Inhibitory effects of saeu-jeot extract on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and radiation-induced micronucleus formation.

Purpose: Saeu-jeot, or shrimp paste, is a traditional Korean high-salt fermented seafood. This study elucidated the effects of saeu-jeot extract (SJE) on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and radiation-induced micronucleus formation. Method: We treated lipopolysaccharide-primed mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages with the NLRP3 inflammasome activators ATP and nigericin. We also analyzed the acute effects of ionizing radiation on micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) in whole-body gamma-irradiated male BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice after oral administration of SJE. Results: SJE significantly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reducing IL-1ß secretion in vitro. In addition, the frequency of MnPCEs was significantly lower in SJE-treated mice. Conclusions: SJE has anti-inflammatory effects and reduces radiation-induced chromosome damage. Advance in knowledge: There are no reports concerning the effects of SJE on NLRP3 inflammasome activation or radioprotection. This experiment showed the radioprotective effects of saeu-jeot.

Bioactive Lipids and Their Derivatives in Biomedical Applications.

Lipids, which along with carbohydrates and proteins are among the most important nutrients for the living organism, have a variety of biological functions that can be applied widely in biomedicine. A fatty acid, the most fundamental biological lipid, may be classified by length of its aliphatic chain, and the short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acids and each have distinct biological activities with therapeutic relevance. For example, short-chain fatty acids have immune regulatory activities and could be useful against autoimmune disease; medium-chain fatty acids generate ketogenic metabolites and may be used to control seizure; and some metabolites oxidized from long-chain fatty acids could be used to treat metabolic disorders. Glycerolipids play important roles in pathological environments, such as those of cancers or metabolic disorders, and thus are regarded as a potential therapeutic target. Phospholipids represent the main building unit of the plasma membrane of cells, and play key roles in cellular signaling. Due to their physical properties, glycerophospholipids are frequently used as pharmaceutical ingredients, in addition to being potential novel drug targets for treating disease. Sphingolipids, which comprise another component of the plasma membrane, have their own distinct biological functions and have been investigated in nanotechnological applications such as drug delivery systems. Saccharolipids, which are derived from bacteria, have endotoxin effects that stimulate the immune system. Chemically modified saccharolipids might be useful for cancer immunotherapy or as vaccine adjuvants. This review will address the important biological function of several key lipids and offer critical insights into their potential therapeutic applications.

Development of a LC-MS method for quantification of FK-3000 and its application to in vivo pharmacokinetic study in drug development.

FK-3000 can inhibit proliferation of carcinomas and arrest the growth of carcinoma cells through cytotoxic (apoptosis induction) and cytostatic (cell cycle arrest) effects. A rapid and sensitive assay was developed and validated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for FK-3000 in rat plasma. FK-3000 was extracted with ethyl acetate from rat plasma samples, and the residue containing the FK-3000 was dried in a gentle stream of nitrogen and reconstituted with acetonitrile. The FK-3000 was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; Waters Alliance 2695) with a reversed phase Gemini column (3 mm × 150 mm, 5 µm; Phenomenex, USA) and a Waters Micromass ZQ detector. FK-3000 and phenazine, an internal standard (IS), were analyzed by selected ion monitoring (SIM) at m/z transitions of 418.45 and 256, respectively. A lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 10 ng/mL was observed, with a linear dynamic range from 10 to 10,000 ng/mL (R>0.999). The accuracy, precision, recovery, matrix effects, and stability of the assay were deemed acceptable according to the FDA guidance for industry (bioanalytical method validation). The FK-3000 concentration was measured in plasma samples up to 6 h following FK-3000 administration at an oral dose of 20 mg/kg. The findings indicate that the assay method is suitable for routine pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of FK-3000 in rats.

Stephania delavayi Diels. inhibits breast carcinoma proliferation through the p38 MAPK/NF-κB/COX-2 pathway.

The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)/inhibitor of κ kinase-ß (IKKß) signaling pathway is important in tumor promotion and progression. MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells express COX-2 and show a constitutive phosphorylation of NF-κB. Many non-specific inhibitors of IKKß and NF-κB are used to inhibit tumor promotion and progression. The Stephania delavayi Diels. (S. delavayi Diels.) extract has been reported to safely activate B cell immunity and there is evidence suggesting that it may be a promising new anticancer therapeutic agent. S. delavayi Diels. extract suppressed proliferation of the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 by inducing cell death. To aid in the development of the S. delavayi Diels. extract as a therapeutic agent, its mechanisms of action were investigated, in particular its effects on p38 MAPK, NF-κB and COX-2, which play important roles in inflammation and cancer. S. delavayi Diels. stimulated p38 MAPK phosphorylation but reduced NF-κB phosphorylation and COX-2 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Thus, S. delavayi Diels., which appears to act primarily through p38 MAPK/NF-κB/COX-2 signaling in breast carcinomas, may be a potent anticancer agent with target specificity and low toxicity.

Role of the AMPK/SREBP-1 pathway in the development of orotic acid-induced fatty liver.

Orotic acid (OA), an intermediate in pyrimidine metabolism, has been used for a variety of purposes, such as dietary supplements. Although it is well documented that OA induces fatty liver in a species-specific manner, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The present study investigated the role of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) pathway in the OA-induced fatty liver. Treatment with OA suppressed the phosphorylation of AMPK via proteasomal degradation of upstream kinase LKB1 and induced activation of SREBP-1 in both human hepatoma cell lines and primary rat hepatocytes. OA-induced SREBP-1 transcriptional activity was suppressed by cotreatment with aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) or metformin, or by overexpression of constitutively active AMPK (CA-AMPK) in the human hepatoma cell line. Importantly, in vivo data corroborated these results. Feeding 1% OA with diet decreased the phosphorylation of AMPK and increased the maturation of SREBP-1 and the expression of SREBP-responsive genes in the rat liver. OA-induced lipid accumulation was also completely inhibited by rapamycin. Mouse hepatocytes and mice were resistant to OA-induced lipogenesis because of little if any response in AMPK and downstream effectors. In conclusion, OA induces hepatic lipogenesis, mediated predominantly by the AMPK/SREBP-1 pathway in rat hepatocytes and human hepatoma cell lines.

Anti-fibrotic effect of chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells isolated from human placenta in a rat model of CCl(4)-injured liver: potential application to the treatment of hepatic diseases.

Translational studies have explored the therapeutic effects of stem cells, raising hopes for the treatment of numerous diseases. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells (CP-MSCs) isolated from human placenta and transplanted into rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-injured livers. CP-MSCs were analyzed for hepatocyte-specific gene expression, indocyanine green (ICG) uptake, glycogen storage, and urea production following hepatogenic differentiation. PKH26-labeled CP-MSCs were directly transplanted into the livers of rats that had been exposed to CCl(4) (1.6 g/kg, twice per week for 9 weeks). Blood and liver tissue were analyzed at 1, 2, and 3 weeks post-transplantation. The expression of type I collagen (Col I) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was analyzed in rat T-HSC/Cl-6 hepatic stellate cells co-cultured with CP-MSCs following exposure to TGF-ß. The expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Col I were lower in transplanted (TP) rats than in non-transplanted (Non-TP) animals (P < 0.05), whereas the expression levels of albumin and MMP-9 were increased. TP rats exhibited significantly higher uptake/excretion of ICG than non-TP rats (P < 0.005). In addition, collagen synthesis in T-HSC/Cl-6 cells exposed to TGF-ß was decreased by co-culture with CP-MSCs, which triggered the activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9. These results contribute to our understanding of the potential pathophysiological roles of CP-MSCs, including anti-fibrotic effects in liver disease, and provide a foundation for the development of new cell therapy-based strategies for the treatment of difficult-to-treat liver diseases.

Bile acid regulates MUC2 transcription in colon cancer cells via positive EGFR/PKC/Ras/ERK/CREB, PI3K/Akt/IkappaB/NF-kappaB and p38/MSK1/CREB pathways and negative JNK/c-Jun/AP-1 pathway.

MUC2 is a major secretory mucin normally expressed by goblet cells of the intestine, but is aberrantly expressed in colonic neoplasia. Bile acids have been implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis and, therefore, we sought to determine the effects of bile acids on MUC2 expression and regulation in colon cancer cells. Since deoxycholic acid (DCA), a secondary bile acid, has been reported to be a potent mucin secretagogue and tumor promoter, DCA-treated HM3 colon cancer cells were analyzed using promoter-reporter assays of the 5' flanking region of the MUC2 gene. Chemical inhibitors, mutant reporter constructs and EMSA showed that DCA upregulates MUC2 transcription via multiple pathways involving activation of EGFR/PKC/Ras/Raf-1/MEK1/ERK/CREB, PI3/Akt/IkappaB/NF-kappaB and p38/MSK1/CREB while DCA induced MUC2 transcription is inhibited by JNK/c-Jun/AP-1 pathway. These results provide new insight into the complex molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of mucin gene by bile acids in colon cancer cells that may contribute to further elucidation of colorectal carcinogenesis.

[Usefulness of NMP22 BladderChek for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer].

BACKGROUND: As bladder cancer is a superficial tumor with frequent recurrences, early detection and confirmation of recurrence are important. We evaluated the usefulness of NMP22 BladderChek (NMP22BC) for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer. METHODS: From July to December 2004, we enrolled in the study 670 patients who visited the urology clinic in Ewha Womans University, Dongdaemun Hospital with hematuria or dysuria and were tested with NMP22BC. We also performed the NMP22BC and BTA stat tests simultaneously in 21 patients and interference test in 10 patients. RESULTS: NMP22BC tests were negative in 97% of the patients who had been cured of bladder cancer and were positive in 95% of the patients with recurred bladder cancer. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and efficiency were 95.0%, 91.5%, 25.7%, 99.8%, and 91.6%, respectively, with 8.5% false positive and 5% false negative rates. Fifty-five patients showed false positive in the NMP22BC test, the main cause of which was the presence of WBCs in urine. There was a good agreement between the NMP22BC and BTA stat tests (kappa agreement value, 0.5; P=0.008). According to the interference test, two patients with more than 3+ in leukocyte esterase results showed false positive in the NMP22BC test. CONCLUSIONS: NMP22BC test was simple to perform, rapid to produce the results, and useful in diagnosing a bladder cancer recurrence; the test shows a high efficiency with a high sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and low false negative rate.

Expression of connective tissue growth factor in pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) is thought to play a role in normal wound repair and bone remodeling, but also promotes fibrosis in several disease processes including diabetic nephropathy, sclerodoma and pancreatitis. A contribution to desmoplasia associated with pancreatic cancer progression has also been proposed. CTGF is induced by TGFbeta in diverse cell types, but TGFbeta receptor mediated signaling is impaired in pancreatic cancers and cell lines, usually due to DPC4/Smad4 mutations which arise during the later stages of intraepithelial neoplastic progression. Therefore, in order to define signaling pathways that mediate basal and TGFbeta-induced CTGF expression in normal and transformed cells, we compared CTGF gene regulation in pancreatic cancer cells and fibroblasts by measuring the effects of small molecule inhibitors and dominant negative mutants of signaling proteins on CTGF promoter reporter activity, message, and protein expression. We determined that the previously identified TEF-1 cis element is essential for CTGF promoter reporter activity in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Whereas p38 mediated CTGF induction by TGFbeta in fibroblasts, MEK/ERK signaling mediated TGFbeta-induced CTGF expression in pancreatic cancer cells and was also responsible for basal CTGF expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines with defective Smad signaling. Since activating Ras mutations occur in the earliest stages of pancreatic cancer, CTGF may be induced independent of Smad4 in pancreatic cancer cells.

MUC5AC mucin gene regulation in pancreatic cancer cells.

MUC5AC is a secretory mucin normally expressed by the surface mucous cells of the human stomach and in the bronchial tract. It is absent from normal pancreas, but de novo expression of this mucin occurs in early-stage pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias and in the invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, prompting this study of MUC5AC gene regulation in pancreatic cancer cells. Promoter deletion constructs and EMSA studies revealed that transcription factors Sp1 and AP-1 are both involved in basal transcription of the MUC5AC gene. Phorbol 12-myrisate 13-acetate (PMA) increased MUC5AC mRNA expression and transcriptional activities of MUC5AC promoter-reporter deletion constructs containing AP-1 consensus sites. EMSA studies showed that Fos/Jun binding to putative AP-1 sites is increased by PMA treatment. Western blot analysis showed that ERK, JNK and p38 are all activated by PMA treatment in SW1990 cells. Inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal regulated kinase (MEK), such as ERK inhibitor PD98059 and JNK inhibitors dicumarol and SP60015, but not p38 inhibitor SB203580, inhibited PMA-induced MUC5AC reporter activity. Our studies indicate that Sp1 is involved in basal MUC5AC promoter activity while AP-1 is involved in basal and PMA-induced MUC5AC promoter activation in pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, PMA-induced MUC5AC gene transcription appears to be mediated by activating Sp1, PKC/ERK/AP-1 and PKC/JNK/AP-1 pathways.

Risk factors for benign prostatic hyperplasia in South Korean men.

OBJECTIVES: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common prostate disease in middle-aged and elderly men, and leads to severe impairment in later life. Despite the significant effect on public health, the causes of BPH have received little attention. Identifying risk factors for BPH is crucial for understanding the etiology and for determining effective interventions or targeting strategies. METHODS: This survey was performed in two steps: (1) a pilot study was first conducted prior to the main study in order to estimate baseline characteristics, and (2) the main study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of BPH using clinical diagnostic tests and a questionnaire. A total of 641 males, aged 50-79 years, participated in this community-based cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Age was the only significant demographic risk factor of BPH. The presence of chronic bronchitis and a high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level increased the risk by three- and twofold, respectively. The risk decreased as drinking frequency increased. Physical activity 3-5 times/week reduced the risk relative to being active less than twice per week; however, engaging in physical activity nearly everyday increased the risk 1.7-fold relative to being active up to twice per week. CONCLUSIONS: Although BPH has been considered a disease that is unavoidable with advancing age, the clear identification and control of the underlying risk factors might allow effective prevention by placing a special emphasis on those at risk.