• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.1224-1233
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• 2016

The present study assessed the effects of an aqueous extract of Acanthopanax koreanum root (AE) and of AE following fermentation by lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum) (AEF) on human skin fibroblast HS68 cells exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation and oxidative stress. AEF effectively antagonized the senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining and upregulation of p53 and p21^Cip1/WAF1 induced by UVB or H₂O₂ treatment in HS68 cells. It also exhibited excellent antioxidant activities in radical scavenging assays and reduced the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species induced by UVB or H₂O₂ treatment. The antioxidant and antisenescent activities of AEF were greater than those of nonfermented A. koreanum extract. AEF significantly repressed the UVB- or H₂O₂-induced activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and -3, overexpression of MMP-1, and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation. This repression of NF-κB activation and MMP-1 overexpression was attenuated by a mitogen-activated protein kinase activator, suggesting that this AEF activity was dependent on this signaling pathway. Taken together, these data indicated that AEF-mediated antioxidant and anti-photoaging activities may produce anti-wrinkle effects on human skin.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.12
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• pp.685-690
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• 2014

The Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk signaling pathway is important for regulation of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis in response to a variety of extracellular stimuli. Lack of Erk MAPK activation is observed in several cancer cells despite active activation of Ras. However, little is known about the modulation of Erk1/2 activity by active Ras. Here, we show that overexpression of active H-Ras (H-RasG12R) in NIH3T3 fibroblasts impaired FGF2-induced Erk1/2 phosphorylation, as compared to wild-type cells. Northern blot analysis revealed that prolonged expression of active Ras increased MAP kinase phosphatase 3 (MKP3) mRNA expression, a negative regulator of Erk MAPK. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway abrogated active Ras-induced up-regulation of MKP3 expression, leading to the rescue of Erk1/2 phosphorylation. Our results demonstrated that the Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk signaling cascade is negatively regulated by the PI3K/Aktdependent transcriptional activation of the MKP3 gene.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.370-375
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• 2016

Ras oncoproteins are small molecular weight GTPases known for their involvement in oncogenesis, which operate in a complex signaling network with multiple effectors. Approximately 25% of human tumors possess mutations in a member of this family. The Raf1/MEK/Erk1/2 pathway is one of the most intensively studied signaling mechanisms. Different levels of regulation account for the inactivation of MAP kinases by MAPK phosphatases in a cell type- and stimuli-dependent manner. In the present study, using three inducible Ras-expressing NIH/3T3 cell lines, we demonstrated that MKP3 upregulation requires the activation of the Erk1/2 pathway, which correlates with the shutdown of this pathway. We also demonstrated, by applying pharmacological inhibitors and effector mutants of Ras, that induction of MKP3 at the protein level is positively regulated by the oncogenic Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk1/2 signaling pathway.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.551-558
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• 2003

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is associated with a severe liver disease and increased frequency in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Overexpression of HCV core protein is known to transform fibroblast cells. Phospholipase D (PLD) activity is commonly elevated in response to mitogenic signals, and PLD has been also reported to be overexpressed and hyperactivated in some human cancer. The aim of this study was to understand how PLD can be regulated in HCV core protein-transformed NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. We observed that in unstimulated state, basal PLD activity was higher in NIH3T3 cells overexpressing HCV core protein than in vector-transfected cells. Although expression of PLD and protein kinase C (PKC) in core protein-transformed cells was similar with that of control cells, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), which is known to activate PKC, stimulated significantly PLD activity in core protein-transformed cells, compared with that of the control cells. PLD activity assay using PKC isozyme-specific inhibitor, and PKC translocation experiment showed that PKC-$\delta$ was mainly involved in the PMA-induced PLD activation in the core-transformed cells. Taken together, these results suggest that PLD might be implicated in core protein-induced transformation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.61-69
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• 2019

Purpose : Human gingival fibroblast cell is one of the the main cell types in periodontal tissue, which they can show anti-inflammatory activity through the production of numerous lines of inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and interleukins. Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the oral pathogens, has reported to play a critical role in the development of periodontal diseases. This study aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities of Gracilaria textorii ethanol extract (GTEE) in P. gingivalis derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS-PG) stimulated human gingival fibroblast (HGF)-1 cell line. Methods : In order to analyze anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities of GTEE in HGF-1 cell line, NOS enzyme activity, expression levels of iNOS, COX-2, NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase (NQO)1 and their transcription factors were estimated by Griess reaction and western hybridization. Results : LPS-PG induced overexpression of iNOS and COX-2, which was significantly attenuated by GTEE treatment in a dose-dependent manner without any cytotoxicity. In addition, intracellular NOS activity was in accordance with the result of iNOS expression. Due to important role in the regulation of inflammatory responses, phosphorylated status of p65 and c-jun, each subunit of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and activator protein (AP)-1, was also dose-dependently ameliorated by GTEE treatment. One of phase II enzymes, NQO1, and its transcription factor, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), were analyzed since elevated phase II enzyme expression inhibited inflammatory response, which was significantly elevated by GTEE treatment in HGF-1 cell line. Conclusion : In conclusion, GTEE mitigated LPS-PG-stimulated inflammatory responses by attenuating NF-κB and AP-1 activation as well as accelerating NQO1 and Nrf2 expression in HGF-1 cell line. These results indicate that GTEE might be utilized a promising strategy for potential anti-inflammatory agent in periodontal diseases.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.556-563
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• 2005

Homogentisic acid was found to scavenge intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and thus prevented lipid peroxidation in human fibroblast (Wl 38) cells. The radical scavenging activity of homogentisic acid was found to protect Wl 38 cells against hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)$ induced oxidative stress, via the activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) protein. Homogentisic acid increased the activity of catalase. Hence, from the present study, it is suggested that homogentisic acid protects Wl 38 cells against $H_2O_2$ damage by enhancing the intracellular antioxidative activity.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.225-246
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• 2003

Recent study on the enamel matrix derivatives explained on the effects of new bone and new attachment formation in infrabony pocket of periodontal defects. The purpose of this study was to investigate on the biological effects of enamel matrix derivatives to attachment, proliferation and activation of periodontal ligament and osteoblast cells, After treatment of osteoblast and PDL cells with various Emdogain concentration level(0.03${\mu}g$/ml, 3${\mu}g$/ml, 300${\mu}g$/ml), activation of osteogenetic factor, calcified nodule formation and measuring alkaline phosphatase activity(ALP) were performed. 1. Both osteoblast and PDL cell showed increasing initial cell attachment with 300${\mu}g$/ml Emdogain concentration. 2. At the level of 300${\mu}g$/ml, accelerated proliferation of oseoblast and PDL cell was appeared. 3. As Emdogain's concentration increased, increased ALP activation of osteoblast was shown. In case of PDL cell, Emdogain increased ALP activation prominently at the level of 300${\mu}g$/ml. 4. No statistically significant activating change were founded at all of the concentrations of Emdogain on the activating of transcript factor Runx2 for differentiating osteoblast. 5. At the level of 300${\mu}g$/ml, calcified nodule formation was increased prominently to compare with other concentration. These results indicated that Emdogain should activate initial attachment, proliferation and activation, but not on Runx2 activation and can be used for useful tool of the treatment of periodontal tissue regeneration.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.148-153
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• 2009

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a stable anti-oxidant or pro-oxidant, depending on the situation, and it is widely used to inhibit the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. We recently reported that PDTC activates the MIP-2 gene in a NF-${\kappa}B$-independent and c-Jun-dependent manner in macrophage cells. In this work, we found that PDTC activates signal transduction pathways in mouse ES cells. Among the three different mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, including the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAP kinase, and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways, only the ERK pathway was significantly activated in mouse ES cells after stimulation with PDTC. Additionally, we observed a synergistic activation of ERK and induction of c-Fos after stimulation with PDTC in the presence of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) conditioned medium. In contrast, another NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor, BMS-345541, did not activate the MAP kinase pathways or induce expression of c-Fos. These results suggest that changes in the presence of the NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor PDTC should be carefully considered when it used with mouse ES cells.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.317-333
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• 1996

The main goal of periodontal regeneration is to be achieved by epithelial exclusion, periodontal ligament cell activation or alveolar bone regeneration. The purpose of this study was to investigate on the physico- chemical and biological characteristics of biodegradable chitosan beads. Chitosan beads were fabricated by ionic gelation with sodium tripolyphosphate and they had the size in 300um diameter. As therapeutic agent, flurbiprofen was incorporated into the beads by 10, 20% loading contents. The release of drugs from the chitosan beads was measured in vitro. Also, biological activity tests of flurbiprofen loaded chitosan beads including cytotoxicity test, ihhibition of $IL-1{\beta}$ production, suppression to $PGE_2$ production, collagenase inhibition test, the ability of total protein synthesis, and tissue response were evaluated. The amount of flurbiprofen released from chitosan was 33-50% during 7 days. Minimal cytotoxicity was observed in chitosan beads. Flurbiprofen released from chitosan beads significantly suppressed the $IL-1{\beta}$ production of monocyte, $PGE_2$ production and markedly inhibited collagenase activity. Meanwhile, flurbiprofen released from this system showed increased ability for protein synthesis. Throughout 4 -week implantation period, no significant inflammatory cell infiltrated around chitosan bead and also fibroblast like cell types at the beads - tissue interface were revealed with gradual degradation of implanted chitosan beads. From these results, it was suggested that flurbiprofen loaded chitosan beads can be effectively useful for biocompatible local delivery system in periodontal regeneration.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2014

Nardostachys chinensis (N. chinensis) has been used in traditional medicine as a sedative and analgesic. It has been reported that N. chinensis extract has an antioxidant activity. However, the mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we showed that FOXO3a was activated by N. chinensis extract. FOXO3a is a transcriptional factor that involved in cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, apoptosis, and detoxification of reactive oxygen spices (ROS). Protein level of FOXO3a was increased by N. chinensis extract whereas phospho-FOXO3a (Thr 32) was not changed. Promoter activities of target genes of FOXO3a such as MnSOD, p27, and GADD45 were increased by N. chinensis extract. Among target genes, protein level of MnSOD was increased by N. chinensis extract, and this leads to removal of ROS level in human embryonic fibroblast (HEF) cells. These results suggested that N. chinensis extract has an antioxidant activity by upregulation of MnSOD through FOXO3a activation.