• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.415-421
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• 2008

Pro-inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandin $E_2$ (PGE2), nitric oxide (NO), and cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2), play pivotal roles in normal as well as transformed cells. Previous studies have shown that Euphorbiae humifusae Wind exhibits anti-proliferative and antioxidant activities. However, the it's anti-inflammatory properties are unclear. In this study, we examine the effects of water extract of E. humifusae (WEEH) on the expression of COX-2 and the production of $PGE_2$ in human lymphatic U937 cells. Treatment of phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) significantly induced COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production in U937 cells. However, pretreatment WEEH markedly inhibited the PMA-induced COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, WEEH prevented the elevated early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) expression and nuclear factor-kappaB ($NF{-\kappa}B\; p65$) nuclear translocation stimulated by PMA treatment. Taken together, the present data indicate that WEEH exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes through the $NF{-\kappa}B$ and Egr-1 signaling pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.146-156
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• 2018

Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine compound that has recently emerged with anti-aging properties and suppresses inflammation and oxidation. However, its mechanisms of action on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the potential of spermidine for reducing pro-inflammatory and oxidative effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and zebrafish was explored. Our data indicate that spermidine significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and cytokines including tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ in RAW 264.7 macrophages without any significant cytotoxicity. The protective effects of spermidine accompanied by a marked suppression in their regulatory gene expression at the transcription levels. Spermidine also attenuated the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 subunit and reduced LPS-induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, spermidine prevented the LPS-induced NO production and ROS accumulation in zebrafish larvae and was found to be associated with a diminished recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. Although more work is needed to fully understand the critical role of spermidine on the inhibition of inflammation-associated migration of immune cells, our findings clearly demonstrate that spermidine may be a potential therapeutic intervention for the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative disorders.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.634-639
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• 2020

불가사리는 다양한 생리활성물질을 가진 유용한 해양생물자원으로 알려져 있으나 불가사리가 가진 특유한 냄새로 인해 기능성 소재로 활용하는데 많은 제약이 있다. 우리는 최근에 로스팅을 통해 이러한 문제점을 해결하고 효율적인 화장품 소재로서의 활용 가능성을 제시하였으나 열처리된 불가사리 추출물의 생리활성에 관한 연구는 거의 전무한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 LPS에 의해 염증을 유도한 Raw 264.7 세포에서 열처리 불가사리 추출물의 염증 조절 기전을 조사하여 항염증 소재로서의 활용 가능성을 확인하였다. 열처리 불가사리 추출물은 LPS에 의해 증가된 NO의 분비량과 iNOS의 발현을 현저히 감소시켰고 IL-1β와 IL-6와 같은 pro-inflammatory cytokine의 발현에서도 유의미한 감소를 나타내었다. 또한 열처리 불가사리 추출물에 의한 NF-κB p65 단백질의 핵으로의 전이 억제와 NF-κB 저해제인 PDTC와의 동시 처리에 의한 NO 분비량 감소는 열처리 불가사리 추출물의 NO 생성 저해 효과가 NF-κB 신호전달을 통해 이루어짐을 보여주었다. 본 연구 결과는 열처리 불가사리 추출물이 NF-κB 신호전달 경로를 통해 염증매개인자들의 발현을 억제하여 염증반응을 효과적으로 제어할 수 있는 잠재력을 가진 기능성 소재로서의 가능성을 제시하고 있다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.305-310
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• 2005

It has been suggested that nitric oxide (NO) derived from inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) may act as a mediator of cytokine-induced effects on bone turn-over. NO is also recognized as an important factor in bone remodeling, i.e., participating in osteoblast apoptosis in an arthritic joint. The components of Agastache rugosa are known to have many pharmacological activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Agastache rugosa leaf extract (ELAR) on NO production and the iNOS expression in ROS 17/2.8 cells activated by a mixture of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-$alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$. A preincubation with ELAR significantly and concentration-dependently reduced the expression of iNOS protein in ROS 17/2.8 cells activated with the cytokine mixture. Consequently, the NO production was also significantly reduced by ELAR with an IC$_{50}$ of 0.75 mg/mL. The inhibitory mechanism of iNOS induction by ELAR prevented the activation and translocation of NF-$\kappa$B (p65) to the nucleus from the cytosol fraction. Furthermore, ELAR concentration-dependently reduced the cellular toxicity induced by sodium nitroprusside, an NO-donor. These results suggest that ELAR may be beneficial in NO-mediated inflammatory conditions such as osteoporosis.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.56-63
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• 2007

인슐린은 지방세포 또는 근육세포에서 포도당 흡수 조절 통로단백질이 함유되어 있는 소포제를 세포막으로의 이동을 촉진시킨다. 우리는 여기서 지방세포로의 분화는 인슐린에 의한 포도당 흡수에 대한 반응이 증가됨을 보였다. 반면에 지방세포로의 분화는 PDGF에 의한 포도당 흡수 반응이 감소됨을 보였다. 인슐린 수용체나 caveolae는 지방세포로의 분화과정 동안 발현이 증가된다. 또한 지방세포로의 분화는 인슐린에 의한 Akt의 활성을 증가시켰다. 하지만 PDGF에 의한 Akt의 활성은 크게 감소하였다. 하지만 인슐린은 지방세포 또는 섬유아 전구세포에서 ERK의 활성을 유도하지 않았다. PDGF에 의한 ERK 활성 또한 지방세포로의 분화과정에 따라 감소하였다. P13K의 저해제인 LY294002는 지방세포 뿐만 아니라 섬유아 전구세포에서 인슐린에 의한 포도당 흡수를 저해하였다. 마지막으로 인슐린 수용체, Akt, SHIP2, p85등이 lipid raft/caveolae에 존재함을 확인하였고 인슐린에 의해 이런 단백질들이 lipid raft/caveolae로 이동함을 관찰하였다. 이런 결과를 토대로 lipid raft는 포도당 홉수를 위한 인슐린의 기능적 작용을 하는데 매우 중요한 환경을 제공함을 주장한다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.388-395
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• 2010

본 연구에서는 콩 발효 산물 추출물의 항염증 효능에 관한 기초 자료를 제시하기 위하여 PMA에 의해 유도되는 COX-2의 발현 및 $PGE_2$의 생성 증가에 미치는 이들 추출물의 영향을 조사하였다. 본 연구에서 조사된 3가지 콩 발효 산물은 PMA에 의한 COX-2의 발현 증가를 매우 유의적으로 차단하였으며, 이는 $PGE_2$의 생성 억제와 연관성이 있었다. 아울러 PMA에 의한 NF-${\kappa}B$ 활성 증가 또한 콩 발효 산물들에 의하여 유의적으로 억제되었다. 이러한 결과들은 콩 발효 산물에 의한 NF-${\kappa}B$ 활성의 억제가 COX-2의 발현을 저하시켰으며, 이로 인한 $PGE_2$의 생성이 억제된 것으로 추정되어진다. 이러한 콩 발효 산물의 항염증 효과는 대두 추출물보다 아가콩 추출물에서 더욱 효과가 높게 나타났으며, 이는 향후 아가콩 추출물은 염증성 질환 예방/치료를 위한 적용 가능성이 매우 우수함을 제시하여 주는 결과이다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.903-910
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• 2003

Phosphipase D(PLD)는 호중구의 활성에서 중요한 신호전달 인자로 작용한다. 본 연구에서는 호중구에서 PLD의 활성화에 대한 nitric oxide(NO)와 cGMP의 영향을 조사하였다. 세포 내 NO의 생성을 증가시키는 물질인 sodium nitroprusside (SNP)를 단독으로 처리하였을 때 SNP를 처리하지 않은 세포에 비교하여 PLD 활성은 0.5 mM 농도에서 2배 이상 증가하였다. 세포 내 cAMP의 농도를 증가시키는 물질인 dibutyryl-cAMP를 처리하였을 때 formyl-Met-Leu-Phe(fMLP)에 의한 PLD활성은 억제되었으나 cGMP를 증가시키는 물질인 8-bromo-cGMP(300 $\mu$M)를 단독으로나 fMLP와 같이 처리하였을 때 PLD의 활성은 큰 영향이 없었다. NO에 의한 PLD의 활성은 cGMP-의존형 인산화 효소인 protein kinase G(PKG)의 억제제인 KT 5823에 의하여 억제되지 않았는데 이러한 결과는 PKG 이외의 경로를 통하여 일어남을 제시한다. NO를 처리한 호중구에서 p38 mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK)가 활성화되어 인산화된 p38 MAPK가 Western blot에서 증가되었다. NO에 의한 p38 MAPK의 인산화는 KT 5823에 의하여 억제되지 않았고 PLD 억제제인 n-butanol에 의하여도 영향을 받지 않았다. PLD 활성의 인자인 RhoA는 fMLP나 phorbol myristate acetate(PMA)의 자극에 의하여 세포질로부터 세포막으로 전이가 되었으나 cGMP의 전처리에 의하여 fMLP에 의한 RhoA의 전이는 억제되었으나 PMA에 의한 전이는 영향을 받지 않았다. 이들 결과들은 호중구 내 증가된 cGMP가 RhoA를 억제하였으나 세포 내 증가된 NO는 cGMP 이외의 인자를 통하여 PLD의 활성화를 일으킨다는 것을 제시하고 있다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.686-702
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Schisandrae Fructus, the fruit of Schisandra chinensis Baill., has traditionally been used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various diseases, and has proven its various pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Schisandrae Fructus ethanol extract (SF) on inflammatory and oxidative stress in particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of SF in PM2.5-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, the levels of pro-inflammatory mediator such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect of SF, the expression of genes involved in the generation of inflammatory factors was also investigated. We further evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant efficacy of SF against PM2.5 in the zebrafish model. RESULTS: The results indicated that SF treatment significantly inhibited the PM2.5-induced release of NO and PGE₂, which was associated with decreased inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. SF also attenuated the PM2.5-induced expression of IL-6 and IL-1β, reducing their extracellular secretion. Moreover, SF suppressed the PM2.5-mediated translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) from the cytosol into nuclei and the degradation of inhibitor IκB-α, indicating that SF exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, SF abolished PM2.5-induced generation of ROS, similar to the pretreatment of a ROS scavenger, but not by an inhibitor of NF-κB activity. Furthermore, SF showed strong protective effects against NO and ROS production in PM2.5-treated zebrafish larvae. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that SF exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects against PM2.5 through ROS-dependent down-regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, and that SF can be a potential functional substance to prevent PM2.5-mediated inflammatory and oxidative damage.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.227-233
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• 2021

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and ubiquitous environmental toxin with known harmful effects to human health. Abnormal phenotypes of keratinocytes are closely associated with their exposure to B[a]P. Resorcinol is a component of argan oil with reported anticancer activities, but its mechanism of action and potential effect on B[a]P damage to the skin is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of resorcinol on B[a]P-induced abnormal keratinocyte biology and its mechanisms of action in human epidermal keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Resorcinol suppressed aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activity as evidenced by the inhibition of B[a]P-induced xenobiotic response element (XRE)-reporter activation and cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) expression. In addition, resorcinol attenuated B[a]P-induced nuclear translocation of AhR, and production of ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines. We also found that resorcinol increased nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) activity. Antioxidant response element (ARE)-reporter activity and expression of ARE-dependent genes NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were increased by resorcinol. Consistently, resorcinol treatment induced nuclear localization of Nrf2 as seen by Western analysis. Knockdown of Nrf2 attenuated the resorcinol effects on ARE signaling, but knockdown of AhR did not affect resorcinol activation of Nrf2. This suggests that activation of antioxidant activity by resorcinol is not mediated by AhR. These results indicate that resorcinol is protective against effects of B[a]P exposure. The mechanism of action of resorcinol is inhibition of AhR and activation of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling. Our findings suggest that resorcinol may have potential as a protective agent against B[a]P-containing pollutants.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.106-116
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• 2023

Background: Pirarubicin (THP) is an anthracycline antibiotic used to treat various malignancies in humans. The clinical usefulness of THP is unfortunately limited by its dose-related cardiotoxicity. Ginsenoside F1 (GF1) is a metabolite formed when the ginsenosides Re and Rg1 are hydrolyzed. However, the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of GF1 on THP-induced cardiotoxicity remain unclear. Methods: We investigated the anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress effects of GF1 on an in vitro model, using H9c2 cells stimulated by THP, plus trigonelline or AKT inhibitor imidazoquinoxaline (IMQ), as well as an in vivo model using THP-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent test, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), creatine kinase (CK-MB), cardiac troponin (c-TnT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were determined. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and the expression of Nrf2 target genes, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione-S-transferase (Gst), glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and expression levels of AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathway proteins were detected using Western blot analysis. Results: THP-induced myocardial histopathological damage, electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, and cardiac dysfunction were reduced in vivo by GF1. GF1 also decreased MDA, BNP, CK-MB, c-TnT, and LDH levels in the serum, while raising SOD and GSH levels. GF1 boosted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and Nrf2 target gene expression, including HO-1, Gst, and GCLM. Furthermore, GF1 regulated apoptosis by activating AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathways. Employing Nrf2 inhibitor trigonelline and AKT inhibitor IMQ revealed that GF1 lacked antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Conclusion: In conclusion, GF1 was found to alleviate THP-induced cardiotoxicity via modulating Nrf2 and AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathways, ultimately alleviating myocardial oxidative stress and apoptosis.