• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.617-632
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerosis particularly due to high circulating level of low-density lipoprotein is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. Ellagic acid is a natural polyphenolic compound rich in pomegranates and berries. Our previous study showed that ellagic acid improved functionality of reverse cholesterol transport in murine model of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ellagic acid inhibited inflammation-associated atherosclerotic plaque formation in cholesterol-fed apolipoprotein E (apoE)-knockout (KO) mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Wild type mice and apoE-KO mice were fed a cholesterol-rich Paigen diet for 10 weeks to induce severe atherosclerosis. Concurrently, 10 mg/kg ellagic acid was orally administered to the apoE-KO mice. Plaque lesion formation and lipid deposition were examined by staining with hematoxylin and eosin, Sudan IV and oil red O. RESULTS: The plasma leukocyte profile of cholesterol-fed mice was not altered by apoE deficiency. Oral administration of ellagic acid attenuated plaque lesion formation and lipid deposition in the aorta tree of apoE-KO mice. Ellagic acid substantially reduced plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule and interferon-γ in Paigen diet-fed apoE-KO mice. When 10 mg/kg ellagic acid was administered to cholesterol-fed apoE-KO mice, the levels of CD68 and MCP-1 were strongly reduced in aorta vessels. The protein expression level of nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2) in the aorta was highly enhanced by supplementation of ellagic acid to apoE-KO mice, but the expression level of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the aorta was reduced. Furthermore, ellagic acid diminished the increased aorta expression of the inflammatory adhesion molecules in cholesterol-fed apoE-KO mice. The treatment of ellagic acid inhibited the scavenger receptor-B1 expression in the aorta of apoE-KO mice, while the cholesterol efflux-related transporters were not significantly changed. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ellagic acid may be an atheroprotective compound by attenuating apoE deficiency-induced vascular inflammation and reducing atherosclerotic plaque lesion formation.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제20권8호
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• pp.1249-1253
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• 2010

Sericin은 실크를 싸고 있는 고분자 수용성 당단백질로서 세포배양에 사용되며 세포분화를 촉진한다. 본 연구의 목적은 갑상선세포(FRTL-5)에서 thyroglobulin (Tg)의 분비에 sericin이 영향을 주는지를 알려고 한다. Sericin에 의해서 Tg의 분비가 촉진되었지만 Tg-mRNA의 발현은 촉진되지 않았다. 이런 상태에서 소포체 샤페론(Bip & calreticulin)과 소포체 막 단백질(IRE1, PERK & ATF6)의 발현이 증가한 것이 확인되었다. 한편 IRE1의 하부 신호전달자인 XBP1의 mRNA splicing 이 약하게 확인되었지만 PERK의 하부 신호전달자인 $eIF2{\alpha}$의 인산화는 일어나지 않았다. 그리고 sericin은 MTT assay 결과 cell viability을 촉진시키는 것도 확인되었다. 위의 결과는 sericin은 재조합 단백질생산에 유용하게 이용될 수 있는 새로운 생체물질로 증명되었다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권10호
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• pp.886-894
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• 2015

Macrophages are divided into two subpopulations: classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternatively activated macrophages (M2). BCG (Bacilli Calmette-$Gu{\acute{e}}rin$) activates disabled $na{\ddot{i}}ve$ macrophages to M1 macrophages, which act as inflammatory, microbicidal and tumoricidal cells through cell-cell contact and/or the release of soluble factors. Various transcription factors and signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of macrophage activation and polarization. We discovered that BCG-activated macrophages (BAM) expressed a new molecule, and we named it Novel Macrophage Activated Associated Protein 1 (NMAAP1). 1 The current study found that the overexpression of NMAAP1 in macrophages results in M1 polarization with increased expression levels of M1 genes, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 12 (IL-12), Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and Interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), and decreased expression of some M2 genes, such as Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), but not other M2 genes, including arginase-1 (Arg-1), Interleukin (IL-10), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-${\beta}$) and found in inflammatory zone 1 (Fizz1). Moreover, NMAAP1 overexpression in the RAW264.7 cell line increased cytotoxicity against MCA207 tumor cells, which depends on increased inflammatory cytokines rather than cell-cell contact. NMAAP1 also substantially enhanced the phagocytic ability of macrophages, which implies that NMAAP1 promoted macrophage adhesive and clearance activities. Our results indicate that NMAAP1 is an essential molecule that modulates macrophages phenotype and plays an important role in macrophage tumoricidal functions.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.275-283
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• 2018

인간 섬유아세포 성장인자는 조직 생성 및 상처 치료 효과로 인해 상업적으로 중요한 치료제 또는 화장품소재로서 가능성이 높다. 피부 조직에 침투성을 부여하여 치료효과를 높이기 위해서 단백질 전달 도메인인 PTD를 FGF에 융합을 시도하고 있으며 피부로의 투과능력과 그로인한 치료 효과에 대한 연구도 진행되고 있다. 그러나, PTD가 FGF 단백질의 N- 또는 C-말단에 결합 되었을 때 PTD의 위치가 대장균 발현시스템에서 재조합단백질 접힘 및 안정성, 그리고 결국 피부로의 도입능력에 상당한 영향을 미치는지에 대해서는 알려져 있지 않다. 여기에서 우리는 대조군으로 PTD가 융합되지 않은 인간 염기성 섬유아세포 성장인자(FGF2)와 PTD가 FGF2의 N-말단 또는 C-말단에 융합된 FGF2 복합체를 중합효소연쇄반응(OE-PCR)을 통해 클로닝 하였다. 그 다음 이들 재조합 FGF2의 단백질 발현 및 특성을 확인하고 마우스 등 피부를 이용하여 조직 내로의 도입 능력을 조사 하였다. 결과적으로, 불용성 PTD-FGF2 (N 말단 융합)와는 달리 대조군 FGF2와 FGF2-PTD 융합 단백질(C- 말단 융합)은 가용성 형태로 발현되어 재조합단백질 획득이 용이하였고, 마우스 피부 도입능력은 FGF2-PTD 융합단백질에서만 나타내 보였다. 우리의 결과는 C-말단에 융합된 FGF2-PTD 융합단백질이 발현, 정제, 피부 투과능력의 측면에서 다른 두 옵션들보다 노동, 비용, 시간면에서 보다 더 효율적일 수 있음을 시사한다.

• Journal of Web Engineering
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• 제14권17호
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• pp.3604-3622
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• 2022

The fruit of Hippophae rhamnoides has been widely used for medicinal purposes because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiplatelet, and antimicrobial effects. Since there are no clear reports on the therapeutic efficacy of H. rhamnoides in osteoporosis, this study aimed to confirm the potential use of H. rhamnoides for the treatment of osteoporosis through its osteogenic differentiation-promoting effect in ovariectomized mice. Through an in vitro study, we compared the effects of the EtOH extract of H. rhamnoides fruits (EHRF) on the differentiation of C3H10T1/2, a mouse mesenchymal stem cell line, into osteoblasts based on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and the relative expression of osteogenesis-related mRNAs. The EHRF significantly stimulated the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts and showed 7.5 times (^* p < 0.05) higher osteogenesis than in the untreated control. A solvent fractionation process of EHRF showed that the hexane-soluble fraction (HRH) showed 10.4 times (^** p < 0.01) higher osteogenesis than in the untreated control. Among the subfractions derived from the active HRH by preparative HPLC fractionation, HRHF4 showed 7.5 times (^* p < 0.05) higher osteogenesis than in the untreated naïve cells, and HRH and HRHF4 fractions showed 22.6 times (^*** p < 0.001) stronger osteogenesis activity than in the negative control. Osteoporosis was induced by excision of both ovaries in 9-week-old female ICR mice for in vivo analysis, and two active fractions, HRH and HRHF4, were administered orally for three months. During the oral administration period, body weight was measured weekly, and bone mineral density (BMD) and body fat density were measured simultaneously using a DEXA machine once a month. In particular, during the in vivo study, the average BMD of the ovariectomized group decreased by 0.0009 g/cm², whereas the average BMD of the HRH intake group increased by 0.0033 g/cm² (^* p < 0.05) and that of the HRHF4 intake group increased by 0.0059 g/cm² (^** p < 0.01). The HRH and HRHF4 intake groups significantly recovered the mRNA and protein expression of osteogenic genes, including ALP, Osteopontin, Runx2, and Osterix, in the osteoporosis mouse tibia. These findings suggest that the active fractions of H. rhamnoides fruit significantly promoted osteoblast differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells and increased osteogenic gene expression, resulting in an improvement in bone mineral density in the osteoporosis mouse model. Taken together, H. rhamnoides fruits are promising candidates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1245-1252
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• 2012

Acinetobacter venetians V28 was isolated from the intestine of righteye flounder, Poecilopsetta plinthus caught in Vietnam seawater, and the esterase gene was cloned using a shotgun method. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence (1,017 bp) corresponded to a protein of 338 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 37,186. The esterase had 87% and 72% identities with the lipases of A. junii SH205 and A. calcoaceticus RUH2202, respectively. The esterase contained a putative leader sequence, as well as the conserved catalytic triad (Ser, His, Asp), consensus pentapeptide GXSXG, and oxyanion hole sequence (HG). The protein from the strain V28 was produced in both a soluble and an insoluble form when the Escherichia coli cells harboring the gene were cultured at $18^{\circ}C$. The maximal activity of the purified enzyme was observed at a temperature of $40^{\circ}C$ and pH 9.0 using p-NP-caprylate as substrate; however, relative activity still reached to 70% even at $5^{\circ}C$ with an activation energy of 3.36 kcal/mol, which indicated that it was a cold-adapted enzyme. The enzyme was a nonmetallo-protein and was active against p-nitrophenyl esters of $C_4$, $C_8$, and $C_{14}$. Remarkably, this enzyme retained much of its activity in the presence of commercial detergents and organic solvents. This cold-adapted esterase will be applicable as catalysts for reaction in the presence of organic solvents and detergents.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.723-730
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• 2007

Kinesin is an ATP-driven microtubule motor protein that plays important roles in control of microtubule dynamics, intracellular transport, cell division and signal transduction. The kinesin superfamily is composed of numerous members that are classified into 14 subfamilies. Animal kinesins have been well characterized. In contrast, plant kinesins have not yet to be characterized adequately. Here, a novel plant-specific kinesin gene, GhKCH2, has been cloned from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibers and biochemically identified by prokaryotic expression, affinity purification, ATPase activity assay and microtubule-binding analysis. The putative motor domain of GhKCH2, $M_{396-734}$ corresponding to amino acids Q396-N734 was fused with 6$\times$His-tag, soluble-expressed in E. coli and affinity-purified in a large amount. The biochemical analysis demonstrated that the basal ATPase activity of $M_{396-734}$ is not activated by $Ca^{2+}$, but stimulated 30-fold max by microtubules. The enzymatic activation is microtubule-concentration-dependent, and the concentration of microtubules that corresponds to half-maximum activation was about 11 ${\mu}M$, much higher than that of other kinesins reported. The cosedimentation assay indicated that $M_{396-734}$ could bind to microtubules in vitro whenever the nucleotide AMP-PNP is present or absent. As a plant-specific microtubule-dependent kinesin with a lower microtubule-affinity and a nucleotide-independent microtubule-binding ability, cotton GhKCH2 might be involved in the function of microtubules during the deposition of cellulose microfibrils in fibers or the formation of cell wall.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.49-54
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• 2017

Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble secosteroid responsible for enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, and other materials. Vitamin D3 deficiency, therefore, can cause health problems such as metabolic diseases, and bone disorder. Female sex hormones including estrogen and progesterone are biosynthesized mainly in the granulosa cells of ovary. In this study, we isolated granulosa cells from porcine ovary and cultured for the experiments. In order to examine the effect of vitamin D3 on the ovarian granulosa cells, the mRNA and protein levels of genes were analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blot assay. The production of estrogen from the granulosa cells was also measured by the ELISA assay. Genes associated with follicle growth were not significantly altered by vitamin D3. However, it increases expression of genes involved in the estrogen-biosynthesis. Further, estrogen concentrations in porcine granulosa cell-cultured media increased in response to vitamin D3. These results showed that vitamin D3 is a powerful regulator of sex steroid hormone production in porcine granulosa cells, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency may result in inappropriate sexual development of industrial animals and eventually economic loss.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.171-180
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• 2018

Artemisia capillaris has been widely used as an alternative therapy for treating obesity and atopic dermatitis. It has been used as a hepatoprotactant. It is also used for ameliorating inflammatory reactions. Although there are several investigations on other Artemisia species, there is no systematic study describing the role of A. capillaris MeOH extract, its solvent soluble fractions, or derived anti-inflammatory principal components in regulating inflammatory conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to elucidate anti-inflammatory mechanisms of A. capillaris. Results revealed that MeOH extract of A. capillaris could decrease LPS-stimulated NO secretion. Of tested fractions, $CH_2Cl_2$, EtOAc, and n-BuOH strongly inhibited NO release from RAW264.7 cells. Bioactive mediators derived from $CH_2Cl_2$ and n-BuOH fractions elicited potent anti-inflammatory actions and strikingly abrogated LPS-triggered NO accumulation in RAW264.7 cells. Of particular interest, capillin and isoscopoletin possessed the most potent NO suppressive effects. Western blot analysis validated the molecular mechanism of NO inhibition and showed that capillin and isoscopoletin significantly down-regulated iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. Taken together, our results provide the first evidence that MeOH extract, $CH_2Cl_2$, EtOAc, and n-BuOH fractions from A. capillaris and its derived lead candidates can potently suppress inflammatory responses in macrophages by hampering NO release and down-regulating iNOS and COX-2 signaling.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.314-319
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• 2008

Penicillin G amidase(PGA, benzylpenicillinamidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.11)는 penicillin G를 phenylacetic acid(PAA)와 6-aminopenicillanic acid(6-APA)로 분해하는 효소이다. Escherichia coli(E. coli) ATCC 11105의 PGA는 24 kDa의 small subunit과 65 kDa의 large subunit으로 구성되어 있고, precursor polypeptide에서 signal peptide와 spacer peptide가 절단되어 활성을 가진 heterodimer가 형성된다. 본 연구에서는 E. coli ATCC 11105에서 PCR(polymerase chain reaction)을 통해 증폭한 pga gene을 expression vector에 넣어 pET-pga plasmid를 제작하였고, 이것을 E. coli BL21 (DE3) 균주에 형질 전환하여 PGA를 발현하고 그 활성을 분석하였다. E. coli BL21(DE3)/pET-pga 균주의 고밀도 배양액을 SDS-PAGE로 분석 했을 때, PGA의 precursor, large subunit, 그리고 small subunit으로 보이는 protein band가 나타났으며, PGA가 soluble form의 precursor로 발현되어 processing을 거쳐서 large subunit과 small subunit으로 절단되기도 하고, 일부는 insoluble form의 precursor로 발현되기도 하는 것으로 생각된다. 유가배양시 온도변화 전략을 사용하여 고농도 배양에서 발현을 유도하였다. 온도변화 전략은 $37^{\circ}C$에서 $28^{\circ}C$를 거쳐 $22^{\circ}C$로 3단계로 변화시켰다. 이러한 전략으로 PGA활성은 19.6 U/mL이며 균체량은 600 nm에서 흡광도가 62까지 도달하였다.