• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2001

Objective: To verify the expression of leptin receptor (OB-R) in oocytes and preimplantation embryos, the involvement of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK or Erk1/2) in the leptin signaling, and effect of leptin on the oocyte maturation in mice. Method: RT-PCR analysis of OB-R was conducted in germinal vesicle (GV)-intact and MII stage oocytes, and 1, 2, 8-cell embryos and blastocysts. Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB), polar body extrusion, monitored in the presence or absence of leptin ($1{\mu}M$). Following the leptin treatment, temporal changes in MAPK activity were verified by immunoprecipitation and in vitro kinase assay in MII oocytes. Results: The expression of OB-R mRNA was found in GV and MII oocyte but not in the embryos. MAPK activity of the MII oocytes was significantly increased by brief incubation in the HTF supplemented with leptin ($1{\mu}M$). Priming of PD098059, a MEK inhibitor to leptin treatment attenuated the activation of MAPK by leptin in MII oocytes. Following 24 hrs of culture of the GV oocytes, leptin significant increased the GVB and 1 st polar body extrusion. Conclusion: This result suggested that functional interaction between leptin and OB-R resulted in potentiation of MAPK (Erk1/2) activity in MII oocytes through MEK activation and that leptin might be a local regulator of meiotic maturation of the mouse oocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2013

Lysolipids such as LPA, S1P and SPC have diverse biological activities including cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. We investigated signaling pathways of LPA-induced contraction in feline esophageal smooth muscle cells. We used freshly isolated smooth muscle cells and permeabilized cells from cat esophagus to measure the length of cells. Maximal contraction occurred at $10^{-6}M$ and the response peaked at 30s. To identify LPA receptor subtypes in cells, western blot analysis was performed with antibodies to LPA receptor subtypes. LPA1 and LPA3 receptor were detected at 50 kDa and 44 kDa. LPA-induced contraction was almost completely blocked by LPA receptor (1/3) antagonist KI16425. Pertussis toxin (PTX) inhibited the contraction induced by LPA, suggesting that the contraction is mediated by a PTX-sensitive G protein. Phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors U73122 and neomycin, and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X also reduced the contraction. The PKC-mediated contraction may be isozyme-specific since only $PKC{\varepsilon}$ antibody inhibited the contraction. MEK inhibitor PD98059 and JNK inhibitor SP600125 blocked the contraction. However, there is no synergistic effect of PKC and MAPK on the LPA-induced contraction. In addition, RhoA inhibitor C3 exoenzyme and ROCK inhibitor Y27632 significantly, but not completely, reduced the contraction. The present study demonstrated that LPA-induced contraction seems to be mediated by LPA receptors (1/3), coupled to PTX-sensitive G protein, resulting in activation of PLC, PKC-${\varepsilon}$ pathway, which subsequently mediates activation of ERK and JNK. The data also suggest that RhoA/ROCK are involved in the LPA-induced contraction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.107-107
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• 2001

During the last decade, enormous progress has been made on the biological significance of apoptosis. Since ras is among the most central molecule in signaling, we asked if ras regulates apoptotic pathway. We have previously shown that H-ras, but not N-ras, induces an invasiveness and motility in human breast epithelial cells (MCF10A), while both H-ras and N-ras induce transformed phenotype. In this study, we wished to seek a chemopreventive agent that effectively induces apoptosis in H-ras-activated cells. Here we show that capsaicin, the major pungent phytochemical in red pepper, induces caspase 3-involved apoptosis selectively in H-ras activated MCF10A cells while the parental MCF10A cells are not effected. In order to study the molecular mechanisms for the increased sensitivity of H-ras MCF10A cells to capsaicin-induced apoptosis, activation of ras downstream signaling molecules, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKinases), upon capsaicin treatment was investigated. Phosphorylated forms of JNK1 and p38 MAPKinase were prominently increased whereas activated ERK-1/2 was decreased by capsaicin in ras-activated cells. The parental cells did not respond to capsaicin, suggesting that capsaicin selectively induces apoptosis through modulating activities of ras downstream signaling molecules in H-ras-activated cells. Studies using chemical inhibitors (CPT-cAMP, SB203580 and PD98059) and dominant negative constructs of JNKl, p38 and MEK show that activation of JNK1 and p38 MAPKinase, but not ERK-1/2, is critical for ras-mediated apoptosis by capsaicin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2011

Nardostachyts chinensis (N. chinensis) belonging to the family Valerianaceae has been used to elicit stomachic and sedative effects. The MAPKs are serine/threonine kinases involved in the regulation of various cellular responses, such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The PKC also plays a key role in regulating the response of hematopoietic cells to both physiological and pathological inducers of proliferation and differentiation. This study investigated the signaling pathways on the U937 cell differentiation induced by N. chinensis. N. chinensis induced the differentiation of U937 cells, as shown by increased of differentiation surface antigen CD11b. Activation of ERK increased time-dependently in differentiation of U937 cells induced by N. chinensis, but activations of JNK and p38 were unaffected. Inhibitor of ERK (PD98059) significantly reduced CD11b expression induced by N. chinensis in U937 cells. In addition, N. chinensis increased protein level of PKC ${\beta}$I and PKC ${\beta}$II isoforms, but the protein level of PKC ${\alpha}$ and PKC ${\gamma}$was constant. PKC inhibitors (GF 109203X and H-7) inhibited U937 cell differentiation and the ERK activation induced by N. chinensis. These results indicated that PKC and ERK may be involved in U937 cell differentiation induced by N. chinensis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2006

Background: Caveolin, a family of integral membrane proteins are a principal component of caveolae membranes. In this study, we investigated the effect of p38 kinase on differentiation and on inflammatory responses in sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-treated chondrocytes. Methods: Rabbit articular chondrocytes were prepared from cartilage slices of 2-week-old New Zealand white rabbits by enzymatic digestion. SNP was used as a nitric oxide (NO) donor. In this experiments measuring SNP dose response, primary chondrocytes were treated with various concentrations of SNP for 24h. The time course of the SNP response was determined by incubating cells with 1mM SNP for the indicated time period $(0{\sim}24h)$. The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and type II collagen expression levels were determined by immunoblot analysis, and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ assay was used to measure the COX-2 activity. The tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin-1 was determined by immunoblot analysis and immunostaining. Results: SNP treatment stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin-1 and activation of p38 kinase. SNP additionally caused dedifferentiation and inflammatory response. We showed previously that SNP treatment stimulated activation of p38 kinase and ERK-1/-2. Inhibition of p38 kinase with SB203580 reduced caveolin-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and COX-2 expression but enhanced dedifferentiation, whereas inhibition of ERK with PD98059 did not affect caveolin-1 tyrosine phosphorylation levels, suggesting that ERK at least is not related to dedifferentiation and COX-2 expression through caveolin-1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Conclusion: Our results indicate that SNP in articular chondrocytes stimulates dedifferentiation and inflammatory response via p38 kinase signaling in association with caveolin-1 phosphorylation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2016

Early life neuronal exposure to environmental toxicants has been suggested to be an important etiology of neurodegenerative disease development. Perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), one of the major perfluoroalkyl compounds, is widely distributed environmental contaminants. We have reported that PFHxS induces neuronal apoptosis via ERK-mediated pathway. Imperatorin is a furanocoumarin found in various edible plants and has a wide range of pharmacological effects including neuroprotection. In this study, the effects of imperatorin on PFHxS-induced neuronal apoptosis and the underlying mechanisms are examined using cerebellar granule cells (CGC). CGC were isolated from seven-day old rats and were grown in culture for seven days. Caspase-3 activity and TUNEL staining were used to determine neuronal apoptosis. PFHxS-induced apoptosis of CGC was significantly reduced by imperatorin and PD98059, an ERK pathway inhibitor. PFHxS induced a persistent increase in intracellular calcium, which was significantly blocked by imperatorin, NMDA receptor antagonist, MK801 and the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel blockers, diltiazem and nifedipine. The activation of caspase-3 by PFHxS was also inhibited by MK801, diltiazem and nifedipine. PFHxS-increased ERK activation was inhibited by imperatorin, MK801, diltiazem and nifedipine. Taken together, imperatorin protects CGC against PFHxS-induced apoptosis via inhibition of NMDA receptor/intracellular calcium-mediated ERK pathway.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.863-867
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• 2008

Pitch based activated carbon fiber(ACF) was prepared from reformed naphtha cracking bottom oil(NCB oil) by melt spinning. The fibers obtained were stabilized, carbonized, and then steam activated. The ACF was sensitized with Pd-Sn catalytic nuclei via a single-step activation approach. This sensitized ACF was used as precursors for obtaining copper plated ACFs via electroless plating. ACFs uniformly decorated with metal particles were obtained with reduced copper plating in the reaction solution. Effects of the amount of copper on characteristics of ACF/Cu catalysts were investigated through BET surface area, X-ray diffraction, scanning emission microscopy, and ICP. The amount of copper increased with plating time, but the surface area as well as the pore volume decreased. NO conversion increased with reaction temperature. NO conversion decreased with increasing the amount of copper, which is seemed to be due to the reduction of surface area as well as the dispersion of copper.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.480-486
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• 2004

Brain ischemia brings about hypoxic insults. Hypoxia is one of the major pathological factors inducing neuronal injury and central nervous system infection. We studied the involvement of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in hypoxia-induced apoptosis using cobalt chloride in C6 glioma cells. In vitro cytotoxicity of cobalt chloride was tested by MTT assay. Its $IC_{50}$ value was $400\;{\mu}M$. The DNA fragment became evident after incubation of the cells with $300\;{\mu}M$ cobalt chloride for 24 h. We also evidenced nuclear cleavage with morphological changes of the cells undergoing apoptosis with electron microscopy. Next, we examined the signal pathway of cobalt chloride-induced apoptosis in C6 cells. The activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) started to increase at 1 h and was activated further at 6 h after treatment of 400 M cobalt chloride. In addition, pretreatment of PD98059 inhibited cobalt chloride-induced apoptotic cell morphology in Electron Microscopy. These results suggest that cobalt chloride is able to induce the apoptotic activity in C6 glioma cells, and its apoptotic mechanism may be associated with signal transduction via MAP kinase (ERK 1/2).

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.682-689
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• 2015

Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (A. distichum) has been reported to exert the inhibitory effect on angiotensin converting enzyme and aldose reductase. Recently, our group found that branch extracts of A. distichum (EAFAD-B) induce apoptosis through ATF3 activation in human colon cancer cells. However, anti-cancer reagents exert their activity through the regulation of various molecular targets. Therefore, the elucidation of potential mechanisms of EAFAD-B for anti-cancer activity may be necessary. To elucidate the potential mechanism of EAFAD-B for anti-cancer activity, we evaluated the regulation of cyclin D1 in human colon cancer cells. EAFAD-B decreased cellular accumulation of cyclin D1 protein. However, cyclin D1 mRNA was not changed by EAFAD-B. Inhibition of proteasomal degradation by MG132 attenuated EAFAD-B-mediated cyclin D1 downregulation and the half-life of cyclin D1 was decreased in the cells treated with EAFAD-B. In addition, EAFAD-B induced cyclin D1 phosphorylation at threonine-286 and the point mutation of threonine-286 to alanine attenuated EAFAD-B-mediated cyclin D1 proteasomal degradation. Inhibitions of both ERK1/2 by PD98059 and NF-κB by a selective inhibitor, BAY 11-7082 suppressed cyclin D1 downregulation by EAFAD-B. From these results, we suggest that EAFAD-B-mediated cyclin D1 downregulation may result from proteasomal degradation through its threonine-286 phosphorylation via ERK1/2-dependent NF-κB activation. The current study provides new mechanistic link between EAFAD-B and anti-cancer activity in human colon cancer cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.942-947
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• 2005

Peroxynitrite is a potent neurotoxic molecule produced from a reaction between NO and super-oxide and induces NO-mediated inflammation under neuropathological conditions. Previously, we reported that glucose deprivation induced ATP depletion and cell death in immunostimulated astrocytes, which was mainly due to peroxynitrite. In this study, the role of MAPKs (ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and JNK/SAPK) signal pathway in the SIN-1/glucose deprivation-induced death of astrocytes was examined. A combined treatment with glucose deprivation and $50 {\mu}M$ SIN-1, an endogenous peroxynitrite generator, rapidly and markedly increased the death in rat primary astrocytes. Also, SIN-1/glucose deprivation resulted in the activation of MAPKs, which was significantly blocked by the treatment with $20{\mu}M$ MAPKs inhibitors (ERK1/2, PD98059; p38MAPK, SB203580; JNK/SAPK, SP600125). Interestingly, SIN-1/glucose deprivation caused the loss of intracellular ATP level, which was significantly reversed by MAPKs inhibitors. These results suggest that the activation of MAPKs plays an important role in SIN-1/glucose deprivation-induced cell death by regulating the intracellular ATP level.