• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.321-326
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• 2002

The effect of nitric oxide synthase(NOS) inhibita, $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester(L-NAME) and prostanoid synthesis inhibiter, indomethacin on the photorelaxation, when was exposed to the long-wave length UV-light, was examined on the precontraction by the phenylephrine in the isolated pig renal artery. 1. UV-light relaxed both with-endothelium and without-endothelium in the pig renal arterial ring contracted by the phenylephrine. The magnitude of photorelaxation was dependent on the exposure time for UV-light. 2. UV-Iight induced relaxation was inhibited by L-NAME and indomethacin on the precontraction by the phenylephrine in the isolated pig renal artery. 3. UV-Iight induced relaxation was inhibited by methylene blue on the precontraction by the phenylephrine in the isolated pig renal artery. These results suggest that UV-light induced photorelaxation may be due to cGMP involved both nitric oxide and prostanoid on the precontraction by the phenylephrine in the isolated pig renal artery.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.299-304
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• 2001

The effect of the nitric oxide synthase(NOS) inhibitor, $N^{G}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and the prostanoid synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin, on the vasodilatation produced in response to acetylcholine(Ach) on the isolated rabbit renal artery was examined. The vasodilatory reponses to Ach($10^{-8}-3{\times}10^{-5}M$) were completely absent in thevessel which the endothelium had previous been removed. L-NAME($10^{-4}M$) significantly reduced the vasodilatory reponse to the Ach($10^{-8}-3{\times}10^{-5}M$). When L-arginine ($10^{-3}M$) was also present in the organ bath along with L-NAME($10^{-4}M$), this inhibitory effect of L-NAME ($10^{-4}M$) on the vasodilatory response to Ach ($10^{-8}-3{\times}10^{-5}M$) was significantly attenuated, Indomethacin ($10^{-6}M$) did not significantly affect the vasodilatory responses to Ach ($10^{-8}-3{\times}10^{-5}M$). The inhibition by L-NAME ($10^{-4}M$) and indomethacin ($10^{-6}M$) on vasodilatory response to Ach was significantly greater than the inhibition due to L-NAME ($10^{-4}M$) alone. The present study has established that Ach induce relaxation via and endothelium-dependent mechanism, this relaxation to Ach involves both nitric oxide(NO) and prostanoid in the isolated rabbit renal artery.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.49-54
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.111-113
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• 2003

Biosynthsis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the most common prostanoid with potent and diverse bio-activities, is regulated by three sequential enzymatic steps composed of phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase (COX), and prostaglandin E synthase (PGES). Recently, three distinct PGESs have been identified; two of them are membrane-bound enzymes, mPGES-1 and mPGES-2, and the third one is a cytosolic enzyme, cPGES. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2014

Lubiprostone is a chloride ($Cl^-$) channel activator derived from prostaglandin $E_1$ and used for managing constipation. In addition, lubiprostone affects the activity of gastrointestinal smooth muscles. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that generate slow-wave activity in smooth muscles. We studied the effects of lubiprostone on the pacemaker potentials of colonic ICCs. We used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to determine the pacemaker activity in cultured colonic ICCs obtained from mice. Lubiprostone hyperpolarized the membrane and inhibited the generation of pacemaker potentials. Prostanoid $EP_1$, $EP_2$, $EP_3$, and $EP_4$ antagonists (SC-19220, PF-04418948, 6-methoxypyridine-2-boronc acid N-phenyldiethanolamine ester, and GW627368, respectively) did not block the response to lubiprostone. L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) and 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase) did not block the response to lubiprostone. In addition, tetraethylammonium (TEA, a voltage-dependent potassium [$K^+$] channel blocker) and apamin (a calcium [$Ca^{2+}$]-dependent $K^+$ channel blocker) did not block the response to lubiprostone. However, glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel blocker) blocked the response to lubiprostone. Similar to lubiprostone, pinacidil (an opener of ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel) hyperpolarized the membrane and inhibited the generation of pacemaker potentials, and these effects were inhibited by glibenclamide. These results suggest that lubiprostone can modulate the pacemaker potentials of colonic ICCs via activation of ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel through a prostanoid EP receptor-independent mechanism.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.142-150
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• 2006

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is often difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. Untreated, it is characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure and death. The past decade has seen remarkable improvements in therapy, driven largely by the conduct of randomized controlled trials. Still, the selection of most appropriate therapy is complex, and requires familiarity with the disease process, evidence from treatment trials, complicated drug delivery systems, dosing regimens, side effects, and complications. We tried to provide evidence-based treatment recommendations for physicians involved in the care of these complex patients. Due to the complexity of the diagnostic evaluation required, and the treatment options available, it is strongly recommended that consideration be given to referral of patients with PAH to a specialized center.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.552-560
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• 2009

Cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) are ER-resident proteins that catalyze the committed step in prostanoid synthesis. COX-1 is constitutively expressed in many mammalian cells, whereas COX-2 is usually expressed inducibly and transiently. Abnormal expression of COX-2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and various cancers; therefore, it is subject to tight and complex regulation. Differences in regulation of the COX enzymes at the posttranscriptional and posttranslational levels also contribute significantly to their distinct patterns of expression. Rapid degradation of COX-2 mRNA has been attributed to AU-rich elements (AREs) at its 3’UTR. Recently, microRNAs that can selectively repress COX-2 protein synthesis have been identified. The mature forms of these COX proteins are very similar in structure except that COX-2 has a unique 19-amino acid (19-aa) segment located near the C-terminus. This C-terminal 19-aa cassette plays an important role in mediation of the entry of COX-2 into the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) system, which transports ER proteins to the cytoplasm for degradation by the 26S proteasome. A second pathway for COX-2 protein degradation is initiated after the enzyme undergoes suicide inactivation following cyclooxygenase catalysis. Here, we discuss these molecular determinants of COX-2 expression in detail.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.117-127
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• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of neurodegenerative disease associated with aging in the human population. This disease is characterized by the following 4 structural changes : Atrophy of the Cortex, Parasympathetic, and other neural cells, the existence of Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and the accumulation of Senile plaques. NFTs and Senile plaques is known to be the index of this disease. Senile plaques disturbs the neutro transmission and depletes of Acetylcholine. So, Recovery of Acetylcholine is the primal objective for treating Alzheimer's disease. So, Inhibiting the activity of Acetylcholine Esterase (AChE), which causes the hydrolysus of acetylcholine into choline and acetate, can be seen as a key role for treating Alzheimer's disease. Increasing body of evidence has been demonstrated that Bee Venom Acupuncture (BV) could compete with complex protein involving in multiple step of $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation and exert the anti-inflammatory potential of combined inhibition of the prostanoid and nitric oxide synthesis systems by inhibition of IKK and $NF-_{\kappa}B$. BV dose-dependently attenuated Scopolamine-induced Acetylcholine esterase activities in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the mice brain. This study therefore suggests that BV acupuncture method may be useful for prevention of development or progression of AD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.633-638
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• 2005

Biosynthesis of prostanoids is regulated by three sequential enzymatic steps, namely phospholipase $A_2$ enzymes, cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, and various lineage-specific terminal prostanoid synthases. Prostaglandin E synthase (PGES), which isomerizes COX-derived $PGH_2$ specifically to $PGE_2$, occurs in multiple forms with distinct enzymatic properties, expressions, localizations and functions. Two of them are membrane-bound enzymes and have been designated as mPGES-1 and mPGES-2. mPGES-1 is a perinuclear protein that is markedly induced by proinflammatory stimuli, is down-regulated by anti inflammatory glucocorticoids, and is functionally coupled with COX-2 in marked preference to COX-1. Recent gene targeting studies of mPGES-1 have revealed that this enzyme represents a novel target for anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drugs. mPGES-2 is synthesized as a Golgi membrane-associated protein, and the proteolytic removal of the N-terminal hydrophobic domain leads to the formation of a mature cytosolic enzyme. This enzyme is rather constitutively expressed in various cells and tissues and is functionally coupled with both COX-1 and COX-2. Cytosolic PGES (cPGES) is constitutively expressed in a wide variety of cells and is functionally linked to COX-1 to promote immediate $PGE_2$ production. This review highlights the latest understanding of the expression, regulation and functions of these three PGES enzymes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 1997

DA-5018, a new capsaicin derivative, showed potent analgesic effect comparable to that of morphine in various experimental acute pain models. in this study, whether the analgesic mechanism of DA-5018 is related to opiate receptors or prostanoids was investigated. The affinity of DA-5018 for opiate receptor was determined by receptor binding assay. The Ki values of DA-5018 for nonspecific and specific $\mu$, $textsc{k}$, $\delta$-opiate receptor was 299$\pm$8.88, 735$\pm$215, 2930$\pm$ 163, 1550$\pm$813 nM, respectively and DA-5018 exhibited lower affinity than morphine. DA-5018 (10-"~3$\times$10-′M) inhibited electrically-evoked contractions of the guinea ply ileum and rat vas deferens, and these inhibition was not antagonized by naloxone(10 nM), an opiate receptor antagonist. Antagonism of analgesic effect of 7A-5018 by naloxone was examined by tail pinch test. Analgesic action of DA-5018(0.1 ~2 mg/kg, 5.c.) was not antagonized by naloxone(1 mg/rg, i.p.). These results indicate that pharmacological action of DA-5018 is not related with opiate receptor. Cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase activities in rat peritoneal neutrophil treated with A23187 and arachidonic acid were measured by radioimmunoassay. DA-5018 stimulated the cyclooxygenase activity and the concentration show-ing the two fold increase of activity was 124$\mu$M. DA-5018 slightly inhibited 5-lipoxygenase activity and these results together indicate that analgesic action of 3A-5018 is not mediated through inhibition of cyclooxy genase or lipoxygenase. These results suggest that the analgesic effect of DA-5018 is not due to blocking opiate receptor or to inhibiting the synthesis of prostanoids in the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway.