• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.447-453
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• 2013

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) inhibits neurite outgrowth of various neuronal cell types, and CSPG-associated inhibition of neurite outgrowth is mediated by the Rho/ROCK pathway. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have the potential to differentiate into neuron-like cells under specific conditions and have been shown to differentiate into neuron-like cells by co-treatment with the ROCK inhibitor Y27632 and the hypoxia condition mimicking agent $CoCl_2$. In this study, we addressed the hypothesis that a ROCK inhibitor might be beneficial to regenerate neurons during stem cell therapy by preventing transplanted MSCs from inhibition by CSPG in damaged tissues. Indeed, dose-dependent inhibition by CSPG pretreatment was observed during morphological changes of Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) induced by Y27632 alone. The formation of neurite-like structures was significantly inhibited when WJ-MSCs were pre-treated with CSPG before induction under Y27632 plus $CoCl_2$ conditions, and pretreatment with a protein kinase C inhibitor reversed such inhibition. However, CSPG treatment resulted in no significant inhibition of the WJ-MSC morphological changes into neuron-like cells after initiating induction by Y27632 plus $CoCl_2$. No marked changes were detected in expression levels of neuronal markers induced by Y27632 plus $CoCl_2$ upon CSPG treatment. CSPG also blocked the morphological changes of human bone marrow-derived MSCs into neuron-like cells under other neuronal induction condition without the ROCK inhibitor, and Y27632 pre-treatment blocked the inhibitory effect of CSPG. These results suggest that a ROCK inhibitor can be efficiently used in stem cell therapy for neuronal induction by avoiding hindrance from CSPG.

• 한국어병학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.63-70
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• 1994

최근 포유동물에서 nitric oxide(NO)는 중추신경계(CNS)의 기능에 있어서 매우 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져왔다. NO는 NO synthase(NOS)에 의해 L-arginine으로부터 합성된다. 본 연구에서 저자 등은 무지개송어(Oncorhynchus mykiss)의 CNS에서 NOS활성을 측정했고, 소교세포와 신경교성상 세포 및 회돌기교세포의 특징을 기술하였다. CNS에서 세교세포는 포유동물에서와 유사한 큰 소교세포(large microglia : LM)와 세포질이 매우 적은 소형 소교세포(small microglia : SM)등 2가지 형태적 특징이 관찰되었다. CNS에서 신경교성상 세포는 모세섬유가 연결되지 않은 망상 구조의 형태를 보였고, 희돌기교세포는 신경교성상세포보다 더 세포질이 밀집되어 있었다. 저자등은 무지개송어의 CNS에서 NOS의 활성을 측정하였는데, 그 양은 $1.04{\pm}0.12\;pg/min/mg$이었고, $N^{G}MMA$와 EGTA에 의해 가역적 또는 비가역적으로 억제되었다. 이들의 결과는 CNS에서 L-argine으로부터 NO형성이 calcium에 의존적이고, 초기 진화 기원의 경로를 시사해 주었다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.173-181
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• 2012

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has a many function involved proliferation, differentiation and survival of many cells. In this study, to investigate whether S1P improve the developmental competence of porcine embryos, 50 nM of S1P were supplemented during in vitro maturation (with EGF or without EGF) medium and/or in vitro culture (IVC) medium. Addition of S1P was significantly increased the rate of oocytes reaching metaphase II (MII) compared to the control (83.5 vs. 64.1%) in without EGF medium, but not with EGF medium (89.5 vs. 84.6%). When treated with $1{\mu}M$ of N1N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS), a sphingosine kinase inhibitor which is blocked endogenous generation of S1P, the meiotic progression rates to MII stage (without EGF: 45.2 and with EGF: 66.7%) were significantly decreased and degeneration rates (without EGF: 51.2 and with EGF: 30.1%) were increased in both medium compared to control group during IVM periods. Also, the rates of blastocyst formation was significantly increased in the S1P treated group compared to control group (29.0 vs. 19.2%) of EGF supplemented medium, whereas there were no effect in the EGF free medium (9.0 vs. 10.5%). After 12 h IVM, the phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2, which is major signaling pathway of MAP kinase, were increased in the S1P group than that of control or DMS group. When supplemented of S1P during IVC, the rates of blastocyst formation and total cell number (30.2% and 40.6) were significantly increased in S1P-treated group compared with control (20.1% and 32.5), DMS (12.3% and 25.1), and S1P plus DMS group (24.7% and 33.6). The percentage of apoptosis nuclei in the S1P group was significantly decreased than other groups. Also, the rates of blastocyst formation (26.7 vs. 14%) and total cell number (42.8 vs. 32.5) were significantly increased in the S1P group than those of control group when S1P added during the entire IVM and IVC periods. Taken together, our results indicate that S1P supplementation in IVM and/or IVC medium affects beneficial effect of meiotic maturation and subsequent developmental competence of porcine embryos.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.501-514
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Chikusetsusaponin V (CsV) on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and vascular endothelial cell functions. Different concentrations of CsV were added to animal models, bovine aorta endothelial cells (BAECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured in vitro. qPCR, Western blotting (WB), and B ultrasound were performed to explore the effects of CsV on mouse endothelial cell functions, vascular stiffness and cellular eNOS mRNA, protein expression and NO release. Bioinformatics analysis, network pharmacology, molecular docking and protein mass spectrometry analysis were conducted to jointly predict the upstream transcription factors of eNOS. Furthermore, pulldown and ChIP and dual luciferase assays were employed for subsequent verification. At the presence or absence of CsV stimulation, either overexpression or knockdown of purine rich element binding protein A (PURA) was conducted, and PCR assay was employed to detect PURA and eNOS mRNA expressions, Western blot was used to detect PURA and eNOS protein expressions, cell NO release and serum NO levels. Tube formation experiment was conducted to detect the tube forming capability of HUVECs cells. The animal vasodilation function test detected the vasodilation functions. Ultrasonic detection was performed to determine the mouse aortic arch pulse wave velocity to identify aortic stiffness. CsV stimulus on bovine aortic cells revealed that CsV could upregulate eNOS protein levels in vascular endothelial cells in a concentration and time dependent manner. The expression levels of eNOS mRNA and phosphorylation sites Ser1177, Ser633 and Thr495 increased significantly after CsV stimulation. Meanwhile, CsV could also enhance the tube forming capability of HUVECs cells. Following the mice were gavaged using CsV, the eNOS protein level of mouse aortic endothelial cells was upregulated in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and serum NO release and vasodilation ability were simultaneously elevated whereas arterial stiffness was alleviated. The pulldown, ChIP and dual luciferase assays demonstrated that PURA could bind to the eNOS promoter and facilitate the transcription of eNOS. Under the conditions of presence or absence of CsV stimulation, overexpression or knockdown of PURA indicated that the effect of CsV on vascular endothelial function and eNOS was weakened following PURA gene silence, whereas overexpression of PURA gene could enhance the effect of CsV upregulating eNOS expression. CsV could promote NO release from endothelial cells by upregulating the expression of PURA/eNOS pathway, improve endothelial cell functions, enhance vasodilation capability, and alleviate vessel stiffness. The present study plays a role in offering a theoretical basis for the development and application of CsV in vascular function improvement, and it also provides a more comprehensive understanding of the pharmacodynamics of CsV.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.265-270
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• 2010

The methanol extract of Zanthoxylum rhetsa (MZRR) were evaluated for its ability to suppress the formation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. MZRR presented an inhibition of LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Western blotting and RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that MZRR significantly inhibited the protein and mRNA expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-activated macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. LPS-induced COX-2, iNOS, and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-${\kappa}B$) activity were also decreased in the presence of MZRR. The production of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$), the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, were reduced after MZRR administration in a dose dependent-manner. These results suggest that the MZRR extract involved in the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 via the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway, revealing a partial molecular basis for anti-inflammatory properties of the MZRR extract.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.127-133
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Non-small cell lung cancer is mostly recognized among other types of lung cancer with a poor prognosis by cause of chemotherapeutic resistance and increased metastasis. Luteolin has been found to decrease cell metastasis. However, its underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. The objective of this study was to examine the effect (and its mechanism) of luteolin on the migration and invasion of human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cell viability was investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Wound healing and transwell assays were evaluated to assess migration and invasion, respectively. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence were further performed to investigate the role of luteolin and its mechanisms of action. RESULTS: Administration with up to 40 μM luteolin showed no cytotoxic activity on lung cancer A549 cells or non-cancer MRC-5 cells. Additionally, luteolin at 20-40 μM significantly suppressed A549 cells' migration, invasion, and the formation of filopodia in a concentration-dependent manner at 24 h. This is similar with western blot analysis, which revealed diminished the phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (pFAK), phosphorylated non-receptor tyrosine kinase (pSrc), Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), cell division control protein 42 (Cdc42), and Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our data indicate that luteolin plays a role in controlling lung cancer cells' migration and invasion via Src/FAK and its downstream Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA pathways. Luteolin might be considered a promising candidate for suppressing invasion and metastasis of lung cancer cells.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.239-245
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• 2012

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis including induction of endothelial cell proliferation, migration and capillary tube formation. E7080 (S1164, Selleck chemical, Houston, TX, USA) is a muti-targeted kinase inhibitor, which targets VEGF receptor-2, 3 (VEGFR-2, 3) and inhibits survival and proliferation of tumor cell. The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-tumor effect of E7080 on oral squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: An oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line, SCC-9 was used in this study. E7080 was applied to SCC-9 cells by 3 different concentrations (1, 5, 10 ${\mu}g/mL$). Control means no application of E7080. The cellular growth was evaluated by real-time cell electronic sensing and MTT assay. The signal transduction was evaluated by Western blotting. Results: In experimental group, SCC-9 cell proliferation was decreased and the VEGFR-3 downstream pathways were inhibited compared with control. Furthermore, increasing the concentration of E7080, the ability of E7080 to disturbance of SCC-9 cell proliferation was increased. Conclusion: Proliferation of SCC-9 cells was inhibited by E7080, which was through by inhibition of VEGFR-3 downstream pathway. In vivo study with E7080 will be required to provide therapeutic benefits in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제35권7호
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• pp.2135-2138
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• 2014

A kinetic study is reported for the SNAr reaction of 1-Y-substituted-phenoxy-2,4-dinitrobenzenes (1a-1h) with OH- in 80 mol % $H_2O$/20 mol % DMSO at $25.0{\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. The second-order rate constant ($k_{OH^-}$) increases as the substituent Y in the leaving group changes from an electron-donating group (EDG) to an electronwithdrawing group (EWG). The Br${\o}$nsted-type plot for the reactions of 1a-1h is linear with ${\beta}_{lg}$ = -0.16, indicating that the reactivity of substrates 1a-1h is little affected by the leaving-group basicity. A linear Br${\o}$nsted-type plot with ${\beta}_{lg}=-0.3{\pm}0.1$ is typical for reactions reported previously to proceed through a stepwise mechanism in which formation of a Meisenheimer complex is the rate-determining step (RDS). The Hammett plot correlated with ${\sigma}_Y{^{\circ}}$ constants results in a much better correlation than that correlated with ${\sigma}_Y{^-}$constants, implyng that no negative charge is developing on the O atom of the leaving group (or expulsion of the leaving group is not advanced at all in the TS). This excludes a possibility that the $S_NAr$ reaction of 1a-1h with $OH^-$ proceeds through a concerted mechanism or via a stepwise pathway with expulsion of the leaving group being the RDS. Thus, the current reactions have been concluded to proceed through a stepwise mechanism in which expulsion of the leaving group occurs rapidly after the RDS.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.1704-1710
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• 2010

The structure of a 2D grid-like copper(II) complex [Cu$(NCO)_2$(pyz)](pyz=pyrazine) (1) consists of 1D chains of Cu-pyz units connected by double end-on (EO) cyanato bridges. Each Cu(II) ion has a distorted octahedral coordination, completed by the four EO cyanato and two pyrazine ligands. Magnetic interactions through EO cyanato and pyrazine bridges in 1 are discussed on the basis of DFT broken-symmetry calculations at the B3LYP level. For model dicopper(II) complexes I (bridged by cyanato) and II (bridged by pyrazine), electronic structure calculations reproduce very well the experimental couplings for the S = 1/2 ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange-coupled 2D system: the calculated exchange parameters J are +1.25 $cm^{-1}$ and -3.07 $cm^{-1}$ for I and II, respectively. The $\sigma$ orbital interactions between the Cu $x^2-y^2$ magnetic orbitals and the nitrogen lone-pair orbitals of pyrazine are analyzed from the viewpoint of through-bond interaction. The energy splitting of 0.106 eV between two SOMOs indicates that the superexchange interaction should be antiferromagnetic in II. On the other hand, there are no bridging orbitals that efficiently connect the two copper(II) magnetic orbitals in I because the HOMOs of the basal-apical NCO bridge do not play a role in the formation of overlap interaction pathway. The energy separation in the pair of SOMOs of I is calculated to be very small (0.054 eV). This result is consistent with the occurrence of weakly ferromagnetic properties in I.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.308-314
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• 2017

Urotensin II (UII) is a mitogenic and hypertrophic agent that can induce the proliferation of vascular cells. UII inhibition has been considered as beneficial strategy for atherosclerosis and restenosis. However, currently there is no therapeutics clinically available for atherosclerosis or restenosis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a newly synthesized UII receptor (UT) antagonist, KR-36996, on the proliferation of SMCs in vitro and neointima formation in vivo in comparison with GSK-1440115, a known potent UT antagonist. In primary human aortic SMCs (HASMCs), UII (50 nM) induced proliferation was significantly inhibited by KR-36996 at 1, 10, and 100 nM which showed greater potency ($IC_{50}$: 3.5 nM) than GSK-1440115 ($IC_{50}$: 82.3 nM). UII-induced proliferation of HASMC cells was inhibited by U0126, an ERK1/2 inhibitor, but not by SP600125 (inhibitor of JNK) or SB202190 (inhibitor of p38 MAPK). UII increased the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2. Such increase was significantly inhibited by KR-36996. UII-induced proliferation was also inhibited by trolox, a scavenger for reactive oxygen species (ROS). UII-induced ROS generation was also decreased by KR-36996 treatment. In a carotid artery ligation mouse model, intimal thickening was dramatically suppressed by oral treatment with KR-36996 (30 mg/kg) which showed better efficacy than GSK-1440115. These results suggest that KR-36996 is a better candidate than GSK-1440115 in preventing vascular proliferation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and restenosis.