• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 1971

The excretion of uric acid in man has been of great interest because of its importance as an end product in purine metabolism as well as of its role in causing gout. There are many differences in the modes of renal handling of urate among various species of animals. Uric acid actively secreted by the renal tubules of most vertebrate including amphibians, reptiles, and birds. On the other hand, in most mammals net tubular reabsorption of urate appears to be occurred with some exception, such, as Dalmatian dog. In the rabbits, however, the mechanism of renal excretion of uric acid has long been a subject of controversial results. Within a given group it was possible to find individuals with either net secretion or net reabsorption of urate depend on the experimental conditions. Excretion of urate can be depressed or enhanced by a variety of drugs belonging mainly to the aromatic acid group. Diodrast, probenecid, cinchophen and salicylates have been reported as uricosuric agents, on the other hand, lactate, benzoate, pyrazinoic acid, acetazolamide and chlorothiazide are known to be contraindicated to use for the patient with gout since these agents depress the excretion of uric acid from the kidney. However, complex and sometimes the paradoxical effects on the urate excretion by those above mentioned drugs are not uncommon. The experiments were designed to investigate the mechanisms of renal handling of urate as well as the effects of variety of drugs on the tubular transport of uric acid in the rabbits. Male or female white rabbits, from 1.5 to 2.5 kg in weight, were used. The experimental methods used in these studies were clearance, stop-flow, and retrograde injection techniques. The effects of saline, salicylate, chlorothiazide and probenecid were investigated in each experimental conditions. Results of the experiments were summarized as follows; 1. In the rabbits, the rate of urate clearance was always lower than the rate of inulin clearance. The filtration fraction of the urate was one third on an average, therefore, it is estimated that approximately two thirds of filtered urate was reabsorbed. 2. In the kidneys of rabbits, the urate clearance was increased significantly by administration of chlorothiazide and decreased by probenecid. The administration of salicylate had no effect on the rate of urate clearance. The filtration fraction of urate was increased by chlorothiazide and decreased by probenecid. 3. In the stop-flow studies, the U/P ratio of urate was higher than the U/P ratio of inulin in the proximal region, indicating the secretion of uric acid in the proximal tubules. The proximal peak was increased by chlorothiazide and inhibited by probenecid.4. In the retrograde injection studies, the reabsorption of urate in the proximal region was observed, and these reabsorptive transport of urate was depressed by either probenecid or by chlorothiazide. 5. No distal tubular activity was observed under any of these experimental conditions concerning urate transport. The results of these experiments show that probenecid inhibits both secretory and reabsorptive transport of uric acid in the kidney of the rabbits. The enhancement of secretory transport of urate by chlorothiazide in the clearance study was due to the secondary action of chlorothiazide which inhibits the reabsorptive transport of urate in the proximal tubules. It is evident that the urate transport in the kidneys of rabbits is bidirectional nondiffusive flux both secretory and reabsorptive directions in the proximal tubules.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.331-348
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• 1998

Purpose: In order to study the therapeutic effect of TBR(Smilacis glabrae Rhizoma) aqua-acupuncture on the $HgCI_2$(mercury bichloride) intoxicated kidneys of rats. Methods: 10% TBR extract solution was aqua-punctured into the bilateral loci of Shin-su(BL23), every other day for 18 days, and the amount of leucocytes, erythrocytes, thrombocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin, serum BUN and creatinine levels were measured and renal mercury level and histopathological findings were studied as well. The experimental groups were into nonmaI group, control group, sample I group, sample II group and sample III group. Results: 1. There were not any significant changes of leucocytes, erythrocytes and serum creatinine level in the TBR aqua-acupuncture group, saline aqua-acupuncture group and TBR aqua-acupuncture group respectively as compared with control group. 2. It showed a significant increase of hematocrit and hemoglobin level in the TBR aqua-acupuncture group on the 8th experimental day as compared with the control group. 3. It showed a significant increase of platelet in the TBR aqua-acupuncture group on the 8th experimental day, whereas significant decreases on the 18th experimental day as compared with the control group. 4. It showed a significant decrease of serum BUN level in the TBR aqua-acupuncture group on the 8th and 18th experimental day as compared with the control group. 5. It showed a significant decrease of renal mercury level in the TBR aqua-acupuncture group on compared with the control group. 6. In the histopathological findings, TBR aqua-acupuncture group showed slight atrophy of the renal tubules, mitosis and regeneration of tubular lining cells with visible nuclei, whereas the control group showed acute tubular necrosis, especially severe necrosis of tubular epithelial cells. Conclusions: Smilacis glabrae Rhizoma aqua-acupuncture on injured kidneys Induced by HgCl2 Intoxication in Rats increases hematocrit, hemoglobin and platelet level, and decreases BUN, renal mercury level. This suggests that Smilacis glabrae Rhizoma aqua-acupuncture helps to recover kidney from HgCl2 intoxication.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.893-905
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• 2019

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that constantly undergo fission and fusion processes that closely related to their function. Disruption of mitochondrial dynamics has been demonstrated in acute kidney injury (AKI), which could eventually result in cell injury and death. Previously, we reported that augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) alleviates renal tubular epithelial cell injury. Here, we gained further insights into whether the renoprotective roles of ALR are associated with mitochondrial dynamics. Changes in mitochondrial dynamics were examined in experimental models of renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR). In a model of hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) injury in vitro, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and mitochondrial fission process protein 1 (MTFP1), two key proteins of mitochondrial fission, were downregulated in the Lv-ALR + HR group. ALR overexpression additionally had an impact on phosphorylation of Drp1 Ser637 during AKI. The inner membrane fusion protein, Optic Atrophy 1 (OPA1), was significantly increased whereas levels of outer membrane fusion proteins Mitofusin-1 and -2 (Mfn1, Mfn2) were not affected in the Lv-ALR + HR group, compared with the control group. Furthermore, the mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway was highly activated in the Lv-ALR + HR group. ALR overexpression led to suppression of HR-induced apoptosis. Our collective findings indicate that ALR gene transfection alleviates mitochondrial injury, possibly through inhibiting fission and promoting fusion of the mitochondrial inner membrane, both of which contribute to reduction of HK-2 cell apoptosis. Additionally, fission processes are potentially mediated by promoting tubular cell survival through activating the mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.493-501
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• 1998

The most significant direct role of estrogen in vivo is its ability to elicit receptor-mediated cellular proliferation in mammalian target tissues. However, the mechanism by which exogenously added estrogen causes the neoplastic transformation of renal cortical cells is yet to be uncovered. The present study was designed to evaluate interaction of $17{\beta}-estradiol\;(E_2)$ with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on proliferation and $P_i$ uptake in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubular cells in phenol red-free, hormonally defined-medium. $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation increased markedly by about 133% and 141% more in the presence of $10^{-9}\;and\;10^{-6}\;M\;E_2$, respectively, than that of control. Cell count was 162% and 143% greater in the presence of $10^{-9}\;and\;10^{-6}\;M\;E_2$ , respectively, compared with control. Among all time points examined, there was an increase in $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation in the presence of $10^{-9}\;M\;E_2$ at day 9 or 13, respectively. However, $E_2$ ($10^{-9}\;M$) significantly drove up cell count to 160% of that of control at day 13, while it had a slight but statistically insignificant effect at day 9. $E_2-induced$ stimulation of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was completely reversed by $E_2$ antagonists (progesterone or tamoxifen). $E_2$ ($10^{-9}\;M$) or EGF ($10^{-8}\;M$) significantly stimulated $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation by 144% and 154% of control. $E_2$ plus EGF was synergistic on $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation (204% of control), while $E_2$ plus IGF-I showed a slight but no significant synergistic effect. Cell number also displayed similar pattern. $E_2$ ($10^{-9}\;M$) significantly stimulated $P_i$ uptake to 134% of control. $E_2$-induced stimulation of $P_i$ uptake was partially reversed by $E_2$ antagonists. EGF or IGF-I ($10^{-8}\;M$) significantly also increased $P_i$ uptake to 132% or 129% of control. $E_2$ plus EGF had synergistic effect on $P_i$ uptake, while $E_2$ plus IGF-I did not. In conclusion, $E_2$ may act not only directly interaction with its receptors but also indirectly as a modulator of EGF in proliferation and $P_i$ uptake of primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubular cells.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.145-157
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• 2017

Background: Vitamin D is considered to exert a protective effect on various renal diseases but its underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. This study aimed to determine whether paricalcitol attenuates inflammation and apoptosis during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced renal proximal tubular cell injury through the prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) receptor EP4. Methods: Human renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells were pretreated with paricalcitol (2 ng/mL) for 1 hour and exposed to LPS ($1{\mu}g/mL$). The effects of paricalcitol pretreatment in relation to an EP4 blockade using AH-23848 or EP4 small interfering RNA (siRNA) were investigated. Results: The expression of cyclooxygenase-2, $PGE_2$, and EP4 were significantly increased in LPS-exposed HK-2 cells treated with paricalcitol compared with cells exposed to LPS only. Paricalcitol prevented cell death induced by LPS exposure, and the cotreatment of AH-23848 or EP4 siRNA offset these cell-protective effects. The phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65 nuclear factor-kappaB ($NF-{\kappa}B$) were decreased and the phosphorylation of Akt was increased in LPS-exposed cells with paricalcitol treatment. AH-23848 or EP4 siRNA inhibited the suppressive effects of paricalcitol on p65 $NF-{\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation and the activation of Akt. The production of proinflammatory cytokines and the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells were attenuated by paricalcitol in LPS exposed HK-2 cells. The cotreatment with an EP4 antagonist abolished these anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects. Conclusion: EP4 plays a pivotal role in anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects through Akt and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling after paricalcitol pretreatment in LPS-induced renal proximal tubule cell injury.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.7-15
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• 2013

Objectives : Interruption and subsequent restoration of blood flow into the kidney result in renal injury. As an approach to preventing the renal injury, we determined the optimal conditions and the underlying mechanisms by which supernatant of hot water extract of ground Triticum aestivum L. (extract) attenuated ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods : One hour after administration of the extract (400 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection, renal I/R injury was generated by clamping the left renal artery in rats after surgical removal of the right kidney, followed by reperfusion. The maximal difference between the vehicle-treated and the extract-treated group under ketamine/xylazine or enflurane anesthetization was assessed at varying periods of ischemia (30-45 min) and reperfusion (3-48 hr), based on the renal function assessed with serum creatinine levels, tissue injury with hematoxylin/eosin staining, and apoptosis with terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining. Results : Enflurane anesthetization with 40 min of ischemia and 24 hr of reperfusion was identified to be the optimal condition, under which condition serum creatinine levels and tubular damage in the extract-treated group were significantly reduced compared with those in the vehicle-treated group ($1.3{\pm}0.2$ versus $2.7{\pm}0.3$ mg/dL, P < 0.01, and average score $1.8{\pm}0.1$ versus $3.5{\pm}0.3$, P < 0.01, respectively). These beneficial effects were mediated by inhibition of apoptotic cascades through attenuation of renal tissue malondialdehyde levels, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3 levels. Conclusions : The extract conferred renal protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats by scavenging reactive oxygen species and consequently blocking apoptotic cascades, plausibly augmented by enflurane protection.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 1982

The effect of ethacrynic acid (EA) on the renal secretion of PAH was examined in cat kidney. $C_{PAH}$ and $T_{PAH}$ were measured before and after infusion of EA $(0.5{\sim}50mg/kg)$ through the femoral vein. The following results were obtained: 1) In the dosage range of 0.5 to 25 mg/kg, EA increased the urine flow, and sodium and potassium excretion in dose-dependent manner, but the glomelular filtration rate was decreased as the dosage of EA was increased. 2) $C_{PAH}$ and $T_{PAH}$ were decreased by EA in the dosage range of 3 to 25 mg/kg and 1 to 50 mg/kg, respectively, in dose·dependent manner with the dosage to cause 50% inhibition of about 5 mg/kg. 3) With dosage of 0.5mg/kg, EA appeared to exert a great effect on diuretic response without the influence on $T_{PAH}$. At 10min after infusion of EA, a potent diuretic effect appeared, while $T_{PAH}$ did not show a significant change. These results suggest that the action mechanism of EA on tubular secretion of PAH may be different from that on natriuresis. 4) With dosage of 5 mg/kg, EA did not inhibit the Na-K-ATPase activity in microsomal fractions from both cortex and medulla. 5) The double reciprocal plot ($l/T_{PAH}$ versus $l/P_{PAH}$) suggested that EA inhibited the P AH secretion by a competitive pattern. However, probenecid, a prototypic inhibitor of the organic acid pump, had no influence on both the inhibitory effect of $T_{PAH}$ and the natriuretic effect by EA. These results suggest that in vivo EA altered tubular secretion of P AH through interactions with receptors that are not identical with the Na-K-ATPase.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.194-199
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• 2008

The recent WHO classification has recognized mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma (MTSCC) as a distinct entity of renal cell carcinoma, exhibiting a mixed pattern of tubules and a surrounding spindle cell proliferation within a myxoid stroma, with low-grade nuclear features. A 51-year-old woman had an incidentally discovered renal mass. Radiologic examination revealed a large, well defined mass in the lower pole of the right kidney; a right radical nephrectomy was performed. Imprint cytologic smears from fresh surgical specimens showed cellular, cohesive clusters with thick, broad trabecular arrangements and branching structures. On high power fields, the tumor was composed of round-to-oval low-grade nuclei with vesicular chromatin and small nucleoli. The tumor cells had indistinct borders and pale, eosinophilic cytoplasm, In some areas, round-to-elongated tubular structures and spindle cell patterns were noted. Chronic inflammatory cell infiltration was noted, along with a mucinous back-ground and occasional psammoma bodies. Neither significant cytologic atypia nor mitosis was seen.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.146-155
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• 2019

Background/Aims: Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a uremic toxin and an important causative factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease. Recently, paricalcitol (19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2) was shown to exhibit protective effects in kidney injury. Here, we investigated the effects of paricalcitol treatment on IS-induced renal tubular injury. Methods: The fluorescent dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate was used to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) following IS administration in human renal proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells. The effects of IS on cell viability were determined using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays and levels of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2-associated protein X [Bax] and B-cell lymphoma 2 [Bcl-2]), nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65, and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) were determined by semiquantitative immunoblotting. The promoter activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$ was measured by luciferase assays and apoptosis was determined by f low cytometry of cells stained with f luorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Annexin V protein. Results: IS treatment increased ROS production, decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells. IS treatment increased the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax, decreased Bcl-2 expression, and activated phosphorylation of MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, and Akt. In contrast, paricalcitol treatment decreased Bax expression, increased Bcl-2 expression, and inhibited phosphorylation of MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, and Akt in HK-2 cells. $NF-{\kappa}B$ promoter activity was increased following IS, administration and was counteracted by pretreatment with paricalcitol. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis revealed that IS-induced apoptosis was attenuated by paricalcitol treatment, which resulted in decreased numbers of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Annexin V positive cells. Conclusions: Treatment with paricalcitol inhibited IS-induced apoptosis by regulating MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and Akt signaling pathway in HK-2 cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 2000

독성약물에 의한 급성신부전시 세뇨관세포의 물질 재흡수 장애에 대한 단삼(丹參) 추출액의 효과를 조사하였다. 토끼에 수은(HgCl2)을 10 mg/kg되게 피하 주사하여 급성신부전을 유발하였고, 단삼(丹參) 추출액의 효과는 수은을 주사하기 전 7일 동안 0.05% 액(液) 0.3 g/kg 용량을 경구 투여하여 관찰하였다. 수은을 주사하기 전 24시간 동안 요와 혈액을 채취하여 신장기능을 측정하여 대조기간(basal period)의 값으로 하였고, 수은을 주사한 후 24시간 동안 요와 혈액을 얻어 수은에 의한 신장기능 변화를 평가하였다. 수은을 처리한 후 사구체여과율이 대조값에 비해 감소하였고, 혈청내 creatinine 농도가 증가하였다. 이러한 결과들은 수은이 급성신부전을 유발하였음을 가리킨다. 수은을 처리한 동물에서 포도당 및 인산의 배설분율이 증가하였고, 이러한 변화는 brush-border membrane에서 물질의 이동장애와 Na-pump 활성의 감소에 기인하였다. 수은을 주사한 동물의 신장피질 절편에서 유기이온인 PAH와 TEA 이동이 억제되었다. 토끼의 신장조직에서 지질의 과산화가 수은을 주사한 후 증가하였다. 단삼(丹參) 추출액을 전 처리한 후 수은을 주사한 경우 수은에 의해 유발된 사구체여과율의 감소와 혈청내 creatinine 농도 증가 현상이 유의하게 완화되었다. 수은에 의한 세뇨관에서 물질의 재흡수 장애가 단삼(丹參) 추출액의 전처리에 의해 방지되었다. 단삼(丹參) 추출액은 수은에 의한 지질의 과산화를 억제하였다. 수은에 의한 급성신부전은 항산화제로 잘 알려진 DPPD에 의해 방지되었다. 이상의 결과를 종합하면 생체실험결과 수은에 의한 급성신부전의 유발과정에 지질의 과산화가 중요한 역할을 할 가능성을 보이고 있고, 단삼(丹參) 추출액은 수은에 의한 급성신부전을 방지하는 효과를 가지고 있으며, 그 효과는 단삼(丹參)의 항산화작용에 기인(起因)할 가능성이 많다.