Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011570 (depression)
 172,036 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The actions of the tertiary local anesthetic bupivacaine were studied on the nicotinic receptor-ionic channel complex (AChR) using electrophysiological and biochemical methods. Voltage clamp studies of the frog sartorius and cutaneous pectoris neuromuscular junction revealed a concentration-dependent depression of the decay time constant of the end-plate (tau EPC) and spontaneous miniature end-plate (tau MEPC) currents. The relationship of the reciprocal of either tau EPC or tau MEPC and bupivacaine concentration up to 100 microM was linear. Voltage dependence of EPC over the range +60 to -150 mV was reduced, whereas both EPC and MEPC decays were adequately described by a single exponential function at all concentrations tested. Peak MEPC and EPC amplitudes were also depressed in a concentration-dependent manner such that 100 microM bupivacaine reduced peak amplitude by about 50%. The current-voltage relationship remained linear under all conditions tested. Nerve-evoked responses were difficult to study at concentrations greater than 100 microM because of apparent blockade of nerve conduction. Extracellular recording of the MEPC afforded results similar to those obtained with EPCs. The tau MEPC could be reduced to less than 300 mu sec at a bupivacaine concentration of 400 microM. Fluctuation analysis showed that bupivacaine at concentrations of 10 and 25 microM did not change channel conductance but decreased single-channel lifetime to 76% and 39% of control values, respectively. Biochemical studies were performed on Torpedo californica membrane fragments using [3H]phencyclidine ([3H]PCP) and [3H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin ([3H]H12-HTX) as channel probes. Bupivacaine inhibited the binding of [3H]PCP and [3H]H12-HTX with inhibition constants (Ki) of 32 and 25 microM, respectively. The corresponding inhibition constants for bupivacaine methiodide were 1.8 and 3.2 microM. The preincubation of the membranes with carbamylcholine increased the affinity of bupivacaine for the ionic channel sites 5- to 8-fold and the affinity of bupivacaine methiodide 3- to 4-fold. Bupivacaine, however, had no affinity for the agonist recognition site as determined by [3H]ACh and [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin bindings. The electrophysiological and biochemical studies indicate that bupivacaine reacts primarily with the ionic channel of the nicotinic AChR. The results are consistent with a sequential model in which the drug interacts with the sites at the ionic channel of AChR in its open conformation, producing species with little or no conductance. From the present studies there is no evidence for an interaction of bupivacaine with the agonist binding site or closed states of AChR.
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PMID:Interactions of bupivacaine with ionic channels of the nicotinic receptor. Electrophysiological and biochemical studies. 609 Aug 84

In this study the effects of amantadine (1-adamantanamine) and its N-alkyl-substituted analogues [N-methyl- (NMA), N-ethyl- (NEA), N-propyl- (NPA), N-butyl- (NBA), and N,N-diethyl-amantidine (NNDEA)] were investigated on ionic channels of the electrically excitable membrane and of the nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors in frog sartorius muscles and on the binding of perhydrohistrionicotoxin (H12-HTX) to isolated membranes of the electric organ of the electric ray Torpedo. Amantadine and each analogue blocked the indirectly elicited twitch, but NPA, NBA, and NNDEA also potentiated the directly elicited twitch. The order of potency in inhibiting the indirect twitch was: NEA = NPA = NNDEA (10 microM) greater than NMA (15 microM) greater than NBA (40 microM) much greater than amantadine (130 microM). Neither amantadine nor its N-alkyl analogues affected miniature end-plate potential frequency or resting membrane potential but decreased miniature end-plate potential amplitude. Each compound prolonged the directly elicited action potential but did not alter delayed rectification. All of the compounds induced a concentration-dependent depression of the peak end-plate current (EPC) amplitude at negative membrane potentials and induced nonlinearity in the response at membrane potentials more negative than -40 mV. The order of potency in inhibiting the EPC (at -90 mV) was NNDEA (less than 0.5 microM) greater than NPA (less than 1.0 microM) greater than NBA (less than 2.0 microM) greater than NEA (19 microM) greater than NMA (42 microM) greater than amantadine (64 microM). Only NPA, NBA, and NNDEA depressed the peak EPC amplitude at positive membrane potentials as well. The shortening of the time constant of EPC decay by all compounds was concentration-dependent. At the higher concentrations examined, the slope of the relationship between the time constant of decay and membrane potential was reversed for all compounds. Only NPA induced a double-exponential decay of the EPC at positive membrane potentials. Neither amantadine nor its N-alkyl analogues inhibited the binding of [3H]ACh to its receptor in Torpedo electroplax but they inhibited the binding of [3H]H12-HTX binding to the ionic channel sites of the ACh receptor. The Ki for inhibition of [3H]H12-HTX binding was NEA = NNDEA (15 microM) greater than NMA (30 microM) greater than NPA = NBA (40 microM) greater than amantadine (60 microM). A gross correlation exists between their ability to block the indirect muscle twitch, miniature end-plate potential amplitude, peak EPC amplitude and the binding of [3H]H12-HTX. But, no correlation was found between these potencies and their antiviral activity. It is suggested that these compounds may interact with the ionic channel of the ACh receptor in its open and closed conformation.
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PMID:Structure-activity relationships of amantadine. I. Interaction of the N-alkyl analogues with the ionic channels of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and electrically excitable membrane. 612 6

A brief summary of recent studies of pharmacomechanical coupling is presented, with emphasis on the role of GTP-binding proteins and Ca(2+)-independent regulation of contraction (Ca(2+)-sensitization/desensitization) through regulatory myosin light chain (MLC20) phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Pharmacomechanical regulation of cytosolic [Ca2+] is largely, though not solely, controlled by the phosphatidylinositol cascade and Ca(2+)-pumps of the plasma membrane and the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The monomeric GTPase, RhoA, is a major upstream component of Ca(2+)-sensitization. Its crystal structure and apparently obligatory translocation to the plasma membrane for activation of its downstream effectors are described. Inhibition of RhoA activity by a membrane-permeant ADP-ribosylating bacterial exoenzyme, DC3B, causes severe depression of the tonic component of agonist-induced contraction, suggesting that this component is largely due to Ca(2+)-sensitization. A relatively specific inhibitor (Y27632) of Rho-kinase, a downstream effector of Ca(2+)-sensitization (Uehata et al 1997), also inhibits oxytoxin-induced Ca(2+)-sensitization of myometrium. The major mechanism of physiological, G-protein-coupled Ca(2+)-sensitization is through inhibition of smooth muscle myosin phosphatase (SMPP-1M), whereas conventional or novel protein kinase Cs play very little or no role in this process. Mechanisms of Ca(2+)-desensitization include inhibition of myosin light chain kinase and activation of SMPP-1M. Activation of SMPP-1M in phasic smooth muscle can be attributed, at least in part, to the synergistic phosphatase activating activities of a cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinase and its major substrate, telokin.
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PMID:From pharmacomechanical coupling to G-proteins and myosin phosphatase. 988 67

A monoclonal antibody, named C302, was prepared and characterized against botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 exoenzyme that inactivates RhoA GTP-binding protein, resulting in the neurite outgrowth of human neuroblastoma GOTO cells. C302 bound not to the smaller fragments derived from the protease-treated C3 exoenzyme but to the intact C3 exoenzyme. It seems that the C302 epitope may depend on the three-dimensional structure of C3 exoenzyme molecule. C302 depressed the enzymatic and biological actions of C3 exoenzyme. The dose-dependent depression pattern of C302 on the enzyme activity was similar to that to the biological one. C302 turned the neurite-bearing shape of the C3 exoenzyme-treated GOTO cells into the intact shape. By using of C302 mAb and C3 exoenzyme, the research concerning GTP-binding proteins would be improved.
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PMID:Characterization of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody against botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase, C3 exoenzyme. 1239 99

Erectile dysfunction is a condition that is estimated to affect more than 30 million men in the United States alone. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction is increased with age and is often secondary to diseases such as depression, hypertension and diabetes. Causes of erectile dysfunction include physical injury to the cavernosum and abnormal cerebral and peripheral nervous system functioning. However, many cases of erectile dysfunction are the result of dysfunctional signaling in the cavernosal vasculature. This article will detail the important role of a vasoconstrictor mechanism mediated by the small G-protein RhoA and a downstream serine/threonine kinase, Rho-kinase, in the maintenance of penile flaccidity. Recent evidence demonstrates that inhibition of endogenous Rho-kinase initiates an erectile response in an in vivo rat model. These initial findings introduce a novel potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
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PMID:Rho-kinase as a potential target for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. 1280 26

We describe two signaling events downstream of ERK-MAP kinase contributing to cell motility in colon carcinoma cells. The Fos family member Fra-1 is expressed in an ERK-dependent manner. Silencing of Fra-1 expression with short interfering RNAs leads to losses of cell polarization, motility, and invasiveness in vitro. These effects of ablating Fra-1 are a consequence of activation of a RhoA-ROCK pathway by beta1-integrin, leading to an increase in the amount of stress fibers and stabilization of focal adhesions. We propose that Fra-1 promotes cell motility by inactivating beta1-integrin and keeping RhoA activity low. This depression of RhoA activity is necessary to permit a second ERK-dependent signaling event via uPAR, the receptor for urokinase-type plasminogen activator, to activate Rac and to drive motility through polarized lamellipodia extension.
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PMID:ERK-MAPK signaling coordinately regulates activity of Rac1 and RhoA for tumor cell motility. 1289 14

During pregnancy, the uterus undergoes major functional and structural remodelling. It is well known that during the major part of pregnancy, the myometrium normally remains relatively quiescent but is able to generate powerful contractions at the time of parturition. However, the intracellular molecular events regulating myometrial contractility during pregnancy still remain poorly understood. We applied differential gene expression screening using cDNA array technology to probe myometrium samples from non-pregnant and mid-pregnant (15 days) rabbits. Among the differentially expressed genes, the farnesylated small G-protein of the Rho family, Rnd3, was found to be upregulated (3.6-fold) at mid-pregnancy. Upregulation of Rnd3 was confirmed at the protein level by a 3.4-fold increase in Rnd3 expression in mid-pregnant myometrium. Measurements of contractile properties of beta-escin permeabilized smooth muscle strips revealed that the upregulation of Rnd3 correlated with an inhibition of RhoA-Rho kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitization at mid-pregnancy. Treatment of muscle strips from mid-pregnant myometrium with the farnesyl-transferase inhibitor manumycin A (10 muM) led to the recovery of RhoA-Rho kinase-dependent Ca2+ sensitization. At late pregnancy (31 days), upregulation of RhoA and Rho kinase expression was associated with an increase in Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile proteins that was inhibited by the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (10 muM). These data thus demonstrate the time-dependent regulation of the RhoA-Rho kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitization during the course of pregnancy. The depression of this mechanism at mid-pregnancy followed by its constitutive activation near term is associated with a co-ordinated modulation of Rnd3, RhoA and Rho kinase expression. The RhoA-Rho kinase signalling pathway and its regulators might thus represent potential targets for the development of new treatments for pre-term labour.
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PMID:Modulation of RhoA-Rho kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitization of rabbit myometrium during pregnancy - role of Rnd3. 1456 24

Coronary (artery) spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease, including stable angina, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. The prevalence of coronary spasm differs among populations, is higher in Japan and Korea than in the Western countries probably due to genetic as well as environmental factors. Coronary spasm occurs most often from midnight to early morning and is usually not induced by exercise in the daytime. The attacks of coronary spasm are associated with either ST segment elevation or depression, or negative U wave on ECG. Patients with multi-vessel coronary spasm may suffer from lethal arrhythmia, including advanced AV block, ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, or even sudden death, and they are often resistant to conventional medical therapy including Ca-channel blockers (CCBs). Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) activity is reduced and markers of oxidative stress are elevated in patients with coronary spasm. Thrombogenesis is enhanced and plasma levels of hsCRP and P-selection are elevated in patients with coronary spasm. Thus, patients with coronary spasm have endothelial dysfunction and are suffering from a low-grade chronic inflammation. Polymorphisms of endothelial NO synthase, smoking, and low-grade inflammation are the most important risk factors for coronary spasm. Coronary spasm is a hyper-contraction of coronary smooth muscle triggered by an increase of intracellular Ca2+ in the presence of an increased Ca2+ sensitivity. It has been shown that RhoA/ROCK pathway is involved in Ca2+ sensitivity and that the reduced endothelial NO activity results in increased Ca2+ sensitivity through enhanced RhoA/ROCK pathway. Accordingly, it is possible that in addition to CCBs, RhoA/ROCK pathway blockers may prove to be useful for the treatment of coronary spasm.
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PMID:Coronary artery spasm--clinical features, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment. 1852 70

The second messenger cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) plays a crucial role in the control of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal homeostastis, but its effects on neuronal functions are less established. This review summarizes recent biochemical and functional data on the role of the cGMP signalling pathway in the mammalian brain, with a focus on the regulation of synaptic plasticity, learning, and other complex behaviours. Expression profiling, along with pharmacological and genetic manipulations, indicates important functions of nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive soluble guanylyl cyclases (sGCs), cGMP-dependent protein kinases (cGKs), and cGMP-regulated phosphodiesterases (PDEs) as generators, effectors, and modulators of cGMP signals in the brain, respectively. In addition, neuronal cGMP signalling can be transmitted through cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) or hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) ion channels. The canonical NO/sGC/cGMP/cGK pathway modulates long-term changes of synaptic activity in the hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum, and other brain regions, and contributes to distinct forms of learning and memory, such as fear conditioning, motor adaptation, and object recognition. Behavioural studies indicate that cGMP signalling is also involved in anxiety, addiction, and the pathogenesis of depression and schizophrenia. At the molecular level, different cGK isoforms appear to mediate effects of cGMP on presynaptic transmitter release and postsynaptic functions. The cGKs have been suggested to modulate cytoskeletal organization, vesicle and AMPA receptor trafficking, and gene expression via phosphorylation of various substrates including VASP, RhoA, RGS2, hSERT, GluR1, G-substrate, and DARPP-32. These and other components of the cGMP signalling cascade may be attractive new targets for the treatment of cognitive impairment, drug abuse, and psychiatric disorders.
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PMID:cGMP signalling in the mammalian brain: role in synaptic plasticity and behaviour. 1908 45

The patho-physiological hypothesis of mental retardation caused by the deficiency of the RhoGAP Oligophrenin1 (OPHN1), relies on the well-known functions of Rho GTPases on neuronal morphology, i.e. dendritic spine structure. Here, we describe a new function of this Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs domain containing protein in the control of clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). Through interactions with Src homology 3 domain containing proteins involved in CME, OPHN1 is concentrated to endocytic sites where it down-regulates the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway and represses the inhibitory function of ROCK on endocytosis. Indeed disruption of Ophn1 in mice reduces the endocytosis of synaptic vesicles and the post-synaptic alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoazol-4-propionate (AMPA) receptor internalization, resulting in almost a complete loss of long-term depression in the hippocampus. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of this pathway by ROCK inhibitors fully rescued not only the CME deficit in OPHN1 null cells but also synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus from Ophn1 null model. Altogether, we uncovered a new patho-physiological mechanism for intellectual disabilities associated to mutations in RhoGTPases linked genes and also opened new directions for therapeutic approaches of congenital mental retardation.
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PMID:Inhibition of RhoA pathway rescues the endocytosis defects in Oligophrenin1 mouse model of mental retardation. 1940 Dec 98


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