• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.180-188
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• 2007

In vivo studies have demonstrated that aldosterone is an independent contributor to glomerulosclerosis. In the present study, we have investigated whether aldosterone itself mediated glomerulosclerosis, as angiotensin II (Ang II) did, by inducing cultured renal mesangial cells to produce plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and whether these effects were mediated by aldosterone-induced increase in transforming growth factor $\beta_1$ (TGF-$\beta_1$) expression and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity. Quiescent rat mesangial cells were treated by aldosterone alone or by combination of aldosterone and spironolactone, Ang II, neutralizing antibody to TGF-$\beta_1$ or antioxidant Nacetylcysteme (NAC). This study indicate that aldosterone can increase PAI-1 mRNA and protein expression by cultured mesangial cells alone, which is independent of aldosterone-induced increases in TGF-$\beta_1$ expression and cellular ROS. The effects on PAI-1, TGF-$\beta_1$ and ROS generation were markedly attenuated by spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, which demonstrate that mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) may play a role in mediating these effects of aldosterone.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.906-915
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• 2017

Impairment of wound healing is a common problem in individuals with diabetes. Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived cytokine, has many beneficial effects on metabolic disorders such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. C1q/TNF-Related Protein 9 (CTRP9), the closest paralog of adiponectin, has been reported to have beneficial effects on wound healing. In the current study, we demonstrate that CTRP9 regulates growth, differentiation, and apoptosis of HaCaT human keratinocytes. We found that CTRP9 augmented expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 ($TGF{\beta}1$) by transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP-1) binding activity and phosphorylation of p38 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated suppression of $TGF{\beta}1$ reversed the increase in p38 phosphorylation induced by CTRP9. siRNA-mediated suppression of $TGF{\beta}1$ or p38 significantly abrogated the effects of CTRP9 on cell proliferation and differentiation while inducing apoptosis, implying that CTRP9 stimulates wound recovery through a $TGF{\beta}1$-dependent pathway in keratinocytes. Furthermore, intravenous injection of CTRP9 via tail vein suppressed mRNA expression of Ki67 and involucrin whereas it augmented $TGF{\beta}1$ mRNA expression and caspase 3 activity in skin of type 1 diabetes animal models. In conclusion, our results suggest that CTRP9 has suppressive effects on hyperkeratosis, providing a potentially effective therapeutic strategy for diabetic wounds.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) is an important disease featured as intense inflammation, protease imbalance, and air flow limitation and mainly induced by cigarette smoke (CS). In present study, we explored the effects of $Pycnogenol^{(R)}$ (PYC, pine bark extract) on pulmonary fibrosis caused by CS+lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Mice were treated with LPS intranasally on day 12 and 26, followed by CS exposure for 1 h/day (8 cigarettes per day) for 4 weeks. One hour before CS exposure, 10 and 20 mg/kg of PYC were administered by oral gavage for 4 weeks. PYC effectively reduced the number of inflammatory cells and proinflammatory mediators caused by CS+LPS exposure in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. PYC inhibited the collagen deposition on lung tissue caused by CS+LPS exposure, as evidenced by Masson's trichrome stain. Furthermore, transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$) expression and Smad family member 2/3 (Smad 2/3) phosphorylation were effectively suppressed by PYC treatment. PYC markedly reduced the collagen deposition caused by CS+LPS exposure, which was closely involved in $TGF-{\beta}1$/Smad 2/3 signaling, which is associated with pulmonary fibrotic change. These findings suggest that treatment with PYC could be a therapeutic strategy for controlling COPD progression.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.394-398
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• 2010

Background: The overexpression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 receptor II (TGF-${\beta}1$RII) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-${\beta}1$) ligand may be involved in the formation of a bulla. In this study, we tested if serum TGF-${\beta}1$ ligand levels correlated with the expression level of TGF-${\beta}1$RII and TGF-${\beta}1$ in bullous tissues from patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. Material and Method: Bullous lung tissues and blood samples were obtained from 19 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, 18 males and 1 female, aged 17 to 35 years old. The bullous tissues were obtained by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin, and cut into $5{\sim}6{\mu}m$ thick slices. Sections were immunohistochemically stained with primary antibodies against TGF-${\beta}1$ or TGF-${\beta}1$RII, and serum levels of TGF-${\beta}1$ in patients and normal controls was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result: Of the 19 patients, 16 were TGF-${\beta}1$ positive and 10 were TGF-${\beta}1$RII positive. Among the 16 TGF-${\beta}1$ positives, 9 were also TGF-${\beta}1RII$ positive. As seen previously, strong immunohistochemical staining of TGF-${\beta}1$RII and TGF-${\beta}$ was detected in the boundary region between the bullous and normal lung tissues. Average TGF-${\beta}1$ blood levels of both TGF-${\beta}1$ and TGF-${\beta}1$RII positive patients was $38.36{\pm}16.2ng/mL$, and that of five controls was $54.06{\pm}15ng/mL$. Conclusion: These results suggest that overexpression of TGF-${\beta}1$ and TGF-${\beta}1$RII expression may be involved in the formation of bullae. TGF-${\beta}1$ blood levels in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax is lower than normal people, suggesting that the high level of local TGF-${\beta}1$ expression in the bullous tissue region, but not in the whole blood, may contribute more in the formation of bullae.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.11b
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• pp.141-141
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• 2002

Transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$), a hormonally active polypeptide found in normal and transformed tissues, regulates cellular growth and phenotyphic plasticity. We have previously shown that H-ras, but not N-ras, induces invasive phenotype in MCF10A human breast epithelial cells.(omitted)

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.273-278
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• 2000

Transforming growth factor-$\beta$ (IGF-$\beta$)s are multifunctional small polypeptides synthesized in most cell types. TGF-$\beta$ exerts pivotal effects on both bone formation and resorption. In addition, increasing lines of evidence implicate TGF-$\beta$ as a potential coupling factor between these two processes during bone remodeling. In the present study, the expression form and the activation mechanism of latent-TGF-$\beta$ were investigated using specific antibodies for each isoform. TGF-$\beta$s were observed to be synthesized and accumulated in a large amount in cultured osteoblastic cells. The estimated molecular weights of intracellular TGF-$\beta$2 and -$\beta$3 were 49 and 55 kDa, respectively. Based on proteolytic digestion study and immunofluorescence observation, these precursor forms seemed to be accumulated in distinct intracellular compartments. To examine whether the internal pool of TGF-$\beta$ was possiblely regulated by external signals, their biological activites were examined in a conditioned media of this cell. Although the intact conditioned media did not contain detectable TGF-$\beta$ activity, heat-treatment or acid-activation of the conditioned media revealed significant TGF-$\beta$ activity. Furthermore, in the presence of estrogen, this activity was dramatically diminished. It is known that activation of latent TGF-$\beta$ can be achieved by different chemical and enzymatic treatments, or by incubation with certain cell types. This extracellular activation was suggested as a key step in the regulation of TGF-$\beta$ activity. In addition to these extracellular activation, this study suggests that the synthesis and intracellular processing are important regulation steps for TGF-$\beta$ action. In addition, this regulation Is specific for TGF-$\beta$ type 2, because the change was not observed in TGF-$\beta$3 in osteoblastic cell line.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2003

Objectives: To investigate the role of TGF (Transforming growth factor-$\beta$) involved in the paracrinic communication during decidualization between UEC (uterine epithelial cells) and USC (uterine stromal cells), we have employed a co-culture system composed of human endometrial epithelial and stromal cells in defined hormonal conditions. Design: In the co-culture, endometrial epithelial cells cultured in the matrigel-coated cell culture insert are seeded on top of the endometrial stromal cells cultured within a collagen gel. The co-culture was maintained for 48 hours under the following hormonal conditions: progesterone dominant condition (100 nM P4 and 1 nM E2) or estrogen-dominant condition (100 nM E2 and 1 nM P4). 10 ng/ ml HGF and/or 10 ng/ml TGF-$\beta$1 are added. Methods: RT-PCR is utilized to detect mRNAs quantitatively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemical staining are utilized to detect proteins in the tissue. Results: Prolactin mRNA is expressed in the co-cultured stromal cells under the progesterone dominant condition. TGF-$\beta$1 and its receptors are expressed in both the co-cultured epithelial and stromal cells irrespective of the steroid present, which is in contrast with no or negligible expression of TGF-$\beta$1 or its receptor in cells separately cultured. Both estrogen and progesterone significantly elevate the concentration of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the conditioned medium of the co-culture with the value of 4, 325 pg/ml in E2-dominant and 2, 000 pg/ml in P4-dominant condition compare to 150 pg/ml in no hormone. In separately cultured stromal cells, administration of HGF induces the expression of TGF receptor 1 in both hormonal conditions, but induction of TGF receptor 2 is only manifest in the P4-dominant condition. Administration of TGF-$\beta$ and HGF directly induce the decidualization marker prolactin mRNA in separately cultured stromal cells. Conclusion: It is likely that steroid hormones induces prolactin mRNA indirectly by promoting the cell to cell communication between the stromal and the epithelial cells. TGF-$\beta$ and HGF are two possible paracrine mediators in the human endometrial decidualization.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.461-466
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• 2008

Transforming growth $factor-{\beta}$ ($TGF-{\beta}$)-dependent apoptosis is important in the elimination of damaged or abnormal cells from normal tissues in vivo. Gadd45b has been known to participate in $TGF-{\beta}-induced$ apoptosis by the activation of p38 kinase. In this report, we show that Gadd45b is an immediate-early response gene for $TGF-{\beta}$ during apoptosis in EpH4 cells. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of $TGF-{\beta}-induced$ Gadd45b gene expression, we cloned the 5'-flanking region of the mouse Gadd45b gene. When transfected into EpH4 cells, this 5'-flanking region conferred promoter activity and inducibility by $TGF-{\beta}$. Deletion analyses demonstrated that the minimal promoter activity was detected in the proximal region 220 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site. We also found that the proximal Gadd45b promoter is activated by $TGF-{\beta}$ through the action of Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4. Finally, we show that the expression of Gadd45b gene by $TGF-{\beta}$ is suppressed in EpRas cells in which $TGF-{\beta}$ could not induce apoptosis, suggesting that Gadd45b may be a crucial target for $TGF-{\beta}-induced$ apoptosis in EpH4 cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2020

Objective: Endometrial fibrosis, the primary pathological feature of intrauterine adhesion, may lead to disruption of endometrial tissue structure, menstrual abnormalities, infertility, and recurrent pregnancy loss. At present, no ideal therapeutic strategy exists for this fibrotic disease. Eupatilin, a major pharmacologically active flavone from Artemisia, has been previously reported to act as a potent inducer of dedifferentiation of fibrotic tissue in the liver and lung. However, the effects of eupatilin on endometrial fibrosis have not yet been investigated. In this study, we present the first report on the impact of eupatilin treatment on transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-induced endometrial fibrosis. Methods: The efficacy of eupatilin on TGF-β-induced endometrial fibrosis was assessed by examining changes in morphology and the expression levels of fibrosis markers using immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Eupatilin treatment significantly reduced the fibrotic activity of TGF-β-induced endometrial fibrosis in Ishikawa cells, which displayed more circular shapes and formed more colonies. Additionally, the effects of eupatilin on fibrotic markers including alpha-smooth muscle actin, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha, collagen type I alpha 1 chain, and matrix metalloproteinase-2, were evaluated in TGF-β-induced endometrial fibrosis. The expression of these markers was highly upregulated by TGF-β pretreatment and recovered to the levels of control cells in response to eupatilin treatment. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that suppression of TGF-β-induced signaling by eupatilin might be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of endometrial fibrosis.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 1999

Transforming growth factor $\beta$1(TGF-$\beta$1) has potentials to be used as a new therapeutic agent. However, studies with TGF-$\beta$ were hindered by its high cost. In this study, we developed an improved method to purify TGF-$\beta$1 from human platelets, for which four purification steps were used: platelet extraction, gel filtration, cation exchange chromatography, and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. After a final step of purification, a pure protein with a molecular weight of 25,000 corresponding to the commercially available TGF-$\beta$1 was obtained, which were confirmed by silver staining and Western blotting after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). It was confirmed by the inhibitory effects of TGF-$\beta$1 on a mink lung epithelial cell line that the purified TGF-$\beta$1 had its biological activity, whose activity is slightly higher than that of the commercially available TGF-$\beta$1. About 3.7$\mug of the purified TGF-$\beta$1 was obtained from 10 units of concentrated human platelets, the final yield of which is about 21%.