• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.599-611
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Hwanggi-tang on glucose digestion, uptake, and metabolism in murine C2C12 myotubes. Methods: Hwanggi-tang was prepared according to the Dong-ui-bo-gam (≪東醫寶鑑≫) prescription by 70% ethanol extraction. The effect on glucose digestion was examined by determining the inhibitory effect of Hwanggi-tang on α-glucosidase activity. We also compared and verified the gene and protein expression of genes related to glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes treated with Hwanggi-tang or insulin. Glucose metabolism was assessed by the expression levels of associated enzymes. Results: Hwanggi-tang caused a dose-dependent inhibition of α-glucosidase activity, induced glucose uptake by activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in the insulin signaling pathway, and promoted glucose oxidation and β-oxidation. Conclusions: Hwanggi-tang exerts an anti-diabetic effect on murine myotubes by inhibiting glucose digestion and inducing glucose uptake and consumption.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.402-410
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• 2010

Although the overproduction of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in intestinal epithelial cells has been considered to be highly correlated with the colorectal carcinogenesis, the precise mechanism of action remains poorly elucidated. Accumulating evidence suggests that the PGE receptor (EP)-mediated signal transduction pathway might play an important role in this process. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of action underlying $PGE_2$-mediated cell proliferation and the effect of resveratrol on the proliferation of human colon cancer cells in terms of the modulating $PGE_2$-mediated signaling pathway. $PGE_2$ stimulated the proliferation of several human colon cancer cells and activated growth-stimulatory signal transduction, including Akt and ERK. $PGE_2$ also increased the phosphorylation of GSK-$3{\beta}$, the translocation of ${\beta}$-catenin into the nucleus, and the expressions of c-myc and cyclin D1. Resveratrol, a cancer chemopreventive phytochemical, however, inhibited $PGE_2$-induced growth stimulation and also suppressed $PGE_2$-mediated signal transduction, as well as ${\beta}$-catenin/T cell factor-mediated transcription in human colon cancer cells. These findings present an additional mechanism through which resveratrol affects the regulation of human colon cancer cell growth.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2013

Objective: We investigated the norepinephrine transporter (NET) expression in normal and pre-eclamptic placentas and analyzed the invasion activity of trophoblastic cells based on norepinephrine (NE)-NET regulation. Methods: NET and NE expression levels were examined by western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Trophoblast invasion activity, depending on NE-NET regulation, was determined by NET-small interfering RNA (siRNA) and NET transfection into the human extravillous trophoblast cells with or without NE treatment and invasion rates were analyzed by zymography and an invasion assay. Results: NET mRNA was expressed at a low level in pre-eclamptic placentas compared with normal placentas and NE concentration in maternal plasma increased significantly in pre-eclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women (p<0.05). NET gene upregulation and NE treatment stimulated trophoblast cell invasion up to 2.5-fold (p<0.05) by stimulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity via the phosphoinositol-3-kinase/AKT signaling pathway, whereas NET-siRNA with NE treatment reduced invasion rates. Conclusion: NET expression is reduced by inadequate regulation of NE levels during placental development. This suggests that a complementary balance between NET and NE regulates trophoblast cell invasion activities during placental development.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.129-135
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• 2013

Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In advanced and metastatic gastric cancer, the conventional chemotherapy with limited efficacy shows an overall survival period of about 10 months. Patient specific and effective treatments known as personalized cancer therapy is of significant importance. Advances in high-throughput technologies such as microarray and next generation sequencing for genes, protein expression profiles and oncogenic signaling pathways have reinforced the discovery of treatment targets and personalized treatments. However, there are numerous challenges from cancer target discoveries to practical clinical benefits. Although there is a flood of biomarkers and target agents, only a minority of patients are tested and treated accordingly. Numerous molecular target agents have been under investigation for gastric cancer. Currently, targets for gastric cancer include the epidermal growth factor receptor family, mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor axis, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin pathways. Deeper insights of molecular characteristics for gastric cancer has enabled the molecular classification of gastric cancer, the diagnosis of gastric cancer, the prediction of prognosis, the recognition of gastric cancer driver genes, and the discovery of potential therapeutic targets. Not only have we deeper insights for the molecular diversity of gastric cancer, but we have also prospected both affirmative potentials and hurdles to molecular diagnostics. New paradigm of transdisciplinary team science, which is composed of innovative explorations and clinical investigations of oncologists, geneticists, pathologists, biologists, and bio-informaticians, is mandatory to recognize personalized target therapy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.479-484
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• 2015

In this study, we report that one of the antimicrobial peptides scolopendrasin VII, derived from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans, stimulates actin polymerization and the subsequent chemotactic migration of macrophages through the activation of ERK and protein kinase B (Akt) activity. The scolopendrasin VII-induced chemotactic migration of macrophages is inhibited by the formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) antagonist cyclosporine H. We also found that scolopendrasin VII stimulate the chemotactic migration of FPR1-transfected RBL-2H3 cells, but not that of vector-transfected cells; moreover, scolopendrasin VII directly binds to FPR1. Our findings therefore suggest that the antimicrobial peptide scolopendrasin VII, derived from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans, stimulates macrophages, resulting in chemotactic migration via FPR1 signaling, and the peptide can be useful in the study of FPR1-related biological responses. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(8): 479-484]

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.581-586
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• 2014

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to play key roles in skin regeneration and wound-healing. Here, we demonstrate that Pep2-YAC, a tripeptide covering residues 29-31 in the B loop of EGF, promotes the proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes with activity comparable to EGF. The treatment of HaCaT cells with Pep2-YAC induced phosphorylation, internalization, and degradation of EGFR and organization of signaling complexes, which consist of Grb2, Gab1, SHP2, and PI3K. In addition, it stimulated the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 at Thr 202/Tyr 204 and of Akt1 at Ser 473 and the nuclear translocation of EGFR, STAT3, c-Jun, and c-Fos. These results suggest that Pep2-YAC may be useful as a therapeutic agent for skin regeneration and wound-healing as an EGFR agonist.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.313-321
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• 2018

Anti-cancer drug resistance is a major problem in colorectal cancer (CRC) research. Although several studies have revealed the mechanism of cancer drug resistance, molecular targets for chemotherapeutic combinations remain elusive. To address this issue, we focused on the expression of cellular prion protein ($PrP^C$) in 5-FU-resistant CRC cells. In 5-FU-resistant CRC cells, $PrP^C$ expression is significantly increased, compared with that in normal CRC cells. In the presence of 5-FU, $PrP^C$ increased CRC cell survival and proliferation by maintaining the activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and the expression of cell cycle-associated proteins, including cyclin E, CDK2, cyclin D1, and CDK4. In addition, $PrP^C$ inhibited the activation of the stress-associated proteins p38, JNK, and p53. Moreover, after treatment of 5-FU-resistant CRC cells with 5-FU, silencing of $PrP^C$ triggered apoptosis via the activation of caspase-3. These results indicate that $PrP^C$ plays a key role in CRC drug resistance. The novel strategy of combining chemotherapy with $PrP^C$ targeting may yield efficacious treatments of colorectal cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.270-275
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• 2016

The Ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) plays roles in protein degradation, cell cycle control, and growth and inflammatory cell signaling. Dysfunction of UPS in cardiac diseases has been seen in many studies. Cholesterol acts as an inducer of cardiac hypertrophy. In this study, the effect of proteasome inhibitors on the cholesterol-induced hypertrophic growth in H9c2 cells is examined in order to observe whether UPS is involved in cardiac hypertrophy. The treatment of proteasome inhibitors MG132 and Bortezomib markedly reduced cellular surface area and mRNA expression of β-MHC in cholesterol-induced cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, activated AKT and ERK were significantly attenuated by MG132 and Bortezomib in cholesterol-induced cardiac hypertrophy. We demonstrated that cholesterol-induced cardiac hypertrophy was suppressed by proteasome inhibitors. Thus, regulatory mechanism of cholesterol-induced cardiac hypertrophy by proteasome inhibitors may provide a new therapeutic strategy to prevent the progression of heart failure.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.305-311
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• 2014

Dieckol is a polyphenol compound isolated from brown algae that has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activity. We examined the anti-angiogenic effects of dieckol in endothelial cells under hypoxic conditions. Treatment with $CoCl_2$, a hypoxic mimetic agent, increased proliferation, adhesion, migration, and tube formation in HUVECs, as well as vessel sprouting in rat aortic rings, which correlated well with increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha ($HIF1{\alpha}$) and ${\beta}1$-integrin. Dieckol suppressed $CoCl_2$-induced adhesion, migration, and tube formation in HUVECs and vessel sprouting in rat aortic rings. Dieckol treatment decreased $CoCl_2$-induced overexpression of $HIF1{\alpha}$ and its downstream signaling molecules, including ${\beta}1$-integrin/Fak, Akt/eNOS, and p38 MAPK. These results suggest that dieckol is a novel angiogenesis inhibitor and a potential treatment for angiogenesis-dependent diseases in humans, such as malignant tumors.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.4.1-4.5
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• 2018

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), along with IGF-binding protein and IGF receptor, are well-known regulators in the growth and survival of vertebrates. In this study, we investigated the involvement of IGFs and protein variation during embryonic development of the olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Morphological stages were divided into six main developments as blastula, gastrula, cephalization, cranial regionalization, tail lift, and hatch. During embryonic development, protein variation was investigated using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. In addition, the mechanism of signaling of IGF-I receptor was examined using immuno-blot analysis. We found marked changes in protein expression at four stages of embryonic development and identified proteins as belonging to the vitellogenin 2 family. As development progresses, expression of IGF-II, phosphotyrosine, and phospho-Akt increased, while expression of growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2) and one of guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins (Ras) decreased. These results provide basic information on the IGF system in the embryonic development of the olive flounder.