No Abstract Available.

No abstract available.

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is an inducible enzyme that catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in the oxidative degradation of free heme into ferrous iron, carbon monoxide (CO), and biliverdin (BV), the latter being subsequently converted into bilirubin (BR). HO-1, once expressed during inflammation, forms high concentrations of its enzymatic by-products that can influence various biological events, and this expression is proven to be associated with the resolution of inflammation. The degradation of heme by HO-1 itself, the signaling actions of CO, the antioxidant properties of BV/BR, and the sequestration of ferrous iron by ferritin all concertedly contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of HO-1. This review focuses on the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of HO-1 actions and its roles in inflammatory diseases.
Bilirubin ; Biliverdine ; Carbon Monoxide ; Ferritins ; Heme ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; Inflammation ; Iron

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is an inducible enzyme that catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in the oxidative degradation of free heme into ferrous iron, carbon monoxide (CO), and biliverdin (BV), the latter being subsequently converted into bilirubin (BR). HO-1, once expressed during inflammation, forms high concentrations of its enzymatic by-products that can influence various biological events, and this expression is proven to be associated with the resolution of inflammation. The degradation of heme by HO-1 itself, the signaling actions of CO, the antioxidant properties of BV/BR, and the sequestration of ferrous iron by ferritin all concertedly contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of HO-1. This review focuses on the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of HO-1 actions and its roles in inflammatory diseases.
Bilirubin ; Biliverdine ; Carbon Monoxide ; Ferritins ; Heme ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; Inflammation ; Iron

No abstract available.

Taxol, an anticancer drug, blocks cell division by stabilizing microtubules. However, taxol has distinct cell-cycle-independent effects. For example, taxol and bacterial LPS induce strikingly similar responses in murine microglial cells. Here, we report that taxol, like LPS, provides a ""second"" signal for murine microglial cell activation to induce tumoricidal activity. Tumoricidal activity determined by MTT assay appeared that taxol or LPS alone weakly activated microglial cells to kill P815 mastocytoma cells, whereas combinations of taxol or LPS with IFN-r synergized to activate macrophages to lyse tumor cells in a dose dependent manner. Secretion of nitric oxide (NO) correlated with tumor cell killing, and the activated microglial cells failed to kill tumor cell targets in the presence of N'-monomethyl-L-arginine (N'MMA), a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS). Treatment of the cells with anti-TNF-a neutralizing antibodies clearly blocked taxol plus IFN-r induced tumoricidal activity as well as NO production. Collectively, the data illustrate the potential for taxol to activate microglial cell mediated-antitumor mechanisms in addition to its better characterized role as an anti-mitotic agent.
Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Cell Division ; Homicide ; Macrophages ; Mastocytoma ; Microglia ; Microtubules ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Paclitaxel*

PURPOSE: Curcumin (Cur) has been reported to induce apoptosis in human renal carcinoma Caki cells. Dimethoxycurcumin (DMC), one of several synthetic Cur analogues, has been reported to have increased metabolic stability over Cur. We determined whether DMC, like Cur, induces apoptosis in Caki cells and also compared the apoptosis-inducing activity of DMC with that of Cur. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Caki cells were treated with DMC possessing four methoxy groups, Cur possessing two methoxy groups, or bis-demethoxycurcumin (BMC), which lacks a methoxy group. Cell viability was measured by using a methyltetrazolium assay. Flow cytometry and the caspase-3 activity assay were used to detect apoptosis. The release of cytochrome-c (Cyt c) was detected by Western blot analysis. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: DMC, Cur, and BMC reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis, but the potency varied; DMC was the most potent compound, followed by Cur and BMC. ROS production, Cyt c release, and caspase-3 activity were increased, again in the order DMC>Cur>BMC. N-Acetylcysteine, a potent antioxidant, inhibited ROS production, Cyt c release, caspase-3 activation, and apoptosis induction in DMC-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that DMC, like the original form of Cur, may induce apoptosis in human renal carcinoma Caki cells through the production of ROS, the release of mitochondrial Cyt c, and the subsequent activation of caspase-3. In addition, DMC is more potent than Cur in the ability to induce apoptosis.
Acetylcysteine ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Survival ; Chlorobenzenes ; Curcumin ; Cytochromes ; Cytochromes c ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Reactive Oxygen Species

OBJECTIVE: Triptolide (TP) has been reported to suppress the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), of which main function is to inactivate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK-1/2), the p38 MAPK and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase-1/2 (JNK-1/2), and to exert antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activities. However, the mechanisms underlying antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activities of TP are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the down-regulation of MKP-1 expression by TP would account for antiproliferative activity of TP in immortalized HT22 hippocampal cells. METHODS: MKP-1 expression and MAPK phosphorylation were analyzed by Western blot. Cell proliferation was assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) against MKP-1, vanadate (a phosphatase inhibitor), U0126 (a specific inhibitor for ERK-1/2), SB203580 (a specific inhibitor for p38 MAPK), and SP600125 (a specific inhibitor for JNK-1/2) were employed to evaluate a possible mechanism of antiproliferative action of TP. RESULTS: At its non-cytotoxic dose, TP suppressed MKP-1 expression, reduced cell growth, and induced persistent ERK-1/2 activation. Similar growth inhibition and ERK-1/2 activation were observed when MKP-1 expression was blocked by MKP-1 siRNA and its activity was inhibited by vanadate. The antiproliferative effects of TP, MKP-1 siRNA, and vanadate were significantly abolished by U0126, but not by SB203580 or SP600125. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that TP inhibits the growth of immortalized HT22 hippocampal cells via persistent ERK-1/2 activation by suppressing MKP-1 expression. Additionally, this study provides evidence supporting that MKP-1 may play an important role in regulation of neuronal cell growth.
Anthracenes ; Blotting, Western ; Butadienes ; Cell Proliferation ; Diterpenes ; Down-Regulation ; Epoxy Compounds ; Imidazoles ; Neurons ; Nitriles ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Phenanthrenes ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases ; Pyridines ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Vanadates

BACKGROUND: The mushroom Phellinus linteus (PL) has been shown to have the anti-tumor and immunostimulatory effects. We hypothesized that the hot water extract of PL (WEPL) exerts its significant immunostimulatory effect by inducing production of the Th1-derived cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by T lymphocytes. METHODS: T lymphocytes were isolated from the mice fed with 200 mg/kg of WEPL once a day for 4 weeks, and then stimulated with the mitogen concanavaline A (Con A). IFN-gamma gene and intracellular protein expressions were analyzed by RT-PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. The production of IFN-gamma was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: WEPL significantly enhanced the transcription of IFN-gamma mRNA. The effect of WEPL on IFN-gamma expression was further supported by a concomitant increase in the number of cells with intracellular IFN-gamma protein as well as the secretion of IFN-gamma. However, WEPL did not modulate either gene expression or protein secretion of interleukin-4, a Th2-associated cytokine, by Con A-stimulated T lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that one of the potentially beneficial anti-tumor and immunostimulatory effects of WEPL may be mediated through the enhancement of IFN-gamma secretion by T lymphocytes.
Administration, Oral* ; Agaricales ; Animals ; Cytokines* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-4 ; Mice* ; RNA, Messenger ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; T-Lymphocytes ; Water

In vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), induction of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) confers vascular protection against cellular proliferation mainly via its up-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1) that is involved in negative regulation of cellular proliferation. In the present study, we investigated whether the phytochemical curcumin and its metabolite tetrahydrocurcumin could induce HO-1 expression and growth inhibition in rat VSMCs and, if so, whether their antiproliferative effect could be mediated via HO-1 expression. At non-toxic concentrations, curcumin possessing two Michael-reaction acceptors induced HO-1 expression by activating antioxidant response element (ARE) through translocation of the nuclear transcription factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) into the nucleus and also inhibited VSMC growth triggered by 5% FBS in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, tetrahydrocurcumin lacking Michael-reaction acceptor showed no effect on HO-1 expression, ARE activation and VSMC growth inhibition. The antiproliferative effect of curcumin in VSMCs was accompanied by the increased expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1). Inhibition of VSMC growth and expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) by curcumin were partially, but not completely, abolished when the cells were co- incubated with the HO inhibitor tin protoporphyrin. In human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs), curcumin also inhibited growth triggered by TNF-alpha and increased p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression via HO-1-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that curcumin has an ability to induce HO-1 expression, presumably through Nrf2-dependent ARE activation, in rat VSMCs and HASMCs, and provide evidence that the antiproliferative effect of curcumin is considerably linked to its ability to induce HO-1 expression.
Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; Animals ; Aorta/cytology ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Curcumin/analogs & derivatives/*pharmacology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)/biosynthesis/genetics/*physiology ; Heme Oxygenase-1/biosynthesis/genetics/*physiology ; Humans ; Metalloporphyrins/pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects/*physiology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects/*physiology ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism ; Protoporphyrins/pharmacology ; Rats ; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Response Elements ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology