• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.58-63
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• 2020

The salivary glands secrete saliva, which plays a role in the maintenance of a healthy oral environment. Under physiological conditions, saliva secretion within the acinar cells of the gland is regulated by stimulation of specific calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling mechanisms such as increases in the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) via storeoperated Ca²⁺ entry, which involves components such as Orai1, transient receptor potential (TRP) canonical 1, stromal interaction molecules, and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP₃) receptors (IP₃Rs). Homer proteins are scaffold proteins that bind to G protein-coupled receptors, IP₃Rs, ryanodine receptors, and TRP channels. However, their exact role in Ca²⁺ signaling in the salivary glands remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of Homer2 in Ca²⁺ signaling and saliva secretion in parotid gland acinar cells under physiological conditions. Deletion of Homer2 (Homer2^-/-) markedly decreased the amplitude of [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations via the stimulation of carbachol, which is physiologically concentrated in parotid acinar cells, whereas the frequency of [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations showed no difference between wild-type and Homer2^-/- mice. Homer2^-/- mice also showed a significant decrease in amylase release by carbachol in the parotid gland in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that Homer2 plays a critical role in maintaining [Ca²⁺]_i concentration and secretion of saliva in mouse parotid gland acinar cells.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.67-74
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• 1996

고양이 담낭근에서 효소학적으로 분리한 평활근 세포는 cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), acetylcholine (ACh) 및 KCl에 의하여 용량에 의존하여 수축하였다. 이들 효현제 (CCK-5, ACh 및 KCl)에 의한 평활근 세포의 최대수축은 각각$10^{-9}M$, $10^{-5}M$ 및 20mM 농도에서 야기되었다. CCK-8에 의하여 야기되는 이들 평활근 세포의 수축은 HEPES 완충액에 $Ca^{2+}$을 제거시킴에 의하여 영향을 받지 아니하였으나, $Ca^{2+}$ 대신에 strontium을 첨가시켰을때 수축반응이 완전하게 억제되었다 (p<0.001). 이와는 반대로 KCl에 의한 수축반응은 strontium 치환에 의하여 영향을 받지 아니하고 HEPES 완충액에 $Ca^{2+}$을 제거시킴에 의하여 억제되었다 (p<0.01). ACh에 의하여 야기되는 수축반응은 세포 외액의 $Ca^{2+}$을 제거시킴에 의하여 중등도의 억제반응이 야기되었으나 (p<0.05) strontium에 의하여 영향을 받지 아니하였다. Saponin으로 세포 투과성 변동을 야기시킨 근세포에서 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate $(IP_3)$와 CCK-8은 수축반응을 일으켰고, 이러한 수축반응은 calmodulin 길항제인 CGS 9343B에 의하여 차단되었으며 (p<0.001), heparin은 CCK-8 및 $IP_3$의 작용을 완전하게 봉쇄하였다 (p<0.001). 그러나 이러한 수축반응에 있어서 protein kinase C 길항제인 H7은 아무런 작용을 나타내지 못하였다. 이러한 결과로 볼 때 CCK-8에 의하여 야기된 고양이 담낭근 세포의 수축반응은 $IP_3$에 의하여 세포내 저장소로부터 유리된 $Ca^{2+}$과 calmodulin에 의존적인 과정에 의하여 매개되어 지는 것으로 생각된다. 또한 ACh는 세포외액의 $Ca^{2+}$ 뿐만 아니라 세포내 저장소의 $Ca^{2+}$ 모두를 이용하며, KCl은 전적으로 세포외액의 $Ca^{2+}$에 의존적인 형태로 calmodulin과는 무관하게 고양이 담낭근 세포의 수축반응을 야기시키는 것으로 사료된다.

• 생약학회지
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.100-106
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• 2020

The extract of Cudrania tricuspidata is used in ethnomedicine throughout Eastern Asia in China, Korea and Japan. In Korean traditional medicine, Cudrania tricuspidata has been used to treat eczema, mumps, tuberculosis, contusions, insomnia and acute arthritis. In addition, it has been reported that root extract of Cudrania tricuspidata has anti-platelet effects. Therefore, we investigated which compound in Cudrania tricuspidata has inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. In this study, we tried to explain the inhibitory mechanism of steppogenin from Cudrania tricuspidata on human platelet aggregation. Collagen-induced human platelet aggregation and [Ca²⁺]_i mobilization were dose-dependently inhibited by steppogenin and we determined the inhibition by steppogenin is due to the down regulation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase(ERK) and inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type I(IP₃RI) phosphorylation. In addition, steppogenin inhibited collagen-induced fibronectin adhesion to αIIb/β3 and thromboxane A₂ generation. Thus, in the present study, steppogenin showed an inhibitory effect on human platelet aggregation, suggesting its potential use for preventing platelet-induced cardiovascular disease.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.252-261
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• 2019

The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is known to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in many types of cancers. However, the roles of DHA in drug-resistant cancer cells have not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of DHA in cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer SNU-601/cis2 cells. DHA was found to induce ROS-dependent apoptosis in these cells. The inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor ($IP_3R$) blocker 2-aminoethyl diphenylboninate (2-APB) reduced DHA-induced ROS production, consequently reducing apoptosis. We also found that G-protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120), a receptor of long-chain fatty acids, is expressed in SNU-601/cis2 cells, and the knockdown of GPR120 using specific shRNAs alleviated DHA-mediated ROS production and apoptosis. GPR120 knockdown reduced the expression of ER stress response genes, similar to the case for the pre-treatment of the cells with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), an ROS scavenger, or 2-APB. Indeed, the knockdown of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), a transcription factor that functions under ER stress conditions, markedly reduced DHA-mediated apoptosis, indicating that CHOP plays an essential role in the anti-cancer activity of DHA. These results suggest that GPR120 mediates DHA-induced apoptosis by regulating $IP_3R$, ROS, and ER stress levels in cisplatin-resistant cancer cells, and that GPR120 is an effective chemotherapeutic target for cisplatin resistance.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.134-139
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• 2021

Under physiological conditions, calcium (Ca²⁺) regulates essential functions of polarized secretory cells by the stimulation of specific Ca²⁺ signaling mechanisms, such as increases in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) via the store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) and the receptor-operated Ca²⁺ entry (ROCE). Homer proteins are scaffold proteins that interact with G protein-coupled receptors, inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP₃) receptors, Orai1-stromal interaction molecule 1, and transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels. However, their role in the Ca²⁺ signaling in exocrine cells remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of Homer2 in the Ca²⁺ signaling and regulatory channels to mediate SOCE and ROCE in pancreatic acinar cells. Deletion of Homer2 (Homer2^-/-) markedly increased the expression of TRPC3, TRPC6, and Orai1 in pancreatic acinar cells, whereas these expressions showed no difference in whole brains of wild-type and Homer2^-/- mice. Furthermore, the response of Ca²⁺ entry by carbachol also showed significant changes to the patterns regulated by specific blockers of SOCE and ROCE in pancreatic acinar cells of Homer2^-/- mice. Thus, these results suggest that Homer2 plays a critical role in the regulatory action of the [Ca²⁺]_i via SOCE and ROCE in mouse pancreatic acinar cells.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제65권4호
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• pp.239-245
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• 2022

지혈이 일어나는 과정에서 혈소판의 정상적인 활성화가 중요하지만, 혈소판의 과도하거나 비정상적인 활성화는 뇌졸중, 죽상동맥 경화증 및 혈전증과 같은 심혈관 질환을 유발할 수 있다. 따라서, 혈소판 활성화를 조절하거나 억제할 수 있는 새로운 물질의 발견은 심혈관 질환의 예방 및 치료에 도움이 될 수 있다. Artemether는 Artemisia annua의 유효성분으로 알려진 artemisinin의 유도체로서 말라리아 치료에 효과적이라고 보고된 바 있고, 항산화 및 대사 효소 억제를 통해 기능하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 그런데, 혈소판 활성화 및 응집에 있어서의 artemether의 역할과 collagen으로 유도한 사람 혈소판에서 artemether의 작용기전은 현재까지 알려진 바가 없다. 본 연구는 artemether가 collagen에 의해 유도된 혈소판 활성화와 혈전 형성에 어떤 영향을 미치는 지 연구하였다. 그 결과, cAMP level이 artemether에 의해 유의하게 증가되었고, cAMP-의존성 kinase의 기질인 VASP 및 IP₃R이 인산화되었다. Artemether에 의한 IP₃R 인산화는 세포질 내로의 Ca²⁺ 동원을 억제하였고, 인산화된 VASP는 혈소판 막에 위치한 αIIb/β₃ 불활성화를 일으켜 fibrinogen 결합을 억제하였다. 결과적으로, artemether는 thrombin으로 유도한 fibrin clot의 형성을 억제하였다. 따라서, 우리는 artemether가 과도한 혈소판 활성화 및 혈전 형성으로 인한 심혈관 질환의 효과적인 예방 및 치료제로 작용할 수 있음을 제안한다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.509-516
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• 2014

Radiation therapy for variety of human solid tumors utilizes mechanism of cell death after DNA damage caused by radiation. In response to DNA damage, cytochrome c was released from mitochondria by activation of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, and then elicits massive $Ca^{2+}$ release from the ER that lead to cell death. It was also suggested that irradiation may cause the deregulation of $Ca^{2+}$ homeostasis and trigger programmed cell death and regulate death specific enzymes. Thus, in this study, we investigated how cellular $Ca^{2+}$ metabolism in RKO cells, in comparison to radiation-resistant A549 cells, was altered by gamma (${\gamma}$)-irradiation. In irradiated RKO cells, $Ca^{2+}$ influx via activation of NCX reverse mode was enhanced and a decline of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ via forward mode was accelerated. The amount of $Ca^{2+}$ released from the ER in RKO cells by the activation of $IP_3$ receptor was also enhanced by irradiation. An increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ via SOCI was enhanced in irradiated RKO cells, while that in A549 cells was depressed. These results suggest that ${\gamma}$-irradiation elicits enhancement of cellular $Ca^{2+}$ metabolism in radiation-sensitive RKO cells yielding programmed cell death.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.89-94
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• 2014

DA-6034, a eupatilin derivative of flavonoid, has shown potent effects on the protection of gastric mucosa and induced the increases in fluid and glycoprotein secretion in human and rat corneal and conjunctival cells, suggesting that it might be considered as a drug for the treatment of dry eye. However, whether DA-6034 induces $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and its underlying mechanism in epithelial cells are not known. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism for actions of DA-6034 in $Ca^{2+}$ signaling pathways of the epithelial cells (conjunctival and corneal cells) from human donor eyes and mouse salivary gland epithelial cells. DA-6034 activated $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channels (CaCCs) and increased intracellular calcium concentrations ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in primary cultured human conjunctival cells. DA-6034 also increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in mouse salivary gland cells and human corneal epithelial cells. $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase of DA-6034 was dependent on the $Ca^{2+}$ entry from extracellular and $Ca^{2+}$ release from internal $Ca^{2+}$ stores. Interestingly, these effects of DA-6034 were related to ryanodine receptors (RyRs) but not phospholipase C/inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate ($IP_3$) pathway and lysosomal $Ca^{2+}$ stores. These results suggest that DA-6034 induces $Ca^{2+}$ signaling via extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ entry and RyRs-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ release from internal $Ca^{2+}$ stores in epithelial cells.