental stresses, including osmotic shock, UV irradiation, oxidative stress, heavy metal stress, antifungal drugs, toxic metabolites, and high temperature, but also regulates ergosterol biosynthesis. The PKC(protein kinase C)/Mpk1 pathway in C. neoformans is involved in a variety of stress responses, including osmotic, oxidative, and nitrosative stresses and breaches of cell wall integrity. The $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin- and Ras-signaling pathways also play critical roles in adaptation to certain environmental stresses, such as high temperature and sexual differentiation. Perturbation of the SAS pathways not only impairs the ability of C. neoformans to resist a variety of environmental stresses during host infection, but also affects production of virulence factors, such as capsule and melanin. A drug(s) capable of targeting signaling components of the SAS pathway will be effective for treatment of cryptococcosis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 1998

Hypericin, a photosensitizing plant pigment, was found to be a potent inducer of differentiation of human myeloid leukemia U-937 cells. At a concentration of $0.2{\mu}M$, hypericin exhibited 50% growth inhibition. An effect on cell differentiation by hypericin was assessed by its ability to induce phagocytosis of latex particles, and to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). Approximately 51% of $0.2{\mu}M$ hypericin-treated cells were stained with NBT and 63% showed phagocytic activity. In order to establish whether hypericin induces differentiation of U-937 cells to macrophage or granulocyte, esterase activities and cell sizes were measured. When U-937 cells were treated with $0.2{\mu}M$ and $0.15{\mu}M$ of hypericin, the .alpha.-naphthyl acetate esterase activity was increased by 38.4% and 48.1%, respectively, but naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase activity was not influenced. The size of hypericin-treated cells in terms of cell mass was larger than that observed in untreated cells as determined by flow cytometry. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, NA-382, decreased the NBT reducing activity of hypericin, whereas a cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H-89, did not show any influence on the differentiations. These results indicate that hypericin triggers differentiation toward monocyte/macrophage lineage by PKC stimulation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2023

In this investigation, we made a study of the efficacy of luteolin (a flavonoid found in plants such as vegetables, herbs and fruits) on vascular contractibility and to elucidate the mechanism underlying the relaxation. Isometric contractions of denuded muscles were stored and combined with western blot analysis which was conducted to assess the phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and phosphorylation-dependent inhibitory protein for myosin phosphatase (CPI-17) and to examine the effect of luteolin on the RhoA/ROCK/CPI-17 pathway. Luteolin significantly alleviated phorbol ester-, fluoride- and thromboxane mimetic-elicited contractions regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, implying its direct effect on smooth muscle. It also significantly alleviated the fluoride-elicited elevation in pCPI-17 and pMYPT1 levels and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-elicited increase in pERK1/2 level, suggesting depression of ROCK and PKC/MEK activity and ensuing phosphorylation of MYPT1, CPI-17 and ERK1/2. Taken together, these results suggest that luteolin-elicited relaxation includes myosin phosphatase reactivation and calcium desensitization, which seems to be arbitrated by CPI-17 dephosphorylation via ROCK/PKC inhibition.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.60-64
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• 2016

In the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases such as allergies, S100A8 acts as an important molecule and T lymphocytes are essential cytokine-releasing cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of S100A8 on release of cytokines, specifically MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in T cells, and its associated signaling mechanism. S100A8 increased secretion of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Elevated secretion of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 due to S100A8 was inhibited by the TLR4 inhibitor TLR4i, the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, the $PKC{\delta}$ inhibitor rottlerin, the ERK inhibitor PD98059, the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190, the JNK inhibitor SP600125, and the NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor BAY-11-7085. S100A8 induced phosphorylation of ERK, p38 MAPK, and JNK in a time-dependent manner, and activation was suppressed by TLR4i, LY294002, and rottlerin. S100A8 induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$ degradation, and NF-${\kappa}B$ activity was suppressed by PD98059, SB202190, and SP600125. These results indicate that S100A8 induces cytokine release via TLR4. Study of PI3K, $PKC{\delta}$, MAPKs, and NF-${\kappa}B$ will contribute to elucidation of the S100A8-invovled mechanism.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2020

Obejectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Yijin-tang on pacemaker potentials of small intestinal interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC). Methods : To dissociate the ICC, we used enzymatic digestions from the small intestine in mice. The electrophysiological whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in the cultured ICC and the in vivo effects of Yijin-tang on GI motility were investigated by calculating percent intestinal transit rates (ITR). Results : 1. The ICC generated pacemaker potentials in the murine small intestine. Yijin-tang produced membrane depolarization with concentration-dependent manners in the current clamp mode. 2. Pretreatment with a Ca²⁺ free solution and thapsigargin, a Ca²⁺-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum, stopped the pacemaker potentials. In the case of Ca²⁺-free solutions and thapsigargin, Yijin-tang did not induce membrane potential depolarizations. 3. U73122, a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors, blocked the Yijin-tang-induced membrane potential depolarizations. However, U73343, an inactive PLC inhibitors, did not block. 4. In the presence of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, staurosporine or Rottlerin, Yijin-tang depolarized the pacemaker potentials. However, in the presence of Go6976, Yijin-tang did not depolarize the pacemaker potentials. 5. In mice, intestinal transit rate (ITR) values were significantly and dose-dependently increased by the intragastric administration of Yijin-tang. Conclusions : These results suggest that Yijin-tang can modulate the pacemaker activity of ICC through an internal/external Ca²⁺ and PLC/PKC-dependent pathway in ICC. In addition, Yijin-tang is a good candidate for the development of a prokinetic agent.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2009

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) by anticancer agents in rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was examined. PMN treated for short term (< or = 4 h) with cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, tamoxifen and doxifluridine, respectively, exhibited an enhanced respiratory burst upon formylmethionylleucy1-phenylalanine (FMLP) stimulation. In the long term (> 4h), the production of ROS was suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner. The production of superoxide anion (${O_2}^-$) from the FMLP-stimulated PMN was enhanced by the treatment (for 1 hr) of cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, tamoxifen and doxifluridine, respectively. While 1 hr-treatment with cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, tamoxifen, and doxifluridine, respectively, suppressed the production of NO from the FMLP-stimulated PMN, while 8 hr-treatment enhanced the production of NO. Neomycin suppressed chemiluminescence in cisplatin-, tamoxifen- and doxifluridine-pretreated PMN, however near suppression of chemiluminescence by ethanol and genistein was observed in PMN pretreated with these agents. Staurosporine and bisindolylmaleimide suppressed chemiluminescence in cisplatin- and doxifluridine- pretreated PMN. Wortmannin has shown a slight suppression in cyclophosphamide-, cisplatin- and tamoxifen-pretreated PMN, but a strong suppression in doxifluridine-pretreated PMN. Methionine strongly suppressed in cyclophosphamide and cisplatin-pretreated PMN. In conclusion, these results indicate that long term treatment of PMN with cisplatin and doxifluridine inhibit respiratory burst through protein kinase C (PKC) translocation, phospholipase C (PLC), D (PLD) and tyrosine phosphorylation kinase (TPK) activation. Tamoxifen inhibits respiratory burst through PLC, PLD, TPK. Cyclophosphamide inhibits respiratory burst through myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 1999

The production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are known to be modulated by a variety of factors. Recent study showed that endotoxin-induced NO synthesis and iNOS expression were greatly enhanced by elevation of extracellular glucose concentration in murine macrophages. Although this was suggested to be due to the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) via sorbitol pathway, there was lack of evidence for this speculation. This study was performed to delineate the underlying intracellular mechanisms of glucose-enhancing effect on endotoxin-induced NO production in Raw264.7 macrophages. The levels of NO release induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) significantly increased by the treatment of glucose in a concentration dependent manner and also, this effect was observed in LPS-preprimed cells. Concurrent incubation of cells with PKC inhibitors, H-7 or chelerythrine, and LPS resulted in the diminution of NO production regardless of glucose concentration but this was not in the case of LPS-prepriming, that is, chelerythrine showed a minimal effect on the glucose- enhancing effect. PMA, a PKC activator, did not show any significant effect on glucose-associated NO production. Modulation of sorbitol pathway with zopolrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, did not affect LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression under high glucose condition. And also, sodium pyruvate, which is expected to normalize cytosolic $NADH/NAD^+$ ratio, did not show any significant effect at concentrations of up to 10 mM. Glucosamine marginally increased the endotoxin-induced nitrite release in both control and high glucose treated group. 6-diazo-5-oxonorleucine (L-DON) and azaserine, glutamine: fructose- 6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) inhibitors, significantly diminished the augmentation effect of high glucose on endotoxin-induced NO production. On the other hand, negative modulation of GFAT inhibitors was not reversed by the treatment of glucosamine, suggesting the minimal involvement, if any, of glucosamine pathway in glucose-enhancing effect. In summary, these results strongly suggest that the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway and the activation of PKC via sorbitol pathway do not contribute to the augmenting effect of high glucose on endotoxin induced NO production in macrophage-like Raw264.7 cells.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2006

Among poly aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxin and PCBs are the most controversial environmental pollutants in our modern life. These pollutants are known as human carcinogens, and liver is the most sensitive target in animal cancer models. Specific aims of the study were focused on the mechanism of carcinogenesis in hepatocytes and the structure-activity relation among these diverse environmental chemicals. Because key mechanisms of dioxin-induced carcinogenesis in human epithelial cell model are the alteration of signal transduction pathway and PKC isoforms, the alteration of the signal transduction pathways and other factors associated with carcinogenesis were studied. Rat hepatocytes cultured under the sandwich protocols were exposed with the various concentration of dioxins and PCBs, and signal transduction pathway, protein kinase C isoforms, oxidant stress, and apoptotic nuclei were evaluated. Since it is important to understand the structure-activity relation among these chemicals to properly assess the carcinogenic potentials, the study analyzed the parameters associated with carcinogenic processes, based on their structural characteristics. In addition, signal transduction pathways and PKC isoforms involved in inhibition of UV-induced apoptosis were also analyzed to elaborate the tumor promotion mechanism of these chemicals. Induction of apoptosis by UV irradiation was optimal at $60\;J/m^2$ in primary hepatocyte in culture. Compared to non coplanar PCBs such as PCB 114 and PCB 153, coplanar PCBs such as PCB 77 and PCB126 showed a stronger inhibition of apoptosis induced by UV irradiation. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was more stimulated by non-coplanar PCBs than coplanar PCBs with the most potent induction of ROS by chlorinated non-coplanar PCB. As compared to the level of induction by PCB126, non-coplanar PCB153 showed a higher increase of intracellular concentrations. Besides the alteration of intracellular calcium concentration, translocation of PKC from cytosolic fraction to membrane fraction was clearly observed upon the exposure of non-coplanar PCB. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that there is a potent structure-activity relationship among PCB congeners and the mechanism of PAH-induced carcinogenesis is structure-specific. The study suggested that more diverse pathways of PAH-induced carcinogenesis should be taken into account beyond the boundary of Ah receptor dogma to assess the health impact of PAH with more accuracy.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 1998

$Mg^{2+}$ is one of the most abundant divalent cations in mammalian body(0.2~1.0mM) and the important physiological roles are : first, the cofactor of many enzyme activities, second, the regulator of glycolysis and DNA synthesis, third, the important role of bioenergetics by regulating of phosphorylation, fourth, the influence of cardiac metabolism and function. In this work we have investigated the regulation of the $Mg^{2+}$ induced by ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ stimulation in perfused guinea pig hearts and isolated myocytes. The $Mg^{2+}$ content of the perfusate or the supernatant was measured by atomic absorbance spectrophotometry. The elimination of $Mg^{2+}$ in the medium increased the force of contraction of right ventricular papillary muscles, and the left ventricular pressure. Phenylephrine also enhanced the force of contraction in the presence of $Mg^{2+}-free$ medium. ${\alpha}_1-Agonists$ such as phenylephrine and methoxamine were found to induce $Mg^{2+}$ efflux in both perfused hearts and myocytes. These effects were blocked by prazosin, an ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ antagonist. The $Mg^{2+}$ influx could also be induced by phenylephrine and R59022, a diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor. In the presence of protein kinase C(PKC) inhibitors, phenylephrine produced an increase in $Mg^{2+}$ efflux from perfused hearts. Furthermore, $Mg^{2+}$ efflux by phenylephrine was amplified by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA). This enhancement of $Mg^{2+}$ efflux by PMA was blocked by prazosin in perfused hearts. By contrast, the $Mg^{2+}$ influx could be induced by verapamil, nifedipine, ryanodine in perfused hearts, but not in myocytes. $W^7$, a $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin antagonist, completely blocked the phenylephrine-induced $Mg^{2+}$ efflux in perfused hearts. In conclusion, $Mg^{2+}$ is responsible for the cardiac activity associated with ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ stimulation. The mobilization of $Mg^{2+}$ is decreased or increased by ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ stimulation in guinea pig hearts. These responses may be related specifically to the respective pathways of signal transduction. A decrease in $Mg^{2+}$ efflux by ${\alpha}_1-adrenoceptor$ stimulation in hearts can be through PKC dependent and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels.