• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Osteoarthritis (OA), one of the most common skeletal disorders characterized by cartilage degradation and osteophyte formation in joints, is induced by accumulated mechanical stress; however, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanism. Several experimental OA models in mice by producing instability in the knee joints have been developed to apply approaches from mouse genetics. Although proteinases like matrix metalloproteinases and aggrecanases have now been proven to be the principal initiators of OA progression, clinical trials of proteinase inhibitors have not been successful for the treatment, turning the interest of researchers to the upstream signals of proteinase induction. These signals include undegraded and fragmented matrix proteins like type II collagen or fibronection that affects chondrocytes through distinct receptors. Another signal is proinflammatory factors that are produced by chondrocytes and synovial cells; however, recent studies that used mouse OA models in knockout mice did not support that these factors have a role in the central contribution to OA development. Our mouse genetic approaches found that the induction of a transcriptional activator Runx2 in chondrocytes under mechanical stress contributes to the pathogenesis of OA through chondrocyte hypertrophy. In addition, chondrocyte apoptosis has recently been identified as being involved in OA progression. We hereby propose that these endochondral ossification signals may be important for the OA progression, suggesting that the related molecules can clinically be therapeutic targets of this disease.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1979-1987
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• 2019

Sargassum thunbergii is a brown alga from which various bioactive compounds can be extracted. Among these, the activities of indole derivatives, particularly as potential inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and their underlying mechanisms have been rarely investigated. Therefore, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of indole-6-carboxaldehyde (I6CA) on MMP-9 by gelatin zymography and western blot anlaysis. We used phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), which is known to induce MMP-9 expression and secretion, to stimulate HT1080 cells. Our results revealed that I6CA significantly inhibited MMP-9 expression and secretion, without significantly affecting the viability of PMA-stimulated HT1080 cells. Our mechanistic studies indicated that I6CA suppressed the phosphorylation and activation of two mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK). Furthermore, I6CA inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) in response to PMA stimulation, which suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 subunit nuclear translocation. Collectively, I6CA was determined to suppress MMP-9 expression and secretion, and effects were proposed to be mediated via the inhibition of the MAPK and NF-κB p65 pathways. Therefore, we suggested I6CA to be a potential therapeutic agent for MMP-9-related processes, including tumor invasion and metastasis; however, further investigation is required.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.145-151
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• 2006

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play an important role in the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation undetphysiological and pathological conditions. The present study examined the influence of (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin on phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9, when human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were treated with (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin at supraphysiological concentrations of $25{\mu}mol/L$. No cytotoxicity was observed by MIT assay in response to a treatment with PMA in the presence of (-)epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin. Western blot analysis and gelatin zymography revealed that exposure of HUVEC to PMA enhanced the levels and gelatinolytic activities of pro and active forms of MMP-2 and active form of MMP-9. (-)Epigallocatechin gallate attenuated PMA-stimulated secretion of active forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 concomitantly with a loss of activities of these enzymes, which was related to the decreased mRNA levels of MMP. Quercetin was more potent than (-)epigallocatechin gallate in alleviating MMP-9 protein secretion and activity with a decrease in MMP-9 mRNA accumulation. Taken together, the results indicated that (-)epigallocatechin gallte and quercetin exhibited inhibitory effects on MMP activity and may qualify as chemopreventive and cardiovascular protective agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.2 s.69
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• pp.231-235
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• 2005

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of structurally and functionally related zinc-dependent enzymes responsible for proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix components such as base membrane or interstitial stroma. MMPs play an important role in a variety of physiological and pathological tissue remodeling processes, including wound healing, embryo implantation, tumor invasion and metastasis. Since MMP-9 (gelatinase B) has unique ability to cleave type IV collagen, gene expression of MMP-9 has been focused on as a pharmacological target. Flavonoids are a class of compounds that are widely spread in plants. In the coures of screening for the suppressors of MMP-9 gene expression from natural products, Metasequoia glyptostroboides was selected. Six flavonoids, sciadopitysin, isoginkgetin, bilobetin, 2,3-dihydrohinokiflavone, luteolin and apigenin were purified as suppressors of MMP-9 gene expression from M. glyptostroboides. The suppressing activity of the isolated flavinoids on the MMP-9 gene expression was measured by gelatin zymography and Nothern blot analysis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2018

Objectives: Auraptene, a natural citrus coumarin, found in plants of Rutaceae and Apiaceae families. In this study, we investigated the effects of auraptene on tumor migration, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 enzymes activity. Methods: The effects of auraptene on the viability of A2780 and Hela cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay. Wound healing migration assay and Boyden chamber assay were determined the effect of auraptene on migration and cell invasion, respectively. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were analyzed by gelatin zymography assay. Results: Auraptene reduced A2780 cell viability. The results showed that auraptene inhibited in vitro migration and invasion of both cells. Furthermore, cell invasion ability suppressed at $100{\mu}M$ auraptene in Hela cells and at 25, $50{\mu}M$ in A2780 cell line. Gelatin zymography showed that for Hela cell line, auraptene suppressed MMP-2 enzymatic activity in all concentrations and for MMP-9 at a concentration between 12.5 to $100{\mu}M$ in A2780 cell line. Conclusion: Auraptene inhibited migration and invasion of human cervical and ovarian cancer cells in vitro by possibly inhibitory effects on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2010

To develop wrinkle care cosmetic ingredients, various species of plant extracts were investigated. Accordingly, Ligustrum japonicum was selected as a candidate for developing cosmetic ingredient. By high performance liquid chromatography, 31.06 % of oleanolic acid and 8.92 % of ursolic acid which are well-known for anti-wrinkle effect were analyzed. The possibility of Ligustrum japonicum fruits extract (LJE) as a cosmetic ingredient was investigated using several biomarkers related to anti-aging, including anti-wrinkle, moisturizing and anti-inflammation. Procollagen type I and hyaluronan synthase-3 gene expression were increased by LJE in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas elastase activity and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-2 and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression were inhibited. As the results LJE is applicable for a potential cosmetic ingredient focused on anti-aging effect.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.569-575
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• 1998

One of the most frequent dejects in human cancer is the uncontrolled activation of the ms-signaling pathways. Significant evidence has accumulated to directly implicate members of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in tumor invasion and metastasis formation. We have previously shown that MMP-9 expression was significantly enhanced in the ras-tranfected HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells at the mRNA level. In the present study, we investigated the roles of MMP-2 and -9 on the H-ras-induced invasive phenotypes of MCF 10A human breast epithelial cells and HT 1080 human fibrosarcoma cells. We show that H-ras is able to induce or enhance a signaling pathway leading to the enhancement of an invasive phenotype in both MCF10A and HT1080 cells as determined by matrigel invasion assay. We then examined the effect of H-ras activation on the expression of MMP-2 and -9 by measuring enzymatic activities and mRNA levels. Our data clearly demonstrated that H-ras prominently induces expression of MMP-2 in MCF10A cells, while it efficiently up regulates MMP-9 in HT1080 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that the correlation between ras-mediated invasiveness and enhanced expression of MMPs may be cell type-specific: MMP-9 is closely associated with the invasive phenotype induced by ras activation in fibrosarcoma cells, whereas MMP-2 is more likely associated with it in epithelial cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.1167-1174
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• 2013

Cancer cells exhibit increased demand for glutamine-derived carbons to support anabolic processes. Indeed, the spectrum of glutamine-dependent tumors and the mechanisms through which glutamine supports cancer metabolism remain areas of active investigation. In the present study, we investigated the effects of glutamine deprivation on the correlation between tightening of tight junctions (TJs) and anti-invasive activity in human prostate carcinoma LnCap cells. Glutamine deprivation markedly inhibited cell motility and invasiveness in a time-dependent manner. The anti-invasive activity of glutamine deprivation was associated with an increased tightness of the TJ, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance (TER). The activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were inhibited in a time-dependent fashion by glutamine deprivation, which was correlated with a decrease in expression of their mRNA and proteins and up-regulation of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) expression. Furthermore, glutamine deprivation repressed the levels of the claudin family members, which are major components of TJs that play a key role in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. Moreover, the levels of E-cadherin, a type I transmembrane glycoprotein, and snail, an epithelial to mesenchymal transition regulator and zinc finger transcription factor, were markedly modulated by glutamine deprivation. Taken together, these findings suggest that TJs and MMPs are critical targets of glutamine deprivation-induced anti-invasion in human prostate carcinoma LnCap cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.736-744
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• 2010

The root of Playtcodon grandiflorum, called Platycodi radix, has been a favorite edible plant in Asia and contains a large amount of saponins. Melanoma cells (B16F10) were used to investigate the inhibitory effect of aged black Platycodi radix extract (ABPRE) on oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Platycodon radix has been known to have a variety of medicinal effects such as prevention of gastric ulcers, antiallergenic activities, histamine release inhibition, and antioxidant effects. However, the mechanism of its action remains unclear in humans. ABPRE was prepared using ethanol extraction of aged black Platycodi radix. In an antioxidant effect study of ABPRE, it was observed that ABPRE specifically exhibited the scavenging activity of DPPH radical, but did not inhibit the production of malondialdehyde from lipid peroxidation. DNA oxidation was also blocked in the presence of ABPRE. In addition, ABPRE decreased the expression and activation of MMP-2 stimulated by phenazine methosulfate. Furthermore, ABPRE revealed the inhibitory effect on melanin production induced by L-dopa via antioxidant effect and the reduction of tyrosinase expression. Especially, the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD-1 and SOD-2 regulated by Nrf2 was increased in the presence of ABPRE. Therefore, it appears that ABPRE may be a possible chemopreventive agent for the prevention of metastasis related to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.237-243
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• 2014

Objective : Symptomatic disc degeneration develops from inflammatory reactions in the annulus fibrosus (AF). Although inflammatory mediators during annular inflammation have been studied, the roles of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the production of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) during annular inflammation using an in vitro co-culture system. We also examined the effect of notochordal cells on annular inflammation. Methods : Human AF (hAF) pellet was co-cultured for 48 hours with phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated macrophage-like THP-1 cells. hAF pellet and conditioned media (CM) from co-cultured cells were assayed for MMPs, TIMPs, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 levels using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyem-linked immunosorbent assay. To evaluate whether notochordal cells affected MMPs or TIMPs production on annular inflammation, hAF co-cultured with notochordal cells from adult New Zealand White rabbits, were assayed. Results : MMP-1, -3, -9; and TIMP-1 levels were significantly increased in CM of hAF co-cultured with macrophage-like cells compared with hAF alone, whereas TIMP-2 and IGF-1 levels were significantly decreased (p<0.05). After macrophage exposure, hAF produced significantly more MMP-1 and -3 and less TIMP-1 and -2. Interleukin-$1{\beta}$ stimulation enhanced MMP-1 and -3 levels, and significantly diminished TIMP-2 levels. Co-culturing with rabbit notochordal cells did not significantly influence MMPs and TIMPs production or COL1A2 gene expression. Conclusion : Our results indicate that macrophage-like cells evoke annular degeneration through the regulation of major degradative enzymes and their inhibitors, produced by hAF, suggesting that the selective regulation of these enzymes provides future targets for symptomatic disc degeneration therapy.