• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.187-199
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• 1999

Bone remodeling is characterized by the continuing processes of osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Bone metabolism is tightly regulated at the local level by networks of hormones, cytokines, and other factors. In pathological conditions of bone remodeling, including osteoporosis and periodontal diseases, inflammatory cytokines and local mediators are responsible for enhancement of osteoclast resorption and inhibition of repair at the sites of bone resorption. TNF-${\alpha}$ is a pleiotropic hormone with actions on the differentiation, growth, and functional activities of normal and malignant cells from numerous tissues. TNF-${\alpha}$ has been proposed as a local mediator of the control of bone turnover in situations of chronic inflammation, and it has been assumed that the local source of TNF-${\alpha}$ is the monocyte in the adjacent bone marrow or the local circulation. TNF-${\alpha}$ is a potent inducer of bone resorption. TNF-${\alpha}$ is known to induce the activation of apoptotic signaling pathway, which leads to the apoptosis of bone cells. We demonstrated that treatment of murine osteoblastic MC3T3E1 cells with TNF-${\alpha}$ decreases proliferation as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in a dose depenent manner. In addition, TNF-${\alpha}$ increases osteoclast-like cell formation in $1{\alpha}$, 25(OH)2D3 or PGE2-treated bone marrow cell culture. When cells were cultured in TNF-${\alpha}$ free ${\alpha}$-MEM, this inhibitory effect of ALP activity was reversible up to 10 ng/ml TNF-${\alpha}$, in contrast, at the 20 ng/ml TNF-${\alpha}$, irreversible. In this concentration, TNF-${\alpha}$ may induce apoptosis in MC3T3E1 cells. In this study, TNF-${\alpha}$ induces apoptosis resulting in chromosomal DNA fragmentation, preceded by JNK/SAPKs and caspase-3 activation. Our present results show that JNK/SAPKs and caspase-3 are activated by TNF-${\alpha}$, suggesting that the JNK/SAPKs and caspase-3 participate in the bone resorption, associated with apoptosis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2016

Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) is a potent inducer of osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. The Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1) is involved in skeletal development and bone remodeling. Here, we investigated the role of Dkk1 in BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. We found that overexpression of BMP9 induced Dkk1 expression in a dose-dependent manner, which was reduced by the P38 inhibitor SB203580 but not the ERK inhibitor PD98059. Moreover, Dkk1 dramatically decreased not only BMP9-induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity but also the expression of osteocalcin (OCN) and osteopontin (OPN) and matrix mineralization of C3H10T1/2 cells. Furthermore, exogenous Dkk1 expression inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling induced by BMP9. Our findings indicate that Dkk1 negatively regulates BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation through inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and it could be used to optimize the therapeutic use of BMP9 and for bone tissue engineering.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 1993

Brain, heart, liver, lung, kidney and thymus etc. 12 organs were removed and homogenized from Dawley-Sprague rats after suffocation. After fractionation of the tissue cytosols, enzymatic activities of the key enzymes in metabolic inositol phosphates cycle, PLC, IPSK and Ins(1,4,5) P35-phosphatase, were measured respectively. Hybridoma monoclones producing anti-lP3K murine monoclonal antibodies were obtained by the fusion of SP2/Ag 0-14 and spleen cells of mouse immunized with purified 53KDa IPSK, screening and cloning procedures. 18 cloned hybridoma cells were obtained, background due to nonspecific binding was very low with 10 clones. These Abs were purified from ascitic fluids by using affi-gel 15, and determined subtype of Abs. When immunoreactivities for rat tissues IP3K were exercised by adding the mixed Abs of 19Gl and 19G2b, they showed an overall similarity with noncompetitive inhibition. Brain tissue has high sensitivity for anti-lP3K Ab, whereas heart tissue has very low activity. In kinetic parameters Km value was 1.58 mM and Vmx value was 5.41umol/min/ml, respectively Only one form of 40 KDa IPSK was detected in heart tissues, however rat brain contains at least three immunologically distinct IP3K (53, 51 and 40 KDa) in western blot analysis. Of them 53 KDa protein was major enzyme in enzymatic activity. Northern blot analysis with 32P-labeled CDNA probe which encodes 1.8 Kb IPSK gene was performed. These results suggest that IPSK are regulated at transcriptional level during rat tissue development.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2016

Osteoporosis is a bone pathology leading to increased fracture risk and challenging the quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an anthraquinone glycoside, aloin, on osteogenic induction of MC3T3-E1 cells. Aloin increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, an early differentiation marker of osteoblasts. Aloin also increased the ALP activity in adult human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC), indicating that the action of aloin was not cell-type specific. Alizarin red S staining revealed a significant amount of calcium deposition in cells treated with aloin. Aloin enhanced the expression of osteoblast differentiation genes, Bmp-2, Runx2 and collagen 1a, in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that noggin and inhibitors of p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK signals attenuated aloin-promoted expressions of Bmp-2 and Runx2 proteins. siRNA mediated blocking of Wnt-5a signaling pathway also annulled the influence of aloin, indicating Wnt-5a dependent activity. Inhibition of the different signal pathways abrogated the influence of aloin on ALP activity, confirming that aloin induced MC3T3-E1 cells into osteoblasts through MAPK mediated Wnt and Bmp signaling pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.616-623
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• 2015

P2 receptors are membrane-bound receptors for extracellular nucleotides such as ATP and UTP. P2 receptors have been classified as ligand-gated ion channels or P2X receptors and G protein-coupled P2Y receptors. Recently, purinergic signaling has begun to attract attention as a potential therapeutic target for a variety of diseases especially associated with gastroenterology. This study determined the ATP and UTP-induced receptor signaling mechanism in feline esophageal contraction. Contraction of dispersed feline esophageal smooth muscle cells was measured by scanning micrometry. Phosphorylation of $MLC_{20}$ was determined by western blot analysis. ATP and UTP elicited maximum esophageal contraction at 30 s and $10{\mu}M$ concentration. Contraction of dispersed cells treated with $10{\mu}M$ ATP was inhibited by nifedipine. However, contraction induced by $0.1{\mu}M$ ATP, $0.1{\mu}M$ UTP and $10{\mu}M$ UTP was decreased by U73122, chelerythrine, ML-9, PTX and $GDP{\beta}S$. Contraction induced by $0.1{\mu}M$ ATP and UTP was inhibited by $G{\alpha}i_3$ or $G{\alpha}q$ antibodies and by $PLC{\beta}_1$ or $PLC{\beta}_3$ antibodies. Phosphorylated $MLC_{20}$ was increased by ATP and UTP treatment. In conclusion, esophageal contraction induced by ATP and UTP was preferentially mediated by P2Y receptors coupled to $G{\alpha}i_3$ and $G{\alpha}q$ proteins, which activate $PLC{\beta}_1$ and $PLC{\beta}_3$. Subsequently, increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and activated PKC triggered stimulation of MLC kinase and inhibition of MLC phosphatase. Finally, increased $pMLC_{20}$ generated esophageal contraction.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.488-494
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• 2015

A recent report showed that nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFATc) 1 is a member of the NFAT family and is strictly implicated osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Furthermore, the precise expression and function of NFATc1 in periodontal tissue remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the function of NFATc1 in osteoblastic differentiation, and the underlying mechanism regulating periodontal regeneration in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs). NFATc1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels were accessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot assay, respectively. Cell proliferation determined using MTT assay. Differentiation was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase activity and formation of calcium nodule with alizarin red S staining. The mRNA expression of osteoblastic differentiation related genes were examined by RT-PCR. Marked upregulation of NFATc1 mRNA and protein was observed in cells grown in osteogenic medium (OS). NFATc1 transactivation was detected in hPDLCs that had been incubated in OS for 14 days. Treatment with $10{\mu}M$ cyclosporine A (CsA), a known calcineurin inhibitor, reduced the proliferation of hPDLCs, while $5{\mu}M$ CsA had no effect. Inhibition of the calcineurin/NFATc1 pathway by CsA, attenuated OS-induced osteoblastic differentiation in hPDLCs. In summary, this study demonstrates for the first time that NFATc1 plays a key role in osteoblastic differentiation of hPDLCs and activation of NFATc1 could provide a novel mechanism for periodontal bone regeneration.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.917-924
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• 2003

This research aims to test a new drug candidate based on a traditional medicinal herb, F1, an herbal extract obtained from Astragalus membranaceus and its main ingredient, 1-monolinolein that may have fewer side effects and less uterine hypertrophy. In vitro experiments, human osteoblast-like cell lines, MG-63 and Saos-2, were analyzed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays. Mouse osteoclasts were induced through a calcium-deficient diet and inhibition effects were measured. In vivo experiments were done using ovariectomized (OVX) rats for 9 weeks. At necropsy, uterus weights were measured, trabecular bone area (TBA) of tibia and lumbar vertebra were measured bone histomorphology. In results, cell proliferation and ALP activity in Saos-2 by ether F1 or 1-monolinolein did not increased significantly compared to the control. The F1 inhibited osteoclast development ($IC_{25}=3.37{\times}10^{-5}$mg/mL) less than 17$\beta$-estradiol. The OVX rats administered F1 (2 mg/kg/day and 10 mg/kg/day) showed an increase in TBA of the tibia significantly (136.3${\pm}4.2% and 138.5{\pm}$10.3% of control). In conclusions, the herbal extract, F1 inhibited tibia and lumbar bone loss and did not cause uterine hypertrophy. However, 1-monolinolein, the main ingredient of the herbal extract, did not inhibit bone loss.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. (PF) sprout is a plant of the labiate family. We have previously reported the protective effects of PF sprout extract on cytokine-induced ${\beta}-cell$ damage. However, the mechanism of action of the PF sprout extract in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has not been investigated. The present study was designed to study the effects of PF sprout extract and signaling mechanisms in the T2DM mice model using C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male db/db mice were orally administered PF sprout extract (100, 300, and 1,000 mg/kg of body weight) or rosiglitazone (RGZ, positive drug, 1 mg/kg of body weight) for 4 weeks. Signaling mechanisms were analyzed using liver tissues and HepG2 cells. RESULTS: The PF sprout extract (300 and 1,000 mg/kg) significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in db/db mice. PF sprout extract also significantly improved glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity, decreased hepatic gluconeogenic protein expression, and ameliorated histological alterations of the pancreas and liver. Levels of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein expression also increased in the liver after treatment with the extract. In addition, an increase in the phosphorylation of AMPK and decrease in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose 6-phosphatase proteins in HepG2 cells were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results sugges that PF sprout displays beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes via modulation of the AMPK pathway and inhibition of gluconeogenesis in the liver.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.319-329
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• 2001

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a recently discovered potent vasoconstrictive peptide. It was first identified in vascular endothelial cells. ET-1 is a 21-amino acid peptide and elicits systemic effects such as stimulation of the production of atrial natriuretic peptide and release of aldosterone and corticosterone. In this study, to examine the role of ET-1 in the bone metabolism, effect of ET-1 on the proliferation and activity of osteoblastic cells was studied using HOS cells as osteoblast model. ET-1 dose-dependently increased the cell proliferation as determined by cell counting and MTT reduction assay after 48hr treatment. Alkaline phosphatase activity was inhibited by ET-1 and showed significant inhibition by 50 and 100 nM ET-1. ET-1 increased NBT reduction by HOS cells dose-dependently showing that ET-1 may increase the superoxide production by osteoblasts. Nitrite concentration in the media of HOS cell culture without cytokine stimulation was negligible and unaffected by ET-1 after 48hr treatment. Finally, after collection and concentration of conditioned media, gelatinase activity produced by HOS cells was determined by zymography. HOS cells can produce and secrete the gelatinase (gelatinase A type as determined by molecular weight of about 65,000) into culture media, however, ET-1 had no effect on the gelatinase activity. These findings suggest that ET-1 may have diverse effects on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, therefore, it may play an important role in bone metabolism.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2011

Bone remodeling is a dynamic process involving a constant balance between osteoclast-induced bone resorption and osteoblast-induced bone formation. Osteoclasts play a crucial homeostatic role in skeletal modeling and remodeling, and destroy bone in many pathological conditions. Previously, we reported that the hexane soluble fraction of Ficus carica inhibited osteoclast differentiation. Poly unsaturated fatty acids, such as ethyl docosahexaenoate (E-DHA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), cis-11,14-eicosadienoic acid (EDA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), were identified from the hexane soluble fraction of Ficus carica. Among them, E-DHA most potently inhibited osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 cells. E-DHA reduced the activities of JNK and NF-$\kappa}B$. E-DHA suppressed the expression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1). Interestingly, DHA increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase and expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) more than E-DHA in MC3T3-E1 cells, suggesting that DHA may induce osteoblast differentiation. The data suggests that a combination of E-DHA and DHA has potential use in the treatment of diseases involving abnormal bone lysis, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal bone erosion.