• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.585-591
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• 2014

The ${\beta}_2$ adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) is a G protein-coupled transmembrane receptor expressed in the human respiratory tract and widely recognized as a pharmacological target for treatments of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Although a number of ADRB2 agonists have been developed for use in asthma therapy, indacaterol is the only ultra-long-acting inhaled ${\beta}_2$-agonist (LABA) approved by the FDA for relieving the symptoms in COPD patients. The precise molecular mechanism underlying the pharmacological effect of indacaterol, however, remains unclear. Here, we show that ${\beta}$-arrestin-2 mediates the internalization of ADRB2 following indacaterol treatment. Moreover, we demonstrate that indacaterol significantly inhibits tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activity by reducing levels of both phosphorylated-IKK and -$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, thereby decreasing NF-${\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation and the expression of MMP-9, an NF-${\kappa}B$ target gene. Subsequently, we show that indacaterol significantly inhibits TNF-${\alpha}$/NF-${\kappa}B$-induced cell invasiveness and migration in a human cancer cell line. In conclusion, we propose that indacaterol may inhibit NF-${\kappa}B$ activity in a ${\beta}$-arrestin2-dependent manner, preventing further lung damage and improving lung function in COPD patients.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1443-1446
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• 2018

In the present study, we examined whether Lactobacillus johnsonii CJLJ103 (LJ) could alleviate cholinergic memory impairment in mice. Oral administration of LJ alleviated scopolamine-induced memory impairment in passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks. Furthermore, LJ treatment increased scopolamine-suppressed BDNF expression and CREB phosphorylation in the hippocampi of the brain, as well as suppressed $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. LJ also increased BDNF expression in corticosterone-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells and inhibited $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in LPS-stimulated microglial BV2 cells. However, LJ did not inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity. These findings suggest that LJ, a member of human gut microbiota, may mitigate cholinergic memory impairment by increasing BDNF expression and inhibiting $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.428-433
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• 2015

Acetylshikonin, a natural naphthoquinone derivative compound, has been used for treatment of inflammation and cancer. In the present study, we have investigated whether acetylshikonin could regulate the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway, thereby leading to suppression of tumorigenesis. We observed that acetylshikonin significantly reduced proliferation of several cancer cell lines, including human pancreatic PANC-1 cancer cells. In addition, acetylshikonin inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or tumor necrosis-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ reporter activity. Proteome cytokine array and real-time RT-PCR results illustrated that acetylshikonin inhibition of PMA-induced production of cytokines was mediated at the transcriptional level and it was associated with suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ activity and matrix metalloprotenases. Finally, we observed that an exposure of acetylshikonin significantly inhibited the anchorage-independent growth of PANC-1 cells. Together, our results indicate that acetylshikonin could serve as a promising therapeutic agent for future treatment of pancreatic cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.759-764
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• 2015

Tripartite motif protein 25 (TRIM25), mediates K63-linked polyubiquitination of Retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) that is crucial for downstream antiviral interferon signaling. Here, we demonstrate that TRIM25 is required for melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) and MAVS mediated activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and interferon production. TRIM25 is required for the full activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ at the downstream of MAVS, while it is not involved in IRF3 nuclear translocation. Mechanical studies showed that TRIM25 is involved in TRAF6-mediated NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. These collectively indicate that TRIM25 plays an additional role in RIG-I/MDA5 signaling other than RIG-I ubiquitination via activation of NF-${\kappa}B$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2017

Beauvericin (BEA), a cyclic hexadepsipeptide produced by the fungus Beauveria bassiana, is known to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial actions. However, how BEA suppresses macrophage-induced inflammatory responses has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the anti-inflammatory properties of BEA and the underlying molecular mechanisms using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. Levels of nitric oxide (NO), mRNA levels of transcription factors and the inflammatory genes inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and interleukin (IL)-1, and protein levels of activated intracellular signaling molecules were determined by Griess assay, semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), luciferase reporter gene assay, and immunoblotting analysis. BEA dose-dependently blocked the production of NO in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells without inducing cell cytotoxicity. BEA also prevented LPS-triggered morphological changes. This compound significantly inhibited nuclear translocation of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ subunits p65 and p50. Luciferase reporter gene assays demonstrated that BEA suppresses MyD88-dependent NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. By analyzing upstream signaling events for $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and overexpressing Src and Syk, these two enzymes were revealed to be targets of BEA. Together, these results suggest that BEA suppresses $NF-{\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory responses by suppressing both Src and Syk.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.9
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• pp.524-529
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• 2014

Oxidative stress and inflammation are common to many pathological conditions. Defense mechanisms protect cells from oxidative stress, but can become over-activated following injury and inflammation. NF-${\kappa}B$ and Nrf2 transcription factors regulate proinflammatory and antioxidant gene expression, respectively. Studies have shown that many natural dietary compounds regulate NF-${\kappa}B$ and Nrf2, preventing inflammation and oxidative stress. Here, we report major compounds of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina such as rosmarinic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and caffeic acid as a potential therapeutic for oxidative stress and inflammation. The major compounds exhibited high anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting NO, PGE2 production, NF-${\kappa}B$ expression and activating Nrf2 expression. In addition, we examined the effect of major compounds on MafK expression. Among the compounds, oleanolic acid significantly decreased MafK expression and MafK-mediated p65 acetylation. These findings suggest that oleanolic acid as NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitors can potentially be used in therapeutic applications for the treatment of oxidative stress-induced diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.405-408
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• 2013

Oncoprotein Bcl-3 is perceived as an unusual member of $I{\kappa}B$ family since it can both stimulate and suppress NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Aberrant Bcl-3 results in increased cell proliferation and survival, suggesting a contribution to malignant potential and elevated levels of Bcl-3 have been observed in many HTLV-1-infected T cell lines and ATL cells. To investigate the specific roles of Bcl-3 in HTLV-1-infected cells, we knocked down Bcl-3 expression using shRNA and then examined the consequences with regard to DNA damage and cell proliferation, as well as NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. The HTLV-1 encoded protein Tax promotes Bcl-3 expression and nuclear translocation. In HTLV-1-infected cells, Bcl-3 knockdown obviously induced DNA damage. Cell growth and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation were reduced in HTLV-1-infected or Tax positive cells when Bcl-3 expression was decreased. Together, our results revealed positive roles of Bcl-3 in DNA stabilization, growth and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in HTLV-1-infected cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.232-236
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• 2014

Acanthopanax divaricatus var. albeofructus (ADA) is commonly ingested as a traditional medicine or as a component of a health drink in Korea. In this phytochemical study, nine phenolics (1 - 9) and three lignans (10 - 12) were isolated from the MeOH extract of the stems of ADA. Chemical structures were elucidated by comparing spectroscopic data with reported values. Nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated using an $NF-{\kappa}B$ luciferase assay in HepG2 cells. Among them, compounds 1, 3 - 8, and 11 showed significant inhibitory effects on $TNF{\alpha}$-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcriptional activity in a dosedependent manner, with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 13.25 to $37.36{\mu}M$. Further studies on potential anti-inflammatory effects and the benefits of phenolic and lignan components from ADA are warranted.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2008

We here demonstrate an anti-inflammatory action of raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Treatment with raloxifene at micromolar concentrations suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) by down-regulating expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene in LPS-activated cells. The decreased expression of iNOS and subsequent reduction of NO were due to inhibition of nuclear translocation of transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$. These effects were significantly inhibited by exposure to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitor, LY294002, or by expression of a dominant negative mutant of PI 3-kinase. In addition, pretreatment with raloxifene reduced LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation as well as NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA binding activity and NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent reporter gene activity. Thus our findings indicate that raloxifene exerts its anti-inflammatory action in LPS-stimulated macrophages by blocking the PI 3-kinase-Akt-NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling cascade, and eventually reduces expression of pro-inflammatory genes such as iNOS.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.332-336
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• 2008

Ginger is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine. Both ginger and its extracts have been used to treat many chronic inflammatory conditions via the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation, which results in the suppression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. However, the mechanisms as to how ginger extracts mediate their health effects are largely unknown. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) trigger anti-microbial innate immune responses, recognizing conserved microbial structural molecules that are known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns. All TLR signaling pathways culminate in the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. The activation of NF- ${\kappa}B$ leads to the induction of inflammatory gene products, including cytokines and COX-2. This study reports the biochemical evidence that 6-shogaol, an active compound in ginger, inhibits NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and COX-2 expression induced by TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 agonists. Furthermore, 6-shogaol inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$ activation induced by the following downstream signaling components of the TLRs: MyD88, $IKK{\beta}$, and p65. These results imply that ginger can modulate immune responses that could potentially modify the risk of many chronic inflammatory diseases.