• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1525-1532
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of hot water extract from Cornus walteri Wanger (CWE) on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), concentrations of cellular lipid peroxidation products and reduced glutathione, and antioxidant enzyme activity were used as biomakers of cellular oxidative status. Cells pretreated with CWE (25~200 ${\mu}g/mL$) showed an increased resistance to oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner, as revealed by a higher percentage of surviving cells compared to control cells. ROS generation induced by TBHP was significantly reduced when cells were pretreated with 200 ${\mu}g/mL$ CWE for 4 h. Pretreatment with CWE (5~50 ${\mu}g/mL$) prevented the decrease in reduced glutathione and the increase in malondialdehyde and ROS evoked by TBHP in HepG2 cells. Finally, CWE pretreatments prevented the significant increase of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase activities induced by TBHP. These results show that CWE has significant protective ability against a TBHP-induced oxidative insult and that the modulation of antioxidant enzymes by CWE may have an important antioxidant effect on TBHP-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.119-124
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• 2001

NTR1 gene of Brassica campestris L. ssp. perkinensis encodes a floral nectary-specific methyltransferase. In this study, the NTR1 cDNA was expressed in E. coli to examine the enzymatic characteristics of the protein product. The GST-NTR1 fusion protein was purified to near homogeneity, showing that the size of NTR1 was 44 kDa. The protein reacted specifically with jasmonic acid (JA), consuming methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). GC-MS analysis revealed that the compound produced was authentic methyl jasmonate (MeJA), suggesting that NTR1 is an S-adenosyl-L-methionine: jasmonic acid carboxyl methyltransferase. Km values of NTR1 for JA and SAM were 38.0 and $6.4{\mu}M$, respectively. Optimal activity of the NTR1 was observed at $20^{\circ}C$, pH 7.5, in the presence of 100-150 mM KCl. Thus, kinetic properties, thermal characteristics, optimal pH, and ion-dependency of the NTR1 activity were almost identical to those of Arabidopsis JA methyltransferase JMT, indicating that these two proteins are orthologues of each other.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2009

Hepatic antioxidant defense systems were examined in rats treated with tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA), a brominated flame retardant, at the doses of 0, 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg for four weeks. Hepatic ratio of glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) and levels of malondialdehyde, oxidative stress markers were not changed in rats treated with TBBPA. Hepatic expression of antioxidant enzymes including GSH peroxdiase-1 (GPX-1)/GSH reductase (GR), alpha-, mu- and pi-class glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase catalytic subunit was determined using immunoblot analysis. Alpha-class GSTs, GPX-1 and GR levels were significantly decreased in rats treated with TBBPA at the dose of 500 or 1,000 mg/kg. These results show that TBBPA results in down-regulation of hepatic expression of antioxidant enzymes related with GSH, suggesting the liver in TBBPA-treated rats may be more sensitive to oxidants.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.510-516
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• 2016

Isoegomaketone (IK) was isolated from Perilla frutescens, which has been widely used as a food in Asian cuisine, and evaluated for its biological activity. We have already confirmed that IK induced the HO-1 expression via Nrf2 activation in RAW264.7 cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of IK on the mechanism of HO-1 expression. IK upregulated HO-1 mRNA and protein expression in a dose dependent manner. The level of HO-1 mRNA peaked at 4 h after $15{\mu}M$ IK treatment. To investigate the mechanisms of HO-1 expression modulation by IK, we used pharmacological inhibitors for the protein kinase C (PKC) family, PI3K, and p38 MAPK. IK-induced HO-1 mRNA expression was only suppressed by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK. ROS scavengers (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, NAC, and glutathione, GSH) also blocked the IK-induced ROS production and HO-1 expression. Furthermore, both NAC and SB203580 suppressed the IK-induced Nrf2 activation. In addition, ROS scavengers suppressed other oxidative enzymes such as catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and NADH quinone oxidoreductase (NQO-1) in IK-treated RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, it can be concluded that IK induced the HO-1 expression through the ROS/p38 MAPK/Nrf2 pathway in RAW264.7 cells.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.291-299
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• 2009

To elucidate HtrA3's functional roles in the HtrA3 mediated cellular processes, it is necessary to investigate its biochemical characteristics. In the present study, we constructed the plasmids encoding putative mature HtrA3 proteins (M1-HtrA3 and M2-HtrA3) based on the putative maturation sites of highly homologous HtrA1 and mouse HtrA3. We used the pGEX bacterial expression system to develop a simple and rapid purification for the recombinant HtrA3 protein. Although yields of the mature HtrA3 proteins were slightly low as 10~50 ${\mu}g$/L, the amounts and purity of M1- and M2-HtrA3 were enough to investigate their proteolytic activities. The putative mature HtrA3 proteins have proteolytic activity which could cleave $\beta$-casein as an exogenous substrate. We compared the proteolytic activity between the HtrA family, HtrA1, HtrA2, and HtrA3. The cleavage activity of HtrA3 and HtrA2 were 2 folds higher than that of HtrA1, respectively. Our study provides a method for generating useful reagents to identify natural substrates of HtrA3 in the further studies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1133-1140
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• 2006

Human HtrA1 (High temperature requirement protein A1) is a homologue of the E. coli periplasmic serine protease HtrA. A recent study has demonstrated that HtrA1 is a serine protease involved in processing of insulin like growth factor binding protein (ICFBP), indicating that it serves as an important regulator of IGF activity. Additionally, several lines of evidence suggest a striking correlation between proteolytic activity of HtrA1 serine protease and the pathogenesis of several diseases; however, physiological roles of HtrA1 remain to be elucidated. We used the pGEX bacterial expression system to develop a simple and rapid method for purifying HtrA1, and the recombinant HtrA1 protein was utilized to investigate the optimal conditions in executing its proteolytic activity. The proteolytically active HtrA1 was purified to approximately 85% purity, although the yield of the recombinant HtrA1 protein was slightly low $460{\mu}g$ for 1 liter E. coli culture). Using in vitro endoproteolytic cleavage assay, we identified that the HtrA1 serine protease activity was dependent on the enzyme concentration and the incubation time and that the best reaction temperature was $42^{\circ}C$ instead of $37^{\circ}C$. We arbitrary defined one unit of proteolytic activity of the HtrA1 serine protease as 200nM of HtrA1 that cleaves half of $5{\mu}M\;of\;{\beta}-casein$ during 3 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$. Our study provides a method for generating useful reagents to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which HtrA1 serine protease activity contributes in regulating its physiological function and to identify natural substrates of HtrA1.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.123-131
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• 2012

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential antidiabetic and antioxidant effect of the ethanol extract from Chrysanthemum cornarium L. var. spatiosum(CSE) against alloxan-induced oxidative stress in pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells, HIT-T15. In this study, the antidiabetic effect of CSE was examined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliu bromide(MTT) cell proliferation assay, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release assay, $NAD^+$/NADH ratio and insulin secretion. To further investigate whether CSE is involved in the antioxidant activity of alloxan-damaged HIT-T15 cells, its antioxidant effect against alloxan-induced oxidative stress was measured in HIT-T15 cells by determining the levels of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione S-transferase(GST), glutathione reductase(GR) and glutathione peroxidase(GPx). The results of this analysis showed that alloxan significantly decreased cell viability, increased LDH leakage, and lowered $NAD^+$/NADH ratio and insulin secretion in HIT-T15 cells. However, CSE significantly increased the viability of alloxan-treated cells and lowered LDH leakage. The intracellular NAD+/NADH ratio and insulin secretion were also significantly increased by 1.7-fold and 1.3-fold, respectively, after treatment with 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ CSE. The HIT-T15 cells treated with alloxan showed significant decreases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, while CSE significantly elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes. These findings suggest that CSE could have a protective effect against cytotoxicity and dysfunction of pancreatic cells in the presence of alloxan-induced oxidative stress.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6131-6136
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• 2014

Objective: Epidemiology studies have reported conflicting results between glutathione S-transferase Mu-1 (GSTM1), glutathione S-transferase theta-1 (GSTT1) and glutathione S-transferase pi-1 (GSTP1) and ovarian cancer (OC) susceptibility. In this study, an updated meta-analysis was applied to determine whether the deletion of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 has an influence on OC susceptibility. Methods: A published literature search was performed through PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Science Citation Index Expanded database for articles published in English. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated using random or fixed effects models. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the Cochrane Q test and $I^2$ statistics. Sub-group analysis was conducted to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was employed to evaluate the respective influence of each study on the overall estimate. Results: In total, 10 published studies were included in the final analysis. The combined analysis revealed that there was no significant association between GSTM1 null genotype and OC risk (OR=1.01, 95%CI: 0.91-1.12). Additionally, there was no significant association between GSTT1 genetic polymorphisms and OC risk (OR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.85-1.13). Similalry, no significant associations were found concerning the GSTP1 rs1695 locus and OC risk. Meanwhile, subgroup analysis did not show a significant increase in eligible studies with low heterogeneity. However, sensitivity analysis, publication bias and cumulative analysis demonstrated the reliability and stability of the current meta-analysis. Conclusions: These findings suggest that GSTs genetic polymorphisms may not contribute to OC susceptibility. Large epidemiological studies with the combination of GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null and GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphisms and more specific histological subtypes of OC are needed to prove our findings.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2012

The present study was designed to examine the potential antidiabetic and antioxidant effect of ethanol extract from $Prunus$ $mume$ fruit (PME) against alloxan-induced oxidative stress in pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells, HIT-T15. To evaluate the antidiabetic effect of PME, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliu bromide (MTT) cell proliferation assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, $NAD^+$/NADH ratio and insulin secretion were assessed. We also measured its antioxidant effect against alloxan-induced oxidative stress in the cells by assessing the levels of the antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The results of this analysis showed that alloxan significantly decreased cell viability, increased LDH leakage, and lowered $NAD^+$ /NADH ratio and insulin secretion in HIT-T15 cells. However, PME significantly increased the viability of alloxan-treated cells and lowered LDH leakage. The intracellular $NAD^+$ /NADH ratio and insulin secretion were also increased by 1.5~1.9-fold and 1.4-fold, respectively, after treatment with the PME. The HIT-T15 cells treated with alloxan showed significant decreases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, while PME significantly elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes. Based on these results, we suggest that PME could have a protective effect against the cytotoxicity and dysfunction of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells in the presence of alloxan-induced oxidative stress.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.911-920
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• 2006

Phenolic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a commonly used food preservative with broad biological activities, including protection against chemical-induced carcinogenesis, acute toxicity of chemicals, modulation of macromolecule synthesis and immune response, induction of phase II detoxifying enzymes, as well as its undesirable potential tumor-promoting activities. Understanding the molecular basis underlying these diverse biological actions of BHA is thus of great importance. Here we studied the pharmacokinetics, activation of signaling kinases and induction of phase II/III drug metabolizing enzymes/transporter gene expression by BHA in the mice. The peak plasma concentration of BHA achieved in our current study after oral administration of 200 mg/kg BHA was around $10\;{\mu}M$. This in vivo concentration might offer some insights for the many in vitro cell culture studies on signal transduction and induction of phase II genes using similar concentrations. The oral bioavailability (F) of BHA was about 43% in the mice. In the mouse liver, BHA induced the expression of phase II genes including NQO-1, HO-1, ${\gamma}-GCS$, GST-pi and UGT 1A6, as well as some of the phase III transporter genes, such as MRP1 and Slco1b2. In addition, BHA activated distinct mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), as well as p38, suggesting that the MAPK pathways may play an important role in early signaling events leading to the regulation of gene expression including phase II drug metabolizing and some phase III drug transporter genes. This is the first study to demonstrate the in vivo pharmacokinetics of BHA, the in vivo activation of MAPK signaling proteins, as well as the in vivo induction of Phase II/III drug metabolizing enzymes/transporters in the mouse livers.