• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.549-555
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• 2015

We attempted to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic change of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by determining signaling molecules involved in chemokine production. Treatment of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs) with thrombin resulted not only in elevated transcription of the (C-C motif) ligand 11 (CCL11) gene but also in enhanced secretion of CCL11 protein. Co-treatment of HAoSMCs with GF109230X, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, or GW5074, an inhibitor of Raf-1 kinase, caused inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and significantly attenuated expression of CCL11 at transcriptional and protein levels induced by thrombin. Both Akt phosphorylation and CCL11 expression induced by thrombin were attenuated in the presence of pertussis toxin (PTX), an inhibitor of Gi protein-coupled receptor, or LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor. In addition, thrombin-induced production of CCL11 was significantly attenuated by pharmacological inhibition of Akt or MEK which phosphorylates ERK1/2. These results indicate that thrombin is likely to promote expression of CCL11 via PKC/Raf-1/ERK1/2 and PTX-sensitive protease-activated receptors /PI3K/Akt pathways in HAoSMCs. We propose that multiple signaling pathways are involved in change of VSMCs to a secretory phenotype.

• BMB Reports
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.214-219
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• 2016

A nucleosomal protein, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is known to be a late mediator of sepsis. Dabrafenib is a B-Raf inhibitor and initially used for the treatment of metastatic melanoma therapy. Inhibition of HMGB1 and renewal of vascular integrity is appearing as an engaging therapeutic strategy in the administration of severe sepsis or septic shock. Here, we examined the effects of dabrafenib (DAB) on the modulation of HMGB1-mediated septic responses. DAB inhibited the release of HMGB1 and downregulated HMGB1-dependent inflammatory responses by enhancing the expressions of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in human endothelial cells. In addition, treatment with DAB inhibited the HMGB1 secretion by CLP and sepsis-related mortality and pulmonary injury. This study demonstrated that DAB could be alternative therapeutic options for sepsis or septic shock via the inhibition of the HMGB1 signaling pathway.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.179-185
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• 2004

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infects more than half of the people in the world as a major microbe to cause most of gastric diseases. Recently, cytotoxin associated-antigen A (CagA) is believed as one of the most important virulence factors of H. pylori. Molecular toxicological pathway of CagA is necessary to investigate for understanding the pathological and toxicological aspects of H. pylori, since this virulence protein harasses intercellular processes of host cells to get profit for the survival of H. pylori. CagA is coded from cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI) and translocated into host cells by Type 4 secretion system (TFSS). Tyrosine phosphorylation of CagA targets Src homology 2-containing phosphotyrosine phosphatase (SHP-2) to form a CagA-SHP-2 complex. This complex depends on the similarity of sequence between EPIYA motif and Src homology 2 domain (SH2 domain) of CagA. The generation of growth factors is an essential role of CagA in protecting and healing gastric mucosa for the survival of H. pylori. On the other hand, the activation of IL-8 by CagA induces neutrophils generating inflammation and free radicals. Indeed, free radicals are well known carcinogen to induce DNA damage. In addition, the transduction of mitogen-activation signal by CagA is one of the interesting features to understand how to cause cancer. The relationship between cancer and inflammation with CagA was mainly discussed in this review.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.1807-1810
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• 2014

Background: It is known that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) plays an integral role during intestinal inflammation, an important factor for colon cancer development. Natural compounds from Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) have long been a potential source of bioactive materials with various beneficial biological functions. Among them, a major active curcuminoid, demethoxycurcumin (DMC) has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages or microglia cells. However, the role of DMC on iNOS expression and NO production in an in vitro inflamed human intestinal mucosa model has not yet been elucidated. This study concerned inhibitory effects on iNOS expression and NO production of DMC in inflamed human intestinal Caco-2 cells. An in vitro model was generated and inhibitory effects on NO production of DMC at 65 ${\mu}M$ for 24-96 h were assessed by monitoring nitrite levels. Expression of iNOS mRNA and protein was also investigated. DMC significantly decreased NO secretion by 35-41% in our inflamed cell model. Decrease in NO production by DMC was concomitant with down-regulation of iNOS at mRNA and protein levels compared to proinflammatory cytokine cocktail and LPS-treated controls. Mechanism of action of DMC may be partly due to its potent inhibition of the iNOS pathway. Our findings suggest that DMC may have potential as a therapeutic agent against inflammation-related diseases, especially in the gut.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.328-333
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• 2017

Desomodii Herba (DH) has been shown to exhibit pharmacologyical activities, such as increase myocaridal contraction and secretion of hepatic bile. DH is used to reduce pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis(RA) in Korean medicine. However, the DH exact(DHE) effect and mechanism on rheumatoid arthritis are unknown. In this study, we aimed at the inhibitory effect of DHE on rheumatoid arthritis, and investigated the effect in collagen-induced mice arthritis model and TNF-${\alpha}$ induced MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression including the molecular basis in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs).The effect of DHE on RA was measured by clinical scoring system. In RASFs, expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 was assessed by Western blotting and real-time PCR. Also, Western blotting used to evaluate the phosphorylation levels of p38, ERK and JNK and activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1. Our results showed that DHE reduced collagen-induced arthritis in mice. DHE inhibits TNF-${\alpha}$ induced MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression and mRNA levels in RASFs. The inhibitory effect of DHE was mediated by the inhibition of the AP-1/JNK signaling pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that the DHE may have preventive potential for rheumatoid arthritis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권10호
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• pp.4277-4283
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• 2015

Anthocyanin, a phenolic compound, has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced changes in immune cells. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory effects. Few research studies have concerned the anti-inflammation properties of colored rice extract as a functional material. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine anti-inflammatory effects of the polar fraction of black rice whole grain extracts (BR-WG-P) that features a high anthocyanin content. Our results showed that BR-WG-P significantly inhibited LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, including production of NO and expression of iNOS and COX-2. In addition, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 was also significantly inhibited. Moreover, BR-WG-P and anthocyanin inhibited NF-kB and AP-1 translocation into the nucleus. BR-WG-P also decreased the phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and JNK in a dose dependent manner. These results suggested that BR-WG-P might suppress LPS-induced inflammation via the inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway leading to decrease of NF-kB and AP-1 translocation. All of these results indicate that BR-WG-P exhibits therapeutic potential associated with the anthocyanin content in the extract for treating inflammatory diseases associated with cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.503-511
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• 2018

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is known to play a critical role in breast cancer metastasis to bone. In this study, we tried to investigate any role of LPA in the regulation of osteoclastogenic cytokines from breast cancer cells and the possibility of these secretory factors in affecting osteoclastogenesis. Effect of secreted cytokines on osteoclastogenesis was analyzed by treating conditioned media from LPA-stimulated breast cancer cells to differentiating osteoclasts. Result demonstrated that IL-8 and IL-11 expression were upregulated in LPA-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. IL-8 was induced in both MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, however, IL-11 was induced only in MDA-MB-231, suggesting differential LPARs participation in the expression of these cytokines. Expression of IL-8 but not IL-11 was suppressed by inhibitors of PI3K, NF-kB, ROCK and PKC pathways. In the case of PKC activation, it was observed that $PKC{\delta}$ and $PKC{\mu}$ might regulate LPA-induced expression of IL-11 and IL-8, respectively, by using specific PKC subtype inhibitors. Finally, conditioned Medium from LPA-stimulated breast cancer cells induced osteoclastogenesis. In conclusion, LPA induced the expression of osteolytic cytokines (IL-8 and IL-11) in breast cancer cells by involving different LPA receptors. Enhanced expression of IL-8 by LPA may be via ROCK, PKCu, PI3K, and NFkB signaling pathways, while enhanced expression of IL-11 might involve $PKC{\delta}$ signaling pathway. LPA has the ability to enhance breast cancer cells-mediated osteoclastogenesis by inducing the secretion of cytokines such as IL-8 and IL-11.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.455-462
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• 2004

Change in ${\beta}$-tubulin nucleic acid and protein sequences was the only known difference between Haemonchus contortus fenbendazole (FBZ)-resistant and -susceptible isolates. This change was sufficient to determine the pathologic effect induced by FBZ treatment. This research was initiated to investigate further differences from these two isolates. Since ${\beta}$-tubulin is involved in formation of microtubule, which has functions in secretory vesicle transport, DNase activities from excretory/secretory products (ESP) of the two isolates were compared, based on pH, sensitivity to DNase inhibitors, molecular masses and production of 3'-OH. The most significant difference detected was that a 38.5 kDa DNase activity was identified from ESP of H. contortus FBZ-susceptible isolates but not from those of H. contortus FBZ-resistant isolates. However, it was shown that the 38.5 kDa DNase is expressed with similar level of activity in intestine and whole worm of H. contortus FBZ-resistant and -susceptible isolates. This result demonstrated that the secretory transport pathway of the 38.5 kDa DNase was inhibited by unknown mechanisms, which may be related with ${\beta}$-tubulin sequence change in FBZ-resistant isolates. Other DNases of 34, 36 and 37 kDa were detected from ESP of both H. contortus FBZ-resistant and -susceptible isolates. Overall DNase activities found from ESP of these two isolates were not inhibited by 10 mM EDTA at pH 5.0, but largely inhibited by pH 7.0. In addition, DNase activities in two isolates produced DNA fragments with mixtures of 3'- hydroxyls (OH) and 3'-phosphates (P) at each pH although the 3'-end labeling ratios at pH 5.0 and 7.0 were shown different. Identification of inhibition of the 38.5 kDa DNase secretion in FBZ-resistant isolates suggests existence of further differences, in addition to ${\beta}$-tubulin sequence change, in two isolates. This shows complex effect of FBZ on H. contortus biological mechanisms.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권6호통권86호
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• pp.847-858
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• 2007

ER-Golgi 분비 경로를 통해서 정확한 구조를 가지면서 post-translational modification 과정을 거친 재조합 단백질의 발현을 최대화하는 것은 ER stress반응에 대한 연구의 중요한 계기가 된다. 세포가 스트레스를 받지 않는 상태라도 ER stress signaling은 재조합 단백질의 생산량을 제한하고 품질을 떨어뜨리는 여러 가지 조건을 만들게 된다. ER stress signaling을 막는 여러 가지 방법들이 제시되고 있으며 표 2는 이러한 방법들 중 일부를 나타내고 있다. 일반적으로는 pro-survival 경로에 관련되어 있는 인자를 촉진하고 pro-apoptosis에 관련되어 있는 인자를 억제하는 것들이다. 그러나 ER stress 반응은 매우 복잡하고 적응과 사멸 기작(adaptation and elimination mechanism)의 중간 역할을 하기 때문에 ER stress에 관련된 주요 인자를 산업적으로 응용하기 위해선 이들의 기능에 대해 보다 깊은 연구가 이루어져야 한다. 현재까지 재조합단백질의 생산량을 최대한으로 높이는 방법은 ER stress 반응이 생기지 않도록 fed-batch process를 개선하고 세포 사멸 기작을 조절하며 단백질의 glycosylation 처리를 하는 것이다.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.231-239
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• 1999

초파리 단안의 발생단계에 따른 각막형성세포의 형태적인 변화를 관찰하고, 생산된 단백질의 이동방향을 조사하였다. 그 결과 우화 후 수일이 지나면서 각막형성세포는 그 기능이 급격하게 감소하는 것으로 보인다. 반면 우화 직후의 각막형성세포는 왕성한 분비활동을 하는 것으로 생각된다. 특히 자기방사섭의 결과에서는 각막형성세포에서 생산된 대부분의 단백질이 랜즈쪽으로 가는 것을 볼 때, 이 시기에서 이들 세포는 시세포에 기능하기보다는 렌즈형성에 주 기능을 할 것으로 사료된다. 번데기시기의 각막형성세포는 더욱 잘 발달되어 있었다. 렌즈가 형성되고 있는 시기의 각막형성세포에는 rER이 잘 발달되어 물질생산이 왕성하게 일어나고 있음을 보여주었다. 또한 분비과립과 미세소관이 많이 관찰되는데, 후자는 물질이 이동하는 통로를 제공하기 때문이다. 발생도중의 단안에서 새롭게 만들어진 렌즈의 가장 아래층의 저밀도의 불연속적 라멜라구조를 이루고 있고, 이 부분의 각막형성세포는 미세융모가 잘 발달되어 있어 물질을 분비하는 조직의 일반적인 특징을 보여준다. 결론적으로 각막형성세포는 렌즈가 왕성하게 형성되는 시기에는 잘 발달하고, 우화 후 완전히 형성된 추에는 그 기능이 급격하게 감소하면서 세포의 크기도 작아진 다는 것을 알 수 있었다.