• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.771-780
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• 2022

The field of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has expanded tremendously over the last decade. The role of cell-to-cell communication in neighboring or distant cells has been increasingly ascribed to EVs generated by various cells. Initially, EVs were thought to a means of cellular debris or disposal system of unwanted cellular materials that provided an alternative to autolysis in lysosomes. Intercellular exchange of information has been considered to be achieved by well-known systems such as hormones, cytokines, and nervous networks. However, most research in this field has searched for and found evidence to support paracrine or endocrine roles of EV, which inevitably leads to a new concept that EVs are synthesized to achieve their paracrine or endocrine purposes. Here, we attempted to verify the endocrine role of EV production and their contents, such as RNAs and bioactive proteins, from the regulation of biogenesis, secretion, and action mechanisms while discussing the current technical limitations. It will also be important to discuss how blood EV concentrations are regulated as if EVs are humoral endocrine machinery.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.335-340
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• 2023

During normal physiological and abnormal pathophysiological conditions, all cells release membrane vesicles, termed extracellular vesicles (EVs). Growing evidence has revealed that EVs act as important messengers in intercellular communication. EVs play emerging roles in cellular responses and the modulation of immune responses during virus infection. EVs contribute to triggering antiviral responses to restrict virus infection and replication. Conversely, the role of EVs in the facilitation of virus spread and pathogenesis has been widely documented. Depending on the cell of origin, EVs carry effector functions from one cell to the other by horizontal transfer of their bioactive cargoes, including DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, and metabolites. The diverse constituents of EVs can reflect the altered states of cells or tissues during virus infection, thereby offering a diagnostic readout. The exchanges of cellular and/or viral components by EVs can inform the therapeutic potential of EVs for infectious diseases. This review discusses recent advances of EVs to explore the complex roles of EVs during virus infection and their therapeutic potential, focusing on HIV-1.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.615-621
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• 2023

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) plays a key role in heme oxygenase (HO)-1 induction under physical and moderate oxidative stress conditions. The transient and mild induction of HO-1 is beneficial for cell protection, mitochondrial function, regeneration, and intercellular communication. However, chronic HO-1 overexpression is detrimental in severely injured regions. Thus, in a chronic pathological state, diminishing HO-1-mediated ferroptosis is beneficial for a therapeutic approach. The molecular mechanisms by which KRG protects various cell types in the central nervous system have not yet been established, especially in terms of HO-1-mediated mitochondrial functions. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the multiple roles of KRG in the regulation of astrocytic HO-1 under pathophysiological conditions. More specifically, we discuss the role of the KRG-mediated astrocytic HO-1 pathway in regulating mitochondrial functions in acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases as well as physiological conditions.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2003

Objective : Ikiyangeumhaedoc-tang(IYHT) has an effect of nourishing Yin(陰) and Jin(津), and has been used to cancer patient effectively. In order to prove the anticancer's and antimetastic effect of IYHT experimentally, studies were done. Methods : We evaluated the cytotoxic activity on HT-1080 cells as well as inhibitory effect on activity of DNA topoisomerase Ⅰ, cell adhesion, cell invasion and proliferation of HUVEC cells induced by bFGF and measured the expression of mRNA(uPA, MMP2, TIMP2), p-ERK protein, recovery effect of gap junctional intercellular communication by $H_{2}O_2$ and survival time of ICR mice bearing sacoma-180. Results : IYHT showed the inhibitory effect on DNA topoisomerase Ⅰ in the concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml,\;500{\mu}g/ml$ and the dosage-dependent inhibitory effect on the adhesion of HT-1080. The concentration of 1mg/ml of IYHT inhibited 15% of adhesion compared with control. IYHT decreased the expression of uPA, but not in MMP2, TIMP2 by RT-PCR and inhibited the expression of p-ERK effectively in the concentration of more than $500{\mu}g/ml.$ IYHT recovered the inhibited gap junctional intercellular communication by $H_{2}O_2$ to the level of 60% of normal control in the concentration of $400{\mu}g/ml$ but, did not extended the mean survival time of sarcoma 180-bearing mouse. Conclusions : It was concluded that IYHT could be applied usefully for prevention and treatment of human cancer, And also experimental study for the evaluation of molecular biological study and antimetastatic research would be recommended in the near future.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.452-457
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• 2002

Galla Rhois is a gallnut of Rhus javanica Linne used for treatment of diarrhea, hemorrhage, cough, leukorrhea and toxic tumor etc in oriental medicine. For the evaluation of antitumor effect of Galla Rhois, activity based fractionation was done. We isolated an effective compound and identified 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose(PGG) by photometric analysis such as NMR and MASS. Then, we studied the angiogenic activity of PGG. It showed a cytotoxicity against SK-OV-3, SK-OV-3, HT1080 with IC/sub 50/ of 50 ug/ml approximately. It also effectively inhibited proliferation of HUVEC cells treated by bFGF to 30% of control at 20 ug/ml and cell migration to 80% at 10 ug in a dose dependent fashion. Tube formation of HUVEC cells on matrigel was effectively suppressed from 2.5 ug/ml of concentration by PGG. Moreover, it effectively recovered the dysfunction of gap junctional intercellular communication in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells caused by hydrogen peroxide at 4 ug/ml suggesting it potently can inhibit tumor promotion. Taken together, it indicates 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl- β -D-glucose has antiangiogenic activity.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2002

Dioxin represents a group of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons of which 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorod-ibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is well known for its extremely toxic properties as well as ubiquitous presence in our environment and ecosystems. In order to better assess the carcinogenic mechanism of dioxin, we should utilize the reliable biomarkers that can precisely and correctly reflect multi-stage carcinogenesis. When MCF10A cells were exposed to TCDD (10 nM), expression of both CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 was induced in a time-related manner. The expression as well as activity of ornithine decarboxylase was transiently induced by TCDD treatment. In contrast, the induction of COX-2 that is implicated in carcinogenesis as well as inflammation, was not induced by TCDD. In another study, gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) was attenuated by TCDD treatment as revealed by the dye-transfer assay. Based on these findings, TCDD has both tumor initiating and promoting potential in human breast epithelial cells in culture. Also, treatment of MCF10A cells with the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene plus TCDD resulted in malignant cell transformation as revealed by increased anchorage-independent growth of exposed cells. Additional studies may be necessary to assess the effects of TCDD on multi-stage carcinogenesis in vivo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.350-355
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• 2009

Arachidonic acid (AA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is a normal constituent of membrane lipids in animal cells. In addition to its role as a precursor of prostaglandins, AA itself may play an important role in the regulation of cell function. The effect of AA on functions of granulosa cells was investigated in pre-hierarchical small yellow follicles of laying hens. Immuno-cytochemical staining showed that AA ($10^{-7}-10^{-5}$ M) increased the expression of the extracellular matrix glycoprotein laminin, gap junction connexin 43 and protein kinase C (PKC). Therefore, mediated by the PKC signal pathway, AA may regulate the intercellular communication of granulosa cells and follicular development by increasing the expression of laminin and connexin.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2000

High molecular weight water-insoluble chitosan alone has been previously shown to exhibit in vitro stimulatory effect on macrophages nitric oxide (NO) production. However, high molecular weight water-soluble chitosan (WSC) had no effect on NO production by itself. When WSC was used in combination with recombinant $interferon-{\gamma}\;(Rifn-{\gamma})$, there was a marked cooperative induction of NO synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. The optimal effect of WSC on NO synthesis was shown at 24 h after treatment with $rIFN-{\gamma}$. The increased production of NO from $rIFN-{\gamma}$ plus WSC-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages was decreased by the treatment with $N^G$ $monomethyl-_L-arginine$. The increase in NO synthesis was reflected, as an increased amounts of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein. Synergy between $rIFN-{\gamma}$ and WSC was mainly dependent on WSC-induced nuclear $factor-_KB$ activation. The present results indicate that WSC may provide various activities such as anti-microbial, anti-tumoral, and anti-viral. In addition, since NO has emerged as an important intracellular and intercellular regulatory molecule having functions as diverse as vasodilation, neural communication, cell growth regulation and host defense, it is tempting to hypothesize that this WSC is involved in the local control of the various fundamental processes such as cardiagra, cardiac infarction, impotence etc.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.230-235
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• 2004

We previously reported that the phytoprotein extracted from Acanthopanax senticosus (PA) had anti-carcinogenic anti-metastatic activity via increase of inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication. In the present study investigated the immunomodulatory mechanism of phytoprotein isolated from the stem bark of Acanthopanax sentic (PA). PA was found to significantly stimulate macrophages producing TNF-α and IL-1β in vitro. It also showed tumori activity indicating that PA had the ability to stimulate macrophage directly. Moreover, PA induced the CDB/sup +/ CTL cy responses to recognize antigen on the B16-BL6 melanoma cells. Treatment of PA with B16-BL6 melanoma cells increased the proliferation of splenocytes compared with untreated control. These results demonstrate that PA immunomodulatory activity suggesting a useful anti-tumor agent applicable to treatment and prevention of cancer.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2001.10b
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• pp.159-160
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• 2001