• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1266-1273
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• 2011

Saponin is a main component of ginseng widely known as an oriental traditional medicinal ingredient. A variety of biological effects of saponin has been reported, but its action related to skin regeneration has remained unclear so far. In this study, the effect of saponin on matrix metalloproteinase as well as its antioxidant effect in cell free system was examined in human dermal fibroblasts. First of all, as a result of investigating the effect of saponin on cell viability using MTT assay, it was shown to increase cell viability below 10 ${\mu}g$/ml, but it also showed cytotoxicity above 25 ${\mu}g$/ml. The antioxidant effect of saponin was exerted by inhibition of $H_2O_2$ in addition to reducing power above 1 ${\mu}g$/ml. In particular, saponin showed a protective effect on DNA oxidation. Furthermore, it was observed that saponin activates MMP-2 and increases MMP-1 activity in gelatin and casein zymography analyses, respectively, indicating that saponin could have potential a therapeutic agent for anti-aging and skin regeneration.

• Perinatology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.170-174
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• 2018

Objective: Progesterone is used to prevent recurrent preterm delivery, however the molecular mechanisms of its effect are incompletely understood. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of progesterone on tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity in human choriodecidual (CD) membranes. Methods: We collected CD membranes from women with uncomplicated term pregnancies who were scheduled for elective cesarean delivery (n=10). CD membranes ($1{\times}1cm$) were incubated in tissue culture media at $37^{\circ}C$. We pre-treated the CD membranes with progesterone (P4), $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P), promegestone (R5020), or vehicle (ethanol) for 24 hours. The CD membranes were subsequently treated with $TNF-{\alpha}$ (with continued progesterone treatment) for 48 hours, then media was harvested for measuring MMP-9 activity by zymography and total protein was isolated from CD membrane tissues for MMP-9 expression by western blot analysis. Results: P4, 17P, and R5020 significantly reduced $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced MMP-9 activity in fetal membrane tissue samples (P=0.0078, P=0.0156, and P=0.0391, respectively) by zymography. Western blot analysis also showed decreased expression of MMP-9 in progesterone pretreated groups (P=0.0313). Conclusion: Progesterone reduces $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced MMP-9 activity in human CD membranes. These findings may provide further support for the role of progesterone in preventing preterm birth.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.79-83
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• 2013

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been known to affect to cell migration, proliferation, morphogenesis and apoptosis by degrading the extracellular matrix. In the previous studies, undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were successfully proliferated inside the extracellular matrix (ECM) analog-conjugated three-dimensional (3D) poly ethylene glycol (PEG)-based hydrogel. However, there is no report about MMP secretion in ESCs, which makes it difficult to understand and explain how ESCs enlarge space and proliferate inside 3D PEG-based hydrogel constructed by crosslinkers containing MMP-specific cleavage peptide sequence. Therefore, we investigated what types of MMPs are released from undifferentiated ESCs and how extracellular signals derived from various niche conditions affect MMP expression of ESCs at the transcriptional level. Results showed that undifferentiated ESCs expressed specifically MMP2 and MMP3 mRNAs. Transcriptional up-regulation of MMP2 was caused by the 3D scaffold, and activation of integrin inside the 3D scaffold upregulated MMP2 mRNAs synergistically. Moreover, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) on 2D matrix and 3D scaffold induced upregulation of MMP3 mRNAs, and activation of integrins through conjugation of extracellular matrix (ECM) analogs with 3D scaffold upregulated MMP3 mRNAs synergistically. These results suggest that successful proliferation of ESCs inside the 3D PEG-based hydrogel may be caused by increase of MMP2 and MMP3 expression resulting from 3D scaffold itself as well as activation of integrins inside the 3D PEG-based scaffold.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.260-265
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• 1998

Angiogenic activity of Aloe vera gel was investigated by in vitro assay. We obtained the most active fraction from dichloromethane extract of Aloe vera gel by partitioning between hexane and 90% aqueous methanol. The most active fraction (F3) increased the proliferation of calf pulmonary artery endothelial (CPAE) cells. In addition, F3 fraction induced CPAE cells to invade type I collagen gel and form capillary-like tube through in vitro angiogenesis assay, and increased the invasion of CPAE cells into matrigel through in vitro invasion assay. Furthermore, the effect on the MRNA expression of proteolytic enzymes which are key participants in the regulation of extracellular matrix degradation was investigated by northern blot analysis. F3 fraction enhanced mRNA expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and membrane-type MMP (MT-MMP) in CPAE cells whereas the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitory (PAl-1) mRNA was not changed.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2015

The salivary gland undergoes complex process of growth and differentiation of the branching morphogenesis of ductal system during the prenatal and early postnatal periods which are regulated by various elements in the extracellular matrix. Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) is a cell adhesion molecule. In the present study, localization and expression of EMMPRIN in development and effects of chorda-lingual denervation and cyclosporine A (CsA) treatment on the EMMPRIN expression were investigated. Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determine expression level. Immunohistochemistry revealed that EMMPRIN was localized specifically in the cytoplasm of ductal cells, not acini of the submandibular gland all the postnatal periods. At prenatal day 18, when the formation of ducts was not definite, no immunoreactivity was observed. Both Western blot and RT-PCR analyses revealed that EMMPRIN expression was maintained up to postnatal day 7, decreased after postnatal day 10. The EMMPRIN expression was upregulated by the surgical denervation of the chorda-lingual nerve in the gland as well as by the CsA treatment. The present study suggests that EMMPRIN is a crucial molecule for maintaining physiological functions of the salivary gland.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2021

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the destruction of the bone supporting the tooth and connective tissues surrounding it. Periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs) induce overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) involved in periodontal disease's inflammatory destruction. Osteoclasts take part in physiological bone remodeling, but they are also involved in bone destruction in many kinds of bone diseases, including osteoporosis and periodontal disease. This study examined the effect of baicalin on proteolytic enzymes' production and secretion of inflammatory cytokines in PDLFs and RAW 264.7 cells under the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory conditions. Baicalin inhibited the expression of the protein, MMP-1 and MMP-2, without affecting PDLFs' cell viability, suggesting its possibility because of the inhibition of phosphorylation activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase's p38, and the signal transduction process of nuclear factor κB (NFκB)-related protein. Also, baicalin reduced the expression of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in RAW 264.7 cells. This reduction is thought to be due to the inhibition of the signal transduction process of NFκB-related proteins affected by inhibiting p65RelA phosphorylation. Also, baicalin inhibited the secretion of nitric oxide and interleukin-6 induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that baicalin inhibits connective tissue destruction in periodontal disease. The inhibition of periodontal tissue destruction may be a therapeutic strategy for treating inflammatory periodontal-diseased patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.892-899
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• 2018

Portulaca oleracea L. is an edible plant widely consumed in daily diet throughout Europe, Asia and America. In this study, protective effects of P. oleracea L. extracts against oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation were investigated using HaCaT immortal human keratinocytes. In this context, the mRNA and protein productions of MMPs (MMP-1, -2, and -9) and type I procollagen, which are major markers of photoaging induced by UVB radiation in HaCaT keratinocytes, were evaluated. Furthermore, UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mRNA and protein expression levels of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), oxygenase-1 (OH-1), and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf-2), all of which are associated with the antioxidant balance, were investigated. As shown by the results, UVB radiation induced ROS formation and led to increased production of MMPs and decreased collagen production in human keratinocytes, which resulted in skin photoaging or photodamage. The treatment with P. oleracea L. extracts downregulated MMP (MMP-1, -2, and -9) production and upregulated type I procollagen expression in UVB-induced HaCaT cells. Furthermore, treatment with the extracts decreased UVB-induced ROS generation and increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD-1 and OH-1, through the Nrf-2 pathway. Taken together, these results suggest that P. oleracea L. extracts could be a potential cosmeceutical agent for the prevention of skin photoaging or photodamage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1000-1006
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• 2015

α-Asarone is the main component of Acorus gramineus, which is a widely used oriental traditional medicine. A. gramineus is known to have a variety of medicinal effects, such as anti-gastric ulcer, antiallergy and antioxidant activity. It is also known to inhibit the release of histamine. However, the mechanism of its action remains unclear in humans. In this study, the effects of α-asarone on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and its antioxidant effect in a cell-free system were examined in HT1080 cells. In an MTT assay, the effect of α-asarone on cell viability showed no cytotoxicity below 16 μM. In an antioxidant assay, α-asarone increased reducing power in a dose-dependent manner but not the scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. In addition, α-asarone exhibited the protective effect against DNA oxidation induced by hydroxyl radicals produced by the Fenton reaction. Furthermore, in a gelatin disk assay, α-asarone enhanced collagenase activity. It also increased the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in a gelatin zymography. On the other hand, the activity of MMP-9 stimulated by phenazine methosulfate (PMS) but not that of MMP-2 was increased in the presence of α-asarone. These findings suggest that α-asarone could be a candidate for the prevention and treatment of pathological diseases related to oxidative stress and MMPs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.443-450
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• 2016

Background: Although unique aortic pathology related to bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) has been previously reported, clinical implications of BAV to aortopathy risk have yet to be investigated. We looked for potential differences in matrix protein expressions in the aortic wall in BAV patients. Methods: Aorta specimens were obtained from 31 patients: BAV group (n=27), tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) group (n=4). The BAV group was categorized into three subgroups: left coronary sinus-right coronary sinus (R+L group; n=13, 42%), right coronary sinus-non-coronary sinus (R+N group; n=8, 26%), and anteroposterior (AP group; n=6, 19%). We analyzed the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2. Results: Based on the mean value of the control group, BAV group showed decreased expression of eNOS in 72.7% of patients, increased MMP-9 in 82.3%, and decreased TIMP in 79.2%. There was a higher tendency for aortopathy in the BAV group: eNOS $(BAV:TAV)=53%{\pm}7%:57%{\pm}11%$, MMP-9 $(BAV:TAV)=48%{\pm}10%:38%{\pm}1%$. The AP group showed lower expression of eNOS than the fusion (R+L, R+N) group did; $48%{\pm}5%$ vs. $55%{\pm}7%$ (p=0.081). Conclusion: Not all patients with BAV had expression of aortopathy; however, for patients who had a suspicious form of bicuspid valve, aortic wall biopsy could be valuable to signify the presence of aortopathy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.275-280
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• 2010

Sulforaphane is a naturally occurring member of the iosothiocyanate family, which reveals chemopreventive capacities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and inhibition of MMP-9 activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of sulforaphane on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Raw 264.7 cells. Sulforaphane strikingly suppressed the LPS-induced MMP-9 activity and mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, sulforaphane inhibited not only the LPS-induced MMP-9 promoter activity but also LPS-mediated activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-kB (NF-${\kappa}B$) promoter activity. Transient transfection by MMP-9 constructs, in which specific transcriptional factors were mutagenized, indicated that the effects of LPS and sulforaphane were mediated via AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ response elements. We found that sulforaphane had the ability to suppress LPS-induced invasion in vitro. Taken together, these results demonstrated that sulforaphane effectively suppressed LPS-induced MMP-9 expression via modulation of promoter elements (AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$) in MMP-9 transcriptional activation.