• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.550-558
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• 2023

Hair loss is a common condition that can have a negative impact on an individual's quality of life. The severe side effects and the low efficacy of current hair loss medications create unmet needs in the field of hair loss treatment. Hyaluronan and Proteoglycan Link Protein 1 (HAPLN1), one of the components of the extracellular matrix, has been shown to play a role in maintaining its integrity. HAPLN1 was examined for its ability to impact hair growth with less side effects than existing hair loss treatments. HAPLN1 was predominantly expressed in the anagen phase in three stages of the hair growth cycle in mice and promotes the proliferation of human hair matrix cells. Also, recombinant human HAPLN1 (rhHAPLN1) was shown to selectively increase the levels of transforming growth factor-β receptor II in human hair matrix cells. Furthermore, we observed concomitant activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway following treatment with rhHAPLN1. Our results indicate that rhHAPLN1 elicits its cell proliferation effect via the TGF-β2-induced ERK1/2 pathway. The prompt entering of the hair follicles into the anagen phase was observed in the rhHAPLN1-treated group, compared to the vehicle-treated group. Insights into the mechanism underlying such hair growth effects of HAPLN1 will provide a novel potential strategy for treating hair loss with much lower side effects than the current treatments.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

Many anticancer agents as well as ionizing radiation have been shown to induce autophagy which is originally described as a protein recycling process and recently reported to play a crucial role in various disorders. In HCT116 human colon cancer cells, we found that curcumin, a polyphenolic phytochemical extracted from the plant Curcuma longa, markedly induced the conversion of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-I to LC3-II and degradation of sequestome-1 (SQSTM1) which is a marker of autophagosome degradation. Moreover, we found that curcumin caused GFP-LC3 formation puncta, a marker of autophagosome, and decrease of GFP-LC3 and SQSTM1 protein level in GFP-LC3 expressing HCT116 cells. It was further confirmed that treatment of cells with hydrogen peroxide induced increase of LC3 conversion and decrease of GFP-LC3 and SQSTM1 levels, but these changes by curcumin were almost completely blocked in the presence of antioxidant, N-acetylcystein (NAC), indicating that curcumin leads to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which results in autophagosome development and autolysosomal degradation. In parallel with NAC, SQSTM1 degradation was also diminished by bafilomycin A, a potent inhibitor of autophagosome-lysosome fusion, and cell viability assay was further confirmed that cucurmin-induced cell death was partially blocked by bafilomycin A as well as NAC. We also observed that NAC abolished curcumin-induced activation of extracelluar signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 112 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), but not Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). However, the activation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK seemed to have no effect on the curcumin-induced autophagy, since both the conversion of LC3 protein and SQSTM1 degradation by curcumin was not changed in the presence of NAC. Taken together, our data suggest that curcumin induced ROS production, which resulted in autophagic activation and concomitant cell death in HCT116 human colon cancer cell. However, ROS-dependent activation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK, but not JNK, might not be involved in the curcumin-induced autophagy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.187-197
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• 2009

목 적: 단백질 인산화는 세포신호전달에 매우 중요한 현상으로서, 수많은 조절인자들이 난자성숙에 관여하게 된다. 그러나 이들 중에서 어떤 단백질이 인산화되어 난자성숙을 조절하는지는 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 따라서 체세포의 신호전달과정에서 인산화를 통해 중요한 기능을 한다고 알려져 있는 일곱 가지 단백질들이 생쥐의 난자성숙과정에서 어떻게 인산화 되고 있는지 알아보고자 한 개 샘플에서 일곱 개의 변화를 한꺼번에 측정할 수 있는 bead-based multiplex phosphorylation assay를 이용하여 본 연구를 수행하였다. 연구방법: ICR 생쥐에 PMSG를 주사하고 46시간 후에 cumulus-oocyte complex (COCs) 형태로 미성숙 난자를 채취한 후 체외배양 하면서, 배양 2시간 후에 GVBD를, 배양 8시간 후에 MI을, 배양 16시간 후에 MII 단계의 난자를 얻었고 체내에서 배란한 MII 단계의 난자는 수란관에서 얻었다. 각 단계의 난자를 100개씩 모아서 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)에 속하는 세가지 단백질인 ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK와 Akt, GSK-$3{\alpha}/{\beta}$, $I{\kapa}B{\alpha}$, STAT3 등 총 일곱 단백질의 인산화를 Bio-Plex System을 이용하여 같은 시료에서 동시에 측정하였으며 세 번의 반복실험을 통하여 얻어진 결과를 통계적으로 분석하였다. 결 과: 생쥐의 난자성숙과정에서 측정된 일곱 가지 단백질 중에서 인산화가 현저히 증가하는 단백질로는 ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK와 STAT3로서 미성숙 난자에 비해서 3배에서 20배까지 인산화되는 결과를 보였다. 반면에 GSK-$3{\alpha}/{\beta}$, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$의 인산화의 변화는 미약하였으며, Akt의 경우에는 변화가 전혀 없었다. 난자성숙 과정에서 분석 대상 단백질들의 인산화는 GVBD 단계에서 활성화되기 시작하여 MI에서 현저히 높게 증가하며 MII까지 높게 유지되었다. 결 론: 본 연구는 난자성숙과정에서 일곱 가지 단백질의 인산화를 동시에 측정한 최초의 보고로서 이 방법은 난자와 같이 적은 양의 시료에서의 여러 개의 단백질 인산화를 동시에 분석하는데 유용할 것으로 생각된다. 본 연구결과, 세 가지 MAPK 단백질인 ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK 외에도 STAT3가 난자성숙에 있어서 매우 중요한 조절자로 생각되었다. 또한 Akt의 473번 serine기의 인산화는 난자성숙에 관여하지 않음을 알 수 있었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권11호
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• pp.5709-5714
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• 2012

Objective: To evaluate the effects of curcumin on matrixmetalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and invasion ability induced by transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) in MDA-MB-231 cells and potential mechanisms. Methods: Human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were used with the CCK-8 assay to measure the cytotoxicity of curcumin. After treatment with 10 ng/ml TGF-${\beta}1$, with or without curcumin (${\leq}10{\mu}M$), cell invasion was checked by transwell chamber. The effects of curcumin on TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated MMP-9 and phosphorylation of Smad2, extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) were examined by Western blotting. Supernatant liquid were collected to analyze the activity of MMP-9 via zymography. Following treatment with PD98059, a specific inhibitor of ERK, and SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38MAPK, Western blotting and zymography were employed to examine MMP-9 expression and activity, respectively. Results: Low dose curcumin (${\leq}10{\mu}M$) did not show any obvious toxicity to the cells, while $0{\sim}10{\mu}mol/L$ caused a concentration-dependent reduction in cell invasion provoked by TGF-${\beta}1$. Curcumin also markedly inhibited TGF-${\beta}1$-regulated MMP-9 and activation of Smad2, ERK1/2 and p38 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, PD98059, but not SB203580, showed a similar pattern of inhibition of MMP-9 expression. Conclusion: Curcumin inhibited TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated MMP-9 and the invasive phenotype in MDA-MB-231 cells, possibly associated with TGF-${\beta}$/Smad and TGF-${\beta}$/ERK signaling.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.431-437
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• 2008

Sengmaek-san(Shengmai-san; SMS) is used in oriental medicine as one of the key herbal medicine for treating diverse symptoms including cardiovascular and neurological disorders. In the present study, the effects of SMS on axonal regeneration were investigated in the rat model given sciatic nerve injury. SMS treatment enhanced axonal regrowth into and the number of non-neuronal cells in the distal area after crush injury. GAP-43 protein levels were increased in the injured sciatic nerve compared to intact nerve and further upreguated by SMS treatment. GAP-43 protein was increased similarly in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) at lumbar 4 - 6 by nerve injury and SMS treatment, suggesting GAP-43 induction at gene expression level. SMS-mediated increase in phospho-Erk1/2 protein was observed in the DRG as well as in the injured nerve implying its retrograde transport into the cell body as the process of lesion signal transmission. The present findings suggest that SMS may be involved in enhanced axonal regeneration via dynamic regulation of regeneration-associated proteins.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.159-166
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• 2021

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases (NOXs) are the major enzymatic source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NOX2 and NOX4 are expressed in the heart but its role in hypoxia-induced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion is unclear. This study investigated the effect of NOX on ANP secretion induced by hypoxia in isolated beating rat atria. The results showed that hypoxia significantly upregulated NOX4 but not NOX2 expression, which was completely abolished by endothelin-1 (ET-1) type A and B receptor antagonists BQ123 (0.3 μM) and BQ788 (0.3 μM). ET-1-upregulated NOX4 expression was also blocked by antagonists of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2; varespladib, 5.0 μM) and cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2; CAY10650, 120.0 nM), and ET-1-induced cPLA2 expression was inhibited by varespladib under normoxia. Moreover, hypoxia-increased ANP secretion was evidently attenuated by the NOX4 antagonist GLX351322 (35.0 μM) and inhibitor of ROS N-Acetyl-D-cysteine (NAC, 15.0 mM), and hypoxia-increased production of ROS was blocked by GLX351322. In addition, hypoxia markedly upregulated Src expression, which was blocked by ET receptors, NOX4, and ROS antagonists. ET-1-increased Src expression was also inhibited by NAC under normoxia. Furthermore, hypoxia-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B (Akt) were completely abolished by Src inhibitor 1 (1.0 μM), and hypoxia-increased GATA4 was inhibited by the ERK1/2 and Akt antagonists PD98059 (10.0 μM) and LY294002 (10.0 μM), respectively. However, hypoxia-induced ANP secretion was substantially inhibited by Src inhibitor. These results indicate that NOX4/Src modulated by ET-1 regulates ANP secretion by activating ERK1/2 and Akt/GATA4 signaling in isolated beating rat hypoxic atria.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.389-395
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• 2011

Repeated administration of psychostimulants such as cocaine leads to the development of behavioral sensitization. Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK), an enzyme important for long-term neuronal plasticity, has been implicated in such effects of these drugs. Although the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is the site mediating the expression of behavioral sensitization by drugs of abuse, the precise role of ERK activation in this site has not been determined. In this study we demonstrate that blockade of ERK phosphorylation in the NAcc by a single bilateral microinjections of PD98059 (0.5 or $2.0{\mu}g/side$), or U0126 (0.1 or $1.0{\mu}g/side$), into this site dose-dependently inhibited the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization when measured at day 7 following 6 consecutive daily cocaine injections (15 mg/kg, i.p.). Acute microinjection of either vehicle or PD98059 alone produced no different locomotor activity compared to saline control. Further, microinjection of PD98059 ($2.0{\mu}g/side$) in the NAcc specifically lowered cocaine-induced increase of ERK phosphorylation levels in this site, while unaffecting p-38 protein levels. These results indicate that ERK activation in the NAcc is necessary for the expression of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization, and further suggest that repeated cocaine evokes neuronal plasticity involving ERK pathway in this site leading to long-lasting behavioral changes.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.10-16
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• 2013

Background: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are well-known pattern recognition receptors. Among the 13 TLRs, TLR2 is the most known receptor for immune response. It activates mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), which are counterbalanced by MAPK phosphatases [MKPs or dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs)]. However, the regulatory mechanism of DUSPs is still unclear. In this study, the effect of a TLR2 ligand (TLR2L, Pam3CSK4) on DUSP4 expression in Raw264.7 cells was demonstrated. Methods: A Raw264.7 mouse macrophage cell line was cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotics (100 U/mL penicillin and 100 g/mL streptomycin) at $37^{\circ}C$ in 5% $CO_2$. TLR2L (Pam3CSK4)-mediated DUSP4 expressions were confirmed with RT-PCR and western blot analysis. In addition, the detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured with lucigenin assay. Results: Pam3CSK4 induced the expression of DUSP1, 2, 4, 5 and 16. The DUSP4 expression was also increased by TLR4 and 9 agonists (lipopolysaccharide and CpG ODN, respectively). Pam3CSK4 also induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and ROS production, and the Pam3CSK4-induced DUSP4 expression was decreased by ERK1/2 (U0126) and ROS (DPI) inhibitors. U0126 suppressed the ROS production by Pam3CSK4. Conclusion: Pam3CSK4-mediated DUSP4 expression is regulated by ERK1/2 and ROS. This finding suggests the physiological importance of DUSP4 in TLR2-mediated immune response.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.159-166
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• 2013

본 연구에서는 새로운 미백소재를 개발하기 위해 적양 에탄올추출물을 효소처리 후 EtOAc 분획물(AJE)을 준비하여 in vitro 상에서 이들의 tyrosinase 저해활성과 세포 수준에서의 멜라닌 합성 저해효과를 측정하였다. AJE는 mushroom tyrosinase의 활성에는 영향을 미치지 않았으나 B16-F1 melanoma cell을 이용한 멜라닌 합성 저해효과에 있어서 농도 의존적으로 멜라닌 합성을 저해하여, $40{\mu}g/mL$의 농도에서 52% 이상의 저해효과를 나타내었다. 이러한 멜라닌 합성 저해효과에 대한 작용 기전을 확인하기 위해 western blot을 통해 멜라닌 합성 경로에 관련된 단백질의 발현을 측정하였다. 그 결과 멜라닌 합성에 관여하는 효소인 tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP-1)의 발현을 억제하였고, 이를 조절하는 전사인자인 microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF) 발현 역시 효과적으로 억제하였다. 또한 extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway를 활성화시킴으로써 phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK)의 발현을 상당히 증가시키는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 AJE가 멜라닌 합성의 신호전달 경로 중 ERK pathway의 활성화를 통해 MITF의 분해를 촉진시키고 이로 인해 MITF의 발현을 감소시키며, 그 결과 멜라닌 합성에 관여하는 효소 중 TRP-1의 발현을 감소시킴으로써 멜라닌 합성을 저해하는 것으로 사료되며, 따라서 AJE는 미백용도의 기능성 원료로서의 가능성이 큰 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2021년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.56-56
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• 2021

Nypa fruticans Wurmb is a mangrove plant belonging to Araceae family. N. fruticans is typically found in Southeast Asia, and in some parts of Queensland, Australia. N. fruticans has phytochemicals, phenolics, and flavonoids. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of N. fruticans (ENF) on the production and expression of cytokines and inflammatory mediators through the major signal transduction pathways. ENF attenuated the level of cytokines in a dose-dependent manner and decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO). ENF decreased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) via alleviating transcription of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) by an inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B (IκB) degradation. Furthermore, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways (ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38) are known to be involved in the inflammatory response. Phosphorylations of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 were significantly decreased compared with the ENF-untreated control. Conclusively, ENF was related to alleviating various pro-inflammatory mediators through IκB/NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, including p65 translocation to the nucleus.