• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.431-435
• /
• 2012

In this study, we describe a novel approach to achieve replicative selectivity of conditionally replicative adenovirus that is based upon trans-splicing ribozyme-mediated replacement of cancer-specific RNAs. We developed a specific ribozyme that can reprogram human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) RNA to induce adenoviral E1A gene expression selectively in cancer cells that express the RNA. Western blot analysis showed that the ribozyme highly selectively triggered E1A expression in hTERT-expressing cancer cells. RT-PCR and sequencing analysis indicated that the ribozyme-mediated E1A induction was caused via a high fidelity trans-splicing reaction with the targeted residue in the hTERT-expressing cells. Moreover, reporter activity under the control of an E1A-dependent E3 promoter was highly transactivated in hTERT-expressing cancer cells. Therefore, adenovirus containing the hTERT RNA-targeting trans-splicing ribozyme would be a promising anticancer agent through selective replication in cancer cells and thus specific destruction of the infected cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.1404-1408
• /
• 2009

Methanol extracts of Rubus Coreanus Miquel (RCM) were found to exhibit apoptosis induction of U937 human histiocytic leukemia cells. Treatment of RCM exerted strong cytotoxicity against U937 human leukemia cells. RCM induced apoptosis of U937 leukemia cells in a dose dependent manner. Nitric oxide (NO) production was increased in RCM-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cell line. RCM increased the p53 and $NF{\kappa}B$ gene and decreased the $I{\kappa}B$ gene expression in U937 cells. RCM also increased the $NF{\kappa}B$ protein expression, but decreased the PCNA and BcL-xL protein expression in cultured U937 cells. These data suggest that RCM are effective on the apoptosis induction of human leukemia cells and anti-cancer properties.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.123-129
• /
• 2009

Aprotinin is used clinically in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery to reduce transfusion requirements and the inflammatory response. The mechanism of action for the anti-inflammatory effects of aprotinin is still unclear. We examined our hypothesis whether inhibitory effects of aprotinin on cytokine-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression (IL-$l\beta$ plus TNF-$\alpha$), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation were due to HO-l induction in rat VSMCs. Aprotinin induced HO-l protein expression in a dose-dependent manner, which was potentiated during inflammatory condition. Aprotinin reduced cytokine mixture (CM)-induced iNOS expression in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, aprotinin reduced CM-induced ROS generation, cell proliferation, and phosphorylation of JNK but not of P38 and ERK1/2 kinases. Aprotinin effects were reversed by pre-treatment with the HO-l inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPPIX). HO-l is therefore closely involved in inflammatory-stimulated VSMC proliferation through the regulation of ROS generation and JNK phosphorylation. Our results suggest a new molecular basis for aprotinin anti-inflammatory properties.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.355-360
• /
• 2005

Sulfur, an important component of plants, is regulated by a variety of stresses in sulfate assimilation and metabolism. Increase has been observed in the expression of O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (OASTL) through two-dimensional electrophoresis with the shoot tips of Arabidopsis infected by beet severe curly top geminivirus (BSCTV). With the three- to six-fold increases in the transcript expression of OASTL, serine acetyltransferase (SAT) and $\gamma$-glutmylcysteine synthetase (GSH) were induced over the mock-inoculated organization in each organization through real-time RT-PCR analysis. The expression of those genes might affect the accumulation of anthocyanin in symptomatic tissues and the induction of abnormal callus-like structures formed by additional cell divisions as typical disease symptoms of BSCTV-infected Arabidopsis. This is the first report to describe the collaborative induction of OASTL, SAT, and GSH in virus-infected plants. The changed expressions of OASTL, SAT, and GSH in Arabidopsis infected with BSCTV raises new aspects regarding the biological function of symptomatic tissues related to sulfate metabolism.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.49-53
• /
• 2016

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are essential growth factors for bone formation, skeletal development and bone regeneration. The BMP-2/7 heterodimer is known to have remarkable effects on osteogenic induction that are even stronger than the BMP-2 or BMP-7 homodimers. We designed a recombinant human BMP-2/7 (rhBMP-2/7) heterodimer protein with four glycine residues between BMP-2 and BMP-7 protein to facilitate free bond rotation of domains. The Baculovirus Expression Vector System (BEVS) is routinely used to produce recombinant proteins in the milligram scale. In this study, the BEVS was used to express the rhBMP-2/7 protein whrer the recombinant baculovirus was recovered in the host Sf9 cells. To confirm the biological activity of rhBMP-2/7 protein secreted from the BEVS as an osteogenic differentiation and induction factor, we measured the BMP-induced ALP activity. rhBMP-2/7 could be used as an alternative to BMPs to overcome limitations like short half-life and requirement for high concentrations. Furthermore, rhBMP-2/7 may be an efficient tool for various application studies such as bone regeneration and skeletal development.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.273-280
• /
• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the pre-application effect of low frequency electrical stimulation(LFES) on VEGF expression of atrophic muscle and to determine the optimal pre-application period of LFES for prevent muscle atropy Methods : Twenty-five adult sprague-dawley rats were randomly assigned to weight bearing group, hindlimb suspension for 14 days group, hindlimb suspension with pre-application of LFES for 14 days group, hindlimb suspension with pre-application of LFES for 11 dsys group and, hindlimb suspension with pre-application LFES for 7 dsys group. 16Hz of Biphasic pulse current was applied to gastrocnemius for 15min per days. Results : VEGF were decreased expression in HSG groups, whereas VEGF were significantly increased in HS+ES14G, HS+ES11G, HS+ES7G groups Conclusion : LFES during the hindlimb suspension showed a positive effect in VEGF induction and early application is strongly encourage VEGF induction. This indicated that pre-application of LFES could prevent muscle atrophy.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.58-64
• /
• 2015

Activating transcription factor-3 (ATF3) acts as a negative regulator of cytokine production during Gram-negative bacterial infection. A recent study reported that ATF3 provides protection from Streptococcus pneumoniae infection by activating cytokines. However, the mechanism by which S. pneumoniae induces ATF3 after infection is still unknown. In this study, we show that ATF3 was upregulated via Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways in response to S. pneumoniae infection in vitro. Induction was mediated by TLR4 and TLR2, which are in the TLR family. The expression of ATF3 was induced by pneumolysin (PLY), a potent pneumococcal virulence factor, via the TLR4 pathway. Furthermore, ATF3 induction is mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Thus, this study reveals a potential role of PLY in modulating ATF3 expression, which is required for the regulation of immune responses against pneumococcal infection in macrophages.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.871-877
• /
• 2008

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible heme-degrading enzyme, is expressed by macrophages and endothelial cells in response to various stresses and mediators of inflammation. HO-1 has been recently implicated in regulation of angiogenesis via expression of VEGF. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of HO-1 modulation on the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model and on angiogenesis via up- regulation of VEGF expression in human synovial fibroblast. DBA/1J mice were treated with an inhibitor of HO-1, tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), or with an inducer of HO-1, cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP), from day 1 to day 35 after CIA induction. The clinical evolution of disease was monitored visually. At the end of the experiment, histopathologic changes were examined on the joints. VEGF expression in paws were measured by immunohistochemical stain. mRNA expression of HO-1 and VEGF stimulated with various concentration of $TNF-{\alpha}$, CoPP accessed on human synovial fibroblast by RT-PCR. Effects of pretreatment with SnPP on mRNA expression of HO-1 and VEGF in the presence of CoPP and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in synovial fibroblast was accessed by Real-time RT-PCR. Administration of cobalt protoporphyrin IX significantly induced the inflammatory response, with increased arthritis index and expression of VEGF in the paws of the arthritis models. Treatment with SnPP significantly reduced the severity of CIA through inhibition of joint inflammation and cartilage destruction. The expression of VEGF were also significantly reduced by SnPP treatment in the paw. CoPPIX as inducer of HO-1, increased HO-1 and VEGF expression dose dependently in synovial fibroblast. In contrast, inhibition of HO-1 activity by SnPPIX abrogated CoPPIX-induced HO-1 and VEGF production in synovial fibroblast. Stimulation with $TNF-{\alpha}$ increased HO-1 and VEGF expression itself and showed additive effect on HO-1 and VEGF expression when it treated with CoPP. When SnPP was treated with CoPP and $TNF-{\alpha}$, it abrogated the CoPP induced HO-1 and VEGF expression and also abrogated $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced HO-1 and VEGF expression in synovial fibroblast. The effects of HO-1 induction in rheumatoid arthritis results in aggravation of arthritis via up-regulation of VEGF. I concluded that inhibition of the expression or activity of HO-1 could be a therapeutic target of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.315-323
• /
• 2013

Ginseng is known to have antistress effects. Previously, red ginseng (RG) was shown to repress stress-induced peptidyl arginine deiminase type IV (PADI4) via estrogen receptor ${\beta}$ ($ER{\beta}$) in the brain, thus inhibiting brain cell apoptosis. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ plays a critical role in immobilization (IMO) stress. However, the signaling pathway of RG-mediated repressesion of inflammation is not completely understood. In this study, we determined how RG modulated gene expression in stressed brain cells. Since secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ is modulated via TNF-${\alpha}$ converting enzyme (TACE) and nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$, we examined the inflammatory pathway in stressed brain cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed that TACE was induced by IMO stress, but RG repressed TACE induction. Moreover, PADI4 siRNA repressed TACE expression compared to the mock transfected control suggesting that PADI4 was required for TACE expression. A reporter assay also revealed that $H_2O_2$ oxidative stress induced NF-${\kappa}B$ in neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells, however, RG pretreatment repressed NF-${\kappa}B$ induction. These findings were supported by significant induction of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by oxidative stress, which could be repressed by RG administration. Taken together, RG appeared to repress stress-induced PADI4 via TACE and NF-${\kappa}B$ in brain cells thus preventing production of ROS and subsequently protecting brain cells from apoptosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.567-573
• /
• 2014

Hormonal and nutrient signals regulate leptin synthesis and secretion. In rodents, leptin is stored in cytosolic pools of adipocytes. However, not much information is available regarding the regulation of intracellular leptin in ruminants. Recently, we demonstrated that leptin mRNA was expressed in bovine intramuscular preadipocyte cells (BIP cells) and that a cytoplasmic leptin pool may be present in preadipocytes. In the present study, we investigated the expression of cytoplasmic leptin protein in BIP cells during differentiation as well as the effects of various factors added to the differentiation medium on its expression in BIP cells. Leptin mRNA expression was observed only at 6 and 8 days after adipogenic induction, whereas the cytoplasmic leptin concentration was the highest on day 0 and decreased gradually thereafter. Cytoplasmic leptin was detected at 6 and 8 days after adipogenic induction, but not at 4 days after adipogenic induction. The cytoplasmic leptin concentration was reduced in BIP cells at 4 days after treatment with dexamethasone, whereas cytoplasmic leptin was not observed at 8 days after treatment. In contrast, acetate significantly enhanced the cytoplasmic leptin concentration in BIP cells at 8 days after treatment, although acetate alone did not induce adipocyte differentiation in BIP cells. These results suggest that dexamethasone and acetate modulate the cytoplasmic leptin concentration in bovine preadipocytes.