• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2016

Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) is a potent inducer of osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. The Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1) is involved in skeletal development and bone remodeling. Here, we investigated the role of Dkk1 in BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. We found that overexpression of BMP9 induced Dkk1 expression in a dose-dependent manner, which was reduced by the P38 inhibitor SB203580 but not the ERK inhibitor PD98059. Moreover, Dkk1 dramatically decreased not only BMP9-induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity but also the expression of osteocalcin (OCN) and osteopontin (OPN) and matrix mineralization of C3H10T1/2 cells. Furthermore, exogenous Dkk1 expression inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling induced by BMP9. Our findings indicate that Dkk1 negatively regulates BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation through inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and it could be used to optimize the therapeutic use of BMP9 and for bone tissue engineering.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 2003

In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of the Lycii Fructus water extracts (LFE) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and the mechanism underlying these protective effects in the rats. The pretreatment of LFE has shown to possess a significant protective effect by lowering the serum alanine and aspartate aminoteansferase (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). This hepatoprotective action was confirmed by histological observation, In addition, the pretreatment of LFE prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and the depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) content and catalase activity in the liver of CC1₄-injected rats. The LFE also displayed hydroxide radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 83.6 μg/ml), as assayed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique. Moreover, the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), was significantly decreased in the liver of LFE-pretreated rats when compared with that in the liver of control group. Based on these results, it was suggested that the hepatoprotective effects of the LFE may be related to antioxidant effects and regulation of CYP2E1 gene expression.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.194-202
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• 2020

The sweetpotatoes (Ipomoea batatas) generate adventitious roots (ARs) from cut stems that develop into storage roots and make for an important means of propagation. However, few studies have investigated the hormones involved in AR development in sweetpotato. In this study, the expression patterns of hormone-related genes involved in AR formation were identified using the transcriptome data. RNA-seq data from stems grown for 0 and 3 days after cutting were analyzed. In addition, hormone-related genes were identified among differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and filtered genes, and cluster analysis was used to characterize expression patterns by function. Most hormone-related regulated genes expressed 3 days after growing the cut stems were abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes, followed by ethylene- and auxin-related genes. For ABA, the biosynthesis genes (including genes annotated to NINE-CIS-EPOXYCAROTENOID DIOXYGENASE 3 (NCED3)) and signal transduction and perception genes (including genes annotated to PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2Cs (PP2Cs)) tended to decrease. Expression patterns of auxin- and ethylene-related genes differed by function. These results suggest that ABA, auxin, and ethylene genes are involved in AR formation and that they may be regulated in a hormone function-dependent manner. These results contribute to the identification of hormone functions during AR formation and may contribute to understanding the mechanism of AR formation in the sweetpotato.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.297-307
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• 2003

In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of the Puerarie Radix water extract (PRE) against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity and the mechanism underlying these protective effects in the rats. The pretreatment of PRE has shown to possess a significant protective effect by lowering the serum alanine and aspartate aminoteansferase (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). This hepatoprotective action was confirmed by histological observation. In addition, the pretreatment of PRE prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and the depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) content and catalase activity in the liver of CC1₄-injected rats. The PRE also displayed hydroxide radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 83.6 μg/ml), as assayed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique. Moreover, the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), was significantly decreased in the liver of PRE-pretreated rats when compared with that in the liver of control group. Based on these results, it was suggested that the hepatoprotective effects of the PRE may be related to antioxidant effects and regulation of CYP2E1 gene expression.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.13 no.2 s.20
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• pp.157-164
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• 2007

An imbalance in bone remodeling that is caused by increased bone resorption over bone formation leads to most adult skeletal diseases including osteoporosis. Since the development of anti-resorptive agents from natural substances has recently gained more interest in the treatment of osteoporosis, we evaluated the effects of 222 natural compounds on receptor activator of $NF-{\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced of tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity in RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell, and found that berberine chloride is one of compounds inhibiting RANKL-induced TRAP activity. Berberine chloride significantly inhibited the RANKL-induced TRAP activity and the formation of multinucleated osteoclasts in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, berberine chloride prevented the RANKL-induced mRNA expression of TRAP, matrix metalloproteinase 9 and c-Src, which have been known to be highly expressed in the process of osteoclastogenesis. Interestingly, berberine chloride prevented the RANKL-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) which is one of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. In conclusion, berberine chloride could inhibit the osteoclastogenesis via preventing the activation of ERK/MAP kinase signaling pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2016

Background: Ginsenosides have been shown to exert beneficial pharmacological effects on the central nervous, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems. We sought to determine whether total ginsenosides (TG) inhibit monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Methods: MCT-intoxicated rats were treated with gradient doses of TG, with or without $N^G$-nitro-$\small{L}$-arginine methyl ester. The levels of molecules involving the regulation of nitric oxide and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways were determined. Results: TG ameliorated MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension in a dose-dependent manner, as assessed by the right ventricular systolic pressure, the right ventricular hypertrophy index, and pulmonary arterial remodeling. Furthermore, TG increased the levels of pulmonary nitric oxide, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Lastly, TG increased mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 expression and promoted the dephosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2. Conclusion: TG attenuates MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension, which may involve in part the regulation of nitric oxide and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.412-420
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• 2017

Multinucleated bone resorptive osteoclasts differentiate from bone marrow-derived monocyte/macrophage precursor cells. During osteoclast differentiation, mononuclear pre-osteoclasts change their morphology and biochemical characteristics. In this study, Raman spectroscopy with multivariate techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) were used to extract biochemical information related to various cellular events during osteoclastogenesis. This technique allowed for label-free and noninvasive monitoring of differentiating cells, and clearly discriminated four different time points during osteoclast differentiation. The Raman band intensity showed significant time-dependent changes that increased up to day 4. The results of Raman spectroscopy agreed with results from atomic force microscopy (AFM) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, a conventional biological assay. Under AFM, normal spindle-like mononuclear pre-osteoclasts became round and smaller at day 2 after treatment with a receptor activator of nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ligand and they formed multinucleated giant cells at day 4. Thus, Raman spectroscopy, in combination with PCA-LDA, may be useful for noninvasive label-free quality assessment of cell status during osteoclast differentiation, enabling more efficient optimization of the bioprocesses.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2017

Hangover due to alcohol consumption causes social and physical problems. There is a growing interest in edible insects worldwide. We have previously published a new technology to make hard mature silkworm, Bombyx mori, into edible form, steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (SMSP). In this study, AIN-76 or SMSP (0.1 and 1 g/kg rat body weight) containing diets in SD rats were pretreated for 2 weeks, and ethanol (3 g/kg rat body weight) was administered as an oral gavage and sacrificed after 3 hours. As a result, blood alcohol and aldehyde levels were significantly decreased in SMSP fed rats. In addition, liver injury markers, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly decreased in SMSP group compared to ethanol group. $TNF-{\alpha}$, an inflammatory cytokine, and malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress marker, also showed a dose-dependent decrease in the group receiving SMSP. Conclusively, consumption of SMSP not only reduced hangover induced by ethanol, but also decreased liver damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.659-664
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• 2011

As part of the search for biologically active anti-osteoporotic agents that enhance differentiation and mineralization of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, we identified the ginsenoside Rh2(S), which is an active component in ginseng. Rh2(S) stimulates osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization, as manifested by the up-regulation of differentiation markers (alkaline phosphatase and osteogenic genes) and Alizarin Red staining, respectively. Rh2(S) activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in time- and concentration-dependent manners, and Rh2(S)-induced differentiation and mineralization of osteoblastic cells were totally inhibited in the presence of the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580. In addition, pretreatment with Go6976, a protein kinase D (PKD) inhibitor, significantly reversed the Rh2(S)-induced p38 MAPK activation, indicating that PKD might be an upstream kinase for p38 MAPK in MC3T3-E1 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that Rh2(S) induces the differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells through activation of PKD/p38 MAPK signaling pathways, and these findings provide a molecular basis for the osteogenic effect of Rh2(S).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7517-7522
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• 2015

Onion (Allium cepa) consumption has been remarked in folk medicine which has not been noted to be administered so far as an adjunct to conventional doxorubicin-based chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study aimed to investigate the effects of consuming fresh yellow onions on hepatic enzymes and cancer specific antigens compared with a low-onion containing diet among breast cancer (BC) participants treated with doxorubicin. This parallel design randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 56 BC patients whose malignancy was confirmed with histopathological examination. Subjects were assigned in a stratified-random allocation into either group received body mass index dependent 100-160 g/d of onion as high onion group (HO; n=28) or 30-40 g/d small onion in low onion group (LO; n=28) for eight weeks intervention. Participants, care givers and laboratory assessor were blinded to the assignments (IRCT registry no: IRCT2012103111335N1). The compliance of participants in the analysis was appropriate (87.9%). Comparing changes throughout pre- and post-dose treatments indicated significant controls on carcinoembryonic antigen, cancer antigen-125 and alkaline phosphatase levels in the HO group (P<0.05). Our findings for the first time showed that regular onion administration could be effective for hepatic enzyme conveying adjuvant chemotherapy relevant toxicity and reducing the tumor markers in BC during doxorubicin-based chemotherapy.