• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2021

Purpose : Keratinocytes are the main cellular components involved in wound healing during re-epithelization and inflammation. Dysfunction of tight junction (TJ) adhesions is a major feature in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The purpose of this study was to identify the various effects of a Sparassis crispa water extract (SC) on HaCaT cells and to investigate whether these effects might be applicable to human skin. Methods : We investigated the effectiveness of SC on cell HaCaT viability using MTS. The antioxidant effect of SC was analyzed by comparing the effectiveness of ABTS to that of the well-known antioxidant resveratrol. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is the most widely applied method Quantitative RT-PCR analysis has shown that SC in HaCaT cells affects mRNA expression of tight-junction genes associated with skin moisturization. In addition, Wound healing is one of the most complex processes in the human body. It involves the spatial and temporal synchronization of a variety of cell types with distinct roles in the phases of hemostasis, inflammation, growth, re-epithelialization, and remodeling. wound healing analysis demonstrated altered cell migration in SC-treated HaCaT cells. Results : MTS analysis in HaCaT cells was found to be more cytotoxic in SC at a concentration of 0.5 mg/㎖. Compared to 100 µM resveratrol, 4 mg/㎖ SC exhibited similar or superior antioxidant effects. SC treatment in HaCaT cells reduced levels of claudin 1, claudin 3, claudin 4, claudin 6, claudin 7, claudin 8, ZO-1, ZO-2, JAM-A, occludin, and Tricellulin mRNA expression by about 1.13 times. Wound healing analysis demonstrated altered cell migration in SC-treated HaCaT cells and HaCaT cell migration was also reduced to 73.2 % by SC treatment. Conclusion : SC, which acts as an antioxidant, reduces oxidative stress and prevents aging of the skin. Further research is needed to address the effects of SC on human skin given the observed alteration of mRNA expression of tight-junction genes and the decreased the cell migration of HaCaT cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.321-333
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• 2021

Purpose: Reflux esophagitis is a disease caused by the reflux of stomach contents and stomach acid etc. into the esophagus due to defect in the lower esophageal sphincter and is currently increasing worldwide. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a mixture of Citrus Reticulata and Scutellariae Radix (CS) extract on acute reflux esophagitis in rats. Methods: Rats were divided into five groups for examination: normal group (Normal, n = 8), water-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (Control, n = 8), tocopherol 30 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (Toco, n = 8), CS 100 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (CS100, n = 8), CS 200 mg/kg body weight-treated acute reflux esophagitis rats (CS200, n = 8). The experimental groups were administrated of each treatment compounds and after 90 min, acute reflux esophagitis was induced through surgery. Rats were sacrificed 5 h after surgery. We measured the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in serum and analyzed the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, inflammatory, and tight junction-related proteins by western blot in the esophageal tissues. Results: CS administration significantly protected the esophageal mucosal damage due to reflux esophagitis, and the level of ROS in the serum was significantly reduced with CS administration as compared to Control. In addition, CS administration significantly suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or MAP kinase) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways and increased protein expressions of tight junction protein. Conclusion: These results suggest that the CS not only regulates the expression of inflammatory proteins by inhibiting oxidative stress, but also reduces damage to the esophageal mucosa by inhibiting the expression of tight junction proteins.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Objective The purpose of this study was to confirm the effects of Galgeunhwanggeumhwangryeon-tang (PSCG) extract on skin moisturizing, antibacterial, and tight junction recovery in atopic dermatitis-induced mice. Methods In this study, we used 4-week-old NC/Nga mice divided into four groups: control (Ctrl), lipid barrier elimination (LBE), dexamethasone (Dx) after lipid barrier elimination (DEX), and PSCG after lipid barrier elimination (PSC). Ten rats were assigned to each treatment group. Three days after drug administration following lipid barrier elimination, ceramide kinase, caspase 14, sodium hydrogen antiporter (NHE), cathelicidin, claudin, and toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 were observed to confirm the restoration of skin moisturizer production, antimicrobial barriers, and tight junctions in the skin barrier. Results Ceramide kinase and caspase 14 positive reaction were significantly higher in PSC than in LBE and DEX. Both NHE and cathelicidin showed higher positive reactions in PSC than in LBE and DEX. Claudin, and TLR-2 showed higher levels of positive staining in the PSC group than in the LBE and DEX groups. Conclusion It was confirmed that the PSCG extract can have the potential to restore the damaged skin barrier in atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2018

Background: Saponins from Panax japonicus (SPJ) are the most abundant and main active components of P. japonicus, which replaces ginseng roots in treatment for many kinds of diseases in the minority ethnic group in China. Our previous studies have demonstrated that SPJ has the effects of anti-inflammation through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) signaling pathways. The present study was designed to investigate whether SPJ can modulate intestinal tight junction barrier in aging rats and further to explore the potential mechanism. Methods: Aging rats had been treated with different doses (10 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, and 60 mg/kg) of SPJ for 6 mo since they were 18 mo old. After the rats were euthanized, the colonic samples were harvested. Levels of tight junctions (claudin-1 and occludin) were determined by immunohistochemical staining. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$) were examined by Western blot. NF-${\kappa}B$ and phosphorylation of MAPK signaling pathways were also determined by Western blot. Results: We found that SPJ increased the expression of the tight junction proteins claudin-1 and occludin in the colon of aging rats. Treatment with SPJ decreased the levels of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, reduced the phosphorylation of three MAPK isoforms, and inhibited the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the colon of aging rats. Conclusion: The studies demonstrated that SPJ modulates the damage of intestinal epithelial tight junction in aging rats, inhibits inflammation, and downregulates the phosphorylation of the MAPK and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2015

Tight junction protein 1 (TJP1), a component of tight junction, has been reported to play a role in protein networks as an adaptor protein, and TJP1 expression is altered during tumor development. Here, we found that TJP1 expression was increased at the RNA and protein levels in TGF-${\beta}$-stimulated lung cancer cells, A549. SB431542, a type-I TGF-${\beta}$ receptor inhibitor, as well as SB203580, a p38 kinase inhibitor, significantly abrogated the effect of TGF-${\beta}$ on TJP1 expression. Diphenyleneiodonium, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, also attenuated TJP1 expression in response to TGF-${\beta}$ in lung cancer cells. When TJP1 expression was reduced by shRNA lentiviral particles in A549 cells (A549-sh TJP1), wound healing was much lower than in cells infected with control viral particles. Taken together, these data suggest that TGF-${\beta}$ enhances TJP1 expression, which may play a role beyond structural support in tight junctions during cancer development.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.9
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• pp.494-499
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• 2014

NADH:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is known to be involved in the regulation of energy synthesis and metabolism, and the functional studies of NQO1 have largely focused on metabolic disorders. Here, we show for the first time that compared to NQO1-WT mice, NQO1-KO mice exhibited a marked increase of permeability and spontaneous inflammation in the gut. In the DSS-induced colitis model, NQO1-KO mice showed more severe inflammatory responses than NQO1-WT mice. Interestingly, the transcript levels of claudin and occludin, the major tight junction molecules of gut epithelial cells, were significantly decreased in NQO1-KO mice. The colons of NQO1-KO mice also showed high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity, which are known to affect transcriptional regulation. Taken together, these novel findings indicate that NQO1 contributes to the barrier function of gut epithelial cells by regulating the transcription of tight junction molecules.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Objective : Reflux esophagitis (RE), one of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a disease that causes inflammation due to reflux of stomach contents such as stomach acid and pepsin due to the unstable gastroesophageal sphincter, and is currently increasing worldwide. The currently used treatment for reflux esophagitis has various side effects. Therefore, in this study the effect of Toosendan Fructus extract on chronic acid reflux esophagitis in rats was evaluated in order to find a new treatment material for reflux treatment. Methods : After inducing reflux esophagitis through surgery, the group was separated and the drug was administered for 2 weeks; Normal rats (Normal, n=8), chronic acid reflux esophagitis rats (Control, n=8), Toosendan Fructus 200 mg/kg body weight/day-treated chronic acid reflux esophagitis rats (TF, n=8). After, we were taken esophageal tissue and esophageal mucosa damage was identified, and analyzed the expression of NADPH oxidase, AP-1/MAPK-related proteins, and tight junction proteins by western blot in esophageal tissue. Results : Toosendan Fructus administration significantly protected the esophageal mucosal damage of reflux esophagitis. Also, Toosendan Fructus significantly reduced the expression of NADPH oxidases (NOX2 and p22^phox) and AP-1/MAPK-related proteins (c-Fos, c-Jun, p-p38, p-ERK, and p-JNK). In addition, it significantly increased the expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin-3, and Claudin-4). Conclusions : These results suggest that Toosendan Fructus reduced damage to the esophageal mucosa by protecting the esophageal mucosa by upregulating tight junctions proteins as well as inhibiting the AP-1/MAPK pathway through reducing NADPH oxidases expression.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.12a
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• pp.144-145
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• 2003

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2019

Tight junctions are constituents of the blood-epididymis barrier that play roles in regulating the unidirectional transcellular transport of ions, water, and solutes to maintain optimal conditions for sperm maturation and storage. Claudin 1 (Cldn1) and 4 (Cldn4) are known as tight junction proteins and are expressed in the basolateral membranes as well as tight junctions in the epididymis of rodents. Here, we examined the expression and localization of Cldn1 and 4 to determine the function of these proteins in the pig epididymis. Cldn1 was highly expressed in the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells in the caput and corpus regions of the epididymis. In the cauda region, however, Cldn1 labeling was significantly decreased in the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells. In contrast, labeling indicated that Cldn4 was expressed in the basolateral membrane in the cauda region of the epididymis and was present at punctate reactive sites in the caput and corpus regions. However, in no region of the epididymis did we detect colocalization of Cldn1 and 4 with labeled ZO-1, the distribution of which is restricted to the tight junctions. Our results indicate that Cldn1 and 4 were region-specifically expressed in the pig epididymis but not present in the tight junctions of epididymal epithelium. In addition, reciprocal regulation in specific regions of the epididymis between Cldn1 and 4 may play an important role in generating an optimal luminal environment for sperm maturation and storage in the pig epididymis.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.318-321
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• 2019

Recent studies showed that tight junctions (TJs) integrity and assembly are required for blastocyst development in mouse and pig models. However, the biological functions of TJs associated with embryo implantation and maintenance of pregnancy were not investigated yet. To examine whether disrupted TJs affect further embryo development, we employed RNAi approach and inhibitor treatment. The embryos were injected with Cxadr (Coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor) siRNA for knock down (KD) and treated with Adam10 (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase specific inhibitor 10; GI254023X; SI). We compared blastocyst development and paracellular sealing assay using FITC dextran uptake between control and KD or SI embryos. Finally, we transferred control and Cxadr KD or Adam 10 SI treated blastocyst to uteri of recipients. Cxadr KD and Adam 10 SI showed lower blastocyst development and more permeable to FITC-dextran. Moreover, we observed that half of KD and inhibited embryos failed to maintain pregnancies after the second trimester. Our findings suggested that TJs integrity is required for the maintenance of pregnancy and can be used as a selective marker for the successful application of assisted reproduction technologies.