• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.20.1-20.10
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• 2023

Aromatase inhibitors (AI) are drugs that are widely used in treating estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients. Drug resistance is a major obstacle to aromatase inhibition therapy. There are diverse reasons behind acquired AI resistance. This study aims at identifying the plausible cause of acquired AI resistance in patients administered with non-steroidal AIs (anastrozole and letrozole). We used genomic, transcriptomic, epigenetic, and mutation data of breast invasive carcinoma from The Cancer Genomic Atlas database. The data was then separated into sensitive and resistant sets based on patients' responsiveness to the non-steroidal AIs. A sensitive set of 150 patients and a resistant set of 172 patients were included for the study. These data were collectively analyzed to probe into the factors that might be responsible for AI resistance. We identified 17 differentially regulated genes (DEGs) among the two groups. Then, methylation, mutation, miRNA, copy number variation, and pathway analyses were performed for these DEGs. The top mutated genes (FGFR3, CDKN2A, RNF208, MAPK4, MAPK15, HSD3B1, CRYBB2, CDC20B, TP53TG5, and MAPK8IP3) were predicted. We also identified a key miRNA - hsa-mir-1264 regulating the expression of CDC20B. Pathway analysis revealed HSD3B1 to be involved in estrogen biosynthesis. This study reveals the involvement of key genes that might be associated with the development of AI resistance in ER-positive breast cancers and hence may act as a potential prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for these patients.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.209-218
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• 2023

In induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), pluripotency is induced artificially by introducing the transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. When a transgene is introduced using a viral vector, the transgene may be integrated into the host genome and cause a mutation and cancer. No integration occurs when an episomal vector is used, but this method has a limitation in that remnants of the virus or vector remain in the cell, which limits the use of such iPSCs in therapeutic applications. Chemical reprogramming, which relies on treatment with small-molecule compounds to induce pluripotency, can overcome this problem. In this method, reprogramming is induced according to the gene expression pattern of extra-embryonic endoderm (XEN) cells, which are used as an intermediate stage in pluripotency induction. Therefore, iPSCs can be induced only from established XEN cells. We induced XEN cells using small molecules that modulate a signaling pathway and affect epigenetic modifications, and devised a culture method which can produce homogeneous XEN cells. At least 4 passages were required to establish morphologically homogeneous chemically induced XEN (CiXEN) cells, whose properties were similar to those of XEN cells, as revealed through cellular and molecular characterization. Chemically iPSCs derived from CiXEN cells showed characteristics similar to those of mouse embryonic stem cells. Our results show that the homogeneity of CiXEN cells is critical for the efficient induction of pluripotency by chemicals.

• 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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.451-457
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• 2012

One decade early onset of the breast cancer in Iranian females was reported but the basis of the observed difference has remained unclear and difference in gene silencing by epigenetic processes is suggested. Hence, this study was sought to map the methylation status of estrogen receptor (ER) gene CpG islands and its impact on clinicopathological factors of triple negative and non-triple negative ductal cell carcinoma of the breast in Iranian females. Surgically resected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast tissues from sixty Iranian women with confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma were assessed by methylation-specific PCR using primer sets encompassing some of the 29 CpGs across the ER gene CpG island. The estrogen and progesterone receptors, Her-$2^+$ overexpression, and nuclear accumulation of P53 were examined using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Methylated ER3, ER4, and ER5 were found in 41.7, 11.3, and 43.3% of the samples, respectively. Significantly higher methylation of ER4 was found in the tumors with nuclear accumulation of P53, and significantly higher methylation of ER5 was found in patients with lymph node involvement and tumor with bigger size or higher grades. Furthermore, significantly higher rate of ER5 methylation was found in patients with Her-$2^+$ tumors and in postmenopausal patients with $ER^-$, $PgR^-$, or $ER^-/PgR^-$ tumors. However, no significant difference in ERs methylation status was found between triple negative and non-triple negative tumors in pre- and postmenopausal patients. Findings revealed that aberrant hypermethylation of the ER-alpha gene frequently occurs in Iranian women with invasive ductal cell carcinoma of the breast. However, methylation of different CpG islands produced a diverse impact on the prognosis of breast cancer, and ER5 was found to be the most frequently methylated region in the Iranian women, and could serve as a marker of poor prognosis.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.217-225
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• 2014

텔로미어는 진핵 세포의 염색체 말단으로, 직렬 반복 DNA 염기 서열과 shelterin 단백질 복합체로 구성되어 있다. 텔로미어의 기능은 염색체를 보호하는 것으로 체세포의 텔로미어 길이는 세포 분열시 DNA 복제 결실로 인해 연령이 증가함에 따라 감소하는 경향이 있다. 그러나 유전적, 후생유전학적 및 환경적 수준에서 여러 가지 요인이 텔로미어 길이에 영향을 미친다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 닭의 텔로미어 길이의 유전력을 추정하고, 이들의 유전전이 양상을 살펴보고자 하였다. 텔로미어 길이는 백혈구를 이용하여 양적 형광접합보인법(Q-FISH)과 양적 중합효소 연쇄반응법(qRT-PCR)으로 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 텔로미어 길이의 유전력은 자손과 부모 회귀 분석에 의해 출생 시 0.9로 추정되었고, 10 주령 및 30주령 때 부 분산 분석에 의해 0.03과 0.04로 추정되었다. 부와 자손 간(r=0.348) 및 모와 자손 간(r=0.380) 텔로미어 길이는 모두 유의한 정의 상관 관계를 보였다. 따라서 닭 텔로미어의 유전 전이 양상은 부모 양쪽 모두로부터 비슷하게 자식에 영향을 미치는 것으로 판단된다. 더불어 암수 자손에 미치는 영향 또한 유사한 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 부모의 텔로미어 길이의 각인이 성염색체의 유전자가 아닌 상염색체의 유전자에 의해 조절되는 것을 의미한다. 또한, 산모 연령에 따른 출생 자손의 텔로미어 길이는 차이가 없는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 모체의 연령이 출생 자손의 텔로미어 길이에 영향을 미치지 않는데, 이는 수정란의 초기 배아 단계에서 세포적 reprogramming이 이루어지기 때문으로 사료된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제30권8호
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• pp.713-721
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• 2020

Adipogenesis의 연구는 인간의 지방생물학의 기초적인 분자기전을 이해하고, 비만, 당뇨 및 대사성 증후군의 발병기전을 밝히는데 필요하다. Adipogenesis의 많은 연구가 adipocytes 특이적인 핵심 전사인자인 PPARγ와 C/EBPα를 중심으로 하는 유전자 발현조절 및 세포 내 신호전달에 초점이 맞추어 활발하게 연구가 진행되었다. 그러나, 에피지놈 변형효소나 히스톤 돌연변이에 의한 에피지놈 관점에서 adipogenesis 연구는 미흡한 실정이다. 포유동물에서 히스톤 methylation은 유전자 발현에 대한 주요 후성유전적(epigenome) 변형 중 하나이며, 특히 히스톤 H3 lysine methylation은 다양한 조직 및 기관 발생과정과 세포 분화에 매우 중요한 히스톤 변형이다. 세포 특이적 enhancer는 adipogenesis에서 active enhancer 표지자인 H3K27ac와 함께 H3K4me1로 변형된다. MLL4는 Pparg 및 Cebpa 유전자 ehancers에서 중요한 adipogenic H3K4 mono-methyltransferase이다. 따라서 MLL4는 adipogenesis에 중요한 에피지놈 변형효소라고 할 수 있다. 유전자 발현 억제를 유발하는 대표적인 히스톤 변형인 H3K27me3은 Polycomb repressive complex 2의 효소활성 subunit인 Ezh2에 의해 매개된다. Wnt 유전자에서 Ezh2에 의한 H3K27me3 히스톤 methylation 변형은 adipogenesis를 증가시키는데, 이는 WNT 신호 전달이 adipogenesis의 억제 조절자로 알려져 있기 때문이다. 본 논문은 유전자 발현을 근본적으로 조절하는 히스톤 H3 methylation에 의한 후성 유전학적인 조절이 어떻게 adipogenesis를 조절하는지에 대해 요약한다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권9호
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• pp.3961-3968
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• 2015

Background: Variants of human papillomavirus (HPV) show more oncogenicity than do prototypes. The HPV16 Asian variant (HPV16As) plays a major role in cervical cancer of Asian populations. Some amino acid changes in the E6 protein of HPV16 variants affect E6 functions such as p53 interaction and host immune surveillance. This study aimed to investigate activities of HPV16As E6 protein on modulation of expression of miRNA-21 as well as interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) 1, 3, 7 and c-fos. Materials and Methods: Vectors expressing E6 protein of HPV16As (E6D25E) or HPV16 prototype (E6Pro) were constructed and transfected into C33A cells. HCK1T cells expressing E6D25E or E6Pro were established by transducing retrovirus-containing E6D25E or 16E6Pro. The E6AP-binding activity of E6 and proliferation of the transfected C33A cells were determined. MiR-21 and mRNA of interesting genes were detected in the transfected C33A cells and/or the HCK1T cells, with or without treatment by culture medium from HeLa cells (HeLa-CM). Results: E6D25E showed binding activity with E6AP similar to that of E6Pro. Interestingly, E6D25E showed a higher activity of miR-21 induction than did E6Pro in C33A cells expressing E6 protein. This result was similar to the HCK1T cells expressing E6 protein, with HeLa-CM treatment. The miR-21 up-regulation significantly corresponded to its target expression. Different levels of expression of IRFs were also observed in the HCK1T cells expressing E6 protein. Interestingly, when treated with HeLa-CM, IRFs 1, 3 and 7 as well as c-fos were significantly suppressed in the HCK1T cells expressing E6D25E, whereas those in the HCK1T cells expressing E6Pro were induced. A similar situation was seen for IFN-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\beta}$. Conclusions: E6D25E of the HPV16As variant differed from the E6 prototype in its activities on epigenetic modulation and immune surveillance and this might be a key factor for the important role of this variant in cervical cancer progression.

• 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.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권9호
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• pp.1097-1104
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• 2016

차세대 염기서열 분석기술의 발달로 대량의 전사수준의 단위체들이 발견되었는데, 이것들 중 대부분의 전사체들은 비암호화 RNA들이다. 이들 중 긴 비암호화 RNA (lncRNA)들은 200개 이상의 뉴클레오티드를 가지며 단백질로 번역이 되지 않는 기능적 RNA 분자들이다. 식물의 lncRNA들은 RNA Pol II, Pol III, Pol IV, Pol V에 의해 전사체가 만들어지고, 전사 후 이들 lncRNA들은 추가적인 splicing과 polyadenylation 과정이 일어난다. 식물의 lncRNA들은 그 발현수준이 매우 낮고, 조직 특이적으로 발현 되지만, 이들 lncRNA들은 외부자극에 의해 강한 발현이 유도된다. 환경스트레스를 포함한 각기 다른 외부자극에 의해 많은 식물 lncRNA들의 발현이 유도되었기 때문에 이들 lncRNA들은 식물의 다양한 생물학적 기능과 식물의 생장발달 과정에 있어 새로운 조절 인자로 고려되고 있다. 특히 후성유전학적인 유전자 억제, 크로마틴 변형, 타겟모방, 광형태형성, 단백질 재배치, 환경스트레스 반응, 병원균 감염등에 관련하여 기능을 한다. 또한 어떤 lncRNA들은 short RNA들의 전구체로 역할도 한다. 최근 식물에서 많은 lncRNA들이 분리 동정되었지만, 이들 lncRNA들의 생리학적인 기능에 대한 현재의 이해는 여전히 제한적이고, 이들의 세부적인 조절 메커니즘 연구는 지속적으로 이루어져야 할 것이다. 이 총설에서는 식물 lncRNA들의 생합성 및 조절 메커니즘과 현재까지 밝혀진 분자수준에서의 중요한 기능들을 요약 정리하였다.

• 대한골관절종양학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.13-25
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• 2009

서론: $O^6$-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT)는 DNA 염기 손상에 의해 형성된 $O^6$-methylguanine에서 알킬기를 제거하여 DNA 염기 손상을 복구하는 역할을 한다. MGMT의 후생유전적 불활성화가 인체 종양에서 보고되고 있으며, 항암 치료에 대한 저항성에 영향을 주는 요소로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 연부조직육종에서 이러한 MGMT 불활성화가 미치는 영향에 대해 살펴보고자 하였다. 재료 및 방법: 총 62예의 연부조직육종조직에서 메틸화 특이 중합효소연쇄반응을 이용하여 MGMT 유전자의 촉진자 부위 메틸화 정도를 알아보고, 면역조직화학염색을 통하여 MGMT 단백 발현의 소실 양상을 살펴보았다. 결과: MGMT 단백 발현 소실은 진행성 병기(p=0.000), 조직학적 고등급(p=0.005), 종양의 재발 또는 전이(p=0.011), 그리고, 낮은 생존률(p=0.017)과 통계학적 유의성을 보였다. MGMT 유전자 촉진자 부위 메틸화는 조직학적 고등급, 종양의 재발 또는 전이, 그리고, 낮은 생존률과 관련성을 보였다. 또한, MGMT 단백 발현의 소실은 MGMT 유전자 촉진자 부위 과메틸화와 높은 상관성을 나타내었다(p=0.000). 결론: 본 연구는 MGMT 단백 발현의 소실과 MGMT 유전자 촉진자 부위 과메틸화가 연부조직 육종에서 흔히 발생하며 종양의 공격적인 양상 및 나쁜 예후와 관련성이 있다는 것을 보여준다. 또한 MGMT 단백 발현의 소실은 대개 MGMT 유전자 촉진자 부위 과메틸화로 인해 발생한다는 사실을 보여주고 있다.