• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.368-375
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• 2008

Approximately 120 UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs), which are classified into 14 distinct groups (A to N), have been annotated in the Arabidopsis genome. UGTs catalyze the transfer of sugars to various acceptor molecules including flavonoids. Previously, UGT71C1 was shown to glycosylate the 3-OH of hydroxycinnamates and flavonoids in vitro. Such secondary metabolites are known to play important roles in plant growth and development. To help define the role of UGT71C1 in planta, we investigated its expression patterns, and isolated and characterized a loss-of-function mutation in the UGT71C1 gene (named ugt71c1-1). Our analyses by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), microarray data mining, and histochemical detection of GUS activity driven by the UGT71C1 promoter region, revealed the tissue-specific expression patterns of UGT71C1 with highest expression in roots. Interestingly, upon treatment with methyl viologen (MV, paraquat), ugt71c1-1 plants displayed enhanced resistance to oxidative stress, and ROS scavenging activity was higher than normal. Metabolite profiling revealed that the levels of two major glycosides of quercetin and kaempferol were reduced in ugt71c1-1 plants. In addition, when exposed to MV-induced oxidative stress, eight representative ROS response genes were expressed at lower levels in ugt71c1-1 plants, indicating that ugt71c1-1 probably has higher non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. Taken together, our results indicate that ugt71c1-1 has increased resistance to oxidative stress, suggesting that UGT71C1 plays a role in some glycosylation pathways affecting secondary metabolites such as flavonoids in response to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1615-1623
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• 2021

Picropodophyllotoxin (PPT), an epimer of podophyllotoxin, is derived from the roots of Podophyllum hexandrum and exerts various biological effects, including anti-proliferation activity. However, the effect of PPT on colorectal cancer cells and the associated cellular mechanisms have not been studied. In the present study, we explored the anticancer activity of PPT and its underlying mechanisms in HCT116 cells. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to monitor cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate cell cycle distribution, the induction of apoptosis, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), assess the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and multi-caspase activity. Western blot assays were performed to detect the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins, apoptosis-related proteins, and p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase). We found that PPT induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, and ROS in the HCT116 cell line. In addition, PPT enhanced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, which regulates apoptosis and PPT-induced apoptosis. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was inhibited by an antioxidant agent (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, NAC) and a p38 inhibitor (SB203580). PPT induced depolarization of the mitochondrial inner membrane and caspase-dependent apoptosis, which was attenuated by exposure to Z-VAD-FMK. Overall, these data indicate that PPT induced G1 arrest and apoptosis via ROS generation and activation of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.545-551
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• 2009

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) affect the activation of activator protein-1 (AP-1), which plays an important role in regulating a range of cellular processes. However, the roles of these signaling factors on hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced cell death are unclear. This study examined the effects of $H_2O_2$ on the activation of MAPK and AP-1 by exposing the cells to $H_2O_2$ generated by either glucose oxidase or a bolus addition. Exposing BJAB or Jurkat cells to $H_2O_2$ affected the activities of MAPK differently according to the method of $H_2O_2$ exposure. $H_2O_2$ increased the AP-1-DNA binding activity in these cells, where continuously generated $H_2O_2$ led to an increase in mainly the c-Fos, FosB and c-Jun proteins. The c-Jun-$NH_2$-terminal kinase (JNK)-mediated activation of c-Jun was shown to be related to the $H_2O_2$-induced cell death. However, the suppression of $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress by either JNK inhibitor or c-Jun specific antisense transfection was temporary in the cells exposed to glucose oxidase but not to a bolus $H_2O_2$. This was associated with the disruption of death signaling according to the severe and prolonged depletion of reduced glutathione. Overall, these results suggest that $H_2O_2$ may decide differently the mode of cell death by affecting the intracellular redox state of thiol-containing antioxidants, and this depends more closely on the duration exposed to $H_2O_2$ than the concentration of this agent.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1499-1505
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• 2007

Peroxynitrite ($ONOO^-$) is a reactive oxidant formed from superoxide anion radical (${\cdot}\;O_2-$) and nitric oxide (NO), which can oxidize cellular components such as essential protein, non-protein thiols, DNA, low-density lipoproteins and membrane phospholipids. ${\cdot}\;O_2-$ and $ONOO^-$ have contributed to the pathogenesis of diseases such as stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis. Because of damaging effects of ${\cdot}\;O_2-$ and $ONOO^-$ oxidants, Vespae Nidus, which has been known to strengthen the kidneys to preserve the vital energy. was tested as a potential specific scavenger of those oxidants. In this study, the viability of Vespae Nidus (1, 10, 50 g/ml) to scavenge ${\cdot}\;O_2-$, NO, $ONOO^-$ and so to protect cells against tert-butylhydroxyperoxide (t-BHP) induced cell death was tested. The levels of ${\cdot}\;O_2-$ and $ONOO^-$ were detected by staining with DCFH-DA and DHR 123, respectively. Protein expression levels of COX-2, iNOS and $NF{-\kappa}B$ were assayed by western blot. Vespae Nidus blocked t-BHP-induced cell death in a dose-dependent fashion. Vespae Nidus inhibited t-BHP-induced production of ${\cdot}\;O_2-$, NO and $ONOO^-$ in YPEN cells. The lipid peroxide level was increased and glutathione level was decreased in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated ICR mouse, whereas the ones in the Vespae Nidus-administered group were regulated beneficially. Vespae Nidus inhibited the expression of COX-2, iNOS and NF-κB (p65 and p50) genes in LPS-treated ICR mouse. The present study suggests that Vespae Nidus is a powerful antioxidant and promotes cellular defense activity by scavenging the toxic oxidants such as ${\cdot}\;O_2-$ and $ONOO^-$.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2011

Oxidative stress or accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads neuronal cellular death and dysfunction, and it contributes to neuronal degenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and stroke. Glutamate is one of the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Glutamate contributes to fast synaptic transmission, neuronal plasticity, outgrowth and survival, behavior, learning and memory. In spite of these physiological functions, high concentration of glutamate causes neuronal cell damage, acute insults and chronic neuronal neurodegenerative diseases. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) enzyme plays an important role of cellular antioxidant system against oxidant injury. NNMBS020, the water-insoluble fraction of the 70% EtOH extract of root barks of Dictamnus dasycarpus, showed dominant neuroprotective effects on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells by induced the expression of HO-1 and increased HO activity. In mouse hippocampal HT22 cells, NNMBS020 makes the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and stimulates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. The ERK MAPK pathway inhibitor significantly reduced NNMBS020-induced HO-1 expression, whereas the JNK and p38 inhibitors did not. In conclusion, the water-insoluble fraction of the 70% EtOH extract of root barks of D. dasycarpus (NNMBS020) significantly protect glutamate-induced oxidative damage by induction of HO-1 via Nrf2 and ERK pathway in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.242-249
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• 2016

A balance between production and degradation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis. Increased levels of ROS during oxidative stress are associated with disease conditions. Antioxidant enzymes, such as extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), in the extracellular matrix (ECM) neutralize the toxicity of superoxide. Recent studies have emphasized the importance of EC-SOD in protecting the brain, lungs, and other tissues from oxidative stress. Therefore, EC-SOD would be an excellent therapeutic drug for treatment of diseases caused by oxidative stress. We cloned both the full length (residues 1-240) and truncated (residues 19-240) forms of human EC-SOD (hEC-SOD) into the donor plasmid pFastBacHTb. After transposition, the bacmid was transfected into the Sf9-baculovirus expression system and the expressed hEC-SOD purified using FLAG-tag. Western blot analysis revealed that hEC-SOD is present both as a monomer (33 kDa) and a dimer (66 kDa), as detected by the FLAG antibody. A water-soluble tetrazolium (WST-1) assay showed that both full length and truncated hEC-SOD proteins were enzymatically active. We showed that a potent superoxide dismutase inhibitor, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), inhibits hEC-SOD activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2020

Background: The cellular senescence of primary cultured cells is an irreversible process characterized by growth arrest. Restoration of senescence by ginsenosides has not been explored so far. Rg3(S) treatment markedly decreased senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in senescent human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). However, the underlying mechanism of this effect of Rg3(S) on the senescent HDFs remains unknown. Methods: We performed a label-free quantitative proteomics to identify the altered proteins in Rg3(S)-treated senescent HDFs. Upregulated proteins induced by Rg3(S) were validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot analyses. Results: Finally, 157 human proteins were identified, and variable peroxiredoxin (PRDX) isotypes were highly implicated by network analyses. Among them, the mitochondrial PRDX3 was transcriptionally and translationally increased in response to Rg3(S) treatment in senescent HDFs in a time-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our proteomic approach provides insights into the partial reversing effect of Rg3 on senescent HDFs through induction of antioxidant enzymes, particularly PRDX3.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.867-874
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• 2021

Epalrestat (EPS) is a brain penetrant aldose reductase inhibitor, an approved drug currently used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. At near-plasma concentration, EPS induces glutathione biosynthesis, which in turn reduces oxidative stress in the neuronal cells. In this study, we found that EPS reduces neurodegeneration by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative injury, mitochondrial membrane damage, apoptosis and tauopathy. EPS treatment up to 50 µM did not show any toxic effect on SH-SY5Y cell line (neuroblastoma cells). However, we observed toxic effect at a concentration of 100 µM and above. At 50 µM concentration, EPS showed better antioxidant activity against H₂O₂ (100 µM)-induced cytotoxicity, ROS formation and mitochondrial membrane damage in retinoic acid-differentiated SH-SY5Y cell line. Furthermore, our study revealed that 50 µM of EPS concentration reduced the glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3-β) expression and total tau protein level in H₂O₂ (100 µM)-treated cells. Findings from this study confirms the therapeutic efficacy of EPS on regulating Alzheimer's disease (AD) by regulating GSK3-β and total tau proteins phosphorylation, which helped to restore the cellular viability. This process could also reduce toxic fibrillary tangle formation and disease progression of AD. Therefore, it is our view that an optimal concentration of EPS therapy could decrease AD pathology by reducing tau phosphorylation through regulating the expression level of GSK3-β.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2973-2978
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• 2013

Maesil (Prunus mume Siebold & Zucc.), a member of the genus Rosaceae, has been reported to have antioxidative effects, as well as anticancer influence in many cancer lines. Thus, this present study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of fermented Maesil with probiotics against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis via its antioxidative potential. Mice were fed a diet containing fermented Maesil, containing either 1% (1% FM fed group) or 2% (2% FM fed group) along with probiotics following DMBA and TPA exposure. Continuous ingestion of the experimental feed markedly inhibited skin carcinogenesis, as evidenced by a marked decrease in papilloma numbers and epidermal hyperplasia as well as cellular proliferation and the percentage of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen positive cells. Also, the FM fed group showed an increase of total antioxidant capacity as well as an increased level of phase II detoxifying enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, concurrent with a decreased lipid peroxidation activity level. Taken together, these results suggest that fermented Maesil has the ability to suppress the development of DMBA-TPA induced skin carcinogenesis, via the reduction of lipid peroxidation, enhancing total antioxidant capacity and phase II detoxifying enzyme.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.347-356
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• 2020

Gangliosides are glycolipids in which oligosaccharide is combined with sialic acids. Our previous studies have suggested an interplay between ganglioside GD1a/GT1b and meiotic maturation capacity in porcine oocyte maturation. Furthermore, ganglioside GD1a and GT1b are known for its antioxidant activity, but it is still unclear whether possible antioxidant role of GD1a and GT1b is involved in porcine embryos development competence during in vitro culture (IVC). Here, the effects of ganglioside GD1a and GT1b on the embryonic developmental competence during in vitro culture of porcine were investigated. The effects of ganglioside GD1a and GT1b on the expression of ST3GAL2 were confirmed during embryos development (2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell and blastocyst) using immunofluorescent staining (IF). As a result, the fluorescent expression of ST3GAl2 was higher in embryos at 4-8 cells stage than blastocysts. Blastocyst development rate significantly increased in only 0.1 μM GD1a and GT1b treated groups compared with control group. To investigate the cellular apoptosis, we analyzed TUNEL assay. In case of only 0.1 μM GD1a and GT1b treated groups, the total number of cells in blastocyst compared with control group, but there was no significant difference in the rate of apoptotic cells. We identified the intracellular ROS levels using DCF-DA staining. According to the result, ROS production significantly decreased in blastocysts derived from the 0.1 μM GD1a and GT1b treated groups. These results suggest that ganglioside GD1a and GT1b improve the developmental competence of porcine embryos via reduction of intracellular ROS during preimplantation stage.