• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.930-936
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• 2004

Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone), an active component originated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been reported to possess antioxidant and anti-inflamma-tory properties. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of wogonin in a focal cerebral ischemia rat model. Wogonin markedly reduced the infarct volume after 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 22 h reperfusion. Wogonin decreased the production of nitric oxide and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 in lipopolisaccharide-stimu-lated microglial cells. While wogonin reduced the activity of NF-$textsc{k}$B, it did not change the activ-ity of mitogen-activated protein kinases family members, p38, ERK and JNK. The lipopolisaccharide-stimulated production of NO and cytokines was significantly blocked by vari-ous kinds of NF-$textsc{k}$B inhibitors such as N-acetyl cysteine, pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and MG-132. The data may indicate that wogonin has neuroprotective effect by preventing the over-activation of microglial cells, possibly by inactivating NF-$textsc{k}$B signaling pathway

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2008

CD29 $({\beta}1-integrins)$ is one of major adhesion molecules involved in regulating cell adhesion, migration and morphological changes. In this study, we investigated the regulatory role of CD29 in monocytic functions using monocytic cell line U937 cells. CD29 was found to be one of highly expressed membrane proteins in U937 cells, according to flow cytometric analysis. The activation of CD29 by agonistic antibody MEM101A and extracellular matrix protein (ECM) fibronectin strongly induced cell-cell and cell-fibronectin adhesions. However, blocking antibodies to CD98 and CD147 showed different inhibitory features in these two adhesion events. Furthermore, U0126, an ERK inhibitor, only blocked cell-cell adhesion but not cell-fibronectin adhesion, indicating that cell-cell or cell-fibronectin adhesion events may be regulated by different molecular mechanisms. Meanwhile, CD29 activation also enhanced ROS generation but not phagocytic ability, and similarly radical scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine strongly blocked CD29-mediated cell-cell adhesion, implying that ROS may play a critical role in up-regulating cell-cell adhesion. Therefore, our data suggest that the activation of CD29 may be critically involved in regulating monocytic cell-mediated cell-cell adhesion and ROS generation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2013

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and telomerase are considered attractive targets for anticancer therapy. The in vitro anticancer activity of the gold(I) compound auranofin was investigated using MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cells, in which STAT3 is constitutively active. In cell culture, auranofin inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), markedly blocked the effect of auranofin. Incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine into DNA and anchorage-independent cell growth on soft agar were decreased by auranofin treatment. STAT3 phosphorylation and telomerase activity were also attenuated in cells exposed to auranofin, but NAC pretreatment restored STAT3 phosphorylation and telomerase activity in these cells. These findings indicate that auranofin exerts in vitro antitumor effects in MDA-MB 231 cells and its activity involves inhibition of STAT3 and telomerase. Thus, auranofin shows potential as a novel anticancer drug that targets STAT3 and telomerase.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2015

Nicotinamide (NAM) has been shown to suppress reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in primary human fibroblasts, thereby extending their replicative lifespan when added to the medium during long-term cultivation. Based on this finding, NAM is hypothesized to affect cellular senescence progression by keeping ROS accumulation low. In the current study, we asked whether NAM is indeed able to reduce ROS levels and senescence phenotypes in cells undergoing senescence progression and those already in senescence. We employed two different cellular models: MCF-7 cells undergoing senescence progression and human fibroblasts in a state of replicative senescence. In both models, NAM treatment substantially decreased ROS levels. In addition, NAM attenuated the expression of the assessed senescence phenotypes, excluding irreversible growth arrest. N-acetyl cysteine, a potent ROS scavenger, did not have comparable effects in the tested cell types. These data show that NAM has potent antioxidative as well as anti-senescent effects. Moreover, these findings suggest that NAM can reduce cellular deterioration caused by oxidative damage in postmitotic cells in vivo.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2000

Zinc is known to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), which eventually contribute to cytotoxicity in a variety of cell types. Here in, we demonstrated that zinc decreased the viability of C6 glial cells in a time and dose-dependent manner, which was revealed as apoptosis characterized by ladder-pattern fragmentation of genomic DNA. chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation in Hoechst dye staining. Zinc-induced apoptosis of C6 glial cells was prevented by the addition of catalase and antioxidants including reduced glutathione (GSH), N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC). Wefurther confirmed that zinc decreased intrac-ellular levels of GSH and generated $H_2O_2$in C6 glial cells. Moreover, antioxidants also decreased the generation of zinc-induced $H_2O_2$ in C6 glial cells. These data indicated that zinc-induced the apoptotic death of C6 glial cells via generation of reactive oxygen species such as $H_2O_2$.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2011

Excess free iron generates oxidative stress that may contribute to the pathogenesis of various causes of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we assessed the modification of ferritin induced by $H_2O_2$. When ferritin was incubated with $H_2O_2$, the degradation of ferritin L-chain increased with the $H_2O_2$ concentration whereas ferritin H-chain was remained. Free radical scavengers, azide, thiourea, and N-acetyl-$_L$-cysteine suppressed the $H_2O_2$-mediated ferritin modification. The iron specific chelator, deferoxamine, effectively prevented $H_2O_2$-mediated ferritin degradation in modified ferritin. The release of iron ions from ferritin was increased in $H_2O_2$ concentration-dependent manner. The present results suggest that free radicals may play a role in the modification and iron releasing of ferritin by $H_2O_2$. It is assumed that oxidative damage of ferritin by $H_2O_2$ may induce the increase of iron content in cells and subsequently lead to the deleterious condition.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2007

Although sanguinarine, a benzophenanthridine alkaloid, possesses anti-cancer properties against several cancer cell lines, the molecular mechanisms by which it inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis have not been clearly understood. In order to further explore the critical events leading to apoptosis in sanguinarine-treated MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells, the following effects of sanguinarine on components of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway were examined: generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), alteration of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the expression changes of Bcl-2 family proteins. We show that sanguinarine-induced apoptosis is accompanied by the generation of intracellular ROS and disruption of MMP as well as an increase in pro-apoptotic Bax expression and a decrease of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression. The quenching of ROS generation with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, the ROS scavenger, protected the sanguinarine-elicited ROS generation, mitochondrial dysfunction, modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins, and apoptosis. Based on these results, we propose that the cellular ROS generation plays a pivotal role in the initiation of sanguinarine-triggered apoptotic death.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2017

Lipin1 was identified as a phosphatidate phosphatase enzyme, and it plays a key role in lipid metabolism. Since free radicals contribute to metabolic diseases in the liver, this study investigated the effects of free radicals on the regulation of Lipin1 expression in Huh7 and AML12 cells. Hydrogen peroxide induced mRNA and protein expression of Lipin1 in Huh7 cells, which was assayed by quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblotting, respectively. Induction of Lipin1 by hydrogen peroxide was confirmed in AML12 cells. Hydrogen peroxide treatment significantly increased expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-2, but not SREBP-1. Moreover, nuclear translocation of SREBP-2 was detected after hydrogen peroxide treatment. Hydrogen peroxide-induced Lipin1 or SREBP-2 expression was significantly reduced by N-acetyl-$\small{L}$-cysteine treatment, indicating that reactive oxygen species (ROS) were implicated in Lipin1 expression. Next, we investigated whether the hypoxic environments that cause endogenous ROS production in mitochondria in metabolic diseases affect the expression of Lipin1. Exposure to hypoxia also increased Lipin1 expression. In contrast, pretreatment with antioxidants attenuated hypoxia-induced Lipin1 expression. Collectively, our results show that ROS activate SREBP-2, which induces Lipin1 expression.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.76-84
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• 2016

Objectives: We evaluated the anti-fatigue effects of Rh2-enriched Korean ginseng (Ginseng Rh2+) using a forced exercise-induced chronic fatigue mouse model. Methods: ICR male mice were subjected to running wheel for 1 h, 5 days/week during 4 weeks, and running velocity was gradually increased. Each running session was followed by oral administration of distilled water, Ginseng Rh2+ (150 or 300 mg/kg), or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC, 100 mg/kg) 1 h later. The exercise tolerance and forced swimming test were performed to evaluate the fatigue condition. Results: Chronic forced exercise reduced the physical activity, as evidenced by the behavioral tests, which were notably ameliorated by Ginseng Rh2+ treatment. Ginseng Rh2+ treatment also attenuated the alterations of energy metabolism and oxidative stress in skeletal muscle tissues and/or sera, including malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate concentration and its related factors (lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, and glucose levels). Conclusion: These findings strongly suggest that Ginseng Rh2+ exerts a potent anti-fatigue effect through modulation of energy metabolism and oxidative response.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.349-354
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• 2001

Curcumin, a dietary pigment in turmeric, posseses anti-carcinogenic and anti-metastatic properties. The present study was conducted to study in vitro chemopreventive effects of curcumin in transformed breast cells. Here, we show that curcumin inhibits H-ras-induced invasive phenotype in MCF10A human breast epithelial cells (H-ras MCF10A) and downregulates matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 dose-dependently. Curcumin exerted cytotoxic effect on H-ras MCF10A cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Curcumin-induced cell death was mainly due to apoptosis in which a prominent downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax were involved. We also suggest a possible involvement of caspase-3 in curcumin-induced apoptosis. Curcumin treatment resulted in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H-ras MCF10A cells. Apoptotic event by curcumin was significantly inhibited by pretreatment of an antioxidant N-acetyl-$_L$-cysteine (NAC), suggesting redox signaling as a mechanism responsible for curcumin-induced apoptosis in H-ras MCF10A cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that curcumin inhibits invasion and induces apoptosis, proving the chemopreventive potential of curcumin .