• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1491-1497
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• 2007

Arginine deiminase (ADI, E.C. 3.5.3.6), one of the arginine deprivation enzymes, exhibits anticarcinogenic activities. The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of the purified recombinant ADI originating from Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis ATCC7962 (LADI). LADI dose-dependently inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and the production of nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. The induction of cyclooxygenase-2 expression and subsequent production of prostaglandin $E_2$ by LPS was also attenuated by LADI treatment. Moreover, LADI inhibited the production of interleukin-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results indicate that LADI exerts anti-inflammatory effects, which may in part explain its chemopreventive potential.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.204-210
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• 2006

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) in articular chondrocytes regulates dedifferentiation and inflammatory responses by modulating MAP kinases. In this study, we investigated whether the Src kinase in chondrocytes regulates NO-induced dedifferentiation and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Methods: Primary chondrocytes were treated with various concentrations of SNP for 24 h. The COX-2 and type II collagen expression levels were determined by immunoblot analysis, and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ was determined by using a $PGE_2$ assay kit. Expression and distribution of p-Caveolin and COX-2 in rabbit articular chondrocytes and cartilage explants were determined by immunohistochemical staining and immunocytochemical staining, respectively. Results: SNP treatment stimulated Src kinase activation in a dose-dependent manner in articular chondrocytes. The Src kinase inhibitors PP2 [4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidine], a significantly blocked SNP-induced p38 kinase and caveolin-1 activation in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, to determine whether Src kinase activation is associated with dedifferentiation and/or COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production. As expected, PP2 potentiated SNP-stimulated dedifferentiation, but completely blocked both COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production. And also, levels of p-Caveolin and COX-2 protein expression were increased in SNP-treated primary chondrocytes and osteoarthritic and rheumatoid arthritic cartilage, suggesting that p-Caveolin may playa role in the inflammatory responses of arthritic cartilage. Conclusion: Our previously studies indicated that NO caused dedifferentiation and COX-2 expression is regulated by p38 kinase through caveolin-1 (1). Therefore, our results collectively suggest that Src kinase regulates NO-induced dedifferentiation and COX-2 expression in chondrocytes via p38 kinase in association with caveolin-1.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.818-824
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• 2009

The mechanisms responsible for ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury have direct or indirect relevance to clinical lung injury after severe shock, cardiopulmonary bypass, and transplantation. This study investigated the effects of aspirin on intestinal I/R-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in A549 and RAW264.7 cells. RAW264.7 macrophages had shown greater expression of COX-2 than A549 cells. In addition, the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 attenuated LPS-stimulated COX-2 expression. To induce ALI, intestinal ischemia was performed for 60 min prior to the 4 hr reperfusion by clamping the superior mesenteric artery in Sprague-Dawley rats. In order to test and compare the effect of non-specific COX inhibitor aspirin with the effect of mepacrine, a well known phospholipase$A_{2}$ inhibitor, rats were divided into 4 groups: Sham, I/R, Mepa+I/R (mepacrine, 60 mg/kg, i.p.), ASA+I/R (aspirin, 10 mg/kg, i.p.). In the present investigation, myeloperoxidase activities in the lung and intestinal tissues were increased by I/R. These changes were reduced by single pretreatment of mepacrine (60 mg/kg, i.p.) or aspirin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before I/R. Structural studies demonstrated that the tissue injuries in the lung and intestine after I/R were also attenuated by the pretreatment of mepacrine or aspirin. These results suggest that I/R-induced ALI is mediated, in part, by the activation of COX. In addition, pretreatment of aspirin might be helpful for the prevention of ALI in ARDS-prone patients. In addition, the p38 MAPK inhibitor and apocynin also might be helpful to ALI through the inhibition of COX-2 expression.