Radio-Protective Effects of Octopus ocellatus Meat Consisted of a Plentiful Taurine Against Damages Caused by Gamma Ray Irradiation

Gamma ray irradiation causes immune suppressive responses by inducing oxidative stress such as reduction of cell viability and damages in immune cells. In this present study, we investigated whether Octopus ocellatus meet (OM) consisted of a plentiful taurine has protective effects against damages caused by oxidative stress in murine splenocytes. First of all, we prepared the aqueous extract from OM (OMA) and identified it contained a plentiful taurine content. The result also showed that OMA exhibited the antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH and ABTS+ radicals and hydrogen peroxide. In addition, OMA improved the cell viability without cytotoxicity in gamma ray-irradiated murine splenocytes. Moreover, OMA significantly reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in gamma ray-irradiated splenocytes. In further study, we identified that OMA protected zebrafish embryo via improving the reduced survival rate and decreasing the formation of deformity caused by the exposure of gamma ray irradiation. Also, OMA decreased the production of NO and ROS in gamma ray-irradiated zebrafish embryos as well as the induction of cell death. In these results, this study suggests that the consumption of taurine-rich foods, such as O. ocellatus, may be useful for the useful material for the protection against oxidative stress.

Protective Effects of An Enzymatic Hydrolysate from Octopus ocellatus Meat against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in Chang Liver Cells and Zebrafish Embryo

Octopus ocellatus, a marine cephalopod distributed in the coast of South Korea, China, Japan and tropical sea, contains high amounts of taurine. In this study, an enzymatic hydrolysate obtained from O. ocellatus meat was evaluated for its antioxidant effects using a human liver cell line and zebrafish embryo model. Enzymatic hydrolysates of the O. ocellatus meat (OOM) were prepared using six different enzymes. Among the enzymatic hydrolysates, Alcalase hydrolysate of OOM (OOMAH) showed the highest scavenging effects against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Moreover, it showed a high oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). OOMAH treatment effectively reduced the hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage. OOMAH reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H2O2-treated hepatocytes without cytotoxicity. Furthermore, OOMAH improved the survival rate and reduced the intracellular ROS levels in H2O2-treated zebrafish embryos. Compositional analysis of amino acids indicated a high content of taurine in OOMAH. Current results suggest that OOMAH possesses antioxidant bioactivities and could provide protective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, OOMAH might be used as a potential resource of functional foods.

Protective Effects of An Water Extracts Prepared from Loliolus beka Gray Meat Against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Chang Liver Cells and Zebrafish Embryo Model

In this study, we first evaluated protective effects of Loliolus beka in a human liver cell line and zebrafish embryo model with its anti-oxidant activity. First, we prepared the water extract from L. beka meat (LBMW) at room temperature for 24 h and revealed it consisted of a rich taurine. LBMW exhibited the scavenging effects against 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as well as the high value of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Also, the hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage was dose-dependently reduced by the treatment of LBMW. In addition, LBMW showed no cytotoxicity and reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H2O2-treated hepatocytes. Moreover, LBMW regulated the expression of an anti-apoptotic molecule, Bcl-2 and the expression of pro-apoptotic molecules, Bax and PARP in H2O2-treated hepatocytes as well as the increment of antioxidant mediated-HO-1 and Nrf2 protein expression. In further study, LBMW improved the survival rate and decreased the production of ROS in H2O2-treated zebrafish embryo model. Therefore, our results suggest that Loliolus beka has protective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and may be used as a potential source for functional foods.

Xylose-Taurine Reduced Suppresses the Inflammatory Responses in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Raw264.7 Macrophages

Here, the anti-inflammatory effect of Xylose-Taurine reduced (X-T-R), a taurine derivate was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. X-T-R reduced the generations of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induced by the stimulation of LPS in RAW 264.7 by suppressing the protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 known as inflammatory mediators. Also, X-R-T reduced the expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). Moreover, X-T-R inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and the phosphorylation of inhibitor κB (IκB)-α. In conclusion, these results first indicate that X-T-R inhibits LPS-induced inflammation by regulating the NF-κB signal pathway in macrophages.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Xylose-Taurine Reduced Against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in Cultured Hepatocytes

In this study, Xylose-Taurine reduced (X-T-R) was synthesized to enhance biological activities. Hence, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of X-T-R against H2O2-induced hepatocyte damage and apoptosis. The results showed that X-T-R led to the cytoprotective effect against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in cultured hepatocytes such as the improvement of cell viability and the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Additionally, pre-treatment with X-T-R increased the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase:quinone 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in cultured hepatocytes. Furthermore, X-T-R protected the cells against apoptosis via regulating the expression level of Bcl-2/Bax as well as the activation of caspase-3. According to the results obtained, X-T-R may be a bio-material for the therapy of hepatic diseases.

Protective Effects of Xylose-Taurine Reduced against Damages Caused by Oxidative Stress in Zebrafish Embryos In Vivo Model

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is useful and convenient vertebrate models in various studies in human disease and drug discovery. In this present study, we first evaluated whether Xylose-Taurine reduced (X-T-R), a taurine derivate protects zebrafish embryos against oxidative stress caused by AAPH (2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride). First of all, we selected the concentration of X-T-R showing no toxicity in zebrafish embryos. We identified that X-T-R significantly increased the survival of zebrafish embryo reduced by treatment of AAPH. Also, X-T-R effectively inhibited the productions of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) as well as the formation of cell death in zebrafish embryos. Moreover, X-T-R down-regulated the expression levels of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9 and p53 known as pro-apoptotic molecules, whereas up-regulated those of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic molecule in AAPH-treated zebrafish embryos. From these results, this study reveals that X-T-R, a taurine derivate might be a potential protector against various damages caused by oxidative stress.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Galactose-Taurine Sodium Salt in LPS-Activated RAW 264.7 Cells

In this study, we synthesized Galactose-Taurine sodium salt (G-T) as a functional food ingredient to enhance biological activities of taurine. Also, anti-inflammatory effects of G-T were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. G-T found to reduce the generations of the LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) via down-regulating the expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Also, G-T reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Finally, we identified that G-T inhibits the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and the phosphorylation of inhibitor κB (IκB)-α. From these results, this study first suggests that G-T could be considered as an effective anti-inflammatory agent.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Galactose-Taurine Sodium Salt: A Taurine Derivate in Zebrafish In Vivo Model

Taurine, the plentiful amino acids in mammalian cells exerts various biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation can cause several diseases such as cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and immune system reactions. Here, we investigated anti-inflammatory effects of Galactose-Taurine sodium salt (Gal-Tau), a newly synthesized taurine derivate in LPS-stimulated zebrafish embryos in vivo model. The result showed that Gal-Tau improved the survival rate and the edema in LPS-treated zebrafish embryos. Also, Gal-Tau effectively reduced the productions of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death induced by LPS in zebrafish embryos. In addition, Gal-Tau regulated the expression levels of inflammatory mediators such as inducible NOS (iNOS) and cycloxygenase 2 (COX-2) as well as IL-6 and TNF-α, inflammatory cytokines known as important key mediators of inflammation. Taken together, this study first indicates that Gal-Tau could be considered as an effective anti-inflammatory material with its anti-inflammatory activity.

Increased and correlated nuclear factor-kappa B and Ku autoantigen activities are associated with development of multidrug resistance

In this study, we investigated possible engagement of NF-kappaB and Ku autoantigen (Ku) activation in development of multidrug resistance (MDR) and circumvention of MDR by modulation of NF-kappaB and Ku. The NF-kappaB activity and NF-kappaB p65 subunit level were constitutively higher in MDR cells than in drug-sensitive parental cells. Interestingly, a faster running NF-kappaB DNA binding complex was identified as Ku, a DNA damage sensor and a key double strand break repair protein, and was positively correlated with the NF-kappaB activity in MDR cells and Ku- or both subunits of NF-kappaB-transfected cells. Also both NF-kappaB and Ku activities were activated or inhibited by treatment with etoposide (VP-16) or MG-132 (a proteasome inhibitor), respectively. Furthermore, PKA inhibitor suppressed markedly the constitutive and drug-induced activities of NF-kappaB and Ku in MDR cells and subsequently potentiated the cytotoxic activity of anticancer drugs. Our results proposed that the NF-kappaB and Ku activation could be one of multi-factorial MDR mechanism, and PKA inhibitor, likely via inhibition of NF-kappaB and Ku activities, could enhance the effectiveness of anticancer drugs against MDR cells with high activities of NF-kappaB and Ku.

Antiapoptotic role of NF-kappaB in the auto-oxidized dopamine-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells

Current concepts of the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) center on the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and dopamine has been considered to be a major source of ROS. Recently, it has been shown in a postmortem study that nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) was observed in dopaminergic neurons of patient with PD. However, its role is not known. The present study examined the possible role of NF-kappaB in ODA (auto-oxidized dopamine)-induced apoptosis to understand the process of PD. Using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay, it was found that ODA activated the DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB. Suppression of the transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB in PC12 cells by overexpression of a wild-type and a dominant negative mutant form (S32A/S36A) of inhibitor kappa B (IkappaB)-alpha led to increase of apoptotic cell death induced by treatment of ODA. In addition, overexpression of NF-kappaB in PC12 cells blocked ODA-induced cell death. However, JNK/SAPK activities, which mediate various stress signals, were similar among the parental, NF-kappaB- or dominant negative mutant IkappaB alpha-transfected cells. Therefore, these results suggest that activation of NF-kappaB during ODA-induced apoptosis may have a counteracting activity against the signals mediating apoptotic cell death and thereby delay the process of Parkinson's disease.

Potentiation of chemosensitivity in multidrug-resistant human leukemia CEM cells by inhibition of DNA-dependent protein kinase using wortmannin

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is activated by DNA strand breaks and participates in DNA repair. Its regulatory subunit, Ku autoantigen, binds to DNA and recruits the catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs). We show here a new role of DNA-PK in the development of multidrug resistance (MDR). The Ku-DNA binding activity, the levels of Ku70/Ku80 and DNA-PKcs in MDR variants, CEM/VLB(10-2), CEM/VLB(55-8) and CEM/VLB100 were higher than those in their parental drug-sensitive CEM cells in a drug resistance-dependent fashion. Also, CEM/VLB100 cells showed about 3-fold increase of DNA-PK enzyme activity as compared with CEM cells. Similar results were observed in another MDR cell line, FM3A/M mouse mammary carcinoma cells. Moreover, we observed that CEM/VLB100 cells were about 11-fold sensitive to wortmannin, which inhibits DNA-PK, compared with the CEM cells, and sensitized the MDR cells when combined with either bleomycin or vincristine, but have a little effect on CEM cells. Wortmannin was shown to inhibit DNA-PK and Ku-DNA binding activity in CEM/VLB100 cells dose dependently but had a little or no effect on their parental cells. Our results suggested that enhanced expression of DNA-PK participates in the development of MDR, and the use of DNA-PK inhibitors such as wortmannin is likely to improve the effectiveness of anticancer drugs and thus could partially overcome drug resistance in MDR cells, through its ability to inhibit Ku/DNA-PK activity.

Involvement of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase pathway in differential regulation of heat shock proteins by anticancer drugs

In the present study, we examined the modulation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) activity and expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) after exposure to anticancer drugs. Anticancer drugs induced HSF1 DNA-binding activity, and this was followed by an increase of mitochondrial HSP75 and HSP60 levels and concurrent decrease of cytoplasmic HSP70 levels. Unlike heat shock-induced full phosphorylation, HSF1 was partially phosphorylated after exposure to vincristine, and this result was tightly correlated with the kinetics of JNK/SAPK activation, and up-regulation of mitochondrial HSP75 level and concurrent down-regulation of HSP70. Furthermore, the dominant-negative mutant of SEK1 blocked the phosphorylation of HSF1 and up-regulation of mitochondrial HSP75 in response to vincristine or vinblastine. These data suggest that anticancer drugs regulate the HSF1 transcriptional activity differently from heat shock, and JNK/SAPK pathway appears to be involved in anticancer drug-induced HSF1 phosphorylation and consequently differential regulation of mitochondrial HSP75 and HSP60 and cytoplasmic HSP70.