• BMB Reports
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.329-334
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• 2020

Inflammasomes are cytosolic, multiprotein complexes that act at the frontline of the immune responses by recognizing pathogen- or danger-associated molecular patterns or abnormal host molecules. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been reported to possess multipotency to differentiate into various cell types and immunoregulatory effects. In this study, we investigated the expression and functional regulation of NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs). hUCB-MSCs expressed inflammasome components that are necessary for its complex assembly. Interestingly, NLRP3 inflammasome activation suppressed the differentiation of hUCB-MSCs into osteoblasts, which was restored when the expression of adaptor proteins for inflammasome assembly was inhibited. Moreover, the suppressive effects of MSCs on T cell responses and the macrophage activation were augmented in response to NLRP3 activation. In vivo studies using colitic mice revealed that the protective abilities of hUCB-MSCs increased after NLRP3 stimulation. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the NLRP3 inflammasome components are expressed in hUCB-MSCs and its activation can regulate the differentiation capability and the immunomodulatory effects of hUCB-MSCs.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.470-486
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• 1995

유선에 존재하는 유선 상피 모세포(mammary epithelial stem cells)의 존재 증거, 정상 조직에서 이들의역할, flow cytometry 및 면역 염색법에 의한 세포 분리, 세포 기질 단백질을 이용한 삼차원적 세포 배양에서의 증식 등을 요약한다. 유선의 실질 조직에 상피 모세포가 존재한다는 것은 여러 형태의 이식 실험에서 설명되었고 또 모세포의 표현형적 특징들은 여러 가지의 monoclonal antibodies에 의해 논증되었다. 이들 연구의 결과들은 유선의 모세포군이 end bud와 유선의 기저층(basal layer)에 존재한다고 제시하고 있다. 이들을 분리, 동정하기 위해 FITC-PNA와 PE-Thy-1.1 항체와 같은 세포 표지자를 이용하여 유선 상피 세포를 4군으로 나눌 수 있었다. FITC-PNA에만 양성 반응을 보인 PNA+ 세포군, PE-Thy-1.1에만 양성 반응을 보인 Thy-1.1+ 세포군, 이들 두 표지자에 양성 반응을 보인 B+ 세포군, 그리고 양쪽에 음성 반응을 보인 B- 세포군이었는데 이들을 flow cytometry로 분리하고 생체에 이식 실험을 하였을 때 PNA+ 세포군이 유선 모세포들을 가장 많이 가진 것으로 확인되었다. 그리고 유선 상피세포로 이루어진 유선 조직 절편(organoids) 이들 상피세포군을 세포외기질 단백질체인 Matrigel 내에서 배양한 결과 a) stellate, b) duct, c) web, d)squamous, e) lobuloduct 등 5종류의 다세포 구조물이 생성됨을 확인하였다. 이들 중 편평상피화생의 구조물은 정상적인 유선 조직에서는 나타나지 않는 구조물인데 all-trans retinoic acid를 처리하였을 때 배지의 조정에 따라 다소 차이는 있으나 대부분 이들 편평상피화생의 생성이 억제됨을 확인하였다. 이상의 결과로 보아 본 연구에 이용된 생체 이식법 및 삼차원적 세포외기질 세포 배양법이 상피세포의 성장, 분화 및 모세포 연구에 유용하게 이용될 수 있으리라 사료된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권16호
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• pp.6813-6823
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• 2015

Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most aggressive of human brain tumors and has a stunning progression with a mean survival of one year from the date of diagnosis. High cell proliferation, angiogenesis and/or necrosis are histopathological features of this cancer, which has no efficient curative therapy. This aggressiveness is associated with particular heterogeneity of the tumor featuring multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations, but also with implications of aberrant signaling driven by growth factors. The transforming growth factor ${\beta}$ ($TGF{\beta}$) superfamily is a large group of structurally related proteins including $TGF{\beta}$ subfamily members Nodal, Activin, Lefty, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and growth and differentiation factor (GDF). It is involved in important biological functions including morphogenesis, embryonic development, adult stem cell differentiation, immune regulation, wound healing and inflammation. This superfamily is also considered to impact on cancer biology including that of GBM, with various effects depending on the member. The $TGF{\beta}$ subfamily, in particular, is overexpressed in some GBM types which exhibit aggressive phenotypes. This subfamily impairs anti-cancer immune responses in several ways, including immune cells inhibition and major histocompatibility (MHC) class I and II abolishment. It promotes GBM angiogenesis by inducing angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-I) and insulinlike growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7), contributes to GBM progression by inducing metalloproteinases (MMPs), "pro-neoplastic" integrins (${\alpha}v{\beta}3$, ${\alpha}5{\beta}1$) and GBM initiating cells (GICs) as well as inducing a GBM mesenchymal phenotype. Equally, Nodal promotes GICs, induces cancer metabolic switch and supports GBM cell proliferation, but is negatively regulated by Lefty. Activin promotes GBM cell proliferation while GDF yields immune-escape function. On the other hand, BMPs target GICS and induce differentiation and sensitivity to chemotherapy. This multifaceted involvement of this superfamily in GBM necessitates different strategies in anti-cancer therapy. While suppressing the $TGF{\beta}$ subfamily yields advantageous results, enhancing BMPs production is also beneficial.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권7호
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• pp.547-553
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• 2014

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common brain malignancies and has a very poor prognosis. Recent evidence suggests that the presence of cancer stem cells (CSC) in GBM and the rare CSC subpopulation that is resistant to chemotherapy may be responsible for the treatment failure and unfavorable prognosis of GBM. A garlic-derived compound, Z-ajoene, has shown a range of biological activities, including anti-proliferative effects on several cancers. Here, we demonstrated for the first time that Z-ajoene specifically inhibits the growth of the GBM CSC population. CSC sphere-forming inhibition was achieved at a concentration that did not exhibit a cytotoxic effect in regular cell culture conditions. The specificity of this inhibitory effect on the CSC population was confirmed by detecting CSC cell surface marker CD133 expression and biochemical marker ALDH activity. In addition, stem cell-related mRNA profiling and real-time PCR revealed the differential expression of CSC-specific genes, including Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog, upon treatment with Z-ajoene. A proteomic approach, i.e., reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) and Western blot analysis, showed decreased SMAD4, p-AKT, 14.3.3 and FOXO3A expression. The protein interaction map (http://string-db.org/) of the identified molecules suggested that the AKT, ERK/p38 and $TGF{\beta}$ signaling pathways are key mediators of Z-ajoene's action, which affects the transcriptional network that includes FOXO3A. These biological and bioinformatic analyses collectively demonstrate that Z-ajoene is a potential candidate for the treatment of GBM by specifically targeting GBM CSCs. We also show how this systemic approach strengthens the identification of new therapeutic agents that target CSCs.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.13-21
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• 2011

Chios gum mastic (CGM) is produced from Pistiacia lentiscus L var chia, which grows only on Chios Island in Greece. CGM is a kind of resin extracted from the stem and leaves, has been used for many centuries in many Mediterranean countries as a dietary supplement and folk medicine for stomach and duodenal ulcers. CGM is known to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in some cancer cells. This study was undertaken to investigate the alteration of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis following CGM treatment of HL-60 cells. The viability of the HL-60 cells was assessed using the MTT assay. Hoechst staining and DNA electrophoresis were employed to detect HL-60 cells undergoing apoptosis. Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, FACScan flow cytometry, MMP activity and proteasome activity analyses were also employed. CGM treatment of HL-60 cells was found to result in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability and apoptotic cell death. Tested HL-60 cells showed a variety of apoptotic manifestations and induced the downregulation of G1 cell cycle-related proteins. Taken collectively, our present findings demonstrate that CGM strongly induces G1 cell cycle arrest via the modulation of cell cycle-related proteins, and also apoptosis via proteasome, mitochondrial and caspase cascades in HL-60 cells. Hence, we provide evidence that a natural product, CGM could be considered as a novel therapeutic for human leukemia.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권5호
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• pp.491-499
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• 2020

Hippo signaling acts as a tumor suppressor pathway by inhibiting the proliferation of adult stem cells and progenitor cells in various organs. Liver-specific deletion of Hippo pathway components in mice induces liver cancer development through activation of the transcriptional coactivators, YAP and TAZ, which exhibit nuclear enrichment and are activated in numerous types of cancer. The upstream-most regulators of Warts, the Drosophila ortholog of mammalian LATS1/2, are Kibra, Expanded, and Merlin. However, the roles of the corresponding mammalian orthologs, WWC1, FRMD6 and NF2, in the regulation of LATS1/2 activity and liver tumorigenesis in vivo are not fully understood. Here, we show that deletion of both Wwc1 and Nf2 in the liver accelerates intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) development through activation of YAP/TAZ. Additionally, biliary epithelial cell-specific deletion of both Lats1 and Lats2 using a Sox9-Cre^ERT2 system resulted in iCCA development through hyperactivation of YAP/TAZ. These findings suggest that WWC1 and NF2 cooperate to promote suppression of cholangiocarcinoma development by inhibiting the oncogenic activity of YAP/TAZ via LATS1/2.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권13호
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• pp.5159-5162
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• 2015

Background: Chronic myeloproliferative diseases are clonal stem cell diseases which occur as a result of uncontrollable growth and reproduction of hematopoietic stem cells, which are the myeloid series source in bone marrow. Recent studies have suggested that chronic inflammation can be a triggering factor in the clonal change in chronic myeloproliferative neoplasia (CMPN). In our study, we evaluated the existence of a chronic inflammation process in our Philadelphia negative (Ph-)CMPN patients using inflammation parameters in combination with demographic, laboratory and clinical characteristics of the patients. Materials and Methods: Demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratorial data, and thrombosis histories of 99 Ph-CMPN patients, who were diagnosed at our outpatient clinic of hematology in accordance with WHO 2008 criteria, were analyzed retrospectively,with 80 healthy individuals of matching gender and age included as controls. Complete blood counts, sedimentation, C reactive protein (CRP), JAK V617F gene mutations, abdomen ultrasound images and previous thrombosis histories of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Ph-CMPN and healthy control groups included 99 and 80 cases, respectively. PV, ET and MF diagnoses of patients were 43 (%43.4), 44 (44.4%) and 12 (12.1%), respectively. JAK V617F gene mutation was found to be positive in 64 (71.1%) of all cases and in 27(65.8%), 32 (82%), 5 (50%) of the cases in PV, ET and PMF groups, respectively. Thrombosis was determined as 12 (12%) in the entire group, 12.5% in the JAK V617F negative and 15.3% in the positive patients, with no statistical significance (p=0.758). No significant difference was observed between patients with and without previous thrombosis history in respect to hemogram parameters, sedimentation and CRP (p>0.05), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), erythrocyte distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV) and sedimentation levels of the patient.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.164-171
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• 2019

기존에는 방사선 요법은 효과에 비해 소화기 점막 궤양 등 부작용이 많다. 본 연구는 방사선의 작용을 모사하는 방사선 모사 미생물 유래 리보솜 스트레스 반응을 이용하여 방사선 치료의 한계를 대체할 기전적 방법을 모색하고자 한다. 암 치료의 평가를 위해서 대장암의 비균질적인 세포구성, 종양줄기세포 및 주위 미세환경 및 배양 기질 등의 상호작용을 고려할 수 있는 소화기암 스페로이드를 이용하였다. 대조군 대장암 스페로이드에 비해서 리보솜 스트레스하에서는 스페로이드 구조가 상대적으로 큰 군집을 형성하였다. 하지만 이는 구조 자체가 매우 섬긴 세포간 구성을 가진 스페로이드였으며 스페로이드 형성과정의 크기 수축은 대조군에 비해 매우 느리게 나타났다. 대조군은 강하게 뭉친 소규모 클러스트의 집합체가 최종적으로 스페로이드를 형성하여 물리적 손상을 받아도 단단한 소규모 클러스트는 유지되나 리보솜 스트레스 하에서는 물리적 손상에 의해 형태가 파손 후에는 스페로이드 형성이 거의 일어나지 않았다. 기전적으로 리보솜 스트레스 하에서 암세포의 군집하는 이동속도는 매우 느렸으며, 뭉치더라도 세포-세포간 접합부위가 상대적으로 적었다. 이 대장암 스페로이드를 이종 및 동종 이식을 통해 동물에서 증식 시 종양 조직 형성이 매우 억제되었으며, 형성이 되어도 세포-세포간 접합에 핵심단백질인 E-cadherin의 발현이 매우 감소 됨을 알 수 있었다. 결론적으로 방사선 모사 미생물 유래 리보솜 스트레스는 종양 스페로이드 세포 이동 및 접합을 저해하여 3차원 구조 형성 결함을 유발하였으며, 향후 방사선을 대체하여 약물적으로 방사선 항암효과를 구현하는 기반을 제공한다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.31-37
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• 2005

The inhibitory activity against bisphenol-A (BPA), one of well-known endocrine disrupters was examined with the water extracts prepared from the Stem Bark of Syringa velutina (SBS). In this study, we have investigated the effect of SBS on the toxicity caused by BPA in human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 cells and immature Sprague-Dawley rats. In the estrogen receptor-mediated proliferation assay using MCF-7 cells, BPA (16 ng/ml) induced the cell proliferation, but the water extract of SBS inhibited BPA-induced cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. These results are associated with PARP degradation and specific cleavage of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 of apoptotic regulatory factors. Additionally, the BPA (400 mg/100 g) significantly induced the increase of the uterine and virginal weights, while SBS (50 mg/100 g) showed the inhibitory action against BPA, i.e. caused the increase of estrogen-related organ weights in immature rat uterotrophic assay. Taken together, the present data suggest that SBS may have anti-toxicity activities against BPA in vitro and in vivo systems. SBS may be capable of inhibiting adverse effects of BPA such as reproductive disorder.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.113-125
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• 2018

Exosomes are membranous vesicles of 30-150 nm in diameter that are derived from the exocytosis of the intraluminal vesicles of many cell types including immune cells, stem cells, cardiovascular cells and tumor cells. Exosomes participate in intercellular communication by delivering their contents to recipient cells, with or without direct contact between cells, and thereby influence physiological and pathological processes. They are present in various body fluids and contain proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and microRNAs that can be transported to surrounding cells. Theragnosis is a concept in next-generation medicine that simultaneously combines accurate diagnostics with therapeutic effects. Molecular components in exosomes have been found to be related to certain diseases and treatment responses, indicating that they may have applications in diagnosis via molecular imaging and biomarker detection. In addition, recent studies have reported that exosomes have immunotherapeutic applications or can act as a drug delivery system for targeted therapies with drugs and biomolecules. In this review, we describe the formation, structure, and physiological roles of exosomes. We also discuss their roles in the pathogenesis and progression of diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The potential applications of exosomes for theragnostic purposes in various diseases are also discussed. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the physiological and pathological roles of exosomes as well as their diagnostic and therapeutic uses, including emerging exosome-based therapies that could not be applied until now.