• BMB Reports
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.201-206
• /
• 2013

Sulforaphane [1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl)-butane] is an isothiocyanate found in some cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli. Sulforaphane has been shown to display anti-cancer properties against various cancer cell lines. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM), plays an important role in cancer cell invasion. In this study, we investigated the effect of sulforaphane on 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion in MCF-7 cells. TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion were decreased by sulforaphane treatment. TPA substantially increased NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 DNA binding activity. Pre-treatment with sulforaphane inhibited TPA-stimulated NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity, but not AP-1 binding activity. In addition, we found that sulforaphane suppressed NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, by inhibiting phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B $ in TPA-treated MCF-7 cells. In this study, we demonstrated that the inhibition of TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion by sulforaphane was mediated by the suppression of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway in MCF-7 cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.421-431
• /
• 2008

Objectives : This study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Ulmus davidiana on the generation of peroxynitrite $(ONOO^{-})$, nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion radicals $(O_{2}^{-})$ in the endothelial cells of rat vessels. The effects of Ulmus davidiana on the expression of inflammation-related proteins, $NF-{\kappa}B$ (p50, p65), COX-2, and iNOS, were examined by western blotting. Methods : For this study, fluorescent probes, namely dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123), 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) were used. Western blotting was performed via using anti-$NF-{\kappa}B$ (p50, p65), anti-COX-2, and anti-iNOS, respectively. Results : Ulmus davidiana inhibited the generation of $ONOO^{-}$, NO and $(O_{2}^{-})$ in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated endothelial cells of rat vessels in vitro. Ulmus davidiana inhibited the expression of COX-2 and iNOS genes by means of decreasing the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. Conclusions : These results suggest Ulmus davidiana is effective on inhibiting the generation of $ONOO^{-}$, NO and $O_{2}^{-}$, and that therefore it might have a potential role as a treatment for the inflammatory process and inflammation-related diseases.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.202-210
• /
• 2018

Abeliophyllum distichum is a medicinal plant used in regional traditional medicine to relieve pain in inflammatory processes. In this study, anti-inflammatory effects of Abeliophyllum distichum flower (ADF) extract were examined. Furthermore, possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effects were dissected. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated by inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in murine macrophage-like cell line Raw264.7 cells. The measurement of the induced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were carried out by ELISA. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and MAPK, and the nuclear expression of nuclear factor NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 were investigated by Western blot analysis. The extract of ADF significantly decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, the extract suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and the nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 in activated cells. Our findings provide evidence for the popular use of Abeliophylli distichum in inflammation around Goesan region and also suggest that the flower extract has potential therapeutic benefits against various inflammatory diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.288-297
• /
• 2009

Objective : Inflammatory cytokines have a close relationship to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The inhibitory effect of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma (SGR) were examined on production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ $(PGE_2)$, synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and NF-${\kappa}$B activation in Raw 264.7 cells. Methods: Raw 264.7 cells were pretreated with SGR(20, 50, 100 ${\mu}g$/ml), and then cultured with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Cell viability was measured by MTT assay; inhibition of NO, $PGE_2$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ production were measured by Griess reagent and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Induction of COX-2 and iNOS were determined by western blotting analysis. Inhibition of NF-${\kappa}$B was measured by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Results: SGR inactivated NF-${\kappa}$B, and inhibited the production of NO, iNOS, and $PGE_2$. Inhibition of COX-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ could not be confirmed. Conclusions: From the above result. SGR was found to have an anti-inflammatory effect of inhibition of NO, iNOS, and $PGE_2$ production via inhibition of NF-${\kappa}$B.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.32-38
• /
• 2014

Potassium cyanate (KOCN) that is known as an inducer of the protein carbamylation is an inorganic compound and is the conjugate based of cyanic acid (HOCN). Based on these studies, we confirmed that KOCN induces the apoptosis of the human colorectal cancer cell line, HCT 116 cells, by various mitochondrial pathways. To investigate other mechanisms of KOCN-mediated apoptosis, in the present study, we examined KOCN-induced cytokines production in HCT 116 cells and identified the intracellular signaling pathway in these processes. We first demonstrated that KOCN considerably increased the cell apoptosis via intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signaling, mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS production. And then we examined TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ levels mediated by KOCN in HCT 116 cells. Although IL-$1{\beta}$ was not involved in KOCN-mediated HCT 116 cell apoptosis, the release of TNF-${\alpha}$ was mediated by KOCN in HCT 116 cells via NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Apoptosis was also enhanced by incubation with supernatants from HCT 116 cells after KOCN treatment and this effect was partially reduced by BAY 11-7085 pre-treated supernatant. Taken together, our results indicate that KOCN-induced apoptosis in HCT 116 cells is dependent on the releases of TNF-${\alpha}$ and the increased factors and that the mechanism involves the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.251-257
• /
• 2003

Agmatine, an amine and organic cation, reduced $H_2O_2$ that was generated by hyperglycemia, and transcription factors such as NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 activity in the mesangial cells that were exposed to high glucose. However, spermine which shares a strong nucleophilic structure with agmatine decreased the $H_2O_2$ levels and AP-1, but not the NF-${\kappa}B$ activity. Possible roles for agmatine and spermine in decreasing fibronectin are discussed, and the signaling pathway for agmatine-reduced fibronectin accumulation is presented.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2003

Osteoblasts are affected by TNF-${\alpha}$ overproduction by immune cells during inflammation. It has been suggested that functional $NF-{\kappa}B$ sites are involved in TNF-${\alpha}$-induced bone resorption. Thus, we explored the effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), which potently blocks the activation of nuclear factor $(NF-{\kappa}B)$, on the induction of TNF-${\alpha}$-induced activation of JNK/SAPK, AP-1, cytochrome c, caspase and apoptosis in MC3T3E1 osteoblasts. Pretreatment of the cells with PDTC blocked TNF-${\alpha}$-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. TNF-${\alpha}$-induced activation of AP-1, another nuclear transcription factor, was suppressed by PDTC. The activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, implicated in the regulation of AP-1, was also down regulated by PDTC. TNF-${\alpha}$-induced apoptosis, release of cytochrome c and subsequent activation of caspase-3 were abolished by PDTC. TNF-${\alpha}$-induced apoptosis was partially blocked by Ac-DEVD-CHO, a caspase-3 inhibitor, suggesting that caspase-3 is involved in TNF-${\alpha}$-mediated signaling through $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MC3T3E1 osteoblasts. Thus, these results demonstrate that PDTC, has an inhibitory effect on TNF-${\alpha}$-mediated activation of JNK/SAPK, AP-1, cytochrome c release and subsequent caspase-3, leading to the inhibition of apoptosis. Our study may contribute to the treatment of TNF-${\alpha}$-associated immune and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.441-449
• /
• 2015

Flavonoids are plant pigments that have been demonstrated to exert various pharmacological effects including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms in terms of exact target proteins of flavonoids are not fully elucidated yet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of scutellarein (SCT), a flavonoid isolated from Erigeron breviscapus, Clerodendrum phlomidis and Oroxylum indicum Vent that have been traditionally used to treat various inflammatory diseases in China and Brazil. For this purpose, a nitric oxide (NO) assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nuclear fractionation, immunoblot analysis, a kinase assay, and an overexpression strategy were employed. Scutellarein significantly inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the mRNA expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, SCT also dampened nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$-driven expression of a luciferase reporter gene upon transfection of a TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF) construct into Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells; similarly, NF-${\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation was inhibited by SCT. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of various upstream signaling enzymes involved in NF-${\kappa}B$ activation were decreased by SCT treatment in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Finally, SCT strongly inhibited Src kinase activity and also inhibited the autophosphorylation of overexpressed Src. Therefore, our data suggest that SCT can block the inflammatory response by directly inhibiting Src kinase activity linked to NF-${\kappa}B$ activation.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.14-20
• /
• 2000

DHAQ-97, (2-(3-[p-bis(2-chloroethyl)aminophenyl]-2 formylaminopropanoyloxy) methy1-1,4-dihy-droxy-9,10-anthraquinone), is a novel anthraquinone derivative synthesized for use as an anti-neoplastic agent. In the present study, we have evaluated the selective cytotoxicity of DHAQ-97 by comparing its effects on viability and proliferation of human breast cancer cell line (NCF-7) versus normal immortalized breast epithelial cell line (MCF-10A). Thus, DHAQ-97 reduced both viability and proliferation of MCF-7 cells to a much greater extent than did for MCF-10A cells. The growth inhibitory and anti-proliferative properties of DHAQ-97 appear to be attributable to its ability to induce apoptosis as revealed by positive staining after in 냐셔 nick-end labeling (TUNEL), cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into cytoplasm, and increased expression of pro-apoptotic Bax protein. Recent studies have indicated possible involvement of the ubiquitous eukaryotic transcription factor, NF-kappa B (NF-kB) in the regulation of apoptotic cell death. In line induced cytotoxicity in cultured MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, mild activation of NF-kB, as determined by its increased DNA binding capability, was observed 30 min after treatment with 10$\mu\textrm{m}$ DHAQ-97. Taken together, the above findings suggest that DHAQ-97 exerts selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells through induction of apoptosis, which appears to be regulated by NF-kB.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.2277-2281
• /
• 2015

Objectives: To explore the expression of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) in cervical cancer and analyze its correlation with microvascular density (MVD), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kB p65) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical MaxVision method was adopted to detect the expression level of AEG-1, NF-kB p65 and VEGF in 45 samples of invading cervical cancer and 12 samples of cervicitis from The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. Tumor microvascular endothelial marker CD34 combined with Weidner was used to determine the MVD in cervical cancer tissue. The positive expression and staining conditions of AEG-1, NF-kB p65 and VEGF in cervical cancer tissues were observed under a light microscope. Correlations between expression of AEG-1 protein and those of NF-Kb p65 and VEGF, as well as MVD, were analyzed using Pearson correlation. Results: The expression levels of AEG-1 were $0.186{\pm}0.043$ in cervical cancer and $0.051{\pm}0.002$ in chronic cervicitis (p<0.01). Moreover, expression of AEG-1 was related to vascular invasion and lymphatic metastasis of cervical cancer (p<0.01), but not with age of the patients, differentiation degree, tumour size, pathological type and parametrial infiltration (p>0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the expression of AEG-1 was linked with NF-kB p65 (r=0.501, p=0.000), VEGF (r=0.718, p=0.000) as well as MVD in cervical cancer tissue (r=0.815, p=0.000). Conclusions: AEG-1 is highly expressed in cervical cancer and promotes angiogenesis, which might be related to the fact that AEG-1 activating the signal pathway of NF-kB could up-regulate the level of VEGF expression.