Baicalein attenuates proteasome inhibition-induced apoptosis by suppressing the activation of the mitochondrial pathway and the caspase-8- and Bid-dependent pathways.

Impairment in ubiquitin-proteasome system has been shown to be implicated in the pathogenesis in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Flavonoid baicalein has demonstrated anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of baicalein on the neuronal cell death due to proteasome inhibition has not been studied. Thus, in the respect of the cell death process, we assessed the effect of baicalein on the proteasome inhibition-induced apoptosis using differentiated PC12 cells. The proteasome inhibitors MG132 and MG115 induced a decrease in Bid, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and survivin protein levels, an increase in Bax levels, loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c, activation of caspases (-8, -9 and -3), an increase in the tumor suppressor p53 levels and cleavage of PARP-1. Baicalein attenuated the proteasome inhibition-induced changes in the levels of apoptosis-related proteins, formation of reactive oxygen species, depletion of GSH, DNA damage and cell death. The results show that baicalein may attenuate the proteasome inhibition-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by suppressing the activation of the mitochondrial pathway and the caspase-8- and Bid-dependent pathways. The preventive effect appears to be attributed to its inhibitory effect on the formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH.

Casein kinase 2 inhibition attenuates cholesterol oxidation product-induced apoptosis by suppressing the activation of the mitochondrial pathway and the caspase-8- and bid-dependent pathways.

Protein casein kinase 2 is involved in signal transduction, cell growth and apoptosis. However, it is unclear whether the cholesterol oxidation product-induced cell death is regulated by casein kinase 2. Therefore, in the respect of the cell death process, we assessed the regulatory effect of the casein kinase 2 on the cholesterol oxidation product-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells using differentiated PC12 cells. Casein kinase 2 inhibitors (4,5,6,7-tetrabromobezotriazole (TBB) and apigenin) which do not have toxic effects, reduced the 7-ketocholesterol or 25-hydroxycholesterol-induced cell death and nuclear damage in PC12 cells. Treatment with TBB inhibited the 7-ketocholesterol-induced decrease in Bid, Bcl-2 and survivin protein levels, increase in Bax levels, loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytochrome c release, activation of caspases (-8, -9 and -3), cleavage of PARP-1, and increase in the tumor suppressor p53 levels. The results showed that the casein kinase 2 inhibitor at the concentrations tested which does not induce toxic effects, may attenuate the cholesterol oxidation product-induced apoptosis in differentiated PC12 cells by suppressing the activation of the mitochondrial pathway and the caspase-8- and Bid-dependent pathways. The preventive effect appears to be ascribed to its inhibitory effect on the formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH.

Rotundarpene inhibits toll-like receptor 2 activation-induced production of inflammatory mediators in keratinocytes by suppressing the Akt and NF-κB pathways.

Microbial components have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases. The extract of from the barks of Ilex rotunda Thunb has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. However, the effect of hemiterpene rotundarpene (4-caffeoyl-3-methyl-but-2-ene-1,4-diol) on the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 activation-induced production of inflammatory mediators in keratinocytes has not been studied. Using human keratinocytes, we investigated the effect of rotundarpene on the inflammatory mediator production in relation to the TLR-2-mediated-Akt and NF-κB pathways, which regulates the transcription genes involved in immune and inflammatory responses. Rotundarpene, Akt inhibitor, Bay 11-7085 and N-acetylcysteine each attenuated the lipoteichoic acid- or peptidoglycan-induced production of cytokines and chemokines, expression of TLR-2, activation of NF-κB and Akt, and formation of reactive oxygen species in keratinocytes. Cyclosporine A attenuated the bacterial component-induced production of inflammatory mediators but did not reduce the formation of reactive oxygen species. The results show that rotundarpene may attenuate the bacterial component-stimulated production of inflammatory mediators in keratinocytes by suppressing the TLR-2-mediated activation of the Akt and NF-κB pathways. The effect of rotundarpene may be attributed to its inhibitory effect on the formation of reactive oxygen species. Rotundarpene may exert a preventive effect against the bacterial component-mediated inflammatory skin diseases.

Licochalcone A enhances geldanamycin-induced apoptosis through reactive oxygen species-mediated caspase activation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Geldanamycin and licochalcone A induce apoptosis in cancer cells. However, whether the combination of geldanamycin and licochalcone A-induced apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cells is mediated by the formation of reactive oxygen species, leading to the activation of apoptotic caspase, has not been studied. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Using the human epithelial ovarian carcinoma cell lines OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3, we investigated the promoting effect of licochalcone A on geldanamycin-induced apoptosis. RESULTS: Geldanamycin induced changes in apoptosis-related protein levels, loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c, activation of caspases, cleavage of PARP-1, formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of glutathione (GSH). Licochalcone A enhanced geldanamycin-induced apoptosis-related protein activation, formation of reactive oxygen species, caspase activation and cell death. The combined effect was inhibited by the addition of oxidant scavengers. CONCLUSIONS: Licochalcone A may potentiate the apoptotic effect of geldanamycin on ovarian carcinoma cell lines by the activation of the caspase-8- and Bid-dependent pathways and the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway. The apoptosis-promoting effect of licochalcone A may be mediated by its stimulatory action on the formation of reactive oxygen species and the depletion of GSH, which results in the activation of caspases.

Quercetin-3-O-(2"-galloyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranoside prevents TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human keratinocytes by suppressing the caspase-8- and Bid-pathways and the mitochondrial pathway.

Quercetin and its derivatives have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, in human keratinocytes, compared to the reports on other toxic insults, researches on the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis that may be involved in skin diseases are rare. Furthermore, the effect of quercetin-3-O-(2"-galloyl)-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (QGR), a new quercetin derivative, on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in keratinocytes has not been studied. In this respect, we investigated the effect of QGR on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human keratinocytes. TRAIL triggers apoptosis by inducing a decrease in Bid, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and survivin protein levels, increase in Bax and VDAC1 levels, loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c, activation of caspases (-8, -9 and -3), cleavage of PARP-1, and an increase in the tumor suppressor p53 levels. Treatment with QGR prevented TRAIL-induced apoptosis-related protein activation, formation of reactive oxygen species, nuclear damage, and cell death. In contrast, quercetin induces cytotoxicity and had an additive effect on TRAIL-induced apoptosis-related protein activation and cell death. These results suggest that the QGR, unlike quercetin, may reduce TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human keratinocytes by suppressing the activation of the caspase-8- and Bid-pathways and the mitochondria-mediated cell death pathway, which is associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species. These data suggest that QGR could be effective in the prevention of TRAIL-induced apoptosis-mediated skin diseases.

3,4,5-tricaffeoylquinic Acid inhibits the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated production of inflammatory mediators in keratinocytes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Microbial product lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases. Caffeoyl derivatives have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, the effect of 3,4,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid (3,4,5-triCQA) on the production of microbial product-induced inflammatory mediators in keratinocytes has not yet been studied. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Using human keratinocytes, we investigated the effect of 3,4,5-triCQA on the LPS-stimulated production of inflammatory mediators in relation to the nuclear factor (NF)-ĸB, Akt and ERK pathways. RESULTS: 3,4,5-triCQA inhibited the LPS-induced expression of Toll-like receptor 4, and the production of cytokines and chemokines in keratinocytes. 3,4,5-triCQA, Bay 11-7085, Aĸt inhibitor and ERK inhibitor each attenuated the LPS-induced production of inflammatory mediators by inhibiting the NF-ĸB, Akt and ERK pathways. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: 3,4,5-triCQA may attenuate the LPS-stimulated production of inflammatory mediators in keratinocytes by suppressing the Toll-like receptor 4 expression-mediated activation of the Akt, ERK and NF-ĸB pathways. 3,4,5-triCQA may exert a preventive effect against microbial product-induced inflammatory skin diseases.