• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2009

The human cytochrome P450 4A11 is the major monooxygenase to oxidize the fatty acids and arachidonic acid. The production of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid by P450 4A11 has been implicated in the regulation of vascular tone and blood pressure. Oxidation reaction by P450 4A11 requires its reduction partners, NADPH-P450 reductase (NPR). We report the functional expression in Escherichia coli of bicistronic constructs consisting of P450 4A11 encoded by the first cistron and the electron donor protein, NPR by the second. Typical P450 expression levels of wild type and several N-terminal modified mutants was observed in culture media and prepared membrane fractions. The expression of functional NPR in the constructed P450 4A11: NPR bicistronic system was clearly verified by reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. Membrane preparation containing P450 4A11 and NPR efficiently oxidized lauric acid mainly to $\omega$-hydroxylauric acid. Bicistronic coexpression of P450 4A11 and NPR in E. coli cells can be extended toward identification of novel drug metabolites or therapeutic agents involved in P450 4A11 dependent signal pathways.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2024

While arterial tone is generally determined by the phosphorylation of Ser¹⁹ in myosin light chain (p-MLC2), Thr¹⁸/Ser¹⁹ diphosphorylation of MLC2 (pp-MLC2) has been suggested to hinder the relaxation of smooth muscle. In a dual-wire myography of rodent pulmonary artery (PA) and mesenteric artery (MA), we noticed significantly slower relaxation in PA than in MA after 80 mM KCl-induced condition (80K-contraction). Thus, we investigated the MLC2 phosphorylation and the expression levels of its regulatory enzymes; soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), Rho-A dependent kinase (ROCK) and myosin light chain phosphatase target regulatory subunit (MYPT1). Immunoblotting showed higher sGC-α and ROCK2 in PA than MA, while sGC-β and MYPT1 levels were higher in MA than in PA. Interestingly, the level of pp-MLC2 was higher in PA than in MA without stimulation. In the 80K-contraction state, the levels of p-MLC2 and pp-MLC2 were commonly increased. Treatment with the ROCK inhibitor (Y27632, 10 µM) reversed the higher pp-MLC2 in PA. In the myography study, pharmacological inhibition of sGC (ODQ, 10 µM) slowed relaxation during washout, which was more pronounced in PA than in MA. The simultaneous treatment of Y27632 and ODQ reversed the impaired relaxation in PA and MA. Although treatment of PA with Y27632 alone could increase the rate of relaxation, it was still slower than that of MA without Y27632 treatment. Taken together, we suggest that the higher ROCK and lower MYPT in PA would have induced the higher level of MLC2 phosphorylation, which is responsible for the characteristic slow relaxation in PA.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.576-587
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• 2009

Background: The up-regulation of the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway might be involved in the change of vascular reactivity in rats 3 days after they suffer acute myocardial infarction. However, the underlying mechanism for this has not been clarified. Material and Method: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) for 30 min (Group AMI), whereas the sham-operated control rats were treated similarly without LAD occlusion (Group SHAM), The concentration-response relationships for phenylephrine (PE), KCl, acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were determined in the endothelium intact E(+) and endothelium denuded E(-) thoracic aortic rings from the rats 3 days after AMI or a SHAM operation. The concentration-response relationships of PE in the E(+) rings from the AMI rats were compared with those relationships in the rings pretreated with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. The plasma nitrite/nitrate concentrations were checked via a Griess reaction. The cyclic GMP content in the thoracic aortic rings was measured by radioimmunoassay and the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression was assessed by real time PCR. Result: The mean infarct size (%) in the rats with AMI was $21.3{\pm}0.62%$. The heart rate and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure were not significantly changed in the AMI rats. The sensitivity of the contractile response to PE and KCl was significantly decreased in both the E(+) and E(-) aortic rings of the AMI group (p<0.05). L-NAME completely reversed these contractile responses whereas indomethacin did not (p<0.05). Moreover, the sensitivity of the relaxation response to Ach was also significantly decreased in the AMI group (p<0.05). The plasma nitrite and nitrate content (p<0.05), the basal cGMP content (p<0.05) and the eNOS mRNA expression (p=0.056) in the AMI rats were increased as compared with the SHAM group. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the increased eNOS activity and the up-regulation of the NO-cGMP pathway can be attributed to the decreased contractile or relaxation response in the rat thoracic aorta 3 days after AMI.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.769-774
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• 1997

Non-neuronal high affinity binding sites for benzodiazepines have been found in many peripheral tissues including cardiac muscle and vascular smooth muscle, and have been designated as 'peripheral benzodiazepine receptor'. Benzodiazepines have been shown to induce relaxation of the ileal, vesical, and uterine smooth muscles. However, it is still unclear about possible involvement of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor on the contractility of trachealis muscle. This study was performed to investigate the role of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor on the contractility of canine trachealis muscle. Canine trachealis muscle strips of 15 mm long were suspended in an isolated organ bath containing 1 ml of physiological salt solution maintained at $37^{\circ}C$, and aerated with $95%\;O_2/5%\;CO_2$. Isometric myography was performed, and the results of the experiments were as follows: Ro5-4684, FGIN-1-27 and clonazepam reduced a basal tone of isolated canine trachealis muscle strip concentration dependently, relaxant actions of RoS-4684 and FGIN-1-27 were antagonized by PK11195, a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor antagonist. Flumazenil, a central type antagonist, did not antagonize the relaxant action of Peripheral type agonists. Saturation binding assay of [3H]Ro5-4864 showed a high affinity$(Kd=5.33{\pm}1.27nM,\;Bmax=\;867.3{\pm}147.2\;fmol/mg\;protein)$ binding site on the canine trachealis muscle. Ro 5-4684 suppressed the bethanechol-, 5-hydroxyoyptamine- and histamine- induced contractions. Platelet activating factor (PAF) exerted strong and prolonged contraction in trachealis muscle strip. Strong tonic contraction by PAE was attenuated by Ro 5-4684, but not by WEB 2086, a PAF antagonist. Based on these results, it is concluded that the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor mediates the inhibitory regulation of contractilty of canine trachealis muscle.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.389-396
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• 2002

In the present work, we examined the mechanism of vasorelaxant effect of scopoletin, an active constituent of Artemisia capillaris on rat thoracic descending aortic rings. Scopoletin induced a concentration-dependent relaxation in rat thoracic descending aortic rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine (EC/sub 50/ = 238.94±37.4 μM), while it was less effective in rat thoracic descending aortic rings precontracted with high potassium solution (KCI 30 mM). Vasorelaxation by scopoletin was significantly inhibited after endothelial removal, but recovered at high concentration. Pretreatment of rat thoracic descending aortic rings with N/sup G/-nitro-L-arginine (100 μM), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, and atropine (1 μM), a muscarinic receptor antagonist, significantly inhibited scopoletin-induced relaxation of rat thoracic descending aortic rings. Neither indomethacin (3 μM), an inhibitor of cydooxygenase, nor propranolol (1 μM), a β -adrenoceptor antagonist, modified the effect of scopoletin. The combination of N/sup G/ -nitro-L-arginine (100 μ M) and miconazole (10 μ M), an inhibitor of cytochrome P 450, did not modify the effect of scopoletin, when compared with pretreatment with N/sup G/-nitro-L-arginine(100 μM) alone. Vasorelaxant effect of scopoletin was inverted by pretreatment with diltiazem (10 μM), a Ca/sup 2+/-channel blocker, at low concentration, while restored at high concentration. Apamin (K/sub ca/-channel blocker, 1 μM), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, K/sub v/-channel blocker, 1 mM), and tetrodotoxin (TTX, Na/sup +/-channel blocker 1 μM) potentiated the vasorelaxant effect of scopoledn, but glibendamide (K/sub ATP/-channel blocker, 10 μM), tetraetylammonium(TEA, non-selective K-channel blocker, 10 mM) did not affect the relaxation of scopoletin. Free radical scavengers (TEMPO, catalase, mannitol) did not modify vascular tone. These results suggest that nitric oxide, Ca/sup 2+/ -channels play a role in endothelium-dependent relaxations to scopoletin in rat aortas, that apamin, 4-AP, TTX but not glibenclamide, TEA potentiated relaxation to scopoletin mediated by these channels, and that free radicals do not concern to the vasorelaxant effect of scopoletin.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.25-34
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• 1983

In this isolated study, it was aimed to elucidate the pharmacological properties of non-cholinergic, non-adrenergic inhibitory responses in the longitudinal strips of rabbit portal vein. 1) The portal vein responded inhibitory to electrical field stimulation in a frequency - and calcium-dependent manner after pretreatment with atropine, guanethidine and ergotamine, simultaneously. 2) When exogenous ATP, ADP, adenosine and cyclic AMP were added, respectively, they only showed the relaxations in the higher concentration without mimicing or affecting the inhibitory response induced by the electrical stimulation. The antagonist of purine substances, neither quinine nor isobutyl-methyl xanthine did influence on the relaxation. 3) The inhibitory response was significantly increased in the presence of $1{\mu}g/ml 4-amino-pyrineine (4-AP) which is $K^+-conduction$ blockade, but higher concentration of 4-AP directly decreased the vascular tone. 4) Though repeated application of ATP revealed the inhibitory effect on the relaxation, however, that of adenosine resulted rather increase of the amplitude. 5) After pretreatment with $^3H-adenosine$, $^3H-efflux$ induced by ATP or adenosine was markedly enhanced, but the electrical stimulation caused less $^3H-efflux$. 6) ^3H-efflux by electrical stimulation was not affected by the administration 4-AP, tetrodotoxin and adenosine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.51-65
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• 1990

The purpose of the present study was to examine the hemodynamic responses, especially in arterial and skin blood flows, in conjunction with the changes of plasma catecholamine levels as an indirect marker of adrenergic tone during the early stage of head-down tilt (HDT), and to evaluate the early physiological regulatory mechanism in simulated weightlessness. Ten mongrel dogs, weighing8\;{\sim}\;14\;kg, were intravenously anesthetized with nembutal, and postural changes were performed by using the tilting table. The postural changes were performed in the following order: supine, prone, HDT $(-6^{\circ}C)$ and lastly recovery prone position. The duration of each position was 30 minutes. The measurements were made before, during and after each postural change. The arterial blood flow $({\.{Q}})$ at the left common carotid and right brachial arteries was measured by the electromagnetic flowmeter. Blood pressure (BP) was directly measured by pressure transducer in the left brachial artery. To evaluate the peripheral blood flow, skin blood flow $({\.{Q}})$ was calculated by the percent changes of photoelectric pulse amplitude on the forepaw, and skin temperature was recorded. The peripheral vascular resistance (PR) was calculated by dividing respective mean BP values by ${\.{Q}}$ of both sides of common carotid and brachial arteries. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (f) and PH, $Po_{2},\;Pco_{2}$ and hematocrit of arterial and venous blood were also measured. The concentration of plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine was measured by radioenzymatic method. The results are summarized as follows: Tilting to head-down position from prone position, HR was initially increased (p<0.05) and BP was not significantly changed. While ${\.{Q}}$ of the common carotid artery was decreased (p<0.05) and PR through the head was increased, ${\.{Q}}$ of the brachial artery was increased (p<0.05) and PR through forelimbs was decreased. ${\.{Q}}$ of the forepaw was initially increased (p<0.05) and then slightly decreased, on the whole revealing an increasing trend. Plasma norepinephrine was slightly decreased and the epinephrine was slightly increased. f was increased and arterial pH was increased (p<0.05). In conclusion, the central blood pooling during HDT shows an increased HR via Bainbridge reflex and an increased ${\.{Q}}$ of the forepaw and brachial ${\.{Q}}$, due to decreased PR which may be originated from the depressor reflex of cardiopulmonary baroreceptors. It is suggested that the blood flow to the brain was adequately regulated throughout HDT $(-6^{\circ}C)$ in spite of central blood pooling. And it is apparent that the changes of plasma norepinephrine level are inversely proportional to those of ${\.{Q}}$ of the forepaw, and the changes of epinephrine level are paralleled with those of the brachial ${\.{Q}}$.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-22
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• 2017

Moyamoya disease is characterized by progressive bilateral narrowing of the internal carotid arteries(ICA) and their main branches, and formation of a fine vascular network (moyamoya vessels) at the base of brain. Mild intellectual or motor impairment, or both can be seen in moyamoya disease patient. Patients having intellectual disability usually have malocclusions associated with oral habits such as tongue thrusting, bruxism, or clenching. A patient with moyamoya disease and cerebral palsy visited Chonbuk National University hospital for dental examination. She showed mild openbite on anterior teeth, and had oral habits such as mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, and drooling. She was treated with myofunctional therapy(MFT) whose purpose was to strengthen orofacial muscles. Lip closing force and bite force were recorded to evaluate the muscle tone. Tongue crib was delivered to restrict tongue thrusting habit, since her compliance to the MFT was decreased after 6 months of treatment. With the MFT and tongue crib, the openbite was fairly improved. When myofunctional therapy has difficulty in obtaining good compliances, the treatment should not be effective enough. Although intellectually disabled patients are not compliant enough, thus a habit breaking device should be needed to treat the openbite caused by oral habits, dentist should make an effort to do MFT, since it could reduce a treatment period, and enhance the stability.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2002

It has been well known that Korea red ginseng has an antihypertensive effect. The antihypertensive effect may be due to its ability to change the peripheral resistance. Change of vascular tone in the resistance-sized artery contribute to the peripheral resistance, thereby regulate the blood pressure. Therefore, we investigated to clarify the vasorelaxing mechanism induced by crude saponin of Korea red ginseng in the resistance-sized mesenteric artery of rats. The resistance-sized mesenteric artery was isolated and cut into a ring. The ring segment was immersed in HEPES-buffered solution and its isometric tension was measured using myograph force-displacement transducer. Crude saponin of ginseng relaxed the mesenmetric arterial rings precontracted with norepinephrine (3$\mu$M) in dose-dependent manner (0.01 mg/㎖ -1 mg/㎖. The relaxation by crude saponin was smaller in endothelium-intact preparation than that in endothelium-denuded preparation. The contraction induced by A23187 or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate was not affected by crude saponin of ginseng. The vasorelaxing effect of crude saponin of ginseng was significantly attenuated by the increase of the extracellular K$\^$+/ concentration. Crude saponin-induced vasorelaxation was not affected by tetraethylammonium (1 mM), glybenclamide (10$\mu$M), and 4-aminopyridine (0.1 mM) in these preparations. Ba$\^$2+/(10$\mu$M ∼100$\mu$M) markedly reduced the crude saponin-induced vasorelakation dose-dependently. From the above results, we suggest that crude saponin of ginseng may stimulate K$\^$+/ efflux and hyperpolarize the membrane, thereby cause the vasorelaxation in the resistance-sized mesenteric artery of rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.799-804
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• 2010

In humans, CYP2C19, a member of the cytochrome P450 subfamily, metabolizes arachidonic acid to produce epoxyicosanoid acids, which are involved in vascular tone and regulation of blood pressure (BP). Recent findings suggest that CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms might be considered as a novel candidate gene for cardiovascular disease. We thus focused on the Korean population to explore the association of two polymorphisms ($CYP2C19^*2$ and $^*3$) in this gene and essential hypertension (EH). A total of 1,241 participants (537 hypertensive subjects and 704 healthy controls) were recruited from the Yonsei Cardiovascular Genome Center in Korea. The CYP2C19 polymorphisms were genotyped using the $SNaPShot^{TM}$ assay. The allele and genotype frequencies of $CYP2C19^*3$ showed significant difference between hypertensives and normotensives (P=0.019 and P=0.023, respectively). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the $CYP2C19^*3$ A allele carriers were significantly associated with EH (OR, 0.723; 95% CI, 0.538-0.972, P=0.032) under a dominant model. In addition, CYP2C19 G-A haplotype ($2C19^*2\;G-^*3$ A combination) was found to significantly reduce EH risk (OR, 0.714, P=0.015). We believe this provides evidence that $CYP2C19^*3$ polymorphism may contribute to a protective effect in the development of EH.