• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제26권2호
• /
• pp.159-170
• /
• 2009

Backgrounds and Objectives: A fracture means a loss of continuity in the substance of bone. Bone differs from other musculoskeletal tissue due to its ability to repair and heal itself without leaving a scar. The cutter head has multinucleated osteoclast cells to resorb the dead bone. The tail, with its conical surface, is lined with osteoblast cells laying down new bone. The conjugation of fracture is a unique biological process regulated by a complex array of signaling molecules and proinflammatory cytokines. Pyritum, one of the important prescriptions in the oriental medicine, has been used for conjugation fracture. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of administration of Pyritum on activation of osteoblast cells in human body & on tibia bone fracture in mice. Materials and Methods : Four weeks aged 30 female DBA mice were used for this study. They were divided three groups, normal group, control group(fracture elicitate mice: FE group) and experimental group(Pyritum administered mice group after fracture elicitation : PA group). Left tibia bones of mice in FE and PA groups were fractured by bone cutters. MG-63 cells in human body th Pyritum in the ratio of 1 mg/m${\ell}$, and the cells were further incubated for 24 hours. Activation of osteoblast was identified using osteopontin, FGF in vitro test. In vivo test, regeneration of fractured tibia through the morphological changes was observed, and also activation of inflammation through NF-${\kappa}$B p65, iNOS, COX-2, osteoblast through osteopontin, FGF and osteoblast's proliferation in each group was measured. Results and Conclusions : 1. In vitro test for activation of osteoblast cells in human body by Pyritum, osteopontin and FGF production were remarkably increased in Pyritum treated MG-63 cells. 2. In regeneration of fractured tibia by Pyritum, fractured area in external tibia morphology was decreased more in the PA group than that of the FE group. Osteogenesis in fractured area was increased more in the PA group than that of the FE group. Also, endochodrial ossification in central area of fracture and osteoid in lateral area of fracture were increased more in the PA group than those of the FE group. 3. In activation of inflammation by Pyritum administered, activation of NF-${\kappa}$B p65, increase of iNOS and COX-2 production were higher in the PA and the FE groups than those of the control group. Especially, the PA group showed higher activation and increase than those of the FE group. 4. In activation of osteoblast by Pyritum, increase of osteopontin, FGF and osteoblast's proliferation were higher in the PA and the FE groups than those of the control group. Especially, the PA group showed higher increase and proliferation than those of the FE group.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제29권11호
• /
• pp.1218-1226
• /
• 2019

흰점박이꽃무지는 약용으로서 매우 유용하고 중요한 곤충종이다. 선행연구를 통해 전사체 분석결과를 바탕으로 인실리코(in silico) 분석을 실시하여 전사체유래 항균 펩타이드를 스크리닝하고 선발하여 항균활성 및 용혈활성을 확인하였다. 그 결과 선발된 항균 펩타이드들은 박테리아와 칸디다 진균에 강한 항균활성을 나타낸 반면 적혈구에 대한 용혈활성은 전혀 없었다. 선발한 펩타이드들 중 프로테티아마이신 2로 명명한 양이온 항균 펩타이드를 이용하여 항균활성뿐만 아니라 마우스의 대식세포 Raw264.7 세포주를 이용하여 프로테티아마이신 2의 항염증활성을 확인하였다. 그 결과 프로테티아마이신 2는 LPS로 유도된 Raw264.7 세포들의 산화질소 생성을 감소시키는 결과를 보여주었다. 또한 프로테티아마이신 2가 산화질소 합성효소(iNOS), 고리형 산소화 효소-2(COX-2)의 발현을 감소시킨다는 것을 실시간 역전사 중합효소 연쇄반응(qRT-PCR) 방법과 웨스턴 블랏(western blot)을 통해 확인하였다. 더욱이 Raw264.7 세포에서 전염증성 사이토카인($TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, $IL-1{\beta}$)의 발현이 MAPKs와 $NF-{\kappa}B$ 신호전달과정을 통해 약화되어짐을 알 수 있었다. 게다가 프로테티아마이신 2가 LPS와 상호작용을 통해 결합한다는 것을 확인하였다. 종합하여 보면 프로테티아마이신 2는 항균활성과 함께 LPS로 유도된 Raw264.7 세포에서 항염증활성도 가지고 있음을 나타내었다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제29권10호
• /
• pp.1104-1110
• /
• 2019

최근 노령인구의 증가로 고령화 사회로 접어들면서 골다공증과 같은 골 대사 질환이 사회적 문제로 대두되고 있다. 파골세포는 골 흡수 역할을 하는 세포이며 골 흡수가 강하게 일어나는 경우 골다공증이 유발된다. 그러나 현재 사용 중인 골 흡수 억제제는 장기간 사용 시 부작용이 발생할 수 있어, 파골세포 분화 억제에 효과가 있는 새로운 소재 개발이 필요한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 풀무치 에탄올 추출물을 대상으로 RANKL에 의해 유도된 파골세포 분화에 대한 억제 효능 확인 및 그 기작을 구명하고자 하였다. RAW264.7 파골세포에서 풀무치 추출물의 독성 및 증식 효과를 확인하기 위하여 MTS assay를 진행하였고 $2,000{\mu}g/ml$ 농도까지 세포 독성은 확인되지 않았다. 풀무치 추출물이 파골세포의 분화에 미치는 영향을 확인하기 위해 3일 동안 RAW264.7 세포에 파골세포 분화 촉진제인 RANKL을 단독 처리 및 풀무치 추출물과 함께 처리한 후 TRAP 활성을 비교하였다. 그 결과 RANKL에 의해 증가한 파골세포 분화가 풀무치 추출물 처리에 의해 농도 의존적으로 감소하는 것을 확인하였다. 파골세포 분화와 관련된 유전자(TRAP, RANK, NFATc1 및 CK)의 발현량 변화를 확인한 결과, RANKL 처리 시에 증가한 유전자 발현량이 풀무치 추출물 처리에 의해 현저하게 감소하는 것을 확인하였고, NFATc1, c-Src와 같은 분화 관련 단백질 발현량 또한 풀무치 추출물 처리에 의해 감소하였다. 풀무치 에탄올 추출물은 $NF-{\kappa}B$, ERK 및 JNK 신호전달에 영향을 미쳐 그 결과로 파골세포 분화 억제 효과가 나타나는 것으로 판단된다. 이러한 결과로 보아 풀무치 에탄올 추출물은 골 흡수를 억제하는 역할을 함으로써 골다공증 예방 및 치료를 위한 새로운 기능성 소재로 사용 가능성이 있음을 확인하였다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제14권10호
• /
• pp.6159-6164
• /
• 2013

Background: Phytochemical compounds are emerging as a new generation of anticancer agents with limited toxicity in cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effcts of thymoquinone, caffeic acid phenylester (CAPE) and resveratrol on inflammatory markers, oxidative stress parameters, mRNA expression levels of proteins and survival of lung cancer cells in Vitro. Materials and Methods: The A549 cell line was treated with benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(a)pyrene plus caffeic acid phenylester (CAPE), benzo(a)pyrene plus resveratrol (RES), and benzo(a)pyrene plus thymoquinone (TQ). Inflammatory markers, oxidative stress parameters, mRNA expression levels of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins and cell viability were assessed and results were compared among study groups. Results: TQ treatment up-regulated Bax and down-regulated Bcl2 proteins and increased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio. CAPE and TQ also up-regulated Bax expression. RES and TQ down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2. All three agents decreased the expression of cyclin D and increased the expression of p21. However, the most significant up-regulation of p21 expression was observed in TQ treated cells. CAPE, RES and TQ up-regulated TRAIL receptor 1 and 2 expression. RES and TQ down-regulated the expression of NF-kappa B and IKK1. Viability of CAPE, RES and TQ treated cells was found to be significantly decreased when compared with the control group (p=0.004). Conclusions: Our results revealed up-regulation of the key upstream signaling factors, which ultimately cause increase in their regulatory p53 levels affecting the induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Overall these results provide mechanistic insights for understanding the molecular basis and utility of the anti-tumor activity of TQ, RES and CAPE.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제30권10호
• /
• pp.1471-1477
• /
• 2017

Objective: Since athletic performance is a most importance trait in horses, most research focused on physiological and physical studies of horse athletic abilities. In contrast, the molecular analysis as well as the regulatory pathway studies remain insufficient for evaluation and prediction of horse athletic abilities. In our previous study, we identified AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) gene which was expressed as alternative spliced isoforms in skeletal muscle during exercise. In the present study, we validated two AXL alternative splicing transcripts (named as AXLa for long form and AXLb for short form) in equine skeletal muscle to gain insight(s) into the role of each alternative transcript during exercise. Methods: We validated two isoforms of AXL transcripts in horse tissues by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and then cloned the transcripts to confirm the alternative locus and its sequences. Additionally, we examined the expression patterns of AXLa and AXLb transcripts in horse tissues by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Both of AXLa and AXLb transcripts were expressed in horse skeletal muscle and the expression levels were significantly increased after exercise. The sequencing analysis showed that there was an alternative splicing event at exon 11 between AXLa and AXLb transcripts. 3-dimentional (3D) prediction of the alternative protein structures revealed that the structural distance of the connective region between fibronectin type 3 (FN3) and immunoglobin (Ig) domain was different between two alternative isoforms. Conclusion: It is assumed that the expression patterns of AXLa and AXLb transcripts would be involved in regulation of exercise-induced stress in horse muscle possibly through an $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. Further study is necessary to uncover biological function(s) and significance of the alternative splicing isoforms in race horse skeletal muscle.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• 제28권1호
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2013

Curcumin has diverse anticancer activities that lead to tumor growth inhibition of cancer cells and induction of apoptosis. Curcumin is involved in the regulation of multiple genes via transcription factors including NF-${\kappa}B$, STATs, AP1, and SP. Notch signaling plays critical roles in maintaining the balance between cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, and thereby may contribute to the development of various cancers involving breast cancer. This study was to investigate the effects of curcumin on Notch1 gene expression and to explore the underlying mechanism. Here, we found that curcumin decreased the levels of Notch1 mRNA and protein in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, along with the downregulation of Sp family genes (Sp1, Sp2, Sp3, and Sp4). The repressive effect of curcumin on Notch1 gene transcription was confirmed by performing Notch1 promoter-driven reporter assay and three Sp-binding sites were identified on Notch1 promoter that may act as curcumin-respose elements. Moreover, treatment with mitramycin A, a specific Sp inhibitor, decreased the levels of Notch1 mRNA and protein in human breast cancer cells. Taken together, our results indicate that Notch1 gene expression is downregulated by curcumin, at least in part, through the suppression of Sp family, which may lead to apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.

• Gut and Liver
• /
• 제12권6호
• /
• pp.682-693
• /
• 2018

Background/Aims: Intestinal barrier dysfunction is a hallmark of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as ulcerative colitis. This dysfunction is caused by increased permeability and the loss of tight junctions in intestinal epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether estradiol treatment reduces colonic permeability, tight junction disruption, and inflammation in an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colon cancer mouse model. Methods: The effects of $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) were evaluated in ICR male mice 4 weeks after AOM/DSS treatment. Histological damage was scored by hematoxylin and eosin staining and the levels of the colonic mucosal cytokine myeloperoxidase (MPO) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To evaluate the effects of E2 on intestinal permeability, tight junctions, and inflammation, we performed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Furthermore, the expression levels of mucin 2 (MUC2) and mucin 4 (MUC4) were measured as target genes for intestinal permeability, whereas zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), occludin (OCLN), and claudin 4 (CLDN4) served as target genes for the tight junctions. Results: The colitis-mediated induced damage score and MPO activity were reduced by E2 treatment (p<0.05). In addition, the mRNA expression levels of intestinal barrier-related molecules (i.e., MUC2, ZO-1, OCLN, and CLDN4) were decreased by AOM/DSS-treatment; furthermore, this inhibition was rescued by E2 supplementation. The mRNA and protein expression of inflammation-related genes (i.e., KLF4, NF-${\kappa}B$, iNOS, and COX-2) was increased by AOM/DSS-treatment and ameliorated by E2. Conclusions: E2 acts through the estrogen receptor ${\beta}$ signaling pathway to elicit anti-inflammatory effects on intestinal barrier by inducing the expression of MUC2 and tight junction molecules and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• 대한본초학회지
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2014

Objectives : Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in a wide spectrum of diseases including chronic inflammation and cancer. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts from the herbal teas such as Lonicera japonica Thunberg (L. japonica), Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat (C. morifolium), Mentha arvensis L. (M. arvensis), and P.rhizoma. Methods : Anti-oxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging assay and $Fe^{2+}$ chelating assay. And DNA cleavage assay was performed to evaluate an anti-oxidative effect. Anti-inflammatory effect was performed using NO generation assay and western blot in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cell line. Results : L. japonica scavenged DPPH radical by 9.8% at 12.5 ${\mu}g/ml$, 24.8% at 25 ${\mu}g/ml$, 34.3% at 50 ${\mu}g/ml$, 61.1% at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ and 75.8% at 200 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In addition, C. morifolium and M. arvensis removed DPPH radical by 15.6% and 10.4% at 12.5 ${\mu}g/ml$, 34.8% and 22.8% at 25 ${\mu}g/ml$, 66.9% and 43.3% at 50 ${\mu}g/ml$, 87.4% and 69.1% at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$, and 92.1% and 73.2% at 200 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. However, P. rhizoma did not affect on DPPH radical scavenging. The $Fe^{2+}$ chelating activity was highest in L. japonica, but lowest in P. rhizoma among the herbal teas. In addition, the extracts from L. japonica, C. morifolium and M. arvensis inhibited oxidative DNA damage via its anti-oxidant activity. In anti-inflammatory effect, the extracts from C. morifolium inhibited NO production. In addition, it suppressed the $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusions : Together, this study indicates that L. japonica, M. arvensis and C. morifolium possess the protective effect against the oxidative DNA damage. Furthermore, C. morifolium exerts an anti-inflammatory effect.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제30권9호
• /
• pp.804-812
• /
• 2020

본 연구에서는 아메리카왕거저리에 대한 기능성 연구의 일환으로 아메리카왕거저리 유충의 유전체 분석을 통해 선별된 조포바신 1의 항균 및 항염증 활성을 확인하였다. 선행연구에서 RNA 시퀀싱을 통해 아메리카왕거저리의 전사체를 분석하였으며, 결과를 바탕으로 인실리코(in silico) 분석을 수행하여 전사체 유래 항균 펩타이드를 스크리닝하고 선발하였다. 수행된 항균활성 및 용혈활성 테스트에서 조포바신 1은 세균 및 칸디다 진균에 대해 광범위한 항균활성을 나타낸 반면 마우스 적혈구에 대한 용혈활성은 전혀 없었다. 다음으로 마우스 대식세포주 Raw264.7 세포를 이용하여 조포바신 1의 항염증활성을 확인하였다. 그 결과 조포바신 1은 LPS로부터 유도된 Raw264.7 세포들의 산화질소 생성을 감소시키는 결과를 보여주었다. 뿐만 아니라 실시간 역전사 중합효소 연쇄반응(qRT-PCR) 방법과 효소결합면역흡착측정법(ELISA)을 통해 조포바신 1이 Raw264.7 세포에서 전염증성 사이토카인(IL-6, IL-1β)의 발현을 감소시킨다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 염증반응의 신호전달인자들(MAPKs, NF-κB)의 인산화를 억제하는 것을 확인하였다. 게다가 조포바신 1은 LPS와의 상호작용을 통해 결합한다는 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 연구결과들은 아메리카왕거저리 유전체 분석을 통해 확인된 조포바신 1이 항균 및 항염증 치료를 위한 물질로서 개발하는데 가능성이 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제30권10호
• /
• pp.886-895
• /
• 2020

본 연구에서는 호랑나비 유충의 유전체 분석을 통해 선별된 파필리오신 3의 항균 및 항염증 활성을 확인하였다. 선행연구에서 RNA 시퀀싱 분석을 통해 호랑나비의 전사체를 분석하였으며, 결과를 바탕으로 인실리코(in silico) 분석을 진행하여 전사체 유래 항균 펩타이드를 스크리닝하고 선발하였다. 수행된 항균 활성 및 용혈 활성 테스트에서 파필리오신 3은 그람음성균인 E. coli와 그람양성균인 S. aureus에 대해 강력한 항균활성을 나타낸 반면 마우스 적혈구에 대한 용혈 활성은 전혀 없었다. 다음으로 마우스 대식세포주 Raw264.7 세포를 이용하여 파필리오신 3의 항염증 활성을 확인하였다. 그 결과 파필리오신 3은 LPS로부터 유도된 Raw264.7 세포들의 산화질소 생성을 감소시키는 결과를 보여주었다. 뿐만 아니라 실시간 역전사 중합효소 연쇄반응(qRT-PCR) 방법과 효소결합면역흡착측정법(ELISA)을 통해 파필리오신 3이 Raw264.7 세포에서 전염증성 사이토카인(IL-6, IL-1β)의 발현을 감소시킨다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한, 염증반응의 신호전달인자들(MAPKs, NF-κB)의 인산화를 억제하는 것을 확인하였는데, 이는 파필리오신 3이 LPS와의 상호작용을 통해 결합하여 효과를 나타낸다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과들은 호랑나비 유전체 분석을 통해 확인된 파필리오신 3이 새로운 항균 및 항염증 치료제로서 개발하는데 가능성 있는 물질로 사료된다.