• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.129-134
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• 2019

이전 연구에서 전통주 주박 ethyl acetate 분획물로부터 11개의 순수물질을 분리 동정하였다. 11개의 순수물질은 caffeic acid, coumaric acid, D-mannitol, ferulic acid, hesperetin, hesperidin, naringenin, naringin, sinapic acid, syringic acid, 그리고 vanilic acid로 동정되었다. 이번 연구에서는 그들의 항염증 활성을 연구하기 위하여 LPS로 활성화된 RAW 264.7 세포에서 nitric oxide (NO) 생산을 측정하였다. 11개의 순수물질 중 hesperetin과 naringenin이 가장 높은 NO 생성 억제를 보여주었다. 또한, hesperetin은 세포 생존율에 영향 없이 농도의존적으로 NO 생산을 저해하였다. 그리고, hesperetin은 농도의존적으로 염증유전자인 iNOS의 발현을 농도의존적으로 억제한 반면, COX-2 단백질의 발현에는 영향을 주지 않았다. 게다가, hesperetin은 p38 MAPK와 ERK1/2의 인산화를 억제한 반면 JNK의 인산화에는 영향을 주지 못했다. 이러한 결과는 hesperetin은 항염증 활성을 가지며, 이러한 항염증 활성은 p38 MAPK와 ERK1/2 경로를 억제함으로써 일어난다는 것을 나타낸다.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.326-333
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• 2020

Nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide (NO) pathway is a major alternative source of NO and is essential for NO - dependent physiological functions in body. Food supplements having nitrate/nitrite can improve metabolic syndromes including hypertension through antioxidant activity or vasodilation. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of fermented garlic (F. garlic) having high concentration of NO2- on changes in blood flow and nitric oxide synthesis in the cerebral cortex of rodents. The generation of nitric oxide detected by a chemi-luminescence detector was higher in F. Garlic compared with NaNO2 solution under artificial gastric juice with pH 2.0. Ether F. garlic or NaNO2 diluted with artificial cerebrospinal fluid was directly applied into around the needle probe of laser Doppler flow meter that was located on epidural surface of the cortex. Direct application of F. garlic resulted in increase of cerebral blood flow detected by a laser Doppler flow meter with a dose-dependent manner. Compared with NaNO2 solution, F. garlic produced changes in cerebral blood flow at lower concentration of NO2-. Pretreatment of methylene blue, a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor prevented upregulation of cerebral blood flow by the treatment of F. garlic. In addition, the application of F. garlic with 250, 500ppm of NO2- caused significantly the production of NO in the cortical tissue but NaNO2 solution with 500ppm of NO2- did not. In summary, these results suggested that F. garlic with high content of NO2- induce increase in cerebral blood flow through nitric oxide-dependent signal pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.211-219
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• 2021

Alopecia is a distressing condition caused by the dysregulation of anagen, catagen, and telogen in the hair cycle. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) regulate the hair cycle and play important roles in hair growth and regeneration. Myristoleic acid (MA) increases Wnt reporter activity in DPCs. However, the action mechanisms of MA on the stimulation of anagen signaling in DPCs is not known. In this study, we evaluated the effects of MA on anagen-activating signaling pathways in DPCs. MA significantly increased DPC proliferation and stimulated the G2/M phase, accompanied by increasing cyclin A, Cdc2, and cyclin B1. To elucidate the mechanism by which MA promotes DPC proliferation, we evaluated the effect of MA on autophagy and intracellular pathways. MA induced autophagosome formation by decreasing the levels of the phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (phospho-mTOR) and increasing autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3II (LC3II). MA also increased the phosphorylation levels of Wnt/β-catenin proteins, such as GSK3β (Ser9) and β-catenin (Ser552 and Ser675). Treatment with XAV939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, attenuated the MA-induced increase in β-catenin nuclear translocation. Moreover, XAV939 reduced MA-induced effects on cell cycle progression, autophagy, and DPC proliferation. On the other hand, MA increased the levels of phospho (Thr202/Tyr204)-extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK). MA-induced ERK phosphorylation led to changes in the expression levels of Cdc2, Atg7 and LC3II, as well as DPC proliferation. Our results suggest that MA promotes anagen signaling via autophagy and cell cycle progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and ERK pathways in DPCs.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제65권2호
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• pp.113-120
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• 2022

구슬말(Nostoc commune Vaucher ex Bornet & Flahault)은 이형세포를 갖는 특징으로 다른 목들과 구분되는 남조류의 일종으로 극지방에서 열대지역까지 광범위한 지역에 분포하며 단세포가 연결되어 형성된 수많은 trichome들이 점액질에 둘러 쌓인 형태로 커다란 군체를 형성한다. 주로 토양, 암반, 잔디 위 등에 서식한다고 알려져 있으나 흔히 관찰되지 않기 때문에 현재 연구가 거의 없는 실정이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 토양 남조류인 N. commune HCW0811을 분리 및 동정하였으며 항염증 활성을 조사 하고자 하였다. 그 결과 N. commune HCW0811는 LPS로 유도된 RAW 264.7세포에서 80%이상의 세포 생존율을 나타내었으며 NO, PGE2 및 TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β의 생성을 효과적으로 억제하였다. 또한 western blot assay를 통해 iNOS, COX-2 및 MAP kinase (p38, ERK1/2, JNK)와 NF-κB 세포내 신호전달 경로에서의 단백질 발현을 조사한 결과 이들의 발현이 유의하게 억제됨을 확인하였다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 결과를 근거하여 HCW0811가 다양한 염증 인자를 표적으로 하는 피부 면역 질환을 포함한 염증성 질환의 예방과 치료를 위한 항염증 기능성 화장품 및 식품소재로의 개발가능성을 제시한다.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.75-87
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• 2021

Type I Interferons (IFNα) are known for their role as biological anticancer agents owing to their cell-apoptosis inducing properties. Development of an appropriate, cost-effective host expression system is crucial for meeting the increasing demand for proteins. Therefore, this study aims to develop codon-optimized IFNα-2b in L. lactis NZ3900. These cells express extracellular protein using the NICE system and Usp₄₅ signal peptide. To validate the mature form of the expressed protein, the recombinant IFNα-2b was screened in a human colorectal cancer cell line using the cytotoxicity assay. The IFNα-2b was successfully cloned into the pNZ8148 vector, thereby generating recombinant L. lactis pNZ8148-SP_Usp45-IFNα-2b. The computational analysis of codon-optimized IFNα-2b revealed no mutation and amino acid changes; additionally, the codon-optimized IFNα-2b showed 100% similarity with native human IFNα-2b, in the BLAST analysis. The partial size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of extracellular protein yielded a 19 kDa protein, which was further confirmed by its positive binding to anti-IFNα-2b in the western blot analysis. The crude protein and SEC-purified partial fraction showed IC₅₀ values of 33.22 ㎍/ml and 127.2 ㎍/ml, respectively, which indicated better activity than the metabolites of L. lactis NZ3900 (231.8 ㎍/ml). These values were also comparable with those of the regular anticancer drug tamoxifen (105.5 ㎍/ml). These results demonstrated L. lactis as a promising host system that functions by utilizing the pNZ8148 NICE system. Meanwhile, codon-optimized usage of the inserted gene increased the optimal protein expression levels, which could be beneficial for its large-scale production. Taken together, the recombinant L. lactis IFNα-2b is a potential alternative treatment for colorectal cancer. Furthermore, its activity was analyzed in the WiDr cell line, to assess its colorectal anticancer activities in vivo.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.47-53
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• 2021

Objectives : Currently, the alopecia is one of the most emotionally stressful syndromes in human life. Human hair dermal papilla cells (HDPCs) play an essential role in controlling hair growth and in regulating hair cycle. We performed MTT assay, cell cycle, and western blot to determine the effects of essential oil from Coicis Semen (ECS) on hair growth in HDPCs. Methods : We monitored cell proliferations by MTT assay in HDPCs. After setting up the safe and effective concentration range to be treated ECS, cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry. Also, the protein expression of hair growth-related factors such as insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), Wnt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), serine/threonine-specific protein kinase (Akt) in HDPCs was determined by western blot. Results : As results, cell proliferation was increased in ECS group compared to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group and minoxidil (MNXD) group. Cell number of ECS group was more decrease in sub G1 phase than cell number of DMSO group. Also, cell number of ECS group increased compared to cell number of DMSO group in G1 phase. Protein expression of ECS group was higher than protein expression of DMSO group on related hair growth factors (IGF-1, Wnt, ERK, Akt). Conclusion : As mentioned above, ECS increased cell proliferation and the protein expression of IGF-1, Wnt, ERK, and Akt. These results suggest that ECS could be used as a potential material for the treatment of alopecia by increasing the proliferation of HDPCs.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.763-777
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• 2022

Objective: Excessive lipid accumulation in adipocytes results in prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Curcumin (CUR), a naturally phenolic active ingredient, has been shown to have lipid-lowering effects. However, its underlying mechanisms have remained largely unknown. Therefore, the study aims to determine the effect of CUR on cellular lipid accumulation in porcine subcutaneous preadipocytes (PSPA) and to clarify novel mechanisms. Methods: The PSPA were cultured and treated with or without CUR. Both cell counting Kit-8 and lactate dehydrogenase release assays were used to examine cytotoxicity. Intracellular lipid contents were measured by oil-red-o staining extraction and triglyceride quantification. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-nick end labelling assay. Adipogenic and apoptosis genes were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Results: The CUR dose-dependently reduced the proliferation and lipid accumulation of PSPA. Noncytotoxic doses of CUR (10 to 20 μM) significantly inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation and expression of adipogenic genes peroxisome proliferation-activity receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, adipocyte protein-2, glucose transporter-4 as well as key lipogenic enzymes fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, while ERK1/2 activation significantly reversed CUR-reduced lipid accumulation by increasing PPAR-γ. Furthermore, compared with differentiation induced media treated cells, higher dose of CUR (30 μM) significantly decreased the expression of AKT and B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), while increased the expression of BCL-2-associated X (BAX) and the BAX/BCL-2 expression ratio, suggesting triggered apoptosis by inactivating AKT and increasing BAX/BCL-2 ratio and Caspase-3 expression. Moreover, AKT activation significantly rescued CUR inhibiting lipid accumulation via repressing apoptosis. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that CUR is capable of suppressing differentiation by inhibiting ERK1/2-PPAR-γ signaling pathway and triggering apoptosis via decreasing AKT and subsequently increasing BAX/BCL-2 ratio and Caspase-3, suggesting that CUR provides an important method for the reduction of porcine body fat, as well as the prevention and treatment of human obesity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.685-699
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) has long been known as a medicinal herb effective in various diseases, including bronchitis and asthma, but is still more widely used for food. Fermentation methods are being applied to increase the pharmacological composition of PG extracts and commercialize them with high added value. This study examines the hydrolyzed and fermented PG extract (HFPGE) fermented with Lactobacillus casei in RAW 264.7 cells, and investigates the effect of amplifying the immune and the probable molecular mechanism. MATERIALS/METHODS: HFPGE's total phenolic, flavonoid, saponin, and platycodin D contents were analyzed by colorimetric analysis or high-performance liquid chromatography. Cell viability was measured by the MTT assay. Phagocytic activity was analyzed by a phagocytosis assay kit, nitric oxide (NO) production by a Griess reagent system, and cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cytokines were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, whereas MAPK and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation were analyzed by Western blots. RESULTS: Compared to PGE, HFPGE was determined to contain 13.76 times and 6.69 times higher contents of crude saponin and platycodin D, respectively. HFPGE promoted cell proliferation and phagocytosis in RAW 264.7 cells and regulated the NO production and iNOS expression. Treatment with HFPGE also resulted in increased production of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand10, granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and the mRNA expressions of these cytokines. HFPGE also resulted in significantly increasing the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results imply that fermentation and hydrolysis result in the extraction of more active ingredients of PG. Furthermore, we determined that HFPGE exerts immunostimulatory activity via the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.11-24
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• 2022

Piper methysticum 뿌리의 에탄올 추출물은 멜라닌 세포 자극 호르몬 활성화 B16 흑색종 세포에서 멜라닌 생성을 억제하는 것으로 알려져 왔다. 이 추출물로부터 분리한 flavokawain B (FKB)와 flavokawain C (FKC)는 항멜라닌 생성 활성을 기반으로 멜라닌 생성을 억제하는 것으로 밝혀져 있다. 본 연구는 melan-a 세포에서의 멜라닌 합성에 대한 FKB 및 FKC의 억제 및 그 과정을 알아보고자 하였다. FKB와 FKC는 각각 10 μM, 5 μM 농도에서 melan-a 세포의 멜라닌 생성을 억제하였다. 그러나 FKB와 FKC 모두 세포 외 타이로시네이즈 활성은 억제하지 않았다. FKB는 타이로시네이즈 (tyrosinase, Tyr), 타이로시네이즈 연관 단백질 1 (tyrosinaserelated protein 1, TRP-1)과 2(tyrosinase-related protein 2, TRP-2), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF)의 단백질 발현량을 감소시켰으며 Tyr와 TRP-1의 mRNA 발현량을 감소시켰다. FKC는 TRP-2와 MITF의 단백질 발현량을 감소시켰으며 Tyr와 TRP-1의 mRNA 발현량을 감소시켰다. Tyr와 TRP-1의 감소된 발현은 주요 멜라닌 생성 단백질을 조절하는 MITF발현 감소로 인한 것임을 예상할 수 있었다. 다만 MITF의 mRNA 발현량은 FKB와 FKC 처리에 의해 변하지 않았기 때문에, MITF의 분해를 조절한다고 알려진 세포 외 신호 조절 키나아제(ERK)/AKT 인산화에 대한 FKB와 FKC의 영향을 확인하였다. FKB와 FKC는 AKT의 인산화를 증가시키지는 않았지만 ERK1/2의 인산화를 유의미하게 증가시켰다. 이러한 결과는 FKB와 FKC가 다양한 색소 침착 증상들에 대한 잠재적인 미백제로 도움이 될 수 있음을 말해준다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.127-138
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• 2023

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is an important serine/threonine kinase that implicates in multiple cellular processes and links with the neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, structure-based virtual screening was performed to search database for compounds targeting GSK-3β from Enamine's screening collection. Of the top-ranked compounds, 7 primary hits underwent a luminescent kinase assay and a cell assay using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells expressing Tau repeat domain (Tau_RD) with pro-aggregant mutation ΔK280. In the kinase assay for these 7 compounds, residual GSK-3β activities ranged from 36.1% to 90.0% were detected at the IC₅₀ of SB-216763. In the cell assay, only compounds VB-030 and VB-037 reduced Tau aggregation in SH-SY5Y cells expressing ΔK280 Tau_RD-DsRed folding reporter. In SH-SY5Y cells expressing ΔK280 Tau_RD, neither VB-030 nor VB-037 increased expression of GSK-3α Ser21 or GSK-3β Ser9. Among extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT), mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (P38) and mitogenactivated protein kinase 8 (JNK) which modulate Tau phosphorylation, VB-037 attenuated active phosphorylation of P38 Thr180/ Tyr182, whereas VB-030 had no effect on the phosphorylation status of ERK, AKT, P38 or JNK. However, both VB-030 and VB-037 reduced endogenous Tau phosphorylation at Ser202, Thr231, Ser396 and Ser404 in neuronally differentiated SH-SY5Y expressing ΔK280 Tau_RD. In addition, VB-030 and VB-037 further improved neuronal survival and/or neurite length and branch in mouse hippocampal primary culture under Tau cytotoxicity. Overall, through inhibiting GSK-3β kinase activity and/or p-P38 (Thr180/Tyr182), both compounds may serve as promising candidates to reduce Tau aggregation/cytotoxicity for AD treatment.