• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 1994

In order to produce a specific bombesin antiserum far very sensitive radioimmunoassay, synthetic $[lys^3]-bombesin$ conjugated to bovine serum albumin was subcutaneously injected into guinea pigs. The conjugation was performed using either carbodiimide or gIutaraldehyde as a coupling agent. The antisera were characterized by analysis of Scatchard and Sips plots. The antiserum LBE 2G/2 raised by repeat injection of the immunogen conjugated with carbodiimide showed the titer of 1 : 188,000, very low cross-reactivity to bombesin-like peptides except bombesin, with high affinity constant $(1.64{\times}10^{11}\;M^{-1})$ and high heterogeneity index (0.91). The antiserum LBG 1G/2 produced by repeat injection of the immunogen conjugated with glutaraldehyde possessed the titer of 1 : 43,000, high cross-reactivity to some bombesin-like peptides, high affinity constant $(1.19{\times}10^{11}\;M^{-1})$ and high heterogeneity index (0.79). These results indicate that the antiserum LBE 2G/2 is specific only to bombesin and that the antiserum LBG IG/2 binds to some bombesin-like peptides such as alytesin, gastrin releasing peptide and neuromedin C. The antiserum LBE 2G/2 is sufficient for the very sensitive radioimmunoassay of bombesin.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.569-574
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• 2021

Vascular calcification is the heterotopic accumulation of calcium phosphate salts in the vascular tissue and is highly correlated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this study, we found that the expression of neuromedin B (NMB) and NMB receptor is upregulated in phosphate-induced calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Silencing of NMB or treatment with NMB receptor antagonist, PD168368, inhibited the phosphate-induced osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling and VSMC apoptosis. PD168368 also attenuated the arterial calcification in cultured aortic rings and in a rat model of chronic kidney disease. The results of this study suggest that NMB-NMB receptor axis may have potential therapeutic value in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular calcification.