• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.178-182
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• 2005

Nitric oxide (NO) produced from endothelial cells plays a critical role in vascular physiology. The regulation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) involves various mechanisms including multiple Ser/Thr phosphorylations. Recently, eNOS-Ser617 was newly recognized to be phosphorylated in response to humoral factors including vascular endothelial growth factor. However, it remains unknown whether and how eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation is stimulated by shear stress, the primary stimulus of endothelial NO production. This issue was explored in the present study using cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). Over-expression of a constitutively active protein kinase B(Akt) mutant in BAECs increased Ser617 phosphorylation while constitutively active protein kinase A mutant had no effect. When BAECs were subjected to an arterial level of laminar shear stress, eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation was clearly increased in a time-dependent manner. Shear stress also stimulated Akt phosphorylation at Thr308, one of the key regulatory sites. The time courses of eNOS-Ser617 and Akt-Thr308 phosphorylations appeared to be very similar. These results suggested that eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation, mediated by Akt, is a physiological response to the mechanical shear stress, involved in the regulation of NO production in endothelial cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.436-446
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• 2018

Background: The potential therapeutic values of Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) in autoimmune disorders of nervous system have not been fully investigated. Methods: We used an acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis animal model of multiple sclerosis and determined the effects and mechanism of KRGE on spinal myelination. Results: Pretreatment with KRGE (100 mg/kg, orally) for 10 days before immunization with myelin basic protein $(MBP)_{68-82}$ peptide exerted a protective effect against demyelination in the spinal cord, with inhibited recruitment and activation of immune cells including microglia, decreased mRNA expression of detrimental inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6, interferon-${\gamma}$, and cyclooxygenase-2), but increased mRNA expression of protective inflammatory mediators (insulin-like growth factor ${\beta}1$, transforming growth factor ${\beta}$, and vascular endothelial growth factor-1). These results were associated with significant downregulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathways in microglia/macrophages, T cells, and astrocytes. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that KRGE alleviates spinal demyelination in acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through inhibiting the activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. Therefore, KRGE might be used as a new therapeutic for autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, although further investigation is needed.

• BMB Reports
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.517-525
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• 2001

Six renaturable protein kinases that utilize the myelin basic protein (MBP) as a substrate were activated during prolonged exposure of cardiac myocytes to okadaic acid (OA). We characterized the substrate preference and activation of these kinases, with particular emphasis on 3 novel kinases-MBPK-55, MBPK-62 and MBPK-87. The transcription factors c-Jun, Elk, ATF2, and c-Fos that are used to assess mitogen-activated protein kinase activation were all poor substrates for these three kinases. MAPKAPK2 was also not phosphorylated. In contrast, Histone IIIS was phosphorylated by MBPK-55 and MBPK-62. These protein kinases were activated in cultured cardiac fibroblasts, H9c2 cardiac myoblasts, and Cos cells. High concentrations (0.5 to $1\;{\mu}M$) of OA were essential for the activation of the protein kinases in all of the cell types examined, whereas calyculin A [an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and PP2A], cyclosporin A (a PP2B inhibitor), and an inactive OA analog all failed to activate these kinases. The high dose of okadaic acid that is required for kinase activation was also required for phosphatase inhibition, as assessed by immunoblotting whole cell lysates with anti-phosphothreonine antibodies. A variety of chemical inhibitors, including PD98059 (MEK-specific), genistein (tyrosine kinase-specific) and Bisindolylmaleimide I (protein kinase C-specific), failed to inhibit the OA activation of these kinases. Thus, MBPK-55 and MBPK-62 are also Histone IIIS kinases that are widely expressed and specifically activated upon exposure to high OA concentrations.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.133-137
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• 2013

Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), P- and E-selectin play a pivotal role for initiation of atherosclerosis. Ginsenoside, a class of steroid glycosides, is abundant in Panax ginseng root, which has been used for prevention of illness in Korea. In this study, we investigated the mechanism(s) by which ginsenoside Rg2 may inhibit VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expressions stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). LPS increased VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression. Ginsenoside Rg2 prevented LPS-mediated increase of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression. On the other hand, JSH, a nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) inhibitor, reduced both VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression stimulated with LPS. SB202190, inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and wortmannin, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor, reduced LPS-mediated VCAM-1 but not ICAM-1 expression. PD98059, inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) did not affect VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression stimulated with LPS. SP600125, inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), reduced LPS-mediated ICAM-1 but not VCAM-1 expression. LPS reduced IkappaB${\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$) expression, in a time-dependent manner within 1 hr. Ginsenoside Rg2 prevented the decrease of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ expression stimulated with LPS. Moreover, ginsenoside Rg2 reduced LPS-mediated THP-1 monocyte adhesion to HUVEC, in a concentration-dependent manner. These data provide a novel mechanism where the ginsenoside Rg2 may provide direct vascular benefits with inhibition of leukocyte adhesion into vascular wall thereby providing protection against vascular inflammatory disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.411-417
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• 2019

Humanin (HN) is a mitochondrial peptide that exhibits cytoprotective actions against various stresses and diseases. HN has been shown to induce the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is a negative regulator of receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL). However, the role of HN in osteoclastogenesis or other skeletal disorders remains unknown. Here, we examined whether HN regulates osteoclastogenesis via AMPK activation using bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMM) cultures. Our results show that HN inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and reduced the expression of genes involved in osteoclastogenesis, including nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1, osteoclastassociated receptor, cathepsin K, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. Moreover, HN increased the levels of phosphorylated AMPK protein; compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, recovered HN-induced osteoclast differentiation. In addition, we found that HN significantly decreased the levels of RANKL-induced reactive oxygen species in BMMs. Therefore, these results indicate that HN plays an important role in osteoclastogenesis and may function as an inhibitor of bone disorders via AMPK activation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제6권6호
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• pp.319-325
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• 2002

The induction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) using combined proinflammatory agents $(LPS/IFN-{\gamma}\;or\;TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma})$ was studied in relation to p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcriptional factor in primary neonatal cardiomyocytes. When added to cultures of cardiomyocytes, the combined agents $(LPS/IFN-[\gamma}\;or\;TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma})$ had stimulatory effect on the production of IL-6 and the elevation was significantly reduced by SB203580, a specific p38 MAPK inhibitor. SB203580 inhibited protein production and gene expression of IL-6 in a concentration-dependent manner. In this study, $IFN-{\gamma}$ enhancement of $TNF-{\alpha}-induced\;NF-{\kappa}B$ binding affinity as well as p38 MAP kinase activation was observed. However, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, SB203580, had no effect on $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma}\;or\;LPS/IFN-{\gamma}-induced\;NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. This study strongly suggests that these pathways about $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma}$ or $LPS/IFN-{\gamma}-activated$ IL-6 release can be primarily dissociated in primary neonatal cardiomyocytes.

• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.107-112
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• 2018

p38 MAP kinase belongs to the Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family; a serine/threonine kinase. It plays an important role in intracellular signal transduction pathways. It is associated with the development and progression of various cancer types making it a crucial drug target. Present study involves the HQSAR analysis of recently reported imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives as p38 MAP kinase antagonists. The model was generated with Atom (A), bond (B), chirality (Ch), and hydrogen (H) parameters and with different set of atom counts to improve the model. An acceptable HQSAR model ($q^2=0.522$, SDEP=0.479, NOC=5, $r^2=0.703$, SEE=0.378, BHL=97) was developed which exhibits good predictive ability. A contribution map for the most active compound (compound 17) illustrated that hydrogen and nitrogen atoms in the ring A and ring B, as well as nitrogen atom in ring C and the hydrogen atom in the ring D provided positive activity in inhibitory effect while, the least active compound (compound 05) possessed negative contribution to inhibitory effect. Hence, analysis of produced HQSAR model can provide insights in the designing potent and selective p38 MAP kinase antagonists.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제33권11호
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• pp.859-867
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• 2023

루페올은 5환성 트리테르펜의 일종으로 많은 질병에 치료 효과가 있는 것으로 보고되었으나, 인슐린 저항성에 미치는 영향은 명확하지 않다. 본 연구에서는 3T3-L1 지방세포에서 루페올의 IRS-1 인산화 억제능을 통해 인슐린 저항성 개선효과를 조사하였다. 3T3-L1 세포를 배양하고 TNF-α를 24시간 동안 처리하여 인슐린 저항성을 유도하였다. 서로 다른 농도의 루페올(15, 30 μM) 또는 100 nM의 rosiglitazone을 처리한 세포를 배양한 후, 용해된 세포를 이용하여 western blotting을 시행하였다. 실험결과 루페올은 지방세포에서 TNF-α에 의해 유발되는 인슐린 신호전달의 음성 조절자와 염증 활성화 단백질 kinase에 대한 개선 효과를 나타냈다. 인슐린 신호전달의 음성 조절자인 PTP-1B와 JNK의 활성 및 IKK와 염증활성화 단백질키나아제의 활성을 억제하였다. 또한, 루페올은 IRS-1의 serine 인산화는 하향 조절하고 tyrosine 인산화는 상향 조절하였다. 그 후, 하향 조절된 PI3K/AKT 경로가 활성화되고, GLUT 4의 세포막 전위가 자극되어, 결과적으로 인슐린 저항성이 유도된 3T3-L1 지방세포에서에서 세포내 포도당 흡수가 증가하였다. 본 연구결과, 루페올은 3T3-L1 지방세포에서 인슐린 신호전달 및 염증 활성화 단백질 kinsase들의 음성 조절인자를 억제하여, IRS-1의 serine 인산화를 하향 조절함으로써 TNF-α 유발 인슐린 저항성을 개선할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권10호
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• pp.1182-1188
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• 2016

Membrane associated guanylate kinase inverted-3 (MAGI-3)는 세포-세포 연접의 형성을 유도하는 막단백질인 membrane associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs)의 한 종류 단백질로 140 kDa 크기를 가진다. MAGI-3는 PTEN/MMAC와 함께 협력하여 AKT/PKB의 kinase 활성을 조절하거나 MAPKs 신호전달경로로 ERK 활성을 조절로 한다. Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)는 가장 일반적으로 감염된 심근 세포 사멸으로 인한 바이러스성 심근염을 일으키는 enterovirus에 속하는 인간 병원체이다. 이전 연구에서 protein kinase B (PKB, 또는 AKT)와 extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2)의 활성은 HeLa 세포에서 CVB3 복제를 위해 필수적임이 밝혀졌다. 본 연구에서 enterovirus 복제와 AKT 신호 활성조절에서 MAGI-3의 역할을 검증하였다. MAGI-3-Flag의 발현은 CVB3 감염 후에 AKT 신호 활성과 viral capsid protein VP1의 발현을 유도하였으며 이는 MAGI-3에 의한 enterovirus 증식 조절을 보여주었다. AKT 신호는 MAGI-3 발현에 의해 enterovirus 감염과 함께 유의하게 증가하고 이것은 감염 바이러스의 증식을 활발하게 유도함을 확인하였다. 이 결과는 MAGI-3의 발현은 AKT와 ERK의 활성이 증가하고, 더 나아가 바이러스 증식과 연관이 있다는 것을 입증한다. MAGI-3는 아마도 AKT 신호 조절을 통해 enterovirus 증식 조절에 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 생각된다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.148-153
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• 2009

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a stable anti-oxidant or pro-oxidant, depending on the situation, and it is widely used to inhibit the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. We recently reported that PDTC activates the MIP-2 gene in a NF-${\kappa}B$-independent and c-Jun-dependent manner in macrophage cells. In this work, we found that PDTC activates signal transduction pathways in mouse ES cells. Among the three different mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, including the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAP kinase, and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways, only the ERK pathway was significantly activated in mouse ES cells after stimulation with PDTC. Additionally, we observed a synergistic activation of ERK and induction of c-Fos after stimulation with PDTC in the presence of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) conditioned medium. In contrast, another NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor, BMS-345541, did not activate the MAP kinase pathways or induce expression of c-Fos. These results suggest that changes in the presence of the NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor PDTC should be carefully considered when it used with mouse ES cells.