• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.259-265
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• 2008

$[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transients by reverse mode of cardiac $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchanger (NCX1) were recorded in fura-2 loaded BHK cells with stable expression of NCX1. Repeated stimulation of reverse NCX1 produced a long-lasting decrease of $Ca^{2+}$ transients ('rundown'). Rundown of NCX1 was independent of membrane $PIP_2$ depletion. Although the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) was observed during the $Ca^{2+}$ transients, neither a selective PKC inhibitor (calphostin C) nor a PKC activator (PMA) changed the degrees of rundown. By comparison, a non-specific PKC inhibitor, staurosporine (STS), reversed rundown in a dose-dependent and reversible manner. The action of STS was unaffected by pretreatment of the cells with calphostin C, PMA, or forskolin. Taken together, the results suggest that the stimulation of reverse NCX1 by STS is independent of PKC and/or PKA inhibition.

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.346-349
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• 2019

AMP-activated protein kinase sucrose non-fermenting 1 (Snf1) is a representative regulator of energy status that maintains cellular energy homeostasis. In addition, Snf1 is involved in the mediation of environmental stress such as salt stress. Snf1 regulates metabolic enzymes such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase, indicating a possible role for Snf1 in metabolic regulation. In this article, we performed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to profile the metabolic changes induced by Snf1 under environmental stress. According to our NMR data, we suggest that Snf1 plays a role in regulating cellular concentrations of a variety of metabolites during environmental stress responses.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2013

Genes expressed during conidial germination of the pepper anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum acutatum were identified by sequencing the 5' end of unidirectional cDNA clones prepared from the conidial germination stage. A total of 983 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) corresponding to 464 genes, 197 contigs and 267 singletons, were generated. The deduced protein sequences from half of the 464 genes showed significant matches (e value less than 10-5) to proteins in public databases. The genes with known homologs were assigned to known functional categories. The most abundantly expressed genes belonged to those encoding the elongation factor, histone protein, ATP synthease, 14-3-3 protein, and clock controlled protein. A number of genes encoding proteins such as the GTP-binding protein, MAP kinase, transaldolase, and ABC transporter were detected. These genes are thought to be involved in the development of fungal cells. A putative pathogenicity function could be assigned for the genes of ATP citrate lyase, CAP20 and manganese-superoxide dismutase.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2006

It has been reported that the dysfunctions of podocytes are associated with the development of diabetic nephropathy. In addition, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are associated with the development of diabetic nephropathy. However, it is not yet known about the effect of high glucose on IGF-I, -II secretion, and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) expression in the podocytes. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the effect of high glucose on IGF system and its involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in podocytes. In this study, high glucose (25 mM) increased IGF-I and IGF-II secretion (P<0.05), which was blocked by SB 203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) but not by PD 98059 (a p44/42 MAPK inhibitor). In addition, high glucose-induced stimulation of IGFs was blocked by bisindolylmaleimide I and staurosporine (protein kinase C inhibitors). High glucose also increased IGFBP-l expression, which was blocked by bisindolylmaleimide I and SB 203580. In conclusion, high glucose alters IGFs secretion and IGFBP expression via PKC and p38 MAPK pathways in podocytes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.2121-2132
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• 2018

Abnormal melanin synthesis results in several hyperpigmentary disorders such as freckles, melanoderma, age spots, and other related conditions. In this study, we investigated the anti-melanogenic effects of an extract from the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CE) and potential mechanisms responsible for its inhibitory effect in B16F10, normal human epidermal melanocyte cells, and human skin-equivalent models. The CE extract showed significant dose-dependent inhibitory effects on ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating, hormone-induced melanin synthesis in cells. Additionally, the CE extract exhibited suppressive effects on the mRNA and protein expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, and tyrosinase-related protein-2. The CE extract also inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase A and extracellular signal-related kinase, which function as upstream regulators of melanogenesis. Using a three-dimensional, reconstructed pigmented epidermis model, the CE-mediated, anti-pigmentation effects were confirmed by Fontana-Masson staining and melanin content assays. Taken together, CE extract can be used as an anti-pigmentation agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2020

Aging is one of the risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. During the progression of cellular senescence, cells enter a state of irreversible growth arrest and display resistance to apoptosis. As a flavonoid, quercetin induces apoptosis in various cells. Accordingly, we investigated the relationship between quercetin-induced apoptosis and the inhibition of cellular senescence, and determined the mechanism of oxidative stress-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence. In cultured VSMCs, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) dose-dependently induced senescence, which was associated with increased numbers of senescence-associated β-galactosidase-positive cells, decreased expression of SMP30, and activation of p53-p21 and p16 pathways. Along with senescence, expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was observed to increase and the levels of proteins related to the apoptosis pathway were observed to decrease. Quercetin induced apoptosis through the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase. This action led to the alleviation of oxidative stress-induced VSMC senescence. Furthermore, the inhibition of AMPK activation with compound C and siRNA inhibited apoptosis and aggravated VSMC senescence by reversing p53-p21 and p16 pathways. These results suggest that senescent VSMCs are resistant to apoptosis and quercetin-induced apoptosis attenuated the oxidative stress-induced senescence through activation of AMPK. Therefore, induction of apoptosis by polyphenols such as quercetin may be worthy of attention for its anti-aging effects.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2011

To understand the roles of purinergic receptors and cellular molecules below the receptors in the vascular inflammatory response, we determined if extracellular nucleotides up-regulated chemokine expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Human aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMCs) abundantly express $PSY_1$, $PSY_6$, and $PSY_{11}$ receptors, which all respond to extracellular nucleotides. Exposure of human AoSMCs to $NAD^+$, an agonist of the human $PSY_{11}$ receptor, and $NADP^+$ as well as ATP, an agonist for $PSY_1$ and $PSY_{11}$ receptors, caused increase in chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 gene (CCL2) transcript and CCL2 release; however, UPT did not affect CCL2 expression. CCL2 release by $NAD^+$ and $NADP^+$ was inhibited by a concentration dependent manner by suramin, an antagonist of P2-purinergic receptors. $NAD^+$ and $NADP^+$ activated protein kinase C and enhanced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and Akt. $NAD^+$- and $NADP^+$-mediated CCL2 release was significantly attenuated by SP6001250, U0126, LY294002, Akt inhibitor IV, RO318220, GF109203X, and diphenyleneiodium chloride. These results indicate that extracellular nucleotides can promote the proinflammatory VSMC phenotype by up-regulating CCL2 expression, and that multiple cellular elements, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Akt, protein kinase C, and mitogen-activated protein kinases, are involved in that process.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Genus Artemisia occurs as a hardy plant and has a wide range of culinary and medicinal features. In this study, we aimed to describe the melanin inhibitory activity of one Artemisia species, i.e., Artemisia capillaris Thunb. Ethanol extracts of fermented Artemisia capillaris (Art.EtOH.FT) and non-fermented Artemisia capillaris (Art.EtOH.CT) were tested for their ability to inhibit tyrosinase activity and melanin pigmentation. Both extracts showed dose-dependent inhibition against ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated melanin formation and tyrosinase activity, without cytotoxicity. At $100{\mu}g/mL$, both extracts showed greater inhibition than kojic acid, the positive control. Protein expressions of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) at the transcriptional level were determined by using real-time and semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. To complete the mechanistic study, presences of upstream elements of MITF, the phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), and phosphorylated-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (p-MEK) were confirmed by using western blot analysis. Expressions of p-TYR, p-TRP-1 and p-TRP-2, downstream factors for p-ERK and p-MITF, were translationally inhibited by both extracts. Art.EtOH.FT induced more potent effects than Art.EtOH.CT, especially signal transduction effects. In summary, Artemisia capillaris extracts appear to act as potent hypopigmentation agents.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.489-494
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• 2009

We have previously shown that the down-regulation of protein kinase CKII activity is tightly associated with cellular senescence of human fibroblast IMR-90 cells. Here, we examined the roles of p53 and $p21^{Cip1/WAF1}$ in senescence development induced by CKII inhibition using wild-type, isogenic p53-/- and isogenic p21-/- HCT116 human colon cancer cell lines. A senescent marker appeared after staining for senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity in wild-type HCT116 cells treated with CKII inhibitor or $CKII{\alpha}$ siRNA, but this response was almost abolished in p53- or $p21^{Cip1/WAF1}$-null cells. Increased cellular levels of p53 and $p21^{Cip1/WAF1}$ protein occurred with the inhibition of CKII. CKII inhibition upregulated p53 and $p21^{Cip1/WAF1}$ expression at post-transcriptional level and transcription level, respectively. RB phosphorylation significantly decreased in cells treated with CKII inhibitor. Taken together, this study shows that the activation of the $p53-p21^{Cip1/WAF1}$ pathway acts as a major mediator of cellular senescence induced by CKII inhibition.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.54.1-54.13
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• 2021

Background: Hypoxia causes oxidative stress and affects cardiovascular function and the programming of cardiovascular disease. Melatonin promotes antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the correlation between melatonin and hypoxia induction in cardiomyocytes differentiation. Methods: Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were induced to myocardial differentiation. To demonstrate the influence of melatonin under hypoxia, mESC was pretreated with melatonin and then cultured in hypoxic condition. The cardiac beating ratio of the mESC-derived cardiomyocytes, mRNA and protein expression levels were investigated. Results: Under hypoxic condition, the mRNA expression of cardiac-lineage markers (Brachyury, Tbx20, and cTn1) and melatonin receptor (Mtnr1a) was reduced. The mRNA expression of cTn1 and the beating ratio of mESCs increased when melatonin was treated simultaneously with hypoxia, compared to when only exposed to hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α protein decreased with melatonin treatment under hypoxia, and Mtnr1a mRNA expression increased. When the cells were exposed to hypoxia with melatonin treatment, the protein expressions of phospho-extracellular signal-related kinase (p-ERK) and Bcl-2-associated X proteins (Bax) decreased, however, the levels of phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) proteins, and antioxidant enzymes including Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and catalase were increased. Competitive melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole blocked the melatonin-induced effects. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that hypoxia inhibits cardiomyocytes differentiation and melatonin partially mitigates the adverse effect of hypoxia in myocardial differentiation by regulating apoptosis and oxidative stress through the p-AKT and PI3K pathway.