• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2006

Background: Calcineurin plays a crucial role in T cell activation, cell growth, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, and its over-expression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy and stroke. However, the expression and function of calcineurin in the pathologic lesion of chronic inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid synovium, remain to be defined. This study was aimed to determine the role of calcineurin in inflammatory arthritis and investigate the expression and function of calcineurin in the rheumatoid synovium and synoviocytes, the actual site of chronic inflammation. Methods: Immuno-histochemical staining using specific antibody to calcineurin was perfomed in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients were isolated from RA and OA patients, and cultured with IL-1${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the presence or absence of cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor. The calcineurin expression was assessed by phosphatase assay and Western blotting analysis. IL-6, -10, -17, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, -3, and -9 released into the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. After transfection with GFP-Cabin 1 gene into synoviocytes, the levels of IL-6 and MMPs were measured by ELISA. Results: Calcineurin was highly expressed in the lining layer of synovium and cultured synoviocytes of RA patients. The elevated calcineurin activity in the rheumatoid synoviocytes was triggered by proin flammatory cytokines such as IL-1${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$. In contrast, IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, failed to increase the calcineurin activity. The targeted inhibition of calcineurin by the over-expression of Cabin 1, a natural calcineurin antagonist, inhibited the production of IL-6 and MMP-2 by rheumatoid synoviocytes in a similar manner to the calcineurin inhibitor, cyclosporin A. Conclusion: These data suggest that abnormal activation of calcineurin in the synoviocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic arthritis, and thus provide a potential target for controlling inflammatory arthritis.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.425-431
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• 2009

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor play an important role in the formation and progression of glioma. In this study, I investigated the ability of HGF to recover of the PSA siRNA-suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in U-251-MG cells. PSA siRNA-transfected U-251-MG cells showed the reduction of the proliferation, migration and invasion with compared to control. Treatment of HGF on the PSA siRNA-transfected U-251-MG cells recovered the ability of proliferation, migration and invasion. These data suggest that PSA and HGF may use unique and parallel signaling cascade leading to the proliferative, migrative and invasive phenotype of U-251-MG cells. I also showed that PSA cooperated with HGF to a migrative and invasive phenotype via the increased secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.335-347
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• 2000

치주질환의 진행에 따른 치주조직파괴에 있어 치주조직내 다양한 세포외기질성분을 분해하는 matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3)는 염증반응에 관여하는 세포들로부터 분비된 interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$)에 의해 유도될 수 있다. 이전 연구에서 치주인대세포에서의 MMP-3 생성이 tetracycline 및 tetracycline 유도체에 의하여 억제될 수 있음이 보고되었다. 이 연구의 목적은 metronidazole 및 doxycycline-HCl을 적용한 후 치은섬유아세포에 IL $1{\beta}$를 적용하여 MMP-3의 생성을 유도한 후 이들 약물들이 치은섬유아세포의 MMP-3 생성에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위한 것이다. 건강한 성인으로부터 치주질환이 이환되지않은 상악 제2대구치 후방의 건강한 치은결합 조직을 절취하여 치은섬유아세포를 배양한 후 다양한 농도의 metronidazole (10-$200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) 및 doxycyline-HCl(10-$200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$)을 각각 적용하여 1시간 배양하고 proMMP-3의 활성화를 유도하기 위하여 25ng/ml의 IL-$1{\beta}$을 투여한 후 24시간 배양하여 배양된 세포의 상층 배양액을 추출하고 proMMP-3 ELISA kit를 이용하여 비색정량하였다. 비색정량을 통하여 얻어진 자료들은 독립 t-test와 일원분산분석(ANOVA) 및 사후검정으로 Duncan test를 시행하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. Metronidazole 경우 10-$200{\mu}g/ml$의 모든 농도군에서 proMMP-3의 활성도가 억제되었다(p<0.05). 2. Doxycycline-HCl의 경우 $100{\mu}g/ml$ 이하의 농도군에서는 proMMP-3의 활성도가 억제되었으나(p<0.05), $200{\mu}g/ml$ 농도에서는 proMMP-3의 활성도가 상승되었다(p<0.05). 3. Metronidazole과 doxycycline-HCl의 대조군에 대한 각 실험농도군의 proMMP-3 생성의 감소비율 비교시 모든 농도군에서 metronidazole이 doxycycline-HCl보다 더 높은 감소율을 보였다. 이상과 같은 결과는 metronidazole(10-$200{\mu}g/ml$)이 doxycycline-HCl($100{\mu}g/ml$ 이하) 보다 더 광범위한 혈중농도에서 IL-$1{\beta}$의한 인체치은섬유아세포내 MMP-3의 활성도를 효과적으로 억제할 수 있음을 시사하였다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.70-78
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• 2009

Coptis japonica (C. japonica) is a perennial medicinal plant that has anti-inflammatory activity. C. japonica contains numerous biologically active alkaloids including berberine, palmatine, epi-berberine, and coptisine. The most well-known anti-inflammatory principal in C. japonica is berberine. For example, berberine has been implicated in the inhibition of iNOS induction by cytokines in microglial cells. However, the efficacies of other alkaloids components on microglial activation were not investigated yet. In this study, we investigated the effects of three alkaloids (palmatine, epi-berberine and coptisine) from C. japonica on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation. BV2 microglial cells were immunostimulated with LPS and then the production of several inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were examined as well as the phosphorylation status of Erk1/2 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). Palmatine and to a lesser extent epi-berberine and coptisine, significantly reduced the release of NO, which was mediated by the inhibition of LPS-stimulated mRNA and protein induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) from BV2 microglia. In addition to NO, palmatine inhibited MMP-9 enzymatic activity and mRNA induction by LPS. Palmatine also inhibited the increase in the LPS-induced MMP-9 promoter activity determined by MMP-9 promoter luciferase reporter assay. LPS stimulation increased Erk1/2 phosphorylation in BV2 cells and these alkaloids inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of Erk1/2. The anti-inflammatory effect of palmatine in LPS-stimulated microglia may suggest the potential use of the alkaloids in the modulation of neuroinflammatory responses, which might be important in the pathophysiological events of several neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease (PD) and stroke.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.346-355
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• 2020

Purpose: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) has a key role in hepatic fibrogenesis by virtue of its effect on the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Although many studies have shown that PPAR-γ agonists inhibit liver fibrosis, the mechanism remains largely unclear, especially regarding the cross-talk between PPAR-γ and other potent fibrogenic factors. Methods: This experimental study involved 25 male Wistar rats. Twenty rats were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) to induce liver fibrosis, further divided into an untreated group (BDL; n=10) and a group treated with the PPAR-γ agonist thiazolidinedione (TZD), at 14 days post-operation (BDL+TZD; n=10). The remaining 5 rats had a sham operation (sham; n=5). The effect of PPAR-γ agonist on liver fibrosis was evaluated by histopathology, protein immunohistochemistry, and mRNA expression quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Histology and immunostaining showed markedly reduced collagen deposition, bile duct proliferation, and HSCs in the BDL+TZD group compared to those in the BDL group (p<0.001). Similarly, significantly lower mRNA expression of collagen α-1(I), matrix metalloproteinase-2, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B chain, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were evident in the BDL+TZD group compared to those in the BDL group (p=0.0002, p<0.035, p<0.0001, and p=0.0123 respectively). Moreover, expression of the transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) was also downregulated in the BDL+TZD group (p=0.0087). Conclusion: The PPAR-γ agonist inhibits HSC activation in vivo and attenuates liver fibrosis through several fibrogenic pathways. Potent fibrogenic factors such as PDGF, CTGF, and TGF-β1 were downregulated by the PPAR-γ agonist. Targeting PPAR-γ activity may be a potential strategy to control liver fibrosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1700-1704
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• 2008

Rheum undulatum L. has been commonly used as a cure for hematemesis, dropsy, and haematuria in the Oriental medicine for a long time. The main constituents of R. undulatum are chrysophanol and emodin, which are an antioxidative substance that has an anthraquinone structure. In the present study, to develop a new anti-aging agent, we examined the antioxidant activity and the inhibitory effect of the R. undulatum extract on the synthesis of MMP-1 in UVA-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts and MMP-1 activity. The R. undulatum extract was found to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and superoxide radicals in the xanthine/ xanthine oxidase system by a dose-dependent manner, respectively. UVA-induced MMP-1 expression was reduced about 79.5% by 1 ${\mu}g$/ml of the R. undulatum extract and also inhibited MMP-1 activity in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, it was observed that the R. undulatum extract has the antioxidant activity, regulation of UVA-induced MMP-1 production, and inhibition of MMP-1 activity. Therefore, these results suggest that the R. undulatum extract can be developed as a new anti-aging component of cosmetics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1092-1098
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• 2012

This study was carried out to discover the skin wrinkle reducing components in the seeds of Arctium lappa. The isolation of a methylene chloride-soluble fraction of 70% ethanol extract from the seeds of Arctium lappa using a procollagen type-1 synthesis and MMP-1 activity resulted in the isolation and identification of four lignin compounds: arctiin, arctigenin, matairesinol, and diarctigenin. All structures were confirmed via NMR and MS spectroscopic data. To determine cell viability and procollagen type-1 synthesis, human dermal fibroblasts were treated with 10-100 ${\mu}M$. As a result, none of the four compounds showed cytotoxicity up to 50 ${\mu}M$. We also investigated their procollagen type-1 synthesis and MMP-1 inhibition activity and found that arctiin had the highest activity in terms of both procollagen synthesis and MMP-1 inhibition among all four compounds. Putting all the data together, we suggest that arctiin be used in cosmetics as an anti-wrinkle material.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2020

Osteoporosis is a worldwide disease leading to significant economic and societal burdens globally. Osteoporosis is caused by unbalanced bone remodeling between the rate of osteoclast bone resorption and osteoblast bone formation. Acer tegmentosum Maxim (AT) is a traditional herbal medicine containing multiple biological activities such as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory purposes. However, its role in osteoporosis has not been fully studied. Therefore, we investigated whether AT has a potent inhibitory effect on osteoporosis and its mechanism through a systemic evaluation in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. OVX mice were orally administrated with the AT at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for 10 weeks. Histological images and histomorphometry analyses were performed by H&E and Toluidine blue satin, and the expression levels of receptor activator for nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL), nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasm 1 (NFATc1), c-Fos, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) related to the osteoclast differentiation were investigated using immunohistochemical analysis. Administration of AT prevented bone loss and the alternations of osteoporotic bone parameters at the distinct regions of the distal femur and spongiosa region in OVX mice. Further, administration of AT increased periosteal bone formation in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, AT inhibited not only the expression of NFATc1 and c-Fos, which are two major regulators of osteoclastogenesis but also reduced bone resorbed encoding expression of MMP9 and RANKL. Our results indicated that administration of AT prevented bone loss and the alternations of osteoporotic bone parameters at the distinct regions of the distal femur and spongiosa region in OVX mice. Also AT has the bone protective effect through the suppression of osteoclast and promotion of osteoblast, suggesting that it could be a preventive and therapeutic candidate for anti-osteoporosis.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.391-398
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• 2019

The antioxidant, whitening, and anti-wrinkle activity of Spirodela polyrhiza extracts and fractions were evaluated to determine its efficacy as a functional cosmetic material. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical scavenging activities were 44.2 and 74.3%, respectively, at 100 ㎍/mL of SE-E (the ethyl acetate fraction of 70% ethanol extract). To measure anti-wrinkle effects, procollagen biosynthesis and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) inhibition activity were determined. At 25 ㎍/mL of SE (70% ethanol extract), the biosynthesis activity was 48.5%, and SE-E showed the best activity (57.8%) at the same concentration. MMP-1 inhibition activity of SE and SE-E was 13.4 and 28.5%, respectively, at 25 ig/mL. Finally, the inhibition of cellular melanin synthesis and cellular tyrosinase were measured to determine the whitening effect; at 25 ㎍/mL, the inhibition activities of SE were 9.6 and 13.8%, respectively, and those for SE-E were 15.4 and 22.0%, respectively. Our results confirmed the possibility of SE and SE-E as effective functional materials. Further research investigating the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of S. polyrhiza is necessary to confirm its potential use in the food, cosmetics, and drug industries.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.129-137
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of nude pack containing black tea water extract (NPBT) on skin wrinkle formation in hairless mice. Skin wrinkles were induced by UVB irradiation to the backs of hairless mice for 5 weeks. And at the same time, NPBT was applied topically. Wrinkle formation, histological changes, expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and protein activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were observed or analyzed. Wrinkles for the control group were formed as a pattern of deep furrows and thick crests. Whereas wrinkles for the NPBT treated group were formed as a pattern of shallow furrows and thin crests, and their wrinkle areas were significantly (p<0.001) lower than the control group. Collagen fibers were arranged irregularly and sparse in density and some elastic fibers were degenerated in the control group, while they were almost intact in the NPBT treated group. MMP-3 mRNA expression in the control group was significantly (p<0.001) higher than the normal group, and that of NPBT treated group was significantly (p<0.001) lower than the control group. The NPBT treated group showed remarkably lower protein activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 than the control group. NPBT could have a considerable inhibitory effect on skin wrinkle formation in hairless mice.