• 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.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.475-480
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• 2009

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation provokes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells and skin, which induce oxidative stress in the exposed cells, leading to photoaging and cancer. Using the human keratinocytes HaCaT cell line, we investigated the photoprotective effects of aucubin isolated from Eucommia ulmoides. Pretreatment with aucubin markedly suppressed UVB-induced oxidative stress, which manifests as a decrease in intracellular lipid peroxidation, elevation of catalase activity, and reduced glutathione content. In addition, aucubin significantly reduced expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) protein (54%) and mRNA. Taken together, these results suggest that aucubin may offer protection against UVB-induced oxidative stress and may be used as a potential agent in prevention of UVB-induced photoaging.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.510-518
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• 2010

Purpose : Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis, a leading cause of pediatric acquired heart disease. Histopathological findings of coronary artery lesion (CAL) in KD indicate destruction of the coronary artery wall with diffuse vasculitis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) might play central roles in this process. Special attention to MMP-9 has recently been emerging. This study was performed to investigate the clinical significance of MMP-9 and its inhibitors, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, in KD. Methods : We compared 47 KD patients with 14 febrile controls. Serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1, TIMP-2 were measured by ELISA and compared according to clinical stages and coronary involvement. Results : In acute stage, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were significantly higher, whereas TIMP-2 was lower, in KD than those in febrile controls ($P$<0.05). The elevated MMP-9 levels in acute phase significantly decreased during the subacute and convalescent phases ($P$<0.05). During acute phase, the MMP-9, TIMP-1, and MMP-9/TIMP-2 levels in the CAL group were lower than those in the non-CAL group, but they increased significantly in the subacute phase ($P$<0.05). MMP-9 has a positive correlation with TIMP-1 in the acute and subacute phases, and negative correlation with TIMP-2 in the subacute and convalescent phases ($P$<0.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that MMP-9, TIMP-1, and the imbalance in MMP-9 and TIMP-2 might play important roles on the pathophysiology of KD and especially on the development of CAL. However, further larger studies are needed.

• 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.

• 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 the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2010

In order to evaluate anti-wrinkle activity of Carex humilis extract, free radical scavenging activity, elastase inhibitory activity and reduction of expression Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) mRNA and MMP-1 protein were investigated. The roots of Carex humilis were extracted with 95 % ethanol and successively partitioned with organic solvents with increasing polarity of the solvents. Each fraction of organic solvent were investigated by using free radical scavenging activity and elastase inhibitory activity test. Among them, EtOAc fraction showed antioxidant activity ($SC_{50}$=4.89 ${\mu}g/mL$) and elastase inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$=23.5 ${\mu}g/mL$). EtOAc fraction was developed on silica gel by open-column chromatography and consecutively re-developed on C18 resin by prep-HPLC to give ${\alpha}$-viniferin as a major component, which was confirmed by spectrometric analysis. In the assay on expression of MMP-1 mRNA by RT-PCR and protein by western-blot, EtOAc layer (10 ~ 100 ${\mu}g/mL$) was reduced about 50 ~ 60 %, 50 ~ 65 % respectively and ${\alpha}$-viniferin (0.5 ~ 2 ${\mu}g/mL$) was inhibited about 60 ~ 75 %, 55 ~ 65 % respectively in human fibroblast. Therefore, our findings suggest that EtOAc layer of Carex humilis containing ${\alpha}$-viniferin can be useful as an active ingredient for cosmeceuticals of anti-wrinkle effects.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.109-116
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare and quantify the expression of C-reactive protein (CRP), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-14, and tissue inhibitor of metalioproteinases (TIMP)-2 in gingival tissues of patients with chronic periodontitis accompanied with inflammatory reaction related to alveolar bone resorption with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Twelve patients with type 2 DM and chronic periodontitis (group 3), twelve patients with chronic periodontitis (group 2), and twelve healthy individuals (group 1) were included in the study. Gingival tissue biopsies were collected from each patient and from healthy individuals at the time of periodontal surgery (including surgical crown lengthening) or tooth extraction. The concentrations of cytokines were determined by a western blot analysis. Results: The expression levels of CRP and MMP-14 increased in group 2 and 3, and they were highest in group 3. The expressions of TIMP-2 also increased in group 2 and 3. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the expression levels of CRP, MMP-14, and TIMP-2 might be inflammatory markers in periodontal inflamed tissue. It can be assumed that CRP, MMP-14, and TIMP-2 may be partly involved in the progression of periodontal inflammation associated to type 2 DM.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to observe and quantify the expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-$\gamma$ (IFN-$\gamma$), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in the gingival tissue of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy adults with chronic periodontitis. Methods: Twelve patients with type 2 DM and chronic periodontitis (Group 3), twelve patients with chronic periodontitis (Group 2), and twelve healthy individuals (Group 1) were included in the study. Clinical criteria of gingival (sulcus bleeding index value, probing depths) and radiographic evidences of bone resorption were divided into three groups. The concentrations of cytokines were determined by a western blot analysis and compared using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test. Results: The expression levels of IFN-$\gamma$ and TIMP-2 showed an increasing tendency in Groups 2 and 3 when compared to Group 1. On the other hand, the expression of IL-4 was highest in Group 1. Conclusions: The findings suggest that IFN-$\gamma$ and TIMP-2 may be involved in the periodontal inflammation associated with type 2 DM. IL-4 may be involved in the retrogression of the periodontal inflammation associated with type 2 DM.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.114.2-115
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• 1999

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 1995

The Gelatinases (typeIV collagenases) are metalloproteinases that may play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Progelatinase A was purified from a conditioned medium of T98G human glioblastoma cells. TIMP-2 complexed progelatinase A and free progelatinase A were separated by heparin affinity HPLC. The final product was homogeneous on SDS-PAGE, with a molecular weight of 64,000 daltons without reduction. TIMP-2 and free progelatinase A were separated from TIMP-2 complexed progelatinase A by reverse-phase HPLC in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid. TIMP-2 complexed progelatinase A was resistant to activation by p-aminophenyl mercuric acetate (APMA), and showed less than 20% of the activity of the TIMP-2 free active enzyme. TIMP-2 free progelatinase A was easily activated to the mature form with a molecular weight of 57,000 daltons by APMA and showed high activity compared to the TIMP-2 complexed enzyme.