• Animal cells and systems
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.431-437
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• 2012

Calpains are a class of proteins that belong to the calcium-dependent, non-lysosomal cysteine proteases. There are three major types of calpains expressed in the skeletal muscle, namely, ${\mu}$-calpain, m-calpain, and calpain 3, which show proteolytic activities. Skeletal muscle fibers possess all three calpains, and they are $Ca^{2+}$-dependent proteases. The functional role of calpains was found to be associated with apoptosis and myogenesis. However, calpain 3 is likely to be involved in sarcomeric remodeling. A defect in the expression of calpain 3 leads to limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A. Calpain 3 is found in skeletal muscle fibers at the N2A line of the large elastic protein, titin. A substantial proportion of calpain 3 is activated 24 h following a single bout of eccentric exercise. In vitro studies indicated that calpain 3 can be activated 2-4 fold higher than normal resting cytoplasmic [$Ca^{2+}$]. Characterization of the calpain system in the developing muscle is essential to explain which calpain isoforms are present and whether both ${\mu}$-calpain and m-calpain exist in differentiating myoblasts. Information from such studies is needed to clarify the role of the calpain system in skeletal muscle growth. It has been demonstrated that the activation of ubiquitous calpains and calpain 3 in skeletal muscle is very well regulated in the presence of huge and rapid changes in intracellular [$Ca^{2+}$].

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.158-165
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• 1990

Calpain은 $Ca^2$+-의존성 단백질 분해요소로서, 세포 골격단백질이나 근수축성 단백질을 분해하는 것으로 알려져있다. 한편, 배양 근원세포의 분화는 세포융합이라는 뚜렷한 형태적인 변화를 겪는데, 이때 근원세포의 세포막과 세포골격에 많은 변화가 일어난다고 알려져 있다. 본 실험에서는 근원세포 융합과정에서의 calpain의 역할을 알아보기 위하여 배양근원세포의 융합에 따른 calpain의 활성과 양적 변화를 조사하였다. 배양시간이 경과할 수록 calpain의 활성은 증가하여 세포융합이 왕성히 일어나고 있는 배양 60시간에 최대치를 이루었다. 또한, 닭골격근으로 부터 순수분리된 calpain에 대한 항체를 만들어서 배양 근원세포의 분화에 따른 calpain의 양적 변화를 immunoblot으로 조사하여 본 결과, calpain은 배양 24시간에서 48시간 사이에 그 양이 급격히 증가하여, 세포융합이 시작되는 배양 48시간 사이에 최다량으로 존재하는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 calpain의 단백질 분해활성이 세포 융합과정에 관련된 있음을 암시해준다.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.267-274
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• 2001

Calpains are a family of cysteine proteases existing primarily in two forms designated by the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration needed for activation in vitro, $\mu$-calpain (calpain-I) and m-calpain (calpain-II). The physiologica1 roles of calpains remain unclear. Many groups have proposed a role for calpains In apoptosis, but their patterns of activation are not well characterized. Calpains have been implicated in neutrophil apoptosis, glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte apoptosis, as well as many other apoptotic pathways. Calpain activation in apoptosis is usually linked upstream or downstream to caspase activation, or in a parallel pathway alongside caspase activation. Calpains have been suggested to be involved in DNA fragmentation (via endonuclease activation), but also as effector proteases that cleave cellular proteins involved in DNA repair, membrane associated proteins and other homeostatic regulatory proteins. Recently, our laboratory demonstrated $\mu$-calpain activation in NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreducatse 1 (NQO1)-expressing cells after exposure to $\beta$-lapachone, a novel quinone and potential chemo- and radio-therapeutic agent. Increased cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ in NQO1-expressing cells after $\beta$-lapachone exposures were shown to lead to $\mu$-calpain activation. In turn, $\mu$-calpain activation was important for substrate proteolysis and DNA fragmentation associated with apoptosis. Upon activation, $\mu$-calpain translocated to the nucleus where it could proteolytically cleave PARP and p53. We provided evidence that $\beta$-lapachone-induced, $\mu$-calpain stimulated, apoptosis did not involve any of the known caspases; known apoptotic caspases were not activated after $\beta$-lapachone treatment of NQO1-expressing cells, nor did caspase inhibitors have any effect on $\beta$-1apachone-induced cell death. Elucidation of processes by which $\beta$-1apachone-stimulated $\mu$-calpain activation and calpains ability to activate endonucleases and induce apoptosis independent of caspase activity will be needed to further develop/modulate $\beta$-lapachone for treatment of human cancers that over-express NQO1.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.98-104
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• 2002

Objectives: Calpain, a calcium-dependent cysteine proteinase, may be one of the proteolytic enzymes that mediate cartilage degradation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The object of this study is to ascertain immunohistochemically whether calpain is present in the inflamed joints of collagen-induced arthritis of rats, and examine the effect of Cortex Acanthopanacis Senticosi on the expression of calpain. Methods: Male Lewis rats, around 200g of body weight, were immunized with bovine type II collagen. After 3 weeks from first immunization, rats were divided into arthritic control (n=6) group and Cortex Acanthopanacis Senticosi-treated (n=6) group. Non-immunized rats served as the normal (n=6) group. All animals were sacrificed at 15 days post-treatment and tibiotarsal joints were removed. Calpain immunohistochemistry was performed on the midsagittal section of the tibiotarsal joint. Results: All animals of the control and treated groups showed ankylosing osteoarthritis. However, the animals of the treated group showed alleviation in the fibrous ankylosis, destruction of articular cartilage and destruction of subchondral bony tissue compared with the animals of the control group. Calpain was expressed in the chondrocyte lacunae of growing articular cartilage, in the skeletal muscle fibers, in the peripheral nerves, and in the vessel walls around the joints of all groups. In the control and treated groups, calpain was also expressed in proliferating synovial epithelia, subsynovial stroma cells, surface of articular cartilage, and fibrous pannus around destructive subchondral bony tissue. However, the expression density of calpain in the treated group was diminished compared with the control group, especially in surface of articular cartilage and fibrous pannus. Conclusions: These observations indicated that calpain plays an important role in the destruction of cartilage and bone in collagen-induced arthritis of rats, and also indicated that Cortex Acanthopanacis Senticosi inhibits the development of arthritis by decreasing the expression of calpain.

• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.25-38
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• 2014

Amyloid-${\beta}$-peptide ($A{\beta}$) is important in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Calpain ($Ca^{2+}$-dependent protease) and caspase-8 (the initiating caspase for the extrinsic, receptor-mediated apoptosis pathway) have been implicated in $AD/A{\beta}$ toxicity. We found that $A{\beta}$ promoted degradation of calpastatin (the specific endogenous calpain inhibitor); calpastatin degradation was prevented by inhibitors of either calpain or caspase-8. The results implied a cross-talk between the two proteases and suggested that one protease was responsible for the activity of the other one. In neuron-like differentiated PC12 cells, calpain promotes active caspase-8 formation from procaspase-8 via the $A{\beta}$ and CD95 pathways, along with degradation of the procaspase-8 processing inhibitor caspase-8 (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein, short isoform (FLIPS). Inhibition of calpain (by pharmacological inhibitors and by overexpression of calpastatin) prevents the cleavage of procaspase-8 to mature, active caspase-8, and inhibits FLIPS degradation in the $A{\beta}$-treated and CD95-triggered cells. Increased cellular Ca2+ per se results in calpain activation but does not lead to caspase-8 activation or FLIPS degradation. The results suggest that procaspase-8 and FLIPS association with cell membrane receptor complexes is required for calpain-induced caspase-8 activation. The results presented here add to the understanding of the roles of calpain, caspase- 8, and CD95 pathway in $AD/A{\beta}$ toxicity. Calpain-promoted activation of caspase-8 may have implications for other types of CD95-induced cell damage, and for nonapoptotic functions of caspase-8. Inhibition of calpain may be useful for modulating certain caspase-8-dependent processes.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

칼슘 의존적으로 활성화되는 neutral protease calpain에 의한 단백질 분해는 세포의 성장을 조절하는데 중요한 단백질들의 역할에 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. Cyclin의 분해는 세포주기의 진행을 위한 필연적인 과정이다. D-type cyclins는 외부자극이나 신호에 의하여 세포주기의 G1 초기에 합성이 된 후 cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk4 및 cdk6)와의 결합하여 세포주기 S기 진입을 촉진하는 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 cyclin D3 단백질이 calpain protease에 의하여 번역 후 수준에서 조절 받고 있음을 제시하였다. 본 실험의 조건에서 lovastatin과 actinomycin D가 처리된 PC-3-M 전립선 암세포에서 cyclin D3 단백질의 발현이 완전히 사라졌지만, calpain inhibitor인 LLnL의 처리에 의하여 정상 수준으로 회복되었음을 알 수 있었다. 그러나 26S proteasome의 선택적 억제제인 lactacystin, lysosome 억제제인 ammonium chloride 및 chloroquine, serine protease 억제제인 PMSF는 동일 조건에서 lovastatin과 actinomycin D 처리에 의한 cyclin D3 단백질의 발현저하를 억제하지는 못하였다. In vitro 조건에서 순수 분리된 calpain은 cyclin D3 단백질을 칼슘 농도 의존적으로 분해하였으며, cyclin D3 단백질의 반감기는 LLnL 처리에 의하여 매우 유의적으로 증가되었다. 또한 calpain 저해인자인 calpastatin의 과발현은 PC-3-M 세포에서 뿐만 아니라 NIH 3T3 섬유아세포에서도 cyclin D3 단백질의 반감기 및 안전성을 증대시켰다. 이러한 결과는 cyclin D3 단백질이 칼슘에 의해 활성화 되는 protease calpain에 의해 조절됨을 보여주는 것이다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.144-154
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• 2023

Background: As the major pathophysiological feature of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is vital for the occurrence of cardiovascular complications. The activation of calpain-1 mediates the production of endothelial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and impairs nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, resulting in vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED). Ginsenoside Rg1 is thought to against endothelial cell dysfunction, but the potential mechanism of CIH-induced VED remains unclear. Methods: C57BL/6 mice and human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) were exposed to CIH following knockout or overexpression of calpain-1. The effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on VED, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the expression levels of calpain-1, PP2A and p-eNOS were detected both in vivo and in vitro. Results: CIH promoted VED, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction accompanied by enhanced levels of calpain-1 and PP2A and reduced levels of p-eNOS in mice and cellular levels. Ginsenoside Rg1, calpain-1 knockout, OKA, NAC and TEMPOL treatment protected against CIH-induced VED, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, which is likely concomitant with the downregulated protein expression of calpain-1 and PP2A and the upregulation of p-eNOS in mice and cellular levels. Calpain-1 overexpression increased the expression of PP2A, reduced the level of p-eNOS, and accelerated the occurrence and development of VED, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in HCAECs exposed to CIH. Moreover, scavengers of O₂^·-, H₂O₂, complex I or mitoKATP abolished CIH-induced impairment in endothelial-dependent relaxation. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 may alleviate CIH-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction by suppressing the formation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species through the calpain-1 pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.405-416
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• 2024

Background: Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is the main pathological change in vascular remodeling, a complex cardiopulmonary disease caused by hypoxia. Some research results have shown that ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) can improve vascular remodeling, but the effect and mechanism of Rg1 on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension are not clear. The purpose of this study was to discuss the potential mechanism of action of Rg1 on HPH. Methods: C57BL/6 mice, calpain-1 knockout mice and Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were exposed to a low oxygen environment with or without different treatments. The effect of Rg1 and calpain-1 silencing on inflammation, fibrosis, proliferation and the protein expression levels of calpain-1, STAT3 and p-STAT3 were determined at the animal and cellular levels. Results: At the mouse and cellular levels, hypoxia promotes inflammation, fibrosis, and cell proliferation, and the expression of calpain-1 and p-STAT3 is also increased. Ginsenoside Rg1 administration and calpain-1 knockdown, MDL-28170, and HY-13818 treatment showed protective effects on hypoxia-induced inflammation, fibrosis, and cell proliferation, which may be associated with the downregulation of calpain-1 and p-STAT3 expression in mice and cells. In addition, overexpression of calpain 1 increased p-STAT3 expression, accelerating the onset of inflammation, fibrosis and cell proliferation in hypoxic PASMCs. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 may ameliorate hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling by suppressing the calpain-1/STAT3 signaling pathway.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.598-604
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• 2006

$Ca^{2+}$-농도 의존적으로 활성화되는 neutral protease calpain에 의한 단백질 분해는 세포의 성장을 조절하는데 중요한 단백질들의 역할에 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. Cyclin의 분해는 세포주기의 진행을 위한 필연적인 과정이다. D-type cyclins는 외부자극이나 신호에 의하여 세포주기의 G1 초기에 합성이 된 후 cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk4 및 cdk6)와의 결합하여 세포주기 S기 진입을 촉진하는 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 MDA-MB-231 인체 유방암세포에서 cyclin D3 단백질이 calpain protease에 의하여 전사 후 수준에서 조절 받고 있음을 제시하였다. 본 실험의 조건에서 lovastatin과 actinomycin D가 처리된 MDA-MB-231 세포에서 cyclin D3 단백질의 발현이 완전히 사라졌지만, calpain inhibitor인 LLnL의 처리에 의하여 정상 수준으로 회복되었음을 알 수 있었다. 그러나 26S proteasome의 선택적 억제제인 lactacystin, the lysosome 억제제인 ammonium chloride 및 chloroquine, serine protease 억제제인 PMSF는 동일 조건에서 lovastatin과 actinomycin D 처리에 의한 cyclin D3의 발현저하를 억제하지는 못하였다. In vitro 조건에서 순수 분리된 calpain은 cyclin D3 단백질을 $Ca^{2+}$ 농도 의존적으로 분해하였으며, cyclin D3 단백질의 half-life는 LLnL 처리에 의하여 매우 유의적으로 증가되었다. 이러한 결과는 cyclin D3 단백질이 $Ca^{2+}$에 의해 활성화 되는 protease calpain에 의해 조절됨을 보여준다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제27권7호
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• pp.1001-1004
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• 2006

The m-calpain activity hydrolyzing a fluorogenic substrate of N-Succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-7-amino-4-methylcourmarin (LLVY-AMC) was significantly stimulated by more than two-fold in the presence of 5$\mu$M $\alpha$synuclein at $15{^{\circ}C}$. The stimulation was also confirmed with azocasein. The stimulation of the peptide hydrolyzing activity required structural intactness of $\alpha$-synuclein since the C-terminally or N-terminally modified proteins such as $\beta$-synuclein, $\alpha$-syn1-97, and $\alpha$-syn61-140 did not increase the proteolytic activity. Instead, however, the N-terminally truncated $\alpha$-syn61-140 was shown to drastically suppress the calpain activity. Since the N-terminal truncation was known to be the primary cleaving event of calpain-mediated proteolysis of $\alpha$-synuclein and the $\alpha$-syn61-140 has been demonstrated to be resistant against the calpain digestion, it has been proposed that the intracellular calpain activity could be regulated in a reciprocal manner by $\alpha$-synuclein and its proteolyzed C-terminal fragment. Based on the results, a possible physiological function of $\alpha$-synuclein has been suggested as a calpain regulator which contains both stimulatory and inhibitory activities.