• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.295-302
• /
• 2017

Mononuclear osteoclast precursors derived from hematopoietic progenitors fuse together and then become multinucleated mature osteoclasts by macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL). Especially, the binding of RANKL to its receptor RANK provides key signals for osteoclast differentiation and bone-resorbing function. RANK transduces intracellular signals by recruiting adaptor molecules such as TNFR-associated factors (TRAFs), which then activate mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), Src/PI3K/Akt pathway, nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and finally amplify NFATc1 activation for the transcription and activation of osteoclast marker genes. This review will briefly describe RANKL-RANK signaling pathways and key molecules critical for osteoclast differentiation.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제50권9호
• /
• pp.437-444
• /
• 2017

Different types of eukaryotic cells may adopt seemingly distinct modes of directional cell migration. However, several core aspects are regarded common whether the movement is either ameoboidal or mesenchymal. The region of cells facing the attractive signal is often termed leading edge where lamellipodial structures dominates and the other end of the cell called rear end is often mediating cytoskeletal F-actin contraction involving Myosin-II. Dynamic remodeling of cell-to-matrix adhesion involving integrin is also evident in many types of migrating cells. All these three aspects of cell migration are significantly affected by signaling networks of TorC2, TorC1, and PP2A/B56. Here we review the current views of the mechanistic understanding of these regulatory signaling networks and how these networks affect eukaryotic cell migration.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제28권6호
• /
• pp.549-560
• /
• 2020

Although DNA damage responses (DDRs) are reported to be involved in nitric oxide (NO) production in response to genotoxic stresses, the precise mechanism of DDR-mediated NO production has not been fully understood. Using a genotoxic agent aphidicolin, we investigated how DDRs regulate NO production in bovine aortic endothelial cells. Prolonged (over 24 h) treatment with aphidicolin increased NO production and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) protein expression, which was accompanied by increased eNOS dimer/monomer ratio, tetrahydrobiopterin levels, and eNOS mRNA expression. A promoter assay using 5'-serially deleted eNOS promoters revealed that Tax-responsive element site, located at -962 to -873 of the eNOS promoter, was responsible for aphidicolin-stimulated eNOS gene expression. Aphidicolin increased CREB activity and ectopic expression of dominant-negative inhibitor of CREB, A-CREB, repressed the stimulatory effects of aphidicolin on eNOS gene expression and its promoter activity. Co-treatment with LY294002 decreased the aphidicolin-stimulated increase in p-CREB-Ser¹³³ level, eNOS expression, and NO production. Furthermore, ectopic expression of dominant-negative Akt construct attenuated aphidicolin-stimulated NO production. Aphidicolin increased p-ATM-Ser¹⁹⁸¹ and the knockdown of ATM using siRNA attenuated all stimulatory effects of aphidicolin on p-Akt-Ser⁴⁷³, p-CREB-Ser¹³³, eNOS expression, and NO production. Additionally, these stimulatory effects of aphidicolin were similarly observed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Lastly, aphidicolin increased acetylcholine-induced vessel relaxation in rat aortas, which was accompanied by increased p-ATM-Ser¹⁹⁸¹, p-Akt-Ser⁴⁷³, p-CREB-Ser¹³³, and eNOS expression. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that in response to aphidicolin, activation of ATM/Akt/CREB/eNOS signaling cascade mediates increase of NO production and vessel relaxation in endothelial cells and rat aortas.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제42권1호
• /
• pp.116-121
• /
• 2018

Background: Black ginseng (BG) has greatly enhanced pharmacological activities relative to white or red ginseng. However, the effect and molecular mechanism of BG on muscle growth has not yet been examined. In this study, we investigated whether BG could regulate myoblast differentiation and myotube hypertrophy. Methods: BG-treated C2C12 myoblasts were differentiated, followed by immunoblotting for myogenic regulators, immunostaining for a muscle marker, myosin heavy chain or immunoprecipitation analysis for myogenic transcription factors. Results: BG treatment of C2C12 cells resulted in the activation of Akt, thereby enhancing hetero-dimerization of MyoD and E proteins, which in turn promoted muscle-specific gene expression and myoblast differentiation. BG-treated myoblasts formed larger multinucleated myotubes with increased diameter and thickness, accompanied by enhanced Akt/mTOR/p70S6K activation. Furthermore, the BG treatment of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells restored myogenic differentiation. Conclusion: BG enhances myoblast differentiation and myotube hypertrophy by activating Akt/mTOR/p70S6k axis. Thus, our study demonstrates that BG has promising potential to treat or prevent muscle loss related to aging or other pathological conditions, such as diabetes.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
• /
• 제50권11호
• /
• pp.6.1-6.12
• /
• 2018

Morphine tolerance remains a challenge in the management of chronic pain in the clinic. As shown in our previous study, the dopamine D2 receptor (D2DR) expressed in spinal cord neurons might be involved in morphine tolerance, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In the present study, selective spinal D2DR blockade attenuated morphine tolerance in mice by inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/serine-threonine kinase (Akt)-mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in a ${\mu}$ opioid receptor (MOR)-dependent manner. Levo-corydalmine (l-CDL), which exhibited micromolar affinity for D2DR in D2/CHO-K1 cell lines in this report and effectively alleviated bone cancer pain in our previous study, attenuated morphine tolerance in rats with chronic bone cancer pain at nonanalgesic doses. Furthermore, the intrathecal administration of l-CDL obviously attenuated morphine tolerance, and the effect was reversed by a D2DR agonist in mice. Spinal D2DR inhibition and l-CDL also inhibited tolerance induced by the MOR agonist DAMGO. l-CDL and a D2DR small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreased the increase in levels of phosphorylated Akt and MAPK in the spinal cord; these changes were abolished by a PI3K inhibitor. In addition, the activated Akt and MAPK proteins in mice exhibiting morphine tolerance were inhibited by a MOR antagonist. Intrathecal administration of a PI3K inhibitor also attenuated DAMGO-induced tolerance. Based on these results, l-CDL antagonized spinal D2DR to attenuate morphine tolerance by inhibiting PI3K/Akt-dependent MAPK phosphorylation through MOR. These findings provide insights into a more versatile treatment for morphine tolerance.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.191-197
• /
• 2019

파킨슨병은 운동완서, 근육경직, 진전 및 비정상적인 자세 등을 임상적 특징으로 하는 주로 운동 신경계에 영향을 주는 진행성 신경 퇴행성 질환이다. 파킨슨병은 산화 스트레스와 세포 내 신호 전달 경로의 조절 장애에 의한 뇌 흑색치밀부에서의 도파민성 신경세포의 사멸을 특징으로 한다. Quercetin의 주요 대사산물인 Quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (Q3GA)는 신경 보호 효과가 있는 것으로 보고 되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 SH-SY5Y 세포에서 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium ($MPP^+$)에 의해 유도된 신경 독성에 대한 Q3GA의 신경 보호 효과와 그 분자 조절 기전을 조사하였다. Q3GA는 $MPP^+$에 의해 유도된 세포 사멸을 유의적으로 감소시켰으며 PARP 절단을 감소시켰다. 또한, Bax/Bcl-2 비율의 감소와 함께 $MPP^+$에 의해 증가된 세포 내 ROS를 감소시켰다. Q3GA는 $MPP^+$에 의해 감소된 Akt와 CREB의 인산화를 유의적으로 회복시켰지만, ERK에는 영향을 미치지 않았다. 이 결과는 Q3GA가 ROS 생산 억제와 Akt/CREB 신호 전달 경로를 통해 $MPP^+$ 에 의해 유도된 신경 독성을 억제시킬 수 있음을 시사한다. 본 연구는 Q3GA가 파킨슨병에 대한 예방제 또는 치료제로 개발될 수 있는 가능성을 제시한다.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제42권6호
• /
• pp.448-459
• /
• 2019

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling pathway is a promising target for gastric cancer (GC) treatment; however the efficacy of PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitors in GC has not yet been maximized. Additionally, the effect of autophagy regulation by PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitors has not been clearly elucidated in GC treatment. We aimed to show that our newly developed PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor, CMG002, when combined with an autophagy inhibitor, chloroquine (CQ), potently induces effective cancer cell death in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) cells, where both the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and autophagy pathways play important roles in disease pathogenesis. EBV- and mock-infected AGS and NUGC3 GC cell lines were treated with CMG002 +/- CQ. PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway mediators, cellular apoptosis and autophagy markers were confirmed by Western blot assay. Cell viability was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. CMG002 effectively blocked the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by markedly decreasing phosphorylation of AKT and its downstream mediator S6. CMG002 induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and enhanced apoptotic cell death in AGS and NUGC3 cells, particularly EBV-infected cells compared with mock-infected cells, as confirmed by flow cytometric analyses and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assays. The combination of CMG002 plus CQ synergistically increased apoptotic cell death in EBV-infected GC cell lines when compared with CMG002 alone (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that the new PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor, CMG002, when used in combination with the autophagy inhibitor, CQ, provides enhanced therapeutic efficacy against EBVaGC.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제32권11호
• /
• pp.882-889
• /
• 2022

Breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance 3 (BCAR3)는 유방암에서 항에스트로겐 내성을 유도하는 유전자들 중의 하나로 발견되었다. 우리는 이미 BCAR3가 c-jun, activator protein-1, serum response element의 promoter 등을 활성화하는 것을 보고하였다. 본 연구에서 우리는 정상 유방세포인 MCF-12A에서 estrogen response element (ERE) 활성에서의 BCAR3의 기능을 조사하였다. BCAR3의 발현이 ERE를 활성화하는 것을 발견하였다. 이 ERE 활성화는 17β-estradiol에 의해 더욱 증가하였고, 이는 항에스트론겐인 tamoxifen에 의해 억제되지 않았다. 다음으로 우리는 ERE 활성화를 이끄는 BCAR3의 신호전달 경로를 연구하였다. BCAR3에 의한 ERE 활성화는 phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase 경로 억제제인 LY294002와 AZD5363에 의해서는 억제되었으나, Mitogen-activated protein kinase 경로 억제제인 PD98059와 U0126에 의해서는 억제되지 않았다. ERE 활성화는 PI3-kinase의 catalytic subunit p110α와 Akt의 active mutant에 의해서는 유도되었고, 이 활성화는 추가적인 BCAR3에 의해서는 더욱 증가하지 않았다. 이러한 결과로부터 우리는 BCAR3가 PI3-kinase/Akt 신호전달경로를 통하여 ERE 활성화에 중요한 역할을 하는 것을 제시한다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제34권2호
• /
• pp.94-104
• /
• 2024

β-lapachone은 다양한 유형의 질병을 치료하기 위해 남미 및 중미 지역의 전통 의학에서 널리 사용되어 온 Tabebuia vellanedae의 껍질에서 분리된 천연 퀴논 화합물의 일종이다. β-lapachone은 여러 유형의 암세포에서 강력한 항암 활성을 갖는 것으로 보고되었지만, 간세포암종 세포의 증식에 대한 효과는 아직 불분명하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 β-lapachone 인간 간세포암종 Hep3B 세포의 증식에 미치는 영향을 조사하였으며, 본 연구의 결과에 의하면, β-lapachone 처리에 의한 Hep3B 세포의 세포생존율 감소는 세포사멸 유도와 밀접한 관련이 있었다. 또한, β-lapachone이 처리된 Hep3B 세포에서는 항세포사멸 인자인 Bcl-2의 발현이 감소한 반면, 세포사멸 유도 인자인 Bax의 발현은 증가하였으며, 이는 caspase cascade의 활성 증가와 연관성이 있었다. 그러나 pan-caspase 억제제가 존재하는 경우 β-lapachone에 의해 유발된 세포사멸은 약화되었으며, 이는 β-lapachone에 의한 세포사멸 유도가 caspase 의존적인 현상임을 의미한다. 아울러, β-lapachone의 처리는 ERK 경로를 활성화시키면서 PI3K/Akt 경로의 활성을 억제하였으며, β-lapachone 유도 세포사멸에 ERK 억제제의 효과는 미미했지만, PI3K 억제제는 β-lapachone에 의해 유도된 세포사멸을 유의하게 증가시켰다. 비록 생체 내 동물 모델에서의 확인이 필요하지만, 본 연구의 결과는 간세포암종 세포에서 β-lapa-chone의 항암 활성을 이해하는 데 유용한 자료로 활용될 것이다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제28권1호
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2005

Cancer is still a major global health concern even after an everlasting strive in conquering this dread disease. Emphasis is now given to chemoprevention to reduce the risk of cancer and also to improve the quality of life among cancer afflicted individuals. Recent progress in molecular biology of cancer has identified key components of the cellular signaling network, whose functional abnormality results in undesired alterations in cellular homeostasis, creating a cellular microenvironment that favors premalignant and malignant transformation. Multiple lines of evidence suggest an elevated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is causally linked to cancer. In response to oxidative/pro-inflammatory stimuli, turning on unusual signaling arrays mediated through diverse classes of kinases and transcription factors results in aberrant expression of COX-2. Population-based as well as laboratory studies have explored a broad spectrum of chemopreventive agents including selective COX-2 inhibitors and a wide variety of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, which have been shown to target cellular signaling molecules as underlying mechanisms of chemoprevention. Thus, unraveling signaling pathways regulating aberrant COX-2 expression and targeted blocking of one or more components of those signal cascades may be exploited in searching chemopreventive agents in the future.