在氣管平滑肌收縮路徑中,G 蛋白調解的鈣離子敏感性牽涉了Rho kinase(ROK)與Protein Kinase C(PKC)兩條路徑。Sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P)與U46619兩種刺激劑皆可活化ROK 與PKC的表現。而S1P屬於神經鞘酯類(sphingolipid)代謝物,U46619是thromboxane A2 衍生物,兩者皆會引起氣管平滑肌收縮。本實驗室已經證明KMUP-1與KMUP-3在不同濃度(1-100 μM)可使收縮的氣管產生放鬆,本研究則深入探討其涉入的機轉。而由結果顯示,除了S1P所誘導PKCα較無明顯抑制趨勢,KMUP-1與KMUP-3(0.1-100 μM)皆可明顯抑制由S1P(2 μM)或U46619(1 μM)誘發的ROKα及PKCα表現,且呈現劑量相關性。 除此之外,本研究中以KMUP-1、KMUP-3、Y27632(Rho kinase抑制劑)、Dexamethasone、Terbutaline、Chelerythrine chloride(Protein kinase C抑制劑)、8-bromo-cGMP與8-bromo-cAMP(10 μM),來比較對於PKCα及ROKα抑制能力。數據顯示除了S1P所誘導PKCα較無明顯抑制趨勢(數據未提供),而相較於Dexamethasone與Terbutaline,KMUP-1與KMUP-3皆可發揮較佳的抑制效果,且KMUP-1的抑制效果亦與Y27632、Chelerythrine chloride相近。 另外,細胞內鈣離子濃度實驗中亦發現,由S1P刺激後增加的細胞內鈣離子濃度皆會被KMUP-1所抑制,但KMUP-3對於細胞內鈣離子濃度較無明顯抑制趨勢。 由於KMUP-1和KMUP-3可以藉由抑制氣管平滑肌細胞的ROK、 PKC 蛋白質表現及降低細胞內鈣離子濃度,而達到抑制由鈣離子依賴性及鈣離子敏感性所導致的收縮現象。透過各項實驗結果,針對KMUP-1與KMUP-3的效能,可提供臨床上另一種治療氣喘的新方法。
G protein-mediated Ca2+ sensitization in contraction of tracheal smooth muscle(TSM)is involved in Rho kinase (ROK)and Protein Kinase C(PKC)activation pathways. The expression of ROK and PKC are activated by Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)and U46619. S1P, a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite, and U46619, a thromboxane A2 analogue, both can induce TSM contractions. Our laboratory has demonstrated that KMUP-1 and KMUP-3(1-100 μM)relax the contraction of rat TSM. The results indicated that the expression of ROK and PKCα induced by S1P(2 μM)or U46619(1 μM)in cultured TSM cells were dose-dependently inhibited by KMUP-1 and KMUP-3(0.1 - 100 μM), analyzed by western blotting, except the expression of PKCα induced by S1P(2 μM). After further investigation for the discrepancy between KMUP-1, KMUP-3, Y27632, Chelerythrine chloride, Dexamethasone, Terbutaline, 8-bromo-cGMP and 8-bromo-cAMP(10 μM), KMUP-1 and KMUP-3 possess similar inhibition activities on the expression of ROKα and PKCα proteins as Y27632 and Chelerythrine chloride. Relative to 10μM Dexamethasone and 10μM Terbutaline, both of 10μM KMUP-1 and 10μM KMUP-3 have batter inhibitions on the expression of ROKα and PKCα protein。 In addition, the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ induced by S1P was significantly decreased by KMUP-1. However, KMUP-3 has slight inhibition on the intracellular concentration of Ca2+。 From the results, in this study, it is proposed that KMUP-1 could inhibit the contraction of airway smooth muscle by mediating the intracellular concentration of Ca2+。Those new medicines, KMUP-1 and KMUP-3, developed by our laboratory, could possess well capabilities to inhibit the contraction induced by mechanisms of Ca2+ dependent and Ca2+ sensitization due to dose-dependently inhibitions of PKCα, ROKα and intracellular concentration of Ca2+. In conclusion, KMUP-1 and KMUP-3 may indicate the batter clinical application in the treatment of asthma.