• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1576-1584
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• 2016

Acetyl xylan esterase (AXE), which hydrolyzes the ester linkages of the naturally acetylated xylan and thus known to have an important role for hemicellulose degradation, was isolated from the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontatlis PMA02, heterologously expressed in Escherichi coli (E.coli) and characterized. The full-length cDNA encoding NfAXE1 was 1,494 bp, of which 978 bp constituted an open reading frame. The estimated molecular weight of NfAXE1 was 36.5 kDa with 326 amino acid residues, and the calculated isoelectric point was 4.54. The secondary protein structure was predicted to consist of nine ${\alpha}$-helixes and 12 ${\beta}$-strands. The enzyme expressed in E.coli had the highest activity at $40^{\circ}C$ and pH 8. The purified recombinant NfAXE1 had a specific activity of 100.1 U/mg when p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NA) was used as a substrate at $40^{\circ}C$, optimum temperature. The amount of liberated acetic acids were the highest and the lowest when p-NA and acetylated birchwood xylan were used as substrates, respectively. The amount of xylose released from acetylated birchwod xylan was increased by 1.4 fold when NfAXE1 was mixed with xylanase in a reaction cocktail, implying a synergistic effect of NfAXE1 with xylanase on hemicellulose degradation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.218-227
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• 2023

Background: Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is an advanced pathological manifestation of many cardiovascular diseases, which can induce heart failure and malignant arrhythmias. However, the current treatment of MF lacks specific drugs. Ginsenoside Re has anti-MF effect in rat, but its mechanism is still not clear. Therefore, we investigated the anti-MF effect of ginsenoside Re by constructing mouse acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model and AngII induced cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) model. Methods: The anti-MF effect of miR-489 was investigated by transfection of miR-489 mimic and inhibitor in CFs. Effect of ginsenoside Re on MF and its related mechanisms were investigated by ultrasonographic, ELISA, histopathologic staining, transwell test, immunofluorescence, Western blot and qPCR in the mouse model of AMI and the AngII-induced CFs model. Results: MiR-489 decreased the expression of α-SMA, collagenI, collagen III and myd88, and inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in normal CFs and CFs treated with AngII. Ginsenoside Re could improve cardiac function, inhibit collagen deposition and CFs migration, promote the transcription of miR-489, and reduce the expression of myd88 and the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. Conclusion: MiR-489 can effectively inhibit the pathological process of MF, and the mechanism is at least partly related to the regulation of myd88/NF-κB pathway. Ginsenoside Re can ameliorate AMI and AngII induced MF, and the mechanism is at least partially related to the regulation of miR-489/myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, miR-489 may be a potential target of anti-MF and ginsenoside Re may be an effective drug for the treatment of MF.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.810-818
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• 2015

We analyzed whether lactic acid bacteria could control the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 in activated mast cells and whether these bacteria could inhibit the activity of transcription factors such as GATA-1, GATA-2, NF-AT1, NF-AT2, and NF-κB p65. We previously described a technique for identification of lactic acid bacteria with anti-atopy functionality by confirming increased expression of CD4+/CD25+/foxp3+ in T cells. We also confirmed that a double-culture method increased the antibacterial activity of these lactic acid bacteria against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In the present study, we characterized the effect of lactic acid bacteria cultured by this double-culture method on inhibition of allergic inflammatory reactions of RBL-2H3 mast cells, a cellular model of atopic dermatitis. The strongest anti-allergic effects of the lactic acid bacteria were seen in the following order: Lactococcus lactis broth cultured with medium containing Lactobacillus plantarum culture supernatant > Lc. lactis > Lc. lactis broth cultured with medium containing Lb. plantarum culture supernatant > Lb. plantarum. Thus, Lc. lactis cultured in medium containing Lb. plantarum culture supernatant had the strongest inhibitory effect on the differentiation of mast cells during allergic reactions, which may be mediated through the selective regulation of expression of relevant genes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4347-4352
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• 2013

Aim: To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying triggering of apoptosis by hesperetin using in silico and in vitro methods. Methods: The mechanism of binding of hesperetin with NF-${\kappa}B$ and other apoptotic proteins like BAX, BAD, $BCL_2$ and $BCL_{XL}$ was analysed in silico using Schrodinger suite 2009. In vitro studies were also carried out to evaluate the potency of hesperetin in inducing apoptosis using the human prostate cancer PC-3 cell line. Results: Hesperetin was found to exhibit high-affinity binding resulting from greater intermolecular forces between the ligand and its receptor NF-${\kappa}B$ (-7.48 Glide score). In vitro analysis using MTT assay confirmed that hesperetin reduced cell proliferation ($IC_{50}$ values of 90 and $40{\mu}M$ at 24 and 48h respectively) in PC-3 cells. Hesperetin also downregulated expression of the anti-apoptotic gene $BCL_{XL}$ at both mRNA and protein levels and increased the expression of pro-apoptotic genes like BAD at mRNA level and BAX at mRNA as well as protein levels. Conclusion: The results suggest that hesperetin can induce apoptosis by inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2009

Background: The pathophysiologic mechanisms of early acute lung injury (ALI) differ according to the type of primary insult. It is important to differentiate between direct and indirect pathophysiologic pathways, and this may influence the approach to treatment strategies. NF-$\kappa$B decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) is a useful tool for the blockade of the expression of NF-$\kappa$B-dependent proinflammatory mediators and has been reported to be effective in indirect ALI. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of NF-$\kappa$B decoy ODN in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced direct ALI model. Methods: Five-week-old specific pathogen-free male BALB/c mice were used for the experiment. In the preliminary studies, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukine (IL)-6 and NF-$\kappa$B activity peaked at 6 hours after LPS administration. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and ALI score were highest at 36 and 48 hours, respectively. Therefore, it was decided to measure each parameter at the time of its highest level. The study mice were randomly divided into three experimental groups: (1) control group which was administered 50 ${\mu}L$ of saline and treated with intratracheal administration of 200 ${\mu}L$ DW containing only hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) vector (n=24); (2) LPS group in which LPS-induced ALI mice were treated with intratracheal administration of 200 ${\mu}L$ DW containing only HVJ vector (n=24); (3) LPS+ODN group in which LPS-induced ALI mice were treated with intratracheal administration of 200 ${\mu}L$ DW containing 160 ${\mu}g$ of NF-$\kappa$B decoy ODN and HVJ vector (n=24). Each group was subdivided into four experimental subgroups: (1) tissue subgroup for histopathological examination for ALI at 48 hours (n=6); (2) 6-hour bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) subgroup for measurement of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 in BAL fluid (BALF) (n=6); (3) 36-hour BAL subgroup for MPO activity assays in BALF (n=6); and (4) tissue homogenate subgroup for measurement of NF-$\kappa$B activity in lung tissue homogenates at 6 hours (n=6). Results: NF-$\kappa$B decoy ODN treatment significantly decreased NF-$\kappa$B activity in lung tissues. However, it failed to improve the parameters of LPS-induced direct ALI, including the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ and interleukin-6 in BALF, myeloperoxidase activity in BALF and histopathologic changes measured by the ALI score. Conclusion: NF-$\kappa$B decoy ODN, which has been proven to be effective in indirect models, had no effect in the direct ALI model.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1047-1055
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• 2015

For the search of a potent first-in-class compound to inactivate macrophages responsible for inflammatory responses, in the present study, we investigated the anti-nflammatory effects of YH-1118, a novel synthetic compound, in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage cell line, Raw 264.7. YH-1118 inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression at both the protein and mRNA levels. The suppression of LPS-induced iNOS expression by YH-1118 was mediated via nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), but not activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. This was supported by the finding that YH-1118 attenuated the phosphorylation of inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) and nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of NF-κB. Through the mechanisms that YH-1118 inhibited the activation of IκB kinases (IKKs), upstream activators of NF-κB, or p38 MAPK, YH-1118 significantly suppressed LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that YH-1118 inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory responses by blocking IKK and NF-κB activation in macrophages, and may be a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2008

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of salidroside (SAL) isolated from the MeOH extract of Acer tegmentosum Maxim heartwood in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. SAL pretreatment significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) productions in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses revealed that SAL inhibited the LPS-induced expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at the protein and mRNA levels in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, SAL reduced the release and the mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Furthermore, nuclear factorkappa B ($NF{-\kappa}B$) luciferase reporter assay was performed to know the involvement of SAL in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, we confirmed that LPS-induced transcription activity of $NF{-\kappa}B$ was inhibited by SAL. Taken together, our data indicate that anti-inflammatory property of salidroside might be the result from the inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 expressions via the down-regulation of $NF{-\kappa}B$ activity.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2008

Purpose: The nitric oxide (NO) release by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is the key events in macrophage response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) which is suggested to be a crucial mediator for inflammatory and innate immune responses. NO is an important mediator involved in many host defense action and may also lead to a harmful host response to bacterial infection. However, given the importance of iNOS in a variety of pathophysiological conditions, control of its expression and signaling events in response to LPS has been the subject of considerable investigation. Materials and Methods: The Raw264.7 macrophage cell line was used to observe LPS-stimulated iNOS expression. The expression of iNOS is observed by Western blot analysis and real-time RT-PCR. Protein kinase C $(PKC)-{\alpha}$ overexpressing Raw264.7 cells are established to determine the involvement of $PKC-{\alpha}$ in LPS-mediated iNOS expression. $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity is measured by $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation and $NF-{\kappa}B$ luciferase activity assay. Results: We found that various PKC isozymes regulate LPS-induced iNOS expression at the transcriptional and translational levels. The involvement of $PKC-{\alpha}$ in LPS-mediated iNOS induction was further confirmed by increased iNOS expression in $PKC-{\alpha}$ overexpressing cells. $NF-{\kappa}B$ dependent transactivation by LPS was observed and $PKC-{\alpha}$ specific inhibitory peptide abolished this activation, indicating that $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation is dependent on $PKC-{\alpha}$. Conclusion: Our data suggests that $PKC-{\alpha}$ is involved in LPS-mediated iNOS expression and that its downstream target is $NF-{\kappa}B$. Although $PKC-{\alpha}$ is a crucial mediator in the iNOS regulation, other PKC isozymes may contribute LPS-stimulated iNOS expression. This finding is needed to be elucidated in further study.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.653-660
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• 2019

Ganoderma lucidum, an oriental polypore fungus and medicinal mushroom, has a long history of use for promoting health and longevity in Korea, China, and other Asian countries. This study was aimed at determining the anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of action of Ganoderma lucidum in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Ganoderma lucidum was extracted with ethanol and freeze-dried. The anti-inflammatory effect (nitrite production) of Ganoderma lucidum extracts was tested using a nitric oxide (NO) colorimetric assay. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to quantify the mRNA expression of cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, and IL-6. Western blotting was performed to measure the expression levels of inflammation-related proteins, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65, and phosphorylated $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65. The NO colorimetric assay showed that NO production increased with the treatment of lipopolysaccharide in (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages and decreased with the cotreatment of Ganoderma lucidum extracts and LPS. Ganoderma lucidum extracts repressed the mRNA expressions of cytokines, which were increased after the LPS treatment. In addition, Ganoderma lucidum extracts inhibited the LPS-induced expression of iNOS and COX-2 and the LPS-induced phosphorylation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65. These results suggest that the Ganoderma lucidum extracts exert an anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting $NF-{\kappa}B$ related proteins and cytokines.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.117-124
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• 2019

Objective : Broccoli is edible green plant that has a wide variety of health benefits including cancer prevention and cholesterol reduction. However, leaves of broccoli are not eaten and are mostly left as waste. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the broccoli leaf extract (BLE) on prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production related to nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages. Methods : BLE was prepared by extracting dried leaf with ethanol. Cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. PGE₂ and inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression level of each protein was monitored by Western blot analysis. Results : In LPS-activated Raw264.7 cells, PGE₂ release into culture medium was dramatically enhanced compared to control cells. However, increased PGE₂ was attenuated dose-dependently by treatment with BLE. Inhibition of PGE₂ production by BLE was due to the suppression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression determined by Western blot analysis. BLE also inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Inhibition at PGE₂ and cytokine was mediated from inhibition of nuclear translocation of NF-κB due to the repression of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκBα) phosphorylation and degradation. Conclusion : This study showed that BLE exerted inhibitory activities against PGE₂, which is critical for the initiation and resolution of inflammatory responses, and that inhibition of PGE₂ was mediated by suppression of NF-κB signaling. These results suggest that the waste broccoli leaves could be used for controlling inflammation.