• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.180-185
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• 2012

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible influence and related mechanism of alcohol on the arterial contraction. Vascular contraction involves the activation of thick or thin filament pathway. However, there are no reports addressing the question whether this pathway is involved in alcohol-induced regulation. We hypothesized that alcohol plays a role in vascular contraction evoked by a vasoconstrictor in rat aortae regardless of endothelial function. Denuded arterial rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Interestingly, alcohol at a low concentration (3% v/v) inhibited thromboxane $A_2$ or phorbol ester-induced contraction with endothelial function but at a high concentration (10%) didn't inhibit and rather increased the contraction in the denuded muscle. Therefore, alcohol at a low concentration decreases the contraction and alcohol at a high concentration increases the contraction suggesting that additional pathways different from endothelial nitric oxide synthesis might be involved in the regulation of contractility. In conclusion, alcohol has some effect on the regulation of contractility regardless of endothelial function.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 1995

Recently, we reported that GS 389 has vasodilating action without cardiac inotropic action (Chang et al., Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 72, 327-334, 1994). However the mechanism of action of GS 389 has not been thoroughly evaluated. In the present study, we performed functional study of GS 389 in rat trachealis, thoracic aorta, pig coronary artery by isometric tension and in human platelets by aggregation experiments. We also tested if GS 389 influences on $Ca^{2+}$movement and inositol phosphate metabolism. In rat trachealis, GS 389 concentration-dependently relaxed carbachol (0.1 $\mu$M)- and high $K^{+}$(65.4 mM)-induced contraction with p$IC_{50}$/ of 4.43$\pm$ 0.19 and 4.11$\pm$0.12, respectively. In $Ca^{2+}$-free media, GS 389 inhibited carbachol-induced phasic contraction. In rat thoracic aorta, GS 389 inhibited $^{45}$ Ca uptake due to norepinephrine and high $K^{+}$, indicating that GS 389 has direct inhibitory action of $Ca^{2+}$movement. Furthermore, GS 389 competitively inhibited U46619-induced contraction in rat thoracic aorta and pig coronary artery with K, values of 5.23$\pm$0.12 and 5.56$\pm$0.14, respectively, and inhibited U 46619-induced phosphatidylinositide (PI) turnover in rat aorta. GS 389 also concentration-dependently inhibited the human platelet aggregation against U 46619 with p$IC_{50}$/ 5.66$\pm$0.02. These results indicate that GS 389 has thromboxane $A_2$ antagonistic action in vascular and platelets as well as direct action on $Ca^{2+}$ movement, which may account, at least in part, for relaxing action of rat trachealis. trachealis.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1 s.34
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• pp.41-46
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• 1984

Cadmium (Cd) was administered by a series of weekly intraperitoneal injections at dose of 2mg/kg in rabbits and rats. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and thromboxane $B^2(TXB_2)$ in platelet-rich plasma from Cd-poisoned animals were significantly higher than those of the control group. Furthermore, the inhibition of 6-keto-prostaglandin $F_{1{\alpha}}$, production in Cd-treated aorta ring was inversely related to the enhancement of platelet aggregation. These results suggest that Cd not only inhibits prostacyclin synthesis in the arterial endothelium, but also stimulates the platelet aggregation by enhancing thromboxane AZ production. These findings are assumed to support the evidence of an effect of Cd toxicity on the vascular wall and platelet function in raising arteriall pressure.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.298-305
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• 2019

Cudrania tricuspidata has been reported to have many biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties. However, the effects of C. tricuspidata root extract (CTE) on human platelet aggregation induced by collagen as well as the signaling pathways involved remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effect of CTE on human platelets. CTE inhibited platelet aggregation via down-regulation of thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂) by blocking cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) activity and intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization in collagen-induced platelets. CTE also reduced the phosphorylation of phospholipase C (PLC) γ2 and syk. CTE regulated platelet aggregation via cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) Ser²³⁹. In addition, administration of CTE (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly reduced hyper-aggregated platelet aggregation by collagen (5 ㎍/mL) without hepatotoxicity in HFD (high fat diet)-fed rats. Taken together, these results suggest that CTE has anti-platelet effects both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, CTE may be an effective therapeutic and preventive agent for cardiovascular disease, and is a safe and natural product.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.222-230
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• 1990

Protamine, a polycationic peptide extracted from fish, has been widely used for the reversal of anticoagulant action of heparin. However it may cause untoward circulatory side effects including hypotension and bradyarrhythmia. Nowadays, histamine and prostacyclin are regarded as one of the causative agents in the underlying mechanism of hemodynamic changes. To certify the possible role of histamine and prostacyclin, we observed simultaneous changes of the hemodynamic status, plasma concentration of thromboxane B, and circulating platelet count before and after intravenous injection of protamine. Experimental dogs, weighing 12-14kg, were divided into 2 groups; group A animals [n=10], were pretreated with indomethacin[2.5mg/kg] and group B animals[n=10] were pretreated with chlorpheniramine[0.5mg/kg] Heparin[3mg/kg] and protamine [3mg/kg] were administered sequentially in both groups. The results were as follows ; 1. The mean systemic arterial pressure was maintained well in groups A, whereas in group B it decreased from 165\ulcorner18mmHg to 138\ulcorner30mmHg[p<0.01] and 151\ulcorner21 mmHg[p<0.05] at 1 minute and 2 minutes after protamine injection. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure was not changed significantly in group A, whereas in group B it increased from 852 mmHg to 11\ulcorner3 mmHg[p<0.05], 11\ulcorner3 mmHg[p<0.05] and 10\ulcorner3 mmHg[p<0.05] at 1 minute, 3 minutes and 5 minutes after protamine injection. 2 The thromboxane B2 was not changed significantly in group A, whereas in group B it increased from 399\ulcorner401 \ulcornerg/ml to 744\ulcorner615 \ulcornerg/ml[p<0.05] and 814\ulcorner1070 \ulcornerg/ml [p<0.0 5] at 1 minute and 3 minutes after protamine injection without concomitant changes of pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. 3. The number of circulating platelet was not changed in group A, whereas in group B it decreased from 207100\ulcorner103600/\ulcornerl to 159700\ulcorner90900/\ulcornerl [p<0.05] at 1 minute after protamine injection, Although thromboxane B2 and platelet count were changed significantly after protamine injection, they did not cause the remarkable hemodynamic changes. Considering the above results, hemodynamic changes may be caused mainly by prostacyclin rather than thromboxane or platelet. Therefore, the pretreatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitor would be beneficial to prevent circulatory adverse effects of protamine for the patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea catechins from green tea leaves, on activities of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and thromboxane synthase (TXAS), thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) production associated microsomal enzymes. EGCG inhibited COX-1 activity to 96.9%, and TXAS activity to 20% in platelet microsomal fraction having cytochrome c reductase (an endoplasmic reticulum marker enzyme) activity and expressing COX-1 (70 kDa) and TXAS (58 kDa) proteins. The inhibitory ratio of COX-1 to TXAS by EGCG was 4.8. These results mean that EGCG has a stronger selectivity in COX-1 inhibition than TXAS inhibition. In special, a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug aspirin, a COX-1 inhibitor, inhibited COX-1 activity by 11.3% at the same concentration ($50{\mu}M$) as EGCG that inhibited COX-1 activity to 96.9% as compared with that of control. This suggests that EGCG has a stronger effect than that of aspirin on inhibition of COX-1 activity. Accordingly, we demonstrate that EGCG might be used as a crucial tool for a strong negative regulator of COX-1/$TXA_2$ signaling pathway to inhibit thrombotic disease-associated platelet aggregation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.384-393
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• 1999

The degree of platelet aggregation, thromboxane B2(TXB2)formation and fatty acid composition of platelet phospholipids(PL) were investigated in 24 healthy male subjects who for five weeks consumed either corn oil(CO) rich in linoleic acid(LA), perilla oil (PO) rich in $\alpha$-linoleic acid($\alpha$-LAN), or canola oil(CNO) rich in oleic acid(OA) as a major fat source. Total fat intake was 30% of total calories and prescribed oil intake of each dietary group was 50% of the total fat intake. In the CO group, significantly decreased contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA), n-6 PUFA, n-3 PUFA and eicosapentanoic acid(EPA) were observed, and significantly increased contents of OA and saturated fatty acids(SFA) were observed in platelet PL after 3 weeks and 5 weeks of dietary treatment. In the PO group, contents of OA and docosahexanoic acid(DHA) were increased, and the ratio of n-6/n-3 was decreased significantly in platelet PL after dietary treatment. The CNO group showed significatnlty decreased contents of PUFA, P/S ratio, n-6 PUFA, LA,(EPA+DHA)/arachidonic acid(AA), and significantly increased SFA contents after 3 weeks of the oil-based diet. The dietary-induced effects on fatty acid composition of platelet PL were observed mostly after 3 weeks of the oil-based diet. The dietary-induced effects on fatty acid composition of platelet PL were observed mostly after 3 weeks. Plasma TXB2 levels were increased after 3 and 5 weeks of dietary treatment. However, only the CO and CNO groups showed significantly increased plasma TXB2 levles after 3 and 5 weeks of dietary treatment. However, only the CO and CNO groups showed significantly increased plasma TXB2 levels after 5 weeks of experimental diets, when compared with initial values. Degree of platelet aggregation increased only in the CO group after dietary treatment. As a result, at week 5 the degree of platelet aggregation of the CO group was significantly higher than those of the PO and CNO groups. Among the three oil-based diets, the PO-based diet seems to have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis by influencing plasma TXB2 levels and the degree of platelet aggregation, while the CO-based diet showed the most adverse effects. Our results imply that plasma TXB2 levels might be affected by dietary fatty acid composition.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 1995

Arachidonic acid (AA, C20 : 4, $\omega$-6) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA,C20 : 5, $\omega$-3), which are polyunsaturated fatty acids forming eicosanoids, were tested for their effects on blood pressure in Wistar rats and SHR. AA is the most important precursor for the biosynthesis of eicosanoids which include the prostaglandins, prostacyclin (PGI$_2$), thromboxane $A_2$ (TXA$_2$) and the leukotriens. TXA$_2$is a potent vasoconstrictor and a powerful inducer of platelet aggregation causing myocardial infarction and hypertention. In contrast, PGI$_2$ induces vasodilation and inhibits platelet aggregation. In this study, AA markedly increased blood pressure, but its effect was antagonized by both EPA, a structural analog of AA, and dazmegrel, a TX synthetase inhibitor. Also, AA enhanced the antihypertensive effects of hydralazine and captopril, and EPA reduced TXA$_2$ production. These results indicate that the hypotensive effects of EPA might be closely related to the decrease in TXA$_2$ biosynthesis due to competitive inhibition by structural similarity of the EPA to the AA, the precursor of TXA$_2$.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2022

Cudrania tricuspidata (C. tricuspidata), a medicinal plant widely employed throughout Asia in ethnomedicine, has various bioactive properties, including antidiabetic, antiobesity, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, the C. tricuspidata root extract reportedly inhibits platelet aggregation. Therefore, we focused on the active substances present in the C. tricuspidata extract. Sanggenon N (SN) is a flavonoid found in the root bark of C. tricuspidata. In the present study, we examined the inhibitory effects of SN on platelet aggregation, phosphoproteins, thromboxane A₂ generation, and integrin αIIbβ3 activity. SN inhibited collagen-induced human platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Furthermore, SN suppressed Ca²⁺ mobilization and influx through associated signaling molecules, such as inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor I (Ser¹⁷⁵⁶), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. In addition, SN inhibited thromboxane A₂ generation and associated signaling molecules, including cytosolic phospholipase A₂ and mitogen-activated protein kinase p38. Finally, SN could inhibit integrin (αIIb/β₃) activity by regulating vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein and Akt. Collectively, SN possesses potent antiplatelet effects and is a potential therapeutic drug candidate to prevent platelet-related thrombosis and cardiovascular disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2012

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is physiologically important response for preventing mismatching between ventilation and perfusion in lungs. The HPV of isolated pulmonary arteries (HPV-PA) usually require a partial pretone by thromboxane agonist (U46619). Because the HPV of ventilated/perfused lungs (HPV-lung) can be triggered without pretone conditioning, we suspected that a putative tissue factor might be responsible for the pretone of HPV. Here we investigated whether HPV can be also observed in precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) from rats. The HPV in PCLS also required partial contraction by U46619. In addition, $K^+$ channel blockers (4AP and TEA) required U46619-pretone to induce significant contraction of PA in PCLS. In contrast, the airways in PCLS showed reversible contraction in response to the $K^+$ channel blockers without pretone conditioning. Also, the airways showed no hypoxic constriction but a relaxation under the partial pretone by U46619. The airways in PCLS showed reliable, concentration-dependent contraction by metacholine ($EC_{50}$, ~210 nM). In summary, the HPV in PCLS is more similar to isolated PA than V/P lungs. The metacholineinduced constriction of bronchioles suggested that the PLCS might be also useful for studying airway physiology in situ.