Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0432222 (SEM)
 47,337 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To study the effect of the inflammatory mediator hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on airway ciliary activity, we measured ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in cultured tracheal explants from sheep. Addition of H2O2 (10(-8) to 10(-4) M) produced a concentration-dependent mean (+/- SEM) decrease in CBF between 11.1 +/- 0.4% (P less than 0.01) and 100 +/- 0% (P less than 0.001); at each concentration, the maximal effect was reached by 20 to 25 min. Between 10(-8) and 10(-6) M H2O2, the decrease in CBF was reversible, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was not significantly increased, and major morphologic lesions were not seen. At higher concentrations of H2O2, incomplete recovery of CBF (10(-5) M) or irreversible ciliostasis (10(-4) M) developed, and a significant increase in LDH and morphologic lesions were present. Catalase (2,000 U/ml) and H-7 (10(-5) M), a protein kinase inhibitor, abolished cilioinhibition produced by H2O2 at 10(-6) M and lower concentrations but not at 10(-5) M and higher concentrations. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C activator, caused a dose-dependent (10(-11) to 10(-5) M), reversible decrease in CBF; this effect was abolished by H-7. We suggest that at nonlethal concentrations, H2O2 inhibits the beat frequency of airway epithelial cilia reversibly, through the activation of second messengers, including protein kinase C. This mechanism might contribute to the previously demonstrated impairment of mucociliary clearance in airway inflammation.
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PMID:Mechanism of hydrogen peroxide-induced inhibition of sheep airway cilia. 159 Oct 15

We theorized that H-8, N-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide, an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, might be a useful probe to assess cyclic nucleotide-dependent relaxation of blood vessels. However, working in the rat caudal artery and aorta, we found that neither cyclic AMP- nor cyclic GMP-mediated relaxations were diminished by even large doses of H-8. For example, in the caudal artery, relaxation of a phenylephrine contraction by 8-bromo-cGMP (10(-5) M) was unaffected by H-8: control, 33 +/- 6.2%; 10 microM H-8, 41 +/- 12%; 30 microM H-8, 30 +/- 16% (p NS). The amount of relaxation by 8-bromo-cAMP (3 x 10(-4) M) was actually increased by H-8: control, 29 +/- 7.6%; 10 microM H-8, 34 +/- 7.4%; 30 microM H-8, 80 +/- 14%. In the rat aorta, H-8 also failed to diminish relaxation induced by 8-bromo-cGMP, or by atriopeptin II or sodium nitroprusside. In both caudal artery and aorta, H-8 of itself caused a dose-dependent suppression of alpha-adrenergic contraction: for example, in the caudal artery, with 10 or 30 microM H-8, peak contraction to phenylephrine was reduced to 70 (SEM) +/- 12% or 52 +/- 7% of control, respectively. The results suggest that the protein kinase inhibitor H-8 is not a useful probe to study cyclic nucleotide-dependent relaxation.
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PMID:Effect of H-8, an isoquinolinesulfonamide inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase, on cAMP- and cGMP-mediated vasorelaxation. 165 23

The transient outward current (ITO) is an important repolarizing component of the cardiac action potential. In native cardiac myocytes, ITO is modulated after activation of protein kinase C, although the molecular nature of this effect is not well understood. A channel recently cloned from human ventricular myocardium (Kv1.4, HK1) produces a rapidly inactivating K+ current, which has phenotypic similarities to the 4-aminopyridine-sensitive component of ITO. Therefore, we examined whether this recombinant channel was also modulated by protein kinase C activation by investigating the effects of the diacylglycerol analogue phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on Kv1.4 K+ current expressed in Xenopus oocytes. At a concentration of 10 nmol/L, PMA caused a biphasic response with an initial increase (14 +/- 4%, mean +/- SEM) in current, which peaked in 14 minutes. This was followed by a significant reduction (40 +/- 11%) in the current within 30 minutes. There was no significant change in cell membrane electrical capacitance with 10 nmol/L PMA (1 +/- 1% decline in 30 minutes), demonstrating that loss of cell membrane surface area did not explain the reduction in K+ current, although cell capacitance did decrease when using a higher concentration of PMA (81 nmol/L). The inactive stereoisomer, 4 alpha-PMA, had no effect on Kv1.4 current, whereas preincubation with the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine or protein kinase C-selective chelerythrine prevented the effects of PMA. When purified from a stably transfected mammalian cell line by using immunoprecipitation, the channel protein was readily phosphorylated in vitro by purified protein kinase C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Modulation of an inactivating human cardiac K+ channel by protein kinase C. 795 54

Cytidine 5'-triphosphate (CTP):phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.15) catalyses the synthesis of the active metabolic intermediate cytidine diphosphocholine (which is mainly used in the synthesis of choline-containing phospholipids). It is a rate-limiting reaction in choline phospholipid biosynthesis in many cells. In this study, a microassay is reported for the detection of this enzyme in small numbers of cells. This enzyme was present in mouse oocytes and at all stages during preimplantation development. Enzyme activity was destroyed by boiling but increased with time and number of embryos in the reaction. Activity in two-cell embryos was dependent on Mg2+ but independent of Ca2+ and was enhanced by the addition of 1 microgram lysophosphatidylethanolamine ml-1 to the reaction mixture. Activity was apparently dependent upon the phosphorylation status of the enzyme since the absence of the phosphatase inhibitor NaF caused a significant inhibition of activity. The enzyme in oocytes had a specific activity of 2.8 +/- 0.3 fmol cytidine diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) per oocyte min-1 (mean +/- SEM). The specific activity in two-cell and eight-cell embryos and blastocysts was not different from that of oocytes. Fertilized one-cell embryos had significantly less activity (1.4 +/- 0.05 fmol CDP-choline produced per embryo min-1) than other stages studied. Furthermore, the enzyme present in one-cell embryos was not capable of being further activated by the addition of exogenous lysophosphatidylethanolamine to the reaction. The increase in activity from the one-cell to the two-cell stage was not inhibited by alpha-amanitin (an inhibitor of RNA polymerase II), cycloheximide (a protein synthesis inhibitor) [1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, HCl]dihydrochloride (H-7; a protein kinase inhibitor) and was independent of cell-cycle progression; these results suggest that enzyme activity is independent of transcription, protein synthesis and the action of some kinases, including cell-cycle-dependent kinases. This study provides the first description of cytidylyltransferase in the early mammalian embryo.
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PMID:CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity in the preimplantation mouse embryo. 930 73

The effects of turgor pressure-induced membrane tension on junctional coupling of Hensen cell isolates from the inner ear were evaluated by input capacitance or transjunctional conductance measurement techniques. Turgor pressure was altered by changing either pipette pressure or the osmolarities of extracellular solutions. Both positive pipette pressure and extracellular applications of hypotonic solutions, which caused cell size to concomitantly increase, uncoupled the cells as indicated by reduced input capacitance and transjunctional conductance. These changes were, in many cases, reversible and repeatable. Intracellular application of 50 microM H-7, a broad-based protein kinase inhibitor, and 10 mM BAPTA did not block the uncoupling effect of positive turgor pressure on inner ear gap junctions. The transjunctional conductance at a holding potential of -80 mV was 53.6 +/- 5.8 nS (mean +/- SEM, n = 9) and decreased approximately 40% at a turgor pressure of 1.41 +/- 0.05 kPa. Considering the coincident kinetics of cell deformation and uncoupling, we speculate that mechanical forces work directly on gap junctions of the inner ear. These results suggest that pathologies that induce imbalances in cochlear osmotic pressure regulation may compromise normal cochlear homeostasis.
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PMID:Effect of membrane tension on gap junctional conductance of supporting cells in Corti's organ. 975 63

In many cell types, DNA fragmentation is a late event of apoptosis which may be lacking. This contrasts with the early translocation of phosphatidylserine (PS) from the internal to the external leaflet of the cell membrane. We examined whether an early PS translocation also occurs during apoptosis induced in adult rat ventricular myocytes grown in the presence of 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), by the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine. Apoptosis was assessed by the observation of: (i) typical alterations in cell morphology; (ii) nuclear alterations visualized using the permeant intercalating agent Hoechst 33258; (iii) DNA fragmentation detected by the TUNEL method. PS translocation was detected using annexin V binding. Data are expressed as means +/- SEM. Prolonged exposure of myocytes to 10 microM staurosporine from day 3 to day 7 of culture resulted in cell shrinkage, typical nuclear alterations, membrane protrusions and fragmentation of the sarcomeric apparatus in the vast majority of myocytes. At this time, 52.4 +/- 5.7% of staurosporine-treated myocytes were TUNEL positive (vs 6.1 +/- 2.0% in control cultures (CC), p < 0.001) and 69.7 +/- 1.7% were annexin V positive (vs 21.1 +/- 1.0% in CC, p < 0.001). Importantly, PS translocation was detected as early as 35 minutes following staurosporine addition, the percentage of annexin V positive myocytes reaching 10 times the control value (19.2 +/- 2.7 vs 1.8 +/- 0.8%, p < 0.001) after 3 hours. A 18-hour staurosporine exposure of freshly isolated myocytes resulted, at the end of exposure, in 24.3 +/- 1.7% annexin V positive myocytes (vs 9.6 +/- 0.5% in CC, p < 0.05), whereas a marked increase in the percentage of TUNEL positive myocytes was observed only from day 5. Finally, myocyte exposure to the membrane-permeant ceramide analog, C2-ceramide (50 microM), resulted in 63.2 +/- 3.5% annexin V positive myocytes 4 hours later (vs 17.8 +/- 4.4% in CC, p < 0.001), whereas a significant increase in the percentage of TUNEL positive myocytes was detected only the next day (43.7 +/- 3.4 vs 9.9 +/- 1.3%, p < 0.001). Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the loss of PS asymmetry is an early event of cardiac myocyte apoptosis which precedes DNA fragmentation.
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PMID:Early redistribution of plasma membrane phosphatidylserine during apoptosis of adult rat ventricular myocytes in vitro. 1042 35

Although serine proteases and their receptors are best known for their role in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, the CNS expresses many components of an extracellular protease signaling system including the protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1), for which thrombin is the most effective activator. In this report we show that activation of PAR1 potentiates hippocampal NMDA receptor responses in CA1 pyramidal cells by 2.07 +/- 0.27-fold (mean +/- SEM). Potentiation of neuronal NMDA receptor responses by thrombin can be blocked by thrombin and a protein kinase inhibitor, and the effects of thrombin can be mimicked by a peptide agonist (SFLLRN) that activates PAR1. Potentiation of the NMDA receptor by thrombin in hippocampal neurons is significantly attenuated in mice lacking PAR1. Although high concentrations of thrombin can directly cleave both native and recombinant NR1 subunits, the thrombin-induced potentiation we observe is independent of NMDA receptor cleavage. Activation of recombinant PAR1 also potentiates recombinant NR1/NR2A (1.7 +/- 0.06-fold) and NR1/NR2B (1.41 +/- 0.11-fold) receptor function but not NR1/NR2C or NR1/NR2D receptor responses. PAR1-mediated potentiation of recombinant NR1/NR2A receptors occurred after activation with as little as 300 pm thrombin. These data raise the intriguing possibility that potentiation of neuronal NMDA receptor function after entry of thrombin or other serine proteases into brain parenchyma during intracerebral hemorrhage or extravasation of plasma proteins during blood-brain barrier breakdown may exacerbate glutamate-mediated cell death and possibly participate in post-traumatic seizure. Furthermore, the ability of neuronal protease signaling to control NMDA receptor function may also have roles in normal brain development.
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PMID:Potentiation of NMDA receptor function by the serine protease thrombin. 1084 28

We investigated the combined effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) and calcium ionophore (A23187) on human platelet aggregation. Aggregation, monitored at 37 degrees C using a Dual-channel Lumi-aggregometer, was recorded for 5 min after challenge by a change in light transmission as a function of time. 5-HT (2-200 microM) alone did not cause platelet aggregation, but markedly potentiated A23187 (low dose) induced aggregation. Inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for a number of compounds were calculated as means +/- SEM from dose-response determinations. Synergism between 5-HT (2-5 microM) and A23187 (0.5-2 microM) was inhibited by 5-HT receptor blockers, methysergide (IC50 = 18 microM) and cyproheptadine (IC50 = 20 microM), and calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem, IC50 = 20 microM and 40 microM respectively). Interpretation of the effects of these blockers is complicated by their lack of specificity. Similarly, U73122, an inhibitor of phospholipase C (PLC), blocked the synergistic effect at an IC50 value of 9.2 microM. Wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-K) inhibitor, also blocked the response (IC50 = 2.6 microM). However, neither genistein, a tyrosine-specific protein kinase inhibitor, nor chelerythrine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, affected aggregation at concentrations up to 10 microM. We conclude that the synergistic interaction between 5-HT and ionophore may be mediated by activation of PLC/Ca2+ and PI 3-kinase signalling pathways, but definitive proof will require other enzyme inhibitors with greater specificity.
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PMID:Second messengers in platelet aggregation evoked by serotonin and A23187, a calcium ionophore. 1172 80