• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.625-630
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• 2016

The RNA-binding protein Rbfox3 is a well-known splicing regulator that is used as a marker for post-mitotic neurons in various vertebrate species. Although recent studies indicate a variable expression of Rbfox3 in non-neuronal tissues, including lung tissue, its cellular function in lung cancer remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the number of RBFOX3-positive cells in tumorous lung tissue is lower than that in normal lung tissue. As the transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) signaling pathway is important in cancer progression, we investigated its role in RBFOX3 expression in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. TGF-${\beta}1$ treatment inhibited RBFOX3 expression at the transcriptional level. Further, RBFOX3 depletion led to a change in the expression levels of a subset of proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), such as E-cadherin and Claudin-1, during TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EMT. In immunofluorescence microscopic analysis, mesenchymal morphology was more prominent in RBFOX3-depleted cells than in control cells. These findings show that TGF-${\beta}$-induced RBFOX3 inhibition plays an important role in EMT and propose a novel role for RBFOX3 in cancer progression.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.240-248
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• 2013

In this study, we compared the immune cell populations in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial fluid, which shows lymphoid tissue-like structure, with those in tonsils, which are normal secondary lymphoid tissues. Firstly, we found that $CD4^-CD11b^+$ macrophages were the major population in RA synovial fluid and that B cells were the major population in tonsils. In addition, synovial fluid from patients with osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease, contained $CD4^+CD11b^+$monocytes as the major immune cell population. Secondly, we categorized three groups based on the proportion of macrophages found in RA synovial fluid: (1) the macrophage-high group, which contained more than 80% macrophages; (2) the macrophage-intermediate group, which contained between 40% and 80% macrophages; and (3) the macrophage-low group, which contained less than 40% macrophages. In the macrophage-low group, more lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi)-like cells were detected, and the expression of OX40L and TRANCE in these cells was higher than that in the other groups. In addition, in this group, the suppressive function of regulatory T cells was downregulated. Finally, CXCL13 expression was higher in RA synovial fluid than in tonsils, but CCL21 expression was comparable in synovial fluid from all groups and in tonsils. These data demonstrate that increased lymphocyte infiltration in RA synovial fluid is correlated with an increase in LTi-like cells and the elevation of the chemokine expression.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.289-292
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• 2000

A Holstein cattle with third pregnancy was found to have clinical emergency findings of anxiety, dyspnea and recumbency at just before parturition. So Cesarean section and observation of internal organs were taken. Macroscopic examination showed enlargement of th lymph nodes and spleen, and ascites. A large tumor mass with solid and white to gray-white and focal hemorrhage, 55$\times$120cm in dimension and weighing 25.5kg was found in pelivc cavity. For conventional light microscopy, tissue samples were fixed in 10% neutral formalin solution, and then paraffin embedding, sectining and H-E staining were performed. In microscopic findings, tumor tissue, lymph node and spleeen were composed of mainly lymphoid tumor cells and the number of white blood cells in peripheral blood were increased 10-fold more than in normal. We concluded this tumor was bovine lymphoma.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 2023

Mechanosensitive ion channels sense mechanical stimuli applied directly to the cellular membranes or indirectly through their tethered components, provoking cellular mechanoresponses. Among others, Piezo1 mechanosensitive ion channel is a relatively novel Ca²⁺-permeable channel that is primarily present in non-sensory tissues. Recent studies have demonstrated that Piezo1 plays an important role in Ca²⁺-dependent cell death, including apoptosis and ferroptosis, in the presence of mechanical stimuli. It has also been proven that cancer cells are sensitive to mechanical stresses due to higher expression levels of Piezo1 compared to normal cells. In this review, we discuss Piezo1-mediated cell death mechanisms and therapeutic strategies to inhibit or induce cell death by modulating the activity of Piezo1 with pharmacological drugs or mechanical perturbations induced by stretch and ultrasound.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.339-344
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• 2011

Purpose: The goal of cancer surgery is complete removal of cancer tissue and prevention of recurrence. Surgeons can change the surgical instruments after total resection of the cancer mass. The purpose of this procedure is to prevent dissemination of the cancer cells attached to the surgical instruments. Authors hypothesize the possibility of local recurrence caused by the cancer cells attached to the surgical instruments in the skin cancer cases. Methods: Skin cancers were induced by using DMBA-TPA two-stage carcinogenesis model in 10 of Balb/c mice. In 2-weeks, skin cancer was developed in all 10 mice. cancer cell attached surgical instruments were made by pinching the removed cancer tissue using Adson tissue forcep 10, 20, 30 times each. To count number of cancer cells in each forcep with different number of pinching was done, the forceps were washed in 30 mL of the normal saline and Cytospin preparation was done. To make recurrence models from cancer cell attached surgical instrument, three incisions were made in normal skin of each mouse, and local seeding was done by pinching subcutaneous tissue in 10, 20, 30 times each by using Adson teeth forceps mentioned above as cancer cell attached surgical instrument. Results: All skin cancers were squamous cell carcinoma. Local recurrences were developed in 7 mice (3 in 10 times forceping site, 2 in 20 times forceping and 3 in 30 times forceping). In the cytospin test, the mean number of squamous cells in 100 microscope was 28.6 in 10 times, 47.2 in 20 times, 93.6 in 30 times, respectively. P value was 0.002 in Wilcoxon-Sign test. Conclusion: The number of cell count was significantly increased as number of pinching was increased. And these cells are able to induce local recurrence by local seeding. Considering this result, authors are able to confirm that the minimal handling in cancer surgery is important factor to prevent local recurrence.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1777-1786
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• 2009

Thymosin ${\beta}4$, a small protein containing 43 amino acids, has multi-functional roles in cell physiology. It was first identified as a thymic maturation factor and recently has been shown to accelerate wound healing, hair growth, angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. It was also reported to play a key role in developing organs, including the nervous system and heart. Thymosin ${\beta}4$ induces the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), laminin-5, and other important biologically active genes. Using tissue microarray analysis, we investigated the expression patterns of thymosin ${\beta}4$ and VEGF in various normal human adult tissues. Thymosin ${\beta}4$ was highly expressed in the liver, pancreas, ductal epithelium of the salivary gland, and heart, and moderately expressed in the skin, lung, spleen, lymph node, thymus, ureter, and blood endothelial cells in both the lung and adrenal gland. The expression of VEGF generally co-localized with thymosin ${\beta}4$ and VEGF was highly expressed in the pancreas, ureter, mammary gland, liver, esophagus, and blood endothelial cells in both the lung and adrenal gland. These results suggest that thymosin ${\beta}4$ plays an important role in the function of various organs and since the expression pattern of thymosin ${\beta}4$ co-localized with VEGF, part of that function may be to induce or maintain angiogenesis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.621-627
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• 2017

We previously reported the involvement of zinc-finger protein 143 (ZNF143) on cancer cell motility in colon cancer cells. Here, ZNF143 was further characterized in breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of ZNF143 in normal tissues and in tissues from metastatic breast cancer at various stages. Notably, ZNF143 was selectively expressed in duct and gland epithelium of normal breast tissues, which decreased when the tissue became malignant. To determine the molecular mechanism how ZNF143 affects breast cancer progression, it was knocked down by infecting benign breast cancer cells with short-hairpin (sh) RNA-lentiviral particles against ZNF143 (MCF7 sh-ZNF143). MCF7 sh-ZNF143 cells showed different cell-cell contacts and actin filament (F-actin) structures when compared with MCF7 sh-Control cells. In migration and invasion assays, ZNF143 knockdown induced increased cellular motility in breast carcinoma cells. This was reduced by the recovery of ZNF143 expression. Taken together, these results suggest that ZNF143 expression contributes to breast cancer progression.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2020

Radiation therapy is one of the primary options for the treatment of malignant tumors. Even though it is an effective anti-cancer treatment, it can cause serious complications owing to radiation-induced damage to the normal tissue around the tumor. It was recently reported that normal stem cell response to the genotoxic stress of ionizing radiation can boost the therapeutic effectiveness of radiation by repairing damaged cells. Therefore, we focused on annexin A-1 (ANXA1), one of the genes induced by low-dose irradiation, and assessed whether it can protect adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) against oxidative stress-induced damage caused by low-dose irradiation and improve effectively cell survival. After confirming ANXA1 expression in ADSCs transfected with an ANXA1 expression vector, exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used to mimic cellular damage induced by a chronic oxidative environment to assess cell survival under oxidative conditions. ANXA1-transfected ADSCs demonstrated that increased viability compared with un-transfected cells and exhibited enhanced anti-oxidative properties. Taken together, these results suggest that ANXA1 could be used as a potential therapeutic target to improve the survival of stem cells after low-dose radiation treatment.

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.546.2-546
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• 2003

Dental follicle is the mesenchymal tissue which surrounds developing tooth germ. During tooth root development, periodontal components such as cementum, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone are considered to be created by progenitors present in the dental follicle. However, little is known about these progenitors. Previously we observed that cultured bovine dental follicle cells (BDFC) contained putative cementoblast progenitors. To further analyze the biology of these cells, we have attempted to immortalize BDFC by expression of the polycomb group protein Bmi-1 and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The BDFC expressing Bmi-1 and hTERT showed extended life span by 90 population doublings more than normal BDFC, and still contained cells with potential to differentiate into cementoblasts upon implantation into immunodeficiency mice. Among them, we established a clonal cell line designated as BCPb8, which formed cemetum-like mineralized tissue reactive to anti-cementum specific monoclonal antibody, 3G9, and expressed mRNA for bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin, osteopontin and type I collagen upon implantation. Thus with the combination of hTERT and Bmi-1, we succeeded in immortalization of cementoblast progenitor in BDFC without affecting differentiation potential. The BCPb8 progenitor cell line could be a useful tool not only to study cementogenesis but also to develop regeneration therapy for periodontitis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.124-136
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• 2001

Heat shock protein (HSP) expression is unregulated in tumor cells and, HSP expression is likely marker of the malignant potential of oral epithelial lesion. Furthermore, the 70kDa HSP is implicated in the degree of tumor differentiation, the rate of tumor proliferation and the magnitude of the anti-tumor Immune response. Accordingly, the distribution and intensity of HSP70 and HSP47 expression was assessed in the DMBA induced oral carcinogenesis in hamster. Golden Syrian hamsters which were 3 months-age and $90{\sim}120g$ were collected. 9,10-dimethyl -1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) in a 0.5% solution in mineral oil was painted on the buccal pouch mucosa 3 times per week in the study group. In each control and experimental groups of 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 weeks, specimen were sectioned for immunohistochemical study with anti-HSP47 and anti-HSP70 antibody. The following results were obtained. 1. HSP47 positive cells were race or negative of normal oral mucosa, increased mildly in basal and suprabasal basal layer, and spinous cell layer after experimental 6 weeks (dysplastic or CIS stage). In CIS stage, HSP47 expression is prominent in dysplastic free or normal adjacent epithelium. 2. HSP47 positive cells in connective tissue were mainly inflammatory cells, which is gradually increased from control to precancerous and cancer stage. But HSP47 positive cells after 14 weeks were decreased, especially normal and cancer adjacent epithelium. 3. The positive staining cells of HSP70 in control, dysplastic, and CIS stage were not seen. But they were mild findings in basal layer and moderate findings in spinous layer after experimental 14 weeks (cancer stage). 4. HSP70 positive cells were increased in precancerous and cancer stage than control group in connective tissue. After experimental 16 weeks, we could not find the HSP expression in cancer cells according to cancer differentiation or cancer stage. It is concluded that HSP70 or HSP47 expression is not a definitive marker of oral malignancy or malignant potential. However, with further development, HSP immunoreactivity may be valuable as an adjunct to conventional histology for assessing the malignant potential of oral mucosal lesions.