• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.33-41
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• 2004

We developed a cardiac cell model to explain the phenomenon of mechano-electric feedback (MEF), based on the experimental data with rat atrial myocytes. It incorporated the activity of ion channels, pumps, exchangers, and changes of intracellular ion concentration. Changes in membrane excitability and $Ca^{2+}$ transients could then be calculated. In the model, the major ion channels responsible for the stretch-induced changes in electrical activity were the stretch-activated channels (SACs). The relationship between the extent of stretch and activation of SACs was formulated based on the experimental findings. Then, the effects of mechanical stretch on the electrical activity were reproduced. The shape of the action potential (AP) was significantly changed by stretch in the model simulation. The duration was decreased at initial fast phase of repolarization (AP duration at 20% repolarization level from 3.7 to 2.5 ms) and increased at late slow phase of repolarization (AP duration at 90% repolarization level from 62 to 178 ms). The resting potential was depolarized from -75 to -61 mV. This mathematical model of SACs may quantitatively predict changes in cardiomyocytes by mechanical stretch.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.390-396
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• 2008

Calreticulin (CRT) is one of the major $Ca^{2+}$ binding chaperone proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and an unusual luminal ER protein. Postnatally elevated expression of CRT leads to impaired development of the cardiac conductive system and may be responsible for the pathology of complete heart block. In this study, the molecular mechanisms that affect $Ca^{2+}$-dependent signal cascades were investigated using CRT-overexpressing cardiomyocytes. In particular, we asked whether calreticulin plays a critical role in the activation of $Ca^{2+}$-dependent apoptosis. In the cells overexpressing CRT, the intracellular calcium concentration was significantly increased and the activity of PKC and level of SECAR2a mRNA were reduced. Phosphorylation of Akt and ERKs decreased compared to control. In addition the activity of the anti-apoptotic factor, Bcl-2, was decreased and the activities of pro-apoptotic factor, Bax, p53 and caspase 8 were increased, leading to a dramatic augmentation of caspase 3 activity. Our results suggest that enhanced CRT expression in mature cardiomyocytes disrupts intracellular calcium regulation, leading to calcium-dependent apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.25-33
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• 2016

Ion channels in carcinoma and their roles in cell proliferation are drawing attention. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$)-dependent signaling affects the fate of cancer cells. Here we investigate the role of $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channel (SK4) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells (HNSCCs) of dif-ferent cell lines; SNU-1076, OSC-19 and HN5. Treatment with $1{\mu}M$ ionomycin induced cell death in all the three cell lines. Whole-cell patch clamp study suggested common expressions of $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channels (Ano-1) and $Ca^{2+}$-activated nonselective cation channels (CAN). 1-EBIO, an activator of SK4, induced outward $K^+$ current (ISK4) in SNU-1076 and OSC-19. In HN5, ISK4 was not observed or negligible. The 1-EBIO-induced current was abolished by TRAM-34, a selective SK4 blocker. Interestingly, the ionomycin-induced cell death was effectively prevented by 1-EBIO in SNU-1076 and OSC-19, and the rescue effect was annihilated by combined TRAM-34. Con-sistent with the lower level of ISK4, the rescue by 1-EBIO was least effective in HN5. The results newly demonstrate the role of SK4 in the fate of HNSCCs under the $Ca^{2+}$ overloaded condition. Pharmacological modulation of SK4 might provide an intriguing novel tool for the anti-cancer strategy in HNSCC.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1996년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.208-208
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• 1996

In this work we investigated coupling of the m2 and m4 subtypes of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Stimulation of guanylate cyclase activity in detector neuroblastoma cells was used as an index of generation of nitric oxide (NO) in CHO cells. The agonist carbachol induced marked time and concentration-dependent enhancement of the activity of nNOS at m2 receptors. In sharp contrast, the response in CHO cells transfected with the m4 receptor gene was similar in magnitude to that observed in non-transfected cells, suggesting lack of significant coupling of m4 muscarinic receptors to NO signaling. This novel observation of functional divergence of the two muscarinic receptor subtypes at the level of activation of nNOS is quite intriguing, in light of the currently accepted dogma that they belong to the same functional class. This functional selectivity was not due to differential effects on intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ concentration, since activation of both subtypes of muscarinic receptors produced a comparable, albeit quite small, Ca$\^$2+/ signal. Taken together, our present data strongly suggest that the generally assumed functional equivalence of m2 and m4 muscarinic receptors should be carefully reexamined. These data also suggest the presence of alternate mechanisms of activation of nNOS, which might be operative in the absence of large changes in the concentration of cellular Ca$\^$2+/. The latter mechanisms are expected to be activated by m2, but not m4 muscarinic receptors. Both sets of findings are quits important in regards to refining the functional classification of muscarinic receptor subtypes and the cellular mechanisms of activation of NOS.

• 한국환경독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경독성학회 2003년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.181-182
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• 2003

Exposure to some synthetic environmental chemicals and their metabolites cause reproductive problems in a variety of vertebrate via endocrine mechanisms. However, in most cases, the link between these compounds and adverse effects on humans, fish, and wildlife has not been established, which necessitates a closer look at the molecular, functional, and clinical implications of these chemicals in the environment. Calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) is a member of a largo family of intracellular calcium binding proteins that have high affinities for calcium. It was reported that the estrogen level of uterus affected the expression of the CaBP-9k gene in rat uterus. We examined the dose-dependent CaBP-9K gene expression in the uterus for three-days injection of methoxychlor (HC) in the overectomized immature rats and the relation with uterotrophic response of the compoundsand compared the responses induced by MC according to the route of administration.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권7호
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• pp.892-898
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• 2009

Mifepristone (MIF)은 프로게스테론 유사체이며, 강한 항프로게스테론 효과 때문에 전립선암 치료에 사용되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 MIF의 세포독성효과가 세포 내 칼슘농도 조절에 의한 것임을 밝힌다. 5-40 $\mu$M의 MIF를 처리 시 LNCaP 전립선암세포의 성장이 농도와 시간의존적으로 감소하였다. 반대로, 세포 내 칼슘의 레벨은 MIF의 처리시간과 농도도 의존적으로 증가하였다. MIF를 처리한 세포를 PI 혹은 Hoechst로 염색한 결과, 전형적인 세포자살의 징후인 응축된 염색질과 핵 조각단편들이 관찰되었다. 이들 세포자살징후 역시 MIF의 처리시간과 농도가 증가 할수록 심화되었다. 세포자살에 직접적으로 관여하는 중요한 단백질인 Bcl-2 그룹 단백질의 발현을 조사해 본 결과, 세포자살 억제단백질인 Bcl-2의 발현은 MIF처리시 치명적으로감소하였고, 대신에 세포자살 촉진단백질인 Bax의 발현은 2배로 증대되었다. 이상의 결과로 보아 MIF의 세포독성효과는 세포 내의 칼슘조절에 따른 세포자살에 의한 것으로 생각된다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.524-530
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• 2004

Epilepsy or the occurrence of spontaneous recurrent epileptiform discharges (SREDs, seizures) is one of the most common neurological disorders. Shift in the balance of brain between excitatory and inhibitory functions due to different types of structural or functional alterations may cause epileptiform discharges. N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor dysfunctions have been implicated in modulating seizure activities. Seizures and epilepsy are clearly dependent on elevated intracellular calcium concentration ([C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ ) by NMDA receptor activation and can be prevented by NMDA antagonists. This perturbed [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ levels is forerunner of neuronal death. However, therapeutic tools of elevated [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ level during status epilepticus (SE) and SREDs have not been discovered yet. Our previous study showed fast inhibition of ginseng total saponins and ginsenoside R $g_3$ on NMDA receptor-mediated [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ in cultured hippocampal neurons. We, therefore, examined the direct modulation of ginseng on hippocampal neuronal culture model of epilepsy using fura-2-based digital $Ca^{2+}$ imaging and neuronal viability assays. We found that ginseng total saponins and ginsenoside R $g_3$ inhibited $Mg^{2+}$ free-induced increase of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ and spontaneous [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ oscillations in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. These results suggest that ginseng may playa neuroprotective role in perturbed homeostasis of [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ and neuronal cell death via the inhibition of NMDA receptor-induced SE or SREDs.d SE or SREDs..

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제65권4호
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• pp.405-412
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• 2022

Echinodorus cordifolius (L.)은 택사과(Alismataceae)에 속하는 수생 식물이다. Echinodorus cordifolius (L.)의 피부 항노화 활성에 대한 연구는 아직까지 보고되지 않았다. 따라서 본 연구의 목적은 Echinodorus cordifolius (L.)로부터 70% 에탄올 추출물 (ECEE)을 제조하고 항산화 및 hyaluronidase 억제 활성을 통해 피부 항노화 기능성 소재로서의 가능성을 확인하였다. ECEE는 EC₅₀과 IC₅₀ 값이 각각 31.4, 300, 450 ㎍/mL로 우수한 DPPH, hydrogen peroxide 소거 활성 및 hyaluronidase 억제 활성을 가지는 것으로 나타났다. ECEE는 불멸화된 인간 각질세포인 HaCaT 세포에서 1 mM H₂O₂로 유도된 산화적 스트레스에 대해 농도 의존적으로 세포 보호 효과 증가 및 세포 내 활성산소종을 생성을 억제하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 ECEE는 hyaluronic acid (HA) 합성 효소인 hyaluronan synthase 2 발현 수준을 상향 조절하고 HA 분해 효소인 hyaluronidase 2(HYAL2)의 발현 수준을 하향 조절하여 HaCaT 세포에서 HA 생성량을 증가시켰다. 따라서 이러한 결과를 종합하면 ECEE는 항산화, hyaluronidase 억제 및 HA 생성 촉진의 우수한 잠재력을 가진다는 것을 확인하였고 이를 통해 피부 노화를 방지하기 위한 천연 기능성 화장품 소재로서의 충분한 활용 가치가 있다고 판단된다.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.355-363
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• 1995

Calcium수송에 대한 기전을 추구하기위하여, carbachol을 사용하여 ml muscarinic receptor-transfected RBL-2H3 cell-line에서 다음과 같은 실험결과를 얻었기에 이에 보고한다. 1) Carbachol의 투여로 이들 cell-line에서 $Ca^{2+}$ influx가 농도에 따라 증가하였고, hexosaminidase 분비양도 의의있게 증가하였다. 2) Atropine 투여로 Carbachol의 상승작용이 의의있게 억제되었다. 3) 수종의 금속양이온을 투여하여 carbachol의 $Ca^{2+}$수송에 대한 영향을 관찰한 바, 이들 금속이온들은 $Ca^{2+}$의 influx를 의의있게 억제하였다. 4) PMA(20 nM) 투여로 carbachol의 hexosaminidase의 분비는 억제되지 못했지만 $Ca^{2+}$ influx는 억제되었다. 5) PTx $(0.2\;{\mu}g/ml)$ 투여로 carbachol의 hexosaminidase 분비가 의의있게 억제되었다. 위의 결과로 미루어 보아, 이 세포의 muscarinic receptor가 calcium channel을 통한 calcium수송에 매우 중요한 영향을 나타내는데, 이들 calcium ion channel은 적어도 두 종류가 존재하며, 하나는G-protein-dependent calcium channel에 의하며, 다른 하나는 G-protein-independent calcium channel에 대한 작용에 의한 것으로 생각된다. 또한 이 calcium channel들은 2가 또는 3가의 다른 금속 ion들에 의하여 calcium수송이 억제된다.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.563-569
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• 2011

The effects of cortisol on proliferation and apoptosis of tilapia surface immunoglobulin positive ($sIg^+$) lymphocytes isolated from different tissues were investigated. $sIg^+$ lymphocytes from the tilapia head kidney (HK) and spleen showed a higher proliferation and lower intracellular calcium ($Ca^{2+}{_i}$) level to Ig-crosslinking compared with peripheral blood $sIg^+$ lymphocytes. Peripheral blood $sIg^+$ lymphocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed high levels of apoptosis in the presence of cortisol. HK and to a lesser extent spleen $sIg^+$ lymphocytes, although less sensitive than their equivalent in peripheral blood, showed cortisol-induced apoptosis irrespective of LPS stimulation of control levels. Compared to plasma values measured during stress conditions, proliferation regardless of LPS stimulation was apparently suppressed by cortisol that is effective in inducing a significant increase in apoptosis in all three different cell populations of $sIg^+$ cells, suggesting the immunoregulatory effect of cortisol in both LPS stimulated and non-stimulated conditions. Different sensitivity of $sIg^+$ cells to the cortisol, in regard to developmental stage and activity, could be related in inhibiting excessive and continuing depletion of $sIg^+$ lymphocytes.