• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.700-709
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenoside Rd is a natural compound with promising neuroprotective effects. However, the underlying mechanisms are still not well-understood. In this study, we explored whether ginsenoside Rd exerts protective effects on cerebral endothelial cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) treatment and its potential docking proteins related to the underlying regulations. Method: Commercially available primary human brain microvessel endothelial cells (HBMECs) were used for in vitro OGD/R studies. Cell viability, pyroptosis-associated protein expression and tight junction protein degradation were evaluated. Molecular docking proteins were predicted. Subsequent surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology was utilized for validation. Flow cytometry was performed to quantify caspase-1 positive and PI positive (caspase-1+/PI+) pyroptotic cells. Results: Ginsenoside Rd treatment attenuated OGD/R-induced damage of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity in vitro. It suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation (increased expression of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β and GSDMD-N terminal (NT)) and subsequent cellular pyroptosis (caspase-1+/PI + cells). Ginsenoside Rd interacted with SLC5A1 with a high affinity and reduced OGD/R-induced sodium influx and potassium efflux in HBMECs. Inhibiting SLC5A1 using phlorizin suppressed OGD/R-activated NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis in HBMECs. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rd protects HBMECs from OGD/R-induced injury partially via binding to SLC5A1, reducing OGD/R-induced sodium influx and potassium efflux, thereby alleviating NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.325-332
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• 2016

Resveratrol, a phytoalexin, is reported to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in vascular cells. The blood-brain barrier (BBB), formed by specialized brain endothelial cells that are interconnected by tight junctions, strictly regulates paracellular permeability to maintain an optimal extracellular environment for brain homeostasis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of resveratrol and the role of AMPK in BBB dysfunction induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Exposure of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) to LPS ($1{\mu}g/ml$) for 4 to 24 hours week dramatically increased the permeability of the BBB in parallel with lowered expression levels of occluding and claudin-5, which are essential to maintain tight junctions in HBMECs. In addition, LPS significantly increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) productions. All effects induced by LPS in HBVMCs were reversed by adenoviral overexpression of superoxide dismutase, inhibition of NAD(P) H oxidase by apocynin or gain-function of AMPK by adenoviral overexpression of constitutively active mutant (AMPK-CA) or by resveratrol. Finally, upregulation of AMPK by either AMPK-CA or resveratrol abolished the levels of LPS-enhanced NAD(P)H oxidase subunits protein expressions. We conclude that AMPK activation by resveratrol improves the integrity of the BBB disrupted by LPS through suppressing the induction of NAD(P)H oxidase-derived ROS in HBMECs.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권12호
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• pp.1367-1375
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• 2016

Cilostazol은 phosphodiesterase III의 선택적 저해제로 알려져 있으며, 뇌졸중 치료에 일반적으로 사용되고 있다. Cilostazol을 처리한 경우, 국소 뇌허혈이 발생한 후에 혈관신생을 통해서 혈관형성이 향상된다는 것을 본 연구자들이 발표하였다. 혈관신생은 조직의 허혈상태를 극복하기 위해서 혈관재생을 촉진하는 중요한 과정으로써, 혈관내피세포의 증식, 이동, 모세관구조 형성의 다단계 과정으로 구성되어 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 인간 뇌혈관내피세포를 이용하여 cilostazol이 혈관신생의 각 단계들에 어떤 영향을 미치는지 조사하였다. Cilostazol은 농도의존적으로 뇌혈관내피세포의 이동성을 촉진하였으나, 뇌혈관내피세포의 증식과 모세관구조 형성에는 영향을 미치지 않았다. Cilostazol이 세포이동을 조절하는 기전을 분석하기 위해서 cDNA microarray를 수행하였고, 세포이동에 관련성이 있는 5종의 후보 유전자들을 선택하여 real-time PCR을 통해 해당 유전자의 발현을 검증하였다. Cilostazol에 의해서 발현양이 조절되는 유전자들로써, phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1)와 CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\beta}$ ($C/EBP{\beta}$)은 발현이 증가하였고, tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2), retinoic acid receptor responder 1 (RARRES1), RARRES3는 발현이 감소하였다. 이상의 결과를 통해서 cilostazol이 혈관내피세포의 이동을 촉진하여 혈관신생을 향상시킬 수 있음을 제안할 수 있으며, 뇌혈관내피세포에 대한 cilostazol의 조절기전에 대해서 더욱 상세히 규명을 한다면 혈관형성을 통하여 허혈성 질환을 치료할 수 있는 유용한 정보가 될 것으로 기대한다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.73-80
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• 2016

Chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd) is known to adversely affect renal function. Our previous studies indicated that Cd induces p53-dependent apoptosis by inhibiting gene expression of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (Ube) 2d family in both human and rat proximal tubular cells. In this study, the effects of Cd on protein expression of p53 and apoptotic signals in the kidney and liver of mice exposed to Cd for 12 months were examined, as well as the effects of Cd on p53 protein levels and gene expression of the Ube2d family in various cell lines. Results showed that in the kidney of mice exposed to 300 ppm Cd for 12 months, there was overaccumulation of p53 proteins in addition to the induction of apoptosis, which was triggered specifically in the proximal tubules. Interestingly, the site of apoptosis was the same as that of p53 accumulation in the proximal tubules. In the liver of mice chronically exposed to Cd, gene expression of the Ube2d family tended to be slightly decreased, together with slight apoptosis without the accumulation of p53 protein. In rat small intestine epithelial (IEC-6) cells, Cd decreased not only the p53 protein level but also gene expression of Ube2d1, Ube2d2 and Ube2d4. In human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), Cd did not suppress gene expression of the Ube2d family, but increased the p53 protein level. In human brain astrocytes (HBASTs), Cd only increased gene expression of UBE2D3. These results suggest that Cd-induced apoptosis through p53 protein is associated with renal toxicity but not hepatic toxicity, and the modification of p53 protein by Cd may vary depending on cell type.