Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling of the adipose tissue plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of obesity. The lysyl oxidase (LOX) family of amine oxidases, including LOX and LOX-like (LOXL) isoenzymes, controls ECM maturation, and upregulation of LOX activity is essential in fibrosis; however, its involvement in adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity is unclear. In this study, we obse...

OBJECTIVE Hypercholesterolemia induces endothelial dysfunction, a hallmark of the atherosclerotic process, modulating the expression of key genes in vascular endothelial cells. METHODS AND RESULTS By differential display analysis, we have studied the effect of high concentrations of native low density lipoprotein (LDL) on endothelial gene expression. mRNA levels of lysyl oxidase (LOX), an enz...

The role of lipoxygenase (lox) in senescence of Alstroemeria peruviana flowers was investigated using a combination of in vitro assays and chemical profiling of the lipid oxidation products generated. Phospholipids and galactolipids were extensively degraded during senescence in both sepals and petals and the ratio of saturated/unsaturated fatty acids increased. Lox protein levels and enzymatic...

We investigated a total of 335 samples of Korean native mushroom extracts as part of our lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor screening program. Among the mushroom-methanolic extracts we investigated, 35 exhibited an inhibitory activity greater than 30% against LOX at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. Especially, Collybia maculata, Tylopilus neofelleus, Strobilomyces confusus, Phellinus gilvus, P. linteus,...

LOX-1, a receptor for ox-LDL (oxidized low-density lipoprotein), has recently been determined to play a critical role in the progression of atherosclerosis. LOX-1 expression (mRNA and protein) has been shown to be up-regulated by pro-atherogenic stimuli, such as ox-LDL and Ang II (angiotensin II). However, the molecular mechanisms of these up-regulations are unclear. In the present study, we ex...

Connective tissue components--collagen types I, III and IV--surrounding the ovarian follicles undergo drastic changes during ovulation. Abnormal collagen synthesis and increased volume and density of ovarian stroma characterize the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). During the ovulatory process, collagen synthesis is regulated by prolyl hydroxylase and lysyl oxidase (LOX) activity in ovarian fol...

Lysyl oxidase (LOX), an extracellular amine oxidase, catalyzes the cross-linking of collagen and elastin. LOX has been also shown to play an essential role in promoting the invasive and metastatic potential of breast tumor cells. However, the LOX-interacting factors in these processes are not known. In this study, we identified placental lactogen (PL), a member of the growth hormone/prolactin h...

STAT3 is a ubiquitous transcription factor that is indispensable during early embryogenesis. To study the functions of STAT3 postnatally, we generated conditional STAT3-deficient mice. To that end, STAT3(lox/lox) mice were crossed with mice expressing Cre under the control of rat insulin II gene promoter (RIP-Cre mice). Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses showed that STAT3 is deleted ...

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-2 inhibitors bind to COX-2 and provide relief from the symptoms of pain and inflammation. However, they lack anti-thrombotic activity and hence lead to cardiovascular and renal liabilities apart from gastrointestinal irritation. J Martel-Pelletier et al. reported that dual 5-LOX/COX inhibitors are potential new drugs to treat inflammation. They act ...

The inhibition of voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv) plays an important role in the cerebral hypoxiainduced cell death. The activity of Kv can be inhibited by 15-hydroxyeicosatetrienoic acid (15-HETE). Therefore, as the key enzyme which catalyzed the formation of 15-HETE, 15-LOX may be involved in Kv inhibition induced by cerebral hypoxia. In our study, Wistar rats cerebral arterial smooth m...