• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.341-348
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• 2024

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a crucial role in liver diseases, affecting various types of hepatic cells. While studies have focused on the link between ER stress and hepatocytes as well as hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the precise involvement of hepatic macrophages in ER stress-induced liver injury remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of ER stress on hepatic macrophages and their role in liver injury. Acute ER stress led to the accumulation and activation of hepatic macrophages, which preceded hepatocyte apoptosis. Notably, macrophage depletion mitigated liver injury induced by ER stress, underscoring their detrimental role. Mechanistic studies revealed that ER stress stimulates macrophages predominantly via the PERK signaling pathway, regardless of its canonical substrate ATF4. hnRNPA1 has been identified as a crucial mediator of PERK-driven macrophage activation, as the overexpression of hnRNPA1 effectively reduced ER stress and suppressed pro-inflammatory activation. We observed that hnRNPA1 interacts with mRNAs that encode UPR-related proteins, indicating its role in the regulation of ER stress response in macrophages. These findings illuminate the cell type-specific responses to ER stress and the significance of hepatic macrophages in ER stress-induced liver injury. Collectively, the PERK-hnRNPA1 axis has been discovered as a molecular mechanism for macrophage activation, presenting prospective therapeutic targets for inflammatory hepatic diseases such as acute liver injury.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1039-1045
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• 2014

This study analyzed whether human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) induces ER stress via the IRE/XBP1 pathway in mouse Leydig tumor (mLTC-1) cells. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the unfolding protein response (UPR) plays an important role in the expression of steroidogenic enzymes by modulating the ATF6 pathway, as well as ER stress-mediated apoptosis in hCG-stimulated Leydig cells. Although UPR signaling has been reported to regulate the IRE1/XBP1 pathway, it is not known whether hCG-induced ER stress in Leydig cells can activate the pathway. To investigate the activation of the IRE1/XBP1 pathway in mLTC-1 cells after hCG treatment, we performed a Western blot analysis to detect the phospho-IRE1 protein and an RT-PCR analysis to validate splicing of XBP1 mRNA. We used ER stress-activated indicator (ERAI) constructs for monitoring the activity of IRE1 and then analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The expression levels of the phospho-IRE1 protein markedly increased in response to the hCG treatment. In the mLTC-1 cells transfected with an F-XBP1-venus/F-$XBP1{\Delta}DBD$-venus construct, the hCG treatment led to the appearance of green fluorescent cells and detectable fluorescence in the nucleus and cytosol, respectively. In addition, splicing of XBP1 mRNA significantly increased after the hCG treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that hCG-induced ER stress leads to activation of the IRE1/XBP pathway in Leydig cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.116-124
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• 2013

The aim was to examine resistance exercise-related genes after 8 weeks of resistance training. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: 4 weeks sedentary (4 wks CON, n=8), 8 weeks sedentary (8 wks CON, n=8), 4 weeks exercise training (4 wks REG, n=8), and 8 weeks exercise training (8 wks REG, n=8). The rats were trained to climb a 1-m vertical incline (85-degree), with weights secured to their tails. They climbed 10 times, 3 days per week, for 8 consecutive weeks. Skeletal muscle was taken from the flexor halucis longus after the exercise training. After separating the total RNA, large-scale gene expression was investigated by beadarray (Illumina RatRef-12 Expression BeadChip) analysis, and qPCR was used to inspect the beadarray data and to analyze the RNA quantitatively. The detection p-value for the genes was p<0.01, the M-value {M=$log_2$(condition)-$log_2$(reference)} was >1.0, and the DiffScore was >20. In total, the expression of 30 genes significantly increased 4 weeks after the exercise training, and the expression of six genes decreased. At 8 weeks, the expression of five genes significantly increased and that of 12 decreased. Several genes are potentially involved in resistance exercise and muscle hypertrophy, including 1) regulation of cell growth (IGFBP1, PLA2G2A, OKL38); 2) myogenesis (CSRP3); 3) tissue regeneration and muscle development (MUSTN1, MYBPH); 4) hypertrophy (CYR61, ATF3, NR4A3); and 5) glucose metabolism (G6PC, PCK1). These results may help to explain previously reported physiological changes of the skeletal muscle and suggest new avenues for further investigation.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 1998

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has the ability to activate the expression of many viral and cellular genes. Among various viral proteins, the immediate early proteins (IE1-72kDa, IE2-86kDa) have been known to be potent transactivators. The product of c-jun proto-oncogene is important in cell activation and differentiation. Here, we tried to find out if the IE could activate the c-jun promoter and also tried to identify the responsible sequence elements in the c-jun activation by IE1-72kDa. We found HCMV IE expression transactivated the c-jun promoter in human embryonal lung fibroblasts (HEL). The activation fold by IE1-72kDa, IE2-86kDa and IE2-55kDa was 23, 35, and 5, respectively. When the expression of each IE was combined, it showed synergism. Expression of (IE1-72kDa + IE2-86kDa) and (IE1-72kDa + IE2-86kDa + IE2-55kDa) resulted in 131 and 162 fold increase, respectively. The c-jun promoter region between -117 and -59 contains binding sites for the transcription factors Spl, CAAT, AP-l like (ATF/CREB), and MEF2. Transient expression assays were performed using various reporter plasmids containing the c-jun promoter-regulatory region linked to the luciferase gene and a plasmid expressing HCMV IE1 gene. Deletional and point mutational analysis showed that the sequence between -225 to -160 and the CTF binding site were involved in the up-regulation of c-jun promoter.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1999

Transient transfection assay has been done to evaluate whether the c-jun activation would be prerequisite to the induction of permissiveness against human cytomegalovirus using in vitro cell model in which U937 has been induced to express CD11b and CD14 to become potential monocyte/macrophage cells by TPA treatment. U937 cells were treated with $10\;{\mu}M$, $50\;{\mu}M$ or $100\;{\mu}M$ of TPA. The cell morphology change was observed and the expression of the CD11b and CD14 was confirmed by FACS. Differentiated cells were transfected with pJLuc reporter vector which contained the wild type murine c-jun promoter spanning the SP1, CTF, ATF/CREB and MEF-2 binding sites upstream of the firefly luciferase gene. After 48 hrs of transfection, the cells were infected with HCMV Towne strain and the luciferase activity was assessed at 1 hand 4 h pi. The transfection assay showed no activation of the c-jun promoter at 1 h pi, instead, it showed 2 times increase of the its activity at 4 h pi. There was no difference of the c-jun promoter activation between TPA treated and untreated U937 cells, implying that c-jun activation might not be prerequisite for allowing cells to be premissive to HCMV, although HCMV infection itself could activate c-jun promoter.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1159-1163
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• 2009

It has been postulated that endoplasmic (ER) stress is involved in the development of several diseases. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms have not been fully understood. Therefore, we characterized a genetic network of genes induced by ER stress using cDNA microarray and gene set expression coherence analysis (GSECA), and identified gene function as well as several transcription regulators associated with ER stress. We analyzed time-dependent gene expression profiles in thapsigargin-treated Sk-Hep1 using an oligonucleotide expression chip, and then selected functional gene sets with significantly high expression coherence which was processed into functional clusters according to the expression similarities. The functions related to sugar binding, lysosome, ribosomal protein, ER lumen, and ER to golgi transport increased, whereas the functions with mRNA processing, DNA replication, DNA repair, cell cycle, electron transport chain and helicase activity decreased. Furthermore, functional clusters were investigated for the enrichment of regulatory motifs using GSECA, and several transcriptional regulators associated with regulation of ER-induced gene expression were found.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2003

연구목적: 스테로이드 계통의 에스트로겐 호르몬은 막 수용체와 결합하고 DNA에 부착되어, 자궁조직에서 발현되는 많은 유전자들의 발현 양상을 조절하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 난소를 제거한 생쥐 모델을 이용하여 에스트로겐에 의해 조절되는 전사 관련 유전자(transcription factor)들을 동정하고, early up-regulation gene으로 확인된 Fos related antigen (Fra1과 Fra2) 유전자의 발현 양상을 RT-PCR과 면역염색방법으로 살펴보았다. 연구재료 및 방법: 난소 절제술을 시행한 생쥐에 에스트로겐을 피하주사하고 2, 4, 6, 12시간 간격으로 자궁조직을 적출하였다. 대조군으로는 sesame oil만을 주사한 후 2시간째에 수획한 자궁조직을 사용하였으며, 시간대별로 채취한 자궁조직(n=4)에서 RT-PCR을 수행하였다. RT-PCR을 통해 early response gene으로 확인된 Fra1과 Fra2에 대한 에스트로겐의 영향을 살펴보기 위해 estrogen receptor antagonist인 ICI 182, 780을 주사하여 유전자 발현 양상의 변화를 살펴보았다. 또한, 자궁조직내에서의 단백질 발현 부위를 관찰하기 위해 면역조직화학염색을 실시하였다. 결 과: 생쥐 자궁조직에서 에스트로겐에 의해 발현 양상의 변화가 확인된 유전자는 early up-regulation genes (CREB2, Fra-1, 2, GATA5), late up-regulation gene (E2F1), no response genes (CREB1, ATF1, GLI3, E2F3), down-regulation genes (GLI2, E2F5, GATA-2, 3, 6) 등으로 구분할 수 있었다. 그 중 early up-regulation genes에 해당하는 Fra1과 Fra2 유전자는 ICI 182, 780에 의해 그 발현이 유의하게 감소되는 것을 확인하였다(p < 0.01). 이들 단백질은 생쥐 자궁조직의 상피세포층, 기질층, 근육층에서 고루 발현되었으며, 특히 근육층에서 강한 염색정도를 관찰할 수 있었다. 결 론: 이상의 결과를 통해 Fra1과 Fra2 유전자의 발현은 에스트로겐에 의해 조절됨을 알 수 있었으며, 이들의 강한 발현이 자궁조직의 근육층에서 관찰되어 이들의 기능에 대한 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1037-1043
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• 2015

The TAZ activator 2-butyl-5-methyl-6-(pyridine-3-yl)-3-[2'-(1H-tetrazole-5-yl)-biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine] (TM-25659) inhibits adipocyte differentiation by interacting with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. 1 TM-25659 was previously shown to decrease weight gain in a high fat (HF) diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. However, the fundamental mechanisms underlying the effects of TM-25659 remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effects of TM-25659 on skeletal muscle functions in C2 myotubes and C57BL/6J mice. We studied the molecular mechanisms underlying the contribution of TM-25659 to palmitate (PA)-induced insulin resistance in C2 myotubes. TM-25659 improved PA-induced insulin resistance and inflammation in C2 myotubes. In addition, TM-25659 increased FGF21 mRNA expression, protein levels, and FGF21 secretion in C2 myotubes via activation of GCN2 pathways (GCN2-$phosphoelF2{\alpha}$-ATF4 and FGF21). This beneficial effect of TM-25659 was diminished by FGF21 siRNA. C57BL/6J mice were fed a HF diet for 30 weeks. The HF-diet group was randomly divided into two groups for the next 14 days: the HF-diet and HF-diet + TM-25659 groups. The HF diet + TM-25659-treated mice showed improvements in their fasting blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation, and inflammation, but neither body weight nor food intake was affected. The HF diet + TM-25659-treated mice also exhibited increased expression of both FGF21 mRNA and protein. These data indicate that TM-25659 may be beneficial for treating insulin resistance by inducing FGF21 in models of PA-induced insulin resistance and HF diet-induced insulin resistance.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2019

As candidates for accident-tolerant fuels, ceramic microcell fuels, which are distinguished by their peculiar microstructures, are being developed; these fuels have $UO_2$ grains surrounded by cell walls. They contribute to nuclear fuel safety by retention of fission products within the $UO_2$ pellet, reducing rod pressure and incidence of SCC failure. Cesium, a hazardous fission product in terms of amount and radioactivity, can be captured by chemical reactions with ceramic cell materials. The capture-ability of cesium therefore depends on the thermodynamics of the capturing reaction. Conversely, compositional design of cell materials should be based on thermodynamic predictions. This study proposes thermodynamic calculations to evaluate the cesium capture-ability of three ceramic microcell compositions: Si-Ti-O, Si-Cr-O and Si-Al-O. Prior to the calculations, the chemical and physical states of the cesium and the cell materials were defined. Then, the reactivity was evaluated by calculating the cesium potential (${\Delta}G_{Cs}$) and oxygen potential (${\Delta}G_{O_2}$) under simulated LWR circumstances of normal operation. Based on the results, cesium capture is expected to be spontaneous in all cell compositions, providing a basis for the compositional design of ceramic microcell fuels as well as a facile way for evaluating cesium capture.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.761-767
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• 2022

EHT1 and EEB1 are the key Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes involved in the synthesis of ethyl esters during wine fermentation. We constructed single (Δeht1, Δeeb1) and double (Δeht1Δeeb1) heterogenous mutant strains of the industrial diploid wine yeast EC1118 by disrupting one allele of EHT1 and/or EEB1. In addition, the aromatic profile of wine produced during fermentation of simulated grape juice by these mutant strains was also analyzed. The expression levels of EHT1 and/or EEB1 in the relevant mutants were less than 50% of the wild-type strain when grown in YPD medium and simulated grape juice medium. Compared to the wild-type strain, all mutants produced lower amounts of ethyl esters in the fermented grape juice and also resulted in distinct ethyl ester profiles. ATF2, a gene involved in acetate ester synthesis, was expressed at higher levels in the EEB1 downregulation mutants compared to the wild-type and Δeht1 strains during fermentation, which was consistent with the content of acetate esters. In addition, the production of higher alcohols was also markedly affected by the decrease in EEB1 levels. Compared to EHT1, EEB1 downregulation had a greater impact on the production of acetate esters and higher alcohols, suggesting that controlling EEB1 expression could be an effective means to regulate the content of these aromatic metabolites in wine. Taken together, the synthesis of ethyl esters can be decreased by deleting one allele of EHT1 and EEB1 in the diploid EC1118 strain, which may modify the ester profile of wine more subtly compared to the complete deletion of target genes.