• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.237-243
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• 2004

Glial cells are activated in neuropathy and play a key role in hyperalgesia and allodynia. This study was performed to determine whether minocycline could attenuate heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, and how glial cell activation and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) were regulated by minocycline in a model of chronic constriction of sciatic nerve (CCl). When minocycline (50 mg/kg, oral) was daily administered from 1 day before to 9 days after ligation, heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were attenuated. Furthermore, when minocycline treatment was initiated 1 or 3 days after ligation, attenuation of the hypersensitive behavior was still robust. However, the effect of attenuation was less when minocycline was started from day 5. In order to elucidate the mechanism of pain attenuation by minocycline, we examined the changes of glia and NF-kappaB, and found that attenuated hyperalgesia and allodynia by minocycline was accompanied by reduced microglial activation. Furthermore, the number of NF-kappaB immunoreactive cells increased after CCI treatment and this increase was attenuated by minocycline. We also observed translocation of NF-kappaB into the nuclei of activated glial cells. These results suggest that minocycline inhibits activation of glial cells and NF-kappaB, thereby attenuating the development of behavioral hypersensitivity to stimuli.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.405-408
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• 2013

Oncoprotein Bcl-3 is perceived as an unusual member of $I{\kappa}B$ family since it can both stimulate and suppress NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Aberrant Bcl-3 results in increased cell proliferation and survival, suggesting a contribution to malignant potential and elevated levels of Bcl-3 have been observed in many HTLV-1-infected T cell lines and ATL cells. To investigate the specific roles of Bcl-3 in HTLV-1-infected cells, we knocked down Bcl-3 expression using shRNA and then examined the consequences with regard to DNA damage and cell proliferation, as well as NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. The HTLV-1 encoded protein Tax promotes Bcl-3 expression and nuclear translocation. In HTLV-1-infected cells, Bcl-3 knockdown obviously induced DNA damage. Cell growth and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation were reduced in HTLV-1-infected or Tax positive cells when Bcl-3 expression was decreased. Together, our results revealed positive roles of Bcl-3 in DNA stabilization, growth and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in HTLV-1-infected cells.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.61-72
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• 2006

Objectives : Human chondrocytes co-treated with Buthus martensi Karsch herbal acupuncture solution(BMK-HAS) extract produced significantly less NO compared with chondrocytes stimulated with $IL-1{\beta}$ alone Methods : Activation and translocation of and NF-kB DNA binding activity were determined by Western blotting and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : The inhibition of NO production correlated with the suppression of induction and expression of nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) and activation protein-1 (AP-1)-dependent gene. BMK-HAS inhibited the activation and translocation of NF-kB to the nucleus, indicating that BMK-HAS inhibits the $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ production of NO in human chondrocytes by interfering with the activation of NF-kB through a novel mechanism. In addition, BMK-HAS reduced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)production in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, whereas no influence on the activity of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) or cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) was observed. My data, therefore, suggest that BMK-HAS may be a therapeutically effective inhibitor of $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ inflammatory effects that are dependent on NF-kB activation in human OA chondrocytes. Conclusion : The results indicate that BMK-HAS exerts anti-inflammatory effects related to the inhibition of neutrophil functions and of NO and PGE2 production, which could be due to a decreased expression of iNOS and COX-2 through the transcription factors NF-kB and AP-1.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.551-562
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• 2003

Background : NF-${\kappa}B$ is a characteristic transcriptional factor which has been shown to regulate production of acute inflammatory mediators and to be involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory lung diseases. There has been some evidence that PI3K/Akt pathway could activate NF-${\kappa}B$ in human cell lines. However, the effect of PI3K/Akt pathway on the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ varied depending on the cell lines used in the experiments. In this study we evaluated the effect of PI3K/Akt pathway on the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in human respiratory epithelial cell lines. Methods : BEAS-2B, A549 and NCI-H157 cell lines were used in this experiment. To evaluate the activation of Akt activation and I${\kappa}B$ degradation, cells were analysed by western blot assay using phospho-specific Akt Ab and $I{\kappa}B$ Ab. To block PI3K/Akt pathway, cells were pretreated with wortmannin or LY294002 and transfected with dominant negative Akt (DN-Akt). For IKK activity, immune complex kinase assay was performed. To evaluate the DNA binding affinity and transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and luciferase assay were performed, respectively. Results : In BEAS-2B, A549 and NCI-H157 cell lines, Akt was activated by TNF-$\alpha$ and insulin. Activation of Akt by insulin did not induce $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation. Blocking of PI3K/Akt pathway via wortmannin/LY294002 or DN-Akt did not inhibit TNF-$\alpha$-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation or IKK activation. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt did not affect TNF-$\alpha$-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Overexpression of DN-Akt did not block TNF-$\alpha$-induced transcriptional activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, but wortmannin enhanced TNF-$\alpha$-induced in NF-${\kappa}B$ transcriptional activity. Conclusion : PI3K/Akt was not involved in TNF-$\alpha$-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation or transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ in human respiratory epithelial cell lines.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1294-1298
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• 2008

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) induce innate immune responses recognizing conserved microbial structural molecules. All TLR signaling pathways culminate in the activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$). The activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ leads to the induction of inflammatory gene products such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Guggul has been used for centuries to treat a variety of diseases. Guggulstreone, one of the active ingredients in guggul, has been used to treat many chronic diseases. However, the mechanism as to how guggulsterone mediate the health effects is largely unknown. Here, we report biochemical evidence that guggulsterone inhibits the NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and COX-2 expression induced by TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 agonists. Guggulsterone also inhibits the NF-${\kappa}B$ activation induced by downstream signaling components of TLRs, myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88), $I{\kappa}B$ kinase ${\beta}$ ($IKK{\beta}$), and p65. These results imply that guggulsterone can modulate the immune responses regulated by TLR signaling pathways.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2009

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection causes fulminant hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of HDV pathogenesis, we examined the effects of HDV viral proteins, the small hepatitis delta antigen (SHDAg) and the large hepatitis delta antigen (LHDAg), on $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. In this study, we demonstrated that $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcriptional activation was increased by LHDAg but not by SHDAg in both HEK293 and Huh7 cells. Furthermore, LHDAg promoted TRAF2-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. Using coimmunoprecipitation assays, we demonstrated that both SHDAg and LHDAg interacted with TRAF2 protein. We showed that isoprenylation of LHDAg was not required for the increase of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity. We further showed that only LHDAg but not SHDAg increased the $TNF-{\alpha}-mediated$ nuclear translocation of p65. This was accomplished by activation of $I{\kappa}B_{\alpha}$ degradation by LHDAg. Finally, we demonstrated that LHDAg augmented the COX-2 expression level in Huh7 cells. These data suggest that LHDAg modulates $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway and may contribute to HDV pathogenesis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.545-553
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• 2003

The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a characteristic response to inflammation, which can be inhibited with sodium salicylate. IL-1$\beta$ and TNF-$\alpha$ can induce extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), IKK, IkB degradation and NF-$\kappa$B activation. Salicylate inhibited the IL-1$\beta$ and TNF-$\alpha$-induced COX-2 expressions, regulated the activation of ERK, IKK and IkB degradation, and the subsequent activation of NF-$\kappa$B, in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. The inhibition of the ERK pathway, with a selective inhibitor, PD098059, blocked the expressions of IL-1$\beta$ and TNF-$\alpha$-induced COX-2 and $PGE_2$ release. The antioxidant, N-acetyl-cysteine, also reduced the glutathione or catalase- attenuated COX-2 expressions in IL-1$\beta$ and TNF-$\alpha$-treated cells. This antioxidant also inhibited the activation of ERK and NF-$\kappa$B in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. In addition, IL-1$\beta$ and TNF-$\alpha$-stimulated the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cardiomyocytes. However, salicylate had no inhibitory effect on the release of ROS in the DCFDA assay. The results showed that salicylate inhibited the activation of ERK and IKK, I$\kappa$B degradation and NF-$\kappa$B activation, independently of the release of ROS, which suggested that salicylate exerts its anti-inflammatory action through the inhibition of ERK, IKK, IkB and NF-$\kappa$B, and the resultant COX-2 expression pathway in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.954-960
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• 2004

Expression of the NF-$textsc{k}$B-dependent genes responsible for inflammation, such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), contributes to chronic inflammation which is a major cause of neurodegenerative diseases (i.e. Alzheimer＇s disease). Although NF-$textsc{k}$B plays a biphasic role in different cells like neurons and microglia, controlling the activation of NF-$textsc{k}$B is important for its negative feedback in either activation or inactivation. In this study, we found that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) inhibited I$textsc{k}$B$\alpha$ degradation to block expression of the NF-$textsc{k}$B-dependent genes in microglia when activated by $\beta$-amyloid peptide (A$\beta$). We also showed that when microglia is activated by $A\beta$42, the expression of A20 is suppressed. These findings place A20 in the category of ' protective ' genes, protecting cells from pro-inflammatory reper-toires induced in response to inflammatory stimuli in activated microglia via NF-$textsc{k}$B activation. In light of the gene and proteins for NF-$textsc{k}$B-dependent gene and inactivator for NF-$textsc{k}$B (I$textsc{k}$B$\alpha$), the observations now reported suggest that UDCA plays a role in supporting the attenuation of the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NO via inactivation of NF-$textsc{k}$B. Moreover, an NF-$textsc{k}$B inhibitor such as A20 can collaborate and at least enhance the anti-inflammatory effect in microglia, thus giving a potent benefit for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.uch as AD.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2011

Glatiramer acetate (GA; Copaxone) has been shown to be effective in preventing and suppressing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been recently shown that GA-reactive T cells migrate through the blood-brain barrier, accumulate in the central nervous system (CNS), secrete antiinflammatory cytokines and suppress production of proinflammatory cytokines of EAE and MS. Development of EAE requires coordinated expression of a number of genes involved in the activation and effector functions of inflammatory cells. Activation of inflammatory cells is regulated at the transcriptional level by several families of transcription factors. One of these is the nuclear factor kappa B ($NF{\kappa}B$) family which is present in a variety of cell types and involved in the activation of immune-relative genes during inflammatory process. Since it is highly activated at site of inflammation, $NF{\kappa}B$ activation is also implicated in the pathogenesis of EAE. In this study, we examined whether the inhibition of $NF{\kappa}B$ activation induced by GA can have suppressive therapeutic effects in EAE mice. We observed the expression of $NF{\kappa}B$ and phospho-$I{\kappa}B$ proteins increased in GA-treated EAE mice compared to EAE control groups. The immunoreactivity in inflammatory cells and glial cells of $NF{\kappa}B$ and phospho-$I{\kappa}B$ significantly decreased at the GA-treated EAE mice. These results suggest that treatment of GA in EAE inhibits the activation of $NF{\kappa}B$ and phophorylation of $I{\kappa}B$ in the CNS. Subsequently, the inhibition of $NF{\kappa}B$ activation and $I{\kappa}B$ phosphorylation leads to the anti-inflammatory effects thereby to reduce the progression and severity of EAE.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05b
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• pp.88.2-98
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• 2002

A wide arry of naturally occurring substances particularly those present in dietary and medicinal plants, have been reported to possess substantial cancer chemopreventive properties. Certain phytochemicals retain strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties which appear to contribute to their chemopreventive or chemoprotective activities. Inducible cyclooxygenase(COX-2) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are important enzymes that mediate inflammatory processes. There is some evidence that expression of both COX-2 and iNOS is co-regulated by the eukaryotic transcription factor NF-$textsc{k}$B. Increased expression of COX-2 and/or iNOS has been associated with pathophysiology of certain types of human cancers as well as inflammatory diseases. Since inflammation is closely linked to tumor promotion, substances with potent anti-inflammatory activies are anticipated to exert chemopreventive effects on carcinogenesis, particularly in the promotion stage. An example is curcumin, a yellow pigment of turmeric (Curcuma longa L., Zingiberaceae), that strongly occurring diaryl heptanoids structurally related to curcumin have substantial anti-tumor promotional activities in two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis. Thus, yakuchinone A [1-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-3heptanone] and yakuchinone B [1-(4'-hydroxy-3'methoxyphenyl)-7-phenylhept-1-en-3-one] present in Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel (Zingiberacease) attenuate phorbol ester-induced inflammation and papilloma formation in female ICR mice. These diarylheptanoids also suppressed phorbol ester-induced activation of epdermal ornithine decarboxylase and its mRNA expression when applied onto shaven backs of mice. Yakuchinone A and B as well as curcumin inhibited phorbol ester-induced expression of COX-2 and iNOS and their mRNA in mouse skin via inactivation of NF-$textsc{k}$B. Capsaicin, a major pungent ingredient of red pepper also attenuated phorbol ester-induced NF-$textsc{k}$B activation. Similar suppression of COX-2 and iNOS and down-regulation of NF-$textsc{k}$B activation for its DNA binding were observed with the ginsenosied Rg3 and the ethanol extract of Artemisia asiatica. We have also found that certain anti-inflammatory phytochemicals exert inhibitory effects on phorbol ester-induced COX-2 expression and NF-$textsc{k}$B activation in immortalized human breast epithelial (MCF-10A) cells in culture. One of the plausible mechanisms undelying inhibition by aforementioned phytochemicals of phorbol ester-induced NF-$textsc{k}$B activation involves interference with degragation of the inhibitory unit, I$textsc{k}$Ba, which blocks subsequent nuclear translocation of the functionally active p65 subunit of NF-$textsc{k}$B. the activation of epidermal NF-$textsc{k}$B by phorbol ester and subsequent induction of COX-2 hence appear to play an important role in intracellular signaling pathwasy leading to tumor promotion and targeted inhibition of NF-$textsc{k}$B may provide a new promising cancer chemopreventive strategy.