• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.301-317
• /
• 2022

Many studies have shown that Mg-Nd-Zn-Zr (abbreviated as JDBM) alloy has good biocompatibility and biodegradability as well as promotion of cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may play a unique role in joint tissue by controlling the function of chondrocytes, osteoblasts and synoviocytes. However, it is not clear whether the JDBM alloy induces osteochondral repair through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This study aims to verify that JDBM alloy can repair osteochondral defects in rats, which is realized by Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In this study, the osteochondral defect model of the right femoral condyle non-weight-bearing area in rats was established and randomly divided into three groups: Control group, JDBM alloy implantation group and JDBM alloy implantation combined with signaling pathway inhibitor drug ICRT3 injection. It was found that after JDBM alloy implantation, the bone volume fraction (BVF) became larger, the bone trabeculae were increased, the relative expression of osteogenesis gene Runx2, Bmp2, Opn, Ocn and chondrogenesis gene Collagen II, Aggrecan were increased, and the tissue repair was obvious by HE and Masson staining, which could be inhibited by ICRT3.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.26-30
• /
• 2015

Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway was mutated in about 90% of the sporadic and hereditary colorectal cancers. The abnormally activated ${\beta}$-catenin increases the cancer cell proliferation, differentiation and metastasis through increasing the expression of its oncogenic target genes. In this study, we identified an inhibitor of ${\beta}$-catenin dependent Wnt pathway from rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi (Compositae). The active compound was purified by activity-guided purification and the structure was identified as 2,8-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-2-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-2H-chromene (atractylochromene, AC). AC suppressed b-catenin/Tcell factor transcriptional activity of HEK-293 reporter cells when they were stimulated by Wnt3a or inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-$3{\beta}$. AC down-regulated the nuclear level of ${\beta}$-catenin through the suppression of galectin-3 mediated nuclear translocation of ${\beta}$-catenin in SW-480 colon cancer cells. Furthermore, AC inhibits proliferation of colon cancer cell. Taken together, AC from A. macrocephala might be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of human colon cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.39 no.11
• /
• pp.821-826
• /
• 2016

The ${\beta}$-catenin functions as an adhesion molecule and a component of the Wnt signaling pathway. In the absence of the Wnt ligand, ${\beta}$-catenin is constantly phosphorylated, which designates it for degradation by the APC complex. This process is one of the key regulatory mechanisms of ${\beta}$-catenin. The level of ${\beta}$-catenin is also controlled by the E3 ubiquitin protein ligase SIAH-1 via a phosphorylation-independent degradation pathway. Similar to ${\beta}$-catenin, STAT3 is responsible for various cellular processes, such as survival, proliferation, and differentiation. However, little is known about how these molecules work together to regulate diverse cellular processes. In this study, we investigated the regulatory relationship between STAT3 and ${\beta}$-catenin in HEK293T cells. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report that ${\beta}$-catenin-TCF-4 transcriptional activity was suppressed by phosphorylated STAT3; furthermore, STAT3 inactivation abolished this effect and elevated activated ${\beta}$-catenin levels. STAT3 also showed a strong interaction with SIAH-1, a regulator of active ${\beta}$-catenin via degradation, which stabilized SIAH-1 and increased its interaction with ${\beta}$-catenin. These results suggest that activated STAT3 regulates active ${\beta}$-catenin protein levels via stabilization of SIAH-1 and the subsequent ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of ${\beta}$-catenin in HEK293T cells.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.7
• /
• pp.947-954
• /
• 2013

The Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling network that is critical for embryonic development and adult tissue maintenance. In addition, aberrant activation of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling is implicated in the formation of various human diseases, including cancers. Thus, study of the underlying molecular mechanism of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling regulation is important to understand and treat diseases. Inhibition of aberrant Wnt pathway activity in cancer cell lines efficiently blocks their growth, highlighting the great potential of therapeutics designed to achieve this in cancer patients. Recently, protein kinases have emerged as key regulating components of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling. In this review, we provide the most recent information on Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling, describe protein kinases involved in Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling, and discuss their potential as drug targets.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.44 no.8
• /
• pp.557-568
• /
• 2021

Global knockout of the BK channel has been proven to affect bone formation; however, whether it directly affects osteoblast differentiation and the mechanism are elusive. In the current study, we further investigated the role of BK channels in bone development and explored whether BK channels impacted the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts via the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Our findings demonstrated that knockout of Kcnma1 disrupted the osteogenesis of osteoblasts and inhibited the stabilization of β-catenin. Western blot analysis showed that the protein levels of Axin1 and USP7 increased when Kcnma1 was deficient. Together, this study confirmed that BK ablation decreased bone mass via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our findings also showed that USP7 might have the ability to stabilize the activity of Axin1, which would increase the degradation of β-catenin in osteoblasts.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.435-446
• /
• 2022

The present study evaluated the anti-cancer activity of histone deacetylase (HDAC)-inhibiting CKD-581 in multiple myeloma (MM) and its pharmacological mechanisms. CKD-581 potently inhibited a broad spectrum of HDAC isozymes. It concentration-dependently inhibited proliferation of hematologic cancer cells including MM (MM.1S and RPMI8226) and T cell lymphoma (HH and MJ). It increased the expression of the dishevelled binding antagonist of β-catenin 3 (DACT3) in T cell lymphoma and MM cells, and decreased the expression of c-Myc and β-catenin in MM cells. Additionally, it enhanced phosphorylated p53, p21, cleaved caspase-3 and the subG1 population, and reversely, downregulated cyclin D1, CDK4 and the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family. Finally, administration of CKD-581 exerted a significant anti-cancer activity in MM.1S-implanted xenografts. Overall, CKD-581 shows anticancer activity via inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in hematologic malignancies. This finding is evidence of the therapeutic potential and rationale of CKD-581 for treatment of MM.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.465-472
• /
• 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant type of cancers and its incidence is steadily increasing, due to life style factors that include western diet. Abnormal activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Therefore, targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been considered a crucial strategy in the discovery of small molecules for CRC. In the present study, we found that Nodosin, an ent-kaurene diterpenoid isolated from Isodon serra, effectively inhibits the proliferation of human colon cancer HCT116 cells. Mechanistically, Nodosin effectively inhibited the overactivated transcriptional activity of β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF) determined by Wnt/β-catenin reporter gene assay in HEK293 and HCT116 cells. The expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes such as Axin2, cyclin D1, and survivin were also suppressed by Nodosin in HCT116 cells. Further study revealed that a longer exposure of Nodosin induced the G₂/M phase cell cycle arrest and subsequently apoptosis in HCT116 cells. These findings suggest that the anti-proliferative activity of Nodosin in colorectal cancer cells might in part be associated with the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.68-75
• /
• 2021

Objectives: The hair follicle is composed of more than 20 kinds of cells, and mesoderm derived dermal papilla cells and keratinocytes cooperatively contribute hair growth via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We are to investigate β-catenin expression and regulatory mechanism by CBD in alopecia hair tissues and dermal papilla cells. Methods: We performed structural and anatomical analyses on alopecia patients derived hair tissues using microscopes. Pharmacological effect of CBD was evaluated by β-catenin expression using RT-PCR and immunostaining experiment. Results: Morphological deformation and loss of cell numbers in hair shaft were observed in alopecia hair tissues. IHC experiment showed that loss of β-catenin expression was shown in inner shaft of the alopecia hair tissues, indicating that β-catenin expression is a key regulatory function during alopecia progression. Consistently, β-catenin expression was decreased in testosterone or PMA treated dermal papilla cells, suggesting that those treatments are referred as a model on molecular mechanism of alopecia using dermal papilla cells. RT-PCR and immunostaining experiments showed that β-catenin expression was decreased in RNA level, as well as decreased β-catenin protein might be resulted from ubiquitination. However, CBD treatment has no changes in gene expression including β-catenin, but the decreased β-catenin expression by testosterone or PMA was restored by CBD pretreatment, suggesting that potential regulatory effect on alopecia induction of testosterone and PMA. Conclusion: CBD might have a modulating function on alopecia caused by hormonal or excess of signaling pathway, and be a promising application for on alopecia treatment.

• The Zoological Society Korea : Newsletter
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.16-25
• /
• 2001

Wnt signaling의 주요 분자인 $\beta$-catenin의 기능과 조절에 관한 연구, 특히 TCF family 단백질과 함께 작용하는 신호전달에 관한 연구가 최근에 활발히 진행되고 있다. $\beta$-catenin 단백질은 Drosophila나 Xenopus의 발생초기에 중요한 역할을 한다는 것이 알려져 있고 Wnt (Wingless) 단백질에 의하여 활성화되는 신호전달 과정에 관여한다고 알려져 있으므로, TCF 단백질들이 Wnt signalling pathway에 작용한다는 것을 의미한다. 즉, $\beta$-catenin/TCF complex는 발생초기의 세포의 운명을 결정하는 세포의 분화에 중요하리라 생각된다. 또한 $\beta$-catenin/TCF complex는 세포의 암화에도 중요하다는 것이 보고되었다. 정상세포의 경우, $\beta$-catenin은 APC 라는 tumor suppressor에 의하여 결합하고 단백질의 분해가 유도되어 핵 안의 TCF와 결합하지 못하는데, 암세포의 경우 APC가 결실되었거나 $\beta$-catenin의 양이 과도하게 발현되어 암세포화 되는 것으로 보인다. 즉, $\beta$-catenin은 일종의 oncogene으로 작용하는 단백질이며, 그 작용에 필수적인 전사인자가 TCF라는 것이다. 특히, 대장암세포에서 이 $\beta$-catenin/TCF complex에 의해 활성화되는 유전자로서 c-myc과 cyclin Dl 등이 있는 것으로 보아, $\beta$-catenin/TCF 단백질은 세포의 증식 및 사멸에 관여하는 단백질들의 발현을 조절하는 매우 중요한 인자라고 생각된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.475-482
• /
• 2020

Background: Active natural ingredients, especially small molecules, have recently received wide attention as modifiers used to treat neurodegenerative disease by promoting neurogenic regeneration of neural stem cell (NSC) in situ. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), one of the bioactive ingredients in ginseng, possesses neuroprotective properties. However, the effect of PPD on NSC proliferation and differentiation and its mechanism of action are incompletely understood. Methods: In this study, we investigated the impact of PPD on NSC proliferation and neuronal lineage differentiation through activation of the Wnt/glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β/β-catenin pathway. NSC migration and proliferation were investigated by neurosphere assay, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and EdU assay. NSC differentiation was analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Involvement of the Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway was examined by molecular simulation and Western blot and verified using gene transfection. Results: PPD significantly promoted neural migration and induced a significant increase in NSC proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a remarkable increase in anti-microtubule-associated protein 2 expression and decrease in nestin protein expression were induced by PPD. During the differentiation process, PPD targeted and stimulated the phosphorylation of GSK-3β at Ser9 and the active forms of β-catenin, resulting in activation of the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. Transfection of NSCs with a constitutively active GSK-3β mutant at S9A significantly hampered the proliferation and neural differentiation mediated by PPD. Conclusion: PPD promotes NSC proliferation and neural differentiation in vitro via activation of the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway by targeting GSK-3β, potentially having great significance for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.