• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.213-221
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• 2020

Salvianolic acid B (SAB) is an active phytocomponent of a popular Chinese herb called Radix Salvia militiorrhiza with numerous biological properties. The anti-psoriasis activity of SAB was examined by evaluating various psoriasis inflammatory and keratin markers against imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis on BALB/c mice. Totally 50 healthy BALB/c mice were evenly divided into 5 groups including control, drug control (SAB; 40 mg/kg), IMQ-induced psoriasis (5%), IMQ exposure and treated with SAB (40 mg/kg), or standard methotrexate (MTX; 1 mg/kg). Mice supplemented with either SAB or MTX significantly lowered the values of psoriasis area severity index (PASI), erythema, scaling, skin thickness, inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-22/23/17A/1β/6) and lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde). Also, IMQ exposed BALB/c mice treated with SAB or MTX display lesser histopathological changes with enhanced antioxidant activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase). Moreover, the protein expression of keratin markers (K16 and K17) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling proteins (pAkt/Akt and pPI3K/PI3K) were significantly downregulated after administration with SAB and MTX as compared with IMQ induced mice. Taking together, SAB and MTX significantly ameliorate psoriatic changes by inhibiting psoriatic inflammatory and keratin markers through abolishing PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. However, further studies (clinical trials) are needed to confirm the anti-psoriatic property of SAB before recommending to psoriasis patients.

• BMB Reports
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• 제42권11호
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• pp.758-763
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• 2009

Cancer-associated antigen (CAGE) induces the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) by activating Akt, which in turn interacts with inhibitory kappa kinase $\beta$ ($I{\kappa}K{\beta}$) to activate nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$). Akt and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) are necessary for CAGE-mediated induction of the AP-1 subunit JunB, whereas extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) is necessary for the induction of fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1). Induction of MMP-2 by CAGE requires activator of protein-1 (AP-1) to be bound. Specific binding of JunB to MMP-2 promoter sequences was shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.146-155
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• 2019

Background/Aims: Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a uremic toxin and an important causative factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease. Recently, paricalcitol (19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2) was shown to exhibit protective effects in kidney injury. Here, we investigated the effects of paricalcitol treatment on IS-induced renal tubular injury. Methods: The fluorescent dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate was used to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) following IS administration in human renal proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells. The effects of IS on cell viability were determined using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays and levels of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2-associated protein X [Bax] and B-cell lymphoma 2 [Bcl-2]), nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65, and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) were determined by semiquantitative immunoblotting. The promoter activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$ was measured by luciferase assays and apoptosis was determined by f low cytometry of cells stained with f luorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Annexin V protein. Results: IS treatment increased ROS production, decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells. IS treatment increased the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax, decreased Bcl-2 expression, and activated phosphorylation of MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, and Akt. In contrast, paricalcitol treatment decreased Bax expression, increased Bcl-2 expression, and inhibited phosphorylation of MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, and Akt in HK-2 cells. $NF-{\kappa}B$ promoter activity was increased following IS, administration and was counteracted by pretreatment with paricalcitol. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis revealed that IS-induced apoptosis was attenuated by paricalcitol treatment, which resulted in decreased numbers of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Annexin V positive cells. Conclusions: Treatment with paricalcitol inhibited IS-induced apoptosis by regulating MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and Akt signaling pathway in HK-2 cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.595-611
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• 2002

Akt/PKB protein kinase B, ALI acute lung injury, ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome, CREB C-AMP response element binding protein, ERK extracelluar signal-related kinase, fMLP fMet-Leu-Phe, G-CSF granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, IL interleukin, ILK integrin-linked kinase, JNK Jun N-terminal kinase, LPS lipopolysaccharide, MAP mitogen-activated protein, MEK MAP/ERK kinase, MIP-2 macrophage inflammatory protein-2, MMP matrix metalloproteinase, MPO myeloperoxidase, NADPH nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, NE neutrophil elastase, NF-kB nuclear factor-kappa B, NOS nitric oxide synthase, p38 MAPK p38 mitogen activated protein kinase, PAF platelet activating factor, PAKs P21-activated kinases, PMN polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PI3-K phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, PyK proline-rich tyrosine kinase, ROS reactive oxygen species, TNF-${\alpha}$ tumor necrosis factor-a.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.90-97
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• 2021

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation causes DNA base modifications. One of these changes leads to the generation of 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) due to oxidative stress. In human skin, this modification may induce sunburn, inflammation, and aging and may ultimately result in cancer. We investigated whether phloroglucinol (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene), by enhancing the expression and activity of 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase 1 (Ogg1), had an effect on the capacity of UVB-exposed human HaCaT keratinocytes to repair oxidative DNA damage. Here, the effects of phloroglucinol were investigated using a luciferase activity assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions, western blot analysis, and a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Phloroglucinol restored Ogg1 activity and decreased the formation of 8-oxoG in UVB-exposed cells. Moreover, phloroglucinol increased Ogg1 transcription and protein expression, counteracting the UVB-induced reduction in Ogg1 levels. Phloroglucinol also enhanced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) as well as Nrf2 binding to an antioxidant response element located in the Ogg1 gene promoter. UVB exposure inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk), two major enzymes involved in cell protection against oxidative stress, regulating the activity of Nrf2. Akt and Erk phosphorylation was restored by phloroglucinol in the UVB-exposed keratinocytes. These results indicated that phloroglucinol attenuated UVB-induced 8-oxoG formation in keratinocytes via an Akt/Erk-dependent, Nrf2/Ogg1-mediated signaling pathway.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.731-738
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• 2016

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is important for intestinal barrier function and regulation of tight junction (TJ) proteins, but the intracellular mechanisms of action remain undefined. The purpose of this research was to determine the protective effect of GLP-2 mediated TJ and transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stressed IPEC-J2 cells and to test the hypothesis that GLP-2 regulate TJ and TER through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in IPEC-J2 cells. Wortmannin and LY294002 are specific inhibitors of PI3K. The results showed that $100{\mu}g/mL$ LPS stress decreased TER and TJ proteins occludin, claudin-1 and zonula occludens protein 1 (ZO-1) mRNA, proteins expressions (p<0.01) respectively. GLP-2 (100 nmol/L) promote TER and TJ proteins occludin, claudin-1, and zo-1 mRNA, proteins expressions in LPS stressed and normal IPEC-J2 cells (p<0.01) respectively. In normal cells, both wortmannin and LY294002, PI3K inhibitors, prevented the mRNA and protein expressions of Akt and mTOR increase induced by GLP-2 (p<0.01) following with the significant decreasing of occludin, claudin-1, ZO-1 mRNA and proteins expressions and TER (p<0.01). In conclusion, these results indicated that GLP-2 can promote TJ's expression and TER in LPS stressed and normal IPEC-J2 cells and GLP-2 could regulate TJ and TER through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.86-93
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• 2022

Lupeol은 pentacyclic triterpene의 일종으로 다양한 질병에 약리 효과가 있는 것으로 보고되어 있으나, lupeol이 포도당 흡수에 미치는 영향은 아직 보고된 바 없다. 본 연구에서 3T3-L1 지방세포에서 포도당 흡수에 대한 lupeol의 효과를 조사하였다. 그 결과, Lupeol은 3T3-L1 지방세포에서 GLUT4를 원형질막으로 이동시켜 포도당 흡수를 촉진하였으며, 이는 PI3K/AKT 및 AMPK 경로의 활성화와 관련되어 있었다. PI3K/AKT 경로에서 lupeol은 PI3K를 활성화시키는 insulin receptor substrate 1의 인산화와 AKT의 인산화를 촉진하지만 비정형 단백질 키나아제 C isoforms ζ 및 λ의 인산화는 촉진하지 않았다. 반면, lupeol은 5 'AMP-activated protein kinase의 인산화를 촉진하였고, Lupeol의 의한 AMPK의 활성화는 원형질막-GLUT4의 발현과 세포내 포도당 흡수를 증가시키는 것으로 확인되었다. 3T3-L1 지방세포에서 lupeol에 의한 포도당 흡수 효과는 PI3K 억제제인 wortmannin 및 AMPK 억제제인 Compound C에 의해 억제됨을 통해 확인하였다. 본 연구 결과는 lupeol이 3T3-L1 지방세포에서 PI3K/AKT 및 AMPK 경로를 통해 원형질막 GLUT4의 발현을 자극함으로써 인슐린 감수성을 증가시켜 포도당 흡수를 촉진할 수 있음을 제시하고 있다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.463-470
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• 2023

Desmarestia tabacoides Okamura는 전 세계적으로 널리 분포하는 갈조류 중 하나이다. 몇몇 산말류의 항종양, 멜라닌 생성 억제 및 광보호 활성에 대한 연구는 있었으나 D. tabacoides Okamura의 항염증 기전에 대해서는 보고되지 않아 본 연구에서는 LPS (lipopolysaccharide)로 자극된 RAW 264.7 세포에서 D. tabacoides Okamura 에탄올 추출물(DTEE)의 항염증 기전을 inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)와 cyclooxygenase (COX)-2의 발현 및 이들의 상위신호전달물질인 nuclear factor (NF)-κB, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 그리고 phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt의 인산화 조절 정도를 통해 분석하였다. DTEE의 처리는 세포 독성 없이 LPS로 유도된 NO와 prostaglandin (PG) E₂의 생성과 이들의 생성 효소인 iNOS 및 COX-2의 발현을 유의하게 억제하였다. 그리고 LPS에 의해 활성화된 NF-κB 및 상위 신호 전달 물질인 extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) 및 p38은 DTEE 처리에 의해 유의적으로 억제되었다. DTEE의 처리는 RAW 264.7 세포에서 LPS에 의해 활성화되는 adaptor molecule인 Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 및 myeloid differentiation primary response (MyD) 88 또한 유의적으로 억제하였다. 이 결과를 통해 DTEE는 LPS에 의해 유도된 TLR4와 NF-κB 및 MAPK의 활성을 억제함으로써 염증 매개인자의 발현을 조절하였고, 이는 DTEE가 염증을 완화할 수 있는 기능성 식품의 소재로써 유용하게 사용될 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.234-243
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• 2013

N-terminal kinase-like (NTKL) protein was initially identified as a protein binding to protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt). Though NTKL-BP1 (NTKL-binding protein 1) has been identified as an NTKL binding protein, its functions related to binding have not yet been elucidated. Here, a new alternative spliced variant of NTKL and its association with integrin ${\beta}1$ is described, in addition to the kinase activity of NTKL and its substrate candidates. Although the phosphorylation of the candidates must be further confirmed using other experimental methods, the observation that NTKL can phosphorylate ROCK1, DYRK3, and MST1 indicates that NTKL may act as a signaling protein to regulate actin assembly, cell migration, cell growth, and to facilitate differentiation and development in an integrin-associated manner.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권8호
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• pp.1115-1122
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• 2021

Rotavirus (RV), as the main cause of diarrhea in children under 5 years, contributes to various childhood diseases. Valeriana jatamansi Jones is a traditional Chinese herb and possesses antiviral effects. In this study we investigated the potential mechanisms of V. jatamansi Jones in RV-induced diarrhea. MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell proliferation and the diarrhea mice model was constructed using SA11 infection. Mice were administered V. jatamansi Jones and ribavirin. Diarrhea score was used to evaluate the treatment effect. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect the level of cytokines. Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR were used to determine protein and mRNA levels, respectively. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was applied to detect the pathological change of the small intestine. TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling was conducted to determine the apoptosis rate. The results showed V. jatamansi Jones promoted MA104 proliferation. V. jatamansi Jones downregulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) in protein level, which was consistent with the immunohistochemistry results. Moreover, V. jatamansi Jones combined with ribavirin regulated interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interferon γ, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α, and IL-10, and suppressed secretory immunoglobulin A secretion to remove viruses and inhibit dehydration. V. jatamansi Jones + ribavirin facilitated the apoptosis of small intestine cells. In conclusion, V. jatamansi Jones may inhibit RV-induced diarrhea through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and could therefore be a potential therapy for diarrhea.