• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.12.1-12.6
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• 2012

The advanced glycation endproducts receptor (AGE-R) is a signal transduction receptor for multiligand such as S100b and AGEs. S100b has been demonstrated to activate various cells with important links to atherosclerosis initiation and progression including endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells via AGE-R, triggering activation of multiple signaling cascades through its cytoplasmic domain. Many studies have suggested AGE-R might even participate in the cardiovascular complications involved in the pathogenesis of type I diabetes. Recently, Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier 1 (SURM-1 also known as SUMO-1) has been recognized as a protein that plays an important role in cellular post-translational modifications in a variety of cellular processes, such as transport, transcriptional, apoptosis and stability. Computer Database search with SUMOplot Analysis program identified the five potential SURMylation sites in human AGE-R: K43, K44, K123, and K273 reside within the extracellular domain of AGE-R, and lastly K374 resides with the cytosolic domain of AGE-R. The presence of the consensus yKXE motif in the AGE-R strongly suggests that AGE-R may be regulated by SURMylation process. To test this, we decided to determine if AGE-R is SURMylated in living vascular cell system. S100b-stimulated murine aortic vascular smooth muscle cells were used for western blot analysis with relevant antibodies. Taken together, bioinformatics database search and molecular biological approaches suggested AGE-R is SURMylated in living cardiovascular cell system. Whilst SURMylation and AGE-R undoubtedly plays an important role in the cardiovascular biology, it remains unclear as to the exact nature of this contribution under both physiological and pathological conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.581-593
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• 2016

The advantages of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) on insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been well established. However, the molecular mechanisms of the anti-diabetic action of MUFAs remain unclear. This study examined the anti-hyperglycemic effect and explored the molecular mechanisms involved in the actions of fish oil- rich in MUFAs that had been acquired from hybrid catfish (Pangasius larnaudii${\times}$Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) among experimental type 2 diabetic rats. Diabetic rats that were fed with fish oil (500 and 1,000 mg/kg BW) for 12 weeks significantly reduced the fasting plasma glucose levels without increasing the plasma insulin levels. The diminishing levels of plasma lipids and the muscle triglyceride accumulation as well as the plasma leptin levels were identified in T2DM rats, which had been administrated with fish oil. Notably, the plasma adiponectin levels increased among these rats. The fish oil supplementation also improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and pancreatic histological changes. Moreover, the supplementation of fish oil improved insulin signaling ($p-Akt^{Ser473}$ and p-PKC-${\zeta}/{\lambda}^{Thr410/403}$), $p-AMPK^{Thr172}$ and membrane GLUT4 protein expressions, whereas the protein expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$ and nuclear NF-${\kappa}B$) as well as p-PKC-${\theta}^{Thr538}$ were down regulated in the skeletal muscle. These data indicate that the effects of fish oil-rich in MUFAs in these T2DM rats were partly due to the attenuation of insulin resistance and an improvement in the adipokine imbalance. The mechanisms of the anti-hyperglycemic effect are involved in the improvement of insulin signaling, AMPK activation, GLUT4 translocation and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine protein expressions.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.137-148
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• 1980

The effects of divalent cations, $Hg^{2+}, Cu^{2+}, Pb^{2+}, Cd^{2+}$, and $Mn^{2+}$ on the total ATPase activity of the fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle were investigated. The inhibitory effects of the cations on the enzyme activity increased as the concentrations of the ions increased with the order of efficiency of $Hg^{2+}$ > $Cu^{2+}$ > $Pb^{2+}$ > $Cd^{2+}$ > $Mn^{2+}$ in the concentration range between 10 and 500$\mu$M. The 50% inhibition for each ion was almost identical with the inhibition constant (Ki) value for each ion. The Ki's were 10, 30 130, and 350$\mu$M for $Hg^{2+}, Cu^{2+}, Pb^{2+}, and Cd^{2+}$, respectively. $Mn^{2+}$ seemed to be an activator at lower concentrations and an inhibitor at higher concentrations. The presence of the cations did not change the Km values, suggesting that the ions act as a reversible noncompetitive inhibitor on the FSR ATPase. The energy of activation of the enzyme was aproximately 19 Kcal/mole. The presence of the ions decreased the value slightly. A possible mechanism for the reversible noncompetitive inhibitory effect of the cations was discussed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.341-347
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• 2017

To investigate the effect of Corni Fructus(CF) water extracts on the relaxation of the corpus cavernosum, organ bath studies, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods were used and obtained the following results. In the organ bath study, the maximal contraction of the corpus cavernosum tissue by PE showed a significant relaxation effect at $3.0mg/m{\ell}$ of CF water extract. When ${\text\tiny{L}}$-NNA was pretreated corpuscular relaxation effect of CF water extract was significantly inhibited compared without ${\text\tiny{L}}$-NNA pretreatment. In $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, the increase of contraction due to $Ca^{2+}$ influx significantly inhibited in the pretreatment compared with no pretreatment of CF water extract. Histochemical and immunohistochemical studies showed that the ratio of smooth muscle to collagen fiber was increased in the CF group compared to the PE group in the corpus cavernosum, and the eNOS positive reaction increased and the PDE5 positive reaction decreased. These results suggest that CF extract has increased NO production through activation of eNOS and inhibited the action of PDE5 to block the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx, thereby relaxing the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate that effect of manual therapy using pelvic compression belt on hip abductor strength and balance ability in total knee replacement (TKR) patients. Methods: The subjects consisted of twenty two post-TKR patients. Participants were randomly assigned to a pelvic belt group (n=11) and a placebo group (n=11). All participants underwent manual therapy including range of motion exercise, soft tissue mobilization around knee joint, strengthening exercise (Quad set, SLR, sidelying hip abduction, standing hamstring curls, sitting knee extension, step-up, wall slide to $45^{\circ}$ knee flexion). Manual therapy was executed five times a week for 2 weeks. Outcome measures included hip abductor strength by using Biodex system 4 pro, anterior to posterior balance, medial to lateral balance, total balance by using Biodex balance system SD. Results: After the completion of the manual therapy, hip abductor strength was showed statistically significant improvements in pelvic belt group (p<.05). Anterior to posterior balance, medial to lateral balance, total balance were showed statistically significant improvements in pelvic belt group and placebo group (p<.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in hip abductor strength and there was no statistically significant difference in balance. Conclusions: This results suggest that manual therapy using pelvic compression belt has could be used for selective muscle activation of the hip abductor muscle and has useful in hip abductor strength and balance ability in TKR patients.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.41-50
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• 1979

The activation mechanism of K-induced contracture was studied in renal vascular muscle which does not generate an action potential readily and in taenia coli which generates a spike potential spontaneously. Helical strips of arterial muscle from rabbit renal arteries and longitudinal strips of taenia coli from guinea-pig's colons, respectively, were prepared. All experiments were performed in Tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% $O_2$ and kept $35^{\circ}C$. Renal arterial muscles developed the contracture rapidly, which was composed of a small phasic and a large tonic components, when exposed to a 40 mM K-Tyrode solution. In the absence of external $Ca^{++}$, however, no K-contracture appeared. The contracture induced by K-depolarization was abolished by the treatment with verapamil, which is known to be a selective $Ca^{++}-blocker$ through potential-sensitive $Ca^{++}-channel$. K-contracture of taenia coli showed the contracture composed of a large phasic and a small tonic components. In the $Ca^{++}-free$ Tyrode solution, only the tonic component was abolished and almost no change in the phasic component was observed. The amplitude of tonic component was dependent on the external $Ca^{++}$; The tonic component increased dose-dependently by a stepwise increase of the external $Ca^{++}$, and this component decreased in parallel with the increase of verapamil in the external medium. The results of this experiment suggest that K-contracture of rabbit renal artery is the direct result of the influx of the external $Ca^{++}$, while that of taenia coli is the result of both $Ca^{++}$ influx and the release of sequestered $Ca^{++}$.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.531-537
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• 2008

Abnormal activation of nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) probably plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD). In this report, we evaluated the efficacy of curcumin, a potent $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor, in mdx mice, a mouse model of DMD. We found that it improved sarcolemmic integrity and enhanced muscle strength after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Histological analysis revealed that the structural defects of myofibrils were reduced, and biochemical analysis showed that creatine kinase (CK) activity was decreased. We also found that levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-\alpha$), interleukin-1 beta ($IL-1\beta$) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the mdx mice were decreased by curcumin administration. EMSA analysis showed that $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity was also inhibited. We thus conclude that curcumin is effective in the therapy of muscular dystrophy in mdx mice, and that the mechanism may involve inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity. Since curcumin is a non-toxic compound derived from plants, we propose that it may be useful for DMD therapy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.81-90
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• 2004

Sialic acid containing glycosphingolipids (gangliosides) have been implicated in the regulation of various biological phenomena such as atherosclerosis. Recent report suggeststhat exogenously supplied disialoganglioside (GD3) serves a dual role in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) proliferation and apoptosis. However, the role of the GD3 synthase gene in VSMC responses has not yet been elucidated. To determine whether a ganglioside is able to modulate VSMC growth. the effect of overexpression of the GD3 synthase gene on DNA synthesis was examined. The results show that the overexpression of this gene has a potent inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis and ERK phosphorylation in cultured VSMC in the presence of PDGF. The suppression of the GD3 synthase gene was correlated with the down-regulation of cyclinE/CDK2. the up-regulation of the CDK inhibitor p21 and blocking of the p27 inhibition,whereas up-regulation of p53 as the result of GD3 synthase gene expression was not observed. Consistently, blockade of GD3 function with anti-GD3 antibody reversed VSMC proliferation and cell cycle proteins. The expression of the CD3 synthase gene also led to the inhibition of TNF--induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in VSMC as determined by zymography and immunoblot. Furthermore, GD3 synthase gene expression strongly decreased MMP-9 promoteractivlty in response to TNF-. This inhibition was characterized by the down-regulation of MMP-9,which was Iranscriptionally regulated at NF-B and activation protein-1 (AP-1) sites in the MMP-9promoter Finally, the overexpression of MMP-9 in GD3 synthase transfectant cells rescued VSMC proliferation. However MMP-2 overexpression was not affected the cell proliferation. These findings suggest that the fl13 synthase gene represents a physiological modulator of VSMC responses that may contribute to plaque instability in atherosclerosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.687-694
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• 2017

Plumbagin, a hydroxy 1,4-naphthoquinone compound from plant metabolites, exhibits anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal activities via modulating various signaling molecules. However, its effects on vascular functions are rarely studied except in pulmonary and coronary arteries where NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibition was suggested as a mechanism. Here we investigate the effects of plumbagin on the contractility of skeletal artery (deep femoral artery, DFA), mesenteric artery (MA) and renal artery (RA) in rats. Although plumbagin alone had no effect on the isometric tone of DFA, $1{\mu}M$ phenylephrine (PhE)-induced partial contraction was largely augmented by plumbagin (${\Delta}T_{Plum}$, 125% of 80 mM KCl-induced contraction at $1{\mu}M$). With relatively higher concentrations (>$5{\mu}M$), plumbagin induced a transient contraction followed by tonic relaxation of DFA. Similar biphasic augmentation of the PhE-induced contraction was observed in MA and RA. VAS2870 and GKT137831, specific NOX4 inhibitors, neither mimicked nor inhibited ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ in DFA. Also, pretreatment with tiron or catalase did not affect ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ of DFA. Under the inhibition of PhE-contraction with L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker (nifedipine, $1{\mu}M$), plumbagin still induced tonic contraction, suggesting $Ca^{2+}$-sensitization mechanism of smooth muscle. Although ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$ was consistently observed under pretreatment with Rho A-kinase inhibitor (Y27632, $1{\mu}M$), a PKC inhibitor (GF 109203X, $10{\mu}M$) largely suppressed ${\Delta}T_{Plum}$. Taken together, it is suggested that plumbagin facilitates the PKC activation in the presence of vasoactive agonists in skeletal arteries. The biphasic contractile effects on the systemic arteries should be considered in the pharmacological studies of plumbagin and 1,4-naphthoquinones.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.48-56
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• 2016

Background: Recently, there has been an emphasis on the use of interventions with biofeedback information for the maintenance or correction of posture. Objects: This study assessed the change of trunk posture and trunk muscle activation when people exhibiting postural kyphosis performed visual display terminal work with or without a contact feedback device (CFD). Methods: Eighteen right-handed individuals were recruited. Thoracic angle and right thoracic erector spinae (TES) muscle amplitude were analyzed. There were two sessions in these experiments. The control session involved 16 minutes of typing without a CFD, and the CFD session involved 16 minutes of typing with a CFD. The visual analog scale score was analyzed with a paired t-test, and the kinematic and electromyography data were analyzed through two-way repeated analysis of variance. Results: The paired t-tests revealed that subjects had significantly less pain after the CFD sessions than after the control sessions (p<.05). Significant main effects by session and by time were observed in the thoracic kyphosis angle (p<.05). There was a significant session${\times}$time interaction for TES amplitude (p<.05), along with significant main effects by session and by time (p<.05). Conclusion: The CFD caused people with postural kyphosis to straighten and to activate their TES continuously, even though they were habituated to bend their bodies forward. Therefore, the CFD was a beneficial treatment tool.