• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.405-412
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine the inhibitory effect of a glycoprotein isolated from Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau (CTB glycoprotein, 75 kDa) on immunoglobulin E (IgE)-induced allergic inflammation in RBL-2H3 cells. This experiment evaluated the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activities of mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK), transcription factor (c-jun), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and histamine release in cells. The results showed that the CTB glycoprotein inhibited histamine release and COX-2 expression induced by IgE in the cells. The CTB glycoprotein also had suppressive effects on the expressions of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, c-jun, and the production of intracellular ROS in IgE-treated RBL-2H3 cells. The activities of c-jun and COX-2 were collectively blocked by ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) and p38 MAPK inhibitor (SKF86002), respectively. Hence, we speculate that CTB glycoprotein might be a component with potential use in the preparation of health supplements for the prevention of allergic diseases.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.149-153
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• 2017

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-mediated prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) plays a key role in development and progression of inflammatory responses and Porphyromonas gingivalis is a common endodontic pathogen. In this study, we investigated induction of COX-2 and $PGE_2$ by P. gingivalis in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). P. gingivalis increased expression of COX-2, but not that of COX-1. Increased levels of $PGE_2$ were released from P. gingivalis-infected HDPCs and this $PGE_2$ increase was blocked by celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor. P. gingivalis activated all three types of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). P. gingivalis-induced activation of nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) was demonstrated by the results of phosphorylation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 and degradation of inhibitor of ${\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$). Pharmacological inhibition of each of the three types of MAPKs and $NF-{\kappa}B$ substantially attenuated P. gingivalis-induced $PGE_2$ production. These results suggest that P. gingivalis should promote endodontic inflammation by stimulating dental pulp cells to produce $PGE_2$.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1 s.61
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• pp.37-45
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• 2005

In the present study, we examined the effect of crude methanolic extract (CME) from Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb on arachidonic acid (AA) cascade in SKBR3 human breast cancer cell line. CME had a potent inhibitory activity of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release induced by A23187, a $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore. The inhibition was concentration-dependent, with the 50 value of about 5 M. CME had no inhibitory effect on A23187-induced phosphorylation of p42/p44 extracellular signal regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase or on the liberation of [14C]-AA from the cells labeled with [14C]-AA. However, CME concentration-dependently inhibited the conversion of AA to $PGE_2$ in microsomal preparations, showing its possible inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX). In enzyme assay in vitro, CME inhibited the activities of both constitutive COX (COX­I) and inducible COX (COX-2) in a concentration-dependent manner, with the 50 values of about 0.8 and 2M, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis indicated that CME competitively inhibited the activities of both COX-l and -2. This study is a first demonstration that CME directly inhibits COX activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.407-413
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• 2017

Vascular reactivity can be influenced by the vascular region, animal age, and pathologies present. Prostaglandins (produced by COX-1 and COX-2) play an important role in the contractile response to phenylephrine in the abdominal aorta of young rats. Although these COXs are found in many tissues, their distribution and role in vascular reactivity are not clear. At a vascular level, they take part in the homeostasis functions involved in many physiological and pathologic processes (e.g., arterial pressure and inflammatory processes). The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the contractile response to phenylephrine of thoracic/abdominal aorta and the coronary artery during aging in rats. Three groups of rats were formed and sacrificed at three distinct ages: prepubescent, young and old adult. The results suggest that there is a higher participation of prostanoids in the contractile effect of phenylephrine in pre-pubescent rats, and a lower participation of the same in old rats. Contrarily, there seems to be a higher participation of prostanoids in the contractile response of the coronary artery of older than pre-pubescent rats. Considering that the changes in the expression of COX-2 were similar for the three age groups and the two tissues tested, and that expression of COX-1 is apparently greater in older rats, COX-1 and COX-2 may lose functionality in relation to their corresponding receptors during aging in rats.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.83-94
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• 2012

The taxonomic distinctiveness and cosmopolitan distributions of the red algae $Gelidium$ $crinale$ and $G.$ $pusillum$ remain unclear. Both species were first described in Devon in southwestern England; namely in Ilfracome for $G.$ $crinale$ and Sidmouth for $G.$ $pusillum$. We analyzed mitochondrial $cox$1 and plastid $rbc$L sequences from specimens collected in East Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. In all phylogenetic analyses of $cox$1 and $rbc$L sequences, $G.$ $crinale$ was distinct from congeners of the genus. The analyses also revealed a sister relationship with the $G.$ $coulteri$ and $G.$ $capense$ clade. Nineteen $cox$1 haplotypes were identified for $G.$ $crinale$, and they were likely geographically structured. Despite the distinctiveness in both $cox$1 and $rbc$L datasets, the sister relationship of $G.$ $pusillum$ in the genus was not resolved. Our $cox$1 and $rbc$L datasets indicate that $G.$ $crinale$ is a cosmopolitan species, found in East Asia, Australia, Europe and North America, while the distribution of $G.$ $pusillum$ is restricted to Europe and Atlantic North America. Our results suggest that infraspecific classification of $G.$ $pusillum$ may be abandoned.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.187-208
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• 2000

By the activation of ovary hormone, many morphological changes occur in the epithelial cell lines and muscle cells in rat uterus. These two cells in uterus are important to the implantation of embryo, maintaining pregnancy and starting parturition. One important change associated with the morphological change of these two cells in uterus is the change on prostaglandin(PG) metabolism. Its presence and synthesis in endometriurn and myometrium in uterus affects estrous cycle and the start of embryo implantation in uterus. It also performs as an important modulator in parturition. So the abnormally weak expression of PG causes difficulty during labor and over-expression causes pre-term labor. PG biosynthesis starts from either free or liberated arachidonic acids from membrane phospholipid by phospholipase. Such arachidonic acids are converted into PG catalyzed by Cyclooxygenase. Under normal physiological condition, Cyclooxygenase-1(COX-1) having 602 units of amino acids controls the synthesis of PG. It acts as a local hormone regulating vasomodulation of blood flow, flexible muscle movement, increasing the blood permeability and contributing the protective role in preserving integrity of the stomach lining and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is induced by the inflammation, pregnancy and increased its expression until parturition. Lipid metabolite like PG is located in uterine and expression of COX-2 increased with pregnancy. Increased expression of COX proteins in epithelial cells and myometrial cells are told to increase the muscle contractility in uterus but decreased right after the labor in rat. It is a good sign indicating that COX proteins are deeply related to the start of labor. Currently, Several studies report the use of PG and COX-2 inhibitor as medication for controlled abortion or to prevent pre-term labor but they entail various side-effects. Our study proposed to suggest use of acupuncture as an another mediator to control abortion or pre-term labor without causing unnecessary side-effects by those medicines. Two acupuncture sites, LI-4 & SP-6 were selected due to their known efficacy. From the immunohistochemical staining of COX-2, normal expression of COX-2 protein in nonpregnant SD rat's uterus revealed that COX-2 protein was primarily detected in the lumina epithelial lining and in the epithelial cell lining contacting the stromal cells. High resolution optical microscopic scanning revealed distinguishable staining in the myometrial mucosa. LI-4 acupuncture administered nonpregnant rat's uterus showed strong expression for COX-2 in endometrium contacted with lumina epithelial lining of rat uterus and in myometrial mucosa. Stromal cells showed more staining than untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus and stronger staining in stromal cells contacting myometrial layer compared to untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus. SP-6 acupuncture administered nonpregnant rat's uterus showed weak expression for COX-2 in myometrial layers and stromal cells but no staining was visible in lumina epitheliai and glandular epithelial cells. Few stromal cells and myometrial mucosa were positively stained for COX-2. Pregnant SD rat's uterus was also immunostained for COX-2 expression after 18 days of pregnancy. Unlike to untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus, luminal epithelial cells were not positively stained for COX-2 but stronger staining for COX-2 was revealed in stromal cells. LI-4 acupunctured SD rat's uterus had very strong expression of COX-2 in luminal epithelial lining. Few stromal cells showed stronger positive COX-2 staining and myometrial layers also showed more expression than untreated pregnant rat. SP-6 acupuncture administered pregnant SD rat's uterus showed positive expression of COX-2 in epithelial cells of luminal mucosa layer but weaker than that of LI-4 acupuncture treatment's case. However, strong positive staining was revealed in stromal mucosa and myometrial layers. Virgin SD rat's uterus motility index during LI-4 acupuncture was 66.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.0197) compared to its motility before the acupuncture treatment but the motility index was slighdy elevated up to 79.58 % (Prob〉T = 0.1175) after the acupuncture. During the SP-6 acupuncture treatment for 30 minutes, uterus motility index was 90.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.1832) showing lesser decrement but consequently reached similar motility index decreasal to 79.95 % (Prob〉T = 0.0215) after the acupuncture treatment as LI-4 showed. LI-4 acupuncture tend to be a quick treatment to reducing the uterus motility in a virgin rat but eventually both two acupuncture administration created very similar reduction of uterus motility seeing the index after the both acupunctures. The uterus movement monitored during the LI-4 acupuncture administered for 30 minutes, Pregnant SD rat showed decreased motility down to 77.90 % (Prob〉 T = 0.0076) compared to uterus motility before the acupuncture and it continuously decreased down to 71.81 %(Prob〉T = 0.0214) after the removal of needle. The statistical analysis using paired t-test showed significance difference for both two motility indexs at =0.05. SP-6 acupuncture administered to pregnant SD rat also had similar pattern of decreasing uterus motility index down to 74.70 % (Prob〉T = 0.1730) during the initial 30 minutes acupuncture administration and it was continuously lowered to 71.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.0155) after the acupuncture. The paired t-test resuit for SP-6 suggest prompt response of uterus motility index to the SP-6 acupuncture treatment but consequently reached same level of inducing the motility reduction as LI-4 at =0.05 level.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2007

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: To evaluate the relationship between the expression of EGFR, p53, Cox-2, Bcl-2 and the clinical parameters of NPC (nasopharyngeal carcinoma) patients treated with radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy, and to determine if these could be used as a biologic marker. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: This study retrospectively examined 75 NPC patients who were pathologically diagnosed at St. Mary's Hospital and Kangnam St Mary's Hospital from March 1988 to August 2002 and treated with radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy. The levels of EGFR, p53, Cox-2, and Bcl-2 expression were determined immunohistochemically. The relationship between the levels of EGFR, p53, Cox-2 and Bcl-2 expression and the H- E staining findings including the WHO classification, TNM stage, tumor response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, disease free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) was analyzed. $\underline{Results}$: At a median follow up of 50.8 months (range: $5.5{\sim}201$ months), the 3 years OS rate and PFS rate were 68.7% and 68.2%, respectively. The five year OS rate and PFS rate were 53.5% and 51.1%, respectively. The median OS duration and PFS duration were 85.5 months and 61.1 months, respectively. The WHO classification correlated with the complete response rate, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. The expression of p53 was associated with increased mitosis and poor overall survival. The expression of Bcl-2 correlated with the DFS and WHO classification. The expression of Cox-2 correlated with a poor overall survival and response rate in the lymph node. However, EGFR was not correlated with any factors. $\underline{Conclusion}$: These results suggest that the expression of p53, Cox-2, Bcl-2 plays role in predicting prognostic factors for NPC treated with radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy. However, further study on a larger number of patients will be needed to identify more useful biomarkers of NPC.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.343-347
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• 2009

Cytochalasin D (CD) is known as a disruptor of actin cytoskeleton architecture in chondrocytes. We have studied the role of CD in retinoic acid (RA) caused dedifferentiation and inflammation responses in rabbit articular chondrocytes. We have examined the effect of CD on RA induced dedifferentiation of chondrocytes. CD inhibited RA induced dedifferentiation determined by Western blot analysis and Alcian blue staining in rabbit articular chondrocytes. Also, CD additionally reduced inflammation response molecules such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in RA treated cells. Treatment of CD reduced phosphorylation of p38 by treatment of RA. Inhibiton of p38kinase with SB203580 reduced expression of COX-2 and production of $PGE_2$ by treatment of CD in RA treated cells. But, Inhibiton of p38kinase with SB203580 did not any relationship with effect of CD on RA caused dedifferentiation. In summary, our results indicate that CD regulates RA reduced expression of COX-2 and production of PGE2 via p38kinase pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.520-525
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• 2012

Prostaglandin (PG) $E_2$, the most abundant prostaglandin in the human body, is synthesized from arachidonic acid via the actions of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. $PGE_2$ exerts homeostatic, cytoprotective, inflammatory, and in some cases anti-inflammatory effects. Also, it has been reported that $PGE_2$ is involved in hair growth. Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC) is a phlorotannin compound isolated from the brown algae Ishige okamurae, with various biological activities in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the biological effect and mechanism of action of DPHC on prostaglandin synthesis in HaCaT human keratinocytes was examined. The results showed that, in these cells, DPHC significantly and dose-dependently induced $PGE_2$ synthesis by increasing the protein and mRNA levels of COX-1 and COX-2. Interestingly, DPHC-induced COX-1 expression preceded that of COX-2. Also, while both rofecoxib and indomethacin inhibited $PGE_2$ production, the latter was seems to be the more potent. From above results, we can expect that DPHC has some beneficial effects via increasing of $PGE_2$ production.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.215-221
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• 2005

We investigated the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone on inflammatory response of iNOS and COX-2 expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide $(LPS;\;10{\mu}g/ml)$ for 24 hours were incubated with increasing amounts of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (1 and 100 nM). LPS was found to induce inflammatory response of iNOS and COX-2 mRNA and protein in VSMC. These processes were affected by male sex steroid hormones. For 3 hours, however, pretreatment of the cells with 100 nM each of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone suppressed LPS induced iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. RT-PCR analysis revealed that testosterone and dihydrotestosterone did not inhibit mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2 stimulated by 24 hours of LPS incubation. Proliferation rate was slower in VSMC treated with testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Testosterone enhanced androgen receptor expression, and LPS significantly reduced androgen receptor protein expression in VSMC. These results indicate that the expression of both iNOS and COX-2 proteins was suppressed by testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in LPS stimulated VSMC and leading to reduction of vascular inflammation.