John-Hwa Lee

Luteolin Isolated from the Flowers of Lonicera japonica Suppresses Inflammatory Mediator Release by Blocking NF-κB and MAPKs Activation Pathways in HMC-1 Cells

Luteolin (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxylflavone) is a plant flavonoid and pharmacologically active agent that has been isolated from several plant species. In the present study, the effect of luteolin from the flowers of Lonicera japonica on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187-induced mast cell activation was examined. Luteolin significantly inhibited the induction of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by PMA plus A23187. Moreover, luteolin attenuated cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and intracellular Ca2+ levels. In activated HMC-1 cells, the phosphorylation of extra-signal response kinase (ERK 1/2) and c-jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK 1/2), but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) were decreased by treatment of the cells with luteolin. Luteolin inhibited PMA plus A23187-induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation, IκB degradation, and luciferase activity. Furthermore, luteolin suppressed the expression of TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6, GM-CSF, and COX-2 through a decrease in the intracellular Ca2+ levels, and also showed a suppression of the ERK 1/2, JNK 1/2, and NF-κB activation. These results indicated that luteolin from the flowers of Lonicera japonica exerted a regulatory effect on mast cell-mediated inflammatory diseases, such as RA, allergy disease and IBD.

Inhibitory effects of quercetin on aflatoxin B1-induced hepatic damage in mice.

Aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1))-mediated hepatic damage is involved in production of AFB(1)-8,9-epoxide-bound DNA adducts and this is also affected by a pro-oxidant potential of the toxin. In this study we investigated the effects of quercetin on AFB(1)-treated HepG2 cells. We also examined the biochemical mechanisms associated with the effects of quercetin on AFB(1)-mediated liver damage in mice. Our results revealed that quercetin and isorhamnetin inhibit production of reactive oxygen species and cytotoxicity, and block the decrease of reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in AFB(1)-treated HepG2 cells. Isorhamnetin have inhibitory ability on lipid peroxidation stronger than quercetin in the cells. Oral supplementation with quercetin decreased serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, increased hepatic GSH levels and superoxide dismutase activity, and reduced lipid peroxidation in both the liver and kidney in AFB(1)-treated mice. However, quercetin did not show a significant reduction on serum levels of alkaline phosphate, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase that were increased in AFB(1)-treated mice. HPLC analysis revealed that quercetin in plasma is mainly present as glucoronides and/or sulfates of quercetin. Collectively, it is suggested that quercetin does not directly protect against AFB(1)-mediated liver damage in vivo, but exerts a partial role in promoting antioxidative defense systems and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Apigenin inhibits release of inflammatory mediators by blocking the NF-κB activation pathways in the HMC-1 cells

Apigenin is a plant flavonoid and a pharmacologically active agent that has been isolated from several plant species. However, the molecular mechanism of apigenin-mediated immune modulation has not been fully understood. One of the possible mechanisms of its protective effects is the down-regulation of inflammatory responses. In this study, we used cells from the human mast cell line (HMC-1) to investigate this effect. Apigenin significantly inhibits the inductive effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 on the production of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Moreover, apigenin attenuated the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and intracellular Ca2+ level. In activated HMC-1 cells, apigenin inhibited the PMA plus A23187-induced activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, IκB degradation, and luciferase activity. Furthermore, apigenin suppressed the expression of TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6, GM-CSF, and COX-2 by decreasing the intracellular Ca2+ level and inhibiting NF-κB activation. These results indicate that apigenin has a potential regulatory effect on inflammatory reactions that are mediated by mast cells.

ent-pimara-8(14), 15-dien-19-oic acid isolated from the roots of Aralia cordata inhibits induction of inflammatory mediators by blocking NF-κB activation and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.

Macrophages play central roles in the innate immune system. The roots of Aralia cordata are widely used in Oriental medicine as a remedy for arthritis. During our program to screen medicinal plants for potential anti-inflammatory compounds, ent-pimara-8(14), 15-dien-19-oic acid (pimaradienoic acid; PA) was isolated from the roots of A. cordata. We examined the effect of PA on pro-inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. PA was found to significantly inhibit the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and IL-6. Furthermore, we examined whether mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways are involved in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. We found that a p38 inhibitor (SB203580) and an ERK 1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) significantly affected LPS-induced IL-6 production. In contrast, a JNK 1/2 inhibitor (SP600125) and PI3K inhibitor (wortmannin or LY294002) did not block the induction of IL-6 production by LPS. The LPS-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) was inhibited by PA, but not the phosphorylation of JNK 1/2 and AKT (Ser473). Moreover, PA suppressed I kappaB alpha degradation, NF-kappaB activation and luciferase activity. These results suggest that PA isolated from A. cordata has a potential regulatory effect on inflammatory iNOS, COX-2 and IL-6 expression through blockade of the phosphorylation of MAPKs following I kappaB alpha degradation and NF-kappaB activation.

An Allele-Specific PCR Assay for the Rapid and Serotype-Specific Detection of Salmonella Pullorum

Abstract Salmonella serovar Pullorum is a causative agent of pullorum disease (PD) in poultry and is responsible for severe economic losses to the poultry industry in many parts of the world. A definitive detection of Pullorum requires culture followed by serotyping and biochemical identification, a process that is tedious and takes several weeks to accomplish. We have developed a rapid allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method based on the nucleotide polymorphism in rfbS gene sequence for the serotype-specific detection of Pullorum and its differentiation from the closely related Gallinarum. The specificity of this PCR assay was tested using DNA samples from Pullorum (n = 13), Salmonella serotypes other than Pullorum (n = 19), and closely related non-Salmonella organisms (n = 5). The PCR assay was highly serotype-specific as the PCR amplicon of 147 base pairs was observed only in the case of Pullorum, while all the other DNA samples tested PCR negative. A definitive identification of Pullorum cultures was possible in less than 3 hr. As little as 100 pg of SP DNA was detected. This allele-specific PCR method is highly specific as well as sensitive and may be an effective molecular tool in the rapid and serotype-specific detection of Pullorum and differentiation from other Salmonella species.

Activation of autophagy flux by metformin downregulates cellular FLICE–like inhibitory protein and enhances TRAIL- induced apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the TNF superfamily. TRAIL is regarded as one of the most promising anticancer agents, because it can destruct cancer cells without showing any toxicity to normal cells. Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug with anticancer activity by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. In this study, we demonstrated that metformin could induce TRAIL-mediated apoptotic cell death in TRAIL-resistant human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Pretreatment of metformindownregulation of c-FLIP and markedly enhanced TRAIL-induced tumor cell death by dose-dependent manner. Treatment with metformin resulted in slight increase in the accumulation of microtubule-associated protein light chain LC3-II and significantly decreased the p62 protein levels by dose-dependent manner indicated that metformin induced autophagy flux activation in the lung cancer cells. Inhibition of autophagy flux using a specific inhibitor and genetically modified ATG5 siRNA blocked the metformin-mediated enhancing effect of TRAIL. These data demonstrated that downregulation of c-FLIP by metformin enhanced TRAIL-induced tumor cell death via activating autophagy flux in TRAIL-resistant lung cancer cells and also suggest that metformin may be a successful combination therapeutic strategy with TRAIL in TRAIL-resistant cancer cells including lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Melatonin protects skin keratinocyte from hydrogen peroxide-mediated cell death via the SIRT1 pathway

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), which is primarily synthesized in and secreted from the pineal gland, plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation as well as in the regulation of cell metastasis and cell survival in a diverse range of cells. The aim of this study is to investigate protection effect of melatonin on H2O2-induced cell damage and the mechanisms of melatonin in human keratinocytes. Hydrogen peroxide dose-dependently induced cell damages in human keratinocytes and co-treatment of melatonin protected the keratinocytes against H2O2-induced cell damage. Melatonin treatment activated the autophagy flux signals, which were identified by the decreased levels of p62 protein. Inhibition of autophagy flux via an autophagy inhibitor and ATG5 siRNA technique blocked the protective effects of melatonin against H2O2-induced cell death in human keratinocytes. And we found the inhibition of sirt1 using sirtinol and sirt1 siRNA reversed the protective effects of melatonin and induces the autophagy process in H2O2-treated cells. This is the first report demonstrating that autophagy flux activated by melatonin protects human keratinocytes through sirt1 pathway against hydrogen peroxide-induced damages. And this study also suggest that melatonin could potentially be utilized as a therapeutic agent in skin disease.

In Vitro Potentiation of Ampicillin, Oxacillin, Norfloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, and Vancomycin by Sanguinarine Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Few new drugs are available against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), because MRSA has the ability to acquire resistance to most antibiotics, which consequently increases the cost of medication. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potentiation of sanguinarine (SN) with selected antibiotics (ampicillin [AC], oxacillin [OX], norfloxacin [NR], ciprofloxacin [CP], and vancomycin [VC]) against MRSA. Minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by using the broth microdilution method and the synergistic effect of AC, OX, NR, CP, and VC in combination with SN was examined by the checkerboard dilution test. The results of the checkerboard test suggested that all combinations exhibited some synergy, partial synergy, or additivity. None of the combinations showed an antagonism effect. The combination of SN plus CP exhibited maximum synergistic effect in 11/13 strains, followed by SN plus NR in 9/13 strains, and AC and OX in 7/13 strains each. The combination of SN with VC, however, mostly showed partial synergy in 11/13 strains. The time-kill assay showed that SN in combination with other antibiotics reduced the bacterial count by 10(2)-10(3) colony forming units after 4 h and to less than the lowest detectable limit after 24 h. Although in vivo synergy and clinical efficacy of SN cannot be predicted, it can be concluded that SN has the potential to restore the effectiveness of the selected antibiotics, and it can be considered in an alternative MRSA treatment.

Inhibition of the autophagy flux by gingerol enhances TRAIL-induced tumor cell death

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a primary anticancer agent and a member of the tumor necrosis factor family that selectively induces apoptosis in various tumor cells, but not in normal cells. Gingerol is a major ginger component with anti-inflammatory and anti‑tumorigenic activities. Autophagy flux is the complete process of autophagy, in which the autophagosomes are lysed by lysosomes. The role of autophagy in cell death or cell survival is controversial. A549 adenocarcinoma cells are TRAIL-resistant. In the present study, we showed that treatment with TRAIL slightly induced cell death, but gingerol treatment enhanced the TRAIL-induced cell death in human lung cancer cells. The combination of gingerol and TRAIL increased accumulation of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II and p62, confirming the inhibited autophagy flux. Collectively, our results suggest that gingerol sensitizes human lung cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the autophagy flux.

Niacin alleviates TRAIL-mediated colon cancer cell death via autophagy flux activation

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3 or nicotinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that is present in black beans and rice among other foods. Niacin is well known as an inhibitor of metastasis in human breast carcinoma cells but the effect of niacin treatment on TRAIL-mediated apoptosis is unknown. Here, we show that niacin plays an important role in the regulation of autophagic flux and protects tumor cells against TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Our results indicated that niacin activated autophagic flux in human colon cancer cells and the autophagic flux activation protected tumor cells from TRAIL-induced dysfunction of mitochondrial membrane potential and tumor cell death. We also demonstrated that ATG5 siRNA and autophagy inhibitor blocked the niacin-mediated inhibition of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our study is the first report demonstrating that niacin inhibits TRAIL-induced apoptosis through activation of autophagic flux in human colon cancer cells. And our results also suggest that autophagy inhibitors including genetic and pharmacological tools may be a successful therapeutics during anticancer therapy using TRAIL.