• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.153-171
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• 2007

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate effects of Gagambosim-Tang(GBT) of focal brain ischemic injury induced by intraluminal filament insertion in the rats. Method : The ischemia was induced by intraluminal filament insertion into middle cerebral artery Eight-arm radial maze was designed for the behavioral task. Gagambosim-Tang was orally administrated in SD rats for 21 days. The task was started on the 4th week after focal brain injury, and performed two trials per day for 6days. The effects of Gagambosim-Tang on neuroprotective agents in cresyl violet, choline acetyltranferase(ChAT), nerve growth factor (NGF)-stain and c-Fos with ischemic injury were investigated. Results : The errors in the eight-arm radial maze task were significantly decreased in normal group compared with control group on 2-6days, GBT lX(42.2 mg/ml)orally administrated group on 1days, GBT 6X(253.2 mg/ml) on 3, 5, 6days. The rate of correct choice was increased in normal and GBT 6X groups. The neuroprotective effect in the hippocampal CA1 was increased in normal and GBT 1X, GBT 6X groups compared with control group. The density of ChAT in the hippocampal CA1 was increased in normal and GBT6X groups compared with control group. The density of NGF in the hippocampal CA1 was increased normal and GBT6X groups compared with control group. The number of c-Fos-positive neurons in the hippocampal CA1 was increased in normal and GBT 6X groups compared with control group. Conclusion : These results suggest that Gagambosim-Tang may have protective effect on dementia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.299-304
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• 2005

Cardiac hypertrophy contributes an increased risk to major cerebrovascular events. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying cerebrovascular dysfunction during cardiac hypertrophy have not yet been characterized. In the present study, we examined the molecular mechanism of isoproterenol (ISO)-evoked activation of Ras/Raf/MAPK pathways as well as PKA activity in cerebral artery of rabbits, and we also studied whether the activations of these signaling pathways were altered in cerebral artery, during ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy compared to heart itself. The results show that the mRNA level of c-fos (not c-jun and c-myc) in heart and these genes in cerebral artery were considerably increased during cardiac hypertrophy. These results that the PKA activity and activations of Ras/Raf/ERK cascade as well as c-fos expression in rabbit heart during cardiac hypertrophy were consistent with previous reports. Interestingly, however, we also showed a novel finding that the decreased PKA activity might have differential effects on Ras and Raf expression in cerebral artery during cardiac hypertrophy. In conclusion, there are differences in molecular mechanisms between heart and cerebral artery during cardiac hypertrophy when stimulated with β2 adrenoreceptor (AR), suggesting a possible mechanism underlying cerebrovascular dysfunction during cardiac hypertrophy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.819-825
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• 2003

pharbitis nil and Taraxacum mongolicum are representative herbs that have been used for cancer treatment in Korean traditional medicine. To understand the molecular basis of the antitumor function, we analyzed the effect of these herbs on proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells using a gastric cancer cell line AGS. Cell counting assay showed that pharbitis nil strongly inhibit cell proliferation Of AGS whereas Taraxacum mongolicum exhibit no detectable effect on cellular growth. [³H]thymidine uptake analysis also demonstrated that DNA replication of AGS is suppressed in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with pharbitis nil. Additionally, tryphan blue exclusion assay showed that Pharbitis nil induce apoptotic cell death of AGS in a dose-dependent. To explore whether anti antiproliferative and/or proapototic property of Pharbitis nil is associated with their effect on gene expression, we performed RT-PCR analysis of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related genes. Interestingly, mRNA expression levels of c-Jun, c-Fos, c-Myc, and Cyclin D1 were markedly reduced by Pharbitis nil. Taraxacum mongolicum also showed inhibitory action on expression of these growth-promoting protooncogene but there effects are less significant, as compared to Pharbitis nil. Furthermore, it was also found that Pharbitis nil activates expression of the p53 tumor suppressor and its downstream effector p21Waf1, which induce G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Pharbitis nil induce growth inhibition and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells and these effects are accompanied with down-and up-regulation of growth-regulating protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, respectively. This observation thus suggests that the anticancer effect of Pharbitis nil might be associated with its regulatory capability of tumor-related gene expression.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.204-214
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory activity of the water extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. (Pt-WE). Methods : Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine RAW264.7 cells, we examined inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$). Also, the inhibitory effect of Pt-WE on the activity of activator protein 1 (AP-1) and upstream signaling molecules was evaluated. To assess the protective effect of Pt-WE on hydrochloride/ethanol (HCl/EtOH)-induced gastric ulcer in mice, we compared Pt-WE (200 mg/kg) with ranitidine (50 mg/kg) treated mice's gastric mucosa, based on gross observations. Results : Pt-WE inhibited LPS-induced production of NO, $PGE_2$ in a dose-dependent manner, without causing cytotoxicity. Pt-WE suppressed AP-1 activation by reducing generations of both c-Jun and c-Fos. In addition, Pt-WE inhibited the p-MKK 4/7 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4/7) and p-JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) 1 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer lesions were inhibited by pre-treatment of Pt-WE based on gross observations. In addition, Pt-WE decreased the phosphorylation level of JNK. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that Pt-WE has anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effects. Thus, Pt-WE may be used widely in treatment of not only neurodegenerative diseases but also inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.199-209
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• 2017

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways play a key role in innate immunity, inflammation, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell death. The main objective of this study was to investigate the expression level of candidate MAPK pathway genes in the intestinal mucosal layer of two genetically disparate chicken lines (Marek's disease-resistant line 6.3 and Marek's disease-susceptible line 7.2) induced with necrotic enteritis (NE). Using high-throughput RNA sequencing, we investigated 178 MAPK signaling pathway related genes that were significantly and differentially expressed between the intestinal mucosal layers of the NE-afflicted and control chickens. In total, 15 MAPK pathway genes were further measured by quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR) and the results were consistent with the RNA-sequencing data. All 178 identified genes were annotated through Gene Ontology and mapped onto the KEGG chicken MAPK signaling pathway. Several key genes of the MAPK pathway, ERK1/2, JNK1-3, p38 MAPK, MAP2K1-4, $NF-{\kappa}B1/2$, c-Fos, AP-1, Jun-D, and Jun, were differentially expressed in the two chicken lines. Therefore, we believe that RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR analysis provide resourceful information for future studies on MAPK signaling of genetically disparate chicken lines in response to pathogens.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2012

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family is involved in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix during normal physiological processes such as embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling, as well as in disease processes such as pathological aging, arthritis, and metastasis. Oxidative conditions generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) (e.g., hydrogen peroxide [$H_2O_2$]) in cells, which subsequently induce the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1). MMP-1, an interstitial collagenase, in turn stimulates an aging phenomenon. In this study, baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyfl avone) was investigated for its in vitro activity against $H_2O_2$-induced damage using a human skin keratinocyte model. Baicalein pretreatment signifi cantly inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced up-regulation of MMP-1 mRNA, MMP-1 protein expression and MMP-1 activity in cultured HaCaT keratinocytes. In addition, baicalein decreased the transcriptional activity of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and the expression of c-Fos and c-Jun, both components of the heterodimeric AP-1 transcription factor. Furthermore, baicalein reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), which are upstream of the AP-1 transcription factor. The results of this study suggest that baicalein is involved in the inhibition of oxidative stress-induced expression of MMP-1 via inactivation of the ERK/JNK/AP-1 signaling pathway.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.89-95
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• 2017

Cancer-inducing PMA stimulates cells to increase the expression of transcription factor c-Jun/c-fos and then increase the activity of AP-1 in the nucleus. The activity of AP-1 has been reported to cause cancer. In this study, We conducted cytotoxicity experiments to assess the safety of natural marker compounds and also observed inhibition of activator protein(AP-1) activity to predict cancer-preventing effects. The results of this experiment indicated that arctigenin, manassantin A, and B can predict the development of cancer prevention agents.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.387-398
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• 2023

Microtubule acetylation has been proposed as a marker of highly heterogeneous and aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The novel microtubule acetylation inhibitors GM-90257 and GM-90631 (GM compounds) cause TNBC cancer cell death but the underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that GM compounds function as anti-TNBC agents through activation of the JNK/AP-1 pathway. RNA-seq and biochemical analyses of GM compound-treated cells revealed that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and members of its downstream signaling pathway are potential targets for GM compounds. Mechanistically, JNK activation by GM compounds induced an increase in c-Jun phosphorylation and c-Fos protein levels, thereby activating the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. Notably, direct suppression of JNK with a pharmacological inhibitor alleviated Bcl2 reduction and cell death caused by GM compounds. TNBC cell death and mitotic arrest were induced by GM compounds through AP-1 activation in vitro. These results were reproduced in vivo, validating the significance of microtubule acetylation/JNK/AP-1 axis activation in the anti-cancer activity of GM compounds. Moreover, GM compounds significantly attenuated tumor growth, metastasis, and cancer-related death in mice, demonstrating strong potential as therapeutic agents for TNBC.

• Molecular Medicine Reports
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.1374-1382
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• 2020

Arctigenin is a natural lignan that is found in burdock with anti-viral, -oxidative, -inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. In the current study, the effect of arctigenin on metastatic potential was examined in 4T-1 mouse triple-negative breast cancer cells. The results indicated that arctigenin inhibited cell motility and invasiveness, which was determined using wound healing and transwell invasion assays. Arctigenin suppressed matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) activity via gelatin zymography, and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and MMP-3. Furthermore, arctigenin attenuated the mRNA expression of metastatic factors, including MMP-9, MMP-3 and COX-2. Based on these results, the effect of arctigenin on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/activating protein-1 (AP-1) signaling pathway was assessed in an attempt to identify the regulatory mechanism responsible for its anti-metastatic effects. Arctigenin was demonstrated to inhibit the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N- terminal kinase (JNK), and the nuclear translocations of the AP-1 subunits, c-Jun and c-Fos. In summary, the present study demonstrated that in 4T-1 mouse triple-negative breast cancer cells the anti-metastatic effect of arctigenin is mediated by the inhibition of MMP-9 activity and by the inhibition of the metastasis-enhancing factors MMP-9, MMP-3 and COX-2, due to the suppression of the MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway. The results of the current study demonstrated that arctigenin exhibits a potential for preventing cell migration and invasion in triple negative breast cancer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2008

UV irradiation causes skin-aging involving coarse wrinkles, thickening, dyspigmentation, and rough skin surface. These phenomena in complex skin tissue is controlled with receptor of cell surface growth factor and cytokine receptors. The activation of receptors induces multiple downstream signaling pathways including expression of MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases). This study was aimed to elucidate the mechanism for anti-wrinkle activity of Korean red ginseng, Torilis fructus and Corni fructus mixture (KTNG0345). In this animal study, we have investigated decreasing effects of Korean red ginseng mixture on MMP-3 synthesis through diminishing $TNF-{\alpha}$ signaling that express MMP-1, -3, and -9. c-Jun and c-fos as a component of transcription factor AP-1 (activator protein-1) were analyzed the expression level using real time PCR and western blotting. c-Jun was decreased dose dependent manner both gene and protein level where as cfos was not changed. In upstream, JNK and PAK was not changed, but p38 was decreased in down stream. MMP-3, final product in this pathway was significantly decreased in dose dependent manner. These results suggest that Korean red ginseng mixture have a anti-wrinkle activity through $TNF-{\alpha}$ mediated MMPs expression pathway.