• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.468-474
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• 2003

The molecular mechanism of hypoxia-induced apoptosis has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we investigated the involvement of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK 1/2) in hypoxia-induced apoptosis using cobalt chloride in HeLa human cervical cancer cells. The cobalt chloride was used for the induction of hypoxia, and its $IC_{50}$ was $471.4\;{\mu}M$. We demonstrated the DNA fragmentation after incubation with concentrations more than $50\;{\mu}M$ cobalt chloride for 24 h, and also evidenced the morphological changes of the cells undergoing apoptosis with electron microscopy. Next, we examined the signaling pathway of cobalt chloride-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. ERK1/2 activation occurred 6 and 9 h after treatment with $600\;{\mu}M$ cobalt chloride. Meanwhile, the pretreatment of the MEK 1 inhibitor (PD98059) completely blocked the cobalt chloride-induced ERK 1/2 activation. At the same time, the activated ERK 1/2 translocated into the nucleus and phosphorylated its transcriptional factor, c-Jun. In addition, the pretreatment of PD98059 inhibited the cobalt chloride-induced DNA fragmentation and apoptotic cell death. These results suggest that cobalt chloride is able to induce apoptotic activity in HeLa cells, and its apoptotic mechanism may be associated with signal transduction via ERK 1/2.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.359-364
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• 2010

Many therapeutic roles have been proposed for sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R), but the involvement of Sig-1R in neuropathic pain has currently not been well explored. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-nociceptive effect of Sig-1R antagonist (BD1047) in a rat model of chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion (CCD), which is a model of human foraminal stenosis and radicular pain. When stainless steel rods were inserted into the intervertebral foramen of lumbar vertebrae 4 and 5, the CCD developed reliable mechanical (from 3 day) and cold allodynia (from 1 day) as compared with the sham operation group. The spinal expressions of Sig-1R and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) were significantly increased from day 3 to day 14 after CCD surgery, as is consistent with the manifestation of allodynia. The BD 1047 (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) administered on postoperative days 0~5 dose-dependently suppressed both the induction of allodynia and the elevation of the spinal pERK expression in a manner comparable with that of gabapentin (100 mg/kg). At 7 days post-CCD surgery, BD1047 (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) administration also produced anti-nociceptive effects on the mechanical and cold allodynia similar with those of gabapentin (100 mg/kg). Therefore, this data suggested that Sig-1R may play an important role in both the development and maintenance of CCD-induced neuropathy.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2005

Background: Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) belongs to a family of G protein coupled receptors activated by proteolytic cleavage. Trypsin-like serine proteases interact with PAR2 expressed by a variety of tissues and immune cells. The aim of our study was to investigate whether PAR2 stimulation can lead to the activation of human mac rophages. Methods: PAR2-mediated proliferation of human macrophage cell line THP-1 was measured with MTT assay. We also examined the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and cytokine production induced by trypsin and PAR2-agonist using western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Results: Treatment of trypsin or PAR2-activating peptide increased cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, and induced the activation of ERK1/2 in THP-1 cells. In addition, trypsin-induced cell proliferation was inhibited by pretreatment of an ERK inhibitor (pD98059) or trypsin inhibitor (SBTI). Moreover, PAR2 activation by trypsin increased the secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ in THP-1 cells. Conclusion: There results suggest that P AR2 activation by trypsin-like serine proteases can induce cell proliferation through the activation of ERK in human macrophage and that PAR2 may playa crucial role in the cell proliferation and cytokine secretion induced by trypsin-like serine proteases.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.440-447
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• 2008

This study investigated the role of Panax ginseng (PG) on the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) + calcium ionophore A23187-induced hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) activation, phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and inflammatory cytokine production from the human mast cell line, HMC-1. HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and phosphorylation of ERK were observed by Western blotting. The inflammatory cytokine production was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PG inhibited the PMA+A23187-induced HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression and the subsequent production of vascular endothelial growth factor. In addition, PG suppressed PMA + A23187-induced phosphorylation of ERK. We also show that the increased cytokines interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ level was significantly inhibited by treatment of PG. In the present study, we report for the first time that PG is an inhibitor of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and cytokines on the mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.125-144
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of the fraction of Korean mountain ginseng folium (FKG) on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Methods: The memory ameliorating effect of FKG was investigated using a passive avoidance test, the Y-maze test, and the Morris water maze test in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine(1mg/kg, i.p.). Results: FKG (2 or 4mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly reversed scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice by the passive avoidance test and the Y-maze test(P<0.05), and also improved escape latency in the Morris water maze test at 2 or 4mg/kg(P<0.05). Although FKG has little inhibitory activity for AChE (IC50 value; 1847 ${\mu}g/ml$) in an invitro study, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(pERK) was increased by the administration of FKG inhippocampus on immunohistochemistry. Conclusions: These results suggest that FKG may be a useful cognitive impairment treatment, and its beneficial effects are mediated, in part, via activation of ERK pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.581-589
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• 2020

Neurons have multiple dendrites and single axon. This neuronal polarity is gradually established during early processes of neuronal differentiation: generation of multiple neurites (stages 1-2); differentiation (stage 3) and maturation (stages 4-5) of an axon and dendrites. In this study, we demonstrated that the neuron-specific n-glycosylated protein NELL2 is important for neuronal polarization and axon growth using cultured rat embryonic hippocampal neurons. Endogenous NELL2 expression was gradually increased in parallel with the progression of developmental stages of hippocampal neurons, and overexpression of NELL2 stimulated neuronal polarization and axon growth. In line with these results, knockdown of NELL2 expression resulted in deterioration of neuronal development, including inhibition of neuronal development progression, decreased axon growth and increased axon branching. Inhibitor against extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) dramatically inhibited NELL2-induced progression of neuronal development and axon growth. These results suggest that NELL2 is an important regulator for the morphological development for neuronal polarization and axon growth.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.190-197
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• 2012

Depression is one of the most prevalent diseases of alcohol abuse. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in cell survival in the hippocampus. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) is induced by BDNF, and it regulates cell proliferation and differentiation in the brain. We investigated the effects of alcohol intake on depression-like behavior, cell proliferation, expressions of BDNF and its downstream molecules in the hippocampus using Mongolian gerbils. The gerbils were divided into four groups: control group, 0.5 g/kg alcohol-treated group, 1 g/kg alcohol-treated group, 2 g/kg alcohol-treated group. Each dose of alcohol was orally administered for 3 weeks. The present results demonstrated that alcohol intake induced depression-like behavior. Both 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis and its synthesizing enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase expression in the dorsal raphe and cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus were decreased by alcohol intake. Alcohol intake suppressed BDNF expression, and resulted in the decrease of its downstream molecules, pERK1/2 and Bcl-2, in the hippocampus. We showed that alcohol intake may lead to a depressed-like state with reduced hippocampal cell proliferation through inhibition of the BDNF-ERK signaling pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.593-601
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• 2021

Primary cilia on kidney tubular cells play crucial roles in maintaining structure and physiological function. Emerging evidence indicates that the absence of primary cilia, and their length, are associated with kidney diseases. The length of primary cilia in kidney tubular epithelial cells depends, at least in part, on oxidative stress and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK) activation. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is involved in antioxidant systems and the ERK signaling pathway. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the role of H₂S in primary cilia elongation and the downstream pathway. In cultured Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cells, the length of primary cilia gradually increased up to 4 days after the cells were grown to confluent monolayers. In addition, the expression of H₂S-producing enzyme increased concomitantly with primary cilia length. Treatment with NaHS, an exogenous H₂S donor, accelerated the elongation of primary cilia whereas DL-propargylglycine (a cystathionine γ-lyase inhibitor) and hydroxylamine (a cystathionine-β-synthase inhibitor) delayed their elongation. NaHS treatment increased ERK activation and Sec10 and Arl13b protein expression, both of which are involved in cilia formation and elongation. Treatment with U0126, an ERK inhibitor, delayed elongation of primary cilia and blocked the effect of NaHS-mediated primary cilia elongation and Sec10 and Arl13b upregulation. Finally, we also found that H₂S accelerated primary cilia elongation after ischemic kidney injury. These results indicate that H₂S lengthens primary cilia through ERK activation and a consequent increase in Sec10 and Arl13b expression, suggesting that H₂S and its downstream targets could be novel molecular targets for regulating primary cilia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.187-194
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• 2004

Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) results in cell death by activation of complex signal pathways for cell death and survival. Hypothermia is a robust neuroprotectant, and its effect has often been attributed to various mechanisms, but it is not yet clear. Upstream from the cell death promoters and executioners are several enzymes that may activate several transcription factors involved in cell death and survival. In this study, we immunohistochemically examined the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase during early period of the ischemic injury, following 2 hours (h) of transient MCAO. Increased phosphorylation of ERK and p38 was observed in the vessels at 3 h, neuron-like cells at 6 and 12 h and glia-like cells at 12 h. Activation of JNK was not remarkable, and a few cells showed active JNK following ischemia. Phosphorylation of Elk-1, a transcription factor, was reduced by ischemic insult. Hypothermia attenuated the activation of ERK, p38 and JNK, and inhibited reduction of Elk-1. These data suggest that signals via different MAPK family members converge on the cell damage process and hypothermia protects the brain by interfering with these pathways.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1994

The present study was undertaken to demonstrate whether or not bradykinin activates a phospholipase D in rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells. By measuring the formation of [$^3$H]phosphatidic acid and [$^3$H]phosphatidylethanol we could elucidate the direct stimulation of phospholipase D by bradykinin. Bradykinin leads to a rapid increase in [$^3$H]phosphatidic acid and [$^3$H]diacylglycerol, and [$^3$H]phosphatidic acid formation preceded the formation of [$^3$H]diacylglycerol. This result suggests that some phosphatidic acid seems to be formed directly from phosphatidylcholine by the action of phospholipase D, not from diacylglycerol by the action of diacylglycerol kinase. In addition, the other mechanisms by which phospholipase D is activated was examined. We have found that phospholipase D was activated and regulated by extracellular calcium ion and pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein, respectively. It has also been shown that bradykinin may activate phospholipase D through protein kinase C-dependent pathway. In conclusion, we are now, for the first time, strongly suggesting that bradykinin-induced activation of phospholipase D in the rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells is mediated by a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein and is dependent of protein kinase C.