• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.187-197
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• 2009

Objective: Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins are important in regulating cellular signaling pathways. Bead-based multiplex phosphorylation assay was conducted to detect the phosphorylation of seven proteins to maximize the information obtained from a single lysate of stage-specific mouse oocytes at a time. Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 2 h, 8 h, and 16 h, respectively to address phosphorylation status of seven target proteins during oocyte maturation process. We analyzed the changes in phosphorylation at germinal vesicle (GV, 0 h), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD, 2 h), metaphase I (MI, 8 h), and metaphase II (MII, 16 h in vitro or in vivo) mouse oocytes by using Bio-Plex phosphoprotein assay system. We chose seven target proteins, namely, three mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and other 4 well known signaling molecules, Akt, GSK-$3{\alpha}/{\beta}$, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, and STAT3 to measure their phosphorylation status. Western blot analysis and kinase inhibitor treatment for ERK1/2, JNK, and Akt during in vitro maturation of oocytes were conducted for the confirmation. Results: Phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK and STAT3 was increased over 3 folds up to 20 folds, while phosphorylation of the other three signal molecules, Akt, GSK-$3{\alpha}/{\beta}$, and $I{\kapa}B{\alpha}$ was less than 3 folds. All of these results except for Akt were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: This is the first report on the new and valuable method measuring many phosphoproteins simultaneously in one minute sample such as oocyte lysates. All of the three MAPKs, ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK are involved in the process of mouse oocyte maturation. In addition, STAT3 might be important regulator of oocyte maturation, while Akt phosphorylation at Serine 473 may not be involved in the regulation of oocyte maturation.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.229-232
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• 2002

There are two distinct UV-responsive signaling pathways in UV-irradiated mammalian cells, i.e., the DNA damage-dependent and -independent pathways. The former occurs in nucleus and results in growth arrest and apoptosis via post-translational modification of p53. The latter is initiated by oxidative stress and/or by damages in cell membrane or cytoplasm, which activate signaling cascade through intracellular molecules including mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK). In normal human fibroblastic cells, all of MAPK family members, extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and p38, were rapidly phosphorylated following UV-irradiation. ERK phosphorylation was suppressed by an inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). As ERK usually responds to mitogenic stimuli from RTK ligands, UV-induced ERK phosphorylation may be linked to the proliferation of survived cells. In contrast, phosphorylation of JNK and p38, as well as apoptosis, were modulated by the level of UV-generated oxidative stress Therefore, JNK and p38 may take part in oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis. Phosphorylation of p53 at Ser and Thr residues are essential for stabilization and activation of p53. Among several sites reported, we confirmed phosphorylation at Ser-15 and Ser-392 after UV-irradiation. Both of these were inhibited by a phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor, presumably due to the shutdown of signals from DNA damage to p53. Phosphorylation at Ser-392 was also sensitive to an antioxidant and a p38 inhibitor, suggesting that Ser-392 of p53 is one of the possible points where DNA damage-dependent and -independent apoptic signals merge. Thus, MAPK pathway links UV-induced intracellular signals to the nuclear responses and modifies DNA damage-dependent cellular outcome, resulting in the determination of cell death.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.558-563
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• 2007

This study was conducted to analyze the cytotoxic effects of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and propyl gallate (PG) in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells. Here we measured the inhibition level of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and elucidated the relationships between GJIC and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as ERK, JNK, and p38. The cytotoxicities of BHT and PG appeared at concentrations of 1.0mM and 0.25mM, respectively, in the WB-F344 cells; and GJIC inhibition, which was analyzed by a scrape-loading/dye transfer assay and Western blotting analysis, appeared at 0.6mM for BHT and 0.1mM for PG, respectively. Also, the phosphorylations of Cx43, ERK, JNK, and p38 increased in dose-dependent manners. This suggests that BHT and PG treatments inhibited GJIC by the phosphorylation of MAPKs prior to cell damage.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1555-1563
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• 2007

To idenifty effect of Bojungbangam-tang kakambang on Cisplatin-Induced G2/M Phase Arrest in Human Renal Proximal Tubular HK-2 Cells. Cytotoxicity of cisplatin was detected in HK-2 cells and the value of IC50 is about $25\;{\mu}M$. The treatment of cisplatin to HK-2 showed the G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. The ethanol extract of Bojungbangam-tang kakambang (EBTKB), a new herbal prescription composed of ten crude herbs, inhibited cisplatin-induced G2/M phase arrest in HK-2 cells. EBTKB increased G0/G1 peak in cisplatin-treated HK-2 cells. p53, p21 and p27 expression were increased in cisplatin-treated HK-2 cells. Inhibitory effect of EBTKB on cisplatin-induced G2/M phase arrest was accomplished through inhibition of p53, p21 and p27 expression. Also, reduced CDK2 and cyclin A expression by cisplatin were increased by EBTKB, but cyclin E was not changed. Reduction of ERK activation and increment of p38 activation by cisplatin were increased ERK activation and decreased p38 activation by EBTKB. Cisplatin had no effect on JNK activation, but EBTKB increased JNK activation. These results can suggest that EBTKB inhibits cisplatin-induced G2/M phase arrest in HK-2 cell through reduction of p53-dependent p21 and p27 protein, ERK activation and p38 inactivation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.107-119
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• 2004

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Bee Venom and melittin on the lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and sodium nitroprusside(SNP)-induced expressions of Cell viability, nitric oxide(NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), extra-signal response kinase(ERK), jun N-terminal Kinase(JNK) and p38 kinase(p38)- mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK) Family- in RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line. Methods : The expressions of cell viability by MTT assay, NO by Nitrite assay and iNOS, ERK, JNK and p38 were determined by Western blotting. Results : 1. Compared with the control group, 0.5, 1, $5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ bee venom and 5, $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin increased cell viability of RAW 264.7 induced by LPS and SNP significantly respectively. 2. Compared with the control group, 0.5, 1, $5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ bee venom and 5, $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin inhibited expression of NO induced by LPS and SNP significantly respectively. 3. Compared with the control group, 1, $5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ bee venom and 5, $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin inhibited expression of iNOS induced by LPS significantly and 0.5, 1, $5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ bee venom and 5, $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin inhibited expression of iNOS induced by SNP significantly. 4. Compared with the control group, the expression of ERK induced by LPS and SNP decreased significantly in the treatment groups of $5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ bee venom and 5, $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin, which of p-ERK by LPS also did in 1, $5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ bee venom and 5, $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin, but which of p-ERK by SNP did not decrease. 5. Compared with the control group, the. expression of JNK induced by LPS and SNP decreased significantly in the treatment groups of 5, $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin, which of p-JNK by LPS in 5, $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin and by SNP in $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ bee venom and $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin decreased significantly. 6. Compared with the control group, the expression of p38 induced by LPS did not have significant difference, which induced by SNP decreased significantly in the treatment groups of 1, $5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ bee venom and 5, $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin. p-p38 induced by LPS decreased significantly in the treatment group of $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of melittin, which induced by SNP also decreased significantly in 0.5, 1, $5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ bee venom and 5, $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ melittin.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2007

Objectives : Sophora flavescens (SF) is widely used in traditional herbal medicine in Korea and is well recognized for its anti-inflammatory effect. However, its effect on Tumornecrosis factor alpha (Tnf) production in BV2 microglial cell is not yet known. Methods : We investigated the effect of SF on the production and expression of Tnf, a well known inflammatory mediator, in lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-activated BV2 microglial cells. Results : The LPS-induced Tnf production was markedly reduced by treatment with SF (50 ${\mu}g/ml$). In reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, SF suppressed the LPS activated expression of Tnf mRNA. In addition, Western blot analysis confirmed that SF suppressed the expression of Tnf. Sophora flavescens also inhibited the LPS-induced phosphylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), which mediate the Tnfproduction signaling pathway whereas LPS-induced phosphylation of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK) was not inhibited by SF, which implies that SF suppresses LPS-induced Tnf production via the ERK mediated pathway. Conclusion : Taken together, these findings indicated that SF inhibits LPS-induce Tnf production, and that this inhibitory effect is mediated via the ERK pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.365-369
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• 2010

In this study, we examined whether melatonin promotes apoptotic cell death via p53 in prostate LNCaP cells. Melatonin treatment significantly curtailed the growth of LNCaP cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Melatonin treatment (0 to 3 mM) induced the fragmentation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. Moreover, melatonin markedly activated Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression in dose increments. To investigate p53 and p21 expression, LNCaP cells were treated with 0 to 3 mM melatonin. Melatonin increased the expressions of p53, p21, and p27. Treatment with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors, PD98059 (ERK inhibitor), SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) and SB202190 (p38 inhibitor), confirmed that the melatonin-induced apoptosis was p21-dependent, but ERK-independent. With the co-treatment of PD98059 and melatonin, the expression of p-p53, p21, and MDM2 did not decrease. These effects were opposite to the expression of p-p53, p21, and MDM2 observed with SP600125 and SB202190 treatments. Together, these results suggest that p53-dependent induction of JNK/p38 MAPK directly participates in apoptosis induced by melatonin.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2001

제 4형 콜라젠을 분해하는 MMP-9은 조직 재생에 중요한 역할을 하기 때문에 주목받아 왔는데, 이전의 문헌들에서 PMA에 의해 이 유전자 발현이 강하게 상승발현된다고 알려져 있다. 비록 MMP-9 발현을 조절하는 PMA의 기전이 잘 밝혀지지는 않았지만, 다른 유전자발현에서의 이 phorbol ester의 효과는 c-raf-1-ERK 신호전달통로의 활성에 관해 연구되어 오고 있다. 하지만 이번 연구에서 저자는 MMP-9 발현에서 PMA의 상승효과에는 대개는 스트레스성 자극과 관련된 JNK1 의존성 신호전달과정이 또한 필요하다는 다른 가능성을 조사하였다. 그 결과 JNK 억제재중 하나인 SP 600125가 UM-SCC-1세포주에서 PMA에 의해 유도된 MMP-9 상승발현을 용량의존적으로 억제하는 것으로 나타났고 72시간동안 전처치를 한 경우에 그의 억제효과가 최대이었다. phorbol ester로 처리한 세포에 GAL4 luciferase reporter와 vector를 주입해서 조사한 결과 PMA가 c-Jun transacting 활성을 상승시켰다. 그뿐 아니라 PMA에 의한 MMP-9 촉진자 활성에는 AP-1 motif가 필요하며 이 motif에 c-Jun이 결합하는 것을 EMSA를 통해 확인하였다. 결론적으로 UM-SCC-1 세포주에서 PMA에 의한 MMP9의 증가된 발현은 이미 밝혀진 ERK 경로뿐 아니라 JNK 경로를 통한 결과임이 밝혀져 이 경로를 차단하는 방법이 또하나의 암치료 방향을 제시해주고 있다.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.227-231
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the MAPK signaling pathways involved in regulation of HO-1 and the odontoblast differentiation markers during the odontoblastic differentiation for HDPCs. We evaluated cell growth by MTT assay and differentiation marker mRNA expression by RT-PCR. When the cells were treated with p38 inhibitor (SB203580, $10{\mu}M$), JNK inhibitor (SP600125, $10{\mu}M$), and ERK inhibitor (PD98059, $20{\mu}M$) for 7 days, cell growth and expression of HO-1 and differentiation makers were significantly decreased in HDPCs. Our results suggest that odontoblastic differentiation is positively regulated by HO-1 induction in HDPCs via ERK, JNK, and p38 signaling pathways. Thus, pharmacological HO-1 induction might represent a potent therapeutic approach for pulp capping and the regeneration of HDPCs.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2022

Although it has been intensively studied over the past few decades, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers. Eriodictyol, a plant-derived flavonoid mainly found in citrus fruits, exerts diverse biological effects, including anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the anticancer properties of eriodictyol and its mechanisms of action in pancreatic cancer cells. In both SNU213 and Panc-1 cells, eriodictyol decreased viability, induced apoptosis, and decreased clonogenicity. In addition, eriodictyol treatment increased the phosphorylation level of JNK and decreased the phosphorylation levels of ERK, FAK, and AKT. These observations provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of eriodictyol-induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cell lines, and could contribute to the development of candidate compounds for treating pancreatic cancer.