• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.527-535
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• 2021

Lysosomes are organelles surrounded by membranes that contain acid hydrolases; they degrade proteins, macromolecules, and lipids. According to nutrient conditions, lysosomes act as signaling hubs that regulate intracellular signaling pathways and are involved in the homeostasis of cells. Therefore, the lysosomal dysfunction occurs in various diseases, such as lysosomal storage disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers. Multiple forms of stress can increase lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), resulting in the induction of lysosome-mediated cell death through the release of lysosomal enzymes, including cathepsin, into the cytosol. Here we review the molecular mechanisms of LMP-mediated cell death and the enhancement of sensitivity to anticancer drugs. Induction of partial LMP increases apoptosis by releasing some cathepsins, whereas massive LMP and rupture induce non-apoptotic cell death through release of many cathepsins and generation of ROS and iron. Cancer cells have many drug-accumulating lysosomes that are more resistant to lysosome-sequestered drugs, suggesting a model of drug-induced lysosome-mediated chemoresistance. Lysosomal sequestration of hydrophobic weak base anticancer drugs can have a significant impact on their subcellular distribution. Lysosome membrane damage by LMP can overcome resistance to anticancer drugs by freeing captured hydrophobic weak base drugs from lysosomes. Therefore, LMP inducers or lysosomotropic agents can regulate lysosomal integrity and are novel strategies for cancer therapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.908-917
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• 2022

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a form of systemic immunity that prevents secondary infections of distal uninfected parts of plants by related or unrelated pathogens. SAR is mediated by several SAR-inducing chemicals or mobile signals that accumulate after pathogen infection. Several chemicals that move systemically have already been identified as SAR-inducing factors, despite the fact that the early mobile signal remains unclear. These chemicals can be transported into either the apoplastic or symplastic compartments. Many of the chemicals associated with SAR remain unknown in terms of their transport routes. There is recent evidence that azelaic acid (AzA) and glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) are transported via plasmodesmata (PD) channels, which regulate the symplastic route. In contrast, salicylic acid (SA) is preferentially transported from pathogen-infected to uninfected parts via the apoplast. The pH gradient and SA deprotonation lead to apoplastic accumulation of SA before it accumulates in the cytosol. Moreover, there is evidence that the mobility of SA over a long distance is crucial for SAR and that the partitioning of SA into the symplast and cuticles is controlled by transpiration. Further research has shown that a portion of the total SA in leaves is partitioned into cuticular waxes. The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of SAR-inducing chemicals and the regulation of transport in SAR.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.717-724
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• 2023

we are investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Safflower and Mother wort Ethanol Complex Extracts(SEC) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 cells. The results demonstrated that pretreatment of SEC(500㎍/mL) significantly reduced NO production by suppressing iNOS protein expression in LPS-stimulated cells. Anti-inflammatory effects by Safflower and Mother wort Ethanol Complex Extracts were observed in the following. Safflower and Mother wort Ethanol Complex Extracts inhibited the translocation of NF-κB from the cytosol to the nucleus via the suppression of IκB-α phosphorylation and also inhibited LPS-stimulated NF-κB transcriptional activity. These findings suggest that Safflower and Mother wort Ethanol Complex Extracts exert anti-inflammatory actions and help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the potential therapeutic values of Safflower and Mother wort Ethanol Complex Extracts. Therefore, Safflower and Mother wort Ethanol Complex Extracts could be regarded as a potential source of natural anti-inflammatory agents.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.417-426
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• 2023

The TRPM4 gene encodes a Ca²⁺-activated monovalent cation channel called transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) that is expressed in various tissues. Dysregulation or abnormal expression of TRPM4 has been linked to a range of diseases. We introduced the hemagglutinin (HA) tag into the extracellular S6 loop of TRPM4, resulting in an HA-tagged version called TRPM4-HA. This TRPM4-HA was developed to investigate the purification, localization, and function of TRPM4 in different physiological and pathological conditions. TRPM4-HA was successfully expressed in the intact cell membrane and exhibited similar electrophysiological properties, such as the current-voltage relationship, rapid desensitization, and current size, compared to the wild-type TRPM4. The presence of the TRPM4 inhibitor 9-phenanthrol did not affect these properties. Furthermore, a wound-healing assay showed that TRPM4-HA induced cell proliferation and migration, similar to the native TRPM4. Co-expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 6 (PTPN6 or SHP1) with TRPM4-HA led to the translocation of TRPM4-HA to the cytosol. To investigate the interaction between PTPN6 and tyrosine residues of TRPM4 in enhancing channel activity, we generated four mutants in which tyrosine (Y) residues were substituted with phenylalanine (F) at the N-terminus of TRPM4. The YF mutants displayed properties and functions similar to TRPM4-HA, except for the Y256F mutant, which showed resistance to 9-phenanthrol, suggesting that Y256 may be involved in the binding site for 9-phenanthrol. Overall, the creation of HA-tagged TRPM4 provides researchers with a valuable tool to study the role of TRPM4 in different conditions and its potential interactions with other proteins, such as PTPN6.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.545-557
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• 2023

Sphingomyelinase (SMase) catalyzes ceramide production from sphingomyelin. Ceramides are critical in cellular responses such as apoptosis. They enhance mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) through self-assembly in the mitochondrial outer membrane to form channels that release cytochrome c from intermembrane space (IMS) into the cytosol, triggering caspase-9 activation. However, the SMase involved in MOMP is yet to be identified. Here, we identified a mitochondrial Mg²⁺-independent SMase (mt-iSMase) from rat brain, which was purified 6,130-fold using a Percoll gradient, pulled down with biotinylated sphingomyelin, and subjected to Mono Q anion exchange. A single peak of mt-iSMase activity was eluted at a molecular mass of approximately 65 kDa using Superose 6 gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed optimal activity at pH of 6.5 and was inhibited by dithiothreitol and Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions. It was also inhibited by GW4869, which is a non-competitive inhibitor of Mg²⁺-dependent neutral SMase 2 (encoded by SMPD3), that protects against cytochrome c release-mediated cell death. Subfractionation experiments showed that mt-iSMase localizes in the IMS of the mitochondria, implying that mt-iSMase may play a critical role in generating ceramides for MOMP, cytochrome c release, and apoptosis. These data suggest that the purified enzyme in this study is a novel SMase.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.851-858
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• 2023

Unique cartilage matrix-associated protein (UCMA) is an extrahepatic vitamin K-dependent protein rich in γ-carboxylated (Gla) residues. UCMA has been recognized for its ability to promote osteoblast differentiation and enhance bone formation; however, its impact on osteoblasts under hyperglycemic stress remains unknown. In this paper, we investigated the effect of UCMA on MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells under hyperglycemic conditions. After exposure to high glucose, the MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with recombinant UCMA proteins. CellROX and MitoSOX staining showed that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which initially increased under high-glucose conditions in MC3T3-E1 cells, decreased after UCMA treatment. Additionally, quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed increased expression of antioxidant genes, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and superoxide dismutase 1, in the MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to both high glucose and UCMA. UCMA treatment downregulated the expression of heme oxygenase-1, which reduced its translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. Moreover, the expression of dynamin-related protein 1, a mitochondrial fission marker, was upregulated, and AKT signaling was inhibited after UCMA treatment. Overall, UCMA appears to mitigate ROS production, increase antioxidant gene expression, impact mitochondrial dynamics, and modulate AKT signaling in osteoblasts exposed to high-glucose conditions. This study advances our understanding of the cellular mechanism of UCMA and suggests its potential use as a novel therapeutic agent for bone complications related to metabolic disorders.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.305-310
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• 2023

This study aimed to determine the human androgen receptor (AR)-mediated endocrine disrupting potential of parabens and triclosan in food and household products using a cell-based assay in the OECD TG No.458, the 22Rv1/MMTV_GR-KO transcriptional activation assay. Four parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butyl-) are determined as AR antagonists in OECD TG No.458. However, their AR antagonistic effects were not exhibited in the presence of the S9 hepatic fraction. Triclosan is also classified as an AR antagonist, and the AR antagonistic effect induced by triclosan significantly decreased in the presence of the phase I + II S9 fraction. Regarding the mechanism of AR antagonism induced by parabens and triclosan, the AR-mediated endocrine disrupting effects were exhibited through suppressing the translocation of ligand-bound AR to the nucleus via blocking of AR dimerization in the cytosol. These results indicate that the four parabens and triclosan have AR-mediated endocrine disrupting potential through an AR antagonistic effect via inhibiting AR dimerization; however, their endocrine disrupting effects deceased in the presence of hepatic metabolic enzymes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.329-340
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• 2024

Mangiferin is a kind of natural xanthone glycosides and is known to have various pharmacological activities. However, since the beneficial efficacy of this compound has not been reported in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, this study aimed to evaluate whether mangiferin could protect human RPE ARPE-19 cells from oxidative injury mimicked by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The results showed that mangiferin attenuated H₂O₂-induced cell viability reduction and DNA damage, while inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and preserving diminished glutathione (GSH). Mangiferin also antagonized H₂O₂-induced inhibition of the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes such as manganese superoxide dismutase and GSH peroxidase, which was associated with inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production. In addition, mangiferin protected ARPE-19 cells from H₂O₂-induced apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, decreasing caspase-3 activation, and blocking poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Moreover, mangiferin suppressed the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, which was achieved by interfering with mitochondrial membrane disruption. Furthermore, mangiferin increased the expression and activity of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor-erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). However, the inhibition of ROS production, cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of mangiferin were significantly attenuated by the HO-1 inhibitor, indicating that mangiferin promoted Nrf2-mediated HO-1 activity to prevent ARPE-19 cells from oxidative injury. The results of this study suggest that mangiferin, as an Nrf2 activator, has potent ROS scavenging activity and may have the potential to protect oxidative stress-mediated ocular diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1377-1384
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• 2011

Astaxanthin (ATX) is a red-orange carotenoid pigment that occurs naturally in a wide variety of living organisms. In this study we investigated the inhibitory effects of ATX on the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-${\kappa}B$) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, we tested the superoxide radical scavenging activity of ATX by scavenging assay. iNOS and NF-${\kappa}B$ expressions were determined by immunoblot analysis. Interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) were assayed by ELISA. NO production was monitored by measuring the amount of nitrite. ROS was examined by using the 2', 7'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) method. At a concentration of 100 ${\mu}M$, ATX inhibited the expression level of LPS-induced NF-${\kappa}B$, as well as the production of LPS-induced NO and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$), by suppressing iNOS expression. In particular, the maximal inhibition rate of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production by ATX (100 ${\mu}M$) was 65.2----- and 21.2-----, respectively. In addition, ATX inhibited the LPS-induced transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$, and this was associated with suppressing the translocations of NF-${\kappa}B$ from the cytosol to the nucleus. Moreover, at various concentrations (25-100 ${\mu}M$), ATX inhibited the intracellular level of ROS. At a concentration of 5 mg/ml, the superoxide radical scavenging activity of ATX was 1.33 times higher than ${\alpha}$-tocopherol of the same concentration. These results showed that ATX inhibited the expression of iNOS and the production of NO and proinflammatory cytokines resulting from ROS production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in macrophages. Furthermore, ATX was found to be more effective in superoxide radical scavenging activities compared to ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. These findings are expected to strengthen the position of ATX as anti-inflammatory medicine and antioxidant.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.209-219
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• 2012

The properties of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, EC 1.1.1.27) eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme were studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and enzyme kinetics. Furthermore, we proposed the optimal conditions for measuring the activity of LDH eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme. The isozymes were detected in the cytosol of eye tissues from Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides and were more similar to the $A_4$ than the $B_4$ isozyme. LDH/CS in the eye tissue of L. macrochirus was increased in September, so the ratio of anaerobic metabolism was high. The electrophoretic patterns of mitochondrial LDH were similar to those of cytosolic LDH in the eye tissues of L. macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides. LDH eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme from eye tissue was purified by preparative native-PAGE. The activities of LDH eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes in L. macrochirus and M. salmoides were reduced at concentrations greater than 0.2 mM and 0.1 mM of pyruvate, respectively. These concentrations remained at 5.2% and 15.8% as a result of the inhibition by 10 mM of pyruvate, so the degree of inhibition was very high. The LDH activities of eye tissues were reduced at concentrations greater than 22 mM and 24 mM of lactate, respectively, in L. macrochirus and M. salmoides. The ${K_m}^{PYR}$ of eye-specific $C_4$ was 0.088 mM in L. macrochirus and it was 0.033 mM in M. salmoides. The activities of cytosolic and mitochondrial eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes were high in ${\alpha}$-ketobutyric acid. Furthermore, the activities of eye tissue and eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme had to be measured with 0.5 mM of pyruvate and a buffer solution of pH 7.5. As a conclusion, the eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme in M. salmoides has a high affinity for pyruvate and exhibits maximum activity at a lower concentration of pyruvate and at higher concentration of lactate than that in L. macrochirus. Therefore, it seems that the energy produced by the LDH eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme in M. salmoides was used at the first stage of predatory behavior.