• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.77-89
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• 2023

Metformin is the most widely used anti-diabetic drug that helps maintain normal blood glucose levels primarily by suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis in type II diabetic patients. We previously found that metformin induces apoptotic death in H4IIE rat hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Despite its anti-diabetic roles, the effect of metformin on hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) remains unclear. We investigated the effect of metformin on hepatic DNL and apoptotic cell death in H4IIE cells. Metformin treatment stimulated glucose consumption, lactate production, intracellular fat accumulation, and the expressions of lipogenic proteins. It also stimulated apoptosis but reduced autophagic responses. These metformin-induced changes were clearly reversed by compound C, an inhibitor of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Interestingly, metformin massively increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which was completely blocked by compound C. Metformin also stimulated the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK). Finally, inhibition of p38MAPK mimicked the effects of compound C, and suppressed the metformin-induced fat accumulation and apoptosis. Taken together, metformin stimulates dysregulated glucose metabolism, intracellular fat accumulation, and apoptosis. Our findings suggest that metformin induces excessive glucose-induced DNL, oxidative stress by ROS generation, activation of AMPK and p38MAPK, suppression of autophagy, and ultimately apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.511-518
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• 2022

Sepsis-associated myocardial injury, an invertible myocardial depression, is a common complication of sepsis. Neogambogic acid is an active compound in garcinia and exerts anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification properties. The role of neogambogic acid in sepsis-associated myocardial injury was assessed. Firstly, mice were pretreated with neogambogic acid and then subjected to lipopolysaccharide treatment to induce sepsis. Results showed that lipopolysaccharide treatment induced up-regulation of biomarkers involved in cardiac injury, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and troponin I (cTnI). However, pretreatment with neogambogic acid reduced levels of LDH, CK-MB, and cTnI, and ameliorated histopathological changes in the heart tissues of septic mice. Secondly, neogambogic acid also improved cardiac function in septic mice through reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and enhancement of ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and left ventricular systolic mean pressure. Moreover, neogambogic acid suppressed cardiac apoptosis and inflammation in septic mice and reduced cardiac fibrosis. Lastly, protein expression of p-p38, p-JNK, and p-NF-κB in septic mice was decreased by neogambogic acid. In conclusion, neogambogic acid exerted anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory effects in septic mice through the inactivation of MAPK/NF-κB pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.309-314
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• 2016

We first demonstrated that cordycepin inhibited cell growth and triggered apoptosis in U87MG cells with wild-type p53, but not in T98G cells with mutant-type p53. Western blot data revealed that the levels of procaspase-8, -3, and Bcl-2 were downregulated in cordycepin-treated U87MG cells, whereas the levels of Fas, FasL, Bak, cleaved caspase-3, -8, and cleaved PARP were upregulated, indicating that cordycepin induces apoptosis by activating the death receptor-mediated pathway in U87MG cells. Cordycepin-induced apoptosis could be suppressed by only SB203580, a p38 MAPK-specific inhibitor. These results suggest that cordycepin triggered apoptosis in U87MG cells through p38 MAPK activation and inhibition of the Akt survival pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.1657-1662
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• 2012

Fucosyltransferase IV (FUT4) has been implicated in cell adhesion, motility, and tumor progression in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. We previously reported that it promotes cell proliferation through the ERK/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying FUT4-induced cell invasion remain unknown. In this study we determined the effect of FUT4 on expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12 induced by EGF in A431 cells. Treatment with EGF resulted in an alteration of cell morphology and induced an increase in the expression of MMP-12. EGF induced nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kB (NF-${\kappa}B$) and resulted in phosphorylation of $IkB{\alpha}$ in a time-dependent manner. In addition, ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK were shown to play a crucial role in mediating EGF-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ translocation and phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ when treated with the MAPK inhibitors, PD98059 and SB203580, which resulted in increased MMP-12 expression. Importantly, we showed that FUT4 up-regulated EGF-induced MMP-12 expression by promoting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK, thereby inducing phosphorylation/degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Base on our data, we propose that FUT4 up-regulates expression of MMP-12 via a MAPK-NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent mechanism.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권8호
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• pp.389-394
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• 2022

In particular, the phenomenon of c-Jun degradation within the inflammatory response has not yet been fully analyzed. In order to verify this, we investigated LPS-stimulated murine macrophages pre-treated with sodium orthovanadate (SO) in order to uncover the regulatory mechanisms of the MAPKs which regulate c-Jun degradation within the inflammatory response. Through our study, we found that SO suppressed the production of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and the expression of COX-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, SO decreased total c-Jun levels, without altering the amount of mRNA, although the phospho-levels of p38, ERK, and JNK were strongly enhanced. Through the usage of selective MAPK inhibitors, and knockdown and overexpression strategies, p38 was revealed to be a major MAPK which regulates c-Jun degradation. Further analysis indicates that the phosphorylation of p38 is a determinant for c-Jun degradation, and is sufficient to induce ubiquitination-dependent c-Jun degradation, recovered through MG132 treatment. Therefore, our results suggest that the hyperphosphorylation of p38 by SO contributes to c-Jun degradation, which is linked to the suppression of PGE₂ secretion in inflammatory responses; and thus, finding drugs to increase p38 activity could be a novel strategy for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.16-21
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• 2014

Ginseng saponins exert various important pharmacological effects with regard to the control of many diseases, including cancer. In this study, the anticancer effect of ginsenosides on human cancer cells was investigated and compared. Among the tested compounds, ginsenoside-Rh2 displays the highest inhibitory effect on cell viability in HepG2 cells. Ginsenoside-Rh2, a ginseng saponin isolated from the root of Panax ginseng, has been suggested to have potential as an anticancer agent, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, we have shown that cancer cells have differential sensitivity to ginsenoside-Rh2-induced apoptosis, raising questions regarding the specific mechanisms responsible for the discrepant sensitivity to ginsenoside-Rh2. In this study, we demonstrate that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a survival factor under ginsenoside-Rh2 treatment in cancer cells. Cancer cells with acute responsiveness of AMPK display a relative resistance to ginsenoside-Rh2, but cotreatment with AMPK inhibitor resulted in a marked increase of ginsenoside-Rh2-induced apoptosis. We also observed that p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) acts as another survival factor under ginsenoside-Rh2 treatment, but there was no signaling crosstalk between AMPK and p38 MAPK, suggesting that combination with inhibitor of AMPK or p38 MAPK can augment the anticancer potential of ginsenoside Rh2.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2003년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.141-141
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• 2003

Ras expression has been suggested as a marker for tumor aggressiveness of breast cancer, including the degrees of invasion and tumor recurrence. We previously showed that p38 MAPK is a key signaling molecule differentially regulated by H-ras and N-ras, leading to H-ras-specific cell invasive and migrative phenotypes in human breast epithelial cells (Cancer Res.: 63, 5454-5461, 2003).(omitted)

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.62-68
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• 2020

Cisplatin (CDDP)은 난소암 치료에 사용되는 화학 요법제로 암세포에 따라 그리고 치료 용량에 따라 다중 신호경로를 활성화하여 세포 반응을 다르게 일으킬 수 있다. Cisplatin이 세포에 작용하는 신호전달 기전은 분명하지 않아 더 많은 연구가 필요해 보인다. 이에 본 연구는 cisplatin을 난소암 세포(SKOV3)에 처리하여 세포사멸 유도 과정에서 나타나는 신호 단백질의 역할을 밝히고자 하였다. 결과는 cisplatin으로 처리한 난소암 세포에서 TUNEL assay와 유세포 분석을 통해 대조군과 비교하여 세포 사멸수가 증가하였다. 세포 사멸 단계에서 나타나는 PARP 및 caspase-3 활성도 증가하였다. 그러나 Bcl-2의 발현은 감소하였다. 신호 전달 경로에서 나타나는 단백질의 발현은 ERK1/2의 활성은 시간 의존적으로 감소하였으나 Akt 활성은 24시간에 감소하다 48시간에서의 활성은 일정하였다. p38과 p-JUN의 활성은 24시간에 증가하는 것으로 나타났으나 48시간에서 p38의 활성은 감소하였으며 p-JUN의 활성은 일정하였다. 이상의 결과들을 토대로 결론은 cisplatin이 SKOV3 세포에서 Akt 활성을 감소하여 세포 증식을 억제하고 MAPK의 p38 발현을 조절하여 세포사멸을 유도하는 것으로 판단된다. 향후, 암치료 전략에 도움이 되는 cisplatin을 포함한 백금기반 화학요법제의 신호전달 기전을 밝히기 위한 더 많은 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다. 본 실험을 통해 제시한 결과는 MAPK 신호 경로를 타겟으로 하는 암 치료 전략에 유용하게 사용 될 수 있기를 기대한다.

• 대한치과교정학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.169-183
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• 2003

교정력에 의한 치아 이동은 기계적인 힘에 의하여 압박측에는 다양한 구조를 가진 치주 조직에 혈류의 변화가 생기며 국소적으로 산소 장력에도 변화가 생겨 저산소 상태 가 유발됨은 이미 확인한 바 있다. 본 연구는 치아 주위 골격을 형성하는 조골세포를 대상으로 교정적 치아 이동과 유사한 시험관내 조건을 설정하여 저산소 상태 시 유발되는 조골세포 고사조절 기전을 규명하고자 시행하였다. 생리적인 저산소증의 실험조건으로 $2\%$ 산소상태를 설정하여 저산소 하에서 세포가 고사(apoptosis) 됨을 확인하였고, stress유발 시 많은 관련을 가진 것으로 알려진 p-38 MAPK의 활성을 관찰하였다. 또한 p-38 MAPK의 억제제인 SB203580의 전처치로 인하여 세포의 죽음이 억제됨을 확인하였고, 저산소 상태 시 활성형태로 분절되는 caspase-3, -6및 9등의 세포고사관련 효소들의 활성 형태로의 분절이 억제됨을 확인하였으며 이러한 caspase의 기질인 Lamin-A등의 분절 또한 억제됨을 밝혔다. 또한 마이토콘드리아 내의 cytochrome c의 세포질내로의 이동 또한 조절됨을 확인함으로써 p-38 MAPK의 조절단계를 시사하여 주고 있다. 본 연구로 치아 이동 시 유발되는 저산소 상태 하에서 발생하는 조골세포의 고사 조절에 p-38 MAPK가 관여함을 확인하였다.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2003년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.95.1-95
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• 2003

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) has a wide array of pharmacologic effects. Our previous studies have demonstrated that [6]-gingerol, a major pungent ingredient of ginger, inhibits mouse skin tumor promotion and anchorage-independent growth of cultured mouse epidermal cells stimulated with epidermal growth factor. In this study, we have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying chemopreventive effects of [6]-gingerol on mouse skin carcinogenesis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme in the formation of prostaglandins, has been recognized as a molecular target of many chemopreventive as well as anti-inflammatory agents. The murine COX-2 promoter contains several transcriptional elements, particularly those involved in regulating inflammatory processes. One of the essential transcription factors responsible for COX-2 induction is NF-kappa B. Topical application of [6]-gingerol inhibited the COX-2 expression through suppression of NF-kappa B activation in phorbol ester-treated mouse skin. [6]-Gingerol, through down-regulation of p38 MAPK, abrogated the DNA binding activity of NF-kappa B by blocking phosphorylation of p65/RelA at the Ser 536 residue. These findings suggest that [6]-gingerol exerts an anti-tumor promotional activity through inhibition of the p38 MAPK-NF-kappa B siganling cascade in mouse skin.