Mun-Jeoung Choi

In Vitro Osteogenic Differentiation of Cultured Human Dental Papilla-Derived Cells

PURPOSE This study examined the osteogenic phenotypes and mineralization of cultured human dental papilla-derived cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dental papillae were harvested from mandibles during surgical extraction of lower impacted third molars from 3 patients aged 13 to 15 years. The dental papilla-derived cells were introduced into the cell culture. After passage 3, the dental papilla-derived cells were further cultured for 42 days in an osteogenic inductive culture medium containing dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, and beta-glycerophosphate. We examined the histochemical detection of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis for ALP and osteocalcin, and von Kossa staining in the dental papilla-derived cells. RESULTS It was observed that ALP was strongly expressed in the earlier stage of osteoblastic differentiation, whereas osteocalcin was mainly expressed and secreted into the medium at the later stage. Von Kossa-positive mineralization nodules were first observed on day 14, which increased in number during the entire culture period. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that dental papilla-derived cell have osteogenic potential and could be used as an additional source of cells for bone tissue engineering.

Mepivacaine-induced contraction is attenuated by endothelial nitric oxide release in isolated rat aorta

Mepivacaine is an aminoamide-linked local anesthetic with an intermediate duration that intrinsically produces vasoconstriction both in vivo and in vitro. The aims of this in-vitro study were to examine the direct effect of mepivacaine in isolated rat aortic rings and to determine the associated cellular mechanism with a particular focus on endothelium-derived vasodilators, which modulate vascular tone. In the aortic rings with or without endothelium, cumulative mepivacaine concentration-response curves were generated in the presence or absence of the following antagonists: N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME], indomethacin, fluconazole, methylene blue, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one [ODQ], verapamil, and calcium-free Krebs solution. Mepivacaine produced vasoconstriction at low concentrations (1 × 10(-3) and 3 × 10(-3) mol/L) followed by vasodilation at a high concentration (1 × 10(-2) mol/L). The mepivacaine-induced contraction was higher in endothelium-denuded aortae than in endothelium-intact aortae. Pretreatment with L-NAME, ODQ, and methylene blue enhanced mepivacaine-induced contraction in the endothelium-intact rings, whereas fluconazole had no effect. Indomethacin slightly attenuated mepivacaine-induced contraction, whereas verapamil and calcium-free Krebs solution more strongly attenuated this contraction. The vasoconstriction induced by mepivacaine is attenuated mainly by the endothelial nitric oxide - cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway. In addition, mepivacaine-induced contraction involves cyclooxygenase pathway activation and extracellular calcium influx via voltage-operated calcium channels.

Vasoconstriction Potency Induced by Aminoamide Local Anesthetics Correlates with Lipid Solubility

Aminoamide local anesthetics induce vasoconstriction in vivo and in vitro. The goals of this in vitro study were to investigate the potency of local anesthetic-induced vasoconstriction and to identify the physicochemical property (octanol/buffer partition coefficient, pKa, molecular weight, or potency) of local anesthetics that determines their potency in inducing isolated rat aortic ring contraction. Cumulative concentration-response curves to local anesthetics (levobupivacaine, ropivacaine, lidocaine, and mepivacaine) were obtained from isolated rat aorta. Regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between the reported physicochemical properties of local anesthetics and the local anesthetic concentration that produced 50% (ED50) of the local anesthetic-induced maximum vasoconstriction. We determined the order of potency (ED50) of vasoconstriction among local anesthetics to be levobupivacaine > ropivacaine > lidocaine > mepivacaine. The relative importance of the independent variables that affect the vasoconstriction potency is octanol/buffer partition coefficient > potency > pKa > molecular weight. The ED50 in endothelium-denuded aorta negatively correlated with the octanol/buffer partition coefficient of local anesthetics (r2 = 0.9563; P < 0.001). The potency of the vasoconstriction in the endothelium-denuded aorta induced by local anesthetics is determined primarily by lipid solubility and, in part, by other physicochemical properties including potency and pKa.

Mepivacaine-induced contraction involves increased calcium sensitization mediated via Rho kinase and protein kinase C in endothelium-denuded rat aorta.

Mepivacaine is an aminoamide local anesthetic that produces vasoconstriction in vivo and in vitro. The goals of this in vitro study were to determine whether mepivacaine-induced contraction involves calcium sensitization in isolated endothelium-denuded aortas, and to investigate the specific protein kinases involved. The effects of mepivacaine and potassium chloride on intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca(2+)]i) and tension in the presence or absence of Y-27632 or GF 109203X were measured simultaneously using the acetoxymethyl ester of fura-2-loaded aortic strips. Cumulative mepivacaine concentration-response curves were generated in the presence or absence of the following inhibitors: Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF 109203X, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor PD 98059, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB 203580. Phosphorylation of PKC and MAPK, and membrane translocation of Rho kinase were detected in vascular smooth muscle cells by Western blotting. The slope of the mepivacaine-induced [Ca(2+)]i-tension curve was higher than that of the KCl-induced [Ca(2+)]i-tension curve. Pretreatment with Y-27632 or GF 109203X shifted the mepivacaine-induced [Ca(2+)]i-tension curve to the lower right. Pretreatment with Y-27632, GF 109203X, PD 98059, or SP600125 attenuated mepivacaine-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Y-27632 and GF 109203X attenuated mepivacaine-induced Rho kinase membrane translocation and PKC phosphorylation, respectively. PD 98059 and SP600125 attenuated mepivacaine-induced ERK and JNK phosphorylation, respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that mepivacaine-induced contraction involves increased calcium sensitization mediated by Rho kinase and PKC. Such contraction mainly involves activation of ERK- and JNK-mediated pathways.

Ropivacaine-Induced Contraction Is Attenuated by Both Endothelial Nitric Oxide and Voltage-Dependent Potassium Channels in Isolated Rat Aortae

This study investigated endothelium-derived vasodilators and potassium channels involved in the modulation of ropivacaine-induced contraction. In endothelium-intact rat aortae, ropivacaine concentration-response curves were generated in the presence or absence of the following inhibitors: the nonspecific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), the neuronal NOS inhibitor N ω-propyl-L-arginine hydrochloride, the inducible NOS inhibitor 1400W dihydrochloride, the nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase (GC) inhibitor ODQ, the NOS and GC inhibitor methylene blue, the phosphoinositide-3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin, the cytochrome p450 epoxygenase inhibitor fluconazole, the voltage-dependent potassium channel inhibitor 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), the calcium-activated potassium channel inhibitor tetraethylammonium (TEA), the inward-rectifying potassium channel inhibitor barium chloride, and the ATP-sensitive potassium channel inhibitor glibenclamide. The effect of ropivacaine on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells was examined by western blotting. Ropivacaine-induced contraction was weaker in endothelium-intact aortae than in endothelium-denuded aortae. L-NAME, ODQ, and methylene blue enhanced ropivacaine-induced contraction, whereas wortmannin, N ω-propyl-L-arginine hydrochloride, 1400W dihydrochloride, and fluconazole had no effect. 4-AP and TEA enhanced ropivacaine-induced contraction; however, barium chloride and glibenclamide had no effect. eNOS phosphorylation was induced by ropivacaine. These results suggest that ropivacaine-induced contraction is attenuated primarily by both endothelial nitric oxide and voltage-dependent potassium channels.

Mepivacaine-induced contraction involves phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase through activation of the lipoxygenase pathway in isolated rat aortic smooth muscle

Mepivacaine is an aminoamide local anesthetic with an intermediate duration that intrinsically produces vasoconstriction both in vivo and in vitro. This study investigated the arachidonic acid metabolic pathways involved in mepivacaine-induced contraction, and elucidated the associated cellular mechanism with a particular focus on extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in endothelium-denuded rat aorta. Isolated rat thoracic aortic rings were suspended for isometric tension recording. Cumulative mepivacaine concentration-response curves were generated in the presence or absence of the following inhibitors: quinacrine dihydrochloride, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, phenidone, AA-861, indomethacin, NS-398, SC-560, fluconazole, PD 98059, and verapamil. Mepivacaine-induced ERK phosphorylation, 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) expression, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells were detected by Western blot analysis in the presence or absence of inhibitors. Mepivacaine produced tonic contraction in isolated endothelium-denuded rat aorta. Quinacrine dihydrochloride, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, phenidone, AA-861, NS-398, PD 98059, and verapamil attenuated mepivacaine-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. However, fluconazole had no effect on mepivacaine-induced contraction. PD 98059, quinacrine dihydrochloride, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, AA-861, phenidone, and indomethacin attenuated mepivacaine-induced ERK phosphorylation. Mepivacaine upregulated 5-LOX and COX-2 expression. These results suggest that mepivacaine-induced contraction involves ERK activation, which is primarily mediated by the 5-LOX pathway and in part by the COX-2 pathway.

Mepivacaine-induced intracellular calcium increase appears to be mediated primarily by calcium influx in rat aorta without endothelium

Background Mepivacaine induces contraction or decreased blood flow both in vivo and in vitro. Vasoconstriction is associated with an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). However, the mechanism responsible for the mepivacaine-evoked [Ca2+]i increase remains to be determined. Therefore, the objective of this in vitro study was to examine the mechanism responsible for the mepivacaine-evoked [Ca2+]i increment in isolated rat aorta. Methods Isometric tension was measured in isolated rat aorta without endothelium. In addition, fura-2 loaded aortic muscle strips were illuminated alternately (48 Hz) at two excitation wavelengths (340 and 380 nm). The ratio of F340 to F380 (F340/F380) was regarded as an amount of [Ca2+]i. We investigated the effects of nifedipine, 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate (2-APB), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (Gd3+), low calcium level and Krebs solution without calcium on the mepivacaine-evoked contraction in isolated rat aorta and on the mepivacaine-evoked [Ca2+]i increment in fura-2 loaded aortic strips. We assessed the effect of verapamil on the mepivacaine-evoked [Ca2+]i increment. Results Mepivacaine produced vasoconstriction and increased [Ca2+]i. Nifedipine, 2-APB and low calcium attenuated vasoconstriction and the [Ca2+]i increase evoked by mepivacaine. Verapamil attenuated the mepivacaine-induced [Ca2+]i increment. Calcium-free solution almost abolished mepivacaine-induced contraction and strongly attenuated the mepivacaineinduced [Ca2+]i increase. Gd3+ had no effect on either vasoconstriction or the [Ca2+]i increment evoked by mepivacaine. Conclusions The mepivacaine-evoked [Ca2+]i increment, which contributes to mepivacaine-evoked contraction, appears to be mediated mainly by calcium influx and partially by calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Lipid Emulsions Enhance the Norepinephrine-Mediated Reversal of Local Anesthetic-Induced Vasodilation at Toxic Doses

Purpose Intravenous lipid emulsions have been used to treat the systemic toxicity of local anesthetics. The goal of this in vitro study was to examine the effects of lipid emulsions on the norepinephrine-mediated reversal of vasodilation induced by high doses of levobupivacaine, ropivacaine, and mepivacaine in isolated endothelium-denuded rat aorta, and to determine whether such effects are associated with the lipid solubility of local anesthetics. Materials and Methods The effects of lipid emulsions (0.30, 0.49, 1.40, and 2.61%) on norepinephrine concentration-responses in high-dose local anesthetic (6×10-4 M levobupivacaine, 2×10-3 M ropivacaine, and 7×10-3 M mepivacaine)-induced vasodilation of isolated aorta precontracted with 60 mM KCl were assessed. The effects of lipid emulsions on local anesthetic- and diltiazem-induced vasodilation in isolated aorta precontracted with phenylephrine were also assessed. Results Lipid emulsions (0.30%) enhanced norepinephrine-induced contraction in levobupivacaine-induced vasodilation, whereas 1.40 and 2.61% lipid emulsions enhanced norepinephrine-induced contraction in both ropivacaine- and mepivacaine-induced vasodilation, respectively. Lipid emulsions (0.20, 0.49 and 1.40%) inhibited vasodilation induced by levobupivacaine and ropivacaine, whereas 1.40 and 2.61% lipid emulsions slightly attenuated mepivacaine (3×10-3 M)-induced vasodilation. In addition, lipid emulsions attenuated diltiazem-induced vasodilation. Lipid emulsions enhanced norepinephrine-induced contraction in endothelium-denuded aorta without pretreatment with local anesthetics. Conclusion Taken together, these results suggest that lipid emulsions enhance the norepinephrine-mediated reversal of local anesthetic-induced vasodilation at toxic anesthetic doses and inhibit local anesthetic-induced vasodilation in a manner correlated with the lipid solubility of a particular local anesthetic.

Lipid Emulsion Inhibits Vasodilation Induced by a Toxic Dose of Bupivacaine via Attenuated Dephosphorylation of Myosin Phosphatase Target Subunit 1 in Isolated Rat Aorta

Lipid emulsions are widely used for the treatment of systemic toxicity that arises from local anesthetics. The goal of this in vitro study was to examine the cellular mechanism associated with the lipid emulsion-mediated attenuation of vasodilation induced by a toxic dose of bupivacaine in isolated endothelium-denuded rat aorta. The effects of lipid emulsion on vasodilation induced by bupivacaine, mepivacaine, and verapamil were assessed in isolated aorta precontracted with phenylephrine, the Rho kinase stimulant NaF, and the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu). The effects of Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 on contraction induced by phenylephrine or NaF were assessed. The effects of bupivacaine on intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) and tension induced by NaF were simultaneously measured. The effects of bupivacaine alone and lipid emulsion plus bupivacaine on myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) phosphorylation induced by NaF were examined in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. In precontracted aorta, the lipid emulsion attenuated bupivacaine-induced vasodilation but had no effect on mepivacaine-induced vasodilation. Y-27632 attenuated contraction induced by either phenylephrine or NaF. The lipid emulsion attenuated verapamil-induced vasodilation. Compared with phenylephrine-induced precontracted aorta, bupivacaine-induced vasodilation was slightly attenuated in NaF-induced precontracted aorta. The magnitude of the bupivacaine-induced vasodilation was higher than that of a bupivacaine-induced decrease in [Ca2+]i. Bupivacaine attenuated NaF-induced MYPT1 phosphorylation, whereas lipid emulsion pretreatment attenuated the bupivacaine-induced inhibition of MYPT1 phosphorylation induced by NaF. Taken together, these results suggest that lipid emulsions attenuate bupivacaine-induced vasodilation via the attenuation of inhibition of MYPT1 phosphorylation evoked by NaF.

Dexmedetomidine-induced Contraction Involves Phosphorylation of Caldesmon by JNK in Endothelium-denuded Rat Aortas

Caldesmon, an inhibitory actin binding protein, binds to actin and inhibits actin-myosin interactions, whereas caldesmon phosphorylation reverses the inhibitory effect of caldesmon on actin-myosin interactions, potentially leading to enhanced contraction. The goal of this study was to investigate the cellular signaling pathway responsible for caldesmon phosphorylation, which is involved in the regulation of the contraction induced by dexmedetomidine (DMT), an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, in endothelium-denuded rat aortas. SP600125 (a c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase [JNK] inhibitor) dose-response curves were generated in aortas that were pre-contracted with DMT or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator. Dose-response curves to the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine were generated in rat aortas pre-contracted with DMT. The effects of SP600125 and rauwolscine (an alpha-2 adrenoceptor inhibitor) on DMT-induced caldesmon phosphorylation in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were investigated by western blot analysis. PDBu-induced caldesmon and DMT-induced PKC phosphorylation in rat aortic VSMCs was investigated by western blot analysis. The effects of GF109203X (a PKC inhibitor) on DMT- or PDBu-induced JNK phosphorylation in VSMCs were assessed. SP600125 resulted in the relaxation of aortas that were pre-contracted with DMT or PDBu, whereas rauwolscine attenuated DMT-induced contraction. Chelerythrine resulted in the vasodilation of aortas pre-contracted with DMT. SP600125 and rauwolscine inhibited DMT-induced caldesmon phosphorylation. Additionally, PDBu induced caldesmon phosphorylation, and GF109203X attenuated the JNK phosphorylation induced by DMT or PDBu. DMT induced PKC phosphorylation in rat aortic VSMCs. These results suggest that alpha-2 adrenoceptor-mediated, DMT-induced contraction involves caldesmon phosphorylation that is mediated by JNK phosphorylation by PKC.