• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.133-139
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• 2008

DNA methylation is one of the reasons for poor survival of clone animals. The OCT-4 gene is essential for maintaining pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) cells and early embryos. We previously reported that the 5'-promoter region of Oct-4 gene was a target of DNA methylation and the methylation status was changed variously during embryonic development in bovine. The study conducted to examine the expression and methylation pattern of tissue-dependent differentially methylated region (T-DMR) of Oct-4 gene in bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) blastocysts. The Oct-4 gene expression was evaluated by RT-PCR and fluorescence immunocytochemistry. The methylation pattern of T-DMR was analyzed using restriction mapping and bisulfite sequencing methods. The Oct-4 transcripts were highly expressed in IVF, while they were not expressed in SCNT. The Oct-4 protein was not detected or expressed at very low level in SCNT, the intensity of Oct-4 protein, however, was strong in IVF. On the other hand, the T-DMR of Oct-4 gene was hypermethylated in SCNT compared to that of IVF. These results suggested that expression and the failure of demethylation of Oct-4 gene was closely associated with incomplete development of SCNT embryos.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.43-51
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• 2018

Although cisplatin is one of the most effective antitumor drugs for ovarian cancer, the emergence of chemoresistance to cisplatin in over 80% of initially responsive patients is a major barrier to successful therapy. The precise mechanisms underlying the development of cisplatin resistance are not fully understood, but alteration of DNA methylation associated with aberrant gene silencing may play a role. To identify epigenetically regulated genes directly associated with ovarian cancer cisplatin resistance, we compared the expression and methylation profiles of cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant human ovarian cancer cell lines. We identified ${\alpha}$-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (NAGA) as one of the key candidate genes for cisplatin drug response. Interestingly, in cisplatin-resistant cell lines, NAGA was significantly down-regulated and hypermethylated at a promoter CpG site at position +251 relative to the transcriptional start site. Low NAGA expression in cisplatin-resistant cell lines was restored by treatment with a DNA demethylation agent, indicating transcriptional silencing by hyper-DNA methylation. Furthermore, overexpression of NAGA in cisplatin-resistant lines induced cytotoxicity in response to cisplatin, whereas depletion of NAGA expression increased cisplatin chemoresistance, suggesting an essential role of NAGA in sensitizing ovarian cells to cisplatin. These findings indicate that NAGA acts as a cisplatin sensitizer and its gene silencing by hypermethylation confers resistance to cisplatin in ovarian cancer. Therefore, we suggest NAGA may be a promising potential therapeutic target for improvement of sensitivity to cisplatin in ovarian cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.86-91
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• 2014

Tissue-specific gene expression is regulated by epigenetic modification involving trans-acting factors. Here, we identified that the human MAGEB16 gene and its mouse homolog, Mageb16, are only expressed in the testis. To investigate the mechanism governing their expression, the promoter methylation status of these genes was examined in different samples. Two CpG islands (CGIs) in the 5' upstream region of MAGEB16 were highly demethylated in human testes, whereas they were methylated in cells without MAGEB16 expression. Similarly, the CGI in Mageb16 was hypomethylated in mouse testes but hypermethylated in other tissues and cells without Mageb16 expression. Additionally, the expression of these genes could be activated by treatment with the demethylation agent 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5'-aza-CdR). Luciferase assays revealed that both gene promoter activities were inhibited by methylation of the CGI regions. Therefore, we propose that the testis-specific expression of MAGEB16 and Mageb16 is regulated by the methylation status of their promoter regions.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.515-523
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• 2023

Background: 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), one of the main components of ginseng, has anti-inflammatory, anti-estrogenic, and anti-tumor activities. It is known that activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary producers of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the liver, and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway participates in the activation of HSCs. We aimed to explore whether PPD inhibits liver fibrosis is associated with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inactivation. Methods: The anti-fibrotic roles of PPD were examined both in vitro and in vivo. We also examined the levels of Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1), DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and WIF1 methylation. Results: PPD obviously ameliorated liver fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-treated mice and reduced collagen deposition. PPD also suppressed the activation and proliferation of primary HSCs. Notably, PPD inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, reduced TCF activity, and increased P-β-catenin and GSK-3β levels. Interestingly, WIF1 was found to mediate the inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in PPD-treated HSCs. WIF1 silencing suppressed the inhibitory effects of PPD on HSC activation and also restored α-SMA and type I collagen levels. The downregulation of WIF1 expression was associated with the methylation of its promoter. PPD induced WIF1 demethylation and restored WIF1 expression. Further experiments confirmed that DNMT1 overexpression blocked the effects of PPD on WIF1 expression and demethylation and enhanced HSC activation. Conclusion: PPD up-regulates WIF1 levels and impairs Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation via the downregulation of DNMT1-mediated WIF1 methylation, leading to HSC inactivation. Therefore, PPD may be a promising therapeutic drug for patients with liver fibrosis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.281-285
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• 2011

In the present study, we identified differentially methylated region (DMR) upstream of Dnmt1o and Dnmt1s gene in early porcine embryos. Porcine Dnmt1o had at least one DMR which was located between -530 bp to -30 bp upstream from transcription start site of the Dnmt1o gene. DNA methylation analyses of Dnmt1o revealed the DMR to be hypomethylated in oocytes, whereas it was highly methylated in sperm. Moreover, the DMR upstream of Dnmt1o was gradually hypermethylated from oocytes to two cells and dramatically changed in the methylation pattern from four cells to BL stages in an in vivo. In an IVF, the methylation status in the DMR upstream of Dnmt1o was hypermethylated from one cell to eight cells, but demethylated at the Morula and BL stages, indicating that the DNA methylation pattern in the Dnmt1o upstream ultimately changed from stage to stage before the implantation. Next, to elucidate whether DNA methylation status of Dnmt1s upstream is stage-by-stage changed in during porcine early development, we analyzed the dynamics of the DNA methylation status of the Dnmt1s locus in germ cell, or one cell to BL cells. The Dnmt1s upstream was highly methylated in one and eight cells, while less methylated in two, four, morula, and BL cells. Taken together, our data demonstrated that DNA methylation and demethylation events in upstream of Dnmt1o/Dnmt1s during early porcine embryos dramatically occurred, and this change may contribute to the maintenance of genomewide DNA methylation in early embryonic development.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.634-639
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• 2005

목 적 : 2세 미만의 소아에서는 임상적으로 확실한 증상이 있거나 알레르기 가족력이 있는 것을 제외하고는 실제적으로 아토피 유무를 판별하는 것은 성인에 비해 제한점이 많다. 본 연구에서는 영유아기에 알레르기 질환과 관련된 사이토카인이 유전자 배열에서 발현하는 지를 말초혈액의 Th2 림프구에서 interleukin-4 유전자의 DNA 탈메틸화를 통하여 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 대상은 한양대학교 구리병원 소아알레르기클리닉을 내원한 3세 미만 소아에 대해 소아의 병력과 가족력을 조사하여 family allergy score와 개인력을 기준으로 알레르기질환에 대한 고위험군 7명, 저위험군 8명, 정상 대조군 7명이었다. 이들 모두에서 총 IgE치와 Der f II 특이 IgE를 측정하였고 이들의 말초혈액에서 T세포를 Der f II로 자극하여 배양한 후 DNA 추출을 하여 IL-4 유전자 두 번째 인트론의 CpG 섬에 대한 메틸화 분석을 실시하였다. 결 과 : 정상군에 비해 알레르기 환아군에서 IL4 유전자의 두번째 인트론에 위치한 CpG 섬의 두 부위 모두에서 메틸화 특이 PCR 신호강도가 약하게 나타나는 반면 정상아에서는 118 bp PCR 산물과 205 bp PCR 산물이 모두 강하게 나타나서 메틸화된 것으로 보이며, 저위험군 알레르기 환아에서 최소한 한 부위에서 탈메틸화가 일어났으며 고위험군 알레르기 환아에서는 두 부위 모두에서 탈메틸화가 일어났다. 결 론 : 정상 대조군의 T 세포에서는 IL-4 유전자의 메틸화가 일어나고 알레르기 환아에서 고위험군과 저위험군 모두 정도의 차이는 있으나 메틸화의 소실이 관찰되었다. 이를 이용하여 향후 영유아기에서 아토피 유무를 판별할 수 있는 가능성을 제시하였으나 더 많은 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.2207-2212
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• 2012

Overexpression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) has been detected in many cancers. Tobacco exposure is known to induce genetic and epigenetic changes in the pathogenesis of malignancy. 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is an important carcinogen present in tobacco smoke; however the detailed molecular mechanism of how NNK induces esophageal carcinogenesis is still unclear. We found that DNMT1 was overexpressed in ESCC tissues compared with paired non-cancerous tissues, the overexpression being correlated with smoking status and low expression of $RAR{\beta}$. The latter could be upregulated by NNK treatment in Het-1A cells, and the increased DNMT1 expression level reflected promoter hypermethylation and downregulation of retinoic acid receptor ${\beta}$($RAR{\beta}$). RNA interference mediated knockdown of DNMT1 resulted in promoter demethylation and upregulation of $RAR{\beta}$ in KYSE30 and TE-1 cells. 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-thiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that NNK treatment in Het-1A cells could enhance cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, DNMT1 overexpression is correlated with smoking status and low expression of $RAR{\beta}$ in esophageal SCC patients. NNK could induce $RAR{\beta}$ promoter hypermethylation through upregulation of DNMT1 in esophageal squamous epithelial cells, finally leading to enhancement of cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.133-140
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• 2008

DNA와 histone 단백질의 변형은 식물 발달에 상당히 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 식물 조직 배양 및 식물 발달 단계에서 methylation의 영향을 알아보고자 벼 종자로부터 캘러스 형성 및 식물체 재분화 단계에서 demethylation 물질인 5-azacytidine을 처리하여 유전자 발현 양상을 분석하였다. 식물체로의 재분화 능력이 있는 벼 배상체 캘러스는 5-azaC가 첨가된 H6A 배지에서는 형성되지 않았으며 갈색을 띠는 캘러스가 형성되었다. 또한 정상적인 캘러스를 5-azaC가 첨가된 MSRA 재분화 배지에서 배양했을 때도 대조구와는 달리 식물체 재분화는 이루어지지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 5-azaC가 정상적인 배상체 캘러스 및 shoot 분화에 부정적인 영향을 미친다는 것을 나타냈으며 따라서 DNA methylation이 식물 조직배양에서의 정상적인 세포 dedifferentiation과 differentiation에 필수 요인이라는 것을 알 수 있었다. 벼 캘러스 형성 및 재분화 과정 동안의 methylation 영향을 알아보고자 각 단계별로 5-azaC를 처리 후 $GeneFishig^{TM}$ DEG와 DNA chip을 사용하여 유전자 발현 양상을 분석하였다. Epigenetic regulation, 전자전달, 핵산대사, 스트레스 반응에 관여하는 일부 유전자들의 발현이 증가하거나 감소하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 발현 차이가 있는 일부 유전자를 클로닝하여 확인하였고 RT-PCR 및 northern 분석으로 각 단계에서의 발현 차이를 할인하였다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.33-38
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• 2008

DNA 메틸화는 조직특이적인 유전자 조절에 관여하고, 정상적인 배 발달에 필수적이다. POU5F1은 octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct-4)를 encode하며, 초기 분화에 중요한 전사인자이다. 본 실험에서 소의 Oct-4가 조직특이적이고 발달의존적인 epigenetic 표지 인지를 검토하고자, 착상 전 수정란에서 Oct-4 전사산물과 상류 promoter 영역의 CpGs의 메틸화를 조사하였다. Oct-4 전사산물은 정자 그리고 2-cell에서 8-cell 수정란까지 낮은 수준으로 존재하지만, 상실배와 배반포에서 높게 검출되었다. 이러한 결과는 배 발달 과정의 상실배 단계에서 Oct-4의 de novo 발현이 시작됨을 의미한다. Oct-4 상류 promoter 영역에는 메틸화 가변 영역 (tissue-dependent differentially methylated region, T-DMR)이 존재한다. Oct-4 메틸화 가변 영역의 메틸화 상태는 정자, 성체 체조직과 난자에서 서로 다르고, 수정란으로부터 배반포 단계까지 변화하였는데, 이는 착상 전 초기 배 발달 과정에 active 메틸화와 탈메틸화가 일어남을 의미한다. 이상의 결과, Oct-4 유전자 상류 promoter 영역은 DNA 메틸화의 타깃이고, 그 메틸화 상태는 소 수정란 발달 동안에 다양하게 변화한다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.7-12
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• 2012

DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) gene contains three different isoform transcripts, Dnmt1s, Dnmt1o, and Dnmt1p, are produced by alternative usage of multiple first exons. Dnmt1o is specific to oocytes and preimplantation embryos, whereas Dnmt1s is expressed in somatic cells. Here we determined that porcine Dnmt1o gene had differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in 5'-flanking region, while those were not found in the Dnmt1s promoter region. The methylation patterns of the porcine Dnmt1o/Dnmt1s DMRs were investigated using bisulfite sequencing and pyrosequencing analysis through all preimplantation stages from one cell to blastocyst stage in in vivo or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The Dnmt1o DMRs contained 8 CpG sites, which located in -640 bp to -30 bp upstream region from transcription start site of the Dnmt1o gene. The methylation status of 5 CpGs within the Dnmt1o DMRs were distinctively different at each stage from one-cell to blastocyst stage in the $in$ $vivo$ or SCNT, respectively. 55.62% methylation degree of the Dnmt1o DMRs in the $in$ $vivo$ was increased up to 84.38% in the SCNT embryo, moreover, $de$ $novo$ methylation and demethylation occurred during development of porcine embryos from the one-cell stage to the blastocyst stage. However, the DNA methylation states at CpG sites in the Dnmt1s promoter regions were hypomethylated, and dramatically not changed through one-cell to blastocyst stage in the $in$ $vivo$ or SCNT embryos. In the present study, we demonstrated that the DMRs in the promoter region of the porcine Dnmt1o was well conserved, contributing to establishment and maintenance of genome-wide patterns of DNA methylation in early embryonic development.