• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.612-616
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• 2016

CD44 pre-mRNA includes 20 exons, of which exons 1-5 ($C_1-C_5$) and exons 16-20 ($C_6-C_{10}$) are constant exons, whereas exons 6-15 ($V_1-V_{10}$) are variant exons. $V_6$-exon-containing isoforms have been known to be implicated in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. In the present study, we performed a SR protein screen for CD44 $V_6$ splicing using overexpression and lentivirus-mediated shRNA treatment. Using a CD44 $V_6$ minigene, we demonstrate that increased SRSF3 and SRSF4 expression do not affect $V_6$ splicing, but increased expression of SRSF1, SRSF6 and SRSF9 significantly inhibit $V_6$ splicing. In addition, using a constitutive exon-specific primer set, we could not detect alterations of CD44 splicing after SR protein-targeting shRNA treatment. However, using a $V_6$ specific primer, we identified that reduced SRSF2 expression significantly reduced the $V_6$ isoform, but increased $V_{6-10}$ and $V_{6,8-10}$ isoforms. Our results indicate that SR proteins are important regulatory proteins for CD44 $V_6$ splicing.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2005

Myotonic Dystrophies type 1 and 2 (DM1/2) are neuromuscular disorders which belong to a group of genetic diseases caused by unstable CTG triplet repeat (DM1) and CCTG tetranucleotide repeat (DM2) expansions. In DM1, CTG repeats are located within the 3' untranslated region of myotonin protein kinase (DMPK) gene on chromosome 19q. DM2 is caused by expansion of CCTG repeats located in the first intron of a gene coding for zinc finger factor 9 on chromosome 3q. The CTG and CCTG expansions are located in untranslated regions and are expressed as pre-mRNAs in nuclei (DM1 and DM2) and as mRNA in cytoplasm (DM1). Investigations of molecular alterations in DM1 discovered a new molecular mechanism responsible for this disease. Expansion of un-translated CUG repeats in the mutant DMPK mRNA disrupts biological functions of two CUG-binding proteins, CUGBP and MNBL. These proteins regulate translation and splicing of mRNAs coding for proteins which play a key role in skeletal muscle function. Expansion of CUG repeats alters these two stages of RNA metabolism in DM1 by titrating CUGBP1 and MNBL into mutant DMPK mRNA-protein complexes. Mouse models, in which levels of CUGBP1 and MNBL were modulated to mimic DM1, showed several symptoms of DM1 disease including muscular dystrophy, cataracts and myotonia. Mis-regulated levels of CUGBP1 in newborn mice cause a delay of muscle development mimicking muscle symptoms of congenital form of DM1 disease. Since expansion of CCTG repeats in DM2 is also located in untranslated region, it is predicted that DM2 mechanisms might be similar to those observed in DM1. However, differences in clinical phenotypes of DM1 and DM2 suggest some specific features in molecular pathways in both diseases. Recent publications suggest that number of pathways affected by RNA CUG and CCUG repeats could be larger than initially thought. Detailed studies of these pathways will help in developing therapy for patients affected with DM1 and DM2.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.146-151
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• 2017

Objective: To identify differences in the expression of the genes for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR)-{\gamma}$, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ in granulosa cells (GCs) from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and controls undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. Methods: Nine patients with PCOS and six controls were enrolled in this study. On the day of oocyte retrieval, GCs were collected from pooled follicular fluid. Total mRNA was extracted from GCs. Reverse transcription was performed and gene expression levels were quantified by realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: There were no significant differences in age, body mass index, and total gonadotropin dose, except for the ratio of luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone between the PCOS and control groups. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ and COX-2 mRNA was significantly downregulated in the GCs of PCOS women compared with controls (p= 0.034 and p= 0.018, respectively), but the expression of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA did not show significant differences. No significant correlation was detected between the expression of these mRNA sequences and clinical characteristics, including the number of retrieved oocytes, oocyte maturity, cleavage, or the good embryo rate. Positive correlations were found among the $PPAR-{\gamma}$, COX-2, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA levels. Conclusion: Our data may provide novel clues regarding ovarian GC dysfunction in PCOS, and indirectly provide evidence that the effect of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ agonists in PCOS might result from alterations in the ovarian follicular environment. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm these proposals.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2018

Exosomes are Nano-sized lipid vesicles secreted from mammalian cells containing diverse cellular materials such as proteins, lipids, and nucleotides. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that in saliva, exosomes and their contents such as microRNAs (miRNAs) mediate numerous cellular responses upon delivery to recipient cells. The objective of this study was to characterize the different expression profile of exosomal miRNAs in saliva samples, periodically isolated from a single periodontitis patient. Unstimulated saliva was collected from a single patient over time periods for managing periodontitis. MicroRNAs extracted from each phase were investigated for the expression of exosomal miRNAs. Salivary exosomal miRNAs were analyzed using Affymetrix miRNA arrays and prediction of target genes and pathways for its different expression performed using DIANA-mirPath, a web-based, computational tool. Following the delivery of miRNA mimics (hsa-miR-4487, -4532, and -7108-5p) into human gingival fibroblasts, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of the MAPK pathway were evaluated through RT-PCR and western blotting. In each phase, 13 and 43 miRNAs were found to be differently expressed $({\mid}FC{\mid}{\geq}2)$. Among these, hsa-miR-4487 $({\mid}FC{\mid}=9.292005)$ and has-miR-4532 $({\mid}FC{\mid}=18.322697)$ were highly up-regulated in the clinically severe phase, whereas hsa-miR-7108-5p $({\mid}FC{\mid}=12.20601)$ was strongly up-regulated in the clinically mild phase. In addition, the overexpression of miRNA mimics in human gingival fibroblasts resulted in a significant induction of IL-6 mRNA expression and p38 phosphorylation. The findings of this study established alterations in salivary exosomal miRNAs which are dependent on the severity of periodontitis and may act as potential candidates for the treatment of oral inflammatory diseases.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.863-866
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• 2004

The effect of substance P (Sub P) injected intrathecally (I.t.) on c-fos mRNA expression in vari-ous tissues was examined in the present study. We found that a single administration of Sub P(0.5 nM) caused an increase of the c-fos mRNA level in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis, hippocampus, and spinal cord. The time-course study showed that c-fos mRNA level was maximal at 10 min and began to decrease 30 min after the Sub P injection in all tis-sues, and the Sub P-induced increase of the c-fos mRNA level was returned to the control level 1 h after the injection. The kinetics of the c-fos mRNA expression in mice that were repeatedly injected with Sub P (every 30 min interval up to 4 times) were different in the HPA axis, hippocampus, and spinal cord. The increased c-fos mRNA level in the hypothalamus and the spinal cord induced by I.t. injected Sub P remained at a high level. In the pituitary gland, adrenal gland, and hippocampus, the increased level of c-fos mRNA expression gradually returned to the control level during the repeated substance P injections up to 4 times. Our results suggest that spinally injected Sub P-induced pain stress increases c-fos mRNA expres-sion in the spinal cord, hippocampus, and HPA axis. In mice repeatedly injected with Sub P, the kinetics of c-fos mRNA appear to be different varied from tissue to tissue.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.544-555
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• 2022

Objective: Spermatozoa are produced within the seminiferous tubules after sexual maturity. The expression levels of mRNAs and lncRNAs in testicular tissues are different at each stage of testicular development and are closely related to formation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and spermatogenesis. Therefore, we set out to study the expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs during the different developmental stages of the goat testis. Methods: We constructed 12 RNA libraries using testicular tissues from goats aged 3, 6, and 12 months, and studied the functions of mRNAs and lncRNAs using the gene ontogeny (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) databases. Relationships between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network and protein-protein interaction network (PPI). Finally, the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 6 (IGFBP6) were detected by western blotting. Results: We found 23, 8, and 135 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 161, 12, and 665 differentially expressed mRNAs that were identified between 3 vs 6, 6 vs 12, and 3 vs 12 months, respectively. GO, KEGG, and PPI analyses showed that the differential genes were mainly related to the ECM. Moreover, MMP2 was a hub gene and co-expressed with the lncRNA TCONS-0002139 and TCONS-00093342. The results of quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction verification were consistent with those of RNA-seq sequencing. The expression trends of MMP2, IGF2, and IGFBP6 protein were the same as that of mRNA, which all decreased with age. IGF2 and MMP2 were significantly different in the 3 vs 6-month-old group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in sexual maturation of the goat testis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6685-6689
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• 2014

Background: Alterations in gene expression levels or mutations of tyrosine kinases are detected in some human cancers. In this study, we examined whether serine threonine tyrosine kinase 1 (STYK1)/novel oncogene with kinase domain (NOK) is overexpressed in patients with colorectal cancer. We also examined the clinical relevance of STYK1/NOK expression in cancer tissues. Materials and Methods: In tumor samples of patients with colorectal cancer and their matched non-cancerous samples, STYK1/NOK messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Associations between the expression levels of STYK1/NOK and clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal cancer were also assessed using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Upregulation of STYK1/NOK was found in cancer tissues even at early stage of colorectal cancer compared to normal adjacent tissues. The optimal cutoff point of 0.198 the STYK1/NOK expression showed 0.78 sensitivity and 0.75 specificity for diagnosis. Overexpressed STYK1/NOK was correlated with tumor size but had no association with other clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal cancer. Conclusions: These results indicate that STYK1/NOK mRNA is widely expressed in the patients with colorectal cancer and suggest that inhibition of this molecule could potentially serve as a novel therapeutic target.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1717-1722
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• 2007

In the present study, all of the treadmill exercise-trained SHR expressed clear adaptive changes such as reduced resting heart rate and blood pressures, LPOA, homocysteine Therefore, treadmill exercise was sufficient to induce physiological adaptation in the SHR. Endurance training is known to induce physiological cardiac hypertrophy, while hypertension induces patho logical cardiac hypertrophy that increases cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The pathological adaptation to pressure overload has also been associated with a further increase in the expression of several marker genes including cardiomyocyte ET-1 in the SHR, but not in the exercise-trained SHR. Additionally, there is an increase in the endothelial nitricoxide synthases (eNOS) protein expression of soleus, gastrocnemius, and extensor digitorum longus muscle in the exercise-trained SHR but not in the SHR in the present study. Thus, compared to pathological adaptation to pressure overload, physiological adaptation to exercise training is associated with distinct alterations in cardiac and molecular phenotypes. based on these results, exercise training improves hypertension by cardiovascular regulating genes and hemodynamic parameters.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.270-279
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• 2024

Macrophages are versatile immune cells that play crucial roles in tissue repair, immune defense, and the regulation of immune responses. In the context of skeletal muscle, they are vital for maintaining muscle homeostasis but macrophage-induced chronic inflammation can lead to muscle dysfunction, resulting in skeletal muscle atrophy characterized by reduced muscle mass and impaired insulin regulation and glucose uptake. Although the involvement of macrophage-secreted factors in inflammation-induced muscle atrophy is well-established, the precise intracellular signaling pathways and secretion factors affecting skeletal muscle homeostasis require further investigation. This study aimed to explore the regulation of macrophage-secreted factors and their impact on muscle atrophy and glucose metabolism. By employing RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and proteome array, we uncovered that factors secreted by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages upregulated markers of muscle atrophy and pro-inflammatory cytokines, while concurrently reducing glucose uptake in muscle cells. The RNA-seq analysis identified alterations in gene expression patterns associated with immune system pathways and nutrient metabolism. The utilization of gene ontology (GO) analysis and proteome array with macrophage-conditioned media revealed the involvement of macrophage-secreted cytokines and chemokines associated with muscle atrophy. These findings offer valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms of macrophage-secreted factors and their contributions to muscle-related diseases.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2011

It is well known that adipose tissue or body fat has been proved as a crucial component of brain-peripheral axis which can modulate the activities of reproductive hormonal axis in female mammals including rodents and human. Concerning the male reproduction, however, the role of adipose tissue has not been thoroughly studied. The present study was carried out to elucidate the effect of a high-fat (HF) diet on the reproductive system of postpubertal male rats. The HF diet (45% energy from fat, HF group) was applied to male rats from week 8 after birth for 4 weeks. The blood glucose levels, body and tissue weights were measured. Histological studies were performed to assess the structural alterations in the reproductive tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus and pituitary, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Body weights (p<0.01) and blood glucose levels (p<0.01) of HF group were significantly higher than those of control animals. Similarly, the weights of epididymis (p<0.05), prostate (p<0.01), seminal vesicle (p<0.01) in HF group were higher than control levels. The weights of testis were not changed. The weights of kidney (p<0.001) and spleen (p<0.01) were significantly higher than control levels while the adrenal and pancreas weights were not changed. There were only slight alterations in the microstructures of accessory sex organs; the shape of luminal epithelial cells in epididymis from HF group were relatively thicker and bigger than those from control animals. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the mRNA levels of hypothalamic GnRH (p<0.05) in HF group were significantly higher than those from the control animals. The mRNA levels of kisspeptin in HF group tend to be higher than control levels, the difference was not significant. Unlike the hypothalamic GnRH expression, the mRNA levels of pituitary $LH{\beta}$ and $FSH{\beta}$ were significantly decreased in HF group (p<0.05). The present study indicated that the 4-weeks feeding HF diet during the postpubertal period can alter the hypothalamus-pituitary (H-P) neuroendocrine reproductive system These results suggest that the increased body fat and the altered leptin input might disturb the H-P reproductive hormonal activities in male rats, and the changed activities seem to be responsible for the changes of tissue weights in accessory sex organs.