• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.75-79
• /
• 2008

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a protein plays a major role in the development and maintenance of central and peripheral nervous system. Recent data suggest that reduced availability of NGF may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of diabetic $polyneuropathy.^{1)}$ In our previous study, steroidal saponin from Liriope platyphylla showed neurotrophic effect by stimulation of NGF synthesis and activation of tyrosine kinase $signaling.^{2)}$ In this study, we examined the neurotrophic effect of Liriope platyphylla (LP); which was from Mylyang(MYL) and Cheongyang(CHE), and Ophiopogon japonicus (CHI) on in vitro and in vivo model for the comparison of their NGF induction. We quantitatively analyzed spicatoside A in the LP and CHI by HPLC. And we investigated the correlation between the contents of spicatoside A and NGF induction efficacy on PC 12 cells and mouse serum. These results suggest that spicatoside A may enhance NGF induction in animal model.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.28 no.11
• /
• pp.1275-1281
• /
• 2005

The $G_{q/11}$ protein-coupled receptors, such as muscarinic (M1 & M3) receptors, have been shown to regulate the release of a soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPP$\alpha$) produced from $\alpha$-secretase processing. However, there is no direct evidence for the precise characteristics of G proteins, and the signaling mechanism for the regulation of $G_{q/11}$ protein-coupled receptor mediated sAPP$\alpha$ release is not clearly understood. This study examined whether the muscarinic receptor-mediated release of sAPP$\alpha$ is directly regulated by $G\alpha_{q/11}$ proteins. The HEK293 cells were transiently cotransfected with muscarinic M3 receptors and a dominant-negative minigene construct of the G protein $\alpha$ subunit. The sAPP$\alpha$ release in the media was measured using an antibody specific for sAPP. The sAPP$\alpha$ release enhancement induced by muscarinic receptor stimulation was decreased by a $G_{q/11}$ minigene construct, whereas it was not blocked by a control minigene construct (the G$\alpha$ carboxy peptide in random order, G$\alpha_{q}$R) or $G\alpha_{j}$ constructs. This indicated a direct role of the $G\alpha_{q/11}$ protein in the regulation of muscarinic M3 receptor-mediated sAPP$\alpha$ release. We also investigated whether the transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by a muscarinic agonist could regulate the sAPP$\alpha$ release in SH-SY5Y cells. Pretreatment of a specific EGFR kinase inhibitor, tyrophostin AG1478 (250 nM), blocked the EGF-stimulated sAPP$\alpha$ release, but did not block the oxoM­stimulated sAPP$\alpha$ release. This demonstrated that the transactivation of the EGFR by muscarinic receptor activation was not involved in the muscarinic receptor-mediated sAPP$\alpha$ release.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2021

Objective : As more and more people are interested in appearance in modern society, the increasing number of hair loss population can have an important impact on psychological and social problems such as depression and inappropriate interpersonal symptoms. Therefore, much research is being done on treatments for alopecia using herbal extracts with relatively few side effects. This study was investigated about the effect of Achyranthis Radix (AR) extract with ethanol solvent on hair growth. Methods : We determined the promoting efficacy of AR-ethanol extract compared with minoxidil (MNXD) on the growth of human hair dermal papilla cells (HDPCs). Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and cell proliferation was confirmed by cell cycle analysis from flow cytometry in HDPCs. Also, we monitored the safe concentration range through MTT assay. And protein expression of hair growth-related genes (insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), Wnt3a, Protein kinase B (Akt), Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk)) was monitored by western blot. Results : On cell cycle analysis, the G2/M phase was higher than that of the DW group in AR ethanol extract group at 0.05 and 0.1 mg/㎖. All protein expression levels of HDPCs were increased in AR ethanol extract groups and the MNXD group, compared to the DW group, respectively. Conclusion : As mentioned above, AR extract increased cell proliferation and the protein expression of IGF-1, Wnt3a, Akt, Erk in HDPCs. These results suggest that AR ethanol extract has promoted hair growth and it might be potential hair growth supplement.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.208-213
• /
• 2017

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an essential cytokine that has functions in the formation of new blood vessels and regression of cardiac hypertrophy. VEGF/VEGF-receptor-1 (VEGFR1) signaling plays a key role in the regression of cardiac hypertrophy, whereas VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling leads to cardiac hypertrophy. In this study, we identified the prohypertrophic role of miR-374 using neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs). Our results showed that overexpression of miR-374 activated G protein-coupled receptor-mediated prohypertrophic pathways by the inhibition of VEGFR1-dependent regression pathways. Luciferase assays revealed that miR-374 could directly target the 3'-untranslated regions of VEGFR1 and cGMP-dependent protein kinase-1. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that miR-374 was a novel pro-hypertrophic microRNA functioning to suppress the VEGFR1-mediated regression pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.464-473
• /
• 2018

Cripto is a small glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored signaling protein that can detach from the anchored membrane and stimulate proliferation, migration, differentiation, vascularization, and angiogenesis. In the present study, we demonstrated that Cripto positively affected proliferation and survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) without affecting multipotency. Cripto also increased expression of phosphorylated janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), c-Myc, and cyclin D1. Notably, treatment with an anti-GRP78 antibody blocked these effects. In addition, pretreatment with STAT3 short interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited the increase in p-JAK2, c-Myc, cyclin D1, and BCL3 levels caused by Cripto and attenuated the pro-survival action of Cripto on MSCs. We also found that incubation with Cripto protected MSCs from apoptosis caused by hypoxia or $H_2O_2$ exposure, and the level of caspase-3 decreased by the Cripto-induced expression of B-cell lymphoma 3-encoded protein (BCL3). These effects were sensitive to down-regulation of BCL3 expression by BCL3 siRNA. Finally, we showed that Cripto enhanced expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In summary, our results demonstrated that Cripto activated a novel biochemical cascade that potentiated MSC proliferation and survival. This cascade relied on phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 and was regulated by GRP78. Our findings may facilitate clinical applications of MSCs, as these cells may benefit from positive effects of Cripto on their survival and biological properties.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.186-193
• /
• 2002

The acid-bible subunit (ALS) associates with the insulinlike growth factor (IGF)-I or II, and the IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in order to form a 150-kD complex in the circulation. This complex may regulate the serum IGFs by restricting them in the vascular system and promoting their endocrine actions. Little is known about how ALS binds to IGFBP3, which connects the IGFs to ALS. Xenopus oocyte was utilized to study the function of ALS in assembling IGFs into the ternary complexes. Xenopus oocyte was shown to correctly translate in vitro transcribed mRNAs of ALS and IGFBP3. IGFBP3 and ALS mRNAs were injected in a mixture, and their products were immunoprecipitated by antisera against ALS and IGFBP3. Contrary to traditional reports that ALS interacts only with IGF-bound IGFBP3, this study shows that ALS is capable of forming a binary complex with IGFBP3 in the absence of IGF When cross-linked by disuccinimidyl suberate, the band that represents the ALS-IGFBP3 complex was evident on the PAGE. IGFBP3 movement was monitored according to the distribution between the hemispheres. Following a localized translation in the vegetal hemisphere, IGFBP3 remained in the vegetal half in the presence of ALS. However, the mutant IGFBP3 freely diffused into the animal half, despite the presence of ALS, which is different from the wild type IGFBP3. This study, therefore, suggests that ALS may play an important role in sequestering IGFBP3 polypeptides via the intermolecular aggregation. Studies using this heterologous model will lead to a better understanding of the IGFBP3 and ALS that assemble into the ternary structure and circulate the IGF system.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.53 no.12
• /
• pp.628-633
• /
• 2020

WNT11 is a member of the non-canonical Wnt family and plays a crucial role in tumor progression. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying WNT11 expression are unclear. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) is a major inflammatory cytokine produced in the tumor microenvironment and contributes to processes associated with tumor progression, such as tumor invasion and metastasis. By using site-directed mutagenesis and introducing a serial deletion in the 5'-regulatory region of WNT11, we observed that TNFα activates the early growth response 1 (EGR1)-binding sequence (EBS) in the proximal region of WNT11 and that the transcription factor EGR1 is necessary for the TNFα-induced transcription of WNT11. EGR1 bound directly to the EBSs within the proximal 5'-regulatory region of WNT11 and ectopic expression of EGR1 stimulated WNT11 promoter activity, whereas the knockdown of EGR1 expression by RNA interference reduced TNFα-induced WNT11 expression in T47D breast cancer cells. We also observed that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 kinase mediated TNFα-induced transcription of WNT11 via EGR1. Our results suggest that EGR1 directly targets WNT11 in response to TNFα stimulation in breast cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.1003-1013
• /
• 2021

Thioredoxin (TRX) protein is an antioxidant responsible for reducing other proteins by exchanging cysteine thiol-disulfide and is also known for its anti-allergic and anti-aging properties. On the other hand, epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an important material used in the cosmetics industry and an essential protein necessary for dermal wound healing facilitated by the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes. EGF also assists in the formation of granulation tissues and stimulates the motility of fibroblasts. Hence, genetically modified soybeans were developed to overexpress these industrially important proteins for mass production. A single-dose oral-toxicity-based study was conducted to evaluate the potential toxic effects of TRX and EGF proteins, as safety assessments are necessary for the commercial use of seed-specific protein-expressing transgenic soybeans. To achieve this rationale, TRX and EGF proteins were mass purified from recombinant E. coli. The single-dose oral-toxicity tests of the TRX and EGF proteins were carried out in six-week old male and female Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. The initial evaluation of the single-dose TRF and EGF treatments was based on monitoring the toxicity signatures and mortality rates among the mice, and the resultant mortality rates did not show any specific clinical symptoms related to the proteins. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in the weights between the treatment and control groups of male and female ICR mice. After 14 days of treatment, no differences were observed in the autopsy reports between the various treatment and control groups. These results suggest that the minimum lethal dose of TRX and EGF proteins is higher than the allowed 2,000 mg·kg^-1 limit.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.57 no.9
• /
• pp.31.1-31.11
• /
• 2015

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the potential association of variation in the insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) gene with growth, carcass and meat quality traits in pigs. IGFBP2 is a member of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein family that is involved in regulating growth, and it maps to a region of pig chromosome 15 containing significant quantitative trait loci that affect economically important trait phenotypes. Results: An IGFBP2 polymorphism was identified in the Michigan State University (MSU) Duroc ${\times}$ Pietrain $F_2$ resource population (n = 408), and pigs were genotyped by MspI PCR-RFLP. Subsequently, a Duroc pig population from the National Swine Registry, USA, (n = 326) was genotyped using an Illumina Golden Gate assay. The IGFBP2 genotypic frequencies among the MSU resource population pigs were 3.43, 47.06 and 49.51 % for the AA, AB and BB genotypes, respectively. The genotypic frequencies for the Duroc pigs were 9.82, 47.85, and 42.33 % for the AA, AB and BB genotypes, respectively. Genotype effects (P < 0.05) were found in the MSU resource population for backfat thickness at $10^{th}$ rib and last rib as determined by ultrasound at 10, 13, 16 and 19 weeks of age, ADG from 10 to 22 weeks of age, and age to reach 105 kg. A genotype effect (P < 0.05) was also found for off test Longissimus muscle area in the Duroc population. Significant effects of IGFBP2 genotype (P < 0.05) were found for drip loss, 24 h postmortem pH, pH decline from 45 min to 24 h postmortem, subjective color score, CIE $L^*$ and $b^*$, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and sensory panel scores for juiciness, tenderness, connective tissue and overall tenderness in MSU resource population pigs. Genotype effects (P < 0.05) were found for 45-min pH, CIE $L^*$ and color score in the Duroc population. Conclusions: Results of this study revealed associations of the IGFBP2 genotypes with growth, carcass and meat quality traits in pigs. The results indicate IGFBP2 as a potential candidate gene for growth rate, backfat thickness, loin muscle area and some pork quality traits.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.915-922
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the optimum dietary protein level in juvenile river puffer. Five semi-purified diets were formulated by using casein to contain graded levels of protein levels of 35, 45, 50, 55 and 65%. Fish averaging $8.56{\pm}0.04g$ were randomly assigned to one of five experimental diets in triplicate groups for 8 weeks. After the 8-weeks of feeding trial, weight gain and feed efficiency of fish fed 45, 50 and 55% diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed 35 and 65% diets (P<0.05). Protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the 35% diet was significantly higher than those of fish fed 65% diet (P<0.05), but there were no significant difference among those of fish fed 45, 50 and 55% diets. Specific growth rate of fish fed 50% diet was significantly higher than those of fish fed 35 and 65% diets (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference among those of fish fed 45, 50 and 55% diets. No significant differences were observed in condition factor, hepatosomatic index, visceralsomatic index and survival among those of fish fed all the diets. Optimum dietary protein levels by using broken-line model and by using second order polynomial were estimated at 45.9% and 51.6% for the maximum growth of fish respectively. Therefore, these results suggested that the optimum dietary protein level could be greater than 45.9% but less than 51.6% for the maximum growth in juvenile river puffer.