• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.187-192
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• 2007

REOviruses (Respiratory Enteric Orphan viruses) are ubiquitous, non-enveloped viruses containing 10 segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as their genome. They are common isolates of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract of humans but are not associated with severe disease and are therefore considered relatively benign. An intriguing characteristic of reovirus is its innate oncolytic potential, which is linked to the transformed state of the cell. When immortalized cells are transfected in vitro with activated oncogenes such as Ras, Sos, v-erbB, or c-myc, they became susceptible to reovirus infection and subsequent cellular lysis, indicating that oncogene signaling pathways are exploited by reovirus. This observation has led to the use of the virus in clinical trials as an anti-cancer agent against oncogenic tumors. In addition to the exploitation of oncogene signaling, reovirus may further utilize host immune responses to enhance its antitumor activity in vivo due to its innate interferon induction ability. Reovirus is, however, not entirely benign to immunocompromised animal models. Reovirus causes so-called "black feet syndrome" in immunodeficient mice and can also harm neonatal animals. Because cancer patients often undergo immunosuppression due to heavy chemo/radiation-treatments or advanced tumor progression, this pathogenic response may be a hurdle in virus-based anticancer therapies. However, a genetically attenuated reovirus variant derived from persistent reovirus infection of cells in vitro is able to exert potent anti-tumor activity with significantly reduced viral pathogenesis in immunocompromised animals. Importantly, in this instance the attenuated, reovirus maintains its oncolytic potential while significantly reducing viral pathogenesis in vivo.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제11권6호
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• pp.348-357
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• 2011

Background: N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2), a member of a newly described family of differentiation-related genes, has been characterized as a regulator of dendritic cells. However, the role of NDRG2 on the expression and activation of transcription factors in blood cells remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of NDRG2 overexpression on GATA-1 expression in PMAstimulated U937 cells. Methods: We generated NDRG2-overexpressing U937 cell line (U937-NDRG2) and treated the cells with PMA to investigate the role of NDRG2 on GATA-1 expression. Results: NDRG2 overexpression in U937 cells significantly induced GATA-1 expression in response to PMA stimulation. Interestingly, JAK2/STAT and BMP-4/Smad pathways associated with the induction of GATA-1 were activated in PMA-stimulated U937-NDRG2 cells. We found that the inhibition of JAK2 activation, but not of BMP-4/Smad signaling, can elicit a decrease of PMA-induced GATA-1 expression in U937-NDRG2 cells. Conclusion: The results reveal that NDRG2 promotes the expression of GATA-1 through activation of the JAK2/STAT pathway, but not through the regulation of the BMP-4/Smad pathway in U937 cells. Our findings further suggest that NDRG2 may play a role as a regulator of erythrocyte and megakaryocyte differentiation during hematopoiesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제46권12호
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• pp.1186-1193
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• 2003

목 적 : 염색체 취약부위는 세포를 특정의 화학물질에 노출시키거나 특수한 배양조건에서 배양 할 때 쉽게 파열되는 염색체상의 특정구역이다. 취약부위는 유전성질환 및 악성종양과 관련이 있으며, 현재에는 분자생물학적 실험기법의 개발로 분자수준에서 이해가 되고 있다. 새로운 취약부위 및 취약부위의 발현을 높이거나 쉽게 관찰할 수 있는 실험실적 조건을 알아보기 위하여 항암제로 사용되는 Ara-C를 이용하여 염색체파열을 조사하여 보았다. 한편 염색체 취약부위가 종양형성과 관련이 있다는 사실에 기초하여 Ara-C에 의해 발열되는 취약부위와 암유전자가 위치하는 부위 및 종양에서 일정하게 염색체변이가 관찰되는 특정의 염색체 부위와의 상관관계도 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 정상 성인 남녀 각각 3명의 말초혈액 내 T-림프구를 세포배양 후 Ara-C를 첨가하고 다시 caffeine을 처리한 뒤 종전에 시행했던 방법과 동일하게 검체 처리하여 염색체파열 부위를 관찰하였다. 염색체 취약부위는 염색체상의 일정부위에서 100개의 염색체파열 당 2회 이상의 염색체파열이 6명 중 4명 이상에서 관찰되는 경우로 정의하였다. 결 과 : 1) T-림프구를 엽산이 부족한 MEN-FA 배지에서 배양 시 Ara-C는 100개의 분열세포 당 252.1개의 염색체파열을 유도하였으며, Ara-C를 처리하지 않은 대조군에서 25.2개가 관찰되어 Ara-C를 처리한 경우에 염색체파열이 의미 있게 많았다(P<0.05). 2) Ara-C에 의한 염색체파열은 엽산이 부족한 MEM-FA 배지에서 엽산이 충분한 RPMI 1640 배지에서 보다 많이 되었다(P<0.05). 한편, 2.0 mM 농도의 caffeine은 엽산만 부족한 배양 배지에서는 염색체파열을 상승시키지 못했으나, Ara-C와 병행사용 시 상승시켰다. 3) Ara-C에 의해 가장 많이 파열된 부위는 3p14.2.이었으며, 발현된 취약부위는 20부위였다. 4) 발현된 취약부위 중 7 부위는 JUN, SKI, REL, N-MYC, FHIT, MET, ETS-1, FOS의 암유전자가 위치하는 부위와 일치하였으며, 15부위는 급성림프구성백혈병, 급성골수성백혈병, 만성림프구성백혈병, 골수이형성성증, 악성흑색종, 신경모세포종, 소세포성폐암, 난소암, 유전성 신장암, 혼합성 지방육종시 염색체상에 이상이 있는 부위와 일치하였다. 결 론 : S기 특이성 항암제인 Ara-C는 정상성인의 T-림프구를 엽산이 부족한 MEM-FA배지에서 배양시 염색체 파열을 대조군에 비해 의미 있게 유도하였다. 한편으로 Ara-C 특이성 염색체 취약부위는 암유전자가 위치하는 부위 및 특정 종양에서 관찰되는 특이한 염색체변이가 있는 부위와 상당 예에서 일치하여 아직 알려지지 않은 암유전자를 찾거나 분석하는데 기초적인 자료를 제공할 뿐 아니라 염색체변화와 종양형성과정의 상관관계를 이해하는데 도움이 될 것으로 사료된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.210-221
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• 2022

비스테로이드소염제(NSAID)와 γ-secretase 저해제(DAPT) 또는 SIRT1저해제(MHY2245)의 병용 효과를 인간 대장암(KM12) 및 간암(SNU475) 세포를 대상으로 조사한 결과, celecoxib (CCB) 및 2, 5-dimethyl celecoxib (DMC)를 포함하는 NSAID는 DAPT 또는 MHY2245와의 병용에 의하여 COX-2활성과 상관없이 NSAID의 암세포 증식 억제능이 현저히 증강되었다. DAPT와 MHY2245는 p62단백질 감소와 동시에 Notch1, CD44, CD133, octamer- binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) 등의 다수의 종양 줄기세포 표지자 및 NICD1 발현 양을 감소시켰지만, activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) 발현은 증강시켰다. 또한 NSAID 단독처리 보다 NSAID/DAPT 및 NSAID/MHY2245 병용 처리에 의하여 오토파지가 촉진되므로서 종양 줄기세포 표지자의 발현 및 단백질양의 감소가 가속화되고, 이에 따라 PARP 활성화 및 세포사멸이 현저히 증강 되었다. 결론적으로 NSAID/DAPT 및 NSAID/MHY2245의 병용 투여는 종양 줄기세포 표지자를 발현하는 인간 암세포의 증식 억제 및 제거에 효과적인 처리방법으로, 임상에 적용시킬 수 있는 학문적 근거로서 제공 될 수 있다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권9호
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• pp.1206-1212
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• 2023

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays essential roles in regulating various cellular behaviors, including proliferation, survival, and differentiation [1-3]. The intracellular β-catenin level, which is regulated by a proteasomal degradation pathway, is critical to Wnt/β-catenin pathway control [4]. Normally, casein kinase 1 (CK1) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), which form a complex with the scaffolding protein Axin and the tumor suppressor protein adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), phosphorylate β-catenin at Ser45, Thr41, Ser37, and Ser33 [5, 6]. Phosphorylated β-catenin is ubiquitinated by the β-transducin repeat-containing protein (β-TrCP), an F-box E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, and ubiquitinated β-catenin is degraded via a proteasome pathway [7, 8]. Colorectal cancer is a significant cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Abnormal up-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a major pathological event in intestinal epithelial cells during human colorectal cancer oncogenesis [9]. Genetic mutations in the APC gene are observed in familial adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP) and sporadic colorectal cancers [10]. In addition, mutations in the N-terminal phosphorylation motif of the β-catenin gene were found in patients with colorectal cancer [11]. These mutations cause β-catenin to accumulate in the nucleus, where it forms complexes with transcription factors of the T-cell factor/lymphocyte enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) family to stimulate the expression of β-catenin responsive genes, such as c-Myc and cyclin D1, which leads to colorectal tumorigenesis [12-14]. Therefore, downregulating β-catenin response transcription (CRT) is a potential strategy for preventing and treating colorectal cancer. Plant cytokinins are N⁶-substituted purine derivatives; they promote cell division in plants and regulate developmental pathways. Natural cytokinins are classified as isoprenoid (isopentenyladenine, zeatin, and dihydrozeatin), aromatic (benzyladenine, topolin, and methoxytopolin), or furfural (kinetin and kinetin riboside), depending on their structure [15, 16]. Kinetin riboside was identified in coconut water and is a naturally produced cytokinin that induces apoptosis and exhibits antiproliferative activity in several human cancer cell lines [17]. However, little attention has been paid to kinetin riboside's mode of action. In this study, we show that kinetin riboside exerts its cytotoxic activity against colon cancer cells by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and promoting intracellular β-catenin degradation.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.143-156
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• 2006

Major characteristics of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are sustaining of sternness and pluripotency by self-renewal. In this report, transcriptional profiles of the molecules in the developmentally important signaling pathways including Wnt, BMP4, $TGF-\beta$, RTK, Hh, Notch, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways were investigated to understand the self-renewal of mouse ESCs (mESCs), J1 line, and compared with the NIH3T3 cell line and mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells as controls. In the Wnt signaling pathway, the expression of Wnt3 was seen widely in mESCs, suggesting that the ligand may be an important regulator for self-renewal in mESCs. In the Hh signaling pathway, the expression of Gli and N-myc were observed extensively in mESCs, whereas the expression levels of in a Shh was low, suggesting that intracellular molecules may be essential for the self-renewal of mESCs. IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF-IR and IGF-IIR of RTK signaling showed a lower expression in mESCs, these molecules related to embryo development may be restrained in mESCs. The expression levels of the Delta and HESS in Notch signaling were enriched in mESCs. The expression of the molecules related to BMP and JAK-STAT signaling pathways were similar or at a slightly lower level in mESCs compared to those in MEF and NIH3T3 cells. It is suggested that the observed differences in gene expression profiles among the signaling pathways may contribute to the self-renewal and differentiation of mESCs in a signaling-specific manner.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제10권6호
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• pp.219-229
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• 2010

Background: N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) is a member of the NDRG gene family. Our previous report indicated a possible role for NDRG2 in regulating the cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10), which is an important immunosuppressive cytokine. Several pathways, including p38-MAPK, NF-${\kappa}B$, and JAK/STAT, are used for IL-10 production, and the JAK/STAT pathway can be inhibited in a negative feedback loop by the inducible protein, SOCS3. In the present study, we investigated the effect of NDRG2 gene expression on IL-10 signaling pathway that is modulated via SOCS3 and STAT3. Methods: We generated NDRG2-overexpressing U937 cell line (U937-NDRG2) and treated the cells with PMA to investigate the role of NDRG2 in IL-10 production. U937 cells were also transfected with SOCS3- or NDRG2-specific siRNAs to examine whether the knockdown of SOCS3 or NDRG2 influenced IL-10 expression. Lastly, STAT3 and SOCS3 induction was measured to identify the signaling pathway that was associated with IL-10 production. Results: RT-PCR and ELISA assays showed that IL-10 was increased in U937-mock cells upon stimulation with PMA, but IL-10 was inhibited by overexpression NDRG2. After PMA treatment, STAT3 phosphorylation was decreased in a time-dependent manner in U937-mock cells, whereas it was maintained in U937-NDRG2 cells. SOCS3 was markedly reduced in U937-NDRG2 cells compared with U937-mock cells. IL-10 production after PMA stimulation was reduced in U937 cells when SOCS3 was inhibited, but this effect was less severe when NDRG2 was inhibited. Conclusion: NDRG2 expression modulates SOCS3 and STAT3 activity, eventually leading to the inhibition of IL-10 production.

• BMB Reports
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.741-748
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• 2004

The hepatitis C virus is associated with the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinomas. Among the 10 polyproteins produced by the virus, no function has been clearly assigned to the non-structural 5A (NS5A) protein. This study was designed to identify the hepatocellular proteins that interact with NS5A of the HCV. Yeast two-hybrid experiments were performed with a human liver cDNA prey-library, using five different NS5A derivatives as baits, the full-length NS5A (NS5A-F, amino acid (aa) 1~447) and its four different derivatives, denoted as NS5A-A (aa 1~150), -B (aa 1~300), -C (aa 300~447) and D (aa 150~447). NS5A-F, NS5A-B and NS5A-C gave two, two and 10 candidate clones, respectively, including an AHNAK-related protein, the secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4), the N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), the cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (CRABP-1), ferritin heavy chain (FTH1), translokin, tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TACSTD2), phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4K) and $centaurin{\delta}$ 2 ($CENT{\delta}2$). However, NS5A-A produced no candidates and NS5A-D was not suitable as bait due to transcriptional activity. Based on an in vitro binding assay, CRABP-1, PI4K, $CENT{\delta}2$ and two unknown fusion proteins with maltose binding protein (MBP), were confirmed to interact with the glutathione S-transferase (GST)/NS5A fusion protein. Furthermore, the interactions of CRABP-1, PI4K and $CENT{\delta}2$ were not related to the PXXP motif (class II), as judged by a domain analysis. While their biological relevance is under investigation, the results contribute to a better understanding of the possible role of NS5A in hepatocellular signaling pathways.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권2호
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• pp.81-86
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• 2022

Macrophages are a major cellular component of innate immunity and are mainly known to have phagocytic activity. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), they can be differentiated into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). As the most abundant immune cells in the TME, TAMs promote tumor progression by enhancing angiogenesis, suppressing T cells and increasing immunosuppressive cytokine production. N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) is a tumor suppressor gene, whose expression is down-regulated in various cancers. However, the effect of NDRG2 on the differentiation of macrophages into TAMs in breast cancer remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the effect of NDRG2 expression in breast cancer cells on the differentiation of macrophages into TAMs. Compared to tumor cell-conditioned medium (TCCM) from 4T1-mock cells, TCCM from NDRG2-over-expressing 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells did not significantly change the morphology of RAW 264.7 cells. However, TCCM from 4T1-NDRG2 cells reduced the mRNA levels of TAM-related genes, including MR1, IL-10, ARG1 and iNOS, in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, TCCM from 4T1-NDRG2 cells reduced the expression of TAM-related surface markers, such as CD206, in peritoneal macrophages (PEM). The mRNA expression of TAM-related genes, including IL-10, YM1, FIZZ1, MR1, ARG1 and iNOS, was also downregulated by TCCM from 4T1-NDRG2 cells. Remarkably, TCCM from 4T1-NDRG2 cells reduced the expression of PD-L1 and Fra-1 as well as the production of GM-CSF, IL-10 and ROS, leading to the attenuation of T cell-inhibitory activity of PEM. These data showed that compared with TCCM from 4T1-mock cells, TCCM from 4T1-NDRG2 cells suppressed the TAM differentiation and activation. Collectively, these results suggest that NDRG2 expression in breast cancer may reduce the differentiation of macrophages into TAMs in the TME.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.93-98
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• 2009

목적 : 진단 시 1세 이하인 신경모세포종 환자들의 임상적 특징을 알아보고, 이들의 치료 성적을 보고하고자 하였다. 방법 : 1997년 1월부터 2007년 12월까지 삼성서울병원 소아청소년과에서 새로 진단된 신경모세포종 환자 중 진단 시 나이가 1세 이하인 환자를 연구대상으로 하였다. 저위험군 중 1병기 환자들은 수술만 하였고, 2병기 환자들은 수술 후 단기간 화학요법을 시행하였다. 중간위험군 환자들은 수술 전 화학요법을 시행한 후 종양제거 수술과 수술 후 화학요법, 그리고 필요시 방사선 치료를 시행하였다. 중간위험군 환자에서는 통상적인 항암치료를 한 후에도 큰 잔존 종양이 있을 경우 고용량 화학요법 및 자가조혈모세포이식을 시행하였다. 고위험군 환자들은 통상적인 치료를 시행한 후 고용량 화학요법 및 자가조혈모세포이식, 면역요법과 분화요법 등 강력한 항암치료를 시행하였다. 결과 : 총 41명의 환자 중에서 1명에서 종양이 재발하였으며, 7명이 치료 독성으로 사명하였다. 5명의 환자가 통상적인 화학치료 중 감염으로 사망하였으며 이들 중 4명이 급성호흡곤란증후군으로 사망하였다. 그리고 2명의 환자가 고용량 화학 치료 및 자가조혈모세포이식을 하던 중 급성 심근염으로 사망하였다. 대상환자 41명의 진단 후 5년 전체 생존율(${\pm}$표준오차)은 $82.8{\pm}5.9%$였고 독성 사망과 재발을 사건으로 정의하였을 때 진단 후 5년 무사건 생존율은 $80.0{\pm}6.3%$였으며 정중 추적관찰 기간은 58개월이다. 생존율을 위험군 별로 비교하였을 때 저위험군, 중간위험군, 고위험군의 5년 무사건 생존율은 각각 100%, $68.4{\pm}10.8%$, $66.7{\pm}19.3%$였다. 결론 : 진단 시 1세 이하인 신경모세포종 환자들의 치료 성적을 더욱 향상시키기 위해서는 감염에 대한 철저한 관리와 예방이 필요하며, 독성 사망을 감소시키기 위한 새로운 치료법의 개발이 필요하다고 사료된다.