The Ca/voltage-gated K large conductance (BK) channel b1 subunit is particularly abundant in vascular smooth muscle. By determining their phenotype, BK b1 allows the BK channels to reduce myogenic tone, facilitating vasodilation. The endogenous steroid lithocholic acid (LCA) dilates cerebral arteries via BK channel activation, which requires recognition by a BK b1 site that includes Thr169. Whe...

The objective of this investigation was to compare bradykinin (BK) action on isolated intact or denuded human umbilical artery (HUA) in normal pregnancy, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Bradykinin contracted HUA in a concentration-dependent manner in all investigated groups. Control BK contractions were unchanged by L-NOARG (NO-synthase inhibitor), ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Nearly 30% of renal transplant recipients develops BK viremia, a prerequisite for BK nephropathy. Case reports have evaluated treatment options for BK virus, but no controlled studies have assessed prophylactic therapies. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics were studied for prevention of BK viremia after renal transplantation. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Th...

There are limited data regarding intermediate-term outcomes in patients with persistent BK viremia. Other viral infections have been implicated in the development of allosensitization through heterologous immunity, but the relationship between BK viremia and donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) is unexplored. In 2008, we initiated routine post-transplant BK viremia and DSA screening at our center; ...

We investigated the contribution of large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels to spontaneous activity of cerebellar Purkinje neurons in mice and rats. In Purkinje neurons which fire tonically, block of BK channels increased the firing rate and caused the neurons to fire irregularly. In Purkinje neurons which exhibited a trimodal pattern of activity, present primarily in mature...

We investigated the mechanisms underlying bradykinin (BK)-induced rise in intracellular Ca++ concentration [Ca++]i and insulin secretion using clonal beta cell line RINm5F. Incubation with a range of concentrations of BK increased in concentration-dependent manners both insulin secretion (BK of 10 nM to 10 microM) and [Ca++]i (BK of 100 nM to 100 microM). In Ca++-containing medium, BK (1 microM...

Let un sup(ak )∞ k n and vn sup(bk ) ∞ k n be suprema. Then the following obvious relation ak ≤ un and bk ≤ vn , ∀k ≥ n ⇒ ak + bk ≤ un + vn , ∀k ≥ n shows that, upon taking the supremum over all k with k ≥ n, we get sup(ak + bk )∞ k n ≤ un + vn . This shows that for any n ≥ m, we get lim sup k→∞ (ak + bk ) inf j: j≥m sup(ak + bk )∞ k j ≤ sup(ak + bk ) ∞ k n ≤ un + vn Since we know that (un )∞ n...

Bradykinin (BK), which has potent algesic and sensitizing effect on nociceptors, is of current interest in understanding the mechanisms of chronic pain. BK response is mediated by B2 receptor in normal conditions; however, findings that B1 receptor blockade alleviated hyperalgesia in inflammation have been highlighting the role of B1 receptor in pathological conditions. It has not yet been clea...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Janus kinase 3 (JAK3), a tyrosine kinase contributing to the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis of lymphocytes and tumour cells, has been shown to modify the expression and function of several ion channels and transport proteins. Channels involved in the regulation of cell proliferation include the large conductance voltage- and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel BK. The ...