Journal of pharmacological sciences
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Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) administration has been approved for treating acute ischemic stroke, but delayed treatment is associated with increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage and brain injury. t-PA, a serine proteinase, converts plasminogen to plasmin. Plasmin participates not only in the degradation of fibrin, causing clot lysis, but also in the degradation of various extracellular matrix proteins, either directly or via the activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs). We established an animal stroke model and observed a phenomenon of spontaneous rethrombosis and thrombolysis in the cerebral vessels after vessel damage. ⋯ On studying intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) induced by t-PA treatment of ischemic stroke, we observed that MMP-3 is relatively important for the enhanced ICH induced by t-PA. MMP-3 was upregulated by t-PA in endothelial cells, but the upregulation was prevented by the inhibition of either low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) or nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) activation. Thus, t-PA causes ICH via MMP-3 induction in endothelial cells, which is regulated through the LRP/NF-kappaB pathway, and could be targeted to improve the therapeutic efficacy of t-PA for acute ischemic stroke.
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G protein-coupled receptors, in particular, Ca(2+)-mobilizing G(q)-coupled receptors have been reported to be targets for anesthetics. Opioids are commonly used analgesics in clinical practice, but the effects of anesthetics on the opioid mu-receptors (muOR) have not been systematically examined. We report here an electrophysiological assay to analyze the effects of anesthetics and ethanol on the functions of muOR in Xenopus oocytes expressing a muOR fused to chimeric Galpha protein G(qi5) (muOR-G(qi5)). ⋯ Propofol and halothane inhibited the DAMGO-induced currents only at higher concentrations. These findings suggest that ketamine and ethanol may inhibit muOR functions in clinical practice. We propose that the electrophysiological assay in Xenopus oocytes expressing muOR-G(qi5) would be useful for analyzing the effects of anesthetics and analgesics on opioid receptor function.
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Comparative Study
Blockade of glycine transporter (GlyT) 2, but not GlyT1, ameliorates dynamic and static mechanical allodynia in mice with herpetic or postherpetic pain.
Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the spinal dorsal horn and its extracellular concentration is regulated by glial glycine transporter (GlyT) 1 and neuronal GlyT2. This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of intrathecal injections of GlyT1 and GlyT2 inhibitors on two distinct types of mechanical allodynia, dynamic and static allodynia, in mice with herpetic or postherpetic pain. The GlyT2 inhibitor ALX1393, but not the GlyT1 inhibitor sarcosine, suppressed dynamic and static allodynia at the herpetic and postherpetic stages. ⋯ Glycine receptor alpha1-subunit mRNA was decreased in the lumbar dorsal horn at the herpetic, but not postherpetic stage, without alteration in alpha3-subunit mRNA. The results suggest that GlyT2 is a potential target for treatment of dynamic and static allodynia in patients with herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia. The lack of efficacy of GlyT1 inhibitor may be explained by activation of NMDA receptors and the down-regulation of GlyT1 in the lumbar dorsal horn.
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Although the central role of ameloblasts in synthesis and resorption of enamel matrix proteins during amelogenesis is well documented, the Ca(2+)-transport/extrusion mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. To clarify Ca(2+)-transport in rat ameloblasts, we investigated expression and localization of Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) isoforms and the functional characteristics of their ion transporting/pharmacological properties. ⋯ Ca(2+) influx by Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange, measured by fura-2 fluorescence, showed dependence on extracellular Ca(2+) concentration, and it was blocked by NCX inhibitors KB-R7943, SEA0400, and SN-6. These results showed significant expression of NCX1 and NCX3 in ameloblasts, indicating their involvement in the directional Ca(2+) extrusion pathway from cells to the enamel mineralizing front.
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Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug characterized by the development of acute and chronic peripheral neuropathies. Mexiletine, an orally available Na(+)-channel blocker, has widely been used in patients with chronic painful diabetic neuropathy. ⋯ Lidocaine (30, but not 3 and 10, mg/kg, i.p.) also significantly relieved both pain behaviors. These results suggest that mexiletine may be effective in relieving the oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain clinically.