• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.123-131
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• 2003

Inflammation appears to have a major role in the development of atherosclerosis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in the inflammatory response via the generation of prostanoids that, in turn, are involved in the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This study hypothesized that a vascular infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) may induce a chronic inflammatory reaction and activated inflammatory cells may express inflammatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9). To confirm the hypothesis, the immunohistochemical stains for CMV late antigen, COX-2, MMP-9, macrophage, and T-lymphocyte were performed on CMV-infected atherosclerotic lesions. The immunoreactivity for COX-2 and MMP-9 was evident in all cases of atherosclerosis along with plaques, mainly in macrophages/foamy cells, intimal and medial smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells of the intima. Within the intima, the increased immunoreactivity for COX-2 and MMP-9 was colocalized to the area stained with CMV late antigen. Sections from control specimens showed no immunoreactivity for CMV late antigen, COX-2 and MMP-9. These data seem to support the hypothesis that CMV may participate in a pathogenetic mechanism for atherogenesis or progression of atherosclerosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.643-646
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• 2014

Objective: This study aimed to explore the expression of tissue factor (TF), protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and influence on invasiveness. Methods: Stable MCF-7 cells transfected with TF cDNA and with TF ShRNA were established. TF, PAR-2, and MMP-9 protein expression was analyzed using indirect immunofluorescence and invasiveness was evaluated using a cell invasion test. Effects of an exogenous PAR-2 agonist were also examined. Results: TF protein expression significantly differed between the TF cDNA and TF ShRNA groups. MMP-9 protein expression was significantly correlated with TF protein expression, but PAR-2 protein expression was unaffected. The PAR-2 agonist significantly enhanced MMP-9 expression and slightly increased TF and PAR-2 expression in the TF ShRNA group, but did not significantly affect protein expression in MCF-7 cells transfected with TF cDNA. TF and MMP-9 expression was positively correlated with the invasiveness of tumor cells. Conclusion: TF, PAR-2, and MMP-9 affect invasiveness of MCF-7 cells. TF may increase MMP-9 expression by activating PAR-2.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2018

Viticis fructus (fruits of Vitex rotundifolia) is the dried fruit from Vitex rotundifolia; is a traditional medicine for treating inflammation, migraines, chronic bronchitis, headaches, eye pain, and gastrointestinal infections; and demonstrates various bioactivities, including anti-allergic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects, which are partly due to its phenolic compound content. This study examines the inhibitory effects of viticis fructus (fruits of Vitex rotundifolia) on MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression using gelatin zymography and RT-PCR in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced HT-1080 fibro-sarcoma cells. Fruits of Vitex rotundifolia were extracted twice using dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$) and methanol (MeOH). The combined crude extracts ($CH_2Cl_2$ and MeOH) significantly inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in gelatin zymography. The combined extracts were fractionated into n-hexane, 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH), n-butanol, and water, successively according to polarity. Among all solvent-partitioned fractions, 85% aq. MeOH fractions showed the strongest inhibition on the activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in gelatin zymography. In PMA-stimulated HT-1080 cells, the expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA were also greatly inhibited by the 85% aq. MeOH fraction. These results suggest that viticis fructus can be used as an excellent source for anti-invasive agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1189-1195
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• 2016

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are potent angiogenic factors that have been used clinically to induce angiogenesis. To enable migration and invasion, cells must proliferate and secrete proteinases, which degrade the surrounding extracellular matrix. The goal of this study was to investigate the cell proliferation; matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and plasmin secretion; and migration and invasion of glioma-derived U-373-MG cells induced by VEGF and HGF treatment. An additional goal was to test the hypothesis that elevated secretion of MMP-2, MMP-9, and plasmin contributed directly or indirectly to the proliferation, migration, and invasion of U-373-MG cells. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and MMP-2, MMP-9, and plasmin secretion were significantly increased in the VEGF and HGF-treated U-373-MG cells. To elucidate the role of the increased secretion of MMP-2, MMP-9, and plasmin in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of the U-373-MG cells, they were treated with MMPs inhibitor (BB-94) and plasmin inhibitor (α2AP) prior to VEGF or HGF stimulation. The BB-94 and α2AP treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of the U-373-MG cells as compared with the VEGF- and HGF-treated groups. The results indicate that inhibition of MMPs and plasmin reduce the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of U-373-MG cells.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.31-37
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• 2010

Objects : This study was performed in order to evaluate the effects of Agrimoniae herba (AH) ethanol extract on intrastriatal hemorrhage (ISH). Method : ISH was induced by the stereotaxic intrastriatal injection of bacterial collagenase type IV in Sprague-Dawley rats. AH was orally given once a day for 3 days after ISH. Hematoma volume and percentage edema were examined. Immunohistochemistry was processed for iNOS, c-Fos, MMP-9, and MMP-12 expressions in the brain sections and each immuno-labeling were calculated with image analysis. Results : results are as follows; 1. AH reduced the hematoma volume and percentage edema of the ISH-induced rat brain. 2. AH swollen apoptotic bodies and neurons in the peri-hematoma regions of the ISH-induced rat brain. 3. AH significantly reduced c-Fos, MMP-9 and MMP-12 positive cells in the peri-hematoma regions of the ISH-induced rat brain. 4. AH swollen iNOS expressions in the peri-hematoma regions of the ISH-induced rat brain. Conclusion : These results suggest that AH plays an anti-apoptotic neuroprotective effect through control of ISH, suppression of c-Fos, and down-regulation of MMP-9 and MMP-12 expressions in the brain tissues.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1105-1110
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• 2014

Objective: Metastases and invasion are the main reasons for oncotherapy failure. Momordica cochinchinensis (Mu Bie Zi in Chinese) had been used for a variety of purposes, and shown anti-cancer action. In this article, we focused on effects on regulation of breast cancer cell ZR-75-30 metastases and invasion by extracts of Momordica cochinchinensis seeds (ESMCs). Methods: Effect of ESMCs on ZR-75-30 human breast cancer cells proliferation were evaluated by MTT assay and on invasion and migration by wound-healing and matrigel invasion chamber assays. Expression and protease activity of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, were analyzed by Western blotting and gelatin zymography, respectively. Results: ESMC revealed strong growth inhibitory effects on ZR-75-30 cells, and effectively inhibited ZR-75-30 cell invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot and gelatin zymography analysis showed that ESMC significantly inhibited the expression and secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in ZR-75-30 cells. Conclusions: ESMC has the potential to suppress the migration and invasion of ZR-75-30 cancer cells, and it might prove to of interest in the development of novel inhibitors for breast cancer.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2005

중등도 이상의 치주염 환자에서 치은 열구액내의 MMPs 및 TIMP-1 과 치주염과의 연관성을 규명하고, 치주 수술이 MMPs 및 TIMP-1의 정량에 미치는 영향을 연구하고자 하였다. 총 14명의 치주낭 깊이 6mm 이상의 중등도 이상의 치주 질환 이환자에서 치아를 선정하여, 치주낭 심도, 치은 지수(gingival index)를 측정하고, 치은의 조직학적 염증의 정도를 측정하기 위해, 해당 치아의 치주낭 연조직을 절취하여 H-E염색을 하고, 치은 절편에서 염증세포 침윤의 정도 및 분포를 비교하였다. Perio-paper를 이용하여 치은열구액을 얻고, pyrogen-free water에서 추출하였다. 채취한 치은 열구액에서 ELISA-kit를 이용하여 MMP-1, 8, 9, 13과 TIMP-1을 측정하여 수술 전과, 수술 후, 그리고 건강한 조직인 대조군을 비교하였으며, 통계처리는 Wilcoxon 검정을 사용하였다. 또한 MMPs 혹은 TIMP-1이 치주낭 심도나 치은지수등의 임상적 지표와 가지는 연관성을 Spearman's correlation coefficient를 이용하여 알아보았다. TIMP-1을 제외한 MMP-1, 8 ,9, 13 에서 수술 전보다 수술 후에 치은 열구액 내의 양이 현저하게 줄어든 것을 관찰할 수 있었으나, MMP-1(p=0.025), MMP-9(p=0.016) 와 MMP-13(p=0.009) 에서만 통계적으로 유의성있는 차이를 보였다. 한편 MMP-9 (p=0.011) 나 MMP-13(p=0.026) 은 건강한 대조군과 수술 전 사이에도 유의성있는 차이를 보였다. 연조직의 조직학적 관찰을 통하여 치은지수의 임상적 신뢰도를 평가한 결과 통계학적으로 유의한 결과를 얻을 수 있었으며, 치주 치료 전의 치주낭 심도와 치은지수와의 관계나, 수술 전과 수술 후의 치주낭 심도등의 변화도 통계적으로 유의성있는 결과를 보였다. 하지만 치주낭 심도나 치은지수등의 임상적 지표는 MMPs나 TIMP의 정량과는 별다른 연관성을 보이지 않았다. 이 실험의 결과로 보아 MMP-1, MMP-9나 MMP-13을 치주 수술 전과 수술 후의 치주염의 심도 변화를 반영할 수 있는 지표로 생각할 수 있으며, 특히 MMP-9와 MMP-13가 치주염과 가지는 연관성은 크다고 할 수 있겠다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1254-1260
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• 2012

The moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) plant is used both as food and an anti-allergic agent. In this study, we investigated skin protection effects of methanol extracts from the root, seed, fruit, and leaves of moringa in HaCaT keratinocyte cells. To investigate the pharmacological potential of various moringa extracts on TNF-${\alpha}$-induced collagen degradation in HaCaT cells, we measured the activity of matrix metallopeptidase-9,2 (MMP-9,2) by zymography analysis. Our results showed that all the moringa extracts inhibit the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced enzyme activity of MMP-9. In particular, moringa root extracts significantly suppressed MMP-9 and MMP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Next, to investigate the anti-inflammation effect of the moringa extracts, we examined cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression of the extracts. The results showed that both the root extracts and the seed extracts decreased the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of COX-2. In addition, the root and leaf extracts reduced the expression of IL-6. However, none of the moringa extracts affected the expression of iNOS. The results suggest that moringa root extracts down-regulate MMP-9, COX-2, and IL-6 and that the root extracts offer superior skin protection effects compared with other extracts of moringa in HaCaT cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.2 s.69
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• pp.231-235
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• 2005

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of structurally and functionally related zinc-dependent enzymes responsible for proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix components such as base membrane or interstitial stroma. MMPs play an important role in a variety of physiological and pathological tissue remodeling processes, including wound healing, embryo implantation, tumor invasion and metastasis. Since MMP-9 (gelatinase B) has unique ability to cleave type IV collagen, gene expression of MMP-9 has been focused on as a pharmacological target. Flavonoids are a class of compounds that are widely spread in plants. In the coures of screening for the suppressors of MMP-9 gene expression from natural products, Metasequoia glyptostroboides was selected. Six flavonoids, sciadopitysin, isoginkgetin, bilobetin, 2,3-dihydrohinokiflavone, luteolin and apigenin were purified as suppressors of MMP-9 gene expression from M. glyptostroboides. The suppressing activity of the isolated flavinoids on the MMP-9 gene expression was measured by gelatin zymography and Nothern blot analysis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.195-201
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• 2011

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in tissue development and re-modeling. Dynamic morphological changes of tooth germs reflect involvement of these enzymes during odontogenesis. The present study was performed to investigate expression and localization of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which have been known to have type IV collagenase activities, in rat tooth germs at different developmental stages. MMP-2 expression was increased gradually in the tooth germs from cap to crown staged germs at both transcription and translation levels. The localization of this molecule was detected in secretory ameloblasts and preameloblasts. The strong immunoreactivities were occasionally seen along the basement membrane between ameloblasts (or preameloblasts) and odontoblasts (preodontoblasts). However, weak reactivity was detected in odontoblasts and reduced enamel epithelium. The level of MMP-9 expression in the tooth germs was higher in cap stage than in crown staged germs at both transcription and translation levels. They were strongly expressed in both ameloblasts and odontoblasts. Even though reduced enamel epithelium after enamel formation and inner enamel epithelium at the cap stage exhibited weak reactivity, strong reactivity was detected in dental follicles and perifollicular tissues surrounding cap staged germs. These results suggested that MMP-2 may involve degradation of the basement membrane during hard tissue formation, whereas MMP-9 might be involved in remodeling of follicular tissues.