• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.86-89
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• 2015

Because there are clear molecular differences entailing different treatment effectiveness between Korean and non-Korean cancer patients, identifying distinct molecular characteristics of Korean cancers is profoundly important. Here, we report a web-based data repository, namely Korean Cancer Genome Database (KCGD), for searching gene signatures associated with Korean cancer patients. Currently, a total of 1,403 cancer genomics data were collected, processed and stored in our repository, an ever-growing database. We incorporated most widely used statistical survival analysis methods including the Cox proportional hazard model, log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier plot to provide instant significance estimation for searched molecules. As an initial repository with the aim of Korean-specific marker detection, KCGD would be a promising web application for users without bioinformatics expertise to identify significant factors associated with cancer in Korean.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2010

To investigate genetic relationships either interspecies or intraspecies of 14 Korean Phytophthora species, sequence analyses of nuclear DNA (ypt gene and rDNA-IGS region) and mitochondrial DNA (Cox gene, $\beta$-tubuline gene, and EF1A gene) were performed. All of 14 Korean Phytophthora species clearly clustered into foreign isolates of each species. These Korean isolates in Phytophthora species also showed no correlation between molecular classification and morphological classification like as in case of foreigners. P. palmivora KACC 40167 reported previously from genetic groups of Phytophthora species in Korea was not consistent with the classification system, and therefore was required re-examination for the genetic group analysis. Korean isolates of P. drechsleri KACC 40195 showed very close relationship with P. cryptogea KACC 40161 above 94% bootstrap value in P. cryptogea-P. drechsleri complex group. Identification of these isolates is still unclear, because P. cryptogea and P. drechsleri were not differentiated in this study. On the other hand, it was required to unify species for these two species, since P. parasitica and P. nicotianae were clustered into a group on the level of 99 to 100% sequence homology. Comparing to the sequences of foreigners, Korean isolates were newly divided to ten groups in the phylogenic system. These results could be prepared useful informations to understand genetic diversity of Phytophthora species in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5807-5815
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• 2015

Background: Ovarian cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy and constitutes the fifth leading cause of female cancer death. Some biological parameters have prognostic roles in patients with advanced ovarian cancer and their expression may contribute to tumor progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential prognostic value of SKP2, genes P27Kip1, K-ras, c-Myc, COX2 and HER2 genes expression in ovarian cancer. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on two hundred formalin fixed paraffin embedded ovarian cancer and normal adjacent tissues (NAT). Gene expression levels were assessed using real time PCR and Western blotting. Results: Elevated expression levels of SKP2, K-ras, c-Myc, HER2 and COX2 genes were observed in 61.5% (123/200), 92.5% (185/200), 74% (148/200), 96 % (192/200), 90% (180/200) and 78.5% (157/200) of cancer tissues, respectively. High expression of SKP2 and down-regulation of P27 was associated with advanced stages of cancer. Conclusions: The association between high expression of c-Myc and SKP2 with low expression of P27 suggested that the Skp2-P27 pathway may play an important role in ovarian carcinogenesis. Reduced expression of P27 is associated with advanced stage of cancer and can be used as a biological marker in clinical routine assessment and management of women with advanced ovarian cancer.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.141-160
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• 2006

The obtained results are summarized as follows 1. New findings are reporting year by year as for the study related to Anti-inflammatory mechanism of Bee Venom therapy. 2. The Anti-inflammatory effect of Bee Venom therapy is achieved through counterirritation, stimulations to adrenal cortex, immuno-regulation, antioxidation, removal of free radicals, modulation of AGP gene induction. 3. The chief components of Bee Venom related to Anti-inflammatory effect are Melittin, MCD peptide, Apamin, Adolapin etc. 4. Melittin binds to secretory phospholipase A2 and inhibits its enzymatic activity. 5. Melittin blocks neutophil O2-production. 6. MCD peptide(Peptide 401) stimulates the mast cell secrets histamine, Anti-inflammatory effect caused by this is 'conterirritation'. 7. Melittin & Apamin have an anti-inflammatory effect by inducing cortisone secretion. 8. MCD peptide & Apamin increase immunologic fuction by stimulating hypophysis & adrenal cortex and have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting synthesis of prostaglandin from arachidonic acid. 9. Adolapin have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting COX. 10. Bee Venom have an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing AGP($\alpha$-acid glycoprotein). 11. Bee Venom have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NO, iNOS, PLA2, COX-2, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1, NF-${\kappa}B$, MAP kinase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.465-474
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the raising anticancer effects of resveratrol (Res) on paclitaxel (PA) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line A549. The $10{\mu}g/ml$ of Res had no effect on human fetal lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells or on A549 cancer cells and the 5 or $10{\mu}g/ml$ of PA also had no effect on MRC-5 normal cells. PA-L ($5{\mu}g/ml$) and PA-H ($10{\mu}g/ml$) had the growth inhibitory effects in NSCLC cell line A549, and Res increased these growth inhibitory effects. By flow cytometry experiment, after Res ($5{\mu}g/ml$)+PA-H ($10{\mu}g/ml$) treatment, the A549 cells showed the most apoptosic cells compared to other group treatments, and after additional treatment with Res, the apoptosic cells of both two PA concentrations were raised. Res+PA could reduce the mRNA and protein expressions of COX-2, and Res+PA could reduce the COX-2 related genes of VEGF, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, $NF-{\kappa}B$, Bcl-2, BclxL, procollagen I, collagen I, collagen III and CTGF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, iNOS and raise the TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$, p53, p21, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, Bax genes compared to the control cells and the PA treated cells. From these results, it can be suggested that Res could raise the anticancer effects of PA in A549 cells, thus Res might be used as a good sensitizing agent for PA.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammation effect of Potentilla chinensis (PC) on Raw264.7 macrophage cells. Ethanol extract of PC decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Ethanol extract was fractioned by n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, water and each fraction was tested for inhibitory effects on inflammation. Among the sequential solvent fractions, PC chloroform extracts (50, 100, 300, and 500 ${\mu}g/mL$) significantly suppressed LPS-stimulated production of NO. During the entire experimental period, 200 and 300 ${\mu}g/mL$ of PC chloroform extracts had no cytotoxicity. LPS-induced NO and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production were inhibited by PC chloroform extracts up to 50% and 90% of these productions, respectively. PC chloroform extracts reduced the expression of iNOS and COX-2 gene. These results suggest that PC chloroform extracts exhibit strong effects of anti-inflammation and can be a potential candidate in the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 2022

Babesia microti is one of the most common causative agents of babesiosis. A sensitive and rapid detection is necessary for screening potentially infected individuals. In this study, B. microti cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) was selected as the target gene, multiple primers were designed, and optimized by a recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay. The optimal primers and probe were labeled with fluorescein. The sensitivity of fluorescent RAA (fRAA) was evaluated using gradient diluents of the cox1 recombinant plasmid and genomic DNA extracted from whole blood of B. microti infected mice. The specificity of fRAA was assessed by other transfusion transmitted parasites. The analytical sensitivity of the fRAA assay was 10 copies of recombinant plasmid per reaction and 10 fg/µl B. microti genomic DNA. No cross-reaction with any other blood-transmitted parasites was observed. Our results demonstrated that the fRAA assay would be rapid, sensitive, and specific for the detection of B. microti.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.93-106
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• 2003

Objective : To investigate the possible molecular mechanism(s) of melittin as a candidate of anti-cancer drug, we examined the effects of the compound on the growth of human lung carcinoma cell line A549. Methods: MTT, morphological changes, DAPI staining, Western blot, RT-PCR and in vitro prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) accumulation assays were performed. Results: The anti-proliferative effect by melittin treatment in A549 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. Melittin induced apoptotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with inhibition or degradation of apoptotic target proteins such as ${\beta}$-catenin, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) and phospholipase $C-{\gamma}1(PLC-{\gamma}1)$. Melittin treatment inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and accumulation of PGE2 in aconcentration-dependent fashion. In addition, Melittin treatment induced the down-regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT) and proto-oncogene c-myc expression of A549 cells. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggest that melittin-induced inhibition of human lung cancer cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death via regulation of several major growth regulatory gene products, and melittin may have therapeutic potential in human lung cancer.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.688-697
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• 2006

Objectives : Peroxynitrite ($ONOO^-$), $O_2^-$ and nitric oxide (NO) are cytotoxic species that can oxidize several cellular components such as proteins. lipids and DNA. It has been implicated in the aging process and age-related disease such as Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate $ONOO^-$ scavenging activities. and that of its precursors. NO and $O_2^-$ of Trigonellae Semen. Methods : To investigate $ONOO^-$. NO. $O_2^-$ scavenging activities, fluorescent probes, namely 2'.7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA). 4.5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) were used. Protein expression levels of iNOS, COX-2, NF-${\kappa}B$, and VCAM-1 were assayed by western blot. Results : Trigonellae Semen markedly scavenged authentic $ONOO^-$, $O_2^-$ and NO. It also inhibited $ONOO^-$ induced by $O_2^-$ and NO which are derived from SIN-1. Furthermore. Trigonellae Semen inhibited $ONOO^-$, $O_2^-$ and NO generation in LPS-treated ICR mouse kidney postmitochondria. Trigonellae Semen inhibited gene expression of iNOS, COX-2, VCAM-l and NF-${\kappa}B$ (p65) activation. Conclusions : These results suggest that Trigonellae Semen is an effective $ONOO^-$, $O_2^-$ and NO scavenger. and that this substance has a potential role as an inhibitor of the aging process, and in therapy against age-related diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.807-816
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• 2005

The objective of the study was to observe the effect of n-3 PUFA on cell proliferation and apoptosis by determining mRNA and protein of COX-2 and eicosanoid product and the mRNA and protein of Bu and Bcl-2 related to apoptosis in colon carcinogenesis of 1,2- dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-treated rats. Ninety male Sprague Dawley rats weighing about 170g were divided into 3 groups, control and n-3 PUFA supplemented groups (FO group: 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA; 2FO group: 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA) and fed experimental diet for 14 weeks. All rats were intramuscularly injected with DMH 15 mg/kg twice a week for 6 weeks to deliver total dose of 180 mg/kg body weight. Compared with the control group, 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA significantly reduced the levels of mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 and 2-series eicosanoids ($TXB_{2}$ and $PGE_{2}$) and decreased cell proliferation in colonic mucosa. However, high levels of n-3 PUFA supplementation significantly increased the levels of mRNA and protein expression of COX-2, TXB2 and PGE2. and increased cell proliferation which was similar level to that of control group. Compared with the control group, n-3 PUFA, regardless of the amount, significantly increased apoptotic index in colonic mucosa. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the levels of mRNA and protein expression of Bax were significantly increased by 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA, but decreased by 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA. The analyses also showed the levels of mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 were significantly reduced by 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA, but increased by 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in mRNA and protein was significantly reduced by 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA but increased by 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA. Overall, these results indicate that n-3 PUFA could be effective in preventing colon carcinogenesis by reducing cell proliferation with lower level of COX-2 and 2-series eicosanoid, and increasing apoptosis by inducing pro-apoptotic gene, Bax and inhibiting anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2 in the colonic mucosa of DMH-treated rats. However, high level of n-3 PUFA supplementation could stimulate colon carcinogenesis by increasing cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. (Korean J Nutrition 38(10): 807$\sim$816,2005)