• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제16권4호
• /
• pp.265-270
• /
• 2010

The methanol extract of Zanthoxylum rhetsa (MZRR) were evaluated for its ability to suppress the formation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. MZRR presented an inhibition of LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Western blotting and RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that MZRR significantly inhibited the protein and mRNA expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-activated macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. LPS-induced COX-2, iNOS, and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-${\kappa}B$) activity were also decreased in the presence of MZRR. The production of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$), the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, were reduced after MZRR administration in a dose dependent-manner. These results suggest that the MZRR extract involved in the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 via the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway, revealing a partial molecular basis for anti-inflammatory properties of the MZRR extract.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제40권5호
• /
• pp.636-643
• /
• 2007

This study was designed to identify and characterize the mechanism of macrophage activation by AAP, an acidic polysaccharide fraction isolated from the roots of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. As a result, AAP significantly enhanced nitric oxide (NO) production and cellular lysosomal enzyme activity in murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, L-NAME, a specific inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), effectively suppressed AAP-induced NO generation in macrophages, indicating that AAP stimulated macrophages to produce NO through the induction of iNOS gene expression and the result was further confirmed by the experiment of the increase of AAP-induced iNOS transcription in a dose-dependent manner. To further investigate, AAP was shown to strongly augment toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA expression and the pretreatment of macrophages with anti-TLR4 antibody significantly blocked AAP-induced NO release and the increase of iNOS activity, and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) secretion.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제22권4호
• /
• pp.282-287
• /
• 2014

We show that silymarin, a polyphenolic flavonoid isolated from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), inhibits cytokine mixture (CM: TNF-${\alpha}$, IFN-${\gamma}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) in the pancreatic beta cell line MIN6N8a. Immunostaining and Western blot analysis showed that silymarin inhibits iNOS gene expression. RT-PCR showed that silymarin inhibits iNOS gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. We also showed that silymarin inhibits extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation. A MEK1 inhibitor abrogated CM-induced nitrite production, similar to silymarin. Treatment of MIN6N8a cells with silymarin also inhibited CM-stimulated activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, which is important for iNOS transcription. Collectively, we demonstrate that silymarin inhibits NO production in pancreatic beta cells, and silymarin may represent a useful anti-diabetic agent.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.212-219
• /
• 2013

Objectives : Cirsium japonicum is a traditional Korean medicine that has been used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as appendicitis, hepatitis, pulmonary abscess and tumor. The aim of study was to elucidate anti-migratory activity of CJP(Cirsium japonicum pharmacopuncture) through regulation of inflammatory mediators in C6 glioma cell. Methods : Nitric oxide(NO) production was determined by using nitrite assay. The cell migration was analyzed by wound-healing assay and Boyden chamber assay. The expression levels of iNOS, and protein kinase C(PKC)-${\alpha}$ were measured by western blotting assay. Results : CJP showed a significant decrease on NO production. Moreover, glioma cell migration was effectively suppressed by CJP. Furthermore, CJP inhibited the expressions of iNOS and PKC-${\alpha}$ in C6 glioma cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that CJP inhibits glioma cell migration and iNOS expression through regulation of PKC-${\alpha}$. Therefore, it is expected that CJP could be an effective agents for blocking malignant progression of glioma.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제52권5호
• /
• pp.594-602
• /
• 2009

목 적 : $TGF-{\beta}1$는 흥분독성을 억제시키고 질소 산화물 생성 억제를 통한 신경세포 보호 효과가 있다고 알려져 있지만 주산기저산소 허혈 뇌손상에서 그 기전은 아직도 확실히 밝혀져 있지 않고 있다. 따라서 이번 연구에서는 신생 백서의 저산소 허혈 뇌손상에서 산화질소로 인한 신경독성 및 글루탐산염에 의한 흥분독성과 $TGF-{\beta}1$의 관계를 보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 생체외 실험으로 재태 기간 19일된 태아 백서의 대뇌피질 세포를 배양하여 1% O2 배양기에서 저산소 상태로 뇌세포손상을 유도하여 저산소군(Hypoxia), 저산소 손상 30분 전 $TGF-{\beta}1$ (1, 5, 10 ng/mL) 투여군(H+$TGF-{\beta}1$)으로 나누어 정상 산소군 (Control)과 비교하였다. 생체 내 실험은 생후 7일된 백서의 좌측 총 경동맥을 결찰한 후 저산소 (7.5% O2) 상태로 2시간 노출시켜서, 저산소 허혈 뇌손상을 유발하였다. 아무런 처치도 하지 않은 정상 대조군(Control), 경동맥 노출 후 봉합 시술만 시행한 정상 Sham 수술군(Sham-OP), 손상 30분 전 생리식염수를 주입 후 경동맥 결찰과 저산소 노출을 시행한 저산소 허혈 대조군(HI+ Vehicle), 손상 30분 전 $TGF-{\beta}1$을 대뇌로 투여하고 경동맥 결찰과 저산소 노출을 시행한 저산소 허혈 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군(HI+$TGF-{\beta}1$)으로 나누어 비교분석하였다. 흥분독성과의 관련을 알아보기 위하여 NMDA 수용체 아단위를 이용하였고, 질소산화물과의 관련을 알아보기 위해 iNOS, eNOS 및 nNOS를 이용하여 western blotting과 실시간 중합효소연쇄반응을 하였다. 결 과 : 생체 외 실험에서 iNOS의 발현은 정상 산소군과 저산소군 간에 차이가 없었으며, $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군에서는 발현이 증가하였으며 이는 농도와는 상관성이 없었다. eNOS, nNOS의 발현은 1 ng/mL의 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군에서 저산소군보다 감소하였다. 생체 내 실험에서는 iNOS와 iNOS mRNA의 발현은 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여한 후 저산소 대조군보다 증가하였다. eNOS와 nNOS 발현은 정상 대조군 보다 저산소 대조군에서 감소하였고, eNOS의 발현은 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군에서 증가하였지만 nNOS의 발현은 증가하지 않아 통계적 유의성이 없었다. eNOS mRNA와 nNOS mRNA의 발현은 iNOS와 반대로 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군에서 저산소 대조군보다 감소하였다. NMDA 수용체 아단위 mRNA의 발현은 정상 대조군과 Sham 수술군에 비해 저산소 대조군에서 모두 감소하였으나 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군에서 NR2C를 제외한 나머지 아단위의 발현은 저산소 대조군보다 증가하였다. 결 론 : 신생백서의 저산소 허혈 뇌손상에서 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 치료군에서 저산소로 인하여 감소된 NMDA 수용체 아단위의 발현을 증가시켜 흥분독성 기전과 관련성을 보이며, 증가된 iNOS 발현을 감소시키고 감소된 eNOS 발현을 증가시키는 질소 산화물 중재를 통한 뇌 보호 작용에 연관이 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• 제15권3호
• /
• pp.69-80
• /
• 2000

ADP-rubosylation may be involved in the process of macrophage activation. Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as an important intracellular and interacellular regulatory molecule with function as diverse as vasodilation, neural communication or host defense. NO is derived from the oxidation of the terminal guanidino nitrogen atom of L-arginine by the NADPH -dependent enzyme, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) which is one of the three different isomers in mammalian tissues. Since NO can exert protective or regulatory functions in the cell at a low concentration while toxic effects at higher concentrations, its role may be tightly regulated in the cell. Therefore, this paper was focused on signal transduction pathway of NO synthesis, role of endogenous TGF-$\beta$ in NO production. effect of NO on superoxide formation. Costimulation of murine peritoneal macrophages with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased both NO secretion and mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) when PMA abolished costimulation. Pretreatmnet of the cells with PMA abolished costimuation effects due to the depletion of protein kinase C (PKC) activities . The involvement of PKC in NO secretion could be further confirmed by PKC inhibitor, stauroprine, and phorbol ester derivative, phorbol 12,13-didecanoate. Addition of actinomycine D in IFN-γ plus PMA stimulated cells inhibited both NO secretion and mRNA expression of iNOS indication that PMA stabilizes mRNA of iNOS . Exogenous TGF-$\beta$ reduced NO secretion in IFN -γ stimulated murine macrophages. However addition of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to TGF-$\beta$ to this system recovered the ability of NO production and inhibited mRNA expression of TGF-$\beta$. ACAS interactive laser cytometry analysis showed that transportation of FITC -labeled antisense ODN complementary to TGF-$\beta$ mRNA could be observed within 5 min and reached maximal intensity in 30 min in the murine macrophage cells. NO released by activated macrophages inhibits superoxide formation in the same cells . This inhibition nay be related on NO-induced auto -adenosine diphosphate (ADP) -ribosylation . In addition, ADP-ribosylation may be involved in the process of macrophage activation .

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제25권5호
• /
• pp.691-696
• /
• 2002

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an active and broad spectrum chemotherapeutic agent. Increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and/or activity have been reported in several human tumors. While the relationship between DOX treatment and the enzymatic activity of endothelial NOS has been well characterized, little is known about the effects of DOX on the expression of iNOS in human cancer cells. In the present study, we characterized the effects of DOX on the nitric oxide (NO) production by colorectal cancer cells, DLD-1. IFN-${\gamma}$/IL-1$\beta$ (CM) increased the production of NO, whereas pretreatment of DOX inhibited the production of NO in response to CM in a dose dependent manner. The increased expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein by CM were completely blocked by DOX without affecting the iNOS mRNA stability. However, DOX activated nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) in response to CM. Furthermore, the expression of inhibitor kB$\alpha$ was reduced by DOX in a dose dependent manner. Collectively, DOX inhibited the production of NO by DLD-1 cells, which is not linked to well known transcription factor, NF-kB. Therefore, further studies on the possible mechanisms of inhibitory effects of NO production by DOX would be worth pursuing.

• 한국약용작물학회지
• /
• 제26권1호
• /
• pp.8-18
• /
• 2018

Background: This present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory effects of Aucklandia lappa Decne (AL). Methods and Results: We measured cytotoxicity, nitric oxide (NO) content, mRNA expression (iNOS, IL-1${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$), protein expression (iNOS, COX-2, and $I{\kappa}B$) and phagocytic activity in RAW264.7 cells. Male BALB/c mice were fed 100 mg/kg AL (Aucklandia lappa Decneon 70% ethanol extract) and 250 mg/kg AL for 4 weeks; thereafter, we observed B/T or $CD4^+/CD8^+$ lymphocyte subpopulation change, and expression patterns of $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ lymphocytes by immunohistochemical staining in mouse splenocytes and/or thymocytes. To determine the experimental concentration of AL, cell viability was measured by MTT assay and tested at $12.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ or less. AL inhibited the levels of NO, lymphokine production (IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$), and mRNA (iNOS, IL-1${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$) and protein (iNOS, and COX-2) expression. Additionally, the levels of $I{\kappa}B$, phagocytic activity, and splenic and thymic T lymphocytes, especially $T_H$ and $T_C$ cells were significantly increased in AL administered mice. The immuno-reactive density of $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ lymphocytes was stronger in AL groups than in the normal group. AL stimulated NO, iNOS, and COX-2, and regulated IL-1${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and $I{\kappa}B$ in macrophages treated with LPS (lipopolysaccharide). In addition, AL increased the phagocytic activity of macrophages and the immunity of mouse T ($T_H$, and $T_C$) cells. Conclusions: These results suggested that AL might show anti-inflammatory activity via the suppression of various inflammatory markers and immuno-regulatory activity.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국독성학회 2002년도 국제심포지움
• /
• pp.88.2-98
• /
• 2002

A wide arry of naturally occurring substances particularly those present in dietary and medicinal plants, have been reported to possess substantial cancer chemopreventive properties. Certain phytochemicals retain strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties which appear to contribute to their chemopreventive or chemoprotective activities. Inducible cyclooxygenase(COX-2) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are important enzymes that mediate inflammatory processes. There is some evidence that expression of both COX-2 and iNOS is co-regulated by the eukaryotic transcription factor NF-$textsc{k}$B. Increased expression of COX-2 and/or iNOS has been associated with pathophysiology of certain types of human cancers as well as inflammatory diseases. Since inflammation is closely linked to tumor promotion, substances with potent anti-inflammatory activies are anticipated to exert chemopreventive effects on carcinogenesis, particularly in the promotion stage. An example is curcumin, a yellow pigment of turmeric (Curcuma longa L., Zingiberaceae), that strongly occurring diaryl heptanoids structurally related to curcumin have substantial anti-tumor promotional activities in two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis. Thus, yakuchinone A [1-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-3heptanone] and yakuchinone B [1-(4'-hydroxy-3'methoxyphenyl)-7-phenylhept-1-en-3-one] present in Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel (Zingiberacease) attenuate phorbol ester-induced inflammation and papilloma formation in female ICR mice. These diarylheptanoids also suppressed phorbol ester-induced activation of epdermal ornithine decarboxylase and its mRNA expression when applied onto shaven backs of mice. Yakuchinone A and B as well as curcumin inhibited phorbol ester-induced expression of COX-2 and iNOS and their mRNA in mouse skin via inactivation of NF-$textsc{k}$B. Capsaicin, a major pungent ingredient of red pepper also attenuated phorbol ester-induced NF-$textsc{k}$B activation. Similar suppression of COX-2 and iNOS and down-regulation of NF-$textsc{k}$B activation for its DNA binding were observed with the ginsenosied Rg3 and the ethanol extract of Artemisia asiatica. We have also found that certain anti-inflammatory phytochemicals exert inhibitory effects on phorbol ester-induced COX-2 expression and NF-$textsc{k}$B activation in immortalized human breast epithelial (MCF-10A) cells in culture. One of the plausible mechanisms undelying inhibition by aforementioned phytochemicals of phorbol ester-induced NF-$textsc{k}$B activation involves interference with degragation of the inhibitory unit, I$textsc{k}$Ba, which blocks subsequent nuclear translocation of the functionally active p65 subunit of NF-$textsc{k}$B. the activation of epidermal NF-$textsc{k}$B by phorbol ester and subsequent induction of COX-2 hence appear to play an important role in intracellular signaling pathwasy leading to tumor promotion and targeted inhibition of NF-$textsc{k}$B may provide a new promising cancer chemopreventive strategy.

• 대한약침학회지
• /
• 제4권1호
• /
• pp.123-124
• /
• 2001

Purpose. Free radicals are implicated in the pathophysiology of aging, ischemic injury and neurodegenerative disorders. To deform]no whether Hominis Placenta extract prevents $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis, we have performed morphological and biochemical analyses for the detection of apoptotic phenomena in the pineal tumor cell line $PGT-{\beta}$ We have also peformed cytochemical and immunocytochemical analyses for the detection of changes in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and estimated the expression . of apoptotic genes using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) Methods. $PGT-{\beta}\;cells$ were pretreated with Hominis Placenta extracts $(0,\;10^{-2}\;{\mu}g/ml)$ for 2 hours and then exposed to $H_2O_2\;(0,\;50\;{\mu}M)$ for 3 hours. Appearance of apoptotic characteristics were monitored using 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometric analysis. NOS activity was measured by NADPH-diaphorase cytochemistry. Expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF k B) was assessed via immunocytochemistry. The expression of apoptotic genes was examined by RT-PCR. Results. After 3 flours of exposure to $H_2O_2$, it was shown that $PGT-{\beta}\;cells$ treated with $H_2O_2(50\;{\mu}M)$ exhibit classical apoptotic features and increases in NOS activity and caspase-3 expression. Treatment with Hominis Placenta extract resulted in a reduced occurrence of apoptotic features. DAPI staining, TUNEL and flow cytometric assays revealed decreases in the occurrence of nuclear fragmentation and in the sub-Gl fraction in the $PGT-{\beta}\;cells$ treated with Hominis Placenta extract. Cells treated with Hominis Placenta extract also showed lower activity of NADPH-diaphorase and immunoreactivities of both iNOS and NF k B than those of $H_2O_2$-treated cells which were not treated with Hominis Placenta extract. By RT-PCR, it was shown that the level of caspase-3 mRNA was derreased In the cells treated with Hominis Placenta . extract. Conclusions. This study shows that Hominis Placenta extract prevents $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis in $PGT-{\beta}\;cells$; inhibitions of iNOS and caspnse-3 are possible mechanisms of the protection against apoptosis.