• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2016

Shoreline armoring is a globally used engineering strategy to prevent shoreline erosion along stream, lake and reservoir coastlines. Armoring alters the land-water interface and has the potential to affect shoreline vegetation by changing nearshore geomorphology, hydrology, sediment composition and water quality. We quantified the effects of the artificial disturbances and alternation of the land-water interface on the community structure and distribution of shoreline vegetation in a large reservoir, Uiam Reservoir, Korea. More than 60% of shorelines were disturbed by armoring with retaining wall of concrete block, riprap and gabion in the Uiam Reservoir. The results of detrended correspondence analysis showed that the vegetation structures of the shoreline modified by armoring changed from hydrophyte-dominated to hygrophyte-dominated ecosystems. The shoreline armoring caused the disruption of gradual continuity in the water-land interface and the biological invasion by alien plants. The changes in distribution area of shoreline vegetation showed that the area of hydrophytic vegetation decreased and that of hygrophytic vegetation increased from 2010 to 2013. In conclusion, the human disturbance such as armoring, road construction, recreation etc. could lead to terrestrialization, the loss of transverse continuity and biological invasion in the shoreline vegetation of the Reservoir Uiam. Our findings suggest that redesigning or removing shoreline armoring structures may benefit nearshore hydrophytic vegetation for the conservation of novel shoreline ecosystems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2015

To investigate the anti-cancer effect of shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) cultured in aloe-supplement, we treated extract of shiitake mushroom cultured in aloe-supplement (ESA) to MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. ESA-treated MDA-MB-231 cells showed decreased growth rate in XTT assay. In addition migration/invasion was noticeably inhibited by ESA in TNF-${\alpha}$-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Western blot analysis showed that the molecular mechanism of cell migration/invasion was mediated by reduced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression via p-ERK signal transduction pathways. We found ESA had inhibition activity against cellular growth and migration/invasion. Taken together, ESA has putative anti-cancer activity against human breast cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1189-1195
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• 2016

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are potent angiogenic factors that have been used clinically to induce angiogenesis. To enable migration and invasion, cells must proliferate and secrete proteinases, which degrade the surrounding extracellular matrix. The goal of this study was to investigate the cell proliferation; matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and plasmin secretion; and migration and invasion of glioma-derived U-373-MG cells induced by VEGF and HGF treatment. An additional goal was to test the hypothesis that elevated secretion of MMP-2, MMP-9, and plasmin contributed directly or indirectly to the proliferation, migration, and invasion of U-373-MG cells. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and MMP-2, MMP-9, and plasmin secretion were significantly increased in the VEGF and HGF-treated U-373-MG cells. To elucidate the role of the increased secretion of MMP-2, MMP-9, and plasmin in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of the U-373-MG cells, they were treated with MMPs inhibitor (BB-94) and plasmin inhibitor (α2AP) prior to VEGF or HGF stimulation. The BB-94 and α2AP treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of the U-373-MG cells as compared with the VEGF- and HGF-treated groups. The results indicate that inhibition of MMPs and plasmin reduce the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of U-373-MG cells.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 2010

Simvastatins are widely used to reduce endogenous cholesterol synthesis and improve hypercholesterolemia. Also, simvastatin have been shown to induce both angiogenic and angiostatic responses. In this study, It was attempted to resolve this controversy by studying the effects of simvastatin on the cell migration and invasion with the proteinases secretion and expression pattern. U-373-MG cells treated with low dose of simvastatin ($0.001{\sim}0.5\;{\mu}M$) showed the induction of migration and invasion compared with the addition of a control buffer. On the contrary, high dose of simvastatin ($1{\sim}20\;{\mu}M$) showed the reduction of migration and invasion compared with the addition of a control buffer. It was also showed that simvastatin-regulated migrative and invasive phenotypes were consistent with the secretion and expression pattern of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and plasmin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5747-5751
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• 2014

Background: Coptisine, an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Coptidis rhizoma, has many biological activities such as antidiabetic, antimicrobial and antiviral actions. However, whether coptisine exerts anti-cancer metastasis effects remains unknown. Materials and Methods: Effects of coptisine on highly metastatic human breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 proliferation were evaluated by trypan blue assay and on cell adhesion, migration and invasion by gelatin adhesion, wound-healing and matrigel invasion chamber assays, respectively. Expression of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-9, MMP-2 and their specific inhibitors tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) were analyzed by RT-PCR. Results: Coptisine obviously inhibited adhesion to an ECM-coated substrate, wound healing migration, and invasion through the matrigel in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. RT-PCR revealed that coptisine reduced the expression of the ECM degradation-associated gene MMP-9 at the mRNA level, and the expression of TIMP-1 was upregulated in MDA-MB-231 cells, while the expression of MMP-2 and its specific inhibitor TIMP-2 was not affected. Conclusions: Taken together, our data showed that coptisine suppressed adhesion, migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro, the down-regulation of MMP-9 in combination with the increase of TIMP-1 possibly contributing to the anti-metastatic function. Coptisine might be a potential drug candidate for breast cancer therapy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.212-217
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• 2020

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) serves as a key factor in the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells and is a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect remain largely unknown. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is induced and over-expressed in various cancers and is associated with features of tumor aggressiveness. Recent studies have shown that HO-1 is a major downstream target of PPARγ. In this study, we investigated the effects of induction of HO-1 by PPARγ on TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. TPA treatment increased NF-κB /AP-1 DNA binding as well as MMP-9 expression. These effects were significantly blocked by 15d-PGJ₂, a natural PPARγ ligand. 15d-PGJ₂ induced HO-1 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, HO-1 siRNA significantly attenuated the inhibition of TPA-induced MMP-9 protein expression and cell invasion by 15d-PGJ₂. These results suggest that 15d-PGJ₂ inhibits TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and invasion of MCF-7 cells by means of a heme oxygenase-1-dependent mechanism. Therefore, PPARγ/HO-1 signaling-pathway inhibition may be beneficial for prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2018

microRNA (miR)-612 shows anticancer activity in several types of cancers, yet its function in melanoma is still unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of miR-612 and its biological relevance in melanoma cell growth, invasion, and tumorigenesis. The expression and prognostic significance of miR-612 in melanoma were examined. The effects of miR-612 overexpression on cell proliferation, colony formation, tumorigenesis, and invasion were determined. Rescue experiments were conducted to identify the functional target gene(s) of miR-612. miR-612 was significantly downregulated in melanoma tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Low miR-612 expression was significantly associated with melanoma thickness, lymph node metastasis, and shorter overall, and disease-free survival of patients. Overexpression of miR-612 significantly decreased cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion of SK-MEL-28 and A375 melanoma cells. In vivo tumorigenic studies confirmed that miR-612 overexpression retarded the growth of A375 xenograft tumors, which was coupled with a decline in the percentage of Ki-67-positive proliferating cells. Mechanistically, miR-612 targeted Espin in melanoma cells. Overexpression of Espin counteracted the suppressive effects of miR-612 on melanoma cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis. A significant inverse correlation (r = -0.376, P = 0.018) was observed between miR-612 and Espin protein expression in melanoma tissues. In addition, overexpression of miR-612 and knockdown of Espin significantly increased the sensitivity of melanoma cells to doxorubicin. Collectively, miR-612 suppresses the aggressive phenotype of melanoma cells through downregulation of Espin. Delivery of miR-612 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy against melanoma.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.291-301
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate distribution on the alien plants in the Gyeong-in Ara Waterway. The alien plants were a total of 82 taxa: 17 families, 63 genera, 80 species, and 2 varieties. This number corresponds to 25.5% of alien plants identified in Korea. The proportion of alien plants in every year was increased from upstream to downstream. As the result of the analysis on vegetation stratification, bank of waterside was covered with artificial materials preventing existence of vegetation, and had step-type cross section. Floodplain was composed of waterfront area. An array of vegetation was not typical dispersion, and terrestrial and alien plants were dominated the Gyeong-in Ara Waterway. Evaluation of naturalness based on the vegetation stratification showed grade 3 or 4. In order to solve a problem, method and level of restoration should be decided based on the result of diagnostic assessment. Therefore, we need to restore the step-type cross section as pool type one. From waterside to bank in this waterway, we recommend to introduce natural plants by imitating reference species composition. Since, an invasion of alien plants is expected to be accelerated due to the continuous artificial disturbance, we recommend to quantitative investigation on the invasion of alien plants and monitoring on the change of distribution.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3789-3795
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• 2014

This study aimed to analyze the expression, clinical significance of filamin A (FLNA) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and biological effects in a cell line by regulating FLNA expression. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to analyze FLNA protein expression in 70 cases of RCC and normal tissues to study the relationship with clinical factors. FLNA lentiviral and empty vectors were transfected into RCC to study the influence of up-regulated expression of FLNA. FLNA siRNA was transiently transfected into ACHN kidney carcinoma cells by a liposome-mediated method and protein was detected by Western blotting. The level of expression was found to be significantly lower in RCC than normal tissues (p<0.05). No correlation was noted with gender, age, tumor size or pathological types (p>0.05), but links with lymph node metastasis, clinic stage and histological grade were noted (p<0.05). Loss of FLNA expression correlated significantly with poor overall survival time by Kaplan-Meier analysis (p<0.05). Results for biological function showed that ACHN cells transfected with FLNA had a lower survival fraction, significant decrease in migration and invasion, higher cell apoptosis, higher percentage of the G0/G1 phases, and lower MMP-9 protein expression compared with ACHN cells untransfected with FLNA (p<0.05). However, renal 786-0 cells transfected with FLNA siRNA had a higher survival fraction, significant increase in migration and invasion, and higher MMP-9 protein expression compared (p<0.05). In conclusion, FLNA expression was decreased in RCC and correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis, clinic stage, histological grade and poor overall survival, suggesting that FLNA may play important roles as a a tumor suppressor in RCC by promoting degradation of MMP-9.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.309-312
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• 2001

Allozyme studies have been widely used to estimate genetic variation and to describe genetic structure in natural populations. In many cases, the genetic diversity of recently established populations is generally lower than that of central populations. In addition, the genetic composition of an invasive species is influenced by its History of introduction as well as its ecological characters. Ageratina altissima (L.) R. King & H. Robinson (white snakeroot) is a perennial herb native to the eastern United States and Canada, and is currently receiving much attention for its rapid invasion of the Korean forests. Starch gel electrophoresis was used to assess the genetic variability at 11 putative loci in seven introduced populations of A. altissima in Seoul. Populations of A. altissima maintained lower levels of allozyme diversity (expected heterozygosity = 0.063) than those reported for other taxa with similar ecological traits. The degree of differentiation observed among A. altissima populations was considerably low. It is suggested that the populations were recently established from only a few founders via dispersal by human activities, resulting in the loss of genetic variation.