• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.48.1-48.10
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• 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) encodes small envelope protein (E) that plays a major role in viral assembly, release, pathogenesis, and host inflammation. Previous studies demonstrated that pyrazine ring containing amiloride analogs inhibit this protein in different types of coronavirus including SARS-CoV-1 small envelope protein E (SARS-CoV-1 E). SARS-CoV-1 E has 93.42% sequence identity with SARS-CoV-2 E and shared a conserved domain NS3/small envelope protein (NS3_envE). Amiloride analog hexamethylene amiloride (HMA) can inhibit SARS-CoV-1 E. Therefore, we performed molecular docking and dynamics simulations to explore whether amiloride analogs are effective in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 E. To do so, SARS-CoV-1 E and SARS-CoV-2 E proteins were taken as receptors while HMA and 3-amino-5-(azepan-1-yl)-N-(diaminomethylidene)-6-pyrimidin-5-ylpyrazine-2-carboxamide (3A5NP2C) were selected as ligands. Molecular docking simulation showed higher binding affinity scores of HMA and 3A5NP2C for SARS-CoV-2 E than SARS-CoV-1 E. Moreover, HMA and 3A5NP2C engaged more amino acids in SARS-CoV-2 E. Molecular dynamics simulation for 1 ㎲ (1,000 ns) revealed that these ligands could alter the native structure of the proteins and their flexibility. Our study suggests that suitable amiloride analogs might yield a prospective drug against coronavirus disease 2019.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2003

Purpose : Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) play an important role in regulating blood flow by releasing vasoactive substances. It has been reported that endothelial impairment and dysfunction might be a primary cause of placental vascular disease, which is manifested clinically as preeclampsia in mother and intrauterine growth restriction in fetus. Furthermore, the frequency of apoptotic changes is increased in umbilical and placental tissues from growth-restricted pregnancies. However, the various mechanisms of umbilical endothelial cell apoptosis have not been broadly proposed. We investigate the effects of amiloride derivatives on apoptotic death of HUVECs and identify their ionic mechanism. Methods : HUVECs were purchased from Clonetics, and cultured on endothelial cell growth medium. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used for assessing cytotoxic effect and confirming the apoptosis. Changes in intracellular ion concentrations were measured with specific fluorescent dyes and fluorescence imaging analysis system. Results : Amiloride derivatives elicited cytotoxic effects on HUVECs with dose-dependent manners and the rank order of potency is HMA($IC_{50}\;11.2{\mu}M$), MIA>EIPA>>amiloride. HMA-induced cytotoxicity is dependent on extra- and intracellular pH, that is, increase extra- and intracellular pH augmented the cytotoxic effects of HMA. HMA dose-dependently reduced intracellular major ions, such as $K^+$ and $Cl^-$. Interestingly, the depletion of intracellular ions induced by HMA was also significantly enhanced at alkaline extracellular pH. Conclusion : Amiloride derivatives induce apoptosis of HUVECs with dose and pH dependent manners. They reduce intracellular $K^+$ and $Cl^-$ concentration, which is also extracellular pH dependent.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.49-57
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• 1994

The objective of this study was to determine whether Pz-peptide, an enhancer of hydrophilic solute permeability in the intestine, could elevate the paracellular permeability of the cornea and conjunctiva in the pigmented rabbit. The in vitro penetration of four hydrophilic solutes, mannitol (MW 182), fluorescein (MW 376), FD-4 (FITC-dextran, 4 KDa), and FD-10 (FITC-dextran, 10 KDa) across the pigmented rabbit cornea and conjunctiva was studied either in the presence or absence of 3 mM enhancers. Drug penetration was evaluated using the modified Ussing chamber. The conjunctiva was more permeable than the cornea to all four markers. EDTA and cytochalasin B showed higher effects on marker transport than Pz-peptide, but Pz-peptide elevated the corneal transport of mannitol, fluoresein, and FD-4 by 50%, 26%, and 50%, respectively, without affecting FD-10 transport. Possibly due to the leakier nature of the conjunctiva, 3 mM Pz-peptide elevated the transport of only FD-4 by about 45%, without affecting the transport of other markers. Furthermore, the transport of Pz-peptide itself across the cornea and conjunctiva increased with increasing concentration in the 1-5 mM range, suggesting that Pz-peptide enhanced its own permeability, possibly by elevating paracellular permeability. Effects of ion transport inhibitors on Pz-peptide transport were then investigated. PZ-peptide penetration was not changed by mucosal addition of $10\;{\mu}M$ amiloride or $10\;{\mu}M$ hexamethylene amiloride, inhibiting serosal $Na^{+}$ exit by $100\;{\mu}M$ ouabain, or replacing $Na^{+}$ with choline chloride in the mucosal side buffer. These results seggested that Pz-peptide enhanced the paracellular permeability of rabbit cornea and conjunctiva and further indicate that ion transporters were not involved in the Pz-peptide induced elevation of paracellular marker permeability.