• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2004

This study was conducted to determine expression of acyl-CoA synthetase 4(ACS4), which is involved in converts arachidonic acid to postaglandins, in the mouse uterus during pregnancy. In arachidonic acid metabolism, acyl-CoA synthetase plays a key role in the esterification of free arachidonic acid into membrane phospholipids. Following its release by the action of calcium dependent phospholipases, free arachidonic acid is believed to be rapidly converted to arachidonoyl-CoA and reesterified into phospholipids in order to prevent excessive synthesis of prostaglandins. Here we demonstrate that ACS4 gene are differentially regulated in the peri-implatation mouse uterus. During the preimplantation period(days 0.5∼3.5), the ACS4 gene was expressed in the uterus until day 3.5 after which the expression was downregulated. The expression of cPLA2, COX1, and COX2 gene was similar to that of ACS4 gene in the preimplantation periods. However expression levels of COX1 gene show much variation on the various days of pregnancy examined. These data, suggest that ACS4 expression in preimplantation period is involved in initial attachment reaction with cPLA2, COX1, and COX2 gene.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.782-788
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• 1997

This study was designed to characterize glucose-enhancing effects on endotoxin-induced prostaglandin production in primary cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). High glucose treatment significantly augmented prostaglandin (PG) synthesis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated VSMC and this effect was maximal at the concentration of 4mg/ml. It has been reported that increases in glucose metabolism through sorbitol pathway could alter the cytosolic $NADH/NAD^+$ ratio and this change favors de novo synthesis of diacylglycerol (DAG) and, in turn. Results in the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in vascular tissues. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, staurosporin and H7, blocked the glucose enhancing effect, and DAG, a PKC activator, significantly increased the PG production stimuated by LPS. Sodium pyruvate, which can reverse the alteration in cytosolic NADH/NAD+ ratio, reduced the high glucose effect on PG production. And also, zopolrestat, a strong aldose reductase inhibitor, almost completely blocked the augmentation effect of glucose on PG synthesis. Arachidonic acid release was significantly increased in high glucose treated group, which implied the increase in $PLA_2$ activity was associated with glucose enhancing effect. Metabloic, labeling study clearly showed that de novo synthesis of prostaglandin H synthase-2 (PGHS-2) is greatly increased in high glucose treated group and this was mitigated by the treatment of zopolrestat. Taken together, the activation of PKC through sorbitol pathway increased the activities of $PLA_2$ and PGHS which resulted in the augmentation in LPS-induced PG production in high glucose treated VSMC.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.173-187
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• 1985

Renal compensatory adaptation caused by ablation of a part of renal mass has long been known in the field of the compensatory renal hypertrophy or hyperplasia. Many reports were found on the chronic mechanisms on the compensatory renal hyperfunction after exclusion of the contralateral kidney. However the mechanism(s) of the acute compensatory hyperfunction after contralateral exclusion has not yet been clarified. In the present experiment, we have tried to prove the possibility of the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system and/or prostaglandin system in the control mechanism of the acute compensatory renal hyperfunction after contralateral kidney exclusion. There were found different responses of the renal hyperfunction by contralateral renal pedicle or ureteral occlusion. Contralateral renal pedicle or ureteral occlusion caused a sustained increases of the urinary volume, sodium and potassium excretion, while the magnitude of the changes was different quantitatively by the maneuvers. Blood collection affected on the acute compensatory renal responses after ureteral as well as renal pedicle occlusion. Plasma prostaglandin $E_2$ level was not changed by the contralateral renal pedicle or ureteral occlusion. Urinary excretion of Prostaglandin $E_2$, the indices of renal prostaglandin biosynthesis, was not changed by the contralateral renal pedicle occlusion, but increased without significance by the contralateral ureteral occlusion. Acute renal compensatory responses after contralateral renal pedicle occlusion were blocked by the pretreatment of indomethacin. Plasma renin activity increased after contralateral ureteral occlusion, but the pattern of the increases was the same as in the time-control group. Plasma renin activity after contralateral renal pedicle occlusion did not change by the time sequence. SQ 20,881, an angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor, blunted the contralateral renal responses after the renal pedicle occlusion. Bilateral renal denervation abolished the contralateral renal responses after the renal pedicle occlusion. The above data suggest that there is no direct evidence to support the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system and/or prostaglandin system for the acute compensatory renal hyperfunction after contralateral kidney exclusion, and that the functional changes of the intact kidney may be caused by a humoral substances, or other mechanisms by afferent renal nerve activity originating from the treated kidney.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.149-153
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• 2017

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-mediated prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) plays a key role in development and progression of inflammatory responses and Porphyromonas gingivalis is a common endodontic pathogen. In this study, we investigated induction of COX-2 and $PGE_2$ by P. gingivalis in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). P. gingivalis increased expression of COX-2, but not that of COX-1. Increased levels of $PGE_2$ were released from P. gingivalis-infected HDPCs and this $PGE_2$ increase was blocked by celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor. P. gingivalis activated all three types of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). P. gingivalis-induced activation of nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) was demonstrated by the results of phosphorylation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 and degradation of inhibitor of ${\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$). Pharmacological inhibition of each of the three types of MAPKs and $NF-{\kappa}B$ substantially attenuated P. gingivalis-induced $PGE_2$ production. These results suggest that P. gingivalis should promote endodontic inflammation by stimulating dental pulp cells to produce $PGE_2$.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.150-159
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify effects of Artemisia A. Smoke(Ssukjahun) on primary dysmenorrhea, Method: This study was a pretestposttest design with a nonequivalent control group. Data were collected from May 1, 2007 to May 27, 2008. A total of 40 women with dysmenorrhea participated in the study. Among them, 20 women were assigned to an experimental group and the other 20 to a control group. Artemisia A. Smoke(Ssukjahun) was provided daily for 4 days, starting 7 days prior to next expected menses in the experimental group. The instruments used in this study included MDQ (Moos' Menstrual Distress Questionnaire) by Kim (1995), Visual Analogue Scale by Keele (1948), and PG F2$\alpha$ by urine. Result: The results of this study are as follows; The experimental group was lower than the control group in the degree of menstrual distress (t=5.25, p=0.000), intensity of dysmenorrhea (t=7.71,p=0.000), and prostaglandin F2$\alpha$ levels (t=4.56, p=0.000). Conclusion: Artemisia A. Smoke (Ssukjahun) was proved as an effective nursing intervention to reduce dysmenorrhea in young women. Its convenience and accessibility may make it a useful intervention in nursing practice and education.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 1989

In our previous studies, it was found that activities of maternal peripheral lymphocytes and thymocytes were depressed during the implantation period in rats and rabbits. This study was therefore attempted to clarify further this immunosuppression locally by determining lymphocyte response in lymph nodes draining the uterus (DLN) and to elucidate the mechanism by which prostaglandin E (PGE) modulates immune response during the implantation process in rats. As compared with non-pregnant rats, the response of DLN lymphocytes to concanavalin A (Con A) was depressed during the implantation period in 100% of rats studied. The activity of DLN lymphocytes depressed on day 8 of pregnancy was, however, restored partially by the treatment of indomethacin (ID), indicating that prostaglandin (PG) might be one of factors responsible for immunomodulation during the process of implantation. DLN lymphocyte activity in non-pregnant rats was suppressed if PGE was pre-treated prior to Con A and this suppression was partially restored by the treatment of ID. Furthermore, DLN lymphocytes pre-treated with PGE produced PGE in vitro and this PGE production was blocked by the treatment of ID, suggesting that PGE induced PGE-producing cells. However, the pretreatment of estradiol, progesterone, and hCG at doses enough to suppress lymphocyte activity was ineffective in inducing PGE-producing cells. From these results, it is suggested that PGE induces PGE-producing suppressor cells, thereby increasing PGE concentration and PGE in turn depresses maternal local immune response as well as systemic immune response during the implantation period in rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 1983

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ and indomethacin upon the electrical activity of the isolated cat stomach muscle strips$(1.5{\times}7.0\;cm)$. Fifty-seven muscle strips, obtained from 57 cat stomachs(including corpus and antrum) were studied in a muscle chamber filled with Krebs solution(pH 7.4, temperature $36{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$) aerated with 5% $CO_2$ in $O_2$. The electrical activity was recorded by five capillary electrodes (Ag-AgCl), of which two were placed on the corpus and three on the antrum. After recording of the electrical activity in normal Krebs solution, $PGE_2$ in concentrations of 0.25(N=7), 0.5(=7), 1(N=7) and $2{\times}10^{-7}\;M(N=6)$ were administered to 27 muscle strips, while indomethacin was applied in concentretions of 0.25(N=9), 0.5(N=10), 1(N=6) and $2{\times}10^{-3}\;M(N=5)$ to the remaining 30 strips. The mean frequency were minutely measured from each electrogastrogram. 1) By adding $PGE_2$ in all doses, gastric slow wave frequency increased significantly compared with that in resting state. 2) Following $PGE_2$ administration, peak slow wave frequency increased dose-dependently. 3) After indomethacin addition in all doses, the slow wave frequency decreased significantly compared with that in resting state. 4) Following indomethacin administration, incidence of complete abolition of slow wave increased dose-dependently, and its latent period decreased also in a dose-dependent manner. It is inferred from the above results that prostaglandin $E_2$ has a facilitatory role in the development of gastric slow wave in cat.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1516-1522
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• 2018

Atherosclerosis is an obstructive vessel disease mainly caused by chronic arterial inflammation to which the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is the main pathological response. In the present study, the primary responsible inflammatory cytokine and its signaling pathway was investigated. The proliferation and migration of VSMCs was significantly enhanced by the prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ ($PGF_{2{\alpha}}$), while neither was affected by tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$. Prostacyclin $I_2$ was seen to enhance the proliferation of VSMCs while simultaneously suppressing their migration. Both prostaglandin $D_2$ and prostaglandin $E_2$ significantly enhanced the migration of VSMCs, however, proliferation was not affected by either of them. The proliferation and migration of VSMCs stimulated by $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ progressed in a dose-dependent manner; the $EC_{50}$ value of both proliferation and migration was $0.1{\mu}M$. VSMCs highly expressed the phospholipase isoform $C-{\beta}3$ ($PLC-{\beta}3$) while others such as $PLC-{\beta}1$, $PLC-{\beta}2$, and $PLC-{\beta}4$ were not expressed. Inhibition of the PLCs by U73122 completely blocked the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$-induced migration of VSMCs, and, in addition, silencing $PLC-{\beta}3$ significantly diminished the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$-induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Given these results, we suggest that $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ plays a crucial role in the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and activation of $PLC-{\beta}3$ could be involved in their $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$-dependent migration.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.455-459
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• 2006

The inhibitors of prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ production and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity have been considered as potential anti-inflammatory agents. In this study, we evaluated 9 compounds isolated from 5 Korean phytomedicinal plants (Spirea prunifolia, Paeonia suffruticosa, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Artemisia capillaris) for the inhibition of $PGE_2$production and COX-2 expession in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human macrophages U937 cells. As a result, several compound such as prunioside A, penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose, tanshinone IIA, baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, scopolatin, scoparone and decursinol showed potent inhibition of $PGE_2$production (50-70% inhibition at the test concentration of $10\;{\mu}M$). In addition, these compounds were also considered as potential inhibitors of COX-2 activity (45-73% inhibition at the test concentration of $10\;{\mu}M$). These active compound mediating COX-2 inhibitory activities are warranted for further elucidation of active principles for development of anti-inflammatory agents and these properties may contribute to the anti-atopic dermatitis activity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2010

Astrocytes are the most abundant cells in the central nervous system that play roles in maintaining the blood-brain-barrier and in neural injury, including cerebral malaria, a severe complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Prostaglandin (PG) $D_2$ is abundantly produced in the brain and regulates the sleep response. Moreover, $PGD_2$ is a potential factor derived from P. falciparum within erythrocytes. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is catalyzing enzyme in heme breakdown process to release iron, carbon monoxide, and biliverdin/bilirubin, and may influence iron supply to the P. falciparum parasites. Here, we showed that treatment of a human astrocyte cell line, CCF-STTG1, with $PGD_2$ significantly increased the expression levels of HO-1 mRNA by RT-PCR. Western blot analysis showed that $PGD_2$ treatment increased the level of HO-1 protein, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Thus, $PGD_2$ may be involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria by inducing HO-1 expression in malaria patients.