• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제32권3호
• /
• pp.341-348
• /
• 2024

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a crucial role in liver diseases, affecting various types of hepatic cells. While studies have focused on the link between ER stress and hepatocytes as well as hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the precise involvement of hepatic macrophages in ER stress-induced liver injury remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of ER stress on hepatic macrophages and their role in liver injury. Acute ER stress led to the accumulation and activation of hepatic macrophages, which preceded hepatocyte apoptosis. Notably, macrophage depletion mitigated liver injury induced by ER stress, underscoring their detrimental role. Mechanistic studies revealed that ER stress stimulates macrophages predominantly via the PERK signaling pathway, regardless of its canonical substrate ATF4. hnRNPA1 has been identified as a crucial mediator of PERK-driven macrophage activation, as the overexpression of hnRNPA1 effectively reduced ER stress and suppressed pro-inflammatory activation. We observed that hnRNPA1 interacts with mRNAs that encode UPR-related proteins, indicating its role in the regulation of ER stress response in macrophages. These findings illuminate the cell type-specific responses to ER stress and the significance of hepatic macrophages in ER stress-induced liver injury. Collectively, the PERK-hnRNPA1 axis has been discovered as a molecular mechanism for macrophage activation, presenting prospective therapeutic targets for inflammatory hepatic diseases such as acute liver injury.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제32권3호
• /
• pp.390-398
• /
• 2024

FoxO1, a member of the Forkhead transcription factor family subgroup O (FoxO), is expressed in a range of cell types and is crucial for various pathophysiological processes, such as apoptosis and inflammation. While FoxO1's roles in multiple diseases have been recognized, the target has remained largely unexplored due to the absence of cost-effective and efficient inhibitors. Therefore, there is a need for natural FoxO1 inhibitors with minimal adverse effects. In this study, docking, MMGBSA, and ADMET analyses were performed to identify natural compounds that exhibit strong binding affinity to FoxO1. The top candidates were then subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. A natural product library was screened for interaction with FoxO1 (PDB ID-3CO6) using the Glide module of the Schrödinger suite. In silico ADMET profiling was conducted using SwissADME and pkCSM web servers. Binding free energies of the selected compounds were assessed with the Prime-MMGBSA module, while the dynamics of the top hits were analyzed using the Desmond module of the Schrödinger suite. Several natural products demonstrated high docking scores with FoxO1, indicating their potential as FoxO1 inhibitors. Specifically, the docking scores of neochlorogenic acid and fraxin were both below -6.0. These compounds also exhibit favorable drug-like properties, and a 25 ns MD study revealed a stable interaction between fraxin and FoxO1. Our findings highlight the potential of various natural products, particularly fraxin, as effective FoxO1 inhibitors with strong binding affinity, dynamic stability, and suitable ADMET profiles.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
• /
• 제39권1호
• /
• pp.48-57
• /
• 2024

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is toxic heavy metal that accumulates in organisms after passing through their respiratory and digestive tracts. Although several studies have reported the toxic effects of Cd exposure on human health, its role in embryonic development during preimplantation stage remains unclear. We investigated the effects of Cd on porcine embryonic development and elucidated the mechanism. Methods: We cultured parthenogenetic embryos in media treated with 0, 20, 40, or 60 µM Cd for 6 days and evaluated the rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation. To investigate the mechanism of Cd toxicity, we examined intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Moreover, we examined mitochondrial content, membrane potential, and ROS. Results: Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates began to decrease significantly in the 40 µM Cd group compared with the control. During post-blastulation, development was significantly delayed in the Cd group. Cd exposure significantly decreased cell number and increased apoptosis rate compared with the control. Embryos exposed to Cd had significantly higher ROS and lower GSH levels, as well as lower expression of antioxidant enzymes, compared with the control. Moreover, embryos exposed to Cd exhibited a significant decrease in mitochondrial content, mitochondrial membrane potential, and expression of mitochondrial genes and an increase in mitochondrial ROS compared to the control. Conclusions: We demonstrated that Cd exposure impairs porcine embryonic development by inducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings provide insights into the toxicity of Cd exposure on mammalian embryonic development and highlight the importance of preventing Cd pollution.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제34권2호
• /
• pp.249-261
• /
• 2024

New anti-lung cancer therapies are urgently required to improve clinical outcomes. Since ganodermanontriol (GDNT) has been identified as a potential antineoplastic agent, its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is investigated in this study. Concretely, lung cancer cells were treated with GDNT and/or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), after which MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blot were conducted. Following bioinformatics analysis, carboxylesterase 2 (CES2) was knocked down and rescue assays were carried out in vitro. Xenograft experiment was performed on mice, followed by drug administration, measurement of tumor growth and determination of CES2, IMPDH1 and IMPDH2 expressions. As a result, the viability of lung cancer cells was reduced by GDNT or MMF. GDNT enhanced the effects of MMF on suppressing viability, promoting apoptosis and inducing cell cycle arrest in lung cancer cells. GDNT up-regulated CES2 level, and strengthened the effects of MMF on down-regulating IMPDH1 and IMPDH2 levels in the cells. IMPDH1 and IMPDH2 were highly expressed in LUAD samples. CES2 was a potential target for GDNT. CES2 knockdown reversed the synergistic effect of GDNT and MMF against lung cancer in vitro. GDNT potentiated the role of MMF in inhibiting tumor growth and expressions of CES2 and IMPDH1/2 in lung cancer in vivo. Collectively, GDNT suppresses the progression of LUAD by activating CES2 to enhance the metabolism of MMF.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
• /
• 제57권1호
• /
• pp.70-84
• /
• 2024

Methamphetamine (METH) can potentially disrupt neurotransmitters activities in the central nervous system (CNS) and cause neurotoxicity through various pathways. These pathways include increased production of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species, hypothermia, and induction of mitochondrial apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the long-term effects of METH addiction on the structural changes in the amygdala of postmortem human brains and the involvement of the brain- cAMP response element-binding protein/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (CREB/BDNF) and Akt-1/GSK3 signaling pathways. We examined ten male postmortem brains, comparing control subjects with chronic METH users, using immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction (to measure levels of CREB, BDNF, Akt-1, GSK3, and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]), Tunnel assay, stereology, and assays for reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). The findings revealed that METH significantly reduced the expression of BDNF, CREB, Akt-1, and GPX while increasing the levels of GSSG, ROS, RIPK3, GSK3, and TNF-α. Furthermore, METH-induced inflammation and neurodegeneration in the amygdala, with ROS production mediated by the CREB/BDNF and Akt-1/GSK3 signaling pathways.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
• /
• 제80권
• /
• pp.817-851
• /
• 2022

Nonthermal biocompatible plasma (NBP) sources operating in atmospheric pressure environments and their characteristics can be used for plasma bioscience, medicine, and hygiene applications, especially for COVID-19 and citizen. This review surveyed the various NBP sources, including a plasma jet, micro-DBD (dielectric barrier discharge) and nanosecond discharged plasma. The electron temperatures and the plasma densities, which are produced using dielectric barrier discharged electrode systems, can be characterized as 0.7 ~ 1.8 eV and (3-5) × 10^14-15 cm^-3, respectively. Herein, we introduce a general schematic view of the plasma ultraviolet photolysis of water molecules for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) generation inside biological cells or living tissues, which would be synergistically important with RONS diffusive propagation into cells or tissues. Of the RONS, the hydroxyl radical [OH] and hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂ species would mainly result in apoptotic cell death with other RONS in plasma bioscience and medicines. The diseased biological protein, cancer, and mutated cells could be treated by using a NBP or plasma activated water (PAW) resulting in their apoptosis for a new paradigm of plasma medicine.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
• /
• 제35권4호
• /
• pp.395-401
• /
• 2006

본 연구에서는 해조류 중 홍조류에 속하는 참가사리를 추출, 분획하여 항발암효과를 측정하였다. 참가사리 분획물을 4종의 암세포주 HT29, HepG2, MCF-7 및 H16-F10에 처리하였을 때 암세포 증식 억제실험을 한 결과 대장암세포주인 HT29의 경우 GTMM층과 GTMB층에서 농도의존적인 효과가 나타났으며 첨가농도 $150{\mu}g/mL$에서 각각 93.64%와 74.14%의 수치를 보였다. 간암세포주인 HepG2의 경우 $150{\mu}g/mL$ 첨가시 GTMM층과 GTMB층이 각각 95.97%, 81.78%의 높은 증식 억제효과를 보였으며 유방암세포주인 MCF-7에서는 GTMM층이 $120 {\mu}g/mL$과 $150{\mu}g/mL$ 첨가농도에서 각각 88.50%와 91.82%의 높은 암세포증식 억제효과를 나타냈다. 피부암세포주인 B16-F10은 다른 세포주에 비해 미약하나 역시 GTMM층이 최종첨가농도에서 86.20%의 억제를 나타내었다. 이와 같이 4종의 암세포주의 증식억제는 전반적으로 GTMM층과 GTMB층에서 높은 효과가 나타남을 알 수 있다. 한편 Western blot analysis를 통해 간암세포 주인 HepG2에서 GTMM층의 처리에 따른 pro-apoptosis Bcl-2 family의 발현증가를 볼 수 있었으며, PARP 분절과 연관된 caspase-3, 7의 활성화를 확인할 수 있었다. 이처럼 GTMM층은 apoptosis의 작용에 의한 세포사멸을 유도하며, 이러한 apoptosis의 기전으로는 최소한 caspase의 활성화에 따른 절단 PARP 단백질의 증가, Bad, Bax 등의 apoptosis 관여인자가 작용하고 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. HepG2를 이용한 quinone reductase 유도활성여부를 측정한 결과 GTMM층이 $45{\mu}g/mL$ 및 $60{\mu}g/mL$의 시료첨가농도에서 대조군에 비해 각각 2.34, 2.86배의 QR 유도활성을 나타내었으며, GTMB층의 경우 최종첨가농도인 $60{\mu}g/mL$에서 2.04배의 효소활성을 나타내었다.

• 한국식품과학회지
• /
• 제49권4호
• /
• pp.430-437
• /
• 2017

고사리(Pteridium aquilinum)의 4가지 분획물(n-헥산, 클로로포름, 아세트산에틸 및 증류수)의 총 페놀 함량은 아세트산에틸 분획물이 265.08 mg GAE/g으로 가장 높게 나타났으며, 라디칼 소거활성 및 지질 과산화 생성 억제효과 결과 또한 아세트산에틸 분획물의 활성이 가장 높게 나타났다. 고사리의 아세트산에틸 분획물은 알파-글루코시데이스에 대하여 뛰어난 억제활성($IC_{50}=205.26{\mu}g/mL$)을 나타내었으며, 억제 형태는 혼합형 제해 특성임을 확인하였다. 또한, PC12 신경세포에서의 고농도 포도당으로 유도된 산화적 스트레스에 대한 고사리 아세트산에틸 분획물은 세포 내 ROS 생성을 억제시키고, 세포 생존율을 증가 및 세포막 손상에 대한 보호효과를 나타내었다. 고사리 아세트산에틸 분획물의 주요 페놀성 화합물을 HPLC로 분석한 결과는 켐페롤-3-글루코사이드인 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과를 종합해볼 때, 주요 페놀성 물질로서의 켐페롤-3-글루코사이드을 함유한 고사리 아세트산에틸 분획물은 소장 내 알파-글루코시데이스를 억제를 통한 혈당 강하 효과뿐만 아니라, 고농도 포도당으로 발생되는 산화적 스트레스에 대한 억제효과를 통하여 신경세포 사멸에 대한 효과적인 개선 효과를 갖는 고부가가치 자연 소재로의 활용가치가 높다고 판단된다.

• 한국식품과학회지
• /
• 제53권4호
• /
• pp.423-433
• /
• 2021

본 연구에서는 두충 잎의 분획물을 이용하여 미세먼지(PM_2.5)로 유도한 in vitro 뇌 신경세포 독성에 대한 항산화 활성 및 세포보호 효과를 확인하였다. EFEL은 우수한 ABTS 및 DPPH 라디칼 소거능을 나타냈으며, 지질과산화물 억제활성에서 양성대조군인 catechin과 동일한 농도에서 유사한 활성을 나타냈다. 또한, EFEL은 미세먼지로 유도된 해마세포(HT22), 뇌신경세포(MC-IXC) 및 미세아교세포(BV-2) 내의 ROS 수준을 효과적으로 감소시켜주었으며, 세포 생존능을 증가시킴으로써 세포보호 효과를 나타냈다. 미세먼지로 활성화된 BV-2에서 EFEL은 세포 활성화와 관련된 세포막 수용체인 TLR4와 p-JNK의 발현을 감소시켰다. 또한, 세포 사멸에 관여하는 caspase-3 활성화 전 단계인 procaspase-3와 세포 생존 경로에 관여하는 p-Akt 발현의 증가된 수준을 나타냈며, 염증성 사이토카인으로써 증가된 TNF-α의 수준을 감소시켰다. EFEL의 생리활성 물질을 HPLC로 분석한 결과, rutin과 chlorogenic acid가 확인되었다. 결과적으로, 두충 잎의 아세트산에틸 분획물은 우수한 페놀성 화합물 및 플라보노이드 함량을 나타냄으로써 높은 항산화능을 보였으며, 미세먼지로 유도된 산화적 스트레스에서 사멸 및 염증반응을 조절하여 뇌 신경세포를 보호하였다. 이를 고려할 때, EFEL은 미세먼지로 유도된 염증성 뇌신경세포 관련 질환 예방에 도움을 줄 수 있는 건강기능식품 소재로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제19권5호
• /
• pp.671-675
• /
• 2009

Prostate cancer has been a critical health problem due to an increase of prostate cancer-related deaths worldwide. Also, a frequent treatment option for prostate cancer is androgen ablation, but this treatment has a limited scope, especially for hormone-refractory cancer. There is an urgent need for the identification of alternative therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer. Previously, over one hundred species of dried-plant methanol extracts were tested for inhibitory effects on proliferation. One of them, Piper longum Linn. was selected based on its potent anti-proliferation effect. The dried root of P. longum Linn. was extracted with 100% methanol for 2-3 days and its extract was fractionated using chloroform. The chloroform layer was then subjected to column chromatography on silica gel, reverse phase-18 (RP-18) and Sephadex LH-20, in turn. Finally, the pure compound was obtained and identified as pipernonaline by NMR spectroscopic and physico-chemical analysis. In this study, anti-proliferation and cell cycle arrest effects of pipernonaline on human prostate cancer PC-3 cells were investigated using the MTT and PI staining, respectively. Our findings suggest that pipernonaline represents a dose-dependent growth inhibition pattern on PC-3 cells and, moreover, its growth inhibition is associated with sub-G1 and G0/G1 cell cycle accumulation in PC-3 cells. Also, these results provide an anticancer candidate for human prostate cancer.