• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.6
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• pp.771-778
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• 1998

To investigate interaction of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor with local tissue renin- angiotensin system (RAS), changes in gene expression of the RAS components in various tissues in response to chronic administration of an ACE inhibitor, enalapril, were examined in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Enalapril was administered in their drinking water $(3{\sim}4\;mg/day)$ over 8 wk. Plasma and renal ACE activity increased significantly after 4 and 8 wk of enalapril treatment. Renin levels of the plasma and kidney of the enalapril-treated rats markedly increased after 4 wk and decreased thereafter, but still remained significantly higher than those of control rats. Kidney mRNA levels of renin markedly increased after 4 and 8 wk of enalapril treatment, but those of angiotensinogen and ANG II-receptor subtypes, $AT_{1A}$ and $AT_{1B}$, did not change significantly. The liver expressed genes for renin, angiotensinogen and $AT_{1A}$ receptor subtype, but $AT_{1B}$ receptor subtype mRNA was not detectable by RT-PCR. None of mRNA for these RAS components in the liver changed significantly by enalapril treatment. The hypothalamus showed mRNA expressions of renin, angiotensinogen, $AT_{1A}$ and $AT_{1B}$ receptor subtypes. $AT_{1A}$ receptor subtype mRNA was more abundant than $AT_{1B}$ receptor subtype in the hypothalamus as shown in the kidney. However, gene expression of the RAS components remained unchanged during 8-wk treatment of enalapril. In the present study, chronic ACE inhibition increased plasma and renal levels of ACE and renin, but did not affect mRNA levels of other RAS components such as angiotensinogen, ANG II receptor subtypes in the kidney. Gene levels of the RAS components in the liver and hypothalamus were not altered by chronic treatment of enalapril. These results suggest the differential expression of the RAS components in response to enalapril, and localized action and some degree of tissue specificity of enalapril.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.90-90
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• 1997

Natural products, which have been used for the treatment of hypertension, diuresis and nephritis in traditional oriental medicine, were selected for the screening of nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells and kidney tissues in vitro as well as in vivo by measuring the conversion of [$\^$14/C]-L-arginine to [$\^$14/C]-L-citrulline, a coproduct of the enzyme reaction with NO. Confluent monolayer of endothelial cells were used for the screening of 16 natural products. Among the natural products, Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula stimulated endothelial NO synthase activity. Thus, both confluent monolayer of endothelial cells and kidney homogenates (glomeruli, cortical tubules, meudllae) were treated with Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula (final concentration 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) and NO releases were compared with those by receptor - dependent agonists, bradykinin and ADP and receptor - independent calcium ionophore A23187 in vitro. In rat experiment, NO releases in glomeruli, cortical tubules and medullae and plasma renin activity were assessed after intraperitoneal injection of Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula (10 mg/kg/day for 4 days). As a result, both Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula significantly increased NO releases in cultured endothelial cells, kidney tissues in vitro as well as in vivo. Stimulation of NO releases by Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula was similar to those by receptor - dependent agonists, bradykinin and ADP and receptor - independent calcium ionophore A23187 in cultured endothelial cells. However, plasma renin activity was not influenced by these two natural products. In conclusion, stimulatory effects of Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula on NO release in kidney may contribute their hypotensive effects and antinephritic action possibly by increasing renal blood flow.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6197-6201
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• 2012

Although enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been reported as an independent prognostic factor in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), little is known about the exact mechanism of EZH2 in promoting the genesis of RCC. However, several studies have shown that dysregulation of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway plays a crucial role. Therefore, we determined whether EZH2 could affect ACHN human RCC cell proliferation and invasion via the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin pathway. In the present study, we investigated the effects of short interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated EZH2 gene silencing on Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling in ACHN cells. EZH2-siRNA markedly inhibited the proliferation and invasion capabilities of ACHN, while also reducing the expression of EZH2, Wnt3a and ${\beta}$-catenin. In contrast, cellular expression of GSK-$3{\beta}$ (glycogen synthase kinase-$3{\beta}$), an inhibitor of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin pathway, was conspicuously higher after transfection of EZH2 siRNA. These preliminary findings suggest EZH2 may promote proliferation and invasion of ACHN cells via action on the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2014

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a toxic metalloid found ubiquitously in the environment. In humans, exposure to iAs can result in toxicity and cause toxicological manifestations. Arsenic trioxide ($As_2O_3$) has been used in the treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia. The kidney is the critical target organ of trivalent inorganic As ($iAs^{III}$) toxicity. We examine if oral administration of astaxanthin (AST) has protective effects on nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by $As_2O_3$ exposure (via intraperitoneal injection) in rats. Markers of renal function, histopathological changes, $Na^+-K^+$ ATPase, sulfydryl, oxidative stress, and As accumulation in kidneys were evaluated as indicators of $As_2O_3$ exposure. AST showed a significant protective effect against $As_2O_3$-induced nephrotoxicity. These results suggest that the mechanisms of action, by which AST reduces nephrotoxicity, may include antioxidant protection against oxidative injury and reduction of As accumulation. These findings might be of therapeutic benefit in humans or animals suffering from exposure to $iAs^{III}$ from natural sources or cancer therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 1982

The effect of ethacrynic acid (EA) on the renal secretion of PAH was examined in cat kidney. $C_{PAH}$ and $T_{PAH}$ were measured before and after infusion of EA $(0.5{\sim}50mg/kg)$ through the femoral vein. The following results were obtained: 1) In the dosage range of 0.5 to 25 mg/kg, EA increased the urine flow, and sodium and potassium excretion in dose-dependent manner, but the glomelular filtration rate was decreased as the dosage of EA was increased. 2) $C_{PAH}$ and $T_{PAH}$ were decreased by EA in the dosage range of 3 to 25 mg/kg and 1 to 50 mg/kg, respectively, in dose·dependent manner with the dosage to cause 50% inhibition of about 5 mg/kg. 3) With dosage of 0.5mg/kg, EA appeared to exert a great effect on diuretic response without the influence on $T_{PAH}$. At 10min after infusion of EA, a potent diuretic effect appeared, while $T_{PAH}$ did not show a significant change. These results suggest that the action mechanism of EA on tubular secretion of PAH may be different from that on natriuresis. 4) With dosage of 5 mg/kg, EA did not inhibit the Na-K-ATPase activity in microsomal fractions from both cortex and medulla. 5) The double reciprocal plot ($l/T_{PAH}$ versus $l/P_{PAH}$) suggested that EA inhibited the P AH secretion by a competitive pattern. However, probenecid, a prototypic inhibitor of the organic acid pump, had no influence on both the inhibitory effect of $T_{PAH}$ and the natriuretic effect by EA. These results suggest that in vivo EA altered tubular secretion of P AH through interactions with receptors that are not identical with the Na-K-ATPase.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.349-353
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• 1996

The present study examined pharmacokinetic profiles of KBP31705-Cl27 and KBP30603-901, new platinum coordination complexes synthesized as anticancer candidates, in comparison with two well-known platinum-containing anticancer agents, cisplatin and carboplatin in rats. Under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia of male Sprague-Dawley rats, urinary bladder, and femoral artery and vein were catheterized for urine collection, blood sampling and drug injection, respectively Following i.v. administration of cisplatin (2 mg/kg), KBP31705-C127 (2 mg/kg), carboplatin (20 mg/kg) or KBP30603-901 (20 mg/kg), blood samples were collected at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60 and 120 minutes. Urine samples were collected at 1-hr interval for 4 hr. Platinum concentrations in plasma and urine were measured using an inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometer. The plasma concentration-time curves were biphasic for all drugs during the time period studied. Compared with cisplatin, KBP31705-C127 showed similar decay patters in the alpha- and betaphases with slightly lower plasma concentrations. Urinary platinum excretion for cisplatin and KBP31705-C 127 was 56 and 52% of the administered dose in 4 hr, respectively. With regard to carboplatin and KBP 30603-901, a similar decay pattern was also observed in the alpha-phase. The half life of KBP30603-901 in the beta-phase, however, was much longer than that of carboplatin, which was consistent with the urinary excretion results that 46 and 59% of the administered dose were excreted in the urine in 4hr, respectively. The results suggest that platinum coordination complexes are primarily excreted via the renal route and KBP30603-901 can elicit longer duration of action due to slower renal excretion compared to carboplatin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.529-538
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• 1999

This study was undertaken to examine the effect of ethanol on $Na^+ -dependent$ phosphate $(Na^+-P_i)$ uptake in opossum kidney (OK) cells, an established renal proximal tubular cell line. Ethanol inhibited ^Na^+-dependent$ component of phosphate uptake in a dose-dependent manner with $I_{50}$ of 8.4%, but it did not affect $Na^+-independent$ component. Similarly, ethanol inhibited $Na^+-dependent$ uptakes of glucose and amino acids (AIB, glycine, alanine, and leucine). Microsomal $Na^+-K^+-ATPase$ activity was not significantly altered when cells were treated with 8% ethanol. Kinetic analysis showed that ethanol increased $K_m$ without a change in $V_{max}$ of $Na^+-P_i$ uptake. Inhibitory effect of n-alcohols on $Na^+-P_i$ uptake was dependent on the length of the hydrocarbon chain, and it resulted from the binding of one molecule of alcohol, as indicated by the Hill coefficient (n) of 0.8-1.04. Catalase significantly prevented the inhibition, but superoxide dismutase and hydroxyl radical scavengers did not alter the ethanol effect. A potent antioxidant DPPD and iron chelators did not prevent the inhibition. Pyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, did not attenuate ethanol-induced inhibition of $Na^+-P_i$ uptake, but it prevented ethanol-induced cell death. These results suggest that ethanol may inhibit $Na^+-P_i$ uptake through a direct action on the carrier protein, although the transport system is affected by alterations in the lipid environment of the membrane.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.38-48
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• 1998

This study was undertaken to determine whether Salviae-radix (SVR) extraction prevents the oxidant-induced cell injury and thereby exerts protective effect against oxidant-induced inhibition of tetraethylammonium uptake (TEA) in renal corticaJ sices. SVR (5%) attenuated $H_2O_2-induced$ inhibition of TEA uptake. $H_2O_2$ increased LDH release and lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. These changes were prevented by SVR extraction. The protective effect of SVR on LDH release was dose-dependent over the concentration range of 0.1-0.5%, and that on lipid peroxidation over the concentration ranges of 0.05-2%. SVR significantly prevented Hg-induced lipid peroxidation. SVR extraction (0.5%) increased cellular GSH content in normal and $H_2O_2-treated$ tissues. When slices were treated with 100 mM $H_2O_2$, catalase activity was decreased, which was prevented by 0.5% SVR extraction. The activity of glutathione peroxidase but not superoxide dismutase was significantly increased by 0.5% SVR extraction in $H_2O_2-treated$ tissuces. These results suggest that SVR has an antioxidant action and thereby exerts benefical effect against oxidant-induced impairment of membrane transport function. This effect of SVR is attributed to an increase in endogenous antioxidants such as GSH, catalase and glutathione peroxidase.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.1260-1266
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• 2009

Purpose : Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) can be clinically classified as steroid-sensitive and steroid-resistant. The detailed mechanism of glucocorticoid action in NS is currently unknown. Methods : In this study, we investigated 3 known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (ER22/23EK, N363S, and BclI) of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (the NR3C1 gene) in 190 children with NS using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and analyzed the correlation between the genotypes and clinicopathologic features of the patients. Results : Eighty patients (42.1%) were initial steroid nonresponders, of which 31 (16.3% of the total) developed end-stage renal disease during follow-up. Renal biopsy findings of 133 patients were available, of which 36 (31.9%) showed minimal changes in NS and 77 (68.1%) had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The distribution of the BclI genotypes was comparable between the patient and control groups, and the G allele frequencies in both the groups were almost the same. The ER22/23EK and N363S genotypes were homogenous as ER/ER and NN, respectively, in all the patients and in 100 control subjects. The BclI genotype showed no correlation with the NS onset age, initial steroid responsiveness, renal pathologic findings, or progression to end-stage renal disease. Conclusion : These data suggested that the ER22/23EK, N363S, and BclI SNPs in the NR3C1 gene do not affect the development of NS, initial steroid responsiveness, renal pathologic lesion, and progression to end-stage renal disease in Korean children with NS.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2002

Objective : To observe the biological responses and therapeutic effects of moxibustion and review the trend of related study. Methods : We searched and investigated the journals supplied by Pubmed online site and Je-Han Oriental Medical Academy homepage with the key word "moxibustion". Results : 1. The biological responses of moxibustion reveal on skelectal, digestive, urinary systems, especially blood, angiological systems. 2. The therapeutic effect of moxibustion are analgesic action, controls of excitation or inhibitation of nerve system, improvement of blood circulation, nutrition in organs, increase of absorption of pathlogical product, controls of secreting glands, care of tuberculosis, increase of natural healing power etc. 3. Moxibustions effects on diarrhea, edema, diabetus mellitus, hyperlipiemia, tinnitus, osteoporosis, facial palsy, myopia, pimple etc. 4. Most of moxibustion studys related on immunofunctional actions and renal functional actions. 5. To elevated quality of studies, we needs well-designed epeerimental methods, efficient secure of experimental groups, appropriate statistical verification, accumulations of knowledges about data research. Conclusions : We find out moxibustion is remakble on clinincal therapeutic effects, from now on much more studies are needed to develop this therapy.