• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.333-338
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• 2000

We have examined whether bile acids can affect the electrical and mechanical activities of circular smooth muscle of canine colon and ileum, using isometric tension measurement or patch clamp technique. It was found that a dilution of canine bile $(0.03{\sim}2%\;by\;volume)$ enhanced or inhibited the amplitude of spontaneous contractions. An individual component of bile, deoxycholic acid (DCA) enhanced the frequency and amplitude of the spontaneous contractile activity at $10^{-6}\;M,$ while DCA at $10^{-4}\;M$ inhibited the contraction. Similarly, the response to cholic acid was excitatory at $10^{-5}\;M$ and inhibitory at $3{\times}10^{-4}\;M.$ Taurocholic acid at $10^{-4}\;M$ enhanced the amplitude of muscle contraction. Electrically, canine bile at 1% reversibly depolarized the colonic myocytes under current clamp mode. Bile acids also elicited non-selective cation currents under voltage clamp studies, where $K^+$ currents were blocked and the $Cl^-$ gradient was adjusted so that $E_{Cl}^-$ was equal to -70 mV, a holding potential. The non-selective cation current might explain the depolarization caused by bile acids in intact muscles. Furthermore, the bile acid regulation of electrical and mechanical activities of intestinal smooth muscle may explain some of the pathophysiological conditions accompanying defects in bile reabsorption.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.38-38
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• 1998

Resting membrane potential of atrial myocytes is less negative than K+ equilibrium potential, suggesting the presence of ion channels carrying inward currents. We investigated the background Na$\^$＋/ current in rat atrial myocytes using both conventional whole cell voltage clamp technique and single channel recording.(omitted)

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.525-531
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• 2009

We studied the effect of carbachol on pacemaker currents in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) from the mouse small intestine by muscarinic stimulation using a whole cell patch clamp technique and $Ca^{2+}$-imaging. ICC generated periodic pacemaker potentials in the current-clamp mode and generated spontaneous inward pacemaker currents at a holding potential of -70 mV. Exposure to carbachol depolarized the membrane and produced tonic inward pacemaker currents with a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of the pacemaker currents. The effects of carbachol were blocked by 1-dimethyl-4-diphenylacetoxypiperidinium, a muscarinic $M_3$ receptor antagonist, but not by methotramine, a muscarinic $M_2$ receptor antagonist. Intracellular $GDP-{\beta}-S$ suppressed the carbachol-induced effects. Carbachol-induced effects were blocked by external $Na^+$-free solution and by flufenamic acid, a non-selective cation channel blocker, and in the presence of thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, carbachol still produced tonic inward pacemaker currents with the removal of external $Ca^{2+}$. In recording of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations using fluo 3-AM dye, carbachol increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations with increasing of $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations. These results suggest that carbachol modulates the pacemaker activity of ICC through the activation of non-selective cation channels via muscarinic $M_3$ receptors by a G-protein dependent intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release mechanism.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.290-296
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• 2013

In preliminary tests, we examined the effect of several fractions isolated from fermented pine needle extract on pacemaker potentials in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) from the mouse colon using a whole cell patch clamp technique. Among these fractions, Fraction 3 (F3) elicited the most powerful depolarization of membrane. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of F3 obtained from fermented extract of Pinus densiflora needle on pacemaker potentials in ICCs and to establish its mechanism of action. Colonic ICCs generated spontaneous periodic pacemaker potentials in the current-clamp mode. F3 depolarized the membrane and decreased the frequency and amplitude of pacemaker potentials in a dose-dependent fashion. The F3-induced effects on pacemaker potentials were blocked by methoctramine, a muscarinic $M_2$ receptor antagonist, and by glycopyrrolate, a muscarinic $M_3$ receptor antagonist. The F3-induced effects on pacemaker potentials were blocked by external $Na^+$-free solution and by flufenamic acid, a non-selective cation channel blocker, as well as by the removal of external $Ca^{2+}$ and in the presence of thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum. Taken together, these results suggest that F3 of pine needle extract modulates the pacemaker activity of colonic ICCs by the activation of non-selective cation channels via muscarinic $M_2$ and $M_3$ receptors. And external $Ca^{2+}$ influx and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release are involved in F3 actions on ICCs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.133-145
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• 1998

$Ca^{2+}-signals$ in endothelial cells are determined by release from intracellular stores and entry through the plasma membrane. In this review, the nature of $Ca^{2+}$ entry and mechanisms of its control are reviewed. The following ion channels play a pivotal role in regulation of the driving force for $Ca^{2+}$ entry: an inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channel, identified as Kir2.1, a big-conductance, $Ca^{2+}-activated$ $K^+$ channel (hslo) and at least two $Cl^-$ channels (a volume regulated $Cl^-$ channel, VRAC, and a $Ca^{2+}$ activated $Cl^-$ channel, CaCC). At least two different types of $Ca^{2+}$-entry channels exist: 1. A typical CRAC-like, highly selective $Ca^{2+}$ channel is described. Current density for this $Ca^{2+}$ entry is approximately 0.1pA/pF at 0 mV and thus 10 times smaller than in Jurkat or mast cells. 2. Another entry pathway for $Ca^{2+}$ entry is a more non-selective channel, which might be regulated by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$. Although detected in endothelial cells, the functional role of trp1,3,4 as possible channel proteins is unclear. Expression of trp3 in macrovascular endothelial cells from bovine pulmonary artery induced non-selective cation channels which are probably not store operated or failed to induce any current. Several features as well as a characterisation of $Ca^{2+}$-oscillations in endothelial cells is also presented.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.187-196
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• 2023

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are non-selective calcium-permeable cation channels. It is suggested that TRPC4β is regulated by phospholipase C (PLC) signaling and is especially maintained by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂). In this study, we present the regulation mechanism of the TRPC4 channel with PIP₂ hydrolysis which is mediated by a channel-bound PLCδ1 but not by the G_qPCR signaling pathway. Our electrophysiological recordings demonstrate that the Ca²⁺ via an open TRPC4 channel activates PLCδ1 in the physiological range, and it causes the decrease of current amplitude. The existence of PLCδ1 accelerated PIP₂ depletion when the channel was activated by an agonist. Interestingly, PLCδ1 mutants which have lost the ability to regulate PIP₂ level failed to reduce the TRPC4 current amplitude. Our results demonstrate that TRPC4 self-regulates its activity by allowing Ca²⁺ ions into the cell and promoting the PIP₂ hydrolyzing activity of PLCδ1.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2019

Polycystic kidney disease 2-like-1 (PKD2L1), polycystin-L or transient receptor potential polycystin 3 (TRPP3) is a TRP superfamily member. It is a calcium-permeable non-selective cation channel that regulates intracellular calcium concentration and thereby calcium signaling. Although the calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor, calmidazolium, is an activator of the PKD2L1 channel, the activating mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether CaM takes part in the regulation of the PKD2L1 channel, and if so, how. With patch clamp techniques, we observed the current amplitudes of PKD2L1 significantly reduced when co-expressed with CaM and $CaM{\triangle}N$. This result suggests that the N-lobe of CaM carries a more crucial role in regulating PKD2L1 and guides us into our next question on the different functions of two lobes of CaM. We also identified the predicted CaM binding site, and generated deletion and truncation mutants. The mutants showed significant reduction in currents losing PKD2L1 current-voltage curve, suggesting that the C-terminal region from 590 to 600 is crucial for maintaining the functionality of the PKD2L1 channel. With PKD2L1608Stop mutant showing increased current amplitudes, we further examined the functional importance of EF-hand domain. Along with co-expression of CaM, ${\triangle}EF$-hand mutant also showed significant changes in current amplitudes and potentiation time. Our findings suggest that there is a constitutive inhibition of EF-hand and binding of CaM C-lobe on the channel in low calcium concentration. At higher calcium concentration, calcium ions occupy the N-lobe as well as the EF-hand domain, allowing the two to compete to bind to the channel.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2009

The effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein(OxLDL) and its major lipid constituent lysophosphatidylcholine(LPC) on $Ca^{2+}$ entry were investigated in cultured human umbilical endothelial cells(HUVECs) using fura-2 fluorescence and patch-clamp methods. OxLDL or LPC increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), and the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by OxLDL or by LPC was inhibited by $La^{3+}$ or heparin. LPC failed to increase $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in the presence of an antioxidant tempol. In addition, store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ entry(SOC), which was evoked by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ store depletion in $Ca^{2+}$-free solution using the sarcoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$ pump blocker, 2, 5-di-t-butyl-l,4-benzohydroquinone(BHQ), was further enhanced by OxLDL or by LPC. Increased SOC by OxLDL or by LPC was inhibited by U73122. In voltage-clamped cells, OxLDL or LPC increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and simultaneously activated non-selective cation(NSC) currents. LPC-induced NSC currents were inhibited by 2-APB, $La^{3+}$ or U73122, and NSC currents were not activated by LPC in the presence of tempol. Furthermore, in voltage-clamped HUVECs, OxLDL enhanced SOC and evoked outward currents simultaneously. Clamping intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ to 1 ${\mu}M$ activated large-conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+(BK_{ca})$ current spontaneously, and this activated $BK_{ca}$ current was further enhanced by OxLDL or by LPC. From these results, we concluded that OxLDL or its main component LPC activates $Ca^{2+}$-permeable $Ca^{2+}$-activated NSC current and $BK_{ca}$ current simultaneously, thereby increasing SOC.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 2020

Polycystic kidney disease 2-like-1 (PKD2L1), also known as polycystin-L or TRPP3, is a non-selective cation channel that regulates intracellular calcium concentration. Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium binding protein, consisting of N-lobe and C-lobe with two calcium binding EF-hands in each lobe. In previous study, we confirmed that CaM is associated with desensitization of PKD2L1 and that CaM N-lobe and PKD2L1 EF-hand specifically are involved. However, the CaM-binding domain (CaMBD) and its inhibitory mechanism of PKD2L1 have not been identified. In order to identify CaM-binding anchor residue of PKD2L1, single mutants of putative CaMBD and EF-hand deletion mutants were generated. The current changes of the mutants were recorded with whole-cell patch clamp. The calmidazolium (CMZ), a calmodulin inhibitor, was used under different concentrations of intracellular. Among the mutants that showed similar or higher basal currents with that of the PKD2L1 wild type, L593A showed little change in current induced by CMZ. Co-expression of L593A with CaM attenuated the inhibitory effect of PKD2L1 by CaM. In the previous study it was inferred that CaM C-lobe inhibits channels by binding to PKD2L1 at 16 nM calcium concentration and CaM N-lobe at 100 nM. Based on the results at 16 nM calcium concentration condition, this study suggests that CaM C-lobe binds to Leu-593, which can be a CaM C-lobe anchor residue, to regulate channel activity. Taken together, our results provide a model for the regulation of PKD2L1 channel activity by CaM.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.419-425
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• 2010

Mast cells are activated by specific allergens and also by various nonspecific stimuli, which might induce physical urticaria. This study investigated the functional expression of temperature sensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) subfamily in the human mast cell line (HMC-1) using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. The temperature of perfusate was raised from room temperature (RT, $23{\sim}25^{\circ}C$) to a moderately high temperature (MHT, $37{\sim}39^{\circ}C$) to activate TRPV3/4, a high temperature (HT, $44{\sim}46^{\circ}C$) to activate TRPV1, or a very high temperature (VHT, $53{\sim}55^{\circ}C$) to activate TRPV2. The membrane conductance of HMC-1 was increased by MHT and HT in about 50% (21 of 40) of the tested cells, and the I/V curves showed weak outward rectification. VHT-induced current was 10-fold larger than those induced by MHT and HT. The application of the TRPV 4 activator $3{\alpha}$-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate ($4{\alpha}$ PDD, $1\;{\mu}M$) induced weakly outward rectifying currents similar to those induced by MHT. However, the TRPV3 agonist camphor or TRPV1 agonist capsaicin had no effect. RT-PCR analysis of HMC-1 demonstrated the expression of TRPV4 as well as potent expression of TRPV2. The $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ of HMC-1 cells was also increased by MHT or by $4{\alpha}$ PDD. In summary, our present study indicates that HMC-1 cells express $Ca^{2+}$-permeable TRPV4 channels in addition to the previously reported expression of TRPV2 with a higher threshold of activating temperature.