• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 1998

The effect of MAP kinase activity on maturation of porcine oocytes was investigated. MAP kinase was detected by immunofluorescence staining in nucleus of oocytes just before entering GVBD (germinal vesicle breakdown)stage. In a Western blot with GV (germinal vesicle) from these oocytes (cultured for 25 hours), a shift of MAP kinase band a, pp.ared, suggesting an activated stage of the kinase. No activity was shown in the blot with GV isolated from, oocytes cultured for 0 hour. To confirm that activation of MAP kinase induce GVBD, we microinjected MAP kinase purified from matured oocytes starfish into the cytoplasm of oocytes in GV stage (cultured for 0 hour). The injected MAP kinase did not cause early a, pp.arance of GVBD. No oocytes showed GVBD state until 20 hours of culture. Activity of MAP kinase did not increase significantly after the injection. When the exogenous MAP kinase was injected into GV, GVBD was induced in about 20% of oocytes cultured for 5 to 10 hours. These results suggest that MAP kinase is traslocated to nucleus and function as a factor inducing GVBD.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 1996

The mitogen-activated protein(MAP) kinase signal transduction pathway represents an important mechanism by which mitogen, such as serum and PMA, regulate cell proliferation and differentiation. Target substrates of the MAP kinase are located within several compartments containing plasma membranes and nucleus. We now report that serum addition induces proliferation of the P388 murine leukemia cell, but PMA does not, while both serum and PMA treatment cause translocation of the MAP kinase, mainly p42$^{mapk}$ isoform, from cytosol into the nucleus, which was monitored by immunoblot analysis using polyclonal anti-ERK1 antibodies. We investigated whether the MAP kinase was capable of phosphorylating c-Jun protein and GST-fusion proteins, the P562$^{kk}$N-terminal peptides (1-77 or 1-123 domain) of the T cell tyrosine kinase, using the partially purified MAP kinase by SP-sephadex C-50, phenyl superose and Mono Q column chromatography. We found that the partially purified MAP kinase was able to phosphorylate c-Jun protein and the GST-fusion protein expressed using E.coli DH5$\alpha$ which is transformed with pGEX-3Xb plasmid vector carrying of p562$^{kk}$N-terminal peptide-encoding DNA. These results imply that tyrosine kinase receptor/Ras/Raf/MAP kinase pathway is a major mechanism for mitogen-induced cell proliferation in P388 murine leukemia cell and that the various MAP kinase isoforms may have their own target substrates located in distinct subcellular compartments.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 1996

MAP kinases are a family of serine/threonine specific protein kinases becoming activated in response to different proliferative stimuli by phosphorylation at both threonine and tyrosine residue. Present study shows that MAP kinase was purified from P388 murine leukema cells by SP sephadex C-50, phenyl superose and Mono Q column chromatography and identified with anti-ERKl antibody by western blotting. Immnublotting analysis to the crude extract of P388 cell lysate shows 44 kD and other minor bands but partial purified fraction eluted from phenyl supherose column have 44kD and 66 kD isoform. Subcloned GST-fusion protein from N-terminal of $p56^{kk}$ was tested as a substrate for MAP kinase phosphorylation. It was showed that the wild type and mutant forms(S42A) were fully phosporylated by purified MAP kinase fraction as com-pare with the other mutant form(S59A). This finding suggest that those GST-fusion proteins may be used as substrate for the in vitro test of MAP kinase.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.11-32
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• 2010

Objective : The aim of this study is to determine the effects of Dendrobii herba extract and Punica granatum extract on skin disease and skin beauty. Methods : To investigate in vitro anti-oxidant activity assay, ethanol extracts of medicinal plants tested by DPPH radical, xanthine oxidase activity. In the next experiment, to investigate anti-inflammatory activity assay, examined by relations in NO synthesis, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$, COX-2, MAP kinase. To study Skin wrinkle formation effect, we were examined by tyrosinase activities, melanin synthesis in MNT-1 cell. Results : 1. In an anti-oxidant test, Dendrobii and Punica granatum extract showed high radical scavenging activity. 2. In an anti-inflammatory test, Dendrobii herba and Punica granatum extract weakly inhibited the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced nitric oxide(NO) release from RAW 246.7 macrophage cells. Dendrobii herba and Punica granatum extract also inhibited LPS-induced IL-$1{\beta}$ and COX-2 expressions. The inhibitory effect of Dendrobii herba and Punica granatum extract on macrophage activation were via the inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$, evidenced by transient transfection assay. however, Dendrobii herba and Punica granatum extract did not have any effects about activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase(JNK) and inhibition of p38 MAP kinase in RAW 264.7 cells. 3. In the skin wrinkle formation assay, Dendrobii herba and Punica granatum extract weakly inhibited collagenase and elastase, however it was not statistically significant. 4. In the skin whitening assay, Dendrobii herba and Punica granatum extract weakly inhibited tyrosinase activity, however, it was not statistically significant. They did not have any effect on melanin synthesis, indicating that they could not be applicable for skin whitening. Conclusion : Dendrobii herba extract and Punica granatum extract may play a significant role in skin disease and skin beauty.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.379-384
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• 1999

Taxol, a natural product with significant anti-tumor activity, stabilizes microtubules and arrests cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. It has been reported that taxol has additional effects on the cell such as an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins and activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. This phosphorylated kinase translocates into the nucleus and phosphorylates its substrate c-jun, c-fos, ATF2, and ATF3. The MAP kinase family is comprised of key regulatory proteins that control the cellular response to both proliferation and stress signals. First examination was cytotoxicity and apoptosis-induced concentration with paclitaxel in HeLa cell. A half-maximal inhibition of cell proliferation ($IC_{50}$) occurred at 13 nM paclitaxel. When DNA fragmentation was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, a nucleosomal ladder became evident 24 h after a taxol (50 nM) addition to the cells. In addition, an apoptotic body was detected by electron microscopy. Taxol-treated cells were arrested at the S phase at 10 nM. Treatment of 50 nM taxol activated the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1), and a fraction of the activated MAP kinases entered the nucleus. It was also discovered that nucleus substrates c-jun was phosphorylated and activated in the cell. The activated ERK1 could subsequently translocate into the nucleus and phosphorylate its substrate c-jun as well. This study suggests that taxol-induced apoptosis might be related with signal transduction via MAP kinases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.23-43
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• 2010

Objective : This study was performed to assess the effects of Aloe and Violae herba extracts on skin disease and skin beauty. Methods : Anti-oxidant effects were measured by the scavenging for DPPH radical, xanthine oxidase activity. Anti-inflammatory effects were examined by relations in NO synthesis, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, NF-kB, COX-2, MAP kinase. The skin wrinkle formation effects were measured by collagenase and elastase activities. The whitening effects were examined by tyrosinase activities, melanin synthesis in MNT-1 cell. Results : 1. In an anti-oxidant test, Aloe and Violae herba extracts showed high radical scavenging activity. 2. In an anti-inflammatory test, Aloe and Violae herba extracts strongly inhibited the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced nitric oxide(NO) release from the RAW 246.7 macrophage cells. Aloe and Violae herba extracts also inhibited the LPS-induced IL-$1{\beta}$ and COX-2 expressions. The inhibitory effects of Aloe and Violae herba extracts on macrophage activation were via the inhibition of NF-kB, evidenced by transient transfection assay. Furthermore, Aloe and Violae herba extracts weakly inhibited the activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase(JNK) but they did not have any effects on p38 MAP kinase in RAW 264.7 cells. 3. In the skin wrinkle formation assay, Aloe extract strongly inhibited collagenase and elastase, whose activity are tightly related with the wrinkle formation. 4. In the skin whitening assay, Aloe and Viloae herba extracts weakly inhibited tyrosinase activity, however, it was not statistically significant. Besides they did not have any effects on melanin synthesis, indicating that they could not be applicable for skin whitening. Conclusion : This study show that Aloe and Violae herba extracts may play a significant role in skin disease and skin beauty.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2002

We have previously demonstrated that phytoestrogens isolated from safflower seeds significantly attenuated bone loss in ovariectomized rats, and directly stimulated proliferation and differentiation of cultured osteoblastic cells. In an attempt to elucidate underlying cellular mechanisms, in the present study we investigated effects of $17{\beta}-estradiol\;(E_2)$ and phytoestrogens such as matairesinol and acacetin, a type of lignan and flavonoid, respectively, on activation of mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2, in cultured osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cells. Western blot analysis with anti-MAP kinase antibody showed that a wide range concentrations $(10^{-14}\;to\;10^{-6}\;M)\;of\;E_2$ as well as both phytoestrogens induced rapid and transient activation of ERK1/2 through phosphorylation within minutes. Maximum activation of MAP kinases by $E_2$ and phytoestrogens were observed at 10 and 15 min, respectively. $E_2-induced$ phosphorylation of ERK1/2 returned to the control level at 30 min, whereas phytoestrogen-induced phosphorylation was maintained at high level until 30 min. PD-98059, a highly selective inhibitor of MAP kinase, prevented phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the cells treated either with $E_2$ or phytoestrogens. To examine a possible involvement of estrogen receptor in the activation process of MAP kinase, Western blot analysis was performed in the presence and absence of the estrogen receptor antagonists, ICI 182,780 and tamoxifen. These antagonists blocked MAP kinase phosphorylation induced not only by $E_2,$ but also by the phytoestrogens. To the best our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that phytoestrogens such as flavonoid and lignan extracted from safflower seeds produce a rapid activation of MAP kinase, at least partially via membrane estrogen receptor of the cultured osteoblastic cells.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been isolated from a variety of plants, such as Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron amurense. It has a wide spectrum of clinical applications such as in anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it is still unknown that berberine related with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis pathway in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. In the present study, we are examined the molecular mechanism of ROS- and p38 MAP kinase-mediated apoptosis by berberine in HepG2 cells. Berberine increased cytotoxicity effects by time- and does-dependent manner. $LD_{50}$ was detected 50 ${\mu}M$ at 48h of exposure to berberine. Nuclei cleavage and apoptotic DNA fragmentation were observed in cells treated with 50 ${\mu}M$ of berberine for 48h. Moreover, berberine induced the activating of caspase-3, p53, p38 and Bax expression, whereas the expression of anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, Bcl-2, was decreased. Additionally, berberine-treated cells had an increased level of generation of ROS and nitric oxide (NO). These results indicated that berberine induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells may be mediated oxidative injury acts as an early and upstream change, triggers mitochondrial dysfunction, Bcl-2 and Bax modulation, p38 and p53 activation, caspase-3 activation, and consequent leading to apoptosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.435-441
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• 2013

Emodin, a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative isolated from Polygoni cuspidati radix, has several beneficial pharmacologic effects, which include anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, the authors examined the effect of emodin on the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6, in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus the calcium ionophore A23187. To investigate the mechanism responsible for the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production by emodin, the authors assessed its effects on the activations of transcriptional factor nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Emodin attenuated the nuclear translocation of (NF)-${\kappa}B$ p65 and its DNA-binding activity by reducing the phosphorylation and degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$ kinase B (IKK). Furthermore, emodin dose-dependently attenuated the phosphorylations of MAPKs, such as, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAP kinase, and the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK)/c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). Taken together, the findings of this study suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of emodin on PMA plus A23187-stimulated BMMCs are mediated via the inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and of the MAPK pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.173-182
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• 2013

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with dysfunction of skin barrier and cutaneous hyper-reactivity to environmental triggers. In the previous study, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities were investigated for various herbal extracts such as Aloe vera L. (AV), Viola mandshurica W. Becker (VM), Punica granatum L. (PG), and Dendrobium nobile L. (DN) in order to develop effective therapeutic herbal extracts for atopic dermatitis, In this study, anti-inflammatory activities of these herb extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage RAW264.7 cells were further examined to find the underlying molecular mechanisms. The RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) analysis showed that PG, DN and AV inhibited effectively the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-$1{\beta}$ in LPS-stimulated macrophages, while VM did not. The transfection and luciferase analysis exhibited that all herbal extracts hindered the activation of transcription nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$). The western blot analysis indicated that AV blocked the activation of only JNK MAP (c-Jun N-terminal kinase mitogen-activated protein) kinase not p38 MAP kinase, while VM, PG and DN did not show the activation of both JNK and p38 MAP kinases. These results suggest that AV, VM, PG, and DN have anti-inflammatory activities and thus have the potential to reduce and alleviate the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.