• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.45 no.12
• /
• pp.935-949
• /
• 2022

Liver cancer has a high prevalence, with majority of the cases presenting as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The prognosis of metastatic HCC has hardly improved over the past decade, highlighting the necessity for liver cancer research. Studies have reported the ability of the KiSS1 gene to inhibit the growth or metastasis of liver cancer, but contradictory research results are also emerging. We, therefore, sought to investigate the effects of KiSS1 on growth and migration in human HCC cells. HepG2 human HCC cells were infected with lentivirus particles containing KiSS1. The overexpression of KiSS1 resulted in an increased proliferation rate of HCC cells. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting revealed increased Akt activity, and downregulation of the G1/S phase cell cycle inhibitors. A significant increase in tumor spheroid formation with upregulation of β-catenin and CD133 was also observed. KiSS1 overexpression promoted the migratory, invasive ability, and metastatic capacity of the hepatocarcinoma cell line, and these effects were associated with changes in the expressions of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)- related genes such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and slug. KiSS1 overexpression also resulted in dramatically increased tumor growth in the xenograft mouse model, and upregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 in the HCC tumors. Furthermore, KiSS1 increased the angiogenic capacity by upregulation of the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and CD31. Based on these observations, we infer that KiSS1 not only induces HCC proliferation, but also increases the metastatic potential by increasing the migratory ability and angiogenic capacity.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.82-88
• /
• 2001

Recently, there has been significant progress in understanding the control process of the cell division cycle. To investigate the influence of toxic substances on the cell cycle, the effect of benzo(a)pyrene (BAP) and mitomycine C (MMC) on synchronized HeLa cells was analyzed during the cell cycle. To synchronize the HeLa cells, 10$^{6}$ cells were grown for 1 day and then treated with 1 mM hydroxyurea for 14 h. The arrested cells were then allowed to proceed through their cell cycle by removing the hydroxyurea and resupplying a fresh medium. The arrested cells in the G1/S transition then proceeded to the S phase after 4 h, the G2/M phase after 8h, and the G1 phase after 12 h, subsequent to the resupply of a fresh medium. In the untreated HeLa cells, the p34$^{cdc2}$ kinase activity, measured using a p34$^{cdc2}$ specific peptide, peaked after 8h (G2/M) and then declined after 12 h (G1). However, treatment with 30 $\mu$M BAP delayed the peak of the p34$^{cdc2}$ kinase activity. The amount of p34$^{cdc2}$ remained unchanged in the untreated, BAP-, and MMC-treated cells throughout the cell cycle. The cyclin B level peaked after 8 h in the untreated cells, yet peaked after 10-12 h in the BAP-treated cells. There was no significant change in the cyclin B level in the MMC-treated cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.17
• /
• pp.7575-7582
• /
• 2015

Cyclin E, a key coordinator of the G1 to S transition in the cell cycle, may be deregulated in several malignancies, including breast cancer. The most significant aberration in cyclin E is its elastase mediated proteolytic cleavage into tumor specific low molecular weight isoforms (LMW-Es). LMW-Es are biochemically hyperactive and biologically drive tumorigenesis in transgenic mouse models. Additionally, expression of LMW-Es has been correlated with poor survival in breast cancer cases. Here we determine whether expression of LMW-Es in a breast cancer cell line that is naturally devoid of these deregulated forms would alter their progression through each phase of the cell cycle. The results revealed that LMW-Es expression resulted in an increased doubling time, concomitant with a predominant increase in the population in the S phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, downregulation of p53 in LMW-Es cells resulted in additional shortening of the doubling time and enrichment of cells in the S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Furthermore, expression of LMW-Es sensitized cells to ${\beta}$-estradiol (E2) mediated growth and changed expression patterns of estrogen receptor and Bcl-2. Intriguingly, expression of LMW-Es could surpass anti-apoptotic effects raised by p53 upregulation. Taken together these studies suggest that overexpression of LMW-Es in collaboration with p53 loss results in altered g rowth properties of MCF-7 cells, enhancing the oncogenic activity of these ER positive breast cancer cells.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.323.3-324
• /
• 2002

Histone deacetylases (HDAC) activity is associated generally with transcriptional repression. We have reported previously that apicidin. a histione deacetylase inhibitor. inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells via induction of p21 WAF/C1P1. We extended our study to identify the effect of apicidin on the expression of other cell cycle regulatory protein. such as cyclin E. a critical regulator of the transition from G1 into S phase. (omitted)

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.371-377
• /
• 2008

This paper deals with the phase analysis of $MgB_2$ bulk using spark plasma sintering process after ball milling. Mg and amorphous B powders were used as raw materials, and milled by planetary-mill for 9 hours at argon atmosphere. In order to confirm formation of $MgB_2$ phase, DTA and XRD were used. The milled powders were fabricated to $MgB_2$ bulk at the various temperatures by Spark Plasma Sintering. The fabricated $MgB_2$ bulk was evaluated with XRD, EDS, FE-SEM and PPMS. In the DTA result, reaction on formation of $MgB_2$ phase started at $340^{\circ}C$. This means that ball milling process improves reactivity on formation of $MgB_2$ phase. The $MgB_2$ MgO and FeB phases were characterized from XRD result. MgO and FeB were undesirable phases which affect formation of $MgB_2$ phase, and it's distribution could be confirmed from EDS mapping result. Spark Plasma Sintered sample for 5 min at $700^{\circ}C$ was relatively densified and it's density and transition temperature showing super conducting property were $1.87\;g/cm^3$ and 21K.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.307-311
• /
• 2011

Solid solutions of the (1-x)$BiFeO_3-xSrTiO_3$ ceramic system (x = 0~0.4) are explored here in attempts to obtain multiferroic properties in these systems. The polarization-electric field hysteresis, magnetization-magnetic field curves, and dielectric properties are also characterized. This solid-solution system shows a crystal structural transition from a noncentrosymmetric (R3c) structure to a centrosymmetric (Pm-3m) structure at 0.3 < x < 0.4. The solid solution ceramic shows unsaturated M-H behavior and low remanent magnetization over the composition region of 0.1 ${\leq}$ x ${\leq}$ 0.3. The $0.7BiFeO_3-0.3SrTiO_3$ system shows the largest value of $M_s$ at 0.17 emu/g and the smallest value of $H_c$ at 1.06 kOe. The P-E hysteresis curves were not saturated under an electric field as high as E = 70 kV/cm. This system is considered to have multiferroic characteristics in the composition range of 0.1 ${\leq}$ x ${\leq}$ 0.3.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.634-641
• /
• 2004

The photocatalytic performance of $TiO_2$ thin films coated on porous alumina balls using various aqueous $TiOCl_2$ solutions as starting precursors, to which 1.0 $mol\%$ transition metal ($Ni^{2+},\;Cr^{3+},\;Fe^{3+},\;Nb^{3+},\;and\;V^{5+}$) chlorides had been already added, has been investigated, together with characterizations for $TiO_2$ sols synthesized simultaneously in the same autoclave through hydrothermal method. The synthesized $TiO_2$ sols were all formed with an anatase phase, and their particle size was between several nm and 30 nm showing ${\zeta}-potential$ of $-25{\sim}-35$ mV, being maintained stable for over 6 months. However, the $TiO_2$ sol added with Cr had a much lower value of -potential and larger particle sizes. The coated $TiO_2$ thin films had almost the same shape and size as those of the sol. The pure $TiO_2$ sol showed the highest optical absorption in the ultraviolet light region, and other $TiO_2$ sols containing $Cr^{3+},\;Fe^{3+}\;and\;Ni^{2+}$ showed higher optical absorption than pure sol in the visible light region. According to the experiments for removal of a gas-phase benzene, the pure $TiO_2$ film showed the highest photo dissociation rate in the ultraviolet light region, but in artificial sunlight the photo dissociation rate of $TiO_2$ coated films containing $Cr^{3+},\;Fe^{3+}\;and\;Ni^{2+}$ was measured higher together with the increase of optical absorption by doping.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.38 no.12
• /
• pp.1104-1109
• /
• 2001

Samples with the nominal composition, B $i_{1.84}$P $b_{0.34}$S $r_{1.91}$C $a_{2.03}$C $u_{3.06}$ $O_{10+}$$\delta$/ high $T_{c}$ superconductors containing As as an additive were fabricated by a solid-state reaction method. Samples with Ag of 10wt%, 30 wt% and 50 wt% each were sintered at 86$0^{\circ}C$~875$^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. The structural characteristics, critical temperature and grain size with respect to Ag contents were analyzed by XRD(X-ray Diffraction) and SEM(Scanning Electron Microscope), respectively. As Ag contents increased, XRD peaks of g in Bi-2223 phase superconductors intensified and the proportion of the phase transition from Bi-2223 to Bi-2212 was increased.increased.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.594-602
• /
• 2021

The NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat family pyrin domain containing 3) inflammasome plays an important role in the initiation of inflammatory responses, through the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns and tumor progression, including tumor growth and metastasis. In this study, we examined the effects of defective NLRP3 on the growth, migration, and invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) SK-Hep1 cell. First, HCC SK-Hep1 cells were transfected with human NLRP3 targeting LentiCRISPRv2 vector using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, and NLRP3 deficiency was confirmed by RT-qPCR and western blotting. NLRP3 deficient SK-Hep1 cells showed delayed cell growth and decreased protein expression of PI3K, p-AKT, and pNF-κB when compared to NLRP3 complete SK-Hep1 cells. In addition, NLRP3 deficiency arrested the cell cycle at G1 phase through an increase in p21 and a reduction in CDK6. NLRP3 deficient SK-Hep1 cells also showed significantly delayed cell migration, invasion, and wound healing. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition signaling molecules, such as N-cadherin and MMP-9, was found to be dramatically decreased in NLRP3 deficient SK-Hep1 cells compared to NLRP3 complete SK-Hep1 cells.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.48-57
• /
• 2000

Polycaprolactone (PCL) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) blends were prepared. Mechanical properties, thermal property, water absorption, biodegradability by composting and surface morphology of PCL/TPS blends were investigated. The compositions of PCL/TPS blends were 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70, 20/80, and 10/90. Strength and elongation at break decreased as the content of TPS increased, while modulus increased. DSC thermogram of TPS showed two glass transition temperatures (T$_{g}$ ) at 23$^{\circ}C$ and 126$^{\circ}C$. And TPS proved to be an amorphous polymer because there was no endothermic peak due to the melting of starch crystal. The unchanged melting temperatures and T$_{g}$ 's of PCL/TPS blends revealed that PCL and TPS were not miscible. All of the blends were found to be mechanically compatible but phase separated in each other. After 45 days composting, the biodegradability of PCL was 44% and that of PCL/TPS blends increased as the contents of TPS increased.