Differential effects of theasinensins and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate on phospholipid bilayer structure and liposomal aggregation.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCg), the major catechin responsible for the health-enhancing and disease-preventive effects of green tea, is susceptible to auto-oxidation at physiological pH levels. However, whether the oxidized EGCg resulting from its oral consumption possesses any bioactive functions remains unclear. This study presents a differential analysis of intact and oxidized EGCg regarding their interactions with phosphatidylcholine liposomes, serving as a simple biomembrane model.

Non-target GC-MS analyses of fecal VOCs in NASH-hepatocellular carcinoma model STAM mice.

The increased incidence of obesity in the global population has increased the risk of several chronic inflammation-related diseases, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The progression from NASH to HCC involves a virus-independent liver carcinogenic mechanism; however, we currently lack effective treatment and prevention strategies. Several reports have suggested that fecal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are strongly associated with NASH-HCC; therefore, we explored the biomarkers involved in its pathogenesis and progression.

Caspase-11 contributes to site-1 protease cleavage and SREBP1 activation in the inflammatory response of macrophages.

Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are key transcription factors that control fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism. As the major SREBP isoform in macrophages, SREBP1a is also required for inflammatory and phagocytotic functions. However, it is insufficiently understood how SREBP1a is activated by the innate immune response in macrophages.

Contribution of Non-Coding RNAs to Anticancer Effects of Dietary Polyphenols: Chlorogenic Acid, Curcumin, Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate, Genistein, Quercetin and Resveratrol.

Growing evidence has been accumulated to show the anticancer effects of daily consumption of polyphenols. These dietary polyphenols include chlorogenic acid, curcumin, epigallocatechin-3--gallate, genistein, quercetin, and resveratrol. These polyphenols have similar chemical and biological properties in that they can act as antioxidants and exert the anticancer effects via cell signaling pathways involving their reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging activity.

Activated cholesterol metabolism is integral for innate macrophage responses by amplifying Myd88 signaling.

Recent studies have shown that cellular metabolism is tightly linked to the regulation of immune cells. Here, we show that activation of cholesterol metabolism, involving cholesterol uptake, synthesis, and autophagy/lipophagy, is integral to innate immune responses in macrophages. In particular, cholesterol accumulation within endosomes and lysosomes is a hallmark of the cellular cholesterol dynamics elicited by Toll-like receptor 4 activation and is required for amplification of myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (Myd88) signaling.

Antitumor effect of memantine is related to the formation of the splicing isoform of GLG1, a decoy FGF‑binding protein.

Drug repositioning is a strategy for repurposing the approved or investigational drugs that are outside the scope of the original medical indication. Memantine is used as a non‑competitive ‑methyl‑D‑aspartate receptor antagonist to prevent glutamate‑mediated excitotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease, and is one of the promising agents which is utilized for the purpose of cancer therapy. However, the association between memantine and Golgi glycoprotein 1 (GLG1), an intracellular fibroblast growth factor receptor, in cancers has not yet been clarified.

Involvement of microRNA modifications in anticancer effects of major polyphenols from green tea, coffee, wine, and curry.

Epidemiological studies have shown that consumption of green tea, coffee, wine, and curry may contribute to a reduced risk of various cancers. However, there are some cancer site-specific differences in their effects; for example, the consumption of tea or wine may reduce bladder cancer risk, whereas coffee consumption may increase the risk. Animal and cell-based experiments have been used to elucidate the anticancer mechanisms of these compounds, with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based mechanisms emerging as likely candidates.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Green Tea Epigallocatchin-3-Gallate and Coffee Chlorogenic Acid.

Tea and coffee are consumed worldwide and epidemiological and clinical studies have shown their health beneficial effects, including anti-cancer effects. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) are the major components of green tea polyphenols and coffee polyphenols, respectively, and believed to be responsible for most of these effects. Although a large number of cell-based and animal experiments have provided convincing evidence to support the anti-cancer effects of green tea, coffee, EGCG, and CGA, human studies are still controversial and some studies have suggested even an increased risk for certain types of cancers such as esophageal and gynecological cancers with green tea consumption and bladder and lung cancers with coffee consumption.

SREBP1 Contributes to Resolution of Pro-inflammatory TLR4 Signaling by Reprogramming Fatty Acid Metabolism.

Macrophages play pivotal roles in both the induction and resolution phases of inflammatory processes. Macrophages have been shown to synthesize anti-inflammatory fatty acids in an LXR-dependent manner, but whether the production of these species contributes to the resolution phase of inflammatory responses has not been established. Here, we identify a biphasic program of gene expression that drives production of anti-inflammatory fatty acids 12-24 hr following TLR4 activation and contributes to downregulation of mRNAs encoding pro-inflammatory mediators.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Green Tea by Either Anti- or Pro- Oxidative Mechanisms.

Tea derived from the leaves and buds of Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) is consumed worldwide. Green tea contains various components with specific health-promoting effects, and is believed to exert protective effects against diseases including cancer, diabetes and hepatitis, as well as obesity. Of the various tea components, the polyphenol catechins have been the subject of extensive investigation and among the catechins, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate has the strongest bioactivity in most cases.

Constitutive aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling constrains type I interferon-mediated antiviral innate defense.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the toxic activity of many environmental xenobiotics. However, its role in innate immune responses during viral infection is not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that constitutive AHR signaling negatively regulates the type I interferon (IFN-I) response during infection with various types of virus.

Stimulation of macrophages with the β-glucan produced by aureobasidium pullulans promotes the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL).

A β-glucan produced by Aureobasidium pullulans (AP-PG) is consisting of a β-(1,3)-linked main chain with β-(1,6)-linked glucose side residues. Various β-glucans consisting of β-(1,3)-linked main chain including AP-PG are believed to exhibit anti-tumor activities, and actually, anti-tumor activities of AP-PG in mice have been demonstrated. In this study, we demonstrate that stimulation with AP-PG induces TRAIL expression in mouse and human macrophage-like cell lines.

Conditioned media from lung cancer cell line A549 and PC9 inactivate pulmonary fibroblasts by regulating protein phosphorylation.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating condition resulting from excess extracellular matrix deposition that leads to progressive lung destruction and scarring. In the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases, activation of myofibroblasts by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) plays a crucial role. Since no effective therapy for pulmonary fibrosis is currently recognized, finding an effective antifibrotic agent is an important objective.

ZAPS is a potent stimulator of signaling mediated by the RNA helicase RIG-I during antiviral responses.

The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) participate in many biological and pathological processes. Here we report that the PARP-13 shorter isoform (ZAPS), rather than the full-length protein (ZAP), was selectively induced by 5'-triphosphate-modified RNA (3pRNA) and functioned as a potent stimulator of interferon responses in human cells mediated by the RNA helicase RIG-I. ZAPS associated with RIG-I to promote the oligomerization and ATPase activity of RIG-I, which led to robust activation of IRF3 and NF-κB transcription factors.

Subcellular localization of human heparanase and its alternative splice variant in COS-7 cells.

Heparanase, the enzyme that degrades heparan sulfate, has been implicated to play important and characteristic roles in organogenesis, tissue organization, cell migration, and tumor metastasis. Clarification of its expression, its intracellular sorting, and its secretion is, therefore, of much importance to understand its role in cell biology. In addition to the 1.

Cytokine-rich autologous serum system for cartilaginous tissue engineering.

Animal serum used for tissue engineering approaches has unacceptable risk for contamination with infectious agents. In this study, a cytokine-rich autologous serum (CRAS) system was developed. Canine auricular chondrocytes were cultured in medium supplemented with either fetal bovine serum (FBS) or autologous canine serum, alone or supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF).

Effects of decorin on the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in a human myofibroblast cell line.

Myofibroblasts are metabolically and morphologically distinctive fibroblasts expressing alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and their activation plays a key role in development of the fibrotic response. In an activated state, myofibroblasts cease to proliferate and start to synthesize large amounts of extracellular component proteins. The expression of alpha-SMA correlates with the activation of myofibroblasts.

Oxidized LDL binding to LOX-1 upregulates VEGF expression in cultured bovine chondrocytes through activation of PPAR-gamma.

It has been reported that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors play an important role in the destruction of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis through increased production of matrix metalloproteinases. We investigated whether the oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) binding to lectin-like ox-LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) upregulates VEGF expression in cultured bovine articular chondrocytes (BACs). Ox-LDL markedly increased VEGF mRNA expression and protein release in time- and dose-dependent manners, which was significantly suppressed by anti-LOX-1 antibody pretreatment.

DNA microarray analysis of changes in gene expression induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.

Using a DNA microarray, we analyzed about 16,600 genes for changes in expression associated with the differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells induced by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (DVD). Many of the up-regulated genes could be correlated to differentiation-associated changes toward a monocyte/macrophage lineage, and many down-regulated genes could be correlated to repressed cell growth. The present study revealed the down-regulated gene expression of importins and exportins 1, 5, 7, and exportin-tRNA.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 suppresses exportin expression in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.

The active form of vitamin D3, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (DVD), is a potent inducer of cell differentiation and inhibits proliferation of cells such as human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. In the present study, we examined the effects of DVD on the expression of exportin-1 and exportin-t, which play essential roles in the transport of mRNA and tRNA, respectively. The results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated that DVD down-regulated the gene expression of these exportins.

Combined chondrocyte-copolymer implantation with slow release of basic fibroblast growth factor for tissue engineering an auricular cartilage construct.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) may have a role in tissue-engineered chondrogenesis. However, when applied in solution, b-FGF rapidly diffuses from the implant site. In another approach for tissue engineering, poly-lactide-based copolymers have shown promise as scaffolds for chondrocytes used to tissue engineer auricular cartilage in the shape of an ear.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 suppresses gene expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.

The physiologically active metabolite of vitamin D(3), 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (DVD), is a potent inducer of cell differentiation in human myeloid leukemia cells. In the present study, we examined changes in gene expression during DVD-induced cell differentiation of promyelocytic HL-60 cells employing a DNA microarray technique. The results identified 7 up-regulated and 9 down-regulated genes with a change greater than 1.

Effects of tea constituents on cell cycle progression of human leukemia U937 cells.

Tea and tea constituents are known to induce apoptosis in a variety of cancerous cells, suggesting their beneficial effects as chemopreventive agents. Previous studies have shown that low molecular weight constituent catechins and high molecular weight fractions of tea have the apoptosis-inducing activity, but that their action mechanisms may be different. Since cell cycle arrest is known to be one of the underlying mechanisms of apoptosis, we examined the effects of these tea constituents on cell cycle progression of human leukemia U937 cells.