• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.123-129
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• 2006

In several experimental models, estrogens protect neurons against ischemic insults. However, the recent clinical studies of hormone replacement showed negative results to prevent stroke. Therefore, optimal models to study estrogen replacement for neuroprotection are needed before its clinical ap-plication. Organotypic hippocampal slice under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) has been established as a model of cerebral ischemia and has advantages to study drug effects. We investigated whether estrogen protected CAI neurons and affected activation of Akt (pAkt) in CAI region under OGD. Thus, rat hippocampal slices on day 7 of culture were treated with $17-{\beta}$ estradiol (E, 1 nM) for 7 days before 30 min OGD, and cell death of CAI neurons was quantified by propidium iodide (PI) staining and expression of pAkt was studied by Western blot and immunofluorescence. PI intensity in slices treated with E was significantly reduced 72 hour after OGD compared to that of non-treated slices (p < 0.05). E pretreatment also increased the expression of pAkt 72 hour after OGD compared to that of no treatment (p<0.01). These data suggest that estrogen pretreatment may rescue neurons from ischemic insults through the activation of Akt and also indicate that our model would be a useful alternative method to study the mechanisms and effects of estrogen replacement treatment for neuroprotection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.299-302
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• 2006

A combinatorial library of artificial transcription factors (ATFs) was introduced into the bacterial cells that expressed the Akt1-GFP fusion protein. By measuring the level of fluorescence generated by the transformed E. coli cells, we were able to obtain clones in which ATFs increased the solubility of the Akt1. Our results show that ATF library is a useful tool for increasing the solubility of selected recombinant proteins in E. coli.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.2645-2651
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• 2015

Background: The phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway is a key regulator for HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, but data about whether activation of PI3K/Akt is associated with poor prognosis and resistance to trastuzumab therapy is controversial. In this study we investigated predictive and prognostic significance of expression of p27, Akt, PTEN and PI3K, which are components of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC), retrospectively. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four HER2-positive MBC patients who had received first-line trastuzumab-based therapy were recruited for the study group. All of the patient's breast tissue samples were examined for p27 and Akt expression. In addition, twenty-five patients with sufficient amount of tumor tissue were also examined for PTEN and PI3K expression. p27, Akt, PTEN and PI3K were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and their relationship with patient demographic features, tumor characteristics, response to trastuzumab-based treatment and survival outcomes were analyzed. Results: p27, Akt, PTEN and PI3K were positive in 25.9%, 70.4%, 24% and 96% of the cases, respectively. Nomne were significantly associated with response to trastuzumab and time to progression (TTP). A trend toward statistical significance for longer overall survival (OS) was found for PTEN-positive patients (p=0.058); there was no significant relationship between the other immunohistochemical variables and OS. When we analyzed groups regarding co-expression, the PTEN-negative/Akt-negative group had a significantly lower objective response rate (ORR) (20% vs 80%, p=0.023) and the PTEN-negative/p27-negative and PTEN-negative/Akt-negative groups had significantly lower median OS compared to other patients (26.4 months vs 76.1 months, p=0.005 and 25.6 months vs 52.0 months, p=0.007, respectively). Conclusions: p27, Akt, PTEN and PI3K expression is not statistically significantly associated with ORR, TTP and OS, individually. However, the combined evaluation of p27, Akt and PTEN could be helpful to predict the response to trastuzumab-based therapy and prognosis in HER2-positive MBC.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.154-160
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• 2019

Background: Compound K (CK) is an active metabolite of ginseng saponin, ginsenoside Rb1, that has been shown to have ameliorative properties in various diseases. However, its role in inflammation and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this report, the antiinflammatory role of CK was investigated in macrophage-like cells. Methods: The CK-mediated antiinflammatory mechanism was explored in RAW264.7 and HEK293 cells that were activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or exhibited overexpression of known activation proteins. The mRNA levels of inflammatory genes and the activation levels of target proteins were identified by quantitative and semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Results: CK significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and morphological changes in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells under noncytotoxic concentrations. CK downregulated the phosphorylation of AKT1, but not AKT2, in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Similarly, CK reduced the AKT1 overexpression-induced expression of aldehyde oxidase 1, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interferon-${\beta}$, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CK plays an antiinflammatory role during macrophage-mediated inflammatory actions by specifically targeting the AKT1-mediated signaling pathway.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.93-101
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• 2019

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), the most common industrial brominated flame retardant, acts as a cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and immunotoxicant, causing inflammation and tumors. However, the mechanism of TBBPA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in human breast cancer cells is not clear. In human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, treatment with TBBPA significantly induced the expression and promoter activity of MMP-9. Transient transfection with MMP-9 mutation promoter constructs verified that $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 response elements are responsible for the effects of TBBPA. Furthermore, TBBPA-induced MMP-9 expression was mediated by $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 transcription activation as a result of the phosphorylation of the Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Moreover, TBBPA-induced activation of Akt/MAPK pathways and MMP-9 expression were attenuated by a specific NADPH oxidase inhibitor, and the ROS scavenger. These results suggest that TBBPA can induce cancer cell metastasis by releasing MMP-9 via ROS-dependent MAPK, and Akt pathways in MCF-7 cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.37-42
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• 2009

Iron binding lactoferrin (Lf) is involved in the control of cell cycle progression. However, the molecular basis underlying the effects of Lf on cell cycle control, as well as its target genes, remains incompletely understood. In this study, we have demonstrated that a relatively low level of ironsaturated Lf, Lf($Fe^{3+}$), can stimulate S phase cell cycle entry, and requires Akt activation in MCF-7 cells. Lf($Fe^{3+}$) immediately induced Akt phosphorylation at Ser473, which subsequently induced the phosphorylation of two G1-checkpoint Cdk inhibitors, $p21^{Cip/WAF1}$ and $p27^{kip1}$. The Lf($Fe^{3+}$)-induced phosphorylation of Cdk inhibitors impaired their nuclear import behavior, thereby inducing cell cycle progression. However, the treatment of cells with a PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, almost completely blocked Lf($Fe^{3+}$)-stimulated cell cycle progression. LY294002 treatment abrogated Lf($Fe^{3+}$)-induced Akt activation, and prevented the cytoplasmic localization of $p27^{kip1}$. Higher levels of $p21^{Cip/WAF1}$ were also detected in the cytoplasmic sub-cellular compartment as a measure of cellular response to Lf($Fe^{3+}$). Consequently, the degree of phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein was enhanced in response to Lf($Fe^{3+}$). Therefore, we conclude that Lf($Fe^{3+}$), as a potential antagonist of Cdk inhibitors, can facilitate the functions of E2F during progression to S phase via the Akt signaling pathway.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.417-425
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• 2017

벌사상자는 여성의 생식기 질환이나 화농성 피부염에 주로 사용되어온 한약재로, 최근 들어 암과 관련된 연구가 많이 이루어짐에 따라 벌사상자의 항암 효과에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있다. 벌사상자의 대표적인 성분인 osthole, xanthotoxol 등은 벤젠고리 화합물로 에탄올과 같은 유기용매에 잘 용해된다. 이에 따라 본 연구에서는 AGS 위암세포에서 벌사상자 에탄올 추출물(CME)에 대한 세포주기 정지 유도 효과를 확인하고자 하였다. CME 처리에 의한 AGS 위암세포의 증식 억제 유도 효과 및 세포독성 효과를 확인하기 위하여 MTT assay와 LDH release assay를 실시한 결과, 농도 및 시간 의존적으로 세포생존율이 감소하였으며, 농도 의존적인 세포독성 효과를 확인하였다. 또한, CME의 농도가 증가할수록 AGS 위암세포의 형태학적 변화가 관찰되었다. 이러한 세포증식 억제 유도 효과가 세포주기 정지에 의한 것인지 확인하기 위하여 CME를 농도별로 24시간 동안 처리한 후 세포주기를 측정하였다. 그 결과 G1기의 세포가 농도 의존적으로 증가함을 확인하였다. 그리고 CME의 처리가 세포주기와 관련된 단백질에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 western blot analysis를 실시하여 G1기 세포주기 정지와 관련된 신호 단백질들의 발현 변화를 확인하였다. 그 결과 CME의 처리가 세포 증식과 분열에 중요한 역할을 하는 p-Akt와 p-GSK-$3{\beta}$의 발현을 저해하는 것을 확인하였고, 이에 따라 p53의 발현과 활성이 증가하여 p21의 발현이 증가함을 확인하였다. 또한, p21의 증가에 따른 cyclin E의 발현 감소와 CDK2의 비활성화 상태인 p-CDK(T14), p-CDK(Y15)의 발현 증가를 확인하였다. 이와 같은 CME의 세포주기 억제 유도 효과가 일어나는 신호경로를 확인하기 위하여 LY294002(PI3K/Akt 저해제), BIO(GSK-$3{\beta}$ 저해제), Pifithrin-${\alpha}$(p53 저해제)를 CME와 각각 또는 병행 처리한 후 MTT assay, 세포주기 측정, western blot analysis를 진행하였다. 그 결과 LY294002의 처리는 CME 처리군과 유사하게 세포생존율을 저해시키고 G1기 정지를 유도했으며, 세포주기 단백질을 조절하였다. 또한, GSK-$3{\beta}$와 p53 저해제를 처리하였을 때 CME를 병행 처리했음에도 불구하고 세포증식 억제나 G1기 정지와 같은 항암 효과가 나타나지 않았으며, 관련 신호경로 단백질의 변화도 관찰되지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 CME의 처리가 Akt/GSK-$3{\beta}$/p53 신호경로를 조절하여 cyclin E의 발현을 감소시키고 CDK2의 활성을 억제함으로써 G1기 세포주기 정지를 유도함을 확인하였다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.661-673
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• 2023

Treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has always been challenged by the development of resistance. We investigated the antiproliferative activity of licochalcone H (LCH), a regioisomer of licochalcone C derived from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata, in oxaliplatin (Ox)-sensitive and -resistant CRC cells. LCH significantly inhibited cell viability and colony growth in both Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells. We found that LCH decreased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and AKT kinase activities and related activating signaling proteins including pEGFR and pAKT. A computational docking model indicated that LCH may interact with EGFR, AKT1, and AKT2 at the ATP-binding sites. LCH induced ROS generation and increased the expression of the ER stress markers. LCH treatment of CRC cells induced depolarization of MMP. Multi-caspase activity was induced by LCH treatment and confirmed by Z-VAD-FMK treatment. LCH increased the number of sub-G1 cells and arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase. Taken together LCH inhibits the growth of Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells by targeting EGFR and AKT, and inducing ROS generation and ER stress-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, LCH could be a potential therapeutic agent for improving not only Ox-sensitive but also Ox-resistant CRC treatment.

• 대한방사선방어학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한방사선방어학회 2011년도 춘계 학술발표회 및 심포지엄
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• pp.18-19
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• 2011

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.79-86
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• 2014

Hydroxycinnamic acids have been reported to possess numerous pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. However, the biological activity of 1-p-coumaroyl ${\beta}$-D-glucoside (CG), a glucose ester derivative of p-coumaric acid, has not been clearly examined. The objective of this study is to elucidate the anti-inflammatory action of CG in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In the present study, CG significantly suppressed LPS-induced excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and $PGE_2$ and the protein expression of iNOS and COX-2. CG also inhibited LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$. In addition, CG significantly suppressed LPS-induced degradation of $I{\kappa}B$. To elucidate the underlying mechanism by which CG exerts its anti-inflammatory action, involvement of various signaling pathways were examined. CG exhibited significantly increased Akt phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner, although MAPKs such as Erk, JNK, and p38 appeared not to be involved. Furthermore, inhibition of Akt/PI3K signaling pathway with wortmannin significantly, albeit not completely, abolished CG-induced Akt phosphorylation and anti-inflammatory actions. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that Akt signaling pathway might play a major role in CG-mediated anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.