Won-Sik Shim

TMEM16A confers receptor-activated calcium-dependent chloride conductance.

Calcium (Ca2+)-activated chloride channels are fundamental mediators in numerous physiological processes including transepithelial secretion, cardiac and neuronal excitation, sensory transduction, smooth muscle contraction and fertilization. Despite their physiological importance, their molecular identity has remained largely unknown. Here we show that transmembrane protein 16A (TMEM16A, which we also call anoctamin 1 (ANO1)) is a bona fide Ca2+-activated chloride channel that is activated by intracellular Ca2+ and Ca2+-mobilizing stimuli. With eight putative transmembrane domains and no apparent similarity to previously characterized channels, ANO1 defines a new family of ionic channels. The biophysical properties as well as the pharmacological profile of ANO1 are in full agreement with native Ca2+-activated chloride currents. ANO1 is expressed in various secretory epithelia, the retina and sensory neurons. Furthermore, knockdown of mouse Ano1 markedly reduced native Ca2+-activated chloride currents as well as saliva production in mice. We conclude that ANO1 is a candidate Ca2+-activated chloride channel that mediates receptor-activated chloride currents in diverse physiological processes.

Enhanced electrostatic interaction between chitosan-modified PLGA nanoparticle and tumor

In our previous study, lung tumor-specific targeting of paclitaxel was achieved in mice by intravenous administration of chitosan-modified paclitaxel-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (C-NPs-paclitaxel). Transient formation of aggregates in the blood stream followed by enhanced trapping in the capillaries was proposed as a mechanism of the lung-specific accumulation of paclitaxel. In the present study, the mechanism of tumor lung preferential accumulation of paclitaxel from C-NPs-paclitaxel was investigated. Zeta potential and in vitro cellular cytotoxicity (A549 cells and CT-26 cells) of C-NPs-paclitaxel, and in vitro uptake of coumarin 6 to these cells from chitosan-modified coumarin 6 containing PLGA nanoparticles (C-NPs-coumarin 6) were examined as a function of pH (6.8, 7.4 and 8.0). The zeta potential of C-NPs-paclitaxel increased as the medium pH became more acidic. In vitro uptake of coumarin 6 by A549 cells and CT-26 cells was enhanced at lower pH for C-NPs-coumarin 6. In vitro cytotoxicity experiment with C-NPs-paclitaxel demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity as the pH became more acidic. Therefore, enhanced electrostatic interaction between chitosan-modified PLGA nanoparticles and acidic microenvironment of tumor cells appears to be an underlying mechanism of lung tumor-specific accumulation of paclitaxel from C-NPs-paclitaxel.

Lung‐specific delivery of paclitaxel by chitosan‐modified PLGA nanoparticles via transient formation of microaggregates

Chitosan-modified paclitaxel-loaded poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 200-300 nm in distilled water were prepared by a solvent evaporation method. The mean diameter increased dramatically in contact with the mouse (CDF(1)) plasma, as a function of chitosan concentration in the modification solution (e.g., 2670.5 nm for 0.7% chitosan-modified nanoparticles, NP(3)), but reverted to almost its original size (i.e., 350.7 nm for NP(3)) following 5 min of gentle agitation. The zeta potential of PLGA nanoparticles was changed to positive by the chitosan modification. The in vitro uptake into, and cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles against, a lung cancer cell line (A549) were significantly increased by the modification. Most importantly, a lung-specific increase in the distribution index of paclitaxel (i.e., AUC(lung)/AUC(plasma)) was observed for chitosan-modified nanoparticles (e.g., 99.9 for NP(3) vs. 5.4 for Taxol) when nanoparticles were administered to lung-metastasized mice via the tail vein at a paclitaxel dose of 10 mg/kg. Transient formation of aggregates in the blood stream followed by enhanced trapping in the lung capillaries, and electrical interaction-mediated enhanced uptake across the endothelial cells of the lung tumor capillary appear to be responsible for the lung-tumor-specific distribution of the chitosan modified nanoparticles.

Histamine-induced itch and its relationship with pain.

Itch is one of the major complications of skin diseases. Although there are various substances that induce itch or pruritus, it is evident that histamine is the best known endogenous agent that evokes itch. Even though histamine-induced itch has been studied for some time, the underlying mechanism of itch is just beginning to emerge. Although various downstream signaling pathways of histamine receptors have been revealed, more studies are required to determine the cause of histamine-induced itch. It appears that itch and pain involve different neuronal pathways. Pain generally inhibits itch, which indicates an inter-communication between the two. Complex interactions between itch and pain may be expected based on reports on disease states and opioids. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanism and the pharmacological aspects of histamine-induced itch. Especially, the underlying mechanism of TRPV1 (an anti-pruritus target) has been determined to some extent.

Proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in porous hyaluronic acid scaffold

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) attracted much interest as a promising alternative to autologous chondrocytes and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage regeneration. Developing a suitable culture technique to direct AD-MSCs into the chondrogenic lineage could be a crucial prerequisite for the cartilage defect repair application of AD-MSCs. Herein, we prepared the PEGDG-crosslinked porous three-dimensional (3D) hyaluronic acid (HA) scaffold and evaluated for its feasibility to induce proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of the AD-MSCs. In addition, the effect of bone-morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on chondrogenic differentiation was further investigated. Proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation were evaluated by cell morphology, DNA contents, s-GAG contents, and level of mRNA expression of relevant marker genes. When cultured with reference chondrogenic medium (RCM; serum-free DMEM-HG supplemented with 10 ng/mL of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), 50 nM ascorbate, 100 nM dexamethasone, and 5 μg/mL of ITS), better proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of AD-MSCs were obtained in the 3D HA scaffold culture as compared to the micromass culture, a standard 3D culture system. Moreover, the level of chondrogenic differentiation of AD-MSCs in the HA scaffold-RCM culture system was further increased by BMP-2, and decreased by PDGF. These results suggested that the HA scaffold with RCM was a promising chondrogenic culture system of AD-MSCs, and that BMP-2 could potentially serve as a chondrogenic supplement for AD-MSCs. However, PDGF was determined to be an inappropriate supplement based on its inhibition of the chondrogenic differentiation of AD-MSCs.

Characterization and in vitro evaluation of freeze-dried microparticles composed of granisetron–cyclodextrin complex and carboxymethylcellulose for intranasal delivery

The aim of this study was to prepare microparticles (MPs) of granisetron (GRN) in combination with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) by the simple freeze-drying method for intranasal delivery. The composition of MPs was determined from the phase-solubility study of GRN in various CDs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies were performed to evaluate possible interactions between GRN and excipients. The results indicated the formation of inclusion complex between GRN and CD, and the conversion of drug into amorphous state. The in vitro release of GRN from MPs was determined in phosphate buffered saline (pH 6.4) at 37°C. Cytotoxicity of the MPs and in vitro permeation study were conducted by using primary human nasal epithelial (HNE) cells and their monolayer system cultured by air-liquid interface (ALI) method, respectively. The MPs showed significantly higher GRN release profile compared to pure GRN. Moreover, the prepared MPs showed significantly lower cytotoxicity and higher permeation profile than that of GRN powder (p<0.05). These results suggested that the MPs composed of GRN, HP-β-CD and CMC-Na represent a simple and new GRN intranasal delivery system as an alternative to the oral and intravenous administration of GRN.

Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of a biweekly dosage formulation of exenatide in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats.

PurposeTo develop an improved sustained-release (SR) formulation of exenatide (a therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus) in a biweekly dosage form with therapeutic efficacy comparable to that achieved with twice-daily injections of the drug.MethodsA SR formulation of exenatide, DA-3091, was prepared by single-emulsion solvent evaporation using poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide). Plasma exenatide, as well as plasma insulin, non-fasting blood glucose and HbA1c concentrations, and changes in food intake and body weight were evaluated in both Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) and ZDF lean control rats.ResultsAfter a single SC administration of DA-3091 (i.e., 2xa0mg/kg of exenatide), the plasma exenatide concentration increased and remained elevated in both groups. The concentrations of non-fasting blood glucose and HbA1c decreased significantly following a single SC injection of DA-3091 only in ZDF rats, indicating that the effects of exenatide are dependent on blood glucose concentration. On the other hand, both food intake and body weight gain were reduced in ZDF and ZDF lean control rats. A single injection of DA-3091 (i.e., 2xa0mg/kg of exenatide) lowered non-fasting blood glucose and HbA1c concentrations more effectively than 14xa0days of twice-daily administration of exenatide (i.e., 1.96xa0mg/kg of exenatide).ConclusionDA-3091 has the potential to be used safely and efficaciously in a biweekly dosing regimen.

Chitosan microspheres as an alveolar macrophage delivery system of ofloxacin via pulmonary inhalation

Because Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis, survives mainly in the alveolar macrophages, the remedial efficiency of anti-tuberculosis drugs such as ofloxacin may be improved by their direct delivery to the lungs via pulmonary inhalation. For this purpose, ofloxacin-loaded, glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan microspheres (OCMs) were prepared using a water-in-oil emulsification method. The particle size of the OCMs was around 1-6 μm, and the content of ofloxacin was 27% (w/w). A twin-stage impinger (TSI) study revealed that the device-removal efficiency of the drug from the capsule and the arrival rate of the drug to stage II of the apparatus were substantially improved for OCMs compared to ofloxacin itself (i.e., 81 vs. 98% and 13 vs. 45%, respectively). Also, the in vitro uptake of ofloxacin from the OCMs to alveolar macrophages (NR8383) was substantially accelerated: the cellular ofloxacin concentrations at 4 and 24 h after the application were >3.5-fold greater than those for free ofloxacin. The above results indicate that pulmonary inhalation of OCMs might improve the delivery efficiency of ofloxacin to the alveolar macrophages, thereby shortening the length of time that is required to cure tuberculosis with the drug-usually at least 6 months when administered orally.

Liver Cancer Targeting of Doxorubicin with Reduced Distribution to the Heart Using Hematoporphyrin-Modified Albumin Nanoparticles in Rats

ABSTRACTPurposeTo evaluate the usefulness of hematoporphyrin (HP)-modification of the surface of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles (NPs) in the liver cancer-selective delivery of DOX.MethodsHP-modified NPs (HP-NPs) were prepared by conjugation of amino groups on the surface of NPs with HP, a ligand for low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors on the hepatoma cells. In vitro cellular accumulation of DOX, in vivo biodistribution of DOX, safety, and anti-tumor efficacy were evaluated for HP-NPs.ResultsCytotoxicity and accumulation of DOX were in the order of HP-NPs>NPs>solution form (SOL). Cellular uptake from HP-NPs was proportional to the expression level of LDL receptors on the cells, indicating possible involvement of LDL receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) in uptake. The “merit index,” an AUC ratio of DOX in liver (target organ) to DOX in heart (major side effect organ) following iv administration of HP-NPs to hepatoma rats, was 132.5 and 4 times greater compared to SOL and NPs, respectively. The greatest suppression of body weight decrease and tumor size increase was observed for iv-administered HP-NPs in tumor-bearing mice.ConclusionsHP modification appears to be useful in selective delivery of NP-loaded DOX to tumors.

Ghrelin receptor is activated by naringin and naringenin, constituents of a prokinetic agent Poncirus fructus

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEnPoncirus fructus (PF), also known as a dried immature fruit of Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. (Rutaceae), has long been traditionally used for the various gastrointestinal disorders in Eastern Asia.nnnAIM OF STUDYnThe aqueous extract of PF (PF-W) has the strong prokinetic effect, yet the underlying mechanism is still elusive. The present study investigated whether PF-W has any effect on motilin receptor or ghrelin receptor, since these receptors enhance intestinal motility when activated.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThe effect of PF-W and its components on motilin or ghrelin receptor was determined by calcium imaging and whole-cell patch clamp methods.nnnRESULTSnPF-W activates the ghrelin receptor, but not the motilin receptor, resulting in a transient increase of intracellular calcium levels. Furthermore, among various constituents of PF, only naringin and naringenin evoked the intracellular calcium augmentation via the ghrelin receptor. Moreover, cortistatin-8 - a ghrelin receptor inhibitor - specifically blocked naringin- and naringenin-induced calcium increases. In addition, naringin and naringenin induced inward currents in ghrelin receptor-expressing cells under whole-cell patch clamp configuration.nnnCONCLUSIONnPF-W activates the ghrelin receptor, and naringin and naringenin are key constituents responsible for the activation of ghrelin receptor. Therefore, the present study suggests that the ghrelin receptor is a molecular entity responsible for the strong prokinetic activity of PF-W.