• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.290-296
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• 2013

In preliminary tests, we examined the effect of several fractions isolated from fermented pine needle extract on pacemaker potentials in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) from the mouse colon using a whole cell patch clamp technique. Among these fractions, Fraction 3 (F3) elicited the most powerful depolarization of membrane. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of F3 obtained from fermented extract of Pinus densiflora needle on pacemaker potentials in ICCs and to establish its mechanism of action. Colonic ICCs generated spontaneous periodic pacemaker potentials in the current-clamp mode. F3 depolarized the membrane and decreased the frequency and amplitude of pacemaker potentials in a dose-dependent fashion. The F3-induced effects on pacemaker potentials were blocked by methoctramine, a muscarinic $M_2$ receptor antagonist, and by glycopyrrolate, a muscarinic $M_3$ receptor antagonist. The F3-induced effects on pacemaker potentials were blocked by external $Na^+$-free solution and by flufenamic acid, a non-selective cation channel blocker, as well as by the removal of external $Ca^{2+}$ and in the presence of thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum. Taken together, these results suggest that F3 of pine needle extract modulates the pacemaker activity of colonic ICCs by the activation of non-selective cation channels via muscarinic $M_2$ and $M_3$ receptors. And external $Ca^{2+}$ influx and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release are involved in F3 actions on ICCs.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.22.1-22.17
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• 2021

Chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1) is known to induce inflammation in the progression of allergic diseases. Previous our studies revealed that 2-({3-[2-(1-cyclohexen-1-yl)ethyl]-6,7-dimethoxy-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2-quinazolinyl}sulfanyl)-N-(4-ethylphenyl)butanamide (K284-6111; K284), the CHI3L1 inhibiting compound, has the anti-inflammatory effect on neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated that K284 treatment could inhibit the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). To identify the effect of K284, we used phthalic anhydride (5% PA)-induced AD animal model and in vitro reconstructed human skin model. We analyzed the expression of AD-related cytokine mediators and NF-κB signaling by Western blotting, ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR. Histological analysis showed that K284 treatment suppressed PA-induced epidermal thickening and infiltration of mast cells. K284 treatment also reduced PA-induced release of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, K284 treatment inhibited the expression of NF-κB activity in PA-treated skin tissues and TNF-α and IFN-γ-treated HaCaT cells. Protein-association network analysis indicated that CHI3L1 is associated with lactoferrin (LTF). LTF was elevated in PA-treated skin tissues and TNF-α and IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells. However, this expression was reduced by K284 treatment. Knockdown of LTF decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines in TNF-α and IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells. Moreover, anti-LTF antibody treatment alleviated AD development in PA-induced AD model. Our data demonstrate that CHI3L1 targeting K284 reduces AD-like skin inflammation and K284 could be a promising therapeutic agent for AD by inhibition of LTF expression.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.360.1-360.1
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• 2016

Hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, HAP) particles have attracted a great deal of attention in biomedical fields due to their good biocompatibility, bioactivity and fairly broad applications as drug delivery, dental implant, bone cement, and etc. Thus, many researchers have made an effort to add new functionalities such as luminescence, drug delivery, and bone regeneration properties up to HAP powders by controlling their nanostructure as well as composition. In this research, the mesoporous strontium substituted HAP (Sr-HAP) microspheres were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. In this synthesis, aspartic acid monomers were utilized to form microsphere by controlling surface energy of HAP particles and Sr ions were substituted into Ca ion sites, which induced luminescence property in HAP powders. Moreover, the change in the amount of Sr substitution was found to influence the particle size, morphology, and concurrently surface area, which led to changing drug loading as well as drug release property. The amount of Sr influences the morphology, luminescent properties, particle size, surface area cell viability and drug loading property, which are investigated by SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, BET, XPS and in vitro test such as MTT assay and drug release test. In particular, the multifunctional Sr-HAP with molar ratios of 0.25 (Sr/(Ca+Sr)) possessed the strongest luminescent property as well as the superior drug loading and sustained release properties that were correspondent with large surface area and pore size. Our study indicates that the fabricated multifunctional Sr-HAP microspheres are quite useful for bone regeneration and drug delivery.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.1 s.57
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• pp.63-74
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• 1995

It has been known that, during hypoxia, the adrenal medulla is activated to release catecholamines (CA) while hypoxia also inhibits high $K^+$ -induced CA secretion in the cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The present study was attempted to examine the effect of hypoxia on CA secretion evoked by chlinergic stimulation and membrane-depolarization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal glands and also to clarify its mechanism of action. For this purpose, using the isolated rat adrenal glands, the effects of hypoxia on CA release evoked by nicotinic ($N_1$) and muscarinic ($M_1$) receptor agonists, membrane-depolarizing agent, $Ca^{++}$-channel activator, intracellular $Ca^{++}$-releaser and ACh were determined. Experiments were carried out, perfusing Krebs solution pre-equilibrated with a gas mixture of 95% N_2$ and 5% $CO_2$. Hypoxia was maintained for $3{\sim}4$ hours through the experiments. Hypoxia gradually caused a time-dependent seduction in CA secretion evoked by DMPP ($100{\mu}M$), McN-A-343 ($100{\mu}M$), ACh (5.32 mM), Bay-K-8644 ($10{\mu}M$) and high $K^+$ (56 mM) respectively. How-ever, it did not affect CA secretion evoked by cyclopiazonic acid ($10{\mu}M$). Hypoxia itself also did fail to produce any influence on spontaneous secretory response of CA. These experimental results suggest that hypoxia depresses CA release evoked by both cholinergic stimulation and membrane-depolarization from the isolated rat adrenal medulla, and that this inhibitory activity may be due to the result of the direct inhibition of $Ca^{++}$ influx into the chromaffin cells without any effect on the calcium mobilization from the intracellular store.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.354-364
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• 2015

Background: Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) is a platelet aggregation-inducing molecule. Therefore, understanding the inhibitory mechanism of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$mobilization is very important to evaluate the antiplatelet effect of a substance. This study was carried out to understand the $Ca^{2+}$-antagonistic effect of total saponin from Korean Red Ginseng (KRG-TS). Methods: We investigated the $Ca^{2+}$-antagonistic effect of KRG-TS on cyclic nucleotides-associated phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type I ($IP_3RI$) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in thrombin (0.05 U/mL)-stimulated human platelet aggregation. Results: The inhibition of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ mobilization by KRG-TS was increased by a PKA inhibitor (Rp-8-BrcAMPS), which was more stronger than the inhibition by a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)- dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor (Rp-8-Br-cGMPS). In addition, Rp-8-Br-cAMPS inhibited phosphorylation of PKA catalytic subunit (PKAc) ($Thr^{197}$) by KRG-TS. The phosphorylation of $IP_3RI$ ($Ser^{1756}$) by KRG-TS was very strongly inhibited by Rp-8-Br-cAMPS compared with that by Rp-8-BrcGMPS. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ mobilization by KRG-TS is more strongly dependent on a cAMP/PKA pathway than a cGMP/PKG pathway. KRG-TS also inhibited the release of adenosine triphosphate and serotonin. In addition, only G-Rg3 of protopanaxadiol in KRG-TS inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Conclusion: These results strongly indicate that KRG-TS is a potent beneficial compound that inhibits $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ mobilization in thrombin-platelet interactions, which may result in the prevention of platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of processed Panax ginseng, sun ginseng (SG) against the UVB-irradiation on epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Pretreatment of SG in HaCaT keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts reduced UVB-induced cell damage as seen by reduced lactate dehydrogenase release. We also found that SG restored the UVB-induced decrease in anti-apoptotic gene expression (bcl-2 and bcl-xL) in these cells, indicating that SG has an anti-apoptotic effect and thus can protect cells from cell death caused by strong UVB radiation. In addition, SG inhibited the excessive expression of c-jun and c-fos gene by the UVB in HeCaT cells and human dermal fibroblasts. We also demonstrated that SG may exert an anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA synthesis in HaCaT keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts. This was further supported by its inhibitory effects on the elevated cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ transcription which was induced by UVB-irradiation in HaCaT cells. In addition, SG may have anti-aging property in terms of induction of procollagen gene expression and inhibition of the matrix metalloprotease-1 gene expression caused by UVB-exposure. These findings suggest that SG can be a potential agent that may protect against the dermal cell damage caused by UVB.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.131-134
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• 1993

Panaxadiol (PD) from Korean red ginseng C.A. Meyer did not control the concentration of cytosolic free $Ca^{2+}$ influxes by thrombin (5 $\mu$/ml). However, PD strongly inhibited the synthesis of thromboxane. $A_2$ (TX$A_2$) in the aggregation of human platelets induced by thrombin (5 $\mu$/ml). These rexults suggest that PD blocks the any Pathway transforming to TX$A_2$ from arachidonic acid (AA) which release out of plasma membrane phospholipids by $Ca^{2+}$-dependent phospholipase C or phospholipase $A_2$. It may be also concluded that PD has the antiplatelet function by inhibiting the synthesis of TX$A_2$, which known to be the potent stimulator of the aggregation of human platelet.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2009

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are pacemaking cells required for gastrointestinal motility. The possibility of whether DA-9701, a novel prokinetic agent formulated with Pharbitis Semen and Corydalis Tuber, modulates pacemaker activities in the ICC was tested using the whole cell patch clamp technique. DA-9701 produced membrane depolarization and increased tonic inward pacemaker currents in the voltage-clamp mode. The application of flufenamic acid, a non-selective cation channel blocker, but not niflumic acid, abolished the generation of pacemaker currents induced by DA-9701. Pretreatment with a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution and thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum, abolished the generation of pacemaker currents. In addition, the tonic inward currents were inhibited by U-73122, an active phospholipase C inhibitor, but not by $GDP-{\beta}-S$, which permanently binds G-binding proteins. Furthermore, the protein kinase C inhibitors, chelerythrine and calphostin C, did not block the DA-9701-induced pacemaker currents. These results suggest that DA-9701 might affect gastrointestinal motility by the modulation of pacemaker activity in the ICC, and the activation is associated with the non-selective cationic channels via external $Ca^{2+}$ influx, phospholipase C activation, and $Ca^{2+}$ release from internal storage in a G protein-independent and protein kinase C-independent manner.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.295-300
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• 1995

These studies were designed to examine the effects of ginsenosides on glutamate neurotansmission. In primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule cells, ginsenosides (Rb1, Rc did not Rg1, $500\mug/ml$) increased glutamate release which was measured by HPLC. but HPLC, but Re did not shwo an elevation of glutamate release. However, all of these ginsenosides down-regulated N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced glutamate release. Rc strongly increased glutamate release and elevated intracellular clcium concentrations $([Ca_{2+}]_i)$ which was measured by ratio fluorometry with FURA-2AM. These results indicate that ginsenosides have a homeostatic effect on glutamate neurotransmission, and there is a structure-function relationship among the ginsenosides tested.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1999

The present experiments were performed to examine the effects of acetylcholine (ACh) and carbachol (CC) on thyroxine ($T_4$) release and any possible relation between inhibition of $T_4$ release and signaling pathway in guinea pig thyroids. The thyroids were incubated in the medium containing the test agents, samples of the medium were assayed for $T_4$ by EIA kits. ACh and CC inhibited the TSH-stimulated $T_4$ release. These inhibition were reversed by atropine, but not by d-tubocurarine. The inhibitory effects of ACh on $T_4$ release were prevented by $M_{1^-}$ and $M_{3^-}$muscarinic antagonists and its inhibition was also slightly reversed by $M_{2^-}$ and $M_{4^-}$muscarinic antagonists. R59022, like ACh and CC, also inhibited the TSH-stimulated $T_4$ release. This inhibition was reversed by protein kinase C inhibitor and $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker. The present study suggests that cholinergic inhibition of $T_4$ release from thyroids can be induced mainly by activation of the $M_{1^-}$ or $M_{3^-}$ receptors and that it is mediated through the muscarinic receptorstimulated protein kinase C activation.