• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.375-379
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• 2003

$Ca^{2+}$ influx appears to be important for triggering myoblast fusion. It remains, however, unclear how $Ca^{2+}$ influx rises prior to myoblast fusion. Recently, several studies suggested that NMDA receptors may be involved in $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization of muscle, and that $Ca^{2+}$ influx is mediated by NMDA receptors in C2C12 myoblasts. Here, we report that other types of ionotropic glutamate receptors, non-NMDA receptors (AMPA and KA receptors), are also involved in $Ca^{2+}$ influx in myoblasts. To explore which subtypes of non-NMDA receptors are expressed in C2C12 myogenic cells, RT-PCR was performed, and the results revealed that KA receptor subunits were expressed in both myoblasts and myotubes. However, AMPA receptor was not detected in myoblasts but expressed in myotubes. Using a $Ca^{2+}$ imaging system, $Ca^{2+}$ influx mediated by these receptors was directly measured in a single myoblast cell. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level was increased by KA, but not by AMPA. These results were consistent with RT-PCR data. In addition, KA-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase was completely suppressed by treatment of nifedifine, a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker. Furthermore, KA stimulated myoblast fusion in a dose-dependent manner. CNQX inhibited not only KA-induced myoblast fusion but also spontaneous myoblast fusion. Therefore, these results suggest that KA receptors are involved in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase in myoblasts and then may play an important role in myoblast fusion.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2003

Tributyltin (TBT) used world-wide in antifouling paints for ships is a widespread environmental pollutant and cause reproductive organs atrophy in rodents. At low doses, antiproliferative modes of action have been shown to be involved, whereas at higher doses apoptosis seems to be the mechanism of toxicity in reproductive organs by TBT. In this study, we investigated that the mechanisms underlying DNA fragmentation induced by TBT in the rat leyding cell line, R2C. Effects of TBT on intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ level and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were investigated in R2C cells by fluorescence detector. TBT significantly induced intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ level in a time-dependent manner. The rise in intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ level was followed by a time-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the cytosol level. Simultaneously, TBT induced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial membrane into the cytosol. Furthermore, ROS production and the release of cytochrome c were reduced by BAPTA, an intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ chelator, indicating the important role of Ca$\^$2+/ in R2C during these early intracellular events. In addition, Z-DEVD FMK, a caspase-3 inhibitor, decreased apoptosis by TBT. Taken together, the present results indicated that the apoptotic pathway by TBT might start with an increase in intracellular Ca$\^$2+/ level, continues with release of ROS and cytochrome c from mitochondria, activation of caspases,and finally results in DNA fragmentation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2005

To prove the buffering contribution of mitochondria to the increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) via background nonselective cation channel (background NSCC), we examined whether inhibition of mitochondria by protonophore carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) affects endothelial $Ca^{2+}$ entry and $Ca^{2+}$ buffering in freshly isolated rabbit aortic endothelial cells (RAECs). The ratio of fluorescence by fura-2 AM ($R_{340/380}$) was measured in RAECs. Biological state was checked by application of acetylcholine (ACh) and ACh ($10{\mu}M$) increased $R_{340/380}$ by $1.1{\pm}0.15$ ($mean{\pm}S.E.$, n=6). When the external $Na^+$ was totally replaced by $NMDG^+$, $R_{340/380}$ was increased by $1.19{\pm}0.17$ in a reversible manner (n=27). $NMDG^+$-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase was followed by oscillatory decay after $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ reached the peak level. The increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by $NMDG^+$ was completely suppressed by replacement with $Cs^+$. When $1{\mu}M$ CCCP was applied to bath solution, the ratio of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was increased by $0.4{\pm}0.06$ (n=31). When $1{\mu}M$ CCCP was used for pretreatment before application of $NMDG^+$, oscillatory decay of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by $NMDG^+$ was significantly inhibited compared to the control (p＜0.05). In addition, $NMDG^+-induced$ increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was highly enhanced by pretreatment with $2{\mu}M$ CCCP by $320{\pm}93.7$%, compared to the control ($mean{\pm}S.E.$, n=12). From these results, it is concluded that mitochondria might have buffering contribution to the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase through regulation of the background NSCC in RAECs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.377-384
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• 1998

Gold compounds depress phagocytic cell responses, including chemotaxis, and respiratory burst. However, the effects of gold compounds on the function of phagocytic cells are variable according to the preparation of medicine. In this study, effect of tetrachloroauric acid on activated neutrophil responses, including respiratory burst, lysosomal enzyme release and change of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level and on the synthesis of interleukin-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor by macrophages was studied. This study further examines how gold compounds affect the activation processes. The respiratory burst stimulated by complement C5a, degraded IgG and PMA in neutrophils was inhibited by tetrachloroauric acid. In contrast to C5a and degraded IgG, PMA-stimulated superoxide production was weakly inhibited by tetrachloroauric acid. Staurosporine, genistein, EGTA and verapamil inhibited superoxide and $H_2O_2$ production caused by C5a and degraded IgG. PMA-stimulated superoxide production was inhibited by staurosporine but was not affected by genistein. Tetrachloroauric acid, genistein, EGTA and verapamil inhibited the release of acid phosphatase and myeloperoxidase, while the effect of staurosporine was not detected. The synthesis of interleukin-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor by $interleukin-1{\beta}$ in macrophages was inhibited by tetrachloroauric acid. Preincubation with tetrachloroauric acid, genistein, EGTA and verapamil, the elevation of [$Ca^{2+}_i$] evoked by C5a was inhibited. Store-regulated $Ca^{2+}$ entry in thapsigargin-pretreated neutrophils was decreased by the addition of tetrachloroauric acid and genistein. The effect of staurosporine on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization was not observed. In conclusion, tetrachloroauric acid may suppress neutrophil responses through its inhibitory action on elevation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level and protein kinase C. It might exhibit an inhibitory effect on the action of protein tyrosine kinase. Tetrachloroauric acid depresses cytokine production by macrophages.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.240-248
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• 2024

We observed that treatment with dimethyl α-ketoglutarate (DMK) increased the amount of intracellular α-ketoglutarate significantly more than that of α-ketoglutarate in HaCaT cells. DMK also increased the level of intracellular 4-hydroxyproline and promoted the production of collagen in HaCaT cells. In addition, DMK decreased the production of collagenase and elastase and down-regulated the expression of selected matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), such as MMP-1, MMP-9, MMP-10, and MMP-12, via transcriptional inhibition. The inhibition of MMPs by DMK was mediated by the suppression of the IL-1 signaling cascade, leading to the attenuation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and AP-1 transactivation. Our study results illustrate that DMK, an alkylated derivative of α-ketoglutarate, increased the level of 4-hydroxyproline, promoted the production of collagen, and inhibited the expression of selected MMPs by affecting the IL-1 cascade and AP-1 transactivation in HaCaT cells. The results suggest that DMK might be useful as an anti-wrinkle ingredient.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.355-362
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• 2002

Pathophysiological elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_1$) in the neuron has been considered as an important responsible factor in the neuronal cell damages. However the mechanism of increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ and the relationship between $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ level and cytotocixity have not been fully demonstrated. In the present study, real-time alteration of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$and cellular response (cell damages) in the pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) stimulated by glutamate were investigated. Glutamate dose dependently decreased cell viability determined propidium iodide fluorescence method and morphology change. Conversely related with cell damages, glutamate dose dependently increased the level of［Ca$^{2+}$］$_{i}$ . To investigate the mechanism of glutamate-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$,$[Ca^{2+}]_1$, was first measured in the cell cultured in calcium free media and in the presence of dantrolene, an inhibitor of calcium release from ryanodine receptor located in endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Similar to the increase$[Ca^{2+}]_1$ in the calcium-containing media, glutamate dose dependently increased $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ in the cell cultured in free calcium media. However pretreatment (2 hr) with 20~50 $\mu\textrm{M}$ dantrolene substantial lowered glutamate-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$, suggesting that release of calcium from ER may be major sourse of increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ in PC12 cells. Dantrolene-induced inhibition of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ resulted in recovery of cytotoxicity by glutamate. Relevance of N-methy-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a type of glutamte receptor on glutamate-induced incense of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$,$[Ca^{2+}]_1$ was also determined in the cells pretreated (2 hr) with NMDA receptor antagonist MK-80l. Glutamate-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ was reduced by MK-801 dose dependently. Furthermore, glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was also prevented by MK-80l. These results demonstrate that glutamte increase $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ dose dependently and thereby cause cytotoxicity. The increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ may release from ER, especially through ryanodine receptor and/or through NMDA receptor Alteration of calcium homeostasis through disturbance of ER system and/or calcium influx through NMDA receptor could contribute glutamate-induced cell damages.s.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.241-249
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• 1998

Platelet-activating factor(PAF) enhanced interleukin-1(IL-1) activity by the interaction with a specific receptor in rat alveolar macrophages. In this study, we investigated the role of endogenous arachidonate metabolites and intracellular calcium mobilization in the PAF-induced IL-1 activity. Alveolar macrophages were preincubated with 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors 30 min before the addition of PAF and lipopolysaccharide(LPS). After 24h culture, IL-1 activity was measured in the supernate of sample using the thymocyte proliferation assay. Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase by nordihydroguaiaretic acid and AA-861 completely blocked the PAF-induced enhancement of IL-1 activity with $IC_{50}\;of\;2\;{\mu}M\;and\;5\;{\mu}M$, respectively. In contrast, the inhibition of cyclooxygenase pathway by indomethacin and ibuprofen resulted in the potentiation in PAF-induced IL-1 activity with maximal effect at $1\;{\mu}M\;and\;5\;{\mu}M$, respectively. In addition, leukotriene $B_4$ and prostaglandin $E_2$ production were observed in PAF-stimulated alveolar macrophage culture. As could be expected, 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors abolished PAF- stimulated leukotriene $B_4$ and prostaglandin $E_2$ production, respectively. The effects of PAF on intracellular calcium mobilization in alveolar macrophages were evaluated using the calcium-sensitive dye fura-2 at the single cell level. PAF at any dose between $10^{-16}\;and\;10^{-8}$ M did not increase intracellular calcium. Furthermore, there was no effective change of intracellular calcium level when PAF was added to alveolar macrophages in the presence of LPS or LPS+LTB4, and 4, 24 and 48h after treatment of these stimulants. Together, the results indicate that IL-1 activity induced by PAF is differently regulated through subsequent induction of endogenous 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways, but not dependent on calcium signalling pathway.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2013

Recent studies indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can act as modulators of neuronal activity, and are critically involved in persistent pain primarily through spinal mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of NaOCl, a ROS donor, on neuronal excitability and the intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in spinal substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons. In current clamp conditions, the application of NaOCl caused a membrane depolarization, which was inhibited by pretreatment with phenyl-N-tert-buthylnitrone (PBN), a ROS scavenger. The NaOCl-induced depolarization was not blocked however by pretreatment with dithiothreitol, a sulfhydryl-reducing agent. Confocal scanning laser microscopy was used to confirm whether NaOCl increases the intracellular ROS level. ROS-induced fluorescence intensity was found to be increased during perfusion of NaOCl after the loading of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate ($H_2DCF$-DA). NaOCl-induced depolarization was not blocked by pretreatment with external $Ca^{2+}$ free solution or by the addition of nifedifine. However, when slices were pretreated with the $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, NaOCl failed to induce membrane depolarization. In a calcium imaging technique using the $Ca^{2+}$-sensitive fluorescence dye fura-2, the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was found to be increased by NaOCl. These results indicate that NaOCl activates the excitability of SG neurons via the modulation of the intracellular calcium concentration, and suggest that ROS induces nociception through a central sensitization.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.391-395
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• 1995

Several lines of evidence indicate that physiological activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor was blocked by physiological concentration of $Mg^{2+}$ (1.2 mM). However, the activity of NMDA receptor may not be blocked totally with this concentration of $Mg^{2+}$ under elevated membrane potential by kainate. Here, we described the effect of $Mg^{2+}$ on NMDA receptor and how much of NMDA receptor functions could be activated by kainate. Effects of NMDA receptor antagonist on kainate-induced elevation of intracellualr $Ca^{2+}$ levels $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ and extracellular glutamate level were examined in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons. kainate-induced elevation of $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ was not affected by physiological concentration of $Mg^{2+}$. Kainate-induced NMDA-induced elevation was blocked by the same concentration of $MG^{2+}$Kainate-induced elevation of [$([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ was decreased by 32% in the presence of NMDA antagonists, MK-801 and CPP (3-[2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl]propyl-1-phosphonic acid), in $Mg^{2+}$ free buffer. Kainate receptor-activated gluamate release was also decreased (30%) by MK-801 or CPP. These resuts show that certain extent of elevations of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and extracellular glutamate by kainate is due to coativation of NMDA receptors.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.256-262
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• 2005

We examined the signaling molecules involved in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neuronal cell death and increase in cellular glutathione (GSH) level in SK-N-SH cells. The 6-OH-DA-induced cell death was significantly prevented by the pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a thiol antioxidant, and BAPTA, an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator. Although 6-OHDA induced ERK phosphorylation, the pretreatment with PD98059, an ERK inhibitor, did not block 6-OHDA-induced cell death. In addition, the 6-OHDA-induced activation of caspase-3, a key signal for apoptosis, was blocked by the pretreatment with NAC and BAPTA. While the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly increased in the 6-OHDA-treated cells, the cellular GSH level was not altered for the first 6-hr exposure to 6-OHDA, but after then, the level was significantly increased, which was also blocked by the pretreatment with NAC and BAPTA, but not by PD98059. Depletion of GSH by pretreating the cells with DL-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO), a glutathione synthesis inhibitor, rather significantly potentiated the 6-OHDA-induced death. In contrast to the pretreatment with NAC, 6-OHDA-induced cell death was not prevented by the post-treatment with NAC 30 min after 6-OHDA treatment. The results indicate that the GSH level which is increased adaptively by the 6-OHDA-induced ROS and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ is not enough to overcome the death signal mediated through ROS-$Ca^{2+}$ -caspase pathway.