• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.90-97
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• 2009

Background: CD147, as a cellular receptor for cyclophilin A (CypA), is a multifunctional protein involved in tumor invasion, inflammation, tissue remodeling, neural function, and reproduction. Recent observations showing the expression of CD147 in leukocytes indicate that this molecule may have roles in inflammation. Methods: In order to investigate the role of CD147 and its ligand in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, human atherosclerotic plaques were analyzed for the expression pattern of CD147 and CypA. The cellular responses and signaling molecules activated by the stimulation of CD147 were then investigated in the human macrophage cell line, THP-1, which expresses high basal level of CD147 on the cell surface. Results: Staining of both CD147 and CypA was detected in endothelial cell layers facing the lumen and macrophage-rich areas. Stimulation of CD147 with its specific monoclonal antibody induced the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in THP-1 cells and it was suppressed by inhibitors of both ERK and NF-${\kappa}B$. Accordingly, the stimulation of CD147 was observed to induce phosphorylation of ERK, phosphorylation-associated degradation of $I{\kappa}B$, and nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 and p50 subunits. Conclusion: These results suggest that CD147 mediates the inflammatory activation of macrophages that leads to the induction of MMP-9 expression, which could play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 2012

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases which degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) during embryogenesis, wound healing, and tissue remodeling. Dysregulation of MMP activity is also associated with various pathological inflammatory conditions. In this study, we examined the expression pattern of MMPs during PMA-induced differentiation of THP-1 monocytic cells into macrophages. We found that MMP1, MMP8, MMP3, MMP10, MMP12, MMP19, MMP9, and MMP7 were upregulated during differentiation whereas MMP2 remained unchanged. Expression of MMPs increased in a time-dependent manner; MMP1, MMP8, MMP3, MMP10, and MMP12 increased beginning at 60 hr post PMA treatment whereas MMP19, MMP9, and MMP7 increased beginning at 24 hr post PMA treatment. To identify signal transduction pathways involved in PMA-induced upregulation of MMPs, we treated PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells with specific inhibitors for PKC, MEK1, NF-${\kappa}B$, PI3K, p38 MAPK and PLC. We found that inhibition of the MEK1 pathway blocked PMA-induced upregulation of all MMPs to varying degrees except for MMP-2. In addition, expression of select MMPs was inhibited by PI3K, p38 MAPK and PLC inhibitors. In conclusion, we show that of the MMPs examined, most MMPs were up-regulated during differentiation of monocyte into macrophage via the MEK1 pathway. These results provide basic information for studying MMPs expression during macrophage differentiation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.414-418
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• 2012

Triglycerides (TG) are implicated in the development of atherosclerosis through formation of foam cells and induction of macrophage cell death. In this study, we report that addition of exogenous TG induced cell death in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-differentiated THP-1 human macrophages. TG treatment induced a dramatic decrease in interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) mRNA expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The expression of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule remained unchanged. To identify signaling pathways involved in TG-induced downregulation of IL-$1{\beta}$, we added p38 MAPK, protein kinase C (PKC) or c-Raf1 specific inhibitors. We found that inhibition of p38 MAPK alleviated the TG-induced downregulation of IL-$1{\beta}$, whereas inhibition of PKC and c-Raf1 had no effect. This is the first report showing decreased IL-$1{\beta}$ expression during TG-induced cell death in a human macrophage line. Our results suggest that downregulation of IL-$1{\beta}$ expression by TG-treated macrophages may play a role during atherogenesis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.1-23
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate anti-breast cancer and anti-inflammatory effects of Chungganhaewool-tang and Shipyeukmiyeugi-eum. Methods: MDA-MB-231 cells were used to measure cytotoxicity, Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, protein expression amounts of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xl), Cytochrome C Caspase-3, Caspase-7, Caspase-9, Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD (P) H Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) to evaluate the anti-breast cancer effects of Chungganhaewool-tang (CHT) and Shipyeukmiyeugi-eum (SYE), and THP-1 cells, differentiated into macrophage and induced inflammation with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), were used to measure production amounts of ROS, Nitric oxide (NO), and protein expression amounts of Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Cyclooxygenase (COX-2), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of CHT and SYE. Results: CHT and SYE reduced MDA-MB-231 cell counts, increased protein expression of Bax and Cytochrome C, and decreased protein expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl. The protein expression amounts of Caspase-3, 7, and 9 decreased, but amounts of the active form, cleaved Caspase-3, 7, and 9, increased. In addition, PARP protein expression decreased, the amount of PARP protein in the cleaved form increased, and the amount of protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 decreased, but NQO1 showed no significant difference. In THP-1 cells CHT and SYE reduced ROS and NO, and reduced protein expressions of iNOS, COX-2, IL-1, and TNF-α, but only SYE groups reduced IL-6. Conclusions: This study suggests that CHT and SYE have potential to be used as treatments for breast cancer.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.388-398
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• 2009

Background and Objective: Luffae Fructus Retinervus (LFR) is used for investigating symptoms of inflammation. We have evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of LFR by analyzing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Materials and Methods : We differentiated THP-l cells into macrophage-like cells by treatment with PMA. Inflammation was induced by treatment with LPS and PMA. We determined the safe concentration of LFR by using the MTS and MTT assays and using PD 98059 as a negative control for comparison of the anti-inflammatory effect of LFR. Results : The MTS and MTT analysis showed that the cell survival rate was >80% within the LFR concentration range of 10-100 ng/ml and began to decrease to >80% at 1 ${\mu}g/ml$. By RT-PCR analysis, the gene expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-8, TGF-${\beta}$, IL-6, IL-${\beta}$1, and IL-10 levels were down-regulated when monocyte-derived macrophages were treated with concentrations of LFR between 10 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL. Conclusion : We conclude that LFR exerts an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory activity. The results suggest a promising way to treat general inflammatory diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2013

Nystatin, a polyene antifungal antibiotic, is a cholesterol sequestering agent. The antifungal agent alters composition of the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells, whereas its effects on cells are poorly investigated. In the current study, we investigated the question of whether nystatin was able to induce expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1). THP-1 cells rarely express MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and MIP-$1{\beta}$, however, upon exposure to nystatin, significantly elevated expression of MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and MIP-$1{\beta}$ was observed in a dose-dependent fashion at the messenger and protein levels. Cellular factors activated by nystatin as well as involved in nystatin-induced expression of MIP-1 proteins were identified in order to understand the molecular mechanisms of action of the anti-fungal agent. Treatment with nystatin resulted in enhanced phosphorylation of Akt, ERK, p38 MAPK, and JNK. Abrogation or significant attenuation of nystatin-induced expression of MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and MIP-$1{\beta}$ was observed by treatment with Akt inhibitor IV, LY294002, and SP6001250. Inhibition of ERK or p38MAPK using U0126 and SB202190 did not lead to attenuation of MIP-1 expression. In addition, inhibitors of protein kinase C, such as GF109203X and Ro-318220, also attenuated expression of MIP-1. These results indicate that nystatin is able to activate multiple cellular kinases and, among them, Akt and JNK play primary roles in nystatin-induced expression of MIP-1 proteins.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.352-357
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• 2013

Atherosclerosis, which manifests as acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and peripheral arterial diseases, is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall. Prunella vulgaris, a perennial herb with a worldwide distribution, has been used as a traditional medicine in inflammatory disease. Here, we investigated the effects of P. vulgaris ethanol extract on TNF-${\alpha}$-induced inflammatory responses in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). We found that P. vulgaris ethanol extract inhibited adhesion of monocyte/macrophage-like THP-1 cells to activated HASMCs. It also decreased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin and ROS, No production in TNF-${\alpha}$-induced HASMCs and reduced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Furthermore, P. vulgaris extract suppressed TNF-${\alpha}$-induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). These results demonstrate that P. vulgaris possesses anti-inflammatory properties and can regulate TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of adhesion molecules by inhibiting the p38 MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4871-4876
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• 2014

Background: We sought to evaluate the role of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) on the promotion of coal tar pitch extract (CTPE)-induced tumorigenesis of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and tumor metastasis in nude mice, and related mechanisms. Materials and Methods: BEAS-2B cells were first treated with 2.4 mg/mL CTPE for 72 hours. After removal of CTPE, the cells were continuously cultured and passaged using trypsin-EDTA. THP-1 cells were used as macrophage-like cells. BEAS-2B cells under different conditions (n=6/group) were injected into the back necks of nude mice, and alterations of tumor xenograft growth, indicative of tumorigenicity, and tumor metastasis were determined. Pathological changes (tumor nests and microvascular lesions) of HE-stained tumor tissues were also evaluated. The expression of AP-1(c-Jun) in xenografts and metastatic tumors was determined using immunohistochemistry. Results: Tumor size and weight in nude mice transplanted with the mixture of CTPE-induced passage 30 BEAS-2B and THP-1 cells (2:1) were increased compared to those from the CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells at passage 30 alone at different observation time points. Tumor metastasis to lymph nodes and liver was only detected after transplantation of a mixture the two kinds of cells. The numbers of tumor nests and microvascular lesions, and the expression levels of AP-1 (c-Jun) in tumors from the mixture of two kinds of cells were increased apparently in contrast to those in tumor from the CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells of passage 30 alone. In addition, there was positive correlation between AP-1 (c-Jun) expression level and the number of microvascular lesions, or between AP-1 (c-Jun) expression level and tumor metastasis in these two groups. Conclusions: TAMs not only facilitate tumorigenesis transformation of CTPE-induced BEAS-2B cells, but also promote tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis in nude mice in vivo, which may be mediated by AP-1.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2018

Phagocytosis is a fundamental process in which phagocytes capture and ingest foreign particles including pathogenic bacteria. Several oral pathogens have anti-phagocytic strategies, which allow them to escape from and survive in phagocytes. Impaired bacteria phagocytosis increases inflammation and contributes to inflammatory diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influences of various agents on oral pathogenic phagocytosis. To determine phagocytosis, Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were stained with 5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), and was measured using flowcytometery and confocal microscopy. The influencing factors on phagocytosis were evaluated through the pretreatment of ROS inhibitor (N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)), lysozyme, potassium chloride (KCI) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in THP-1 cells. Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The phagocytosis of various bacteria increased in a MOI-dependent manner. Among the tested bacteria, phagocytosis of P. gingivalis showed the highest fluorescent intensity at same infection time. Among the tested inhibitors, the NAC treatment significantly inhibited phagocytosis in all tested bacteria. In addition, NAC treatment indicated a similar pattern under the confocal microscopy. Moreover, NAC treatment significantly increased the bacteria-induced secretion of $IL-1{\beta}$ among the tested inhibitors. Taken together, we conclude that the phagocytosis occurs differently depending on each bacterium. Down-regulation by ROS production inhibited phagocytosis and lead increased of oral pathogens-associated inflammation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.738-744
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• 2015

Tuberculosis is one of the most threatening infectious diseases to public health all over the world, for which Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is the etiological agent of pathogenesis. Ursolic acid (UA) has immunomodulatory function and exhibits antimycobacterial activity. However, the intracellular killing effect of UA has yet to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intracellular killing effect of UA during mycobacterial infection. The intracellular killing activity of UA was evaluated in the macrophage cell line THP-1 by the MGIT 960 system as well as by CFU count. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the level of nitric oxide (NO) were measured using DCF-DA and Griess reagent, respectively. Phagocytosis was observed by a fluorescence-based staining method, and the colony forming units were enumerated on 7H11 agar medium following infection. In addition, MRP8 mRNA expression was measured by qRT-PCR. UA significantly decreased the number of intracellular Mycobacterium through generation of ROS and NO. In addition, it profoundly activated the phagocytosis process of THP-1 cells during MTB-infection. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that UA activated the phagocytosis process in human monocyte cells through MRP8 induction. These data suggest that UA firmly contributes to the intracellular killing effect of macrophages during mycobacterial infection.