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Biomedical subjects

K Suk

Publications and source records attributed to K Suk.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Induction of caspase-11 by inflammatory stimuli in rat astrocytes: lipopolysaccharide induction through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Caspase-11 plays a crucial role in both inflammation and apoptosis. Caspase-11 not only activates caspase-1, that is required for the maturation of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-18, but also activates caspase-3, leading to cellular apoptosis under pathological conditions. Here, we cloned the rat homolog of caspase-11, and investigated its inducibility by inflammatory stimuli and signal transduction pathways involved. Deduced amino acid sequence of rat caspase-11 showed 88.7% similarity to mouse caspase-11, and in vitro translation of rat caspase-11 cDNA yielded approximately a 43 kDa polypeptide, which was in agreement with predicted protein size generated from full-length rat caspase-11 cDNA. The expression of caspase-11 was strongly induced at both mRNA and protein levels by inflammatory stimuli such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in C6 rat glial cells as well as primary astrocytes. LPS induced activation of both p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in C6 cells. However, SB203580 (specific inhibitor of p38 kinase), but not PD98059 (specific inhibitor of ERK kinase), inhibited LPS induction of caspase-11, indicating that induction of caspase-11 by LPS in astrocytes was mediated through the p38 MAPK pathway. Inflammatory induction of caspase-11 in astrocytes may play an important role in both inflammatory responses involving these cells and auto-regulatory apoptosis of activated astrocytes in inflammatory sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The plant flavonoid wogonin suppresses death of activated C6 rat glial cells by inhibiting nitric oxide production.

Flavonoids are a group of low molecular weight polyphenolic compounds derived from plants. 5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone (Wogonin), a flavonoid originated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to exert various anti-inflammatory effects such as inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 production in macrophages. Because glial cells have been previously shown to undergo NO-dependent apoptosis upon inflammatory activation and this auto-regulatory process may be negatively affected by exogenous factors possessing anti-inflammatory activities, we examined the effects of wogonin on NO production and activation-induced cell death of C6 rat glial cells. Activation of C6 glial cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced NO production followed by cell death. Pretreatment of C6 cells with wogonin before LPS and cytokine treatment dose-dependently inhibited NO production as well as death of activated C6 cells. Wogonin-mediated inhibition of NO production was accompanied by suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein induction and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) reporter activity. Wogonin, however, did not affect a NO donor-induced cytotoxicity. Taken together, our results indicate that wogonin inhibits activation-induced death of C6 glial cells by suppressing NO production, and these inhibitory effects of wogonin on NO production are exerted through inhibition of NF-kappaB-mediated iNOS induction.

Animals↗

Dual role of inflammatory stimuli in activation-induced cell death of mouse microglial cells. Initiation of two separate apoptotic pathways via induction of interferon regulatory factor-1 and caspase-11.

We have previously shown that mouse microglial cells undergo apoptosis upon inflammatory activation and that nitric oxide (NO) is the major autocrine mediator in this process (Lee, P., Lee, J., Kim, S., Yagita, H., Lee, M. S., Kim, S. Y., Kim, H., and Suk, K. (2001) Brain Res. 892, 380-385). Here, we present evidence that interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) and caspase-11 are the essential molecules in activation-induced cell death of microglial cells. The apoptogenic action of inflammatory stimuli such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) was mediated through the induction of IRF-1 and caspase-11 expression in two separate events. Although IRF-1 was required for NO synthesis, caspase-11 induction was necessary for NO-independent apoptotic pathway. Microglial cells from IRF-1-deficient mice showed markedly decreased NO production, and they were partially resistant to apoptosis in response to LPS/IFNgamma but were sensitive to NO donor exposure. LPS/IFNgamma treatment resulted in the induction of caspase-11 followed by activation of caspase-11, -1, and -3. Inactivation of caspase-11 by the transfection of dominant-negative mutant or treatment with the caspase inhibitors rendered microglial cells partially resistant to LPS/IFNgamma-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of both NO synthesis and caspase-11 completely blocked LPS/IFNgamma-induced cytotoxicity. These results indicated that LPS/IFNgamma not only induced the production of cytotoxic NO through IRF-1 but also initiated the NO-independent apoptotic pathway through the induction of caspase-11 expression.

Animals↗

Regulation of IL-18 production by IFN gamma and PGE2 in mouse microglial cells: involvement of NF-kB pathway in the regulatory processes.

Interleukin (IL)-18, a recently identified proinflammatory cytokine, has been implicated in a variety of pathological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and inflammatory liver injury. Microglial cells are the primary cellular source of IL-18 in the brain. Along with other inflammatory mediators in the central nervous system (CNS), IL-18 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases. To understand how lymphokines and lipid mediators participate in the regulation of microglial IL-18 production, we assessed the effects of interferon (IFN)gamma, one of the major macrophage-activating lymphokines, and prostaglandin (PG)E(2), a lipid mediator produced in the brain, on IL-18 production and the expression of the IL-18 processing enzyme, caspase-1, in mouse microglial cells. IFNgamma increased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-18 production and caspase-1 expression, while PGE(2) inhibited LPS-induced IL-18 production. A similar pattern of IL-18 regulation by IFNgamma and PGE(2) was observed at the mRNA level. The regulation of microglial activation by IFNgamma and PGE(2) was accompanied by differential modulation of LPS-induced NF-kB activation. While IFNgamma enhanced LPS-induced NF-kB activation, PGE(2) suppressed its activation. These results indicate that IFNgamma and PGE(2) are the important regulators of proinflammatory microglial activation in CNS, and suggest the involvement of NF-kB pathway in these regulatory processes.

Animals↗

Activation-induced cell death of rat astrocytes.

Inflammatory activation of astrocytes has been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. The elimination of activated astrocytes by apoptosis or the deactivation may be the mechanisms for auto-regulation of activated astrocytes. To test the possibility of apoptotic elimination of activated astrocytes, we examined a potential correlation between activation state of astrocytes and their viability using C6 rat glial cells and rat primary astrocyte cultures exposed to a variety of inflammatory stimuli such as lipopolysaccharide, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Nitric oxide production was measured to evaluate inflammatory activation of astrocytes. We found that: (i) the activation of astrocytes by the combination of lipopolysaccharide and inflammatory cytokines, but not by either alone, led to nitric oxide production followed by apoptotic cell death; (ii) the amount of nitric oxide produced by activated astrocytes was inversely proportional to the viability of the cells; (iii) inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by N-monomethyl L-arginine blocked death of activated astrocytes; and (iv) nitric oxide donors induced apoptosis of astrocytes in a caspase-dependent manner. Taken collectively, our results suggest that activated astrocytes produce nitric oxide as an autocrine mediator of caspase-dependent apoptosis, and this type of programmed cell death of astrocytes may be the underlying mechanism for the auto-regulation of inflammatory activation of astrocytes.

Animals↗

IFNalpha sensitizes ME-180 human cervical cancer cells to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis by inhibiting cytoprotective NF-kappaB activation.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) induces apoptosis of a variety of tumor cell types. The anti-tumor effect of TNFalpha is often augmented by interferon (IFN) gamma. We hypothesized that IFNalpha, which shares many biological activities with IFNgamma, might also synergize with TNFalpha for the induction of tumor cell death. We tested our hypothesis using ME-180 human cervical cancer cells exposed to either IFNalpha or TNFalpha alone or both. We analyzed the death of ME-180 cells by biochemical and cytological means, and investigated the molecular mechanism underlying cytotoxic synergism between the two cytokines. We found that (i) IFNalpha/TNFalpha synergistically induced apoptosis of ME-180 cells, which was accompanied by activation of caspases-3 and -8; (ii) IFNalpha induced signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1 phosphorylation, and transfection of phosphorylation-defective STAT1 dominant-negative mutant inhibited IFNalpha/TNFalpha-induced apoptosis; (iii) inhibition of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) by proteasome inhibitor MG-132 sensitized ME-180 cells to TNFalpha alone; (iv) IFNalpha treatment attenuated TNFalpha-induced NF-kappaB reporter activity, while it did not inhibit DNA binding of NF-kappaB. Taken collectively, our results indicate that IFNalpha sensitizes ME-180 cells to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis by inhibiting TNFalpha-mediated cytoprotective NF-kappaB activation, and this sensitizing effect of IFNalpha is mediated through a STAT1-dependent pathway.

Apoptosis↗

IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha synergism as the final effector in autoimmune diabetes: a key role for STAT1/IFN regulatory factor-1 pathway in pancreatic beta cell death.

Fas ligand (FasL), perforin, TNF-alpha, IL-1, and NO have been considered as effector molecule(s) leading to beta cell death in autoimmune diabetes. However, the real culprit(s) in beta cell destruction have long been elusive, despite intense investigation. We and others have demonstrated that FasL is not a major effector molecule in autoimmune diabetes, and previous inability to transfer diabetes to Fas-deficient nonobese diabetic (NOD)-lpr mice was due to constitutive FasL expression on lymphocytes from these mice. Here, we identified IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha synergism as the final effector molecules in autoimmune diabetes of NOD mice. A combination of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, but neither cytokine alone, induced classical caspase-dependent apoptosis in insulinoma and pancreatic islet cells. IFN-gamma treatment conferred susceptibility to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis on otherwise resistant insulinoma cells by STAT1 activation followed by IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-1 induction. IRF-1 played a central role in IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha-induced cytotoxicity because inhibition of IRF-1 induction by antisense oligonucleotides blocked IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha-induced cytotoxicity, and transfection of IRF-1 rendered insulinoma cells susceptible to TNF-alpha-induced cytotoxicity. STAT1 and IRF-1 were expressed in pancreatic islets of diabetic NOD mice and colocalized with apoptotic cells. Moreover, anti-TNF-alpha Ab inhibited the development of diabetes after adoptive transfer. Taken together, our results indicate that IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha synergism is responsible for autoimmune diabetes in vivo as well as beta cell apoptosis in vitro and suggest a novel signal transduction in IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha synergism that may have relevance in other autoimmune diseases and synergistic anti-tumor effects of the two cytokines.

Animals↗

NO as an autocrine mediator in the apoptosis of activated microglial cells: correlation between activation and apoptosis of microglial cells.

Abnormal activation of microglial cells has been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. Microglial activation needs to be tightly regulated for physiological maintenance and normal functioning of the central nervous system. Potential mechanisms for the down-regulation of activated microglial cells are the deactivation or elimination of activated cells. We hypothesized that the elimination of activated microglial cells by apoptosis is one of the key mechanisms of auto-regulation of activated microglial cells. To test this hypothesis, we utilized BV-2 mouse microglial cells and rat primary microglial cultures exposed to activating agents such as lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma, and investigated a possible correlation between apoptosis and activation of these cells. We found that the activation of microglial cells led to apoptotic death, and the activation state of microglial cells inversely correlated with cell viability. We have also demonstrated that: (i) NO was produced by activated microglial cells in a manner dependent on time and dose of activating agents; (ii) inhibition of NO synthesis by iNOS inhibitor blocked the apoptosis of activated microglial cells; (iii) an exogenous NO donor induced apoptosis of microglial cells; and (iv) inhibition of TNFalpha or FasL using neutralizing antibodies did not affect activation-induced apoptosis of microglial cells. These results indicated that activation of microglial cells leads to the production of NO, which in turn acts as the major mediator of cellular apoptosis in an autocrine fashion. Our work suggests the presence of auto-regulatory mechanism for microglial activation, which may have relevance in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases possibly resulting from 'over-activation' of microglial cells.

Animals↗

Interferon gamma (IFNgamma ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha synergism in ME-180 cervical cancer cell apoptosis and necrosis. IFNgamma inhibits cytoprotective NF-kappa B through STAT1/IRF-1 pathways.

We investigated the molecular mechanism of the synergism between interferon gamma (IFNgamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) documented in a variety of biological occasions such as tumor cell death and inflammatory responses. IFNgamma/TNFalpha synergistically induced apoptosis of ME-180 cervical cancer cells. IFNgamma induced STAT1 phosphorylation and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) expression. Transfection of phosphorylation-defective STAT1 inhibited IFNgamma/TNFalpha-induced apoptosis, whereas IRF-1 transfection induced susceptibility to TNFalpha. Dominant-negative IkappaBalpha transfection sensitized ME-180 cells to TNFalpha. IFNgamma pretreatment attenuated TNFalpha- or p65-induced NF-kappaB reporter activity, whereas it did not inhibit p65 translocation or DNA binding of NF-kappaB. IRF-1 transfection alone inhibited TNFalpha-induced NF-kappaB activity, which was reversed by coactivator p300 overexpression. Caspases were activated by IFNgamma/TNFalpha combination; however, caspase inhibition did not abrogate IFNgamma/TNFalpha-induced cell death. Instead, caspase inhibitors directed IFNgamma/TNFalpha-treated ME-180 cells to undergo necrosis, as demonstrated by Hoechst 33258/propidium iodide staining and electron microscopy. Taken together, our results indicate that IFNgamma and TNFalpha synergistically act to destroy ME-180 tumor cells by either apoptosis or necrosis, depending on caspase activation, and STAT1/IRF-1 pathways initiated by IFNgamma play a critical role in IFNgamma/TNFalpha synergism by inhibiting cytoprotective NF-kappaB. IFNgamma/TNFalpha synergism appears to activate cell death machinery independently of caspase activation, and caspase activation seems to merely determine the mode of cell death.

Apoptosis↗

Cytoprotective effect of Scutellaria baicalensis in CA1 hippocampal neurons of rats after global cerebral ischemia.

Based on the use of Scutellaria baicalensis for the treatment of stroke in traditional Oriental medicine, the current study was carried out to evaluate neuroprotective effects of S. baicalensis after transient global ischemia using rat 4-vessel occlusion model. Methanol extracts from the dried roots of S. baicalensis (0.1-10 mg/kg) administered intra-peritoneally significantly protected CA1 neurons against 10 min transient forebrain ischemia as demonstrated by measuring the density of neuronal cells stained with Cresyl violet. Methanol extract of S. baicalensis inhibited microglial tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide production, and protected PC12 cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity in vitro.

Animals↗

Neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects of quinic acids from Aster scaber in PC12 cells.

Aster scaber T. (Asteraceae) has been used to treat bruises, snakebite, headache, and dizziness in traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, the neuroprotective effect of four quinic acid derivatives from A. scaber on amyloid Abeta-induced PC12 cell toxicity was investigated. When cells were treated with quinic acid derivatives prior to Abeta, cell toxicity was significantly diminished. Among quinic acid derivatives, (-)4,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (1) gave the highest protection against Abeta-induced cell toxicity. In addition, the neurotrophic effects of compounds were evaluated by microscopically monitoring their potency to induce neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Four quinic acid derivatives from A. scaber promoted neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Interestingly, a novel quinic acid, (-)3,5-dicaffeoyl-muco-quinic acid (2) was more effective than the other compounds in promoting neurite outgrowth. Unlike nerve growth factor, the withdrawal of quinic acids did not result in any significant decrease in cell viability. The results suggest that quinic acid derivatives from A. scaber might potentially be used as a therapeutic agent in Alzheimer disease.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

Identification of a novel human member of the DEAD box protein family.

The cDNA library of human pancreatic islets was screened with sera from patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). From the library screening, we isolated a novel cDNA, RNA helicase-like protein (RHELP), which exhibited strong sequence homology to p68 RNA helicase, a prototypic member of the DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein family. Sequence analysis of the cDNA revealed that RHELP contained DEAD sequence motif and other conserved motifs of the DEAD box protein family, indicating that RHELP is a new member of this family. DEAD box-containing proteins are involved in the RNA processing, ribosome assembly, spermatogenesis, embryogenesis, and cell growth and division. RHELP showed 42% and 44% amino acid sequence identity to human p68 RNA helicase and yeast DBP2 RNA helicase, respectively, among the DEAD box protein family. Northern blot analysis revealed that RHELP is expressed in most tissues including the liver, lung, tonsil, thymus, and muscle in addition to the pancreatic islets. In vivo or in vitro functions of RHELP as a putative RNA helicase and its potential role as a diabetic autoantigen need to be further investigated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identity of mouse IA-2 and PTP35 genes of the tyrosine phosphatase family, and their expression in neuroendocrine tissues.

Recently, IA-2, one of the major diabetic autoantigens, and PTP35 cDNA were independently isolated by subtraction cloning using insulinoma cells and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based search for conserved sequences using NIH3T3 fibroblast cell line, respectively. By Southern blot analysis and nucleotide sequence determination of reverse transcription PCR products, we showed that IA-2 and PTP35 are identical and exist as a single gene in a mouse genome. The expression of IA-2/PTP35 messages was detected by northern blot analysis in MIN6N8 cells, an insulinoma cell line derived from non-obese diabetic mice, but its expression level was not affected by the ambient glucose level, phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate or tumour necrosis factor-alpha. We also generated polyclonal antibodies to murine IA-2/PTP35 by immunization with recombinant proteins. Subsequent immunohistochemical analysis using these polyclonal antibodies disclosed that IA-2/PTP35 is strongly expressed in mouse neuroendocrine tissues such as pancreatic islets and the hypothalamus-pituitary gland. These results suggest that IA-2/PTP35 functions primarily in neuroendocrine tissues.

3T3 Cells↗

Borrelia burgdorferi gene expression in vivo and spirochete pathogenicity.

Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes that do not cause arthritis or carditis were developed and used to investigate Lyme disease pathogenesis. A clonal isolate of B. burgdorferi N40 (cN40), which induces disease in C3H/HeN (C3H) mice, was repeatedly passaged in vitro to generate nonpathogenic spirochetes. The passage 75 isolate (N40-75) was infectious for C3H mice but did not cause arthritis or carditis, and spirochetes were at low levels or absent in the joints or hearts, respectively. N40-75 could, however, cause disease in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, suggesting that the response in immunocompetent mice prevented effective spirochete dissemination and the subsequent development of arthritis and carditis. Administration of immune sera at 4 days after spirochete challenge aborted N40-75, but not cN40, infection in SCID mice. A B. burgdorferi genomic expression library was differentially probed with sera from cN40- and N40-75-infected mice, to identify genes that may not be effectively expressed by N40-75 in vivo. N40-75 was defective in the up-regulation of several genes that are preferentially expressed during mammalian infection, including dbpAB, bba64, and genes that map to the cp32 family of plasmids. These data suggest that adaptation and gene expression may be required for B. burgdorferi to effectively colonize the host, evade humoral responses, and cause disease.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning and expression of a novel human cDNA related to the diazepam binding inhibitor.

In order to isolate the unidentified autoantigens in autoimmune diabetes, a human pancreatic islet cDNA library was constructed and screened with the sera from the diabetic patients. From the library screening, one clone (DRS-1) that strongly reacted with the sera was isolated. Subsequent sequence analysis revealed that the clone was a novel cDNA related to the diazepam binding inhibitor. DRS-1 was expressed in most tissues including liver, lung, tonsil, and thymus, in addition to pancreatic islets. DRS-1 was in vitro translated and the recombinant DRS-1 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The size of the in vitro translated or bacterially expressed DRS-1 protein was in agreement with the conceptually translated polypeptide of DRS-1 cDNA. Further studies are required to test whether or not DRS-1 is a new autoantigen in autoimmune diabetes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Thrombin-induced interleukin-8 production and its regulation by interferon-gamma and prostaglandin E2 in human monocytic U937 cells.

Blood coagulation and inflammation pathways are linked in many aspects. A number of serum factors involved in coagulation cascades affect directly or indirectly inflammatory responses, whereas proinflammatory cytokines influence blood coagulation pathways. In this work we demonstrated that thrombin is an effective stimulus in inducing interleukin (IL)-8 expression in human monocytic cell line U937. IL-8 induction was found at the mRNA and protein levels. The effect of thrombin on IL-8 production was mimicked by thrombin receptor-activating peptide indicating that thrombin effect was mediated by the specific receptor for thrombin. Moreover, thrombin-induced IL-8 production by U937 cells was differentially regulated by interferon (IFN)-gamma and prostaglandin (PG)E2. While IFN-gamma enhanced thrombin-induced IL-8 production, PGE2 acted as a negative regulator. Taken together, thrombin may play an important role in communication between blood coagulation and inflammation by inducing IL-8 production by monocytes and this role for thrombin may be further regulated by lymphokines and lipid mediators.

Dinoprostone↗

Natural autoantibody to galectin-9 in normal human sera.

Antibodies to certain self-antigens are detected in normal individuals as well as in patients with autoimmune diseases. Natural autoantibodies found in normal human sera are thought to act as an immune regulator, a functional controller of specific proteins, or the first-line defense against pathogenic microorganisms. In the course of screening human pancreatic islet cDNA library with human sera, we found that autoantibodies to galectin-9 and its unique isoform are present in normal healthy individuals. Galectin-9 antibody was detected in all 44 human sera tested by the immunoprecipitation assays, suggesting a widespread presence of galectin-9 autoantibodies in humans. The reactivity of the sera to galectin-9 was not inhibited by lactose or endoglycosidase treatment, indicating that the reactivity was not due to a nonspecific lectin-carbohydrate interaction. We also demonstrated by RT-PCR that galectin-9 and its isoform are expressed in a variety of human tissues such as pancreatic islets, liver, lung, and tonsils as well as HeLa and Jurkat cell lines. Thus, although it has been reported previously that human galectin-9 is expressed mainly in immune cells and tissues, the current work suggests that the expression of galectin-9 and its isoform is not tissue-restricted and natural autoantibodies against them are present in normal human sera. The significance of these autoantibodies needs to be studied further.

Adult↗

A novel variant of staphylokinase gene from Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213.

The processes of hemostasis and thrombolysis are elegantly regulated in order to ensure normal functions of vascular system. A search for new plasminogen activators as thrombolytic agents has been carried out for the purpose of clinical applications to modulate thrombolytic processes. In the current work, several strains and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were screened for the fibrinolytic activity. The DNA sequences of staphylokinase gene in the strains expressing 15 kDa protein with staphylokinase activity were determined and subsequently compared with three known staphylokinase gene sequences. From the sequence comparison a new variant of staphylokinase gene has been identified in ATCC 29213 strain. The gene product needs to be further characterized and tested for the therapeutic potential.

Amino Acid Sequence↗