• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권2호통권82호
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• pp.185-191
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• 2007

Akt/PKB는 세포의 증식, 분화, 사멸, 혈관신생 등 매우 많은 생리활성 조절에 있어 매우 중요한 역할을 수행한다. 우리는 Akt/PKB의 tyrosine잔기의 인산화가 $Thr^{\308}$ 인산화에 필수적임을 밝혔다. COS-7 세포주에 EGF를 처 리하면 Akt/PKB의 tyrosine 잔기에 인산화가 촉진되었으며 이러한 인산화 촉진은 Akt/PKB에 myristoylation site를 이용해 세포막으로 이동시키면 더욱 더 증가하였다. 특히, 분리된 Akt/PKB와 EGF 수용체를 이용해 인산화 반응을 실시하면 tyrosine잔기의 인산화뿐만 아니라 $Ser^{\473}$에 대한 인산화도 증가하였다. 더욱이 tyrosine잔기에 인산화 된 Akt/PKB는 활성화된 EGF 수용체와 직접적인 결합을 이루고 있음을 확인하였다. 마지막으로 예측되는 tyrosine 잔기인 $(Tyr^{\326})$을 Alanine으로 치환하면 정상 Akt/PKB뿐만 아니라 활성화된 Akt/PKB의 EGF에 의한 $Thr^{\308}$ 인산화가 사라짐을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과들을 바탕으로 EGF 수용체에 의한 직접적인 Akt/PKB의 tyrosine 인산화는 EGF에 의한 많은 생리활성 조절기전의 또 다른 기전이라 볼 수 있다.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2019년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.33-33
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• 2019

The AKT signaling pathway is a highly regulated cell signaling system that forms a network with other cell signaling pathways. Hence, the AKT signaling pathway mediates several important cellular functions that include cell survival, proliferation, cell migration, and et cetera. Irregularities that led overactive AKT signaling have been linked to many diseases such as cancer and metabolic-associated diseases. Hence, modulating the overactive AKT signaling pathway via inhibitor is a tantalizing prospect for treatment of cancer and metabolic-associated diseases. Two inhibitors of the AKT signaling pathway will be presented in this symposium: 1) Bisleuconothine A (BisA), a bisindole alkaloid that inhibit autophagy and 2) Ceramicine B (CerB), a limonoid that inhibit adipogenesis. The first topic is on a bisindole alkaloid, BisA and its mechanism in inducing autophagosome formation in lung cancer cell line, A549.(1) Since most autophagy inducing agents generally induce apoptosis, we found that BisA does not induce apoptosis even in high dose. BisA up-regulation of LC3 lipidation is achieved through mTOR inactivation. The phosphorylation of PRAS40, a mTOR repressor was suppressed by BisA. This observation suggested that BisA inactivates mTOR via suppression of PRAS40 phosphorylation. Interestingly, the phosphorylation of AKT, an upstream regulator of PRAS40 phosphorylation was also down-regulated by BisA. These findings suggested that Bis-A induces autophagosomes formation by interfering with the AKT-mTOR signaling pathway. The second topic is on CerB and its mechanism in inhibiting adipogenesis in preadipocytes cell line, MC3T3-G2/PA6.(2,3) CerB inhibits the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) at the Thr308 position but not the Ser473. Consequently, the phosphorylation of FOXO3 which is located downstream of AKT is also inhibited. Considering that FOXO3 is an important regulator of PPARγ which is a key factor in adipogenesis, CerB may inhibit adipogenesis via the AKT-FOXO3 signaling pathway. Taken together, both BisA and CerB highlighted the potential of AKT signaling pathway modulation as an approach to induce autophagy and inhibit the formation of fat cells, respectively.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.178-182
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• 2005

Nitric oxide (NO) produced from endothelial cells plays a critical role in vascular physiology. The regulation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) involves various mechanisms including multiple Ser/Thr phosphorylations. Recently, eNOS-Ser617 was newly recognized to be phosphorylated in response to humoral factors including vascular endothelial growth factor. However, it remains unknown whether and how eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation is stimulated by shear stress, the primary stimulus of endothelial NO production. This issue was explored in the present study using cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). Over-expression of a constitutively active protein kinase B(Akt) mutant in BAECs increased Ser617 phosphorylation while constitutively active protein kinase A mutant had no effect. When BAECs were subjected to an arterial level of laminar shear stress, eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation was clearly increased in a time-dependent manner. Shear stress also stimulated Akt phosphorylation at Thr308, one of the key regulatory sites. The time courses of eNOS-Ser617 and Akt-Thr308 phosphorylations appeared to be very similar. These results suggested that eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation, mediated by Akt, is a physiological response to the mechanical shear stress, involved in the regulation of NO production in endothelial cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2010

The serine/threonine kinase Akt has been shown to play a role of multiple cellular signaling pathways and act as a transducer of many functions initiated by growth factor receptors that activate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). It has been reported that phosphorylated Akt activates eNDS resulting in the production of NO and that NO stimulates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), which results in accumulation of cGMP and subsequent activation of the protein kinase G (PKG). It has been also reported that PKG activates PI3K/Akt signaling. Therefore, it is possible that PI3K, Akt, eNOS, sGC, and PKG form a loop to exert enhanced and sustained activation of Akt. However, the existence of this loop in eNOS-expressing cells, such as endothelial cells or astrocytes, has not been reported. Thus, we examined a possibility that Akt phosphorylation might be enhanced via eNOS/sGC/PKG/PI3K pathway in astrocytes in vivo and in vitro. Phosphorylation of Akt was detected in astrocytes after KA treatment and was maintained up to 72 h in mouse hippocampus. 2 weeks after KA treatment, astrocytic Akt phosphorylation was normalized to control. The inhibition of eNOS, sGC, and PKG significantly decreased Akt and eNDS phosphorylation induced by KA in astrocytes. In contrast, the decreased phosphorylation of Akt and eNDS by eNDS inhibition was significantly reversed with PKG activation. The above findings in mouse hippocampus were also observed in primary astrocytes. These data suggest that Akt/eNOS/sGC/PKG/PI3K pathway may constitute a loop, resulting in enhanced and sustained Akt activation in astrocytes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.394-401
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1, a triterpene saponin, is derived from the Panax ginseng root and has potent antiinflammatory activity. In this study, we determined if Rb1 can increase macrophage phagocytosis and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. Methods: To measure macrophage phagocytosis, mouse peritoneal macrophages or RAW 264.7 cells were cultured with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Escherichia coli, and the phagocytic index was determined by flow cytometry. Western blot analyses were performed. Results: Ginsenoside Rb1 increased macrophage phagocytosis and phosphorylation of p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK), but inhibition of p38 MAPK activity with SB203580 decreased the phagocytic ability of macrophages. Rb1 also increased Akt phosphorylation, which was suppressed by LY294002, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor. Rb1-induced Akt phosphorylation was inhibited by SB203580, (5Z)-7-oxozeaenol, and small-interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of $p38{\alpha}$ MAPK in macrophages. However, Rb1-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation was not blocked by LY294002 or siRNA-mediated knockdown of Akt. The inhibition of Akt activation with siRNA or LY294002 also inhibited the Rb1-induced increase in phagocytosis. Rb1 increased macrophage phagocytosis of IgG-opsonized beads but not unopsonized beads. The phosphorylation of p21 activated kinase 1/2 and actin polymerization induced by IgG-opsonized beads and Rb1 were inhibited by SB203580 and LY294002. Intraperitoneal injection of Rb1 increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and Akt and the phagocytosis of bacteria in bronchoalveolar cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that ginsenoside Rb1 enhances the phagocytic capacity of macrophages for bacteria via activation of the p38/Akt pathway. Rb1 may be a useful pharmacological adjuvant for the treatment of bacterial infections in clinically relevant conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.547-554
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• 2017

Previous studies have demonstrated the role of hydroquinone (HQ), a hydroxylated benzene metabolite, in modulating various immune responses; however, its role in macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses is not fully understood. In this study, the role of HQ in inflammatory responses and the underlying molecular mechanism were explored in macrophages. HQ down-regulated the expression of interferon $(IFN)-{\beta}$ mRNA in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells without any cytotoxicity and suppressed interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3-mediated luciferase activity induced by TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF) and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). A mechanism study revealed that HQ inhibited IRF-3 phosphorylation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TRIF, and AKT by suppressing phosphorylation of AKT, an upstream kinase of the IRF-3 signaling pathway. IRF-3 phosphorylation is highly induced by wild-type AKT and poorly induced by an AKT mutant, AKT C310A, which is mutated at an inhibitory target site of HQ. We also showed that HQ inhibited IRF-3 phosphorylation by targeting all three AKT isoforms (AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3) in RAW264.7 cells and suppressed IRF-3-mediated luciferase activities induced by AKT in HEK293 cells. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that HQ inhibits the production of a type I IFN, $IFN-{\beta}$, by targeting AKTs in the IRF-3 signaling pathway during macrophage-mediated inflammation.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권12호
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• pp.1651-1656
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• 2008

Redox factor-1 (Ref-1)은 산화적으로 손상된 DNA의 복구와 세포내 산화환원에 민감한 전사인자들의 활성화에 필수적인 역할을 수행한다. 본 연구에서는 마우스 유래 혈관내피세포주 (MAE)에서 nitric oxide (NO) 생성과정에 관여하는 AKT 활성화의 측면에서 adenoviral vector를 사용하여 과발현된 Ref-1의 역할을 살펴보았다. NO 측정을 위하여 fluorophore DAF-2를 사용하였다. 과발현된 Ref-1은 bradykinin으로 자극한 세포뿐만 아니라 자극되지 않은 세포의 NO 생성도 증가시켰다. 놀랍게도 이 과발현된 Ref-1은 AKT의 직접적인 인산화를 유도하였으며, AKT 저해제로 널리 사용되는 wortmannin에 의해 반응이 억제되었다. 또한, Ref-1에 의한 직접적인 AKT 활성화를 증명하기 위하여 HA-tagged activation-deficient AKT를 과발현시키는 adenoviral vector를 사용하였다. 이 방법을 이용한 AKT 활성의 저해는 과발현된 Ref-1에 의한 NO 생성 및 bradykinin 자극에 의한 NO 생성을 억제하였다. 이들 결과는 Ref-1이 마우스 혈관내피세포에서 직접적인 AKT 인산화를 통하여 eNOS 활성화를 유도한다는 것을 의미한다.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.416-425
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• 2009

Angiogenesis is important for promoting cardiovascular disease, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. We here investigated the pharmacological effects of Korea red ginseng water extract (KRGE) on angiogenesis and its underlying signal mechanism. This study showed that KRGE increased in vitro proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical endothelial cells, as well as stimulated in vivo angiogenesis. KRGE-induced angiogenesis was accompanied by phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) as well as an increase in NO production. Inhibition of PI3K activity by wortmannin completely inhibited KRGE-induced angiogenesis and phosphorylation of Akt, ERK1/2, and eNOS, indicating that PI3K/Akt activation is an upstream event of KRGE-mediated angiogenic pathway. The MEK inhibitor PD98059 completely blocked KRGE-induced angiogenesis and ERK phosphorylation without affecting Akt and eNOS activation. However, the eNOS inhibitor NMA effectively inhibited tube formation, but partially blocked proliferation and migration as well as ERK phosphorylation without altering Akt and eNOS activation, revealing that eNOS/NO pathway is in part involved in ERK1/2 activation. This study first demonstrated the critical involvement of both ERK1/2 and eNOS activation in KRGE-induced angiogenesis, which lie on downstream of PI3K/Akt. Thus, these results indicate that KRGE requires activation of both the PI3K/Akt-dependent ERK1/2 and eNOS signal pathways and their cross-talk for its full angiogenic activity.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.167-172
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• 2017

In this study, we investigated the effect of Puerariae Radix ethanol extracts (EPR). The effect of the EPR on proliferation of human hair dermal papilla cells(HHDPCs) by MTT assay and observed Expression of mechanisms that regulate cell proliferation extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) and Akt by western blot. The results showed EPR increased the proliferation of HHDPCs and up-regulation phosphorylation of ERK and Akt. ERK and Akt increased by EPR inhibited phosphorylation by PD98059 (ERK inhibitor) and LY294002 (Akt inhibitor), and cell proliferation was also inhibited. These results suggested EPR increases the proliferation of HHDPCs through phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, and therefore is a beneficial effect for the alopecia treatment.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.424-430
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• 2007

The biological effects of low-dose radiation have been investigated and debated for more than a century, but its cellular effects and regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study shows the human cellular responses to low-dose radiation in CCD-18 Lu cells, which are derived from normal human lung fibroblasts. We examined a colony-forming assay for cell survival by ionizing radiation. Live cell counting and cell cycle analysis were measured for cell proliferation and cell cycle progression following low-dose irradiation. We examined Raf and Akt phosphorylation to determine the proliferation mechanism resulting from low-dose radiation. We also observed that p53 and p21 were related to cell cycle response. We found that 0.05 Gy of ionizing radiation enhanced cell proliferation and did not change the progression of the cell cycle. In addition, 0.05 Gy of ionizing radiation transiently activated Raf and Akt, but did not change phospho-p53, p53 and p21 in CCD-18 Lu cells. However, 2 Gy of ionizing radiation induced cell cycle arrest, phosphorylation of p53, and expression of p53 and p21. The phosphorylation of Raf and Akt proteins induced by 0.05 Gy of ionizing radiation was abolished by pre-treatment with an EGFR inhibitor, AG1478, or a PI3k inhibitor, LY294002. Cell proliferation stimulated by 0.05 Gy of ionizing radiation was blocked by the suppression of Raf and Akt phosphorylation with these inhibitors. These results suggest that 0.05 Gy of ionizing radiation stimulates cell proliferation through the transient activation of Raf and Akt in CCD-18 Lu cells.