• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.9 s.89
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• pp.1298-1302
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• 2007

A hallmark of cancers is 'leaky' tight junctions (Tjs). TJs mediated paracellular permeability is elevated and TJs maintained cell polarity is frequently lost. Concomitantly, TJs-associated proteins including members of the claudin family of proteins are dysregulated. Recent findings indicate that these TJs changes can contribute to cancer progression. In this study, we examined the effects of ${\beta}-lapachone$, a quinone compound obtained from the bark of the lapacho tree (Tabebuia avellanedae), on the Tjs-associated regulators in human hepatocarcinoma cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3B. ${\beta}-lapachone$ treatment downregulated the levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-lR) proteins in both HepG2 and Hep3B cells. But the levels of claudin-3 and -4 proteins were increased in ${\beta}-lapachone$-treated HepG2 and Hep3B cells. And also the zonnula occludens-l (la-I) and p-catenin protein levels by ${\beta}-lapachone$ were increased in a time-dependent manner. However, claudin-3 and -4 mRNA levels were uninhibited by ${\beta}-lapachone$ in HepG2 and Hep3B. The present results suggest that the upregulation of claudin-3 and -4 protein levels by ${\beta}-lapachone$ occurs by a post-transcriptional mechanism and points to a novel mechanism by ${\beta}-lapachone$.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2001

This study was performed to report a direct dose dependent stimulatory effect of the Flavonoid(F) on basal testosterone secretion and a dose dependent effect on LH induced testosterone production by Leydig cell of matured rats in vitro culture. F was obtained kom the Rhus vernicifua through aceton extraction and silica gel adsorption column chromatography. Leydig cells (1$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/well) from 12 weeks old rats were incubated with or without F(0, 20, 40, 80, 160 ng) or insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) in the presence or absence of LH(10, 100ng). 1. The maximal stimulatory concentrations of testosterone in culture media were showed at 24hr of culture. but these testosterone level were decreased at 36 hr of culture. 2. Flavonoid(80ng) were significantly(P ＜ 0.05) increased testosterone production compared with control groups for 12 hr culture. 3. Testosterone secretion by Leydig cells stimulated with LH(10, 100ng) for 6 hr and 12hr culture compared with 3 hr culture. 4. LH 10 ng augmented testosterone were increased by addition of F 40 ng for 12 hr culture. 5. F(0 and 40 ng) also enhanced LH 10 ng stimulated testosterone for 3 hr Leydig cells culture. 6. Addition of IGF-I 100 ng to the culture medium for 6 hr were increased the concentration of testosterone by Leydig cells stimulated with 100 ng LH. These results indicate that Flavonoid has a direct stimulatory effect on basal testosterone secretion in rat Leydig cells, and also modulates LH mediated testosterone. Therefore, Flavonoid may act as a modulator on gonadal development or gonadal steroidogenesis in direct or indirect.