• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.473-482
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• 2019

Rice blast disease, caused by the ascomycete fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most important diseases in rice production. PAS (period circadian protein, aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator protein, single-minded protein) domains are known to be involved in signal transduction pathways, but their functional roles have not been well studied in fungi. In this study, targeted gene deletion was carried out to investigate the functional roles of the PAS-containing gene MoPAS1 (MGG_02665) in M. oryzae. The deletion mutant ΔMopas1 exhibited easily wettable mycelia, reduced conidiation, and defects in appressorium formation and disease development compared to the wild type and complemented transformant. Exogenous cAMP restored appressorium formation in ΔMopas1, but the shape of the restored appressorium was irregular, indicating that MoPAS1 is involved in sensing the hydrophobic surface. To examine the expression and localization of MoPAS1 in M. oryzae during appressorium development and plant infection, we constructed a MoPAS1:GFP fusion construct. MoPAS1:GFP was observed in conidia and germ tubes at 0 and 2 h post-infection (hpi) on hydrophobic cover slips. By 8 hpi, most of the GFP signal was observed in the appressoria. During invasive growth in host cells, MoPAS1:GFP was found to be fully expressed in not only the appressoria but also invasive hyphae, suggesting that MoPAS may contribute to disease development in host cells. These results expand our knowledge of the roles of PAS-containing regulatory genes in the plant-pathogenic fungus M. oryzae.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.220-226
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• 2021

The role of particulate matter (PM) in health problems including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and pneumonia is becoming increasingly clear. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, major components of PM, bind to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhRs) and promote the expression of CYP1A1 through the AhR pathway in keratinocytes. Activation of AhRs in skin cells is associated with cell differentiation in keratinocytes and inflammation, resulting in dermatological lesions. Oleanolic acid, a natural component of L. lucidum, also has anti-inflammation, anticancer, and antioxidant characteristics. Previously, we found that PM10 induced the AhR signaling pathway and autophagy process in keratinocytes. Here, we investigated the effects of oleanolic acid on PM10-induced skin aging. We observed that oleanolic acid inhibits PM10-induced CYP1A1 and decreases the increase of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 6 induced by PM10. A supernatant derived from keratinocytes cotreated with oleanolic acid and PM10 inhibited the release of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in dermal fibroblasts. Also, the AhR-mediated autophagy disruption was recovered by oleanolic acid. Thus, oleanolic acid may be a potential treatment for addressing PM10-induced skin aging.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.227-233
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• 2021

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and ubiquitous environmental toxin with known harmful effects to human health. Abnormal phenotypes of keratinocytes are closely associated with their exposure to B[a]P. Resorcinol is a component of argan oil with reported anticancer activities, but its mechanism of action and potential effect on B[a]P damage to the skin is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of resorcinol on B[a]P-induced abnormal keratinocyte biology and its mechanisms of action in human epidermal keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Resorcinol suppressed aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activity as evidenced by the inhibition of B[a]P-induced xenobiotic response element (XRE)-reporter activation and cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) expression. In addition, resorcinol attenuated B[a]P-induced nuclear translocation of AhR, and production of ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines. We also found that resorcinol increased nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) activity. Antioxidant response element (ARE)-reporter activity and expression of ARE-dependent genes NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were increased by resorcinol. Consistently, resorcinol treatment induced nuclear localization of Nrf2 as seen by Western analysis. Knockdown of Nrf2 attenuated the resorcinol effects on ARE signaling, but knockdown of AhR did not affect resorcinol activation of Nrf2. This suggests that activation of antioxidant activity by resorcinol is not mediated by AhR. These results indicate that resorcinol is protective against effects of B[a]P exposure. The mechanism of action of resorcinol is inhibition of AhR and activation of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling. Our findings suggest that resorcinol may have potential as a protective agent against B[a]P-containing pollutants.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4809-4813
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• 2014

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been reported to interfere with estrogen signaling. Exposure to these chemicals decreases the immune response and causes a wide range of diseases in animals and humans. Recently, many studies showed that licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract (LRE) commonly called "gamcho" in Korea exhibits antioxidative, chemoprotective, and detoxifying properties. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of LRE and to determine if and how LRE can alleviate the toxicity of EDCs. LRE was prepared by vacuum evaporation and freeze-drying after homogenization of licorice root powder that was soaked in 80% ethanol for 72 h. We used 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as a representative EDC, which is known to induce tumors or cancers; MCF-7 breast cancer cells, used as a tumor model, were treated with TCDD and various concentrations of LRE (0, 50, 100, 200, $400{\mu}g/mL$) for 24, 48, and 72 h. As a result, TCDD stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation, but LRE significantly inhibited TCDD-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The expression of TCDD toxicity-related genes, i.e., aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), AhR nuclear translocator, and cytochrome P450 1A1, was also down-regulated by LRE in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of cell cycle distribution after treatment of MCF-7 cells with TCDD showed that LRE inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells via G2/M phase arrest. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis also revealed that LRE dose-dependently increased the expression of the tumor suppressor genes p53 and p27 and down-regulated the expression of cell cycle-related genes. These data suggest that LRE can mitigate the tumorigenic effects of TCDD in breast cancer cells by suppression of AhR expression and cell cycle arrest. Thus, LRE can be used as a potential toxicity-alleviating agent against EDC-mediated diseases.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.07a
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• pp.1-20
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• 2004

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), one a group of persistent and widespread environmental pollutants, have been considered to be involved in immunotoxicity, carcinogenesis, and apoptosis. However, the toxic effects and physical properties of a PCB congener are dependent on the structure. In the present study, we investigate the toxic effects and action mechanisms of PCBs In cells. Among the various congeners tested, 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB-pentachlorobiphenyl (PeCB), a highly ortho-substituted congener having negligible binding affinity for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), caused the most potent toxicity and specific effects in several cell types. 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB induced apoptotic cell death of human monocytic cells, suggesting that PCB-induced apoptosis may be linked to immunotoxicity. In addition, 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB induced mitotic arrest by interfering with mitotic spindle assembly in NIH3T3 fibroblasts, followed by genetic instability which triggers p53 activation. Which suggests that 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB may be involved in cancer development by causing genetic instability through mitotic spindle damage. On the other hand, 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) involved in cell survival through ERK1/2 MAPK and p53 in Rat-1 fibroblasts and mouse embryonic fibroblasts, triggering compensatory mechanism for abating its toxicity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PCB congeners of different structure have distinct mechanism of action and 2,2',4,6,6'-PeCB causes several toxicity as well as compensatory mechanism in cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5117-5121
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• 2014

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been reported to interfere with estrogen signaling. Exposure to these chemicals decreases the immune response and causes a wide range of diseases in animals and humans. Recently, many studies showed that licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract (LRE) commonly called "gamcho" in Korea exhibits antioxidative, chemoprotective, and detoxifying properties. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of LRE and to determine if and how LRE can alleviate the toxicity of EDCs. LRE was prepared by vacuum evaporation and freeze-drying after homogenization of licorice root powder that was soaked in 80% ethanol for 72 h. We used 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as an EDC, which is known to induce tumors or cancers; MCF-7 breast cancer cells were used as a tumorigenic model. These were treated with TCDD and various concentrations of LRE (0, 50, 100, 200, $400{\mu}g/mL$) for 24, 48, and 72 h. As a result, TCDD stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation, but LRE significantly inhibited TCDD-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Expression of TCDD toxicity-related genes, i.e., aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), AhR nuclear translocator, and cytochrome P450 1A1, were subsequently down-regulated by LRE in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of cell cycle distribution after treatment of MCF-7 cells with TCDD and various concentrations of LRE showed that LRE inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells via G2/M phase arrest. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses also revealed that LRE dose-dependently increased the expression of the tumor suppressor genes p53 and p27 and down-regulated the expression of cell cycle-related genes. These data suggest that LRE can mitigate the tumorigenic effects of TCDD in breast cancer cells by suppression of AhR expression and cell cycle arrest. Thus, LRE can be used as a potential toxicity-alleviating agent against EDC-mediated disease.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2020

Diesel particulate matter (DPM) induces inflammatory cytokines in HaCaT and stimulates XRE promoter activity through AhR binding. Thus, it increases CYP gene family expression. In this study, we have elucidated inhibitory effect of LG Herbal Medicine Complex (LG-HMC) on DPM-induced XRE promoter activity and inflammatory cytokine expression. First of all, the XRE promoter activity was overexpressed by DPM treatment and the LG-HMC abrogated the XRE promoter activity. Morus alba bark extract, Scutellaria baicalensis root extract and constituents of LG-HMC, were found to be main effecters against DPM induced XRE promoter activation. We also found that DPM treatment elevated inflammatory cytokines in HaCaT and the treatment of LG-HMC, Morus alba bark extract and Scutellaria baicalensis root extract down-regulated the DPM induced inflammatory cytokine expression. Additionally, Morus alba bark extract and Scutellaria baicalensis root extract were found to act as free radical scavengers. In conclusion, we confirmed skin protective effect of LG-HMC and uncovered two components, Morus alba bark extract and Scutellaria baicalensis root extract, that play major role in protecting epidermal kertinocytes from damage.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2021

In this study, Kombucha, a fermented drink by adding beneficial bacteria to green tea or black tea with sugar, was classified using column chromatography, and the presence or absence of quercetin glycoside, a type of flavonoids, was confirmed through TLC. In addition, the anti-pollution effect of protecting and improving the skin from pollution was confirmed using the fraction. Keratinocytes were treated with K-QG to confirm the cell viability, showing a survival rate of 90% or more up to a concentration of 100 ㎍/mL, and the cell viability by benzo[e]pyrene and fine dust stimulation to see the anti-pollution effect was measured. At 100 ㎍/mL, the improvement rates were about 68.79% and 50.68%, respectively. In addition, as a result of confirming the expression of AhR activated by benzo[a]pyrene through Western blot, it showed an inhibition rate of about 31.08% at 100 ㎍/mL compared to the control group. Through the results of this study, K-QG is thought to be valuable as an anti-pollution functional material, protecting and improving skin irritated from benzopyrene and fine dust.