• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.132-139
• /
• 2016

The endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is known to be involved in the transformation of vascular endothelial cells to mesenchymal cells. EndMT has been confirmed that occur in various pathologic conditions. Transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) is a potent stimulator of the vascular endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 (AT-RvD1) has been known to be involved in the resolution of inflammation, but whether it has effects on TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT is not yet clear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AT-RvD1 on the EndMT of human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells line (HUVECs). Treatment with TGF-${\beta}1$ reduced the expression of Nrf2 and enhanced the level of F-actin, which is associated with paracellular permeability. The expression of endothelial marker VE-cadherin in HUVEC cells was reduced, and the expression of mesenchymal marker vimentin was enhanced. AT-RvD1 restored the expression of Nrf2 and vimentin and enhanced the expression of VE-cadherin. AT-RvD1 did also affect the migration of HUVEC cells. Inhibitory ${\kappa}B$ kinase 16 (IKK 16), which is known to inhibit the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway, had an ability to increase the expression of Nrf2 and was associated with the inhibition effect of AT-RvD1 on TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT, but it had no effect on TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT alone. Smad7, which is a key regulator of TGF-${\beta}$/Smads signaling by negative feedback loops, was significantly increased with the treatment of AT-RvD1. These results suggest the possibility that AT-RvD1 suppresses the TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT through increasing the expression of Smad7 and is closely related to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.247-257
• /
• 2020

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy drugs remains a major challenge in clinical cancer treatment. Here we investigated whether and how ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes the MDR mediated by ABCB1 transporter in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cytotoxicity and colon formation as well as the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates were carried out in MDR cancer cells A2780/T and A549/T for evaluating the reversal effects of Rg5. The expressions of ABCB1 and Nrf2/AKT pathway were determined by Western blotting. An A549/T cell xenograft model was established to investigate the MDR reversal activity of Rg5 in vivo. Results: Rg5 significantly reversed ABCB1-mediated MDR by increasing the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates without altering protein expression of ABCB1. Moreover, Rg5 activated ABCB1 ATPase and reduced verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting a high affinity of Rg5 to ABCB1 binding site which was further demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. In addition, co-treatment of Rg5 and docetaxel (TXT) suppressed the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that sensitizing effect of Rg5 associated with AKT/Nrf2 pathway. In nude mice bearing A549/T tumor, Rg5 and TXT treatment significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant tumors without increase in toxicity when compared to TXT given alone at same dose. Conclusion: Therefore, combination therapy of Rg5 and chemotherapy drugs is a strategy for the adjuvant chemotherapy, which encourages further pharmacokinetic and clinical studies.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.5
• /
• pp.544-552
• /
• 2021

This study investigated the anti-fibrotic and antioxidant effects of Paeonia Radix Alba water extract (PR) on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis in a mouse model and its underlying mechanisms. Liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of TAA (three times a week) for 8 weeks. Furthermore, silymarin (50 mg/kg body weight) and PR (200 mg/kg body weight) were administered for 8 weeks. PR treatment downregulated aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), ammonia, and myeloperoxidase levels. Moreover, PR treatment downregulated NOX2 and p47phox and upregulated antioxidant enzymes by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, PR inhibited the factors associated with fibrosis, such as α-SMA and collagen I. AMPK/SIRT1 was upregulated by PR treatment. Overall, these results suggest that PR attenuates liver fibrosis by regulating the Nrf2/Keap1 and AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathways through the inhibition of oxidative stress. Hence, PR has potential as a remedy for preventing and treating liver fibrosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.599-610
• /
• 2023

According to recent evidence, ferroptosis is a major cell death mechanism in the pathogenesis of kidney injury and fibrosis. Despite the renoprotective effects of classical ferroptosis inhibitors, therapeutic approaches targeting kidney ferroptosis remain limited. In this study, we assessed the renoprotective effects of melatonin and zileuton as a novel therapeutic strategy against ferroptosis-mediated kidney injury and fibrosis. First, we identified RSL3-induced ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial HK-2 and HKC-8 cells. Lipid peroxidation and cell death induced by RSL3 were synergistically mitigated by the combination of melatonin and zileuton. Combination treatment significantly downregulated the expression of ferroptosis-associated proteins, 4-HNE and HO-1, and upregulated the expression of GPX4. The expression levels of p-AKT and p-mTOR also increased, in addition to that of NRF2 in renal tubular epithelial cells. When melatonin (20 mg/kg) and zileuton (20 mg/kg) were administered to a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model, the combination significantly reduced tubular injury and fibrosis by decreasing the expression of profibrotic markers, such as α-SMA and fibronectin. More importantly, the combination ameliorated the increase in 4-HNE levels and decreased GPX4 expression in UUO mice. Overall, the combination of melatonin and zileuton was found to effectively ameliorate ferroptosis-related kidney injury by upregulating the AKT/mTOR/ NRF2 signaling pathway, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy for protection against ferroptosis-mediated kidney injury and fibrosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.250-256
• /
• 2016

The prevalence of renal disease is increased with the overweight and obesity. High fat diet-associated oxidative stress increases production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces apoptosis. There are two types of antioxidant defense mechanisms for oxidative stress. One is the enzyme defense mechanism by antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The other is non-enzyme defense mechanism by signaling molecules such as nuclear factor-like 2 (Nrf-2), HO-1. In this study, we induced obesity in mice with high fat diet for six weeks and thereafter administered orally Viola mandshurica for 4 weeks. V. mandshurica is known to clear heat, detoxify and cool blood, and subside a swelling effect. In the V. mandshurica administered group, the immunoreactive signal of the Tunel staining was weaker than that of obesity group. Proapoptotic Bax, caspase 3 immunoreactives of the V. mandshurica administered group was lower than those of obesity group, whereas anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 immunoreactity was higher in the V. mandshurica administered group. Antioxidant enzyme mechanism such as superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), catalase (CAT) immunoreactives of the V. mandshurica administered group and Antioxidant non-enzyme mechanism such as Nuclear factor-like 2 (Nrf2), Heme Oxygenase 1 (HO-1) immunoreactives of the V. mandshurica administered group was higher than those of obesity group. These results demonstrate that V. mandshurica had the antioxidant and anti-apoptosis effects on obese mice.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.163-174
• /
• 2009

Reactive oxygen species(ROS) can induce hepatotoxicity and trigger apoptosis in the liver. In this study, we investigated the sulfated polysaccharide A-1 from Opuntia ficus-indica against alcoholic oxidative stress in human liver Hep G2 cell. An antioxidant substance A-1 obtained from the enzymatic extract of Opuntia ficus-indica fruit was purified by DEAE-cellulose ion exchange and sephadex G-100 gel permeation chromatography. The purification yield and molecular weight were 14.3% and 1.8 KDa, respectively. The A-1 predominately contained arabinose, galactose, rhamnose and also sulfate group. The structure of A-1 was investigated by periodate oxidation, FT-IR spectroscopy, $^1H$-NMR spectroscopy. The A-1 mainly composed of alternating unit of ${\rightarrow}4$)-$\alpha$-L- Rapp-2-$SO_3^-$-$\alpha$-L-Galp-($1{\rightarrow}$ and branched linkage of $\beta$-D-Arbp- ($5{\rightarrow}$. The antioxidative activity was measured using the SOD, CAT activity and GSH assay, respectively. The expression of Nrf2 protein was analyzed by western blotting. The viable cell count analyzed by autofluorescence. Oxidative stress induced by ethanol(1 M) were dramatically reduced by A-1 treatment. A-1 also prevented cell death induced by oxidative stress. It also increased expression Nrf2 protein level. We concluded that sulfated polysaccharide A-1 from Opuntia ficus-indica effectively protect Hep G2 liver cell from alcoholic oxidative stress.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.623-628
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity-induced steatohepatitis accompanied by activated hepatic macrophages/Kupffer cells facilitates the progression of hepatic fibrinogenesis and exacerbates metabolic derangements such as insulin resistance. Heme oxyganase-1 (HO-1) modulates tissue macrophage phenotypes and thus is implicated in protection against inflammatory diseases. Here, we show that the flavonoid quercetin reduces obesity-induced hepatic inflammation by inducing HO-1, which promotes hepatic macrophage polarization in favor of the M2 phenotype. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a regular diet (RD), high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD supplemented with quercetin (HF+Que, 0.5g/kg diet) for nine weeks. Inflammatory cytokines and macrophage markers were measured by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. HO-1 protein was measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: Quercetin supplementation decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines ($TNF{\alpha}$, IL-6) and increased that of the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the livers of HFD-fed mice. This was accompanied by upregulation of M2 macrophage marker genes (Arg-1, Mrc1) and downregulation of M1 macrophage marker genes ($TNF{\alpha}$, NOS2). In co-cultures of lipid-laden hepatocytes and macrophages, treatment with quercetin induced HO-1 in the macrophages, markedly suppressed expression of M1 macrophage marker genes, and reduced release of MCP-1. Moreover, these effects of quercetin were blunted by an HO-1 inhibitor and deficiency of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Quercetin reduces obesity-induced hepatic inflammation by promoting macrophage phenotype switching. The beneficial effect of quercetin is associated with Nrf2-mediated HO-1 induction. Quercetin may be a useful dietary factor for protecting against obesity-induced steatohepatitis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.61-69
• /
• 2019

Purpose : Human gingival fibroblast cell is one of the the main cell types in periodontal tissue, which they can show anti-inflammatory activity through the production of numerous lines of inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and interleukins. Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the oral pathogens, has reported to play a critical role in the development of periodontal diseases. This study aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities of Gracilaria textorii ethanol extract (GTEE) in P. gingivalis derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS-PG) stimulated human gingival fibroblast (HGF)-1 cell line. Methods : In order to analyze anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities of GTEE in HGF-1 cell line, NOS enzyme activity, expression levels of iNOS, COX-2, NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase (NQO)1 and their transcription factors were estimated by Griess reaction and western hybridization. Results : LPS-PG induced overexpression of iNOS and COX-2, which was significantly attenuated by GTEE treatment in a dose-dependent manner without any cytotoxicity. In addition, intracellular NOS activity was in accordance with the result of iNOS expression. Due to important role in the regulation of inflammatory responses, phosphorylated status of p65 and c-jun, each subunit of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and activator protein (AP)-1, was also dose-dependently ameliorated by GTEE treatment. One of phase II enzymes, NQO1, and its transcription factor, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), were analyzed since elevated phase II enzyme expression inhibited inflammatory response, which was significantly elevated by GTEE treatment in HGF-1 cell line. Conclusion : In conclusion, GTEE mitigated LPS-PG-stimulated inflammatory responses by attenuating NF-κB and AP-1 activation as well as accelerating NQO1 and Nrf2 expression in HGF-1 cell line. These results indicate that GTEE might be utilized a promising strategy for potential anti-inflammatory agent in periodontal diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.121-130
• /
• 2019

Glutamate toxicity-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal cell death are involved in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases as well as acute brain ischemia/stroke. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective mechanism of dieckol (DEK), one of the phlorotannins isolated from the marine brown alga Ecklonia cava, against glutamate toxicity. Primary cortical neurons ($100{\mu}M$, 24 h) and HT22 neurons (5 mM, 12 h) were stimulated with glutamate to induce glutamate toxic condition. The results demonstrated that DEK treatment significantly increased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner ($1-50{\mu}M$) and recovered morphological deterioration in glutamate-stimulated neurons. In addition, DEK strongly attenuated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial overload of $Ca^{2+}$ and ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}_m$) disruption, adenine triphosphate depletion. DEK showed free radical scavenging activity in the cell-free system. Furthermore, DEK enhanced protein expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an important anti-oxidant enzyme, via the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-like 2 (Nrf2). Taken together, we conclude that DEK exerts neuroprotective activities against glutamate toxicity through its direct free radical scavenging property and the Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway activation.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.265-275
• /
• 2021

Objective: The study developed mushroom stalk residues as feed additives in the broiler diet for improving the growth performance and immunity of broilers as well as to increase the value of mushroom stalk residues. Methods: In total, 300 ROSS 308 broilers were randomly allocated into fifteen pens with five dietary treatments: i) control, basal diet; ii) CMWM, supplemented with 1% Cordyceps militaris waster medium (CM); iii) CMPE, supplemented with 0.5% CM+0.5% Pleurotus eryngii stalk residue (PE); iv) CMPS, supplemented with 0.5% CM+0.5% Pleurotus sajorcaju stalk residue (PS); v) CMFV, supplemented with 0.5% CM+0.5% Fammulina velutipes stalk residue (FV). Results: The chemical analysis results showed that CM extracts, PE extracts, PS extracts, and FV extracts contain functional components such as polysaccharides and phenols and have both 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate scavenging and Ferrous scavenging capacities. The group CMWM saw increased body weight gain and feed conversion rate and the promotion of jejunum villus growth, but there is no significant difference in the intestinal bacteria phase. Antioxidant genes in the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)- antioxidant responsive element pathway among the groups are significantly higher than that of the control group, especially in group CMWM. Conclusion: The mushroom stalk residues have antioxidant functional components, can improve the intestinal health and body weight gain of chickens, and can activate the antioxidant pathway of Nrf2 to increase the heme oxygenase-1 expression. The treatment with 1% CM was the most promising as a feed additive.