• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.209-220
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• 2014

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key factor involved in the induction of angiogenesis and has become an attractive target for anti-angiogenesis therapies. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the anti-angiogenic activity of Rubus coreanus Miquel water extract (RCME). Rubus coreanus Miquel has long been employed as a traditional medicine, and recent studies have demonstrated that it has measureable biological activities. Thus, we investigated for the first time the effect of RCME on angiogenesis and its underlying signaling pathways. The effects of RCME were tested on in vitro models of angiogenesis, namely, proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells as well as an ex vivo model of vessel sprouting from the rat aorta in response to VEGF. We observed that VEGF-induced angiogenesis was strongly suppressed by RCME treatment compared to that of the control group. Moreover, we found that RCME inhibited VEGF-induced activation of matrix metalloproteinases and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38, and also effectively inhibited phosphorylation of VEGF receptor 2. These results indicated that RCME inhibits angiogenesis by suppressing phosphorylation of the VEGF receptor and may be useful for the treatment of angiogenesis-dependent diseases such as cancer and diabetic retinopathy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.611-618
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• 2016

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) with aberrant expression of microRNA (miRNA) are critical pathogenic regulators in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous studies have found that overexpression or silencing of miRNA can contribute to the development of miRNA-based therapeutics in arthritis models. In this study, we explored the effects of miR-27a on cell migration and invasion in cultured FLS from RA patients. We found that miR-27a was markedly downregulated in the serum, synovial tissue, and FLS of RA patients. Meanwhile, the expression of follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) was upregulated, which suggests that FSTL1 plays a key role in RA development. The results of a Transwell assay showed that miR-27a inhibited FLS migration and invasion. However, miR-27a inhibition promoted the migration and invasion of FLS. In addition, the down-regulated expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2, MMP9, and MMP13) and Rho family proteins (Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA) was detected after treatment with miR-27a in RA-FLS by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and western blot analysis. Then, a luciferase reporter assay validated that miR-27a targeted the 3-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of FSTL1. Moreover, miR-27a caused a significant decrease of FSTL1. In addition, the expression of TLR4 and $NF{\kappa}B$ was inhibited by miR-27a but increased by FSTL1 overexpression. In conclusion, we found that miR-27a inhibited cell migration and invasion of RA-FLS by targeting FSTL1 and restraining the $TLR4/NF{\kappa}B$ pathway.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.85-96
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• 2006

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)는 치주조직내에 존재하는 세포외기질의 유지와 분해에 중요한 역할을 담당하고 있으며 이중 MMP-13은 치주질환의 진행과 깊은 관계가 있다고 알려져 있다. 이번 연구는 치주질환의 진행에 있어서 MMP-13의 활성에 대한 mitogen activated protein(MAP) Kinase의 역할을 구명하기 위해 시행되었다. 백서 치주인대세포에서의 MMP-13 mRNA의 발현은 RT-PCR에 의하여, 그리고 MAP Kinase의 발현은 Western blot에 의하여 측정하였다. $Interleukin-1{\beta}$(IL $-1{\beta}$), Tumor necrosis $factora(TNF-{\alpha})$와 parathyroid hormon(PTH)는 MMP- 13 mRNA 발현을 각각 320%, 180%, 380% 증가시켰으나 bone morphogenetic protein-7(BMP-7)은 MMP-13 mRNA의 발현을 증가시키지 않았다. p38 MAP Kinase 억제제인 SB203580은 IL $-1{\beta}$ 유도 MMP-13의 발현을 약 40% 정도 억제시켰으나, PTH-유도 MMP-13 mRNA의 발현은 억제하지 못했다. IL $-1{\beta}$는 MMP- 13 mRNA의 반감기를 약 2시간 정도로 증가시켰으나, p38 MAP Kinase 억제제로 전처치한 경우에는 반감기가 60분으로 줄어들었다. $IL-1{\beta}$는 p38 MAP kinase와 JNK의 인산화 활성을 증가시켰으나 PTH, $TNF-{\alpha}$와 BMP-7은 p38, JNK, ERK의 활성을 증가시키지 못했다. 이상의 연구결과는 p38 MAP Kinase가 백서 치주인대세포에서의 MMP-13 mRNA 발현을 조절하는데 중요한 역할을 담당함을 시사하였다.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-65
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• 2000

Extracellular matrix component is degraded by enzymes of thematrix metalloproteinases(MMPs). MMPs are produced by both hemopoietic and structural cells. Increased activity of MMP-3 in periodontium is strongly associated with inflammatory periodontal disease. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the effect of BMP-7 on regeneration of periodontium. The optical density was measured by microwell plate reader at 450 nm.The difference of the optical density and the relative activity ofMMP-3 according to the concentration were statistically analyzed by one way ANOVA. The results were as follows: 1. Tetracycline-HCl showed the tendency to inhibit the activity of MMP-3 at the concentration lower than $25{\mu}g/ml$. 2. Doxycycline-HCl inhibited significantly the activity of MMP-3 at the concentration lower than $100{\mu}g/ml$. 3 . Minocycline-HCl inhibited the activity of MMP-3 at the concentration in the range of 10 to 200${\mu}g/ml$. Within the limit of the present study, the above results suggested that bone morphogenetic protein-7 may play a important role in development of periodontium.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.153-158
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• 2007

Background: Naturally occurring antioxidants were used to regulate the skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation because several antioxidants have demonstrated that they can inhibit wrinkle formation through prevention of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and/or increase of collagen synthesis. We examined the effect of oral administration of the antioxidant mixture ("L-Skin Care") on UVB-induced wrinkle formation. In addition, we investigated the possible molecular mechanisms of photoprotection against UVB through inhibition of collagen-degrading MMP activity or through enhancing of pro collagen synthesis in mouse dorsal skin. Methods: Female SKH-l hairless mice were orally administrated "L-Skin Care" (test group) or vehicle (control group) for 10 weeks with UVB irradiation by three times a week. The intensity of irradiation was gradually increased from 30 to $180mJ/cm^2$. Microtopographic and histological assessments of the dorsal skins were carried out at the end of 10 weeks to evaluate wrinkle formation. Western blot analysis and EMSA were also carried out to investigate the changes in the balance of collagen synthesis and collagen degradation. Results: Our "L-Skin Care" significantly reduced UVB-induced wrinkle formation, accompanied by significant reduction of epidermal thickness, and UVB-induced hyperplasia, acanthosis and hyperkeratosis. Oral administration of "L-Skin Care" significantly prevented UVB-induced expressions of MMPs, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and activation of activator protein (AP)-1 transcriptional factor in addition to enhanced type I procollagen and transforming growth factor-$\beta$ (TGF-$\beta$) expression. Conclusion: Oral administration of "L-Skin Care" significantly inhibited wrinkle formation caused by chronic UVB irradiation through significant inhibition of UVB-induced MMP activity accompanied with enhancement of collagen synthesis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1089-1104
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the efficacy and underlying mechanism of cloves as an osteoarthritis (OA) treatment in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced rat OA model. Osteoarthritis (OA) is nowadays one of the most prevalent degenerative joint diseases. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats treated with MIA (50 μL; 80 mg/mL) were used as in vivo OA models. Cloves (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.) were administered orally once daily for 2 weeks from 7 days after MIA injection. Changes in hindpaw weight distribution (HWD) were measured as a joint discomfort index. Activation markers related to inflammatory responses and cartilage degeneration in the right knee joints were evaluated by serum analysis and western blotting. Results: HWD decreased in the MIA control group but showed a dose-dependent elevation after clove treatment. Clove treatment inhibited inflammatory factors by PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathways, while also activating antioxidant factors through Sirt1/AMPK signaling pathways. Clove treatment also suppressed matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) overexpression and significantly increased the levels of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Conclusions: Treatment with cloves effectively reversed MIA-induced effects. Therefore, clove treatment could have the potential to protect against or treat OA.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.224-230
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• 2024

Pinitol (3-O-Methyl-D-chiro-inositol) has been reported to possess insulin-like effects and is known as one of the anti-diabetic agents to improve muscle, liver, and endothelial cells. However, the beneficial effects of pinitol on the skin are not well known. Here, we investigated whether pinitol had effects on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), and human dermal equivalents (HDEs) irradiated with ultraviolet A (UVA), which causes various damages including photodamage in the skin. We observed that pinitol enhanced wound healing in UVA-damaged HDFs. We also found that pinitol significantly antagonized the UVA-induced up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), and the UVA-induced down-regulation of collagen type I and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) in HDEs. Electron microscopy analysis also revealed that pinitol remarkably increased the number of collagen fibrils with regular banding patterns in the dermis of UVA-irradiated human skin equivalents. Pinitol significantly reversed the UVA-induced phosphorylation levels of ERK and JNK but not p38, suggesting that this regulation may be the mechanism underlying the pinitol-mediated effects on UVA-irradiated HDEs. We also observed that pinitol specifically increased Smad3 phosphorylation, which is representative of the TGF-β signaling pathway for collagen synthesis. These data suggest that pinitol exerts several beneficial effects on UVA-induced damaged skin and can be used as a therapeutic agent to improve skin-related diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.48-56
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• 2008

Chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure is the major cause of photoaging that causes skin wrinkling, roughness, dryness, laxity, and pigmentation. Recently, increasing efforts are being made to understand the relationship between foods and skin health. Ginsenosides are present in ginseng (Ginseng Radix Rubra) extract, and are known to have biomedical properties, such as, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated whether KTNG0345 prepared from red ginseng extracts delivered orally reduces skin wrinkling and ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced wrinkle formation in hairless mouse skin. KTNG0345 was administrated orally to the mice (5 times a week) during the period of UVB-irradiation (3 times a week) for 8 weeks at three different doses of 300 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg (w/v). UV doses were increased weekly by 1 MED (1MED = 75 $mJ/cm^2)$ up to 4 MED and then maintained at this level. After the 8-week administration period, it was found that orally administered KTNG0345 significantly inhibited UVB-induced wrinkle formation in a dose-dependent manner. Increases in skin thickness caused by UVB were prevented by KTNG0345. Moreover, it also significantly inhibited matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) -13 and MMP-9 expressional inductions by UVB. In addition, KTNG0345 was observed to prevent UVB-induced water loss of epidermis in hairless mouse skin. Our results demonstrate that orally administered KTNG0345 has anti-wrinkling effects in hairless mouse skin, and suggest that dietary red ginseng and herbal mixture may be considered a functional beauty food for preventing UVB-induced skin wrinkles.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2011

In order to investigate the possibility of Inonotus obliquus extract as an active ingredient for wrinkle-care cosmetics, we prepared 70 % ethanolic extract of Inonotus obliquus and measured its DPPH radical scavenging activity and elastase inhibitory activity. We also evaluated the effect of Inonotus obliquus extract on expression of MMPs and HAS-2 in fibroblast and HaCaT cell, respectively. Inonotus Obliquus extract showed DPPH radical scavenging activity and elastase inhibitory activity in a dose-dependant manner ($SC_{50}$ = 91 ${\mu}g$/mL, $IC_{50}$=124 ${\mu}g$/mL). Inonotus obliquus extract inhibited the expression of MMP-1 mRNA 50 ~ 79 % at concentrations of 5 ~ 25 ${\mu}g$/mL, and reduced the expression of MMP-2 around 20 % at a concentration of 10 ${\mu}g$/mL. And it also reduced the expression of MMP-9 54 ~ 70 % in tconcentrations of 5 to 25 ${\mu}g$/mL. Furthermore, Inonotus obliquus extract increased HAS-2 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner in concentrations of 5 to 25 ${\mu}g$/mL without cytotoxicity. These results suggested that Inonotus Obliquus extract could be useful as an active ingredient for wrinkle-care cosmetics.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2012

Previously, we reported that Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis and gastric cancer are closely associated with increased levels of hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) and that Korean red ginseng significantly reduced the severity of H. pylori-associated gastric diseases by attenuating $H_2S$ generation. Because the incubation of endothelial cells with $H_2S$ has been known to enhance their angiogenic activities, we hypothesized that the amelioration of $H_2S$-induced gastric inflammation or angiogenesis in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) might explain the preventive effect of Korean red ginseng on H. pylori-associated carcinogenesis. The expression of inflammatory mediators, angiogenic growth factors, and angiogenic activities in the absence or presence of Korean red ginseng extracts (KRGE) were evaluated in HUVECs stimulated with the $H_2S$ generator sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS). KRGE efficiently decreased the expression of cystathionine ${\beta}$-synthase and cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase, enzymes that are essential for $H_2S$ synthesis. Concomitantly, a significant decrease in the expression of inflammatory mediators, including cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and several angiogenic factors, including interleukin (IL)-8, hypoxia inducible factor-1a, vascular endothelial growth factor, IL-6, and matrix metalloproteinases, was observed; all of these factors are normally induced after NaHS. An in vitro angiogenesis assay demonstrated that NaHS significantly increased tube formation in endothelial cells, whereas KRGE pretreatment significantly attenuated tube formation. NaHS activated p38 and Akt, increasing the expression of angiogenic factors and the proliferation of HUVECs, whereas KRGE effectively abrogated this $H_2S$-activated angiogenesis and the increase in inflammatory mediators in vascular endothelial cells. In conclusion, KRGE was able to mitigate $H_2S$-induced angiogenesis, implying that antagonistic action against $H_2S$-induced angiogenesis may be the mechanism underlying the gastric cancer preventive effects of KRGE in H. pylori infection.