• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.733-738
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• 2020

Glucose deprivation and hypoxia frequently occur in solid tumor cells, including pancreatic cancer cells. Glucose deprivation activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) and causes the up-regulation of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78). Induction of GRP78 has been shown to protect cancer cells. Therefore, shutting down of GRP78 expression may be a novel strategy in anticancer drug development. Based on this understanding, a screening system established for anticancer agents that exhibit selective cytotoxicity on pancreatic cancer cells under glucose-deprived conditions. To test this hypothesis, the new compounds isolated, pancastatin A (PST-A) and B (PST-B), from Ponciri Fructus. PST-A and B were identified as glabretal triterpenoid moieties by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic methods. PST-A and B suppressed the accumulation of the UPR hallmark gene, GRP78, during glucose deprivation. Furthermore, PST-A and B showed selective cytotoxicity on PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells under glucose deprivation. Interestingly, PST-A and B had no effect on these cells under normal growth conditions. Our results suggest that PST-A and B act as novel therapeutic agents to induce selective cell death in glucose-deprived pancreatic cancer cells.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 2007

Stress-inducible proteins may function in part as molecular chaperones, protecting cells from damage due to various stresses and helping to maintain homeostasis. We examined the mRNA expression patterns of a 68-kDa heat shock protein (HSP68) and 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) in relation to physiological changes in Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas under osmotic stress. Expression of HSP68 and GRP78 mRNA in the gill significantly increased until 48 h in a hypersaline environment (HRE) and 72 h in a hyposaline environment (HOE), and then decreased. Osmolality and the concentrations of $Na^+$, $Cl^-$, and $Ca^{2+}$ in the hemolymph of HRE oysters significantly increased until 72 h (the highest value) and then gradually decreased; in HOE oysters, these values significantly decreased until 72 h (the lowest value), and then increased. These results suggest that osmolality and $Na^+$, $Cl^-$, and $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations were stabilized by HSP68 and GRP78, and indicate that these two stress-induced proteins play an important role in regulating the metabolism and protecting the cells of the Pacific oysters exposed to salinity changes.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.456-465
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• 1992

The 94 KDa glucose-resulsted Protein (SH 94), one of stress Proteins, is a Ca2+-binding protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this study, the possible effect of Ca2+ on the native conformation of grp 94 was examined. When the purified grp 94 was analyzed by Sel filtration in the presence of either EGTA or CaCl2, it was eluted with apparent molecular weight (MW) of 100 KDa in both cases. When similarly analyzed with microtome or cell Ivsate, however, srp 94 was eluted with apparent IW of 200 KDa in the presence of E6TA, while with apparent MW of 100 KDa in the presence of CaCl2, indicating possible association of grp 94 with one or more other proteins in the absence of CaCl2. Consequently, immunoprecipitation with anti-grp 94 was carried out to determine which proteins specifically interact with grp 94. It is sho%un that srp 94 may interact, in a Ca2+_dependent manner. with other proteins including BiP (grp 78) which is also a stress protein in the ER.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.571-576
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• 2019

Microenvironmental stress, which is naturally observed in solid tumors, has been implicated in anticancer drug resistance. This tumor-specific stress causes the degradation of topoisomerase $II{\alpha}$, rendering cells resistant to topoisomerase $II{\alpha}$-targeted anticancer agents. In addition, microenvironmental stress can induce the overexpression of 78kDa glucose regulated protein (GRP78), which can subsequently block the activation of apoptosis induced by treatment with anticancer agents. Therefore, inhibition of topoisomerase $II{\alpha}$ degradation and reduction in GRP78 expression may be effective strategies for inhibiting anticancer drug resistance. In this study, we investigated the active compound arctigenin, which inhibited microenvironmental stress-induced etoposide resistance in HT-29 cells. Arctigenin was also highly toxic to etoposide-resistant HT-29 cells, with an $IC_{50}$ value of $10{\mu}M$ for colony formation. We further showed that arctigenin inhibited the degradation of topoisomerase $II{\alpha}$ and reduced the expression of GRP78. Thus, these results suggest that arctigenin is a novel therapeutic agent that inhibits resistance to etoposide associated with microenvironmental stress conditions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.464-473
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• 2018

Cripto is a small glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored signaling protein that can detach from the anchored membrane and stimulate proliferation, migration, differentiation, vascularization, and angiogenesis. In the present study, we demonstrated that Cripto positively affected proliferation and survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) without affecting multipotency. Cripto also increased expression of phosphorylated janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), c-Myc, and cyclin D1. Notably, treatment with an anti-GRP78 antibody blocked these effects. In addition, pretreatment with STAT3 short interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited the increase in p-JAK2, c-Myc, cyclin D1, and BCL3 levels caused by Cripto and attenuated the pro-survival action of Cripto on MSCs. We also found that incubation with Cripto protected MSCs from apoptosis caused by hypoxia or $H_2O_2$ exposure, and the level of caspase-3 decreased by the Cripto-induced expression of B-cell lymphoma 3-encoded protein (BCL3). These effects were sensitive to down-regulation of BCL3 expression by BCL3 siRNA. Finally, we showed that Cripto enhanced expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In summary, our results demonstrated that Cripto activated a novel biochemical cascade that potentiated MSC proliferation and survival. This cascade relied on phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 and was regulated by GRP78. Our findings may facilitate clinical applications of MSCs, as these cells may benefit from positive effects of Cripto on their survival and biological properties.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.605-610
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• 2014

Chronic liver diseases, including cancer, are characterized by inflammation and elevated serum ferritin (SF). However, the causal-relationship remains unclear. This study used primary rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) as a model to investigate effects of physiological SF concentrations (10, 100 and 1000 pM) because HSCs play a central role in the development and progression of liver fibrosis. Physiological concentrations of SF, either horse SF or human serum, induced pro-inflammatory cytokine $IL1{\beta}$, IL6 and $TNF{\alpha}$ secretion in rat activated HSCs (all p<0.05). By contrast, treatment did not alter activation marker ${\alpha}SMA$ expression. The presence of SF markedly enhanced expression of Grp78 mRNA (p<0.01). Furthermore, transient knock down of Grp78 by endotoxin EGF-SubA abolished SF-induced $IL1{\beta}$ and $TNF{\alpha}$ secretion in activated HSCs (all p<0.05). In conclusion, our results showed that at physiological concentrations SF functions as a pro-inflammatory mediator in primary rat HSCs. We also provide a molecular basis for the action of SF and identified Grp78-associated ER stress pathways as a novel potential therapeutic target for resolution of fibrosis and possible prevention of liver cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1050-1056
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• 2013

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia throughout the world. The bacteria invade through lung tissue and cause sepsis, shock, and serious sequelae, including rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis. However, the molecular mechanism associated with pneumonia's penetration of lung tissue and invasion of the blood stream are still unclear. We attempted to investigate the host cell response at protein levels to S. pneumoniae D39 invasion using human lung cancer epithelial cells, A549. Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 began to change the morphology of A549 cells to become round with filopodia at 2 hours post-infection. A549 cell proteins obtained at each infection time point were separated by SDS-PAGE and analyzed using MALDI-TOF. We identified several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident proteins such as Grp94 and Grp78 and mitochondrial proteins such as ATP synthase and Hsp60 that increased after S. pneumoniae D39 infection. Cytosolic Hsc70 and Hsp90 were, however, identified to decrease. These proteins were also confirmed by Western blot analysis. The identified ER resident proteins were known to be induced during ER stress signaling. These/ data, therefore, suggest that S. pneumoniae D39 infection may induce ER stress.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1004-1011
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• 2010

This study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of Dodamtanggami-bang (DDTG) on tunicamycin induced cell death by ER stress in C6 glial cells. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and LDH release. Apoptosis was determined by caspase activity and flow cytometry in C6 glial cells. Expression of ER stress mediators including, GRP78 and CHOP proteins were measured by Western blot analysis. Tunicamycin induced the apoptosis of C6 glial cells, which was characterized as nucleic acid and caspase-3 activation, PARP cleavage, and sub-G0/G1 fraction of cell cycle increase. However, pretreatment with DDTG protected C6 glial cells from tunicamycin. Treatment with tunicamycin resulted in the increased the expression of GRP78 and CHOP protein and produced ROS generation. However, pretreatment with DDTG inhibited the ER stress pathway, including increase of the expression of GRP78, CHOP proteins in C6 glial cells treated with tunicamycin. Taken together, these data suggest that DDTG is able to protect C6 glial cells from tunicamycin with marked inhibition of ER stress.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 1996

We examined the expression of the heat shock proteins (HSPs) and glucose-regulated proteins (GRPs) during phorbol 1 2-myristate 1 3-acetate (PMA)-induced megakaryocytic differentiation of human er"'throleukemia K562 cells. PMA-treated K562 cells showed a cell growth arrest and alteration in morphology and patterns of gpllIa and c-myc expression, characteristic of megakaryocytic differentiation. During the megakaryocytic differentiation, HSP9OA, HSP9OB, and HSP28 mRNA and protein levels markedly decreased, while GRP78/B and GRP94 mRNA levels were enhanced. On the other hand, HSP7OA and HSP7OB mRNA levels were reduced, but HSP7O protein levels were not changed by PMA treatment. These results suggest specific roles for the HSPs and GRPs in K562 cell proliferation and megakaryocic differentiation.tion.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.233-240
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• 2017

Previously, we have shown that Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (S. chinensis) has a protective effect against endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced hepatic steatosis. Gomisin A is a bioactive phytoestrogen derived from S. chinensis. In the present study, the in vitro and in vivo effects of gomisin A on ER stress and hepatic steatosis were investigated. We quantified the expression of markers of ER stress, including glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homolog protein (CHOP), and X-box-binding protein-1 (XBP-1), in HepG2 cells treated with tunicamycin or palmitate. Tunicamycin treatment in HepG2 cells induced the expression of markers of ER stress, including GRP78, CHOP, and XBP-1c. However, treatment with gomisin A reduced the expression of markers of ER stress. These inhibitory effects were also observed in palmitate-incubated HepG2 cells. The in vivo inhibitory effects of gomisin A were assessed in mice injected with tunicamycin or fed with a high fat diet (HFD). Gomisin A reduced the expression of markers of ER stress and decreased triglyceride levels in the livers of mice after tunicamycin injection or HFD feeding. Furthermore, gomisin A decreased the expression of inflammatory genes in palmitate-incubated HepG2 cells and the liver of HFD-fed obese mice. These results suggest that gomisin A inhibits ER stress and ameliorates hepatic steatosis induced by ER stress.