• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 2018

Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization is closely linked with the initiation of salivary secretion in parotid acinar cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be related to a variety of oxidative stress-induced cellular disorders and believed to be involved in salivary impairments. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) on cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation in mouse parotid acinar cells. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels were slowly elevated when $1mM\;H_2O_2$ was perfused in the presence of normal extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. In a $Ca^{2+}-free$ medium, $1mM\;H_2O_2$ still enhanced the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level. $Ca^{2+}$ entry tested using manganese quenching technique was not affected by perfusion of $1mM\;H_2O_2$. On the other hand, $10mM\;H_2O_2$ induced more rapid $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation and facilitated $Ca^{2+}$ entry from extracellular fluid. $Ca^{2+}$ refill into intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ store and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ($1{\mu}M$)-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release from $Ca^{2+}$ store was not affected by $1mM\;H_2O_2$ in permeabilized cells. $Ca^{2+}$ efflux through plasma membrane $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ (PMCA) was markedly blocked by $1mM\;H_2O_2$ in thapsigargin-treated intact acinar cells. Antioxidants, either catalase or dithiothreitol, completely protected $H_2O_2-induced$ $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation through PMCA inactivation. From the above results, we suggest that excessive production of $H_2O_2$ under pathological conditions may lead to cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation and that the primary mechanism of $H_2O_2-induced$ $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation is likely to inhibit $Ca^{2+}$ efflux through PMCA rather than mobilize $Ca^{2+}$ ions from extracellular medium or intracellular stores in mouse parotid acinar cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.47-47
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• 2003

The presenilin 1 (PS1) or PS2 is an essential component of the ${\gamma}$-secretase complex, which mediates the intramembrane proteolysis of selected type-I membrane, including the ${\beta}$-amyloid precursor protein (APP) to yield A${\beta}$. Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD)-associated mutations in presenilins give rise to an increased production of a highly amyloidogenic A${\beta}$42. In addition to their well-documented proteolytic function, the presenilins play a role in calcium signaling. We have previously reported that presenilin FAD mutations cause highly consistent alterations in intracellular calcium signaling pathways, which include deficits in capacitative calcium entry (CCE), the refilling mechanism for depleted internal calcium stores. However, molecular basis for the presenilin-mediated modulation of CCE remains to be elucidated. In the present study, whole-cell patch clamp method was used to identify a specific calcium-permeable ion channel current(s) that is responsible for the CCE deficits associated with FAD-linked PS1 mutants. Unexpectedly, both voltage-activated and conventional store depletion-activated calcium currents I(CRAC), were absent in HEK293 cells, which were stably transfected either with wild-type or FAD mutant (L286V, M146L, and delta E9) forms of PS1. Recently, magnesium-nucleotide-regulated metal cation current, or I(MagNum), has been described and appears to share many common properties with I(CRAC) including calcium permeability and inhibitor sensitivity (e.g. 2-APB). We have detected I(MagNum) in all 293 cells tested. Interestingly, FAD mutant 293 cells developed only about half of currents compared to PS1 wild type cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2019

Polycystic kidney disease 2-like-1 (PKD2L1), polycystin-L or transient receptor potential polycystin 3 (TRPP3) is a TRP superfamily member. It is a calcium-permeable non-selective cation channel that regulates intracellular calcium concentration and thereby calcium signaling. Although the calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor, calmidazolium, is an activator of the PKD2L1 channel, the activating mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether CaM takes part in the regulation of the PKD2L1 channel, and if so, how. With patch clamp techniques, we observed the current amplitudes of PKD2L1 significantly reduced when co-expressed with CaM and $CaM{\triangle}N$. This result suggests that the N-lobe of CaM carries a more crucial role in regulating PKD2L1 and guides us into our next question on the different functions of two lobes of CaM. We also identified the predicted CaM binding site, and generated deletion and truncation mutants. The mutants showed significant reduction in currents losing PKD2L1 current-voltage curve, suggesting that the C-terminal region from 590 to 600 is crucial for maintaining the functionality of the PKD2L1 channel. With PKD2L1608Stop mutant showing increased current amplitudes, we further examined the functional importance of EF-hand domain. Along with co-expression of CaM, ${\triangle}EF$-hand mutant also showed significant changes in current amplitudes and potentiation time. Our findings suggest that there is a constitutive inhibition of EF-hand and binding of CaM C-lobe on the channel in low calcium concentration. At higher calcium concentration, calcium ions occupy the N-lobe as well as the EF-hand domain, allowing the two to compete to bind to the channel.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2016

Astrocytes play a critical role in normal brain functions and maintaining the brain microenvironment, and defects in astrocytogenesis during neurodevelopment could give rise to severe mental illness and psychiatric disorders. During neuro-embryogenesis, astrocytogenesis involves astrocytic differentiation of neural precursor cells (NPCs) induced by signals from ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) or pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP). However, in contrast to the CNTF signaling pathway, the exact mechanism underlying astrocytic differentiation induced by PACAP is unknown. In the present study, we aimed to verify a signaling pathway specific to PACAP-induced astrocytogenesis, using exchange protein directly activated by cAMP2 (Epac2)-knockout mice. We found that PACAP could trigger astrocytic differentiation of NPCs via Epac2 activation and an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration via a calcium ion influx. Taken together, we concluded that astrocytogenesis stimulated by PACAP occurs through a novel signaling pathway independent from CNTF-JAK/STAT signaling, that is the well-known pathway of astrocytogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.622-627
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• 2012

Mast cells and basophils are important effector cells in immunoglobulin-E (IgE)-mediated allergic reactions. Using the human basophilic KU812F cells, we assessed the inhibitory effects of 6-methoxyluteolin, isolated from Chrysanthemum zawadskii, in the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated allergic reaction. We determined that 6-methoxyluteolin inhibited anti-$Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}$ chain antibody (CRA-1)-induced histamine release, as well as elevation of intracellular calcium concentration $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of 6-methoxyluteolin on the cell surface expression and the mRNA level of the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}$ chain were determined by flow cytometric analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Therefore, these results show that 6-methoxyluteolin is a potent inhibitor of histamine release and calcium influx via down-regulation of the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}$ chain.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2007

N,N-dimethyl-D-erythro-sphingosine (DMS) is an N-methyl derivative of sphingosine and an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) and sphingosine kinase (SK). In the present study, we examined the effects of DMS on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, pH, and glutamate uptake in human 1321N1 astrocytes. DMS increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration and cytosolic pH in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment of the cells with the $G_{i/o}$ protein inhibitor PTX and the PLC inhibitor U73122 had no obvious effect. However, removal of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ with the $Ca^{2+}$ chelator EGTA or depletion of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores with thapsigargin impeded the DMS-induced increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Pretreatment of cells with $NH_4Cl$ or monensin reduced the DMS-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase. However, inhibition of the DMS-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase with BAPTA did not influence the DMS-induced pH increase. DMS also inhibited glutamate uptake by the 1321N1 astrocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. It also increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and pH in PC12 neuronal cells. Our observations on the effects of DMS on 1321N1 astrocytes and PC12 neuronal cells point to a physiological role of DMS in the brain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.327-334
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• 2017

Epidemiologic interest in particulate matter (PM) is growing particularly because of its impact of respiratory health. It has been elucidated that PM evoked inflammatory signal in pulmonary epithelia. However, it has not been established $Ca^{2+}$ signaling mechanisms involved in acute PM-derived signaling in pulmonary fibroblasts. In the present study, we explored dust particles PM modulated intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and sought to provide a therapeutic strategy by antagonizing PM-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signaling in human lung fibroblasts MRC5 cells. We demonstrated that PM10, less than $10{\mu}m$, induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signaling, which was mediated by extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. The PM10-mediated intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signaling was attenuated by antioxidants, phospholipase blockers, polyADPR polymerase 1 inhibitor, and transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) inhibitors. In addition, PM-mediated increases in reactive oxygen species were attenuated by TRPM2 blockers, clotrimazole (CLZ) and N-(p-amylcinnamoyl) anthranilic acid (ACA). Our results showed that PM10 enhanced reactive oxygen species signal by measuring DCF fluorescence and the DCF signal attenuated by both TRPM2 blockers CLZ and ACA. Here, we suggest functional inhibition of TRPM2 channels as a potential therapeutic strategy for modulation of dust particle-mediated signaling and oxidative stress accompanying lung diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2000

To investigate the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores, we measured isometric contraction and $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx. $CaCl_2$ increased $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying- induced contraction in dose-dependent manner, but phospholipase C activity was not affected by the $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying-induced contraction. The contraction was inhibited by voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists dose dependently, but not by TMB-8 (intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blocker). Both PKC inhibitors (H-7 and staurosporine) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamic acid) significantly inhibited the contraction, but calmodulin antagonists (W-7 and trifluoperazine) had no inhibitory effect on the contraction. The combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were greater than that of each one alone. In $Ca^{2+}$ store-emptied condition, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx was significantly inhibited by verapamil, H-7 or genistein but not by trifluoperazine. However combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were not observed. Therefore, this kinase pathway may modulate the sensitivity of contractile protein. These results suggest that contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores was mediated by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel, also protein kinase C and/or tyrosine kinase pathway modulates the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile protein.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 1997

We studied the effects of bile acids on the induction ofapoptosis in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Treatment with either ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or lithocholic acid (LCA) resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability assessed by MTT assay. Both UDCA and LCA also induced genomic DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis, indicating that the mechanism by which these bile acids induce cell death was through apoptosis. Cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, blocked the apoptosis induced by these bile acids, implying that new protein synthesis may be required for the apoptosis. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blockers (dantrolene and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid-8-(diethylamino)octyl ester) inhibited decreased cell viability and DNA fragmentation induced by these bile acids. Treatment of HepG2 cells with calcium ionophore A23l87 induced DNA fragmentation. These results suggest that UDCA and LCA induce apoptosis in the HepG2 cells and that the activation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signals may play an important role in the apoptosis induced by these bile acids.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 1991

In order to construct a yeast strain having high ethanol tolerance together with good lactose fermentation ability, the protoplast fusion using Saccharomyces cerevisiae STV 89 and Kluyveromyces fragilis CBS 397 was carried out. Auxotrophic mutants of K. fragilis were obtained as a selection marker by treatment of ethylmethane sulfonate. The best mutant for protoplast fusion was selected based on the capabilities of ${\beta}-galactosidase$ production and lactose fermentation. The protoplast fusion using polyethylene glycol and calcium chloride solution led to the fusion frequence of $3{\times}10^{-6}$ and a number of fusants were obtained. Among these fusants, a fusant F-3-19 showed the best results in terms of ethanol tolerance, ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity and lactose fermentation. The performance of lactose fermentation and ethanol tolerance by this fusant were better than those of K. fragilis. Study on the ethanol tolerance having relation to fatty acid composition and intracellular ethanol concentration revealed that the fusant F-3-19 had a higher unsaturated fatty acids content and accumulated less amount of intracellular ethanol compared with a parent of K. fragilis.