• BMB Reports
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• 제52권6호
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• pp.373-378
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• 2019

The nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD) is an innate pattern recognition receptor that recognizes pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns. The 29-kDa amino-terminal fibronectin fragment (29-kDa FN-f) is a matrix degradation product found in the synovial fluids of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). We investigated whether NOD2 was involved in 29-kDa FN-f-induced pro-catabolic gene expression in human chondrocytes. The expression of mRNA and protein was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qrt-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Small interfering RNAs were used for knockdown of NOD2 and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2). An immunoprecipitation assay was performed to examine protein interactions. The NOD2 levels in human OA cartilage were much higher than in normal cartilage. NOD1 and NOD2 expression, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), were upregulated by 29-kDa FN-f in human chondrocytes. NOD2 silencing showed that NOD2 was involved in the 29-kDa FN-f-induced expression of TLR-2. Expressions of IL-6, IL-8, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -3, and -13 were also suppressed by TLR-2 knockdown. Furthermore, NOD2 and TLR-2 knockdown data demonstrated that both NOD2 and TLR-2 modulated the expressions of their adaptors, receptorinteracting protein 2 (RIP2) and myeloid differentiation 88, in 29-kDa FN-f-treated chondrocytes. 29-kDa FN-f enhanced the interaction of NOD2, RIP2 and transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), an indispensable signaling intermediate in the TLR-2 signaling pathway, and activated nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), subsequently leading to increased expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cartilage-degrading enzymes. These results demonstrate that 29-kDa FN-f modulated pro-catabolic responses via cross-regulation of NOD2 and TLR-2 signaling pathways.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.498-505
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• 2016

Background Algae have traditionally been used for promotion of hair growth. Use of hair regrowth drugs, such as minoxidil, is limited due to side effects. The aim of this study was to examine a mixture of Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida (L-U mixture) on hair growth and to compare the promoting effect of hair growth by a 3% minoxidil and a L-U mixture. Methods To evaluate the hair growth-promoting activity, saline, 50% ethanol, 3% minoxidil, and the L-U mixture were applied 2 times a day for a total of 14 days on the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice after depilation. Analysis was determined by using a high-resolution hair analysis system, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and H&E staining. Results On day 14, the hair growth effect of the L-U mixture was the same as that of the 3% minoxidil treatment. The L-U mixture significantly (P<0.05) stimulated hair growth-promoting genes, as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor -1. Increase of VEGF was observed in the L-U mixture group compared with minoxidil and the negative control. In contrast, the L-U mixture suppressed the expression of transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$, which is the hair loss-related gene. In histological examination in the L-U mixture and minoxidil groups, the induction of an anagen stage of hair follicles was faster than that of control groups. Conclusions This study provides evidence that the L-U mixture can promote hair growth in mice, similar to the effect from minoxidil, and suggests that there is potential application for hair loss treatments.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제69권5호
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• pp.337-347
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• 2010

Background: Transglutaminase-2 (TG-2) has been reported to play an important role in the process of fibrosis. However, TG-2 studies on fibroproliferation of acute lung injury (ALI) are absent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of TG-2 in the fibroproliferation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Methods: The male C57BL/6 mice of 5 weeks age were divided into 3 groups; control group (n=30) in which $50{\mu}L$ of saline was given intratracheally (IT), LPS group (n=30) in which LPS 0.5 mg/kg/$50{\mu}L$ of saline was given IT, and LPS+Cyst group treated with intraperitoneal 200 mg/kg of cystamine, competitive inhibitor of TG-2, after induction of ALI by LPS. TG-2 activity and nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ were measured in lung tissue homogenate. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ were measured using bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Histopathologic ALI score and Mallory's phosphotunistic acid hematoxylin (PTAH) for collagen and fibronectin deposition were performed. Results: The TG-2 activities in the LPS group were significantly higher than the control and LPS+Cyst groups (p<0.05). The TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ concentrations and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity were lower in the LPS+Cyst group than the LPS group (p<0.05). The LPS+Cyst group showed lower MPO, ALI score, TGF-${\beta}1$ concentration, and Mallory's PTAH stain than the LPS group, but the differences were not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Inhibition of TG-2 activity in the LPS-induced ALI prevented early inflammatory parameters, but had limited effects on late ALI and fibroproliferative parameters.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권11호
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• pp.5709-5714
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• 2012

Objective: To evaluate the effects of curcumin on matrixmetalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and invasion ability induced by transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) in MDA-MB-231 cells and potential mechanisms. Methods: Human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were used with the CCK-8 assay to measure the cytotoxicity of curcumin. After treatment with 10 ng/ml TGF-${\beta}1$, with or without curcumin (${\leq}10{\mu}M$), cell invasion was checked by transwell chamber. The effects of curcumin on TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated MMP-9 and phosphorylation of Smad2, extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) were examined by Western blotting. Supernatant liquid were collected to analyze the activity of MMP-9 via zymography. Following treatment with PD98059, a specific inhibitor of ERK, and SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38MAPK, Western blotting and zymography were employed to examine MMP-9 expression and activity, respectively. Results: Low dose curcumin (${\leq}10{\mu}M$) did not show any obvious toxicity to the cells, while $0{\sim}10{\mu}mol/L$ caused a concentration-dependent reduction in cell invasion provoked by TGF-${\beta}1$. Curcumin also markedly inhibited TGF-${\beta}1$-regulated MMP-9 and activation of Smad2, ERK1/2 and p38 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, PD98059, but not SB203580, showed a similar pattern of inhibition of MMP-9 expression. Conclusion: Curcumin inhibited TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated MMP-9 and the invasive phenotype in MDA-MB-231 cells, possibly associated with TGF-${\beta}$/Smad and TGF-${\beta}$/ERK signaling.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.87-94
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• 2002

Low intensity laser irradiation is potential physical agent that triggers the muscle regeneration by previous study. In muscle regeneration, a number of growth factors also promotes that is triggered in response to muscle damage. The transforming growth factor(TGF)-$\beta$ is involved in the activation of cell proliferation and the inhibition of cell differentiation in muscle regeneration. This is secreted not only autocrine system but also paracrine and endocrine. Therefore, We investigated that effects of Gallium aluminum arsenide(GaAlAs) diode laser for the expression of TGF-$\beta$ on lumbar spinal cord after extensor digitorum muscle crush injury. After laser irradiation, the immunoreactivity of TGF-$\beta$ was increased bilaterally in gray mater of spinal cord. Especially, in 1 day, experimental group was highed than control, and in 3 day, lateral motor nucleus were storong immunoreactivy of TGF-$\beta$. Also, in 1 and 2 day, TGF-$\beta$ was showed in white mater as well as gray mater, but in 3 day, only showed in gray mater. These data may suggests to the establishment of laser irradiation on spinal cord for skeletal muscle injury.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제65권2호
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• pp.186-195
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• 2022

Objective : To explore the histological feature of the cervical disc degeneration in patients with degenerative ossification (DO) and its potential mechanisms. Methods : A total of 96 surgical segments, from cervical disc degenerative disease patients with surgical treatment, were divided into ossification group (group O, n=46) and non-ossification group (group NO, n=50) based on preoperative radiological exams. Samples of disc tissues and osteophytes were harvested during the decompression operation. The hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson trichrome staining and Safranin O-fast green staining were used to compare the histological differences between the two groups. And the distribution and content of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 between the two groups were compared by a semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) method. Results : For all the disc tissues, the content of disc cells and collagen fibers decreased gradually from the outer annulus fibrosus (OAF) to the central nucleus pulposus (NP). Compared with group NO, the number of disc cells in group O increased significantly. But for proteoglycan in the inner annulus fibrosus (IAF) and NP, the content in group O decreased significantly. IHC analysis showed that TGF-β1, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 were detected in all tissues. For group O, the content of TGF-β1 in the OAF and NP was significantly higher than that in group NO. For p-Smad2 in IAF and p-Smad3 in OAF, the content in group O were significantly higher than group NO. Conclusion : Histologically, cervical disc degeneration in patients with DO is more severe than that without DO. Local higher content of TGF-β1, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 are involved in the disc degeneration with DO. Further studies with multi-approach analyses are needed to better understand the role of TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway in the disc degeneration with DO.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권10호
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• pp.571-576
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• 2012

Radiotherapy is considered to cause detrimental effects on bone tissue eventually increasing bone loss and fracture risk. However, there is a great controversy on the real effects of irradiation itself on osteoblasts, and the mechanisms by which irradiation affects osteoblast differentiation and mineralization are not completely understood. We explored how X-ray radiation influences differentiation and bone-specific gene expression in mouse calvarial osteoblasts. Irradiation at 2 Gy not only increased differentiation and mineralization of the cells, but also upregulated the expression of alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen, osteopontin, and osteocalcin at early stages of differentiation. However, irradiation at higher doses (>2 Gy) did not stimulate osteoblast differentiation, rather it suppressed DNA synthesis by the cells without a toxic effect. Additional experiments suggested that transforming growth factor-beta 1 and runt-transcription factor 2 play important roles in irradiation- stimulated bone differentiation by acting as upstream regulators of bone-specific markers.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.49-55
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• 2013

Objectives : Mori Folium was popularly used as one of the traditional medicinal herbs. Although M. Folium has been cultivated for rearing silkworm historically, it's use has been expanded as natural therapeutic agent for the treatment of filariasis, diabetes and dropsy in East Asia. However, little has been known about the effect of M. Folium on liver fibrosis. Therefore, we would like to explore an anti-fibrogenic potential of M. Folium extract (MFE) using immortalized human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2 cells. Methods : We examined the effects of MFE on the transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ ($TGF{\beta}1$)-induced liver fibrosis in LX-2 cells. Cell viability, Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity, phosphorylations level of Smad 2/3, and expression level of $TGF{\beta}1$-dependent target genes were monitored in the MFE-treated LX-2 cells. Results : Up to 30 ${\mu}g/ml$ MFE treatment did not show any possible toxic effect in LX-2 cells. MFE inhibited $TGF{\beta}1$-inducible Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity and decreased the $TGF{\beta}1$-inducible phosphorylations of Smad 2 and Smad 3 in hepatic stellate cell in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, increases of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, $TGF{\beta}1$ and matrix metalloproteinases 2 genes by $TGF{\beta}1$ were also attenuated by MFE treatment. Conclusions : These findings suggested that MFE would be used as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment liver fibrosis, which might be mediated by the inhibition of $TGF{\beta}1$-inducible Smad 2/3 transactivation and target genes expression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.385-390
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• 2010

Excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation is the main feature of chronic renal disease including diabetic nephropathy. Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 is known to play an important role in renal ECM accumulation in part through suppression of plasmin generation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation. The present study examined the effect of PAI-1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) on fibronectin upregulation and plasmin/MMP suppression in primary mesangial cells cultured under high glucose (HG) or transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$, major mediators of diabetic renal ECM accumulation. Growth arrested and synchronized rat primary mesangial cells were transfected with $1\;{\mu}M$ phosphorothioate-modified antisense or control mis-match ODN for 24 hours with cationic liposome and then stimulated with 30 mM D-glucose or 2 ng/ml TGF-${\beta}1$. PAl-1 or fibronectin protein was measured by Western blot analysis. Plasmin activity was determined using a synthetic fluorometric plasmin substrate and MMP-2 activity analyzed using zymography. HG and TGF-${\beta}1$ significantly increased PAI-1 and fibronectin protein expression as well as decreased plasmin and MMP-2 activity. Transient transfection of mesangial cells with PAI-1 antisense ODN, but not mis-match ODN, effectively reversed basal as well as HG- and TGF-${\beta}1$-induced suppression of plasmin and MMP-2 activity. Both basal and upregulated fibronectin secretion were also inhibited by PAI-1 antisense ODN. These data confirm that PAI-1 plays an important role in ECM accumulation in diabetic mesangium through suppression of protease activity and suggest that PAI-1 antisense ODN would be an effective therapeutic strategy for prevention of renal fibrosis including diabetic nephropathy.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.301-308
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• 2012

In fascioliasis, T-helper 2 (Th2) responses predominate, while little is known regarding early immune phenomenon. We herein analyzed early immunophenotype changes of BALB/c, C57BL/6, and C3H/He mice experimentally infected with 5 Fasciola hepatica metacercariae. A remarkable expansion of $CD19^+$ B cells was observed as early as week 1 post-infection while $CD4^+/CD8^+$ T cells were down-regulated. Accumulation of $Mac1^+$ cells with time after infection correlated well with splenomegaly of all mice strains tested. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ mRNA in splenocytes significantly decreased while that of IL-4 up-regulated. IL-$1{\beta}$ expression was down-modulated in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, but not in C3H/He. Serum levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}$ were considerably elevated in all mice during 3 weeks of infection period. These collective results suggest that experimental murine fascioliasis might derive immune suppression with elevated levels of TGF-${\beta}$ and IL-4 during the early stages of infection.