• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제11권6호
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• pp.445-451
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is positively associated with atherosclerosis via elevating macrophage cell death and plaque formation, in which oxidative stress plays a pivotal role. Antioxidative, lipid-lowering, and anti-atherogenic effects of kimchi, a Korean fermented vegetable, have been established, wherein capsaicin, ascorbic acid, quercetin, 3-(4'-hydroxyl-3',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)propionic acid, and lactic acids were identified. In this study, mechanisms of action of kimchi methanol extracts (KME) on fatty streak formation via suppression of ER stress and apoptosis in aorta were examined in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice fed a high cholesterol diet with an oral administration of KME (KME group, $200 mg{\cdot}kg-bw^{-1}{\cdot}day^{-1}$) or distilled water (control group) for 8 weeks (n = 20 for group). Plasma lipid and oxidative stress levels were evaluated. Protein expression was measured by western blot assay. Fatty streak lesion size and the degree of apoptosis were examined in the aorta. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, in the KME group, plasma lipids levels were decreased and oxidative stress was alleviated (P < 0.05). Protein expression levels of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2-mediated antioxidants in aorta were increased whereas those for ER stress markers, glucose regulated protein 78, phospho-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase, phospho-eukaryotic initiation factor 2 subunit ${\alpha}$, X-box binding protein 1, and C/EBP homologous protein were decreased in the KME group (P < 0.05). Moreover, apoptosis was suppressed via downregulation of phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase, bcl-2-associated X protein, caspases-9, and -3 with a concomitant upregulation of anti-apoptotic protein, B-cell lymphoma 2 (P < 0.05). Fatty streak lesion size was reduced and the degree of apoptosis was less severe in the KME group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, antioxidant activity of KME might prevent fatty streak formation through, in part, inhibition of ER stress and apoptosis in aortic sinus where macrophages are harbored.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.324-336
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI on alteration in gene expression in a hypoxia model using cultured rat cortical cells. Methods : E18 rat cortical cells were grown in a Neurobasal medium containing B27 supplement. On 12 DIV, Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI(20 ug/ml) was added to the culture media and left for 24 hrs. On 11 DIV, cells were given a hypoxic insult $(2%\;O_2/5%\;CO_2,\;37^{\circ}C,\;3\;hrs)$, returned to normoxia and cultured for another 24 hrs. Total RNA was prepared from Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI-untreated (control) and -treated cultures and alteration in gene expression was analysed by microarray using rat 5K-TwinChips. Results : For most of the genes altered in expression, the Global M values were between -0.5 to +0.5. Among these, 1143 genes increased in their expression by more than Global M +0.1, while 1161 genes decreased by more than Global M -0.1. Effects on some of the genes whose functions are implicated in neural viability are as follows: 1) The expression of apoptosis-related genes such as Bad (Global M = 0.39), programmed cell death-2(Pdcd2) (Global M = 0.20) increased, while Purinergic receptor P2X(P2rxl) Global M = -0.22), Bc12-like1(Bc1211)(Global M = -0.19) decreased. 2) The expression of 'response to stress-related genes such as antioxidation-related AMP-activated protein kinase subunit gamma 1 gene (Prkag1) (Global M = 0.14), catalase gene (Global M = 0.14) and Heme Oxygenase(Hmoxl) increased. 3) The expression of Fos like antigen 2 (Fos12) expressed in neurons that survive ischemic insult increased (Global M = 0.97). Conclusions : these data suggest that Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI increases the expression of antiapoptosis- and antioxidation- related genes in a way that can not yet be explained.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.146-156
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• 2018

Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine compound that has recently emerged with anti-aging properties and suppresses inflammation and oxidation. However, its mechanisms of action on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the potential of spermidine for reducing pro-inflammatory and oxidative effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and zebrafish was explored. Our data indicate that spermidine significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and cytokines including tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ in RAW 264.7 macrophages without any significant cytotoxicity. The protective effects of spermidine accompanied by a marked suppression in their regulatory gene expression at the transcription levels. Spermidine also attenuated the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 subunit and reduced LPS-induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, spermidine prevented the LPS-induced NO production and ROS accumulation in zebrafish larvae and was found to be associated with a diminished recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. Although more work is needed to fully understand the critical role of spermidine on the inhibition of inflammation-associated migration of immune cells, our findings clearly demonstrate that spermidine may be a potential therapeutic intervention for the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative disorders.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.408-419
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• 2016

Background: In recent years, adjuvants have received increasing attention owing to the development of purified subunit and synthetic vaccines which are poor immunogens and require additional adjuvants to evoke an immune response. Therefore, immunologic adjuvants have been developed and tested. Plant polysaccharides have been recognized as effective biological response modifiers with low toxicity. Methods and Results: In this study, the polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge containing immunomodulating arabino-3,6-galactan was evaluated for its hemolytic activity and adjuvant potential in the specific cellular and humoral immune responses to ovalbumin. The polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge was co-immunized with the purified Vi capsular polysaccharide of Salmonella typhi vaccine in mice. The polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge did not induce any hemolytic activity or side effects at doses up to $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The concanavalin A-, lipopolysaccharide-, and ovalbumin-induced splenocyte proliferation and serum ovalbumin-specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2b antibody titers in immunized mice were significantly enhanced by AMA. Pharmacological data revealed that the polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge increased antigen-specific antibody levels in immunized mice. The polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge-adjuvanted purified Vi capsular polysaccharide of Salmonella typhi vaccine improved the proliferation of splenocytes and macrophages as well as stimulated cytokine production. Conclusions: These results suggest that the polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge-adjuvanted vaccines enhanced humoral and cellular immunity and that the polysaccharide from the aboveground part of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge is a safe and efficacious adjuvant candidate suitable for use in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.574-582
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• 1992

Bacillus stearothermophilus exo-xylanase 유전자 DNA가 삽입된 재조합 plasmid pMG1을 가지고 있는 E.coli JM109 exo-xylanase 생산 최적 배양 조건, 생산 효소의 정제 및 정제 효소의 특성 등을 조사 연구하였다. 상기 재조합 E.coli 균주는 0.5 fructose, 0.5 yeast extract, 1.0 tryptone 및 1.0 sodium chloride가 함유된 배지에서 약 10시간 배양했을 때 최대량의 효소를 생산하였으며 생산효소의 94는 세포내에 존재하는 것으로 분석되었다. 생산 효소는 ammonium sulfate 분획, ion exchange chromatography 및 gel filtration 등의 과정을 거쳐 단일 단백질로 정제하였으며 정제 효소는 pH 6.0과 $45^{\circ}C$에서 가장 높은 효소 활성을 나타내었다.또한 1mM $Ca^{2+}$과 $Co^{2+}$ 이온의 첨가는 각각 약 25% 정도의 활성화 효과를 나타내는 반면, 본 효소의 pNPX에 대한 $K_{m}$은 2.75mM, pl값을 4.7, 그리고 분자량은 gel-filtration 법으로는 약 200,000dal., SDS-polyacrylamide gel 전기영동법으로는 약 66,000dal 으로 측정되어 세 개의 동일한 subunit로 구성된 효소 단백질인 것으로 추정되었다. 본 정제 효소는 xylobiose, xylotrioxe 및 xylotetraose 등의 xylo-oligosaccharide를 효과적으로 분해함은 물론이고, 분해율은 낮으나 birchwood xylan, larchwood xylan 및 oatspelt xylan 등의 xyland에도 작용, xylose 생산을 확인함으로써 본 효소는 그 예가 극히 드문 bacterial exo-xylanase인 것으로 분류되었다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.305-314
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• 2005

Investigation of chemically synthesized inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [$Ins(1,4,5)P_3$] analogs has led to the isolation of a novel binding protein with a molecular size of 130 kDa, characterized as a molecule with similar domain organization to phospholipase C-${\delta}1$ (PLC-${\delta}1$) but lacking the enzymatic activity. An isoform of the molecule was subsequently identified, and these molecules have been named PRIP (PLC-related, but catalytically inactive protein), with the two isoforms named PRIP-1 and -2. Regarding its ability to bind $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$ via the pleckstrin homology domain, the involvement of PRIP-1 in $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ signaling was examined using COS-1 cells overexpressing PRIP-1 and cultured neurons prepared from PRIP-1 knock-out mice. Yeast two hybrid screening of a brain cDNA library using a unique N-terminus as bait identified GABARAP ($GABA_A$ receptor associated protein) and PP1 (protein phosphatase 1), which led us to examine the possible involvement of PRIP in $GABA_A$ receptor signaling. For this purpose PRIP knock-out mice were analyzed for $GABA_A$ receptor function in relation to the action of benzodiazepines from the electrophysiological and behavioral aspects. During the course of these experiments we found that PRIP also binds to the b-subunit of $GABA_A$ receptors and PP2A (protein phosphtase 2A). Here, we summarize how PRIP is involved in $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and $GABA_A$ receptor signaling based on the characteristics of binding molecules.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제26권10호
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• pp.846-854
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• 2003

The oligomerization of G-proteincoupled receptors (GPCRs) has been shown to occur by various mechanisms, such as via disulfide covalent linkages, non covalent (ionic, hydrophobic) interactions of the N-terminal, and/or transmembrane and/or intracellular domains. Interactions between GPCRs could involve an association between identical proteins (homomers) or non-identical proteins (heteromers), or between two monomers (to form dimers) or multiple monomers (to form oligomers). It is believed that muscarinic receptors may also be arranged into dimeric or oigomeric complexes, but no systematic experimental evidence exists concerning the direct physical interaction between receptor proteins as its mechanism. We undertook this study to determine whether muscarinic receptors form homomers or a heteromers by direct protein-protein interaction within the same or within different subtypes using a yeast two-hybrid system. Intracellular loops (i1, i2 and i3) and the C-terminal cytoplasmic tails (C) of human muscarinic (Hm) receptor subtypes, Hm1, Hm2 and Hm3, were cloned into the vectors (pB42AD and pLexA) of a two-hybrid system and examined for heteromeric or homodimeric interactions between the cytoplasmic domains. No physical interaction was observed between the intracellular domains of any of the Hm/Hm receptor sets tested. The results of our study suggest that the Hm1, Hm2 and Hm3 receptors do not form dimers or oligomers by interacting directly through either the hydrophilic intracellular domains or the C-terminal tail domains. To further investigate extracellular domain interactions, the N-terminus (N) and extracellular loops (o1 and o2) were also cloned into the two-hybrid vectors. Interactions of Hm2N with Hm2N, Hm2o1, Hm2o2, Hm3N, Hm3o1 or Hm3o2 were examined. The N-terminal domain of Hm2 was found to have no direct interaction with any extracellular domain. From our results, we excluded the possibility of a direct interaction between the muscarinic receptor subtypes (Hm1, Hm2 and Hm3) as a mechanism for homo- or hetero-meric dimerization/oligomerization. On the other hand, it remains a possibility that interaction may occur indirectly or require proper conformation or subunit formation or hydrophobic region involvement.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권11호
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• pp.833-840
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• 2014

Cullin4-RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL4) is a family of multi-subunit E3 ligases. To investigate the possible involvement of CRL4 in heat stress response, we screened T-DNA insertion mutants of putative CRL4 substrate receptors that exhibited altered patterns in response to heat stress. One of the mutants exhibited heat stress tolerance and was named heat stress tolerant DWD1 (htd1). Introduction of HTD1 gene into htd1-1 led to recovery of heat sensitivity to the wild type level, confirming that the decrease of HTD1 transcripts resulted in heat tolerance. Therefore, HTD1 plays a negative role in thermotolerance in Arabidopsis. Additionally, HTD1 directly interacted with DDB1a in yeast two-hybrid assays and associated with DDB1b in vivo, supporting that it could be a part of a CRL4 complex. Various heat-inducible genes such as HSP14.7, HSP21, At2g03020 and WRKY28 were hyper-induced in htd1-1, indicating that HTD1 could function as a negative regulator for the expression of such genes and that these genes might contribute to thermotolerance of htd1-1, at least in part. HTD1 was associated with HSP90-1, a crucial regulator of thermotolerance, in vivo, even though the decrease of HTD1 did not affect the accumulation pattern of HSP90-1 in Arabidopsis. These findings indicate that a negative role of HTD1 in thermotolerance might be achieved through its association with HSP90-1, possibly by disturbing the action of HSP90-1, not by the degradation of HSP90-1. This study will serve as an important step toward understanding of the functional connection between CRL4-mediated processes and plant heat stress signaling.

• 한국어병학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.111-118
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• 2020

우리나라 내수면 양식 어류로부터 Edwardsiella 속 세균 7개 균주를 분리하여 이들의 생화학적 특성 및 유전학적 특성을 조사하였다. 그 결과, 기존의 어류 병원성 세균으로 알려진 E. tarda 와 E. ictaluri 뿐 아니라, 최근 새로운 종으로 보고된 E. anguillarum과 E. piscicida를 성공적으로 분리 및 동정하여 우리나라 내수면 양식 어류에서 Edwardsiella 속의 다양한 종이 분리되는 것을 확인하였다. 뱀장어류에서 분리된 4개 균주는 E. anguillarum, E. piscicida 및 E. tarda로, 메기와 동자개로부터 분리된 2개 균주는 E. ictaluri로, 버들치로부터 분리된 1개 균주는 E. piscicida로 동정되었다. 또한, 이들의 생화학적 특성의 조사 결과, 이들은 대부분 E. anguillarum, E. ictaluri, E. piscicida 및 E. tarda의 각 종에 해당하는 전형적인 생화학적 특성을 나타내었으며, 유전자를 이용한 분자계통발생학적 분석 결과와도 일치하였다. 특히, 16S rRNA 및 gyrB 유전자를 이용하여 Edwardsiella 속 종의 명확한 분류가 가능함을 확인함으로써, Edwardsiella 속 세균의 분류학적 동정을 위한 마커로써의 가능성을 제시하였다. 본 연구의 결과, 우리나라 내수면 양식 어류로부터 다양한 Edwardsiella 속 종들이 분리되는 것을 확인하였으며, 이들 종들에 대한 체계적인 모니터링 및 숙주에 따른 병원성의 차이에 관한 연구가 필요함을 제안한다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.467-475
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• 2015

Improvement for carcass traits related to beef quality is the key concern in beef production. Recent reports found that epigenetics mediates the interaction of individuals with environment and nutrition. The present study was designed to analyze the genetic effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven epigenetic-related genes (DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, DNMT3L, Ago1, Ago2, and HDAC5) and two meat quality candidate genes (CAPN1 and PRKAG3) on fourteen carcass traits related to beef quality in a Snow Dragon beef population, and also to identify SNPs in a total of fourteen cattle populations. Sixteen SNPs were identified and genotyped in 383 individuals sampled from the 14 cattle breeds, which included 147 samples from the Snow Dragon beef population. Data analysis showed significant association of 8 SNPs within 4 genes related to carcass and/or meat quality traits in the beef populations. SNP1 (13154420A>G) in exon 17 of DNMT1 was significantly associated with rib-eye width and lean meat color score (p<0.05). A novel SNP (SNP4, 76198537A>G) of DNMT3a was significantly associated with six beef quality traits. Those individuals with the wild-type genotype AA of DNMT3a showed an increase in carcass weight, chilled carcass weight, flank thicknesses, chuck short rib thickness, chuck short rib score and in chuck flap weight in contrast to the GG genotype. Five out of six SNPs in DNMT3b gene were significantly associated with three beef quality traits. SNP15 (45219258C>T) in CAPN1 was significantly associated with chuck short rib thickness and lean meat color score (p<0.05). The significant effect of SNP15 on lean meat color score individually and in combination with each of other 14 SNPs qualify this SNP to be used as potential marker for improving the trait. In addition, the frequencies of most wild-type alleles were higher than those of the mutant alleles in the native and foreign cattle breeds. Seven SNPs were identified in the epigenetic-related genes. The SNP15 in CAPN1 could be used as a powerful genetic marker in selection programs for beef quality improvement in the Snow Dragon Beef population.