• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1995

Fumonisins are a family of mycotoxins produced by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme which is a common contaminant in corn. Fumonisins are potent inhibitors of sphingosine and sphinganine N-acyltransferase (ceramide synthase), key enzymes in sphingolipid metabolism. The purpose of this study was to provide the evidence that the elevated levels of free sphingoid bases (primarily sphinganine) and depletion of complex sphingolipids were closely related to the inhibition of cell growth in LLC-$PK_1$ cells exposed to fumonisin $B_1$$(\leq 35 {\mu}M)$. Concentrations of fumonisin $B_1$ between 10 and $35 {\mu}M$ were known to inhibit cell growth without cytotoxicity in $LLC-PK_1$ cells (Yoo et al. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 114, 9-15, 1992). Cells exposed to 35$\mu M$ fumonisin B$_1$ for 48 and 72 hr developed a fibroblast-like (elongated and spindle-shaped) appearance and were less confluent than normal cells. At between 24 and 48 hr after exposure to fumonisin $B_1$ cells were beginning to show the inhibition of cell growth and at 72 hr the number of viable cells in fumonisin-treated cultures was about 50% of concurrent control cultures. During the 24 hr lag period preceding inhibition of cell growth, the free sphinganine levels in cells exposed to $35 {\mu}M$ fumonisin $B_1$ were highly elevated (approximately 230 fold higher than normal cells). The elevated levels of free sphinganine were $435\pm14$$pmoles/{10^6}$ cells at 48 hr and approximately TEX>$333\pm11$$pmoles/{10^6}$ cells in cells exposed to $35{\mu}M$ fumonisin$B_1$ at 72 hr, while the levels of free sphinganine in normal cells were less than 2$pmoles/{10^6}$ cells. Under the same condition, depletion of intracellular complex sphingolipids as a consequence of fumonisin inhibition of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis and turnover pathway was appeared. Content of free sphingold bases in dividing cells was more elevated than in confluent cells at 24-48 hr after cells were exposed to $20{\mu}M$ fumonisin $B_1$. The dividing cells were showing the inhibition of cell growth at 48-72 hr and $20{\mu}M$ fumonisin $B_1$. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the inhibition of cell growth is very well related to the disruption of sphingolipid metabolism in $LLC-PK_1$ cells.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.35.1-35.6
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• 2016

Gliotoxin has been recognized as an immunosuppressive agent for a long time. Recently, it was reported to have antitumor properties. However, the mechanisms by which it inhibits tumors remain unclear. Here, we showed that gliotoxin isolated from the marine fungus Aspergillus fumigatus inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells. Gliotoxin repressed phosphorylation-dependent degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$, an antagonist of nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), which is a known tumor-promoting factor. This coincided with a decrease in nuclear import of $NF-{\kappa}B$, suggesting its signaling activity was impaired. Moreover, gliotoxin increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Since ROS have been known to inhibit $NF-{\kappa}B$, this may also contribute to gliotoxin's antitumorigenic effects. These results suggest that gliotoxin suppressed the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ by inhibiting phosphorylation and degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ and by increasing ROS, which resulted in apoptosis of HT1080 cells. Cumulatively, gliotoxin is a promising candidate antagonist of $NF-{\kappa}B$, and it should be investigated for its possible use as a selective inhibitor of human fibrosarcoma cells.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.593-605
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease is common age-related neurodegenerative condition characterized by amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation that leads cognitive impairment. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of paeoniflorin (PF) against Aβ-induced neuroinflammation and the underlying mechanism in C6 glial cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: C6 glial cells were treated with PF and Aβ_25-35, and cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) production, and pro-inflammatory cytokine release were measured. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the effect of PF on inflammatory responses and Aβ degradation was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Aβ_25-35 significantly reduced cell viability, but this reduction was prevented by the pretreatment with PF. In addition, PF significantly inhibited Aβ_25-35-induced NO production in C6 glial cells. The secretion of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was also significantly reduced by PF. Further mechanistic studies indicated that PF suppressed the production of these pro-inflammatory cytokines by regulating the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. The protein levels of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 were downregulated and phosphorylation of NF-κB was blocked by PF. However, PF elevated the protein expression of inhibitor kappa B-alpha and those of Aβ degrading enzymes, insulin degrading enzyme and neprilysin. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that PF exerts protective effects against Aβ-mediated neuroinflammation by inhibiting NF-κB signaling, and these effects were associated with the enhanced activity of Aβ degradation enzymes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2005.07a
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• pp.35-35
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• 2005

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.200-208
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• 2011

Ginsenoside (G) $Rp_1$ is a ginseng saponin derivative with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we examined the mechanism by which G-$Rp_1$ inhibits inflammatory responses of cells. We did this using a strategy in which DNA constructs containing cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) promoters were transfected into HEK293 cells. G-$Rp_1$ strongly inhibited the promoter activities of COX-2 and iNOS; it also inhibited lipopolysaccharide induced upregulation of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels in RAW264.7 cells. In HEK293 cells G-$Rp_1$ did not suppress TANK binding kinase 1-, Toll-interleukin-1 receptor-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF)-, TRIF-related adaptor molecule (TRAM)-, or activation of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3 and nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}$B by the myeloid differentiation primary response gene (MyD88)-induced. However, G-$Rp_1$ strongly suppressed NF-${\kappa}$B activation induced by I${\kappa}$B kinase (IKK)${\beta}$ in HEK293 cells. Consistent with these results, G-$Rp_1$ substantially inhibited IKK${\beta}$-induced phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and p65. These results suggest that G-$Rp_1$ is a novel anti-inflammatory ginsenoside analog that can be used to treat IKK${\beta}$/NF-${\kappa}$B-mediated inflammatory diseases.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2014

Marine brown algae have been identified as a rich source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds. Whether Myagropsis yendoi ethanolic extracts (MYE) inhibit inflammatory responses was investigated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia BV-2 cells. MYE inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in BV-2 cells. MYE also reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. LPS-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) transcriptional activity and NF-${\kappa}B$ translocation into the nucleus were significantly inhibited by MYE treatment through preventing degradation of the inhibitor ${\kappa}B-{\alpha}$. Moreover, MYE inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT, ERK, JNK, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. These results indicate that MYE is a potential source of therapeutic or functional agents for neuroinflammatory diseases.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.337-342
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• 2002

Many components that are derived from medicinal or dietary plants possess potential chemopreventive properties. Curcumin, a yellow coloring agent from turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn, Zingiberaceae), possesses strong antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities. In this study, we have found that curcumin inhibits the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation by preventing the degradation of the inhibitory protein $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and the subsequent translocation of the p65 subunit in cultured human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. Alternatively, curcumin repressed the TPA-induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ through direct interruption of the binding of NF-${\kappa}B$ to its consensus DNA sequences. Likewise, the TPA-induced DNA binding of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) was inhibited by curcumin pretreatment.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.173-181
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• 2004

To delay the onset of apoptosis in the culture, transformed Tn 5B1-4 cells harboring anti-apoptotic genes, bcl-2 and baculovirus p35, have been established and analyzed for their anti-apoptotic ability in suspension culture using spinner flasks. In the suspension culture at agitation speeds of 100 rpm and 200 rpm, the cell growth of cell clone expressing Bcl-2 protein was much higher than other two clones and the maximum cell density of the clone was 6.0 ${\times}$ 10$^{6}$ cells/ml and 6.2 ${\times}$ 10$^{6}$ cells/ml at day three of the incubation. On the other hand, the cell growth of cell clone expressing baculovirus protein P35 was much higher than other two clones in suspension culture at agitation speed of 300 rpm and the maximum cell density of the clone was 6.1 ${\times}$ 10$^{6}$ cells/ml at day three of the incubation. Based on the pattern of genomic DNA laddering and the microscopic observation of apoptotic bodies, the more apoptotic bodies are induced in Tn 5B1-4 control cell clone at higher agitation speed. This result shows that the shear stress can be a main factor in inducing apoptosis in spinner flask culture. At low agitation speed, cell clone expressing Bcl-2 was more effective in delaying the onset of apoptosis than the cell clone expressing P35. On the other hand, at high agitation speed, cell clones expressing baculovirus P35 was more effective in delaying the onset of apoptosis than the cell clone expressing Bcl-2. Therefore, anti-apoptotic genes, bcl-2 and baculovirus p35, can playa distinct role depending on agitation speed in the suspension culture.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.35.1-35.7
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of Fucofuroeckol-A isolated from Eisenia bicyclis against tyrosinase activity and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX)-induced melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. Result: Among the ethanolic (EtOH) extract of E. bicyclis and its organic solvent fractions, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) soluble fraction showed a noticeable inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase with an $IC_{50}$ value of $37.6{\pm}0.1{\mu}g/mL$. Repeated column chromatography of the active EtOAc fraction resulted in the isolation of Fucofuroeckol-A. It evidenced more potent tyrosinase inhibitory effect with an $IC_{50}$ value of $11.4{\pm}1.4{\mu}M$ than arbutin ($IC_{50}=1076.6{\pm}44.3{\mu}M$), which was used as a positive control. Lineweaver-Burk plots suggest that Fucofuroeckol-A plays as a noncompetitive inhibitor against tyrosinase. Furthermore, we have evaluated the inhibitory effects of Fucofuroeckol-A on IBMX-induced melanin formation in B16F10 melanoma cells. Fucofuroeckol-A ($12.5-100{\mu}M$) exhibited a significant inhibition of melanin production in the melanoma cells. Conclusion: In the present study, we suggested that Fucofuroeckol-A might prove possibility as a novel inhibitor of melanin biosynthesis in cosmetic applications.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.28-40
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• 2002

Apoptosis is a mode of cell death that plays an important role in both pathological and physiological processes. Research during the last decade has delineated the entire machinery needed for cell death, and its constituents were found to pre-exist in cells. The apoptotic cascade is triggered when cells are exposed to an apoptotic stimulus. It has been known for several years that inhibitors of protein synthesis can potentiate apoptosis that is induced by cytokines and other inducers. Until 1996, it was not understood why protein synthesis inhibitors potentiate apoptosis. Then three reports appeared that suggested the role of the transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in protecting the cells from TNF-induced apoptosis. Since then several proteins have been identified that are regulated by NF-${\kappa}B$ and are involved in cell survival, proliferation, and protection from apoptosis. It now seems that when a cell is attacked by an apoptotic stimulus, the cell responds first by activating anti-apoptotic mechanisms, which mayor may not be followed by apoptosis. Whether or not a cell undergoes proliferation, the survival, or apoptosis, appears to involve a balance between the two mechanisms. Inhibitors of protein synthesis seem to suppress the appearance of protein that are involved in anti-apoptosis. The present review discusses how NF-${\kappa}B$ controls apoptosis.