DRG2 in macrophages is crucial for initial inflammatory response and protection against Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Innate immune response is critical for the control of Listeria monocytogenes infection. Here, we identified developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2) in macrophages as a major regulator of the innate immune response against L. monocytogenes infection.

Mesoporous silica shell-coated single gold nanorods as multifunctional orientation probes in dynamic biological environments.

Mesoporous silica shell-coated gold nanorods (AuNRs@mSiO) can be employed as promising multifunctional orientation probes in biological studies owing to their anisotropic optical properties, enhanced stability, excellent biocompatibility, In this study, the optical properties of single AuNRs@mSiO are characterized under dark-field and differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. Furthermore, we presented polarization-dependent, periodic DIC images and intensities of single AuNRs@mSiO at their localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength and investigated their use as multifunctional orientation probes in dynamic biological environments. Moreover, the real-time rotational motions of the AuNRs@mSiO on the HeLa cell membranes were tracked with millisecond temporal resolution.

Capsaicin suppresses liver fat accumulation in high-fat diet-induced NAFLD mice.

Dietary capsaicin exhibits anti-steatosis activity in obese mice. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced mice is a highly studied approach to develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we determined whether the topical application of capsaicin can improve lesions of NAFLD.

DRG2 knockdown induces Golgi fragmentation via GSK3β phosphorylation and microtubule stabilization.

The perinuclear stacks of the Golgi apparatus maintained by dynamic microtubules are essential for cell migration. Activation of Akt (protein kinase B, PKB) negatively regulates glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β)-mediated tau phosphorylation, which enhances tau binding to microtubules and microtubule stability. In this study, experiments were performed on developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2)-stably knockdown HeLa cells to determine whether knockdown of DRG2 in HeLa cells treated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) affects microtubule dynamics, perinuclear Golgi stacking, and cell migration.

DRG2 Deficiency Causes Impaired Microtubule Dynamics in HeLa Cells.

The developmentally regulated GTP binding protein 2 (DRG2) is involved in the control of cell growth and differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that DRG2 regulates microtubule dynamics in HeLa cells. Analysis of live imaging of the plus-ends of microtubules with EB1-EGFP showed that DRG2 deficiency (shDRG2) significantly reduced the growth rate of HeLa cells.

DRG2 Regulates G2/M Progression via the Cyclin B1-Cdk1 Complex.

Developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2) plays an important role in cell growth. Here we explored the linkage between DRG2 and G2/M phase checkpoint function in cell cycle progression. We observed that knockdown of DRG2 in HeLa cells affected growth in a wound-healing assay, and tumorigenicity in nude mice xenografts.

Capsaicin suppresses the migration of cholangiocarcinoma cells by down-regulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression via the AMPK-NF-κB signaling pathway.

Cholangiocarcinoma is one of the most difficult malignancies to cure. An important prognostic factor is metastasis, which precludes curative surgical resection. Recent evidence shows that capsaicin has an inhibitory effect on cancer cell migration and invasion.

CRIg signals induce anti-intracellular bacterial phagosome activity in a chloride intracellular channel 3-dependent manner.

Macrophages provide a first line of defense against bacterial infection by engulfing and killing invading bacteria, but intracellular bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes (LM) can survive in macrophages by various mechanisms of evasion. Complement receptor of the immunoglobulin (CRIg), a C3b receptor, binds to C3b on opsonized bacteria and facilitates clearance of the bacteria by promoting their uptake. We found that CRIg signaling induced by agonistic anti-CRIg mAb enhanced the killing of intracellular LM by macrophages, and that this occurred in LM-containing phagosomes.

Investigations on the photoregulation of chloroplast movement and leaf positioning in Arabidopsis.

We recently investigated the roles of the phototropin 1 (PHOT1) LOV (light, oxygen or voltage) domains in mediating phototropic curvature in transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings expressing either wild-type PHOT1 or PHOT1 with one or both LOV domains inactivated by a single amino acid replacement. We have now investigated the role of the PHOT1 LOV domains in chloroplast movement and in leaf positioning in response to blue light. Low fluence rate blue light is known to mediate a chloroplast accumulation response and high fluence rate blue light an avoidance response in Arabidopsis leaves.

Capsaicin induces apoptosis of cisplatin-resistant stomach cancer cells by causing degradation of cisplatin-inducible Aurora-A protein.

Various chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin have been used to treat gastric cancer. However, a substantial number of patients acquire resistance to this treatment, and this is followed by rapid relapse of the disease. We investigated the anticancer effect of capsaicin, the active ingredient in red pepper, in the cisplatin-resistant Korean human gastric cancer cell line SNU-668.

Dietary capsaicin reduces obesity-induced insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in obese mice fed a high-fat diet.

Obesity-induced inflammation contributes to the development of obesity-related metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we investigated whether dietary capsaicin can reduce obesity-induced inflammation and metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. Male C57BL/6 obese mice fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks received a supplement of 0.

Molecular cloning and expression of the trichoderma harzianum C4 endo-beta-1,4-Xylanase Gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

An endo-beta-1,4-xylanase (beta-xylanase) from Trichoderma harzianum C4 was purified without cellulase activity by sequential chromatographies. The specific activity of the purified enzyme preparation was 430 units/mg on D-xylan. The complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding beta-xylanase (xynII) was amplified by PCR and isolated from cDNA PCR libraries constructed from T.

In vitro development of a hemangioblast from a human embryonic stem cell, SNUhES#3.

Aims: Recent reports demonstrated that a hemangioblast population emerged during hematopoietic development in both mouse and human embryonic stem cell (hESC) differentiation cultures.

Main Methods: In this study, a new uncharacterized hESC line, SNUhES#3, was studied for its capacity to proliferate with STO cells and differentiate into hemangioblasts in co-culture with OP9 cells.

Key Findings: We were able to obtain CD34(+)CD45(-) cells from SNUhES#3 cells after 12 days of in vitro culture, and this cell population could be maximized to 12.

Capsaicin induces apoptosis by generating reactive oxygen species and disrupting mitochondrial transmembrane potential in human colon cancer cell lines.

Although genetic factors are a well-known cause of colorectal cancer, environmental factors contribute more to its development. Despite advances in the fields of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the cure rates for colon cancer have not substantially improved over the past few decades. Capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide), the principal pungent ingredient of hot chili pepper, has exhibited an anti-tumor effect in many cell types.

Chemokine and chemokine receptor gene expression in the mesenteric adipose tissue of KKAy mice.

Objective: To investigate chemokines and their receptors gene expression in the intra-abdominal adipose tissue of diabetic/obese mice.

Methods: KKAy mice were fed either by a high-fat diet (HFD) or a low-fat diet (LFD) and obese characteristics were analyzed. Various adipose tissues were isolated from HFD-fed obese KKAy mice and from obese controls.

Phytochrome A regulates the intracellular distribution of phototropin 1-green fluorescent protein in Arabidopsis thaliana.

It has been known for decades that red light pretreatment has complex effects on subsequent phototropic sensitivity of etiolated seedlings. Here, we demonstrate that brief pulses of red light given 2 h prior to phototropic induction by low fluence rates of blue light prevent the blue light-induced loss of green fluorescent protein-tagged phototropin 1 (PHOT1-GFP) from the plasma membrane of cortical cells of transgenic seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana expressing PHOT1-GFP in a phot1-5 null mutant background. This red light effect is mediated by phytochrome A and requires approximately 2 h in the dark at room temperature to go to completion.

Capsaicin, a spicy component of hot peppers, modulates adipokine gene expression and protein release from obese-mouse adipose tissues and isolated adipocytes, and suppresses the inflammatory responses of adipose tissue macrophages.

Adipokines are involved in the obesity-induced chronic inflammatory response that plays a crucial role in the development of obesity-related pathologies such as type II diabetes and atherosclerosis. We here demonstrate that capsaicin, a naturally occurring phytochemical, can suppress obesity-induced inflammation by modulating adipokine release from and macrophage behavior in obese mice adipose tissues. Capsaicin inhibited the expressions of IL-6 and MCP-1 mRNAs and protein release from the adipose tissues and adipocytes of obese mice, whereas it enhanced the expression of the adiponectin gene and protein.

Steric interactions stabilize the signaling state of the LOV2 domain of phototropin 1.

Phototropins (phot1 and phot2) are blue light receptor kinases that control a range of photoresponses that serve to optimize the photosynthetic efficiency of plants. Light sensing by the phototropins is mediated by a repeated motif at the N-terminal region of the protein known as the LOV domain. Bacterially expressed LOV domains bind flavin mononucleotide noncovalently and are photochemically active in solution.

Capsaicin promotes the development of burst-forming units--erythroid (BFU-E) from mouse bone marrow cells.

Capsaicin, the pungent component of chilli peppers, is known to induce mediators of hematopoiesis. We investigated the effect of capsaicin on hematopoiesis in mouse progenitor cells. Treatment of mouse bone marrow cells with capsaicin induced the formation of colony of burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E).

CKbeta8-1 alters expression of cyclin E in colony forming units-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) lineage from human cord blood CD34+ cells.

A C6 beta-chemokine, CKbeta8-1, suppressed the colony formation of CD34+ cells of human cord blood (CB). Molecular mechanisms involved in CKbeta8-1-medicated suppression of colony formation of CD34+ cells are not known. To address this issue, the level of various G1/S cell cycle regulating proteins in CKbeta8-1-treated CD34+ cells were compared with those in untreated CD34+ cells.

Capsaicin, a spicy component of hot pepper, induces apoptosis by activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in HT-29 human colon cancer cells.

Capsaicin (N-vanillyl-8-methyl-alpha-nonenamide), a spicy component of hot pepper, is a homovanillic acid derivative that preferentially induces certain cancer cells to undergo apoptosis and has a putative role in cancer chemoprevention. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma(PPARgamma), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a ligand-dependent transcription factor. PAPRgamma activation results in growth arrest and/or apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells.

Mefenamic acid-induced apoptosis in human liver cancer cell-lines through caspase-3 pathway.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have anti-proliferative effects and induce apoptosis in colon and other cancers. In the present study, we report that mefenamic acid (MEF), a member of NSAIDs, has an inhibitory effect on a proliferation of liver cancer cells. We used Chang and Huh-7 cells as human liver cancer cells.