• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제9권5호
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• pp.459-465
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECFTIVES: The effect of St. John's Wort extract (SJW) on MG-63 cell proliferation and trabecular bone loss induced by ovariectomy was examined. MATERIALS/METHODS: Proliferation, expression of estrogen receptor (ER) ${\alpha}$ and ER ${\beta}$, and gene expressions of osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteocalcin (OC) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were examined in MG-63 cells treated with or without SJW. Ovariectomized rats were treated with SJW at the dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg/day, ${\beta}$-estradiol-3-benzoate (E2), or vehicle only (OVX-C), and sham operated rats were treated with vehicle only (Sham-C). Serum ALP and C-telopeptide (CTX), and femoral trabecular bone loss were examined. RESULTS: SJW increased MG-63 cell proliferation and expression of ER ${\alpha}$ and ER ${\beta}$, and positive effect was shown on gene expressions of ALP, OC and OPG. SJW also showed estrogen like effect on bone associated with slowing down in trabecular bone loss. Histopathology by H&E showed rats treated with SJW displayed denser structure in metaphyseal region of distal femur compared with rats in OVX-C. SJW was shown to reduce serum CTX in OVX rats. CONCLUSION: The present study provides new insight in preventing estrogen deficiency induced bone loss of SJW and possibility for its application in bone health supplement.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.2185-2190
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• 2013

Gallbladder carcinoma, the most frequent malignant neoplasm of the biliary tract system, has always been considered to feature late clinical presentation and diagnosis, limited treatment options and an extremely poor prognosis. In recent years, while the incidence of gallbladder cancer has appeared to be on the increase, the available treatment methods have not greatly improved survival of the affected patients. Thus, exploring new therapeutic targets for this devastating disease is an urgent matter at present. Epidemical studies have demonstrated that the incidence of gallbladder carcinoma exhibits a distinct gender bias, affecting females two to three times more than males, pointing to crucial roles of estrogen. It is well known that estrogen acts on target tissues by binding to estrogen receptors (ERs), which are mainly divided into three subtypes, $ER{\alpha}$, $ER{\beta}$ and $ER{\gamma}$. $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$ appear to have overlapping but also unique even opposite biological effects. As important pathogenic mediators, ERs have been considered to relate to several kinds of tumors. In gallbladder carcinoma tissue, ERs have been shown to be positively expressed, and ERs expression levels are associated with differentiation and prognosis of this cancer. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of estrogen inducing growth of gallbladder carcinoma remain poorly understood. On the base of the current investigations, we deduce that estrogen participates in promotion of gallbladder carcinoma by influencing the formation of gallstones, stimulating angiogenesis, and promoting abnormal proliferation. Since ERs mediate the carcinogenic actions of estrogen in gallbladder, and therapy targeting ERs may provide new directions for gallbladder carcinoma. Therefore, it should be stressed that ERs are potential therapeutic targets for gallbladder carcinoma.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.119-124
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• 2001

In order to determine the role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the important sex-steroid hormone precursor, in vascular reactivity in rats, animals were treated for two weeks with DHEA or sex hormones, and the vascorelaxant and contractile responses of isolated aorta were examined. DHEA diminished the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation in female rats, while the drug was without effect in males. Testoterone lowered the vasorelaxant activity to ACh in either sex. 17$\beta$-Estradiol enhanced ACh-induced vasorelaxation in male rats, but this female sex hormone did not influence in females. In male rats, the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide also enhanced vasorelaxant action of ACh. When the male rat aorta was incubated in vitro with a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NAME, phenylephrine-induced contraction was greatly potentiated in DHEA-pretreated rats compared to control ones. The present results suggest that DHEA stimulates mainly androgen in female, but both androgen and estrogen in male rats. The participation of NO In the modulation of vascular reactivity with pretreated DHEA was also considered.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8239-8245
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• 2016

The p53 gene is inactivated by the human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 protein in the majority of cervical cancers. Treatment of HeLa S3 cells with siRNA for HPV E6 permitted adenovirus-mediated transduction of a p53 gene linked to an upstream estrogen response element (ERE). Our previous study in non-siRNA treated HHUA cells, which are derived from an endometrial cancer and express estrogen receptor ${\beta}$, showed enhancing effects of an upstream ERE on adenovirus-mediated p53 gene transduction. In HeLa S3 cells treated with siRNA for HPV E6, adenovirus-mediated transduction was enhanced by an upstream ERE linked to a p53 gene carrying a proline variant at codon 72, but not for a p53 gene with arginine variant at codon 72. Expression levels of p53 mRNA and Coxsackie/adenovirus receptor (CAR) mRNA after adenovirus-mediated transfer of an ERE-linked p53 gene (proline variant at codon 72) were higher compared with those after non-ERE-linked p53 gene transfer in siRNA-treated HeLa S3 cells. Western blot analysis showed lower ${\beta}$-tubulin levels and comparatively higher p53/${\beta}$-tubulin or CAR/${\beta}$-tubulin ratios in siRNA-treated HeLa S3 cells after adenovirus-mediated ERE-linked p53 gene (proline variant at codon 72) transfer compared with those in non-siRNA-treated cells. Apoptosis, as measured by annexin V binding, was higher after adenovirus-mediated ERE-linked p53 gene (proline variant at codon 72) transfer compared with that after non-ERE-linked p53 gene transfer in siRNA-treated cells.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Estrogens, a group of steroid compounds functioning as the primary female sex hormone, play an important role in the development and progression of breast cancer. In this study, using a novel annealing control primer-based GeneFishing PCR technology, five differentially expressed genes (DEGs), expressed using 10nM mitogenic estrogens, $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) and $16{\alpha}$-hydroxyestrone ($16{\alpha}$-OHE1), were selected from the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The DEGs, MRPL42, TUBA1B, SSBP1, KNCT2, and RUVBL1, were identified by comparison with the known genes via direct sequencing and sequence homology search in BLAST. Quantitative real-time PCR data showed that two DEGs, tubulin ${\alpha}1b$ and kinetochore associated 2, were greater than 2-fold upregulated by E2 or $16{\alpha}$-OHE1. Both genes could be new biomarkers for the treatment and prognosis of cancers, and further study may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying development and progression of breast cancer.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.593-597
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• 2009

자궁은 임신에 필수불가결한 기관으로, 에스트로겐(E2)과 프로게스테론(P4)은 태아와 자궁 사이의 상호 신호전달을 적절하게 조절하여, 임신을 확립하게 하는 필수적 요소이다. 임신 초기 E2는 배아의 안정적인 착상을 위하여 자궁의 성장을 촉진하는 역할을 담당한다. 이 시기 자궁에서 분비되는 인슐린유사 성장인자-I(IGF-I)와 E2/P4 간의 상호 신호전달이 임신 확립에 있어서 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. E2는 에스트로겐 수용체(ER)에 의해 그 작용이 결정되어지는데, 임신 돼지 자궁에서는 ER-${\alpha}$만이 발현됨을 증명하였다. 자궁에서 ER-${\alpha}$의 발현은 임신 중기나 말기보다 임신 초기 단계에서 높게 발현됨이 관찰되었다. 이는 배아에서 분비되는 E2가 ER-${\alpha}$의 발현을 증가시키는 역할을 함을 보여주는 결과이다. IGF-I이 E2 표적 유전자임을 증명하기 위하여 난소를 제거한 쥐에 E2/P4를 처리한 후 IGF-I의 발현을 측정한 결과, E2를 처리한 샘플에서는 IGF-I의 발현이 크게 증가하였으나, P4를 처리한 샘플에서는 큰 영향을 받지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 이 결과는 E2가 자궁에서 IGF-I의 발현을 증가시키는 역할을 수행함을 직접적으로 증명하였다. 임신한 돼지의 자궁에서 임신 시기별로 IGF-I 유전자의 발현을 조사한 결과 임신 초기에 가장 높은 발현을 보였고, 이 양상은 ER-${\alpha}$의 발현 형태와 아주 유사한 패턴을 나타내었다. 이는 임신 자궁에서 ER-${\alpha}$와 IGF-I의 발현이 상호 연관되어 있으며 ER-${\alpha}$와 IGF-I은 E2에 의해서 조절되어지는 유전자이며, 임신초기 배아에서 분비되는 E2가 자궁에서 ER-${\alpha}$의 발현을 증진시키고, 나아가서 이 ER-${\alpha}$가 자궁에서 IGF-I 유전자의 발현을 증가시키는 역할을 함을 보여주는 결과이다.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.125-137
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• 2011

목적: 일반적으로 남자는 여자에 비해 만성 신장병의 발병이 많고 말기 신부전으로의 진행이 더 흔한 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구는 일측성 요관 폐쇄를 가진 생쥐에서 신섬유화에 대한 성별과 성호르몬의 효과를 규명하기 위해 시행되었다. 방법: 일측성 완전 요관 폐쇄 7일째 암컷과 수컷 생쥐의 신장에서 ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA)의 발현을 측정한 후, 암컷 생쥐에서 난소를 제거하거나 제거 후 다시 $17{\beta}$-estradiol을 보충하여 나타나는 신섬유화 정도를 비교 분석하였다. 결과:일측성 요관 폐쇄를 가진 암컷 신장의 ${\alpha}$-SMA의 발현이 수컷 신장에 비해 현저히 낮았다. 난소 제거와 $17{\beta}$-estradiol의 보충은 일측성 요관 폐쇄를 가진 암컷 신장의 안지오텐신 II 1형 수용체의 발현에는 의미 있는 영향을 주지 않았지만, 안지오텐신 II 2형 수용체의 발현은 정상 암컷과 난소 제거 후 $17{\beta}$-estradiol를 보충한 암컷에서 현저히 증가되었다. 또한, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) 역시 유사한 변화를 보였다. 결론 : 여성은 폐쇄성 요로병증에서 신섬유화에 대한 저항성과 연관이 있으며 이러한 성별의 차이는 $17{\beta}$-estradiol에 의한 안지오텐신 II 2형 수용체와 iNOS의 발현 증가와 연관이 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.285-290
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• 2008

Estrogen-induced proliferation in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cells is primarily mediated through two distinct intracellular receptors, $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$. Although tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF{\alpha}$) and $E2/ER{\alpha}$ are known to exert opposing effects on cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells, the mechanism by which $TNF{\alpha}$ antagonizes $E2/ER{\alpha}$-mediated cell proliferation is not well understood. The present study suggests that reduced cell survival in response to $TNF{\alpha}$ treatment in MCF-7 cells may be associated with the down-regulation of $ER{\alpha}$ protein. The decrease in $ER{\alpha}$ protein level was accompanied by an inhibition of $ER{\alpha}$ gene transcription. Cell viability was decreased synergistically by the combined treatment with $ER{\alpha}$-siRNA and $TNF{\alpha}$. Furthermore, pretreatment of cells with the PI3-kinase (PI3K)/ Akt inhibitor, LY294002, markedly enhanced $TNF{\alpha}$-induced down-regulation of the $ER{\alpha}$ protein, suggesting that the PI3K/Akt pathway might be involved in control of the $ER{\alpha}$ level. Moreover, down-regulation of $ER{\alpha}$ by $TNF{\alpha}$ was not inhibited in cells that were pretreated with the proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and MG152, which suggests that proteasome-dependent proteolysis does not significantly influence $TNF{\alpha}$-induced down-regulation of $ER{\alpha}$ protein. In contrast, the effect of the PI3K/Akt inhibitor on $ER{\alpha}$ was blocked in cells that were treated with LY294002 in the presence of the proteasome inhibitors. Collectively, our findings show that the $TNF{\alpha}$ may partly regulate the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells through the down-regulation of $ER{\alpha}$ expression, which is primarily mediated by a PI3K/Akt signaling.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.64-70
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• 2010

본 연구는 MC3T3-E1 조골 전구세포에 대두추출물을 처리 후 그 조건배양액에서 파골세포분화 관련 국소인자 중파골세포분화 촉진인자(IL-$\beta$, IL-6, RANKL, TNF-$\alpha$, M-CSF) 및 파골세포로의 분화억제에 관여하는 국소인자인 OPG의 발현변화를 조골세포 조건배양액에서 살펴보았으며, 이 조골세포 조건배양액을 RAW264.7 파골전구세포에 처리 시 파골세포로의 분화를 억제정도를 TRAP 염색 및 관련 분화 지표의 발현을 통해 알아보았다. 대두추출물 처리한 조골세포 조건배양액에서 OPG의 발현이 농도 의존적으로 현저히 증가하였다. 그러나 강력한 파골세포 분화촉진인자로 알려진 IL-1$\beta$의 발현 역시 고농도의 대두추출물 처리 시 현저히 증가하여 고농도의 대두추출물을 처리한 CM 처리 시 TRAP 염색된 일부 파골세포를 확인하였고, 파골세포분화 관련지표인 MMP-9의 발현 또한 저농도 대두 추출물을 처리한 CM 처리에 비해 증가하였다. 이는 저농도의 대두추출물이 고농도의 대두추출물에 비해 파골세포분화억제에 효과적임을 의미하나, 추후 파골세포수준에서 분화억제 관련 기전연구가 필요할 것으로 생각되어진다.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.203-209
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• 2011

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a small lipid molecule that plays an important role through LPA receptors (LPARs) in reproductive processes. Our previous study has shown maximal expression of LPAR3 in the uterine endometrium on day (D) 12 of pregnancy in pigs, the period when conceptus secretes various molecules such as estrogen and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL1B) and initiates implantation. We determined that endometrial expression of LPAR3 was increased by conceptus estrogen in the previous study, but the effect of IL1B on LPAR3 expression has not been determined. Thus, in this study we examined whether LPAR3 expression was also affected by IL1B. Endometrial explant cultures from D12 of the estrous cycle showed that levels of endometrial LPAR3 expression did not changed in response to IL1B. We also investigated LPAR3 expression in the uterine endometrium on D12 and D30 of pregnancy from gilts with conceptuses derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The expression of LPAR3 mRNA was lower in endometria from gilts with conceptuses resulting from SCNT compared with those from gilts with embryos resulting from natural mating on D12 of pregnancy, but it was not different between them on D30 of pregnancy. Our results indicate that estrogen of conceptus origin is responsible for induction of LPAR3 expression during the peri-implantation period and appropriate LPA signaling is impaired in the uterine endometrium with SCNT-derived conceptuses during the implantation period in pigs.