• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.24-31
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• 2010

Taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an abundant free amino acid present in brain cells and exerts many important biological functions such as anti-convulsant, modulation of neuronal excitability, regulation of learning and memory, anti-aggressiveness and anti-alcoholic effects. In the present study, we investigated to explore whether taurine has any protective actions against oxidative stress-induced damages in neuronal cells. ERK I/II regulates signaling pathways involved in nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and plays a role in the regulation of cell growth, and apoptosis. We have found that taurine significantly inhibited AMPA induced cortical depolarization in the Grease Gap assays using rat cortical slices. Taurine also inhibited AMPA-induced neuronal cell damage in MTT assays in the differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. When the neuronal cells were treated with $H_2O_2$, levels of NO were increased; however, taurine pretreatment decreased the NO production induced by $H_2O_2$ to approximately normal levels. Interestingly, taurine treatment stimulated ERK I/II activity in the presence of AMPA or $H_2O_2$, suggesting the potential role of ERK I/II in the neuroprotection of taurine. Taken together, taurine has significant neuroprotective actions against AMPA or $H_2O_2$ induced damages in neuronal cells, possibly via activation of ERK I/II.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.115-123
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• 2006

목 적: 본 연구를 통해 GnRH 의한 세포 분열의 억제는 integrin, FAK 빛 ERK를 통한 세포 내 신호전달 기전을 통하여 일어남을 규명하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 연구에 사용된 인간자궁내막암 세포주는 DMEM/F12 (10% FBS)의 조건에서 배양 하였다. GnRH-I과 -II는 실험 목적에 따라 100 nM 농도로 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30분간 또는 10 nM or 100 nM의 농도로 20분간 처리 하였다. 세포의 분열 정도는 [$^3H$] thymidine incorporation assay를 이용하여 정량적으로 측정 하였으며, Immunoblotting 방법을 이용하여 단백질의 발현을 확인 하였다. 결 과: GnRH-I과 -II 모두 HEC1A 세포의 세보분열을 억제하였으며 integrin ${\beta}3$의 발현을 증가 시켰다. GnRH-I과 -II를 처리 후 FAK 및 ERK의 안산화가 증가됨을 관찰할 수 있었다. 결 론: GnRH에 의한 세포분열의 억제는 integrin의 발현과 FAK 및 ERK의 인산화 과정을 통하여 일어남을 알 수 있었다.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.371-380
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Cu/Zn SOD on reduction of hindlimb muscular atrophy induced by cisplatin in rats. Methods: Forty-two rats were assigned to three groups; control group, Cisplatin (CDDP) group and cisplatin with Cu/Zn SOD (CDDP-SOD) group. At day 35 hindlimb muscles were dissected. Food intake, activity, withdrawal threshold, muscle weight, and Type I, II fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) of dissected muscles were measured. Relative SOD activity and expression of MHC and phosphorylated Akt, ERK were measured after dissection. Results: Muscle weight and Type I, II fiber CSA of hindlimb muscles in the CDDP group were significantly less than the control group. Muscle weight and Type I, II fiber CSA of hindlimb muscles, food intake, activity, and withdrawal thresholds of the CDDP-SOD group were significantly greater than the CDDP group. There were no significant differences in relative SOD activities of hindlimb muscles between the CDDP-SOD and CDDP groups. MHC expression and phosphorylated Akt, ERK of hindlimb muscles in the CDDP-SOD group were significantly greater than the CDDP group. Conclusion: Cu/Zn SOD attenuates hindlimb muscular atrophy induced by cisplatin through increased food intake and activity. Increment of phosphorylated Akt, ERK may relate to attenuation of hindlimb muscular atrophy.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.37-46
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Dangguibohyultang (DB) and its combination (DB-I; Astragali membraneus BUNGE : Angelica gigas NAKAI=5:1, DB-II; Astragali membraneus BUNGE:Angelica gigas NAKAI=1:1, DB-III; Astragali membraneus BUNGE:Angelica gigas NAKAI=1:5,) on apoptosis in human colorectal adenocarcinoma HCT116 cells. Methods : To study the cytotoxic effect of methanol extract of DB-I, DB-II and DB-III on HCT116 cells, the cell viability was determined by XTT reduction method and ttypan blue exclusion assay. To confirm the induction of apoptosis, the cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), a substrate for caspase-3 and a typical sign of apoptosis, and the activation of procaspase-3, -8 and -9 were examined by western blot analysis. Furthermore, DB-induced apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation. The release of cytochrome C from mitochondria to cytosol, the level of Bcl-2 and Bax, and the expressions of Raf/MEK/ERK were examined by western blot analysis. Results : DB-I and DB-II reduced proliferation of HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner. DB-I and DB-II decreased procaspase-3, -8, -9 levels in a dose-dependent manner and induced the clevage of PARP. DB-I and DB-II also triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic signaling by increasing the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria to cytosol, decreasing of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and increasing of pro-apoptotic Bax. DB-I and DB-II decreased the activation of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These results suggest that DB-I and DB-II induce apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway in HCT116 cells. Furthermore, Raf/MEK/ERK cascade is involved in DB-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that DB is potentially useful as a chemotherapeutic agent in human liver cancer.

• 공업화학
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.647-652
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• 2021

본 연구에서는 에탄올과 노말헥산을 이용하여 당목향 뿌리 추출물을 제조하고, 인체 모유두세포의 세포증식 및 모발성장 관련 신호전달에 미치는 영향을 평가하였다. 당목향 뿌리 추출물의 세포증식 효과는 MTT assay를 실시하였으며, ERK, Akt, Wnt/𝛽-catenin 신호 경로, 5𝛼-reductase의 발현을 western blot 분석을 통해 측정하였다. 당목향 뿌리 추출물은 인체 모유두세포의 증식을 유의하게 증가시켰고, 세포증식에 관여하는 ERK와 Akt의 인산화를 촉진하였으며, 당목향 뿌리 추출물에 의해 증가된 ERK, Akt 인산화 촉진과 세포증식은 MEK/ERK 억제제 PD98059와 PI3K/Akt 억제제 LY294002에 의해 유의하게 감소되었다. 또한 당목향 뿌리 추출물은 GSK-3𝛽 (Ser9)의 인산화를 통한 𝛽-catenin(Ser552, 675)의 인산화를 촉진함으로써 핵 내의 𝛽-catenin 축적을 유도하였고, 5𝛼-reductase type I, II의 활성을 억제하였다. 종합적으로 당목향 뿌리 추출물은 모유두세포의 ERK, Akt 경로의 활성화를 통해 세포의 증식을 유도하며, 𝛽-catenin 신호 경로 활성화 및 5𝛼-reductase 활성 억제를 통해 탈모 예방 및 모발 성장 효과를 나타냄으로써 헤어케어제품의 소재로 응용가능성이 있음을 시사한다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.287-296
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• 2018

Ganglioside GM3 is known as an inhibition factor of cell differentiation and proliferation via inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation. Our previous study showed that the exogenous ganglioside GM3 reduced the meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes and induced apoptosis at 44 h of in vitro maturation (IVM). However, the role of ganglioside GM3 in the relationship between EGFR signaling and apoptosis during porcine oocyte maturation has not yet been studied. First, porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in the NCSU-23 medium with exogenous ganglioside GM3 according to maturation periods (non-treated, only IVM I: 0 - 22 h, only IVM II: 22 - 44 h and IVM I & II: 0 - 44 h). We confirmed that the proportion of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) increased significantly in the IVM I treated group than in the control group. We also confirmed that the meiotic maturation until M II stage and polar body formation decreased significantly in the only IVM I treated group. Cumulus cell expansion and mRNA levels of the expansion-related factors (HAS2, TNFAIP6 and PTX3) decreased significantly in the IVM I treated group than in the control group. Protein levels of EGFR, p-EGFR, ERK1/2, and p-ERK1/2 decreased significantly in the GM3-treated groups, during the IVM I period. In addition, cellular apoptosis, determined using TUNEL assay, and protein levels of Cleaved caspase 3, were increased significantly in the GM3-treated COCs during the IVM I period. Based on these results, ganglioside GM3 exposure of porcine COCs during the IVM I period reduced meiotic maturation and cumulus cell expansion via inhibition of EGFR activity in pigs.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.63-67
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• 2019

Interaction between epidermis and dermis plays an important role in wound healing and hair follicle formation. This study focused on investigating the potency of ethanol extract of Puerariae Radix (EPR) as cosmetic ingredient using human dermal fibroblasts (hDFn). Our results revealed that EPR suppressed collagenase activity dose-dependently. EPR inhibited activity of $5{\alpha}$-reductase I and II at the final concentration of $25{\mu}g/ml$ in hDFn cells. Also, EPR promoted the proliferation and the ERK activation of cells. ERK phosphorylation by EPR was blocked by specific inhibitor of ERK, PD98059. EPR-induced cell proliferation was blocked by PD98059. This means that EPR could promote the proliferation of hDFn cells via the activation ERK. Collectively, these results suggest that EPR may be used as a new cosmetic ingredient.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.615-629
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• 2021

An active compound, triterpene saponin, astersaponin I (AKNS-2) was isolated from Aster koraiensis Nakai (AKNS) and the autophagy activation and neuroprotective effect was investigated on in vitro and in vivo Parkinson's disease (PD) models. The autophagy-regulating effect of AKNS-2 was monitored by analyzing the expression of autophagy-related protein markers in SH-SY5Y cells using Western blot and fluorescent protein quenching assays. The neuroprotection of AKNS-2 was tested by using a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydropyridium ion (MPP⁺)-induced in vitro PD model in SH-SY5Y cells and an MPTP-induced in vivo PD model in mice. The compound-treated SH-SY5Y cells not only showed enhanced microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and decreased sequestosome 1 (p62) expression but also showed increased phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (p-Erk), phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and phosphorylated unc-51-like kinase (p-ULK) and decreased phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) expression. AKNS-2-activated autophagy could be inhibited by the Erk inhibitor U0126 and by AMPK siRNA. In the MPP⁺-induced in vitro PD model, AKNS-2 reversed the reduced cell viability and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels and reduced the induced α-synuclein level. In an MPTP-induced in vivo PD model, AKNS-2 improved mice behavioral performance, and it restored dopamine synthesis and TH and α-synuclein expression in mouse brain tissues. Consistently, AKNS-2 also modulated the expressions of autophagy related markers in mouse brain tissue. Thus, AKNS-2 upregulates autophagy by activating the Erk/mTOR and AMPK/mTOR pathways. AKNS-2 exerts its neuroprotective effect through autophagy activation and may serve as a potential candidate for PD therapy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.257-272
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• 2022

In addition to inducing apoptosis, caspase inhibition contributes to necroptosis and/or autophagy depending on the cell type and cellular context. In macrophages, necroptosis can be induced by co-treatment with Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] for TLR4 and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly I:C] for TLR3) and a cell-permeable pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD. Here, we elucidated the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of cell death. We showed that LPS/zVAD- and poly I:C/zVAD-induced cell death in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) was inhibited by receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1) inhibitor necrostatin-1 and autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine. Electron microscopic images displayed autophagosome/autolysosomes, and immunoblotting data revealed increased LC3II expression. Although zVAD did not affect LPS- or poly I:C-induced activation of IKK, JNK, and p38, it enhanced IRF3 and STAT1 activation as well as type I interferon (IFN) expression. In addition, zVAD inhibited ERK and Akt phosphorylation induced by LPS and poly I:C. Of note, zVAD-induced enhancement of the IRF3/IFN/STAT1 axis was abolished by necrostatin-1, while zVAD-induced inhibition of ERK and Akt was not. Our data further support the involvement of autocrine IFNs action in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent necroptosis, LPS/zVAD-elicited ROS production was inhibited by necrostatin-1, neutralizing antibody of IFN receptor (IFNR) and JAK inhibitor AZD1480. Accordingly, both cell death and ROS production induced by TLR ligands plus zVAD were abrogated in STAT1 knockout macrophages. We conclude that enhanced TRIF-RIP1-dependent autocrine action of IFNβ, rather than inhibition of ERK or Akt, is involved in TLRs/zVAD-induced autophagic and necroptotic cell death via the JAK/STAT1/ROS pathway.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2004

Severe hypertension (>180 mmHg) develops in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) after 12 wk-old; however, it is not clear whether what kinds of molecular mechanism leads to altered cardiac performance following developmental stages in SHR. Also, although the effect of calcineurin (Cn) to promote cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vivo and in vitro is established, its overall necessity as a hypertrophic mediator is currently an area of ongoing debate. Thus, we have examined i) body weight and blood pressure, ii) differences of expression and distribution of signaling molecules such as Cn, protein kinase B/Akt (PKB/Akt), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) between SHR and their age-matched control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats following developmental stages. In 16 wk-old SHR compared with WKY, 2-dimentional echocardiography showed cardiac enlargement and hypertrophy of left ventricle, significantly. Taken together, we suggest that Cn is associated with hereditary cardiac hypertrophy, the process being related to the molecular signaling mechanisms involving PKB/Akt and ERK.