Paraptosis is a programmed cell death which is morphologically and biochemically different from apoptosis. In this study, we have investigated the role of Ca(2+) in hesperidin-induced paraptotic cell death in HepG2 cells. Increase in mitochondrial Ca(2+) level was observed in hesperidin treated HepG2 cells but not in normal liver cancer cells. Inhibition of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3 R) and ryanodine receptor also block the mitochondrial Ca(2+) accumulation suggesting that the release of Ca(2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) may probably lead to the increase in mitochondrial Ca(2+) level. Pretreatment with ruthenium red (RuRed), a Ca(2+) uniporter inhibitor inhibited the hesperidin-induced mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload, swelling of mitochondria, and cell death in HepG2 cells. It has also been demonstrated that mitochondrial Ca(2+) influxes act upstream of ROS and mitochondrial superoxide production. The increased ROS production further leads to mitochondrial membrane loss in hesperidin treated HepG2 cells. Taken together our results show that IP3 R and ryanodine receptor mediated release of Ca(2+) from the ER and its subsequent influx through the uniporter into mitochondria contributes to hesperidin-induced paraptosis in HepG2 cells.

CCW: cavum concha width; CV: coefficient of variation; EB: ear breadth; EL: ear length; SD: standard deviation; SE: sampling error; 3D: 3 dimensional.

Citrus fruits have been used as an edible fruit and a traditional medicine since ancient times. In particular, the peels of immature citrus fruits are used widely in traditional herbal medicine in Korea, as they are believed to contain bioactive components exerting anti-inflammatory activity. This study examined whether the crude methanol extract of Citrus aurantium L. (CME) has a suppressive effect on inducible enzymes and proinflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway in LPS-stimulated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The cells were pretreated with the indicated concentrations of CME (5, 10, 20, and 50 μg/mL) and then treated with LPS (1 μg/mL). The results showed that CME (10, 20, and 50 μg/mL) inhibited the LPS- (1 μg/mL) induced mRNA and protein expression of iNOS in macrophage Raw 264.7 cells. In addition, the expression of COX-2 was inhibited at the mRNA and protein levels by CME in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, were markedly reduced by CME (10, 20, and 50 μg/mL). Moreover, CME clearly suppressed the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunits, which was correlated with its inhibitory effect on I-κB phosphorylation. These results suggest that CME has anti-inflammatory properties by modulating the expression of COX-2, iNOS, and proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells via the NF-κB pathway.

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Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi has been used as traditional medicine for treating inflammatory diseases, hepatitis, tumors, and diarrhea in Asia. Hence, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect and determined the molecular mechanism of action of flavonoids isolated from Korean S. baicalensis G. in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed to examine cytotoxicity of the flavonoids at various concentrations of 10, 40, 70, and 100 µg/mL. No cytotoxicity was observed in RAW 264.7 cells at these concentrations. Furthermore, the flavonoids decreased production of inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and inhibited phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, to identify the differentially expressed proteins in RAW 264.7 cells of the control, LPS-treated, and flavonoid-treated groups, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were conducted. The identified proteins were involved in the inflammatory response and included PRKA anchor protein and heat shock protein 70 kD. These findings suggest that the flavonoids isolated from S. baicalensis G. might have anti-inflammatory effects that regulate the expression of inflammatory mediators by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway via the MAPK signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 cells.

The face measurements of KAF pilots were collected and compared with those of Korean civilians and USAF personnel. The distinct facial features of the populations identified in this study are applicable to custom design of an oxygen mask for prevention of excessive pressure and oxygen leakage.