• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.122-133
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to investigating whether lncRNA H19 promotes myocardial fibrosis by suppressing the miR-29a-3p/miR-29b-3p-VEGFA/TGF-β axis. Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and healthy volunteers were included in the study, and their biochemical parameters were collected. In addition, pcDNA3.1-H19, si-H19, and miR-29a/b-3p mimic/inhibitor were transfected into cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), and proliferation of CFs was detected by MTT assay. Expression of H19 and miR-29a/b-3p were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, collagen II, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and elastin were measured by western blot analysis. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay was carried out to detect the sponging relationship between H19 and miR-29a/b-3p in CFs. Compared with healthy volunteers, the level of plasma H19 was significantly elevated in patients with AF, while miR-29a-3p and miR-29b-3p were markedly depressed (P < 0.05). Serum expression of lncRNA H19 was negatively correlated with the expression of miR-29a-3p and miR-29b-3p among patients with AF (r_s = -0.337, r_s = -0.236). Moreover, up-regulation of H19 expression and down-regulation of miR-29a/b-3p expression facilitated proliferation and synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins. SB431542 and si-VEGFA are able to reverse the promotion of miR-29a/b-3p on proliferation of CFs and ECM-related protein synthesis. The findings of the present study suggest that H19 promoted CF proliferation and collagen synthesis by suppressing the miR-29a-3p/miR-29b-3p-VEGFA/TGF-β axis, and provide support for a potential new direction for the treatment of AF.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.1136-1141
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• 2008

This study was to investigate antiwrinkle effect of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) methanol extract in hairless mouse skin induced by UVB-irradiation. Hairless mouse were topically treated with the basic lotion alone (control), ascorbic acid (AA-0.5%, AA-1.0%, AA-2.0%, and AA-5.0%) and mugwort extract (ME-0.5%, ME-1.0%, ME-2.0%, and ME-5.0%) dissolved in a basic lotion. After topical treatment of 30 minutes, the animals were irradiated with increasing doses of UVB radiation ($60{\sim}100\;mJ/cm^2$) for 4 weeks. In our experimental condition, skin thickness of hairless mouse was significantly decreased ($12.5{\sim}21.4%$) in all ME groups compared with control group. Ra value, that is surface roughness parameter induced by skin wrinkling, was significantly decreased ($23.7{\sim}31.1%$) in ME-1.0%, 2.0% and 5.0% group compared with control group. Furthermore, Rq, Rz and Rt value were significantly decreased to $11.2{\sim}21.2%$, $19.8%{\sim}24.5%$, and $14.2%{\sim}22.7%$, respectively. Wrinkle formation of ascorbic acid treatment group as reference group was inhibited, but its effect was less than ME treatment. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 activity was significantly inhibited ($19.7{\sim}22.6%$) compared with control group and collagen content was significantly increased (about 10%) when compared with control group. These results indicate that ME could protect skin aging and wrinkle formation in hairless mouse from photo-irradiation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.215-225
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• 2005

Objective : It has long been known about the osteogenic effect of CTF-HAS on bone tissues. However, it has not been determined the effect of CTF-HAS on cancer cells. The purpose of this study is to screen the CTF-HAS mediated differentially expressed genes in cancer cells such as HepG2 hepatoma cells lines. Oligonucleotide microarray approach were employed to screen the differential expression genes. Methods : CTF-HAS was prepared by boiling and stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ until use. Cells were treated with various concentrations of CTF-HAS(0.1, 0.5, 1.5, 10, $20mg/m{\ell}$) for 24 h. Cytotoxicity was tested by MTT assay. To screen the differentially expressed genes in cancer cells, cells were treated with $1.5mg/m{\ell}$ of CTF-HAS. For oligonucleotide microarray assay, total RNA was used for gene expression analysis using oligonucleotide genechip (Human genome U133 Plus 2.0., Affimatrix Co.). ResuIts : It has no cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cells in all concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.5, 10, $20mg/m{\ell}$). More than twofold up-regulated genes were 19 genes. The number of more than twofold down-regulated genes was 13. Discussion : This study showed the screening of CTF-HAS mediated differentially regulated genes using combined approaches of oligonucleotide microarray. The screened genes will be used for the better understanding in therapeutic effect of CTF-HAS on cancer field.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.82-94
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• 2003

Although debates still exist whether Helicobacter pylori infection is really class I carcinogen or not, H. pylori has been known to provoke precancerous lesions like gastric adenoma and chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia as well as gastric cancer. Chronic persistent, uncontrolled gastric inflammations are possible basis for ensuing gastric carcinogenesis and H. pylori infection increased COX-2 expressions, which might be the one of the mechanisms leading to gastric cancer. To know the implication of long-term treatment of antiinflammatory drugs, rebamipide or nimesulide, on H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis, we infected C57BL/6 mice with H. pylori, especially after MNU administration to promote carcinogenesis and the effects of the long-term administration of rebamipide or nimesulide were evaluated. C57BL/6 mice were sacrificed 50 weeks after H. pylori infection. Colonization rates of H. pylori, degree of gastric inflammation and other pathological changes including atrophic gastritis and metaplasia, serum levels and mRNA transcripts of various mouse cytokines and chemokines, and NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activities, and finally the presence of gastric adenocarcinoma were compared between H. pylori infected group (HP), and H. pylori infected group administered with long-term rebamipide containing pellet diets (HPR) or nimesulide mixed pellets (HPN). Gastric mucosal expressions of ICAM-1, HCAM, MMP, and transcriptional regulations of NF-${\kappa}B$ binding were all significantly decreased in HPR group than in HP group. Multi-probe RNase protection assay showed the significantly decreased mRNA levels of apoptosis related genes and various cytokines genes like IFN-$\gamma$, RANTES, TNF-$\alpha$, TNFR p75, IL-$1{\beta}$ in HPR group. In the experiment designed to provoke gastric cancer through MNU treatment with H. pylori infection, the incidence of gastric carcinoma was not changed between HP and HPR group, but significantly decreased in HPN group, suggesting the chemoprevention of H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis by COX-2 inhibition. Long-term administration of antiinflammatory drugs should be considered in the treatment of H. pylori since they showed the molecular and biologic advantages with possible chemopreventive effect against H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis. If the final concrete proof showing the causal relationship between H. pylori infection and gastric carcinogenesis could be obtained, that will shed new light on chemoprevention of gastric cancer, that is, that gastric/cancer could be prevented through either the eradication of H. pylori or lessening the inflammation provoked by H. pylori infection in high risk group.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2018

The imports of Centella asiatica L. Urban are increasing year-by-year due to the fact that its extract is a raw material used for skin wounds and in cosmetics. However, studies on the cultivation and identification of native C. asiatica species in Korea have been extremely rare. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to investigate the physiological and functional activity of Korean native C. asiatica plant cultivated in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. As a result, the highest antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities were examined with methanol extract while skin-whitening and wrinkle improvement were examined with water extract. Seven bacterium and one fungus were treated with 50% methanol extracts of C. asiatica and most of the bacterium showed similar or low levels of antibacterial activity compared to the control group of Omiza (Schisandra chinensis) extract, except for Streptococcus pyogenes, which showed higher antimicrobial activity than that of Omiza extract. However, neither C. asiatica and Omiza extracts showed antimicrobial activity against the fungus, C. albicans. The results of anti-inflammatory effect analyses with Raw 264.7 cells confirmed that the treatment of methanol extract reduced the level of NO by 50% or more compared to the control group. In addition, the water extract showed the highest reduction of melanin content of up to 20% more than the control group when examined with B16F10 cell line, indicating a significant skin-whitening effect. Furthermore, we were able to show the significant skin wrinkle improvement caused by C. asiatica extract with NHDF cell as an indicator, but strong cytotoxicity was also observed, suggesting that further studies are necessary.