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Oh J, Kim SA, Kwon KW, Choi SR, Lee CH, Hossain MA, Kim ES, Kim C, Lee BH, Lee S, Kim JH, Cho JY. Sophora flavescens Aiton methanol extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects via reduction of Src kinase phosphorylation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 305:116015. [PMID: 36563890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.116015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Sophora flavescens Aiton (Family: Leguminosae), an herbal plant, has been used in East Asian home remedies for centuries for treating ulcers, skin burns, fevers, and inflammatory disorders. In addition, the dried root of S. flavescens was also applied for antipyretic, analgesic, antihelmintic, and stomachic uses. AIM OF STUDY Nonetheless, how this plant can show various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory responses was not fully elucidated. In this study, therefore, we aimed to investigate the curative effects of S. flavescens on inflammation and its molecular mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS For reaching this aim, various in vitro and in vivo experimental models with LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells, HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer, and LPS-triggered lung injury conditions were employed and anti-inflammatory activity of S. flavescens methanol extract (Sf-ME) was also tested. Fingerprinting profile of Sf-ME was identified via LC-MS analysis. Its anti-inflammatory molecular mechanism was also examined by immunoblotting analysis. RESULTS Nitric oxide production and mRNA expression levels of iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, and TNF-α were decreased. Additionally, phosphorylation of Src in the signaling cascade was decreased, and activities of the transcriptional factor NF-κB were reduced as determined by a luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, in vivo, gastritis and lung injury lesions were attenuated by Sf-ME. CONCLUSION Taken together, these findings suggest that Sf-ME could be a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent via suppression of Src kinase activity and regulation of IL-1β secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieun Oh
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, South Korea.
| | - Seung A Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, South Korea.
| | - Ki Woong Kwon
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, South Korea.
| | - Se Rin Choi
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, South Korea.
| | - Choong Hwan Lee
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, South Korea.
| | - Mohammad Amjad Hossain
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Icksan, 54596, South Korea.
| | - Eun Sil Kim
- National Institute of Biological Resources, Environmental Research Complex, Incheon, 22689, South Korea.
| | - Changmu Kim
- National Institute of Biological Resources, Environmental Research Complex, Incheon, 22689, South Korea.
| | - Byoung-Hee Lee
- National Institute of Biological Resources, Environmental Research Complex, Incheon, 22689, South Korea.
| | - Sarah Lee
- National Institute of Biological Resources, Environmental Research Complex, Incheon, 22689, South Korea.
| | - Jong-Hoon Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Icksan, 54596, South Korea.
| | - Jae Youl Cho
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, South Korea.
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Lee D, Kim JW, Lee CY, Oh J, Hwang SH, Jo M, Kim SA, Choi W, Noh JK, Yi DK, Song M, Kim HG, Cho JY. Guettarda crispiflora Vahl Methanol Extract Ameliorates Acute Lung Injury and Gastritis by Suppressing Src Phosphorylation. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3560. [PMID: 36559672 PMCID: PMC9784507 DOI: 10.3390/plants11243560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Many species in the genus Guettarda are known to exert anti-inflammatory effects and are used as traditional medicinal plants to treat various inflammatory symptoms. However, no studies on the inflammatory activities of Guettarda crispiflora Vahl have been reported. The aim of the study was to investigate in vitro and in vivo the anti-inflammatory effects of a methanol extract of Guettarda crispiflora Vahl (Gc-ME). To determine the anti-inflammatory activity of Gc-ME, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-, poly(I:C)-, or Pam3CSK4-treated RAW264.7 cells, HCl/EtOH- and LPS-treated mice were employed for in vitro and in vivo tests. LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells was determined by Griess assays and cytokine gene expression in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells, confirmed by RT- and real-time PCR. Transcriptional activation was evaluated by luciferase reporter gene assay. Target protein validation was assessed by Western blot analysis and cellular thermal shift assays (CETSA) with LPS-treated RAW264.7 and gene-transfected HEK293 cells. Using both a HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis model and an LPS-induced lung injury model, inflammatory states were checked by scoring or evaluating gastric lesions, lung edema, and lung histology. Phytochemical fingerprinting of Gc-ME was observed by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Nitric oxide production induced by LPS and Pam3CSK4 in RAW264.7 cells was revealed to be reduced by Gc-ME. The LPS-induced upregulation of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and IL-1β was also suppressed by Gc-ME treatment. Gc-ME downregulated the promotor activities of AP-1 and NF-κB triggered by MyD88- and TRIF induction. Upstream signaling proteins for NF-κB activation, namely, p-p50, p-p65, p-IκBα, and p-Src were all downregulated by Ch-EE. Moreover, Src was revealed to be directly targeted by Gc-ME. This extract, orally treated strongly, attenuated the inflammatory symptoms in HCl/EtOH-treated stomachs and LPS-treated lungs. Therefore, these results strongly imply that Guettarda crispiflora can be developed as a promising anti-inflammatory remedy with Src-suppressive properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahae Lee
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Won Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae Young Lee
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jieun Oh
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - So Hyun Hwang
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Minkyeong Jo
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung A Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Wooram Choi
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Dong-Keun Yi
- International Biological Material Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Minkyung Song
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Gyung Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Biomolecule Control, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Youl Cho
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Biomolecule Control, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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Aziz N, Kim E, Yang Y, Kim HG, Yu T, Cho JY. p38-dependent c-Jun degradation contributes to reduced PGE 2 production in sodium orthovanadate-treated macrophages. BMB Rep 2022. [PMID: 35410635 PMCID: PMC9442349 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2022.55.8.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In particular, the phenomenon of c-Jun degradation within the inflammatory response has not yet been fully analyzed. In order to verify this, we investigated LPS-stimulated murine macrophages pre-treated with sodium orthovanadate (SO) in order to uncover the regulatory mechanisms of the MAPKs which regulate c-Jun degradation within the inflammatory response. Through our study, we found that SO suppressed the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the expression of COX-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, SO decreased total c-Jun levels, without altering the amount of mRNA, although the phospho-levels of p38, ERK, and JNK were strongly enhanced. Through the usage of selective MAPK inhibitors, and knockdown and overexpression strategies, p38 was revealed to be a major MAPK which regulates c-Jun degradation. Further analysis indicates that the phosphorylation of p38 is a determinant for c-Jun degradation, and is sufficient to induce ubiquitination-dependent c-Jun degradation, recovered through MG132 treatment. Therefore, our results suggest that the hyperphosphorylation of p38 by SO contributes to c-Jun degradation, which is linked to the suppression of PGE2 secretion in inflammatory responses; and thus, finding drugs to increase p38 activity could be a novel strategy for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Aziz
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Eunji Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Yanyan Yang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266021, China
| | - Han Gyung Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Tao Yu
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Department of Cardiac Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266021, China
| | - Jae Youl Cho
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
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Ha AT, Kim MY, Cho JY. TAK1/AP-1-Targeted Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Barringtonia augusta Methanol Extract. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26103053. [PMID: 34065429 PMCID: PMC8160894 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26103053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Barringtonia augusta methanol extract (Ba-ME) is a folk medicine found in the wetlands of Thailand that acts through an anti-inflammatory mechanism that is not understood fully. Here, we examine how the methanol extract of Barringtonia augusta (B. augusta) can suppress the activator protein 1 (AP-1) signaling pathway and study the activities of Ba-ME in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cell line and an LPS-induced peritonitis mouse model. Non-toxic concentrations of Ba-ME downregulated the mRNA expression of cytokines, such as cyclooxygenase and chemokine ligand 12, in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Transfection experiments with the AP-1-Luc construct, HEK293T cells, and luciferase assays were used to assess whether Ba-ME suppressed the AP-1 functional activation. A Western blot assay confirmed that C-Jun N-terminal kinase is a direct pharmacological target of Ba-ME action. The anti-inflammatory effect of Ba-ME, which functions by β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) inhibition, was confirmed by using an overexpression strategy and a cellular thermal shift assay. In vivo experiments in a mouse model of LPS-induced peritonitis showed the anti-inflammatory effect of Ba-ME on LPS-stimulated macrophages and acute inflammatory mouse models. We conclude that Ba-ME is a promising anti-inflammatory drug targeting TAK1 in the AP-1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh Thu Ha
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, and Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea;
| | - Mi-Yeon Kim
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Korea
- Correspondence: (M.-Y.K.); (J.Y.C.); Tel.: +82-2-820-0458 (M.-Y.K.); +82-31-290-7868 (J.Y.C.)
| | - Jae Youl Cho
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, and Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea;
- Correspondence: (M.-Y.K.); (J.Y.C.); Tel.: +82-2-820-0458 (M.-Y.K.); +82-31-290-7868 (J.Y.C.)
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DNA or Protein Methylation-Dependent Regulation of Activator Protein-1 Function. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020461. [PMID: 33670008 PMCID: PMC7926996 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation and modification govern the transcriptional mechanisms that promote disease initiation and progression, but can also control the oncogenic processes, cell signaling networks, immunogenicity, and immune cells involved in anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor responses. The study of epigenetic mechanisms could have important implications for the development of potential anti-inflammatory treatments and anti-cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we have described the key role of epigenetic progression: DNA methylation, histone methylation or modification, and protein methylation, with an emphasis on the activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling pathway. Transcription factor AP-1 regulates multiple genes and is involved in diverse cellular processes, including survival, differentiation, apoptosis, and development. Here, the AP-1 regulatory mechanism by DNA, histone, or protein methylation was also reviewed. Various methyltransferases activate or suppress AP-1 activities in diverse ways. We summarize the current studies on epigenetic alterations, which regulate AP-1 signaling during inflammation, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, and discuss the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the regulation of AP-1 signaling.
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