• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.157-162
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• 1995

목적 : 절제 불가능한 제 3기 비소세포성 폐암에서 다분할 방사선 치료와 MVP 복합 항암요법의 동시 치료에 의한 종양관해율, 급성부작용, 생존기간에 미치는 효과를 알아보기 위하여 1993년 8월부터 전향성 연구(Prospective study)를 시작하였다. 방법: 본 연구는 제 III기의 비소세포성 폐암중 절제가 불가능한 환자를 대상으로 하여 다분할 방사선치료(120 cGy/fx, BID)를 6,480 cGy 시행하며 동시에 방사선치료 제1일과 28일에 2회의 MVP (Mitomycin C $6mg/m^2,$ Vinblastine $6mg/m^2,$ Cisplatin $60mg/m^2$) 복합 항암 요법을 시행하였다. 1994년 11월까지 등록된 62명의 환자에 대한 분석을 시행하였다. 병기는 IIIa 환자가 6명이고 나머지 56명은 IIIb 환자였으며 이중 흉막액이 있었던 환자는 11명, 쇄골상 임파선 전이가 있었던 환자는 10명으로 대부분의 환자가 IIIb 중에서도 진행된 환자였다. 조직학적 유형은 편평 상피암이 41명으로 $66\%$ 선암도 11명으로 $18\%$를 차지하였다. 결과: 52명의 환자중 끝까지 치료를 마친 환자는 48명으로 이 study의 compliance는 $77\%$이었다. 48명의 환자중 2명은 치료중 치료와 관계된 백혈구 감소로 인한 폐렴으로 사망하였다. 치료의 효과를 판정할 수 있었던 46명의 환자중 완전 관해(CR)는 10명으로 $22\%$의 높은 완전 관해율을 보였다. 부분 관해(PR)는 24명 $(52\%)$ 으로 다분할 방사선 치료와 동시 병행 MVP 항암요법에 의한 부분관해 이상의 관해율은 $74\%$ 이었다. 급성부작용 판정이 가능했던 46명중 가장 빈도가 높은 금성 부작용은 백혈구 감소로 1차 항암요법후 10명이 Grade 3, 4명이 Grade 4의 백혈구 감소를 보였으며 2차 항암요법에는 11명이 Grade 3, 9명이 Grade 4의 백혈구 감소를 보여 치료기간이 3일에서 5일 정도 지연되는 결과를 나타냈고 이중 2명은 폐렴으로 인한 패혈증으로 사망하였다. 치료중 체중감소를 보인 환자는 26명 $(54\%)$ 이었으며 이중 9명에서는 치료전에 비해 $10\%$ 이상의 체중감소를 보였다. 치료 1개월후 찍은 CT상 6명에서는 Grade 1의 방사선 폐렴이 관찰되었고 3명에서는 Grade 2로 Steroid 치료후 호전되었다. 결론: 이상의 결과 다분할 방사선 치료와 MVP 항암요법의 동시 치료가 이전의 항암요법후 다분할 방사선 치료하는 Sequential 방법에 비하여 높은 관해율을 보이고 특히 $22\%$의 높은 완전 관해율이 관찰되어 이 연구를 계속 진행함으로써 더 좋은 결과를 얻을 것으로 생각되며 급성 부작용에 대하여는 입원을 통한 Nutrition support와 G-CSF 등을 이용하여 백혈구 감소를 막을 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국생물물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물물리학회 2003년도 정기총회 및 학술발표회
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• pp.80-80
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• 2003

${\beta}$-lapachone(${\beta}$-Lap), a natural o-naphthoquinone, presents in the bark of the Lapacho tree. ${\beta}$-Lap is cytotoxic against a variety of human cancer cells and it potentiates the anti-tumor effect of Taxol. In addition, ${\beta}$-Lap has been reported to radiosensitize cancer cells by inhibiting the repair of radiation-induced DNA damage.In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of ${\beta}$-Lap against RKO human colorectal cancer cells as well as the combined effect of ${\beta}$-LaP and ionizing radiation. An incubation of RKO cells with 5 ${\mu}$M of ${\beta}$-Lap for 4 h killed almost 90％ of the clonogenic cells. An incubation of RKO cells with 5 ${\mu}$M of ${\beta}$-Lap for 4 h or longer also caused massive apoptosis. Unlike other cytotoxic agents, ${\beta}$-Lap did not increase the expression of p53 and p21 and it suppressed the NFkB expression. The expression of Caspase 9 and 3 was minimally altered by ${\beta}$-Lap. Radiation and ${\beta}$-Lap acted synergistically in inducing clonogenic cell death and apoptosis in RKO cells when ${\beta}$-Lap treatment was applied after but not before the radiation exposure of the cells. Interestingly, a 4 h treatment with 5 ${\mu}$M of ${\beta}$-Lap starting 5 h after irradiation was as effective as that starting immediately after irradiation. The mechanisms of ${\beta}$-Lap-induced cell killing is controversial but a recent hypothesis is that ${\beta}$-Lap is activated by NAD(P)H: quinone-onidoreductase (NQO1) in the cells followed by an elevation of cytosolic Ca$\^$2+/ level and activation of proteases leading to apoptosis. It has been reported that NQO1 level in cells is markedly up-regulated for longer than 10 h after irradiation. Indeed, using immunological staining of NQO1, we observed a significant elevation of NQO1 expression in RKO cells 5h after 2-4 Gy irradiation. Such a prolonged elevation of NQO1 level after irradiation may be the reasons why the ${\beta}$-Lap treatment applied S h after irradiation was as effective as that applied immediately after irradiation in killing the cells. In view of the fact that the repair of radiation-induced damage is usually completed within 1-2 h after irradiation, it is highly likely that the ${\beta}$-Lap treahment applied 5 h after irradiation could not inhibit the repair of radiation-induced damage. For in vivo study, RKO cells were injected S.C. into the hind-leg of Nu/Nu mice, and allowed to grow to 130 mm3 tumor. The mice were i.p. injected with ${\beta}$-lapachone or saline 2 h after irradiation of tumors with 10 Gy of X-rays. The radiation induced growth delay was increased by 2.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g of ${\beta}$-lapachone. Taken together, we may conclude that the synergistic interaction of radiation and ${\beta}$-Lap in killing cancer cells is not due to radiosensitization by ${\beta}$-Lap but to an enhancement of ${\beta}$-Lap cytotoxicity by radiation through an upregulation of NQO1. The fact that NQO1 is elevated in tumors and that radiation causes prolonged increase of the NQO1 expression may be exploited to preferentially kill tumor cells using ${\beta}$-Lap in combination with radiotherapy.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제38권11호
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• pp.1528-1534
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• 2009

구기자는 식용가능하고 제2형 당뇨병 합병증인 지방간분해, 고혈압 및 고혈당에 효능이 있다고 알려져 있다. 하지만 당 대사 및 지질 대사에 작용하는 정확한 기작에 대한 연구는 아직 미비하기에 탄수화물 소화효소인 ${\alpha}$-amylase와 ${\alpha}$-glucosidase의 저해활성 및 정상생쥐를 이용한 혈당강하 효과와 3T3-L1 adipocyte를 통하여 비만축적 억제효과를 보았다. 구기자 추출은 80% MeOH, 70% EtOH 및 열수추출하였으며 이들 중 ${\alpha}$-amylase 50% 저해 활성($IC_{50}$)은 saliva ${\alpha}$-amylase에서 acarbose, 80% MeOH, 70% EtOH, aqueous(7.04, 3.19, 3.20, 3.66 mg/mL), pacreas ${\alpha}$-amylase acarbose, 80% MeOH, 70% EtOH, aqueous(10.97, 4.16, 3.07, 3.55 mg/mL)로 saliva ${\alpha}$-amylase에선 acarbose보다 80% MeOH, 70% EtOH 추출물이 가장 낮은 농도에서 $IC_{50}$값을 나타냈고 pacreas ${\alpha}$-amylase에서는 70% EtOH 추출물이 가장 낮은 농도에서 $IC_{50}$값을 나타냈다. 또한 10 ${\mu}g/mL$ 농도에서 yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase 활성저해 $IC_{50}$값은 80% MeOH, 70% EtOH, aqueous(5.01, 4.98, 4.80 ${\mu}g/mL$)로 구기자 추출물 모두 acarbose(5.05)보다 우수한 $IC_{50}$값을 나타냈다. 정상생쥐에게 탄수화물 소화효소의 저해활성이 높은 70% EtOH 추출물을 전분과 함께 경구투여 한 후 내당능을 측정한 결과, 전분과 함께 100, 200 mg/kg body weight를 경구투여 한 경우, 대조군에 비해 투여 후 30, 60, 90, 120분에 혈당 증가가 낮았다. 또한 추출물을 100 mg보다 200 mg 투여하였을 경우 대조군에 비해 각각 19% 및 40%씩 저하되었으며, 120분에는 대조군 수준이 되었다. 그리고 3T3-L1 adipocyte에서 비만축적 억제효과를 측정한 결과 70% EtOH 추출물 농도가 증가함에 따라 leptin, 중성지방 농도가 감소하였고 유리지방산 농도는 증가하였다. 이상의 연구 결과 구기자 추출물 중 70% EtOH는 acarbose보다 높은 ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, ${\alpha}$-amylase 저해활성을 나타냈으며, 정상생쥐를 통해 식후 혈당증가를 저하시키는 효과를 확인하였고 GLUT4 발현 역시 증가함을 확인했다. 이를 통해 구기자 추출물이 지방축적 억제와 인슐린 저항성 억제 및 혈당강하 기전을 확인하여 제2형 당뇨병 개선에 효과적인 것으로 판단, 추후 더 연구하여 보다 더 정확한 성분을 조사할 필요성이 있다고 사료된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.925-928
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• 2014

Background: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a spectrum of disease with abnormal trophoblastic proliferation. Treatment is based on FIGO stage and WHO risk factor scores. Patients whose score is 12 or more are considered as at extremely high risk with a high likelihood of resistance to first line treatment. Optimal therapy is therefore controversial. Objective: This study was conducted in order to summarize the regimen used for extremely high risk or resistant GTN patients in our institution the in past 10 years. Materials and Methods: All the charts of GTN patients classified as extremely high risk, recurrent or resistant during 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2011 were reviewed. Criteria for diagnosis of GTN were also assessed to confirm the diagnosis. FIGO stage and WHO risk prognostic score were also re-calculated to ensure the accuracy of the information. Patient characteristics were reviewed in the aspects of age, weight, height, BMI, presenting symptoms, metastatic area, lesions, FIGO stage, WHO risk factor score, serum hCG level, treatment regimen, adjuvant treatments, side effects and response to treatment, including disease free survival. Results: Eight patients meeting the criteria of extremely high risk or resistant GTN were included in this review. Mean age was 33.6 years (SD=13.5, range 17-53). Of the total, 3 were stage III (37.5%) and 5 were stage IV (62.5%). Mean duration from previous pregnancies to GTN was 17.6 months (SD 9.9). Mean serum hCG level was 864,589 mIU/ml (SD 98,151). Presenting symptoms of the patients were various such as hemoptysis, abdominal pain, headache, heavy vaginal bleeding and stroke. The most commonly used first line chemotherapeutic regimen in our institution was the VAC regimen which was given to 4 of 8 patients in this study. The most common second line chemotherapy was EMACO. Adjuvant radiation was given to most of the patients who had brain metastasis. Most of the patients have to delay chemotherapy for 1-2 weeks due to grade 2-3 leukopenia and require G-CSF to rescue from neutropenia. Five form 8 patients were still survived. Mean of disease free survival was 20.4 months. Two patients died of the disease, while another one patient died from sepsis of pressure sore wound. None of surviving patients developed recurrence of disease after complete treatment. Conclusions: In extremely high risk GTN patients, main treatment is multi-agent chemotherapy. In our institution, we usually use VAC as a first line treatment of high risk GTN, but since resistance is quite common, this may not suitable for extremely high risk GTN patients. The most commonly used second line multi-agent chemotherapy in our institution is EMA-CO. Adjuvant brain radiation was administered to most of the patients with brain metastasis in our institution. The survival rate is comparable to previous reviews. Our treatment demonstrated differences from other institutions but the survival is comparable. The limitation of this review is the number of cases is small due to rarity of the disease. Further trials or multicenter analyses may be considered.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.490-496
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• 1998

목적: 본 연구의 목적은 MELAS 증후군과 미토콘드리아 근육병의 뇌 SPECT 소견을 알아보고 SPECT 소견과 자기공명영상 소견을 비교 분석하여 MELAS증후군의 특징적인 영상 소견을 찾아보고자 하였고 MELAS 증후군에 있어서 뇌 SPECT의 역할을 평가해 보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 뇌졸중 유사 증상이나 경련 또는 발달 지연을 주소로 하였고, 혈청 또는 뇌척수액의 lactic acid치가 상승되어 있는 1세에서 25세의 5명의 환자를 대상으로 하였고 남녀비는 4:1이었다. 모든 환자에서 Tc-99m ECD를 이용한 뇌혈류 단일광전자방출 전산화 단층촬영술(SPECT)와 자기공명영상을 시행하여 영상 소견을 분석하였다. 결과: 자기공명영상에서는 주로 두정엽(4/5)과 후두엽(4/5), 그리고 기저핵(1/5)에 백질과 회백질에 증가된 T2 신호강도를 나타내었는데, 특정한 혈관 영역에는 부합하지 않는 병변의 분포양상을 보였다. SPECT상에서는 자기공명영상에서 이상소견을 보인 모든 부위에서 관류 저하를 보였으며 추가적으로 두정엽(1예), 측두엽(1예), 전두엽(1예), 기저핵(1예)와 시상(2예)에서도 감소된 Tc-99m ECD의 섭취를 나타내어서, 자기공명영상과 SPECT에서 이상 소견을 보인 수를 비교하면 자기공명영상에서 나타난 해부학적인 이상소견보다 SPECT에서 보인 관류 저하가 더 광범위하였다. 결론: MELAS 증후군의 SPECT에서는 특정한 혈관 영역에는 부합하지 않는 두정엽과 후두엽, 기저핵, 시상, 측두엽등의 관류저하를 보여 주었는데, 본 연구의 여러 제한점으로 인하여 MELAS 증후군에서만 나타나는 특징적인 소견이라고 할 수는 없었다. 자기공명영상에서 상응하는 이상 소견이 없이 SPECT에서만 관류 저하를 보이는 경우의 중요성은 좀 더 많은 수의환자를 대상으로 한 연구를 통해 평가되어져야 할 것으로 생각한다. 나타내었다.속도를 향상시킬 수 있었다. 정상인의 뇌영상에 대해 위치 정합을 실시한 결과 평균 거리 오차는 2mm 이하였다. 가중정규화 방법을 사용하였을 때 합성된 영상의 정성적인 식별 명확도가 향상하였다. 결론: 견실한 PET 영상 경계점 추출과 거리지도를 이용한 계산 속도의 향상을 통해 뇌 PET과 MR 영상 합성기법의 성능을 개선할 수 있었으며 이를 이용하며 개발한 영상정합 프로그램은 임상 환경에서 유용하게 사용될 수 있을 것이다.은 환자군을 대상으로 한 추가 연구가 필요한 것으로 판단된다.07% ID/g 이하로 매우 낮았다. 결론: 이실험에서 표지한 Re-188 황 교질은 표지효율과 안정성이 높고 임상적으로 방사선 활액막 절제술 등에 사용할 수 있을 것으로 생각한다.}I$] 또는 [$^{131}I$]OMIMT는 종양의 아미노산 대사 영상제제로 이용될 수 있으며 앞으로 이에 대한 임상연구가 필요할 것으로 생각되었다.>$R_A,\;R_v$의 결과간에 좋은 상관관계를 가졌다. 따라서 이러한 약역학 컴퓨터시뮬레이션이 SPECT 영상을 이용한 도파민 운반체 또는 수용체 정량분석을 최적화하는데 매우 유용할 것으로 생각된다.TEX>-CIT SPECT는 파킨슨병의 조기진단 및 진행 추적에 임상적으로 유용할 것으로 판단된다., SCC 4예, AC 1예)였으며, 11예 중 9예(81.8%)에서 방사선학적 검사결과와 Tc-99m MIBI섭취율의 변화가 일치하였다. 결론적으로, Tc-99m MIBI SPECT는 폐암병소의 국소화 및 방사선치료 효과의 판정에 어느정도 유용하리라 사료되었다.냈고 4명에서는 low CBD obstruction을 나타내었으며 후에 CBD stone, CBD carcinoma, gall bladder Ca.의 porta hepatis 전이 및 clonorchis worms의 cluster에

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제36권8호
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• pp.989-994
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• 2007

본 연구에서는 조릿대잎 추출물의 탄수화물 소화효소의 저해와 혈당강하효과를 조사하기 위해, 탄수화물 소화효소인 ${\alpha}-glucosidase$와 ${\alpha}-amylase$의 저해활성과 STZ 유발 당뇨생쥐를 이용한 혈당강하효과를 측정하였다. 조릿대잎 메탄올 추출물은 0.5 mg/mL 농도에서 yeast ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ 활성을 18.61% 저해하였으며, 메탄올 추출물의 ethylacetate층은 48.46%, buthanol층은 41.91%의 저해활성을 나타내어 40.31%의 저해활성을 보인 acarbose보다 ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ 저해효과가 높은 것으로 나타냈다. 또한 메탄올 추출물은 0.5 mg/mL 농도에서 ${\alpha}-amylase$ 활성을 22.16% 저해하였으며, ethylacetate층은 56.31%, buthanol층은 43.66%의 저해활성을 나타내어 41.14%를 나타낸 acarbose보다 높은 저해활성을 나타냈다. 따라서 조릿대잎 추출물 중 ethylacetate층과 buthanol층은 탄수화물 소화효소인 ${\alpha}-glucosidase$와 ${\alpha}-amylase$ 저해활성에서 제2형 당뇨병환자의 혈당 강하제로 처방되고 있는 acarbose보다 높은 저해능을 가진 것으로 나타났다. STZ으로 당뇨를 유발한 생쥐와 정상생쥐에게 시료의 수율 및 탄수화물 소화효소의 저해활성이 높은 buthanol층을 전분과 함께 경구 투여한 후 혈당 증가를 측정한 결과, 전분과 함께 조릿대 잎 추출물의 buthanol층을 경구 투여한 경우가 전분만 투여한 경우에 비해 투여 후 30, 60, 120분에 혈당 증가가 유의적으로 낮았으며(p<0.0l), 식후혈당증가 곡선의 면적에서도 대조군보다 유의적(p<0.0l) 으로 적음을 확인할 수 있었다. 이상의 연구 결과 조릿대잎 추출물중 ethylacetate층과 buthanol층은 acarbose보다 높은 ${\alpha}-glucosidase$, ${\alpha}-amylase$ 저해활성을 나타내었으며, 특히 buthanol층은 STZ 유발 당뇨생쥐를 통해 식후 혈당증가를 저하시키는 효과까지도 확인할 수 있었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권12호
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• pp.6191-6196
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• 2012

Aims and Background: Traditional chemotherapy strategies for human leukemia commonly use drugs based on cytotoxicity to eradicate cancer cells. One predicament is that substantial damage to normal tissues is likely to occur in the course of standard treatments. Obviously, it is urgent to explore therapies that can effectively eliminate malignant cells without affecting normal cells. Our previous studies indicated that ginsenoside $Rg_1$ ($Rg_1$), a major active pharmacological ingredient of ginseng, could delay normal hematopoietic stem cell senescence. However, whether $Rg_1$ can induce cancer cell senescence is still unclear. Methods: In the current study, human leukemia K562 cells were subjected to $Rg_1$ exposure. The optimal drug concentration and duration with K562 cells was obtained by MTT colorimetric test. Effects of $Rg_1$ on cell cycle were analyzed using flow cytometry and by SA-${\beta}$-Gal staining. Colony-forming ability was measured by colony-assay. Telomere lengths were assessed by Southern blotting and expression of senescence-associated proteins P21, P16 and RB by Western blotting. Ultrastructural morphology changes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: K562 cells demonstrated a maximum proliferation inhibition rate with an $Rg_1$ concentration of $20{\mu}\;mol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ for 48h, the cells exhibiting dramatic morphological alterations including an enlarged and flat cellular morphology, larger mitochondria and increased number of lysosomes. Senescence associated-${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-Gal) activity was increased. K562 cells also had decreased ability for colony formation, and shortened telomere length as well as reduction of proliferating potential and arrestin $G_2$/M phase after $Rg_1$ interaction. The senescence associated proteins P21, P16 and RB were significantly up-regulated. Conclusion: Ginsenoside $Rg_1$ can induce a state of senescence in human leukemia K562 cells, which is associated with p21-Rb and p16-Rb pathways.

• 한국동물번식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물번식학회 2000년도 국제심포지움
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• pp.10-12
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• 2000

Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$-subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$ -subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was. efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to consist of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t63I or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632-653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agonist-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17-fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.357-364
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• 2000

Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$ -subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$-subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t631 or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632~653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agoinst-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17- fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.