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Arctigenin Exhibits Relaxation Effect on Bronchus by Affecting Transmembrane Flow of Calcium

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Abstract

Arctigenin, a lignan extract from Arctium lappa (L.), exhibits anti-inflammation, antioxidation, vasodilator effects, etc. However, the effects of arctigenin on bronchus relaxation are not well investigated. This study aimed to investigate how arctigenin regulates bronchus tone and calcium ion (Ca2+) flow. Trachea strips of guinea pigs were prepared for testing the relaxation effect of arctigenin to acetylcholine, histamine, KCl, and CaCl2, respectively. Furthermore, l-type calcium channel currents were detected by patch–clamp, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration was detected by confocal microscopy. The results showed that arctigenin exhibited relaxation effect on tracheae to different constrictors, and this was related to decreasing cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration by inhibiting Ca2+ influx partly through l-type calcium channel as well as promoting Ca2+ efflux. In summary, this study provides new insight into the mechanisms by which arctigenin exhibits relaxation effect on bronchus and suggests its potential use for airway disease therapy.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by grants from the National Nature Science Fund (NNSF) of China (no. 81173638, 81373506) and the Ministry of Education Doctoral Fund (no. 20120031110042), Key Teacher Training Project of Heilongjiang Province (1155G61), and Chinese Postdoctoral Fund (20080440687). We appreciate the valuable comments from other members of our laboratories.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Weijin Road 94#, Tianjin, 300071, People’s Republic of China

    Zhenying Zhao, Zengyong Wang, Runping Fang, Min Jiang, Gang Bai & Guo’an Luo

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road 22#, Tianjin, 300070, People’s Republic of China

    Yongqiang Yin & Hong Wu

  3. Mudanjiang Medical College, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of China

    Hong Wu

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  1. Zhenying Zhao
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  2. Yongqiang Yin
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  3. Zengyong Wang
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  4. Runping Fang
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  5. Hong Wu
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  6. Min Jiang
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  7. Gang Bai
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  8. Guo’an Luo
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hong Wu or Min Jiang.

Additional information

Zhenying Zhao and Yongqiang Yin contributed equally to this article.

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Zhao, Z., Yin, Y., Wang, Z. et al. Arctigenin Exhibits Relaxation Effect on Bronchus by Affecting Transmembrane Flow of Calcium. Biol Trace Elem Res 156, 181–187 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9839-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9839-9

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