A Study on the Double Semi-Active Vibration Isolation System

This paper puts forward the concept of double semi-active vibration isolation systemutilizing the 'on-off' active damper and the 'on-off' active spring. Applying KBM Asympto-tic method, the vibration of the system in case of weak semi-active control is studied. ln pcactice, there are two types of vibration isolation. One is to isolate the transmitting of the cyclicunbalanced force generated by the revolving machine to the surroundings. The other is to isolatethe transmitting of the vibration displacement of the surroundings to precise equipment. Deduc-ing the influence of the roadway unflatness on vehicles also belongs to this type. For the firsttype of isolation system, the damper always dissipates energy, and the total work done by the spring in a vibration cycle is zero. For the second type of isolation system, the work done by the damper sometimes is positive, and sometimes negative. The damper dissipates less energy. The work done by the spring in a vibration cycle isn't zero, and it is usually positive. ln thispaper, the vibration isolation is refered to the second type. .

A Label-free Fluorescent Aptasensor for Turn-on Monitoring Ochratoxin A Based on AIE-active Probe and Graphene Oxide

A label-free fluorescent aptasensor for specific and ultrasensitive monitoring ochratoxin A（OTA） was developed using the specific aptamer of OTA（OSA） as recognition dement, an aggregation-induced emission（AIE） molecule（a 9,10-distyrylanthracene with two ammonium groups, DSAI） as a fluorescent probe, and graphene oxide（GO） as a quencher. In the absence of OTA, the AIE probe DSAI and OSA complex（DSAI/OSA） is adsorbed on the GO surface, and the fluorescence of DSAI will be quenched efficiently via the fluorescence resonance energy transfer（FRET） from DSAI to GO. Upon the OTA addition, a more stable complex（OSA-OTA） is formed and released from GO. Meanwhile, DSAI and OSA-OTA can form a new complex（DSAI/OSA-OTA）, then the fluorescent signal of DSAI recovers gradually. Therefore, by introducing GO and DSAI, the fluorescence signal of DSAI can be easily turned from ＂off＂ to ＂on＂ after the addition of OTA, and the ultrasensitive detection of OTA by monitoring the change of the fluorescence signal of DSAI can be readily realized. The detection limit of the assay can reach 0.324 nmol/L with a linear detection range of 10-200 nmol/L. And the aptasensor exhibits high selectivity for OTA against other analogues. Moreover, it has been successfully applied for the detection of OTA in red wine samples.

p21-activated kinase signalling in pancreatic cancer: New insights into tumour biology and immune modulation

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancies worldwide, with a very poor prognosis and a five-year survival rate less than 8%. This dismal outcome is largely due to delayed diagnosis, early distant dissemination and resistance to conventional chemotherapies. Kras mutation is a well-defined hallmark of pancreatic cancer, with over 95% of cases harbouring Kras mutations that give rise to constitutively active forms of Kras. As important down-stream effectors of Kras, p21-activated kinases(PAKs) are involved in regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion/migration and chemo-resistance. Immunotherapy is now emerging as a promising treatment modality in the era of personalized anti-cancer therapeutics. In this review, basic knowledge of PAK structure and regulation is briefly summarised and the pivotal role of PAKs in Kras-driven pancreatic cancer is highlighted in terms of tumour biology and chemoresistance. Finally, the involvement of PAKs in immune modulation in the tumour microenvironment is discussed and the potential advantages of targeting PAKs are explored.

Inhibitory Effects of Blockage of Intermediate Conductance Ca^(2+) -Activated K^+ Channels on Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

The roles of intermediate conductance Ca2＋-activated K＋ channel （IKCal） in the pathogene- sis of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） were investigated. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of IKCal protein in 50 HCC and 20 para-carcinoma tissue samples. Real-time PCR was used to detect the transcription level of IKCal mRNA in 13 HCC and 11 para-carcinoma tissue samples. The MTT assay was used to measure the function of IKCal in human HCC cell line HepG2 in vitro. TRAM-34, a specific blocker of IKCal, was used to intervene with the function of IKCal. As compared with para-carcinoma tissue, an over-expression of IKCal protein was detected in HCC tissue samples （P〈0.05）. The mRNA expression level of IKCal in HCC tissues was 2.17 times higher than that in para-carcinoma tissues. The proliferation of HepG2 cells was suppressed by TRAM-34 （0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 pxnol/L） in vitro （P〈0.05）. Our results suggested that IKCal may play a role in the proliferation of human HCC, and IKCal blockers may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC.

Group Ⅱ p21-activated kinases as therapeutic targets in gastrointestinal cancer

P21-activated kinases(PAKs) are central players in various oncogenic signaling pathways. The six PAK family members are classified into group Ⅰ(PAK1-3) and group Ⅱ(PAK4-6). Focus is currently shifting from group Ⅰ PAKs to group Ⅱ PAKs. Group Ⅱ PAKs play important roles in many fundamental cellular processes, some of which have particular significance in the development and progression of cancer. Because of their important functions, group Ⅱ PAKs have become popular potential drug target candidates. However, few group Ⅱ PAKs inhibitors have been reported, and most do not exhibit satisfactory kinase selectivity and "drug-like" properties. Isoform- and kinase-selective PAK inhibitors remain to be developed. This review describes the biological activities of group Ⅱ PAKs, the importance of group Ⅱ PAKs in the development and progression of gastrointestinal cancer, and smallmolecule inhibitors of group Ⅱ PAKs for the treatment of cancer.

Relationship of Intracellular Free Ca^(2+) Concentration and Calcium-activated Chloride Channels of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells in Rats under Hypoxic Conditions

To investigate the relationship between intracellular free Ca^2＋ concentration （[Ca^2＋ ]i ） and calcium-activated chloride （Clca） channels of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells （PASMCs） in rats under acute and chronic hypoxic conditions, acute hypoxia-induced contraction was observed in rat pulmonary artery by using routine blood vascular perfusion in vitro. The fluorescence Ca^2＋ indicator Fura-2/AM was used to observe [Ca^2＋ ]i of rat PASMCs under normal and chronic hypoxic condition. The effect of Clca channels on PASMCs proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. The Clca channel blockers niflumic acid （NFA） and indaryloxyacetic acid （IAA-94） exerted inhibitory effects on acute hypoxia-evoked contractions in the pulmonary artery. Under chronic hypoxic condition, [Ca^2＋ ]i was increased. Under normoxic condition, [Ca^2＋ If was （123.634-18.98） nmol/ L, and in hypoxic condition, [Ca^2＋]i wag （281. 754-16.48） nmol/L （P〈0. 01）. Under normoxic condition, [Ca^2＋ ]i showed no significant change and no effect on Clca channels was observed （P〉 0. 05）. Chronic hypoxia increased [Ca^2＋ ]i which opened Clca channels. The NFA and IAA-94 blocked the channels and decreased [Ca^2＋ ]i from （281.75± 16.48） nmot/L to （117.66 ±15.36） nmol/L （P〈0.01）. MTT assay showed that under chronic hypoxic condition NFA and IAA-94 decreased the value of absorbency （A value） from 0. 459±0. 058 to 0. 224±0. 025 （P〈0. 01）. Hypoxia increased [Ca^2＋ ]i which opened Cl~ channels and had a positive-feedback in [Ca^2＋ ]i. This may play an important role in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Under chronic hypoxic condition, Clca channel may play a part in the regulation of proliferation of PASMCs.

Effects of Atractylodes Macrocephala on the Cytomembrane Ca^(2+)-activated K^+ Currents in Cells of Human Pregnant Myometrial Smooth Muscles

The study examined the inhibitory effect of Atractylodes macrocephala （AM） on the uterine contraction during premature delivery and explored its electrophysiological mechanism by studying the effects of AM on the Ca^2＋-activated K^＋ currents of pregnant human myometrial smooth muscle cells with or without the treatment with intedeukin-6. Single cells were acutely isolated from pregnant human myometrial smooth muscles. Whole-cell Ca^2＋-activated K^＋ currents were recorded by using an Axopatchl-D amplifier. The cells were divided into three groups： group A in which AM was added into perfusate, group B, in which interleukin-6 was added into perfusate） and group C in which AM was added into perfusate after addition of interleukin-6. IL-6 10 ng/mL inhibited BKca by 36.9%±13.7% as compared with control （P〈0.01）. AM at 2 mg/mL raised BKca by 36.7%±22.6% or 45.2%±13.7% with or without the treatment of IL-6, respectively （P〈0.01）. It is concluded that AM was able to enhance the BKca of pregnant human myometrial smooth muscle cells treated or untreated with interleukin-6 and its effect on the BKca IL-treated cells was stronger that its effect on BKca of untreated cells. Our results suggested that AM can help to maintain the membrane potentials and the resting status of pregnant human myometrial smooth muscle cells.

Effects of calcium-activated chloride channels on proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in rats under chronic hypoxic condition

Objective：To investigate the effects of calcium-activated chloride （ClCa） channels on proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells（PASMCs） in rats under chronic hypoxic condition. Methods：The cultured PASMCs were placed under normoxic and chronic hypoxic conditions：The cells were observed by light and electron microscope; The cell cycles were observed by flow-cytometry; Immunocytochemistry staining was used to detect the expressions of PCNA, c-fos and c-jun of PASMCs; Cytoplasmic free Ca^2＋ concentration （[Ca^2＋]i） in PASMCs was investigated by fluorescent quantitation using fluorospectrophotometer. Results：The PASMCs were contractile phenotype under normoxic conditions. Observation by transmission electron microscope： In kytoplasm of contractile phenotype cells, myofilament bundles were abundant and the content of cell organs such as Golgi＇s bodies were rare. The PASMCs were synthetic phenotype under chronic hypoxic condition. There were increased free ribosomes, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulums, highly developed Golgi complexes, decreased or disappeared thick filaments and dense body in kytoplasm of synthetic phenotype cells. After NFA and IAA-94, the situations were reversed The number of S ＋G2M PASMCs were significantly increased in chronic hypoxic condition; The NFA and IAA-94 were shown to significantly decrease them from （28.6±1.0）% to （16.0±1.6）% and the number of G0G1 PASMCs significantly increased from （71.4± 1.9）% to （83.9 ± 1.6）% （P〈 0.01）. In chronic hypoxic conditions, the expression of proliferating cell nucleus antigen was significantly increased; The NFA and IAA-94 were shown to significantly decrease it from （81 ± 6）% to （27 ± 7）%（P 〈 0.01）. The expression of c-fos and c-jun were significantly increased in＇chronic hypoxic conditions; The NFA and IAA-94 were shown to significantly decrease them from 0.15 ±0.02, 0.32 ± 0.05 to 0.05 ± 0.01, 0.12 ± 0.05, respectively （P〈 0.01）; Under chronic hypoxic conditions, [Ca^2＋]i was increased; The NFA and IAA-94 decreased it from （281.8±16,5）nmol/L to （117.7 ± 15.4）nmol/L（P 〈 0.01）. Conclusion：Hypoxia initiated the change of PASMCs from contractile to synthetic phenotype and increased proliferation of PASMCs. NFA and IAA-94 depressed cell proliferation by blocking ClCa channels in hypoxic condition. These may play an important role in proliferation of PASMCs under chronic hypoxic conditions.

Functional remodeling of Ca^(2+)-activated Cl^-channel in pacing induced canine failing heart

Objective To determine whether Ca2+ activated Cl- current(Icl(Ca)) contributes to the functional remodeling of the failing heart.Methods Whole cell patch-clamp recording technique was employed to record the Icl(Ca) in cardiac myocytes enzymatically isolatedfrom rapidly pacing induced canine failing hearts at room temperature and compared that of the normal hearts (Nor).Results Thecurrent density of DIDS(200M)sensitive Icl(Ca) induced by intracellular Ca2+ release trigged by L-type Ca2+ current(Ica,L)wassignificantly decreased in heart failare(HE)cells compared to Nor cells.At membrane voltage of 20mV,the Icl(Ca) density was 3.02±0.54 pA/pF in Nor(n=6)vs.1.31±0.25 pA/pF in HF(n=8)cells,(P＜0.01),while the averaged Ica,L density did not show differencebetween two groups.The time constant of current decay of Icl(Ca) was similar in both types of cells.On the other hand,in intra cellularCa2+ clamped mode,where the[Ca2+];was maintained at 100nmol/L,Icl(Ca) density be increased significantly in HF cells when themembrane voltage at+30mV or higher.Conclusions Our results suggest that Icl(Ca) density was decreased in pacing induced failingheart but the channel function be enhanced.Impaired Ca2+ handing in HF cells rather than reduced,Icl(Ca) channel function itself may havecaused this abnormality.The Icl(Ca) density reduction might contribute to the prolongation of action potential in failing heart.The Icl(Ca)channel function up-rugulation is likely to cause cardiac arrhythmia by inducing a delayed after depolarization,when Ca2+ overloadoccurred in diastolic failing heart cells.

Effects of isoflurane and ethanol on large conductance Ca^(2+)-activated K^+ channels

Objective: To study the effect of isoflurane and ethanol on large conductance Ca 2+-activated K + channels(BK channels). Methods: The cRNA of mslo1 encoding BK channels was injected into Xenopus oocytes. Oocytes were incubated in ND96 (96 mmol/L NaCl, 2.0 mmol/L KCl, 1.8 mmol/L CaCl 2, 1.0 mmol/L MgCl 2, and 5.0 mmol/L HEPES, pH 7.4) at 4 ℃. Patch clamp recording (outside-out) were performed after 2-3 d. Isoflurane was administrated by the vaporizer driven by air, ethanol was applied by a closed, manual-controlled administration system. Different test potentials from 0 to 10 mV were given to observe changes of currents. Results: 0.7 mmol/L and 1.2 mmol/L of isoflurane could inhibit BK currents obviously at different command potentials, but 50 mmol/L, 100 mmol/L, or 200 mmol/L of ethanol had no any effect on BK currents. Conclusion: Clinical concentration of isoflurane can distinctly inhibit isolating BK currents.

PAK1基因对大肠癌细胞体外侵袭能力的影响

目的研究p21-activated kinase-1(PAK1)基因对大肠癌细胞系体外侵袭能力的影响。方法把重组p21活化蛋白激酶1质粒用脂质体转染大肠癌SW480细胞,同时设立空白对照组和空载体对照组。于转染后48h采用免疫印迹方法检测PAK1的蛋白表达水平,Boyden小室模型检测大肠癌细胞SW480在转染重组PAK1基因质粒后侵袭能力的变化。结果SW480细胞转染p21活化蛋白激酶1重组质粒后,与空白对照和空载体对照相比,PAK1蛋白水平明显增加,细胞的体外侵袭能力增强。结论转染pPAK1重组质粒能够有效上调PAK1基因,增强大肠癌细胞系体外侵袭潜能,提示PAK1基因高表达可能与大肠癌细胞的侵袭和转移等生物学行为相关。

真核绿色荧光蛋白表达载体pEGFP-C1/PAK-1的构建及其在结直肠癌SW480细胞内的表达

目的:构建重组p21-activated kinase-1(PAK1)基因绿色荧光蛋白表达载体pEGFP-C1/PAK1,并转染入结直肠癌细胞SW480中表达.方法:在南方医科大学附属南方医院消化研究所实验室,从人类结直肠癌细胞株SW620细胞提取总RNA,经逆转录聚合酶链式反应获得人PAK1 cDNA片段,经过限制性内切酶进行酶切,T4连接酶进行连接,将目的基因克隆至真核绿色荧光蛋白表达载体pEGFP-C1上,然后转染结直肠癌细胞株SW480,观察其在细胞中表达.结果:重组载体经限制性内切酶酶切鉴定和DNA序列分析验证,显示插入载体的序列与目的基因一致,而且该重组载体能够在SW480细胞中表达.结论:成功构建了真核绿色荧光蛋白表达载体pEGFP-C1/PAK1,为研究PAK1在结直肠癌中的生物学功能奠定了基础.

Activation of Rac1-PI3K/Akt is required for epidermal growth factorinduced PAK1 activation and cell migration in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Epidermal growth factor （EGF） may increase cell motility, an event implicated in cancer cell invasion and metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms for EGF-induced cell motility remain elusive. In this study, we found that EGF treatment could activate Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 （Racl）, PI3K/Akt and p21- actived kinase （PAK1） along with cell migration. Ectopic expression of PAK1 K299R, a dominant negative PAK1 mutant, could largely abolish EGF-induced cell migration. Blocking PI3K/Akt signalling with LY294002 or Akt siRNA remarkably inhibited both EGF-induced PAK1 activation and cell migration. Furthermore, expression of dominant-negative Racl （T17N） could largely block EGF-induced PI3K/Akt-PAK1 activation and cell migration. Interestingly, EGF could induce a significant production of ROS, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a scavenger of ROS which abolished the EGF-induced ROS generation, cell migration, as well as activation of PI3K/Akt and PAK, but not Racl. Our study demonstrated that EGF-induced cell migration involves a cascade of signalling events, including activation of Racl, generation of ROS and subsequent activation of PI3K/Akt and PAK1.

MiR-32-5p aggravates intestinal epithelial cell injury in pediatric enteritis induced by Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND Pediatric enteritis is one of the infectious diseases in the digestive system that causes a variety of digestive problems,including diarrhea,vomiting,and bellyache in children.Clinically,Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is one of the common factors to cause pediatric enteritis.It has been demonstrated that aberrant expression of microRNAs(miRNAs)is found in gastrointestinal diseases caused by H.pylori,and we discovered a significant increase of miR-32-5p in H.pylori-related pediatric enteritis.However,the exact role of miR-32-5p in it is still unknown.AIM To investigate the role of aberrant miR-32-5p in pediatric enteritis induced by H.pylori.METHODS MiR-32-5p expression was detected by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction.The biological role of miR-32-5p in H.pylori-treated intestinal epithelial cells was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry.The potential target of miR-32-5p was predicted with TargetScanHuman and verified by luciferase assay.The downstream mechanism of miR-32-5p was explored by using molecular biology methods.RESULTS We found that miR-32-5p was overexpressed in serum of H.pylori-induced pediatric enteritis.Further investigation revealed that H.pylori infection promoted the death of intestinal epithelial cells,and increased miR-32-5p expression.Moreover,miR-32-5p mimic further facilitated apoptosis and inflammatory cytokine secretion of intestinal epithelial cells.Further exploration revealed that SMAD family member 6(SMAD6)was the direct target of miR-32-5p,and SMAD6 overexpression partially rescued cell damage induced by H.pylori.The following experiments showed that miR-32-5p/SMAD6 participated in the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells induced by transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1(TAK1)-p38 activation under H.pylori infection.CONCLUSION Our work uncovered the crucial role of aberrant expression of miR-32-5p in H.pylori–related pediatric enteritis,and suggested that the TAK1-p38 pathway is involved in it.

Effects of ethanol on the tonicity of corporal tissue and the intracellular Ca^2＋ concentration of human corporal smooth muscle cells

Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction （ED）; however, the acute effects of ethanol （EtOH） on penile tissue are not fully understood. We sought to investigate the effects of EtOH on corporal tissue tonicity, as well as the intracellular Ca^2＋ concentration （[Ca^2＋]i） and potassium channel activity of corporal smooth muscle. Strips of corpus cavernosum （CC） from rabbits were mounted in organ baths for isometric tension studies. Electrical field stimulation （EFS） was applied to strips precontracted with 10 μmol L^-1 phenylephrine as a control. EtOH was then added to the organ bath and incubated before EFS. The [Ca^2＋]i levels were monitored by the ratio of fura-2 fluorescence intensities using the fura-2 loading method. Single-channel and whole-cell currents were recorded by the conventional patch-clamp technique in short-term cultured smooth muscle cells from human CC tissue. The corpus cavernosal relaxant response of EFS was decreased in proportion to the concentration of EtOH. EtOH induced a sustained increase in [Ca^2＋]i in a dose-dependent manner, Extracellular application of EtOH significantly increased whole-cell K^＋ currents in a concentration-dependent manner （P 〈 0.05）. EtOH also increased the open probability in cell-attached patches; however, in inside-out patches, the application of EtOH to the intracellular aspect of the patches induced slight inhibition of Ca^2＋-activated potassium channel （KCa） activity. EtOH caused a dose-dependent increase in cavemosal tension by alterations to [Ca^2＋]i. Although EtOH did not affect KCa channels directly, it increased the channel activity by increasing [Ca^2＋]i. The increased corpus cavemosal tone caused by EtOH might be one of the mechanisms of ED after heavy drinking.

头帽与Activator矫治器在临床中的应用研究

青少年骨性安氏Ⅱ类1分类是临床常见的错()畸形,其主要表现为患者上颌前突和(或)下颌后缩,磨牙远中关系,前牙覆()深覆盖大。临床上常应用头帽-Activator联合矫治器对其进行治疗。本文就头帽-Activator矫治器的矫治方法及原理、矫治时机、双期矫治中的影响、矫治器优缺点、适用范围及稳定性作一综述。

Ⅰ类PAKs在神经退行性疾病的研究进展

P21活化的蛋白激酶(p21-activated kinases,PAKs)是Rho家族中GTP酶重要效应物,已证实对细胞繁殖和生存有重要意义。研究发现PAKs与神经元树突发育、细胞骨架的形成以及在细胞信号转导等方面起重要作用。本研究对Ⅰ类PAKs在神经退行性疾病中作用研究进展作一综述。

Domesticated HERV-W env contributes to the activation of the small conductance Ca^(2+)-activated K^(+)type 2 channels via decreased 5-HT4 receptor in recent-onset schizophrenia

The human endogenous retroviruses type W family envelope(HERV-W env)gene is located on chromosome 7q21-22.Our previous studies show that HERV-W env is elevated in schizophrenia and HERV-W env can increase cal-cium influx.Additionally,the 5-HTergie system and particularly 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)receptors play a prominent role in the pathogenesis and treatment of schizophrenia.5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4(5-HT4R)agonist can block calcium channels.However,the underlying relationship between HERV-W env and 5-HT4R in the etiology of schizophrenia has not been revealed.Here,we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the concentration of HERV-W env and 5-HT4R in the plasma of patients with schizophrenia and we found that there were decreased levels of 5-HT4R and a negative correlation between 5-HT4R and HERV-W env in schizophrenia.Overexpression of HERV-W env decreased the transcription and protein levels of 5-HT4R but increased small conductance Ca^(2+)-activated K^(+)type 2 channels(SK2)expression levels.Further studies revealed that HERV-w env could interact with 5-HT4R.Additionally,luciferase assay showed that an essential region(-364 to-176 from the transcription start site)in the SK2 promoter was required for HERV-W env-induced SK2 expression.Importantly,5-HT4R participated in the regulation of SK2 expression and promoter activity.Electrophysiological recordings suggested that HERV-Wenv could increase SK2 channel currents and the increase of SK2 currents was inhibited by 5-HT4R.In condusion,HERV-W env could activate SK2 channels via decreased 5-HT4R,which might exhibit a novel mechanism for HERV-Wenv to influence neuronal activity in schizophrenia.

Development of a Novel Green-Emitting Phosphate Phosphor KSrY(PO₄)₂:Eu²⁺

In this study, fluorescence characteristics were evaluated by synthesizing Eu2+ doped samples for phosphates of various compositions. The study led to a green light emitting KSrY(PO4)2:Eu2+, which is rare for a phosphate phosphor. KSrY(PO4)2:Eu2+ had an excitation band between 250 and 450 nm and emitted green light, reaching an emission maximum at 520 nm. As this result suggests that excitation by a near-ultraviolet LED is possible, KSrY(PO4)2:Eu2+ could be useful as a phosphor for white LEDs.

Tacrolimus Inhibits Vasoconstriction by Increasing Ca^(2+) Sparks in Rat Aorta

The present study attempted to test a novel hypothesis that Ca^2＋ sparks play an important role in arterial relaxation induced by tacrolimus. Recorded with confocal laser scanning microscopy, tacrolimus（10 μmol/L） increased the frequency of Ca^2＋ sparks, which could be reversed by ryanodine（10 μmol/L）. Electrophysiological experiments revealed that tacrolimus（10 μmol/L） increased the large-conductance Ca^2＋-activated K＋ currents（BKCa） in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells（AVSMCs）, which could be blocked by ryanodine（10 μmol/L）. Furthermore, tacrolimus（10 and 50 μmol/L） reduced the contractile force induced by norepinephrine（NE） or KCl in aortic vascular smooth muscle in a concentration-dependent manner, which could be also significantly attenuated by iberiotoxin（100 nmol/L） and ryanodine（10 μmol/L） respectively. In conclusion, tacrolimus could indirectly activate BKCa currents by increasing Ca^2＋ sparks released from ryanodine receptors, which inhibited the NE- or KCl-induced contraction in rat aorta.