• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.367-372
• /
• 2008

Cellular protection against carcinogens could be achieved by the induction of phase 2 detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO1). Nuclear transcription factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) binds to antioxidant response element (ARE) in the promoter region of these genes and the resulting transactivation occurs. In the present study the effect of gujeolcho (Chrysanthemum zawadskii) roots on the Nrf2-ARE pathway were investigated. C. zawadskii root extract was fractionated with a series of organic solvents and their ability to induce Nrf2-ARE pathway was examined. We separated the most potent dichloromethane (DCM) fraction into 12 sub-fractions and found several sub-fractions with strong effects on the Nrf2-ARE pathway. Fraction 4 strongly induced the ARE-reporter gene activity as well as Nrf2 expression. Sitosterol was isolated as a major compound in fraction 4 although its activity was not as potent as its mother fraction. These results indicate that C. zawadskii roots might be used as a potential natural chemopreventive source.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.535-539
• /
• 2015

Olfactory stimulation activates multiple signaling cascades in order to mediate activity-driven changes in gene expression that promote neuronal survival. To date, the mechanisms involved in activity-dependent olfactory neuronal survival have yet to be fully elucidated. In the current study, we observed that olfactory sensory stimulation, which caused neuronal activation, promoted activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and the expression of Bcl-2, which were responsible for olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) survival. We demonstrated that Bcl-2 expression increased after odorant stimulation both in vivo and in vitro. We also showed that odorant stimulation activated Akt, and that Akt activation was completely blocked by incubation with both a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) and Akt1 small interfering RNA. Moreover, blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway diminished the odorantinduced Bcl-2 expression, as well as the effects on odorant-induced ORN survival. A temporal difference was noted between the activation of Akt1 and the expression of Bcl-2 following odorant stimulation. Blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway did not affect ORN survival in the time range prior to the increase in Bcl-2 expression, implying that these two events, activation of the PI3K pathway and Bcl-2 induction, were tightly connected to promote post-translational ORN survival. Collectively, our results indicated that olfactory activity activated PI3K/Akt, induced Bcl-2, and promoted long term ORN survival as a result.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.177-182
• /
• 2008

Caveolin proteins are mediators of cell death or the survival of injured cells, and they are inhibitors of various signaling pathways. The expression of caveolin-, which is involved in the protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway, was examined in the differentiated mouse vestibular cell line UB/UE-1 after gentamicin ototoxicity. Caveolae in the vestibular hair cell of healthy guinea pigs were observed through an electron microscope. UB/UE-1 cells were cultured at 95% $CO_2$ with 5% $O_2$ at $33^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours and at 95% $CO_2$ with 5% $O_2$ at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours for differentiation. Cells were treated with 1 mM gentamicin, 0.02 mM H89 (PKA inhibitor), and then incubated for 24 hours. Caveolin-1 expression was examined by western blotting and PKA activity by a $PepTag^{(R)}$ assay. Caveolae were observed in the vestibular hair cells of healthy guinea pigs by electron microscopy. Caveolin-1 was expressed spontaneously in differentiated UB/UE-1 cells and increased after gentamicin treatment. PKA was also over-activated by gentamicin treatment. Both gentamicin-induced caveolin-1 expression and PKA over-activation were inhibited by H89. These results indicate that gentamicin-induced caveolin-1 expression is mediated by the PKA signaling pathway. We conclude that caveolae/ caveolin activity, induced via a PKA signaling pathway, may be one of the mechanisms of gentamicin-induced ototoxicity.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.266-272
• /
• 2006

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common disorders by under pressure of the median nerve at the wrist in these days. However, pathological mechanism of CTS is unknown. We carried out this study to identify the changes of gene expression and to evaluate possible mechanism in CTS. 120 CTS patients and 30 control patients were included in this study. Patients with a history of diabetes, hypertension, thyroid diseases, and arthritis were excluded. CTS patients were divided to three experimental groups-Mild, Moderate, and Severe group-according to elecrodiagnosis. Radioactive cDNA microarrays (Nylon membrane including 1,152 genes) were used to examine the difference of gene expression profile in CTS. We identified up-regulated genes by more than 2.0 value of z-ratio, and down-regulated genes by less than-2.0 value of z-ratio. 20 genes such as the ITGAL, ITGAM, PECAM1, VIL2, TGFBR2, RAB7, RNF5 and NFKB1 were up-regulated, and 28 genes such as PRG5, CASP8, CDH1, IGFBP5, CBX3, HREV107, PIN, and WINT2 were down-regulated. These genes were related with TGF beta signaling pathway, NF-Kb signaling pathway, antiapoptotic pathway and T cell receptor signaling pathway. However, there were no differences in gene expression profiles according to severities of symptoms. We suggest that CTS could be related with proinflammatory mechanism and antiapoptotic mechanism.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.583-589
• /
• 2008

In the present study, we investigated whether rosmarinic acid, which has been suggested to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, can suppress the expressions of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-$1{\alpha}$ ($MIP-1{\alpha}$) via the MAPK pathway in LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 in media. The effects of rosmarinic acid were investigated in BMDCs with respect to the following; cytotoxicity, surface molecule expression, dextran-FITC uptake, cell migration, chemokine gene expression, and the MAPK signaling pathway. Rosmarinic acid was found to significantly inhibit the expressions of CD80, CD86, MHC class I, and MHC class II in LPS-stimulated mature BMDCs, and rosmarinic acid-treated BMDCs were found to be highly efficient with regards to antigen capture via mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis. In addition, rosmarinic acid reduced cell migration by inducing the expression of a specific chemokine receptor on LPS-induced mature BMDCs. Rosmarinic acid also significantly reduced the expressions of MCP-1 and $MIP-1{\alpha}$ induced by LPS in BMDCs and inhibited LPS-induced activation of MAPK and the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$. These findings broaden current perspectives concerning our understanding of the immunopharmacological functions of rosmarinic acid, and have ramifications that concern the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of DC-related acute and chronic diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.309-314
• /
• 2016

We first demonstrated that cordycepin inhibited cell growth and triggered apoptosis in U87MG cells with wild-type p53, but not in T98G cells with mutant-type p53. Western blot data revealed that the levels of procaspase-8, -3, and Bcl-2 were downregulated in cordycepin-treated U87MG cells, whereas the levels of Fas, FasL, Bak, cleaved caspase-3, -8, and cleaved PARP were upregulated, indicating that cordycepin induces apoptosis by activating the death receptor-mediated pathway in U87MG cells. Cordycepin-induced apoptosis could be suppressed by only SB203580, a p38 MAPK-specific inhibitor. These results suggest that cordycepin triggered apoptosis in U87MG cells through p38 MAPK activation and inhibition of the Akt survival pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.40 no.7
• /
• pp.457-465
• /
• 2017

Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced murine models of type 1 diabetes have been used to examine ER stress during pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis, as this ER stress plays important roles in the pathogenesis and development of the disease. However, the mechanisms linking type 1 diabetes to the ER stress-modulating anti-diabetic signaling pathway remain to be addressed, though it was recently established that ERK5 (Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 5) contributes to the pathogeneses of diabetic complications. This study was undertaken to explore the mechanism whereby ERK5 inhibition instigates pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis via an ER stress-dependent signaling pathway. STZ-induced diabetic WT and CHOP deficient mice were i.p. injected every 2 days for 6 days under BIX02189 (a specific ERK5 inhibitor) treatment in order to evaluate the role of ERK5. Hyperglycemia was exacerbated by co-treating C57BL/6J mice with STZ and BIX02189 as compared with mice administered with STZ alone. In addition, immunoblotting data revealed that ERK5 inhibition activated the unfolded protein response pathway accompanying apoptotic events, such as, PARP-1 and caspase-3 cleavage. Interestingly, ERK5 inhibition-induced exacerbation of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis was inhibited in CHOP deficient mice. Moreover, transduction of adenovirus encoding an active mutant form of $MEK5{\alpha}$, an upstream kinase of ERK5, inhibited STZ-induced unfolded protein responses and ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis. These results suggest that ERK5 protects against STZ-induced pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis and hyperglycemia by interrupting the ER stress-mediated apoptotic pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.683-694
• /
• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) has been well documented to be effective against various cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Rg1 on mechanical stress-induced cardiac injury and its possible mechanism with a focus on the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) signaling pathway. Methods: Mechanical stress was implemented on rats through abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) procedure and on cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts by mechanical stretching with Bioflex Collagen I plates. The effects of Rg1 on cell hypertrophy, fibrosis, cardiac function, [Ca²⁺]_i, and the expression of CaSR and calcineurin (CaN) were assayed both on rat and cellular level. Results: Rg1 alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and improved cardiac decompensation induced by AAC in rat myocardial tissue and cultured cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. Importantly, Rg1 treatment inhibited CaSR expression and increase of [Ca²⁺]_i, which similar to the CaSR inhibitor NPS2143. In addition, Rg1 treatment inhibited CaN and TGF-b1 pathways activation. Mechanistic analysis showed that the CaSR agonist GdCl₃ could not further increase the [Ca²⁺]_i and CaN pathway related protein expression induced by mechanical stretching in cultured cardiomyocytes. CsA, an inhibitor of CaN, inhibited cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, [Ca²⁺]_i and CaN signaling but had no effect on CaSR expression. Conclusion: The activation of CaN pathway and the increase of [Ca²⁺]_i mediated by CaSR are involved in cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, that may be the target of cardioprotection of Rg1 against myocardial injury.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.42 no.8
• /
• pp.604-616
• /
• 2019

Phosphoserine phosphatase (PSPH) is one of the key enzymes of the L-serine synthesis pathway. PSPH is reported to affect the progression and survival of several cancers in an L-serine synthesis-independent manner, but the mechanism remains elusive. We demonstrate that PSPH promotes lung cancer progression through a noncanonical L-serine-independent pathway. PSPH was significantly associated with the prognosis of lung cancer patients and regulated the invasion and colony formation of lung cancer cells. Interestingly, L-serine had no effect on the altered invasion and colony formation by PSPH. Upon measuring the phosphatase activity of PSPH on a serine-phosphorylated peptide, we found that PSPH dephosphorylated phospho-serine in peptide sequences. To identify the target proteins of PSPH, we analyzed the protein phosphorylation profile and the PSPH-interacting protein profile using proteomic analyses and found one putative target protein, IRS-1. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblot assays validated a specific interaction between PSPH and IRS-1 and the dephosphorylation of phospho-IRS-1 by PSPH in lung cancer cells. We suggest that the specific interaction and dephosphorylation activity of PSPH have novel therapeutic potential for lung cancer treatment, while the metabolic activity of PSPH, as a therapeutic target, is controversial.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.307-319
• /
• 2021

Dysregulation of the Wnt pathway causes various diseases including cancer, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, osteoporosis, obesity and chronic kidney diseases. The modulation of dysregulated Wnt pathway is absolutely necessary. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect and the mechanism of action of Wnt-C59, a Wnt signaling inhibitor, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated epithelial cells and macrophage cells. Wnt-C59 showed a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines including IL6, CCL2, IL1A, IL1B, and TNF in LPS-stimulated cells. The dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in LPS stimulated cells was suppressed by WntC59 treatment. The level of β-catenin, the executor protein of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, was elevated by LPS and suppressed by Wnt-C59. Overexpression of β-catenin rescued the suppressive effect of Wnt-C59 on proinflammatory cytokine expression and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity. We found that the interaction between β-catenin and NF-κB, measured by co-immunoprecipitation assay, was elevated by LPS and suppressed by Wnt-C59 treatment. Both NF-κB activity for its target DNA binding and the reporter activity of NF-κB-responsive promoter showed identical patterns with the interaction between β-catenin and NF-κB. Altogether, our findings suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of Wnt-C59 is mediated by the reduction of the cellular level of β-catenin and the interaction between β-catenin and NF-κB, which results in the suppressions of the NF-κB activity and proinflammatory cytokine expression.