• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.510-516
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• 2016

Isoegomaketone (IK) was isolated from Perilla frutescens, which has been widely used as a food in Asian cuisine, and evaluated for its biological activity. We have already confirmed that IK induced the HO-1 expression via Nrf2 activation in RAW264.7 cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of IK on the mechanism of HO-1 expression. IK upregulated HO-1 mRNA and protein expression in a dose dependent manner. The level of HO-1 mRNA peaked at 4 h after $15{\mu}M$ IK treatment. To investigate the mechanisms of HO-1 expression modulation by IK, we used pharmacological inhibitors for the protein kinase C (PKC) family, PI3K, and p38 MAPK. IK-induced HO-1 mRNA expression was only suppressed by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK. ROS scavengers (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, NAC, and glutathione, GSH) also blocked the IK-induced ROS production and HO-1 expression. Furthermore, both NAC and SB203580 suppressed the IK-induced Nrf2 activation. In addition, ROS scavengers suppressed other oxidative enzymes such as catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and NADH quinone oxidoreductase (NQO-1) in IK-treated RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, it can be concluded that IK induced the HO-1 expression through the ROS/p38 MAPK/Nrf2 pathway in RAW264.7 cells.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.55-70
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• 2005

Objective: Ulmus davidiana Planch (Ulmaceae) has long been known to have anti-inflammnatory in the traditional Korean medicine. UD has been reported as a good enhancer for bone healing. Methods : In this experiment, we investigate the Inhibitory effects of UD on bone resorption using the bone cells culture. Different concentrations of crude extract of UD were added to mouse bone cells culture. The mitochondria activity of the bone cells after exposure was determined by colorimetric MIT assay. It was demonstrated that UD has potential effects on bone cells culture without any cytotoxicity. The most effective concentration of UD on bone cells were $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. Cathepsin K (Cat K) is the major cysteine protease expressed in osteoclasts and is thought to play a key role in matrix degradation during bone resorption. Results : When mouse long bone cells including osteoclasts and osteoblast were treated with the PI3-Kinase inhibitor, wortmannin (WT), WT prevented the osteoclast-mediated intracellular processing of Cat K. Similarly, treatment of osteoclasts-containing long bone cells with UD extracts prevented the intracellular maturation of Cat K, suggesting that UD may disrupt the intracellular trafficking of pro Cat K. This is similar to that of WT. Since secreted proenzymes have the potential to reenter the cell via mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) receptor, to prevent this possibility, we tested WT and UD in the absence or presence of M6P. Inhibition of Cat K processing by WT or UD was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the addition of M6P resulted in enhanced potency of WT and UD. Conclusion : UD dose-dependently inhibited in vitro bone resorption with a potency similar to that observed for inhibition of Cat K processing.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권8호
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• pp.762-770
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• 2018

Adiponectin, a hormone produced by adipose tissue, is very abundant in plasma, and its anti- and pro-inflammatory effects are reported. However, the mechanisms of these pro- and anti-inflammatory effects are not fully defined. Herein, we evaluated the dual inflammatory response mechanism of adiponectin in macrophages. Short-term globular adiponectin (gAd) treatment induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation, $NF-{\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in RAW 264.7 cells. Polymyxin B pretreatment did not block gAd-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation, and heated gAd was unable to degrade $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, suggesting that the effects of gAd were not due to endotoxin contamination. gAd activated IKK and Akt, and inhibition of either IKK or Akt by dominant-negative $IKK{\beta}$ ($DN-IKK{\beta}$) or DN-Akt overexpression blocked gAd-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation, suggesting that short-term incubation with gAd mediates inflammatory responses by activating the $I{\kappa}B/NF-{\kappa}B$ and PI3K/Akt pathways. Contrastingly, long-term stimulation with gAd induced, upon subsequent stimulation, tolerance to gAd, lipopolysaccharide, and CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide, which is associated with gAd-induced downregulation of IL-receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1) due to IRAK-1 transcriptional repression. Conclusively, our findings demonstrate that the pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to gAd in innate immune cells are time-dependent, and mediated by the activation of the $I{\kappa}B/NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway, and IRAK-1 downregulation, respectively.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권9호
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• pp.464-469
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• 2021

Cardiomyocyte differentiation occurs through complex and finely regulated processes including cardiac lineage commitment and maturation from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). To gain some insight into the genome-wide characteristics of cardiac lineage commitment, we performed transcriptome analysis on both mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and human induced PSCs (hiPSCs) at specific stages of cardiomyocyte differentiation. Specifically, the gene expression profiles and the protein-protein interaction networks of the mESC-derived platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRα)⁺ cardiac lineage-committed cells (CLCs) and hiPSC-derived kinase insert domain receptor (KDR)⁺ and PDGFRα⁺ cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) at cardiac lineage commitment were compared with those of mesodermal cells and differentiated cardiomyocytes. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses revealed that the genes significantly upregulated at cardiac lineage commitment were associated with responses to organic substances and external stimuli, extracellular and myocardial contractile components, receptor binding, gated channel activity, PI3K-AKT signaling, and cardiac hypertrophy and dilation pathways. Protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed that the expression levels of genes that regulate cardiac maturation, heart contraction, and calcium handling showed a consistent increase during cardiac differentiation; however, the expression levels of genes that regulate cell differentiation and multicellular organism development decreased at the cardiac maturation stage following lineage commitment. Additionally, we identified for the first time the protein-protein interaction network connecting cardiac development, the immune system, and metabolism during cardiac lineage commitment in both mESC-derived PDGFRα⁺ CLCs and hiPSC-derived KDR⁺PDGFRα⁺ CPCs. These findings shed light on the regulation of cardiac lineage commitment and the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권7호
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• pp.844-854
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• 2022

Helicobacter pylori, a group 1 carcinogen, colonizes the stomach and affects the development of stomach diseases. Progranulin (PGRN) is an autocrine growth factor that regulates multiple cellular processes and plays a tumorigenic role in many tissues. Nevertheless, the mechanism of action of PGRN in gastric cancer caused by H. pylori infection remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of PGRN in cell cycle progression and the cell proliferation induced by H. pylori infection. We found that the increased PGRN was positively associated with CDK4 expression in gastric cancer tissue. PGRN was upregulated by H. pylori infection, thereby promoting cell proliferation, and that enhanced level of proliferation was reduced by PGRN inhibitor. CDK4, a target gene of PGRN, is a cyclin-dependent kinase that binds to cyclin D to promote cell cycle progression, which was upregulated by H. pylori infection. We also showed that knockdown of CDK4 reduced the higher cell cycle progression caused by upregulated PGRN. Moreover, when the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway (which is promoted by PGRN) was blocked, the upregulation of CDK4 mediated by PGRN was reduced. These results reveal the potential mechanism by which PGRN plays a major role through CDK4 in the pathological mechanism of H. pylori infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.442-452
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• 2020

Backgroud: Sleep deprivation (SD) impairs learning and memory by inhibiting hippocampal functioning at molecular and cellular levels. Abnormal autophagy and apoptosis are closely associated with neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. This study is aimed to explore the alleviative effect and the underlying molecular mechanism of stem-leaf saponins of Panax notoginseng (SLSP) on the abnormal neuronal autophagy and apoptosis in hippocampus of mice with impaired learning and memory induced by SD. Methods: Mouse spatial learning and memory were assessed by Morris water maze test. Neuronal morphological changes were observed by Nissl staining. Autophagosome formation was examined by transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescent staining, acridine orange staining, and transient transfection of the tf-LC3 plasmid. Apoptotic event was analyzed by flow cytometry after PI/annexin V staining. The expression or activation of autophagy and apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blotting assay. Results: SLSP was shown to improve the spatial learning and memory of mice after SD for 48 h, accomanied with restrained excessive autophage and apoptosis, whereas enhanced activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway in hippocampal neurons. Meanwhile, it improved the aberrant autophagy and apoptosis induced by rapamycin and re-activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling transduction in HT-22 cells, a hippocampal neuronal cell line. Conclusion: SLSP could alleviate cognitive impairment induced by SD, which was achieved probably through suppressing the abnormal autophagy and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. The findings may contribute to the clinical application of SLSP in the prevention or therapy of neurological disorders associated with SD.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.79-95
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• 1997

목적 : 최근 신호전달체계에서 중요한 효소로 알려진 phosphollpase C(PLC) 동위효소들의 발현이 조직의 종류와 발달과정에 따라 특이한 양상을 보이고 $PLC-{\gamma}1$은 세포의 성장, 분화 및 증식에 중추적 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다 방사선 조사 후 세포내 신호전달에 관한 연구도 최근 활발하여 소장 점막의 재생에 $PLC-{\gamma}$ 및 ras 암 유전자단백이 관여하고, 조직 손상에 protein kinase C(PKC)가 관여하는 등 연구들이 보고되었으나 이들의 연구가 단편적이며 아직 확실히 밝혀진 바가 없다. 본 연구는 백서의 소장에 방사선을 조사하여 PLC 동위효소, epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), ras 암유전자단백, 및 PKC와 같이 신호전달체계에 관여하는 물질들의 발현을 시간적으로 관찰하여 방사선에 의한 소장 조직의 손상 및 재생 기전을 밝히고자 하였다. 대상 및 방벌 실험동물로 암.수 구별없이 생후 4-5개월, 체중 250-3009의 백서(Spraque-Dawley) 60마리를 대상으로 하여 실험군으로 전신에 8Gy의 방사선을 조사하고 방사선 조사 후 1일, 3일, 5일, 7일,14일에 각각 10마리씩 희생시켜 소장을 적출하여 사용하였고, 정상대조군은 각 시기별로 2마리씩 사용하였다. 적출된 소장의 반은 즉시 얼려 PLC의 면역블로팅 및 phosphoinositide(PI) 가수분해 활성도 측정에 사용하였고, 나머지 반은 포르말린에 고정한 다음 파라핀에 포매하여 조직병리검색과 면역조직화학염색에 사용하였다. EGFH, ras 암유전자단백, PLC, PKC의 발현은 면역조직화학염색법으로 관찰하였다. 점막세포의 재생여부는 광학현미경상의 유사분열 수와 proliferating ceil nuclear antigen(PCNA) kit를 이용한 증식세포핵 수로 확인하였다. PLC는 $PLC-{\beta},\;-{\gamma},\;-{\delta}$ 발현을 모두 검색하였고, 각각 면역블로팅과 Pl 가수분해 활성도 측정으로 확인하였다. 결과 : 1) 조직병리학 소견상 방사선 조사에 의한 소장의 조직손상은 1일부터 관찰되어 3일까지 심하였고 재생은 3일과 5일에 현저하였다. 2) 면역조직화학염색 결과 $PLC-{\gamma}1$의 발현은 재생을 보이는 3일과 5일에 발현되었으며 5일째의 점막에서 가장 강하게 나타났다. $PLC-{\delta}1$은 방사선 조사 후 손상을 보이는 1일과 3일의 점막에서 강한 발현을 나타내었다. $PLC-{\beta}1$은 모든 실험군에서 발현되지 않았다. 면역블로팅 결과도 면역조직화학염색과 일치하는 결과를 보였다. 3) $PLC-{\gamma}1$의 활성도를 보기 위한 PI 가수분해 활성도 측정결과는 3일과 5일에 현저히 높은 수치를 보여 방사선 조사후 소장점막의 재생과정의 중요한 신호전달과정이 PLC-1이 관여하는 PI 가수분해에 의해 이뤄짐을 알 수 있었다. 4) ras 암유전자단백의 발현온 재생이 시작되는 3일부터 나타나 7일까지 지속되었고, EGFR 도 재생시기인 3일과 5일에 가장 강하게 나타났고 그 후 점차 감소하는 추세를 보였다. 한편 PKC는 발현이 미약했으나 증식지수가 높은 점막에 3일과 5일에 발현이 관찰되었다. 결론 : 방사선조사에 의한 소장점막조직의 손상 및 재생과정의 신호전달기전에 PLC의 신호전달체계에 관여하는 효소가 중요한 역할을 하며 특히 $PLC-{\gamma}1$과 ras암유전자단백, EGFR, PKC는 방사선조사 후 공장점막세포의 재생기전에 주로 발현되어 재생과정과 관련된 신호전달기전에 관여함을 나타내었다. $PLC-{\delta}$은 방사선 조사 후 세포의 손상시기에 강한 발현을 보여 특히 손상과정과 관련된 신호전달기전에 관여함을 추측할 수 있었다. $PLC-{\beta}1$의 발현은 모든 실험군에서 음성인 소견을 보여 방사선조사 후 소장점막의 세포손상 및 재생과정에서 $PLC-{\beta}1$과 관련된 신호전달체계는 관여하지 않음을 알 수 었었다. 그러나, 이러한 신호전달체계의 기전을 구체적으로 밝히기 위해서는 추후 지속적인 연구가 필요하다고 사료된다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권12호
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• pp.1701-1707
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• 2005

This study deals with the characterization of porcine PIK3C3 and association tests with quantitative traits. PIK3C3 belongs to the class 3 PI3Ks that participate in the regulation of hepatic glucose output, glycogen synthase, and antilipolysis in typical insulin target cells such as those in the such as liver, muscle system, and fat. On the analysis of full-length mRNA sequence, the length of the PIK3C3 CDS was recorded as 2,664 bps. As well, nucleotide and amino acid identities between human and pig subjects were 92% and 99%, respectively. Five SNPs were detected over 5 exons. We performed genotyping by using a SNP C2604T on exon24 for 145 F$_2$ animals (from a cross between Korean native boars and Landrace sows) by PCR-RFLP analysis with Hpy8I used to investigate the relationship between growth and fat depot traits. In the total association analysis, which doesn' consider transmission disequilibrium, the SNP showed a significant effect (p<0.05) on body weight and carcass fat at 30 weeks of age as well as a highly significant effect (p<0.01) on back fat. In an additional sib-pair analysis, C allele still showed positive and significant effects (p<0.05) on back fat thickness and carcass fat. Moreover, the effects of C allele on the means of within-family components for carcass fat and back fat were estimated as 2.76 kg and 5.07 mm, respectively. As a result, the SNP of porcine PIK3C3 discovered in this study could be utilized as a possible genetic marker for the selection of pigs that possess low levels of back fat and carcass fat at the slaughter weight.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.9-16
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• 2020

Objective : To identify the effects of the water extract of Liriope platyphylla tuber (Liriopis tuber, LT) on the activation of astocytes, we investigated the regulatory effects of LT extract on H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in C6 rat astrocytes. Methods : LT extract was extracted with boiling water. C6 cell line were treated with LT extract at 1, 2, and 3 mg/㎖ or without for 30 min and then stimulated with H₂O₂ at 5 ㎛ for 24 hr. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), phospho-STAT3 (pSTAT3), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), catalase, Akt, phospho-Akt (p-Akt) phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K), and protein kinase C alpha (PKCα) proteins were determined by Western blot, respectively. GFAP expression was also observed with immunocytochemistry under a fluorescence microscope. Results : LT extract induced cell proliferation in H₂O₂-stimulated C6 cells. LT extract significantly inhibited the expression of GFAP, NF-κB and COX-2 and increased the expression of HO-1 and the phosphorylation of STAT3 in H₂O₂-stimulated C6 cells. LT extract also significantly increased the phosphorylation of Akt and decreased the expression of PKCα in a dose-dependent manner in H₂O₂-stimulated C6 cells. Conclusions : LT extract can regulate H₂O₂-induced activation of astrocytes through inhibiting the expression of NF-κB, COX-2 and regulating Akt / HO-1, STAT3 or PKCα signaling pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권7호
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• pp.933-941
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• 2021

Ginsenoside Rg4 is a rare ginsenoside that is naturally found in ginseng, and exhibits a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in several cell types. The purpose of this study was to use an in vivo model of hair follicle (HF)-mimic based on a human dermal papilla (DP) spheroid system prepared by three-dimensional (3D) culture and to investigate the effect of Rg4 on the hair-inductive properties of DP cells. Treatment of the DP spheroids with Rg4 (20 to 50 ㎍/ml) significantly increased the viability and size of the DP spheres in a dose-dependent manner. Rg4 also increased the mRNA and protein expression of DP signature genes that are related to hair growth including ALP, BMP2, and VCAN in the DP spheres. Analysis of the signaling molecules and luciferase reporter assays further revealed that Rg4 induces the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3β, which activates the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. These results correlated with not only the increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin following the treatment of the DP spheres with Rg4 but also the significant elevation of mRNA expression of the downstream target genes of the WNT/β-catenin pathway including WNT5A, β-catenin, and LEF1. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg4 promotes the hair-inductive properties of DP cells by activating the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway in DP spheres, suggesting that Rg4 could be a potential natural therapy for hair growth.