• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2003

We have previously reported that expression of the somatostatin receptor subtypes, sst1-5, is differentially regulated by growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone (GHRH) and forskolin (FSK), in vitro. GHRH binds to membrane receptors selectively located on pituitary somatotropes, activates adenylyl cyclase (AC) and increases sst1 and sst2 and decreases sst5 mRNA levels, without significantly altering the expression of sst3 and sst4. In contrast FSK directly activates AC in all pituitary cell types and increases sst1 and sst2 mRNA levels and decreases sst3, sst4 and sst5 expression. Two explanations could account for these differential effects: 1) GHRH inhibits sst3 and sst4 expression in somatotropes, but this inhibitory effect is masked by expression of these receptors in unresponsive pituitary cell types, and 2) FSK inhibits sst3 and sst4 expression levels in pituitary cell types other than somatotropes. To differentiate between these two possibilities, somatotropes were sequentially labeled with monkey anti-rat GH antiserum, biotinylated goat anti-human IgG, and streptavidin-PE and subsequently purified by fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS). The resultant cell population consisted of 95% somatotropes, as determined by GH immunohistochemistry using a primary GH antiserum different from that used for FACS sorting. Purified somatotropes were cultured for 3 days and treated for 4 h with vehicle, GHRH (10 nM) or FSK ($10{\mu}M$). Total RNA was isolated by column extraction and specific receptor mRNA levels were determined by semi-quantitative multiplex RT-PCR. Under basal conditions, the relative expression levels of the various somatostatin receptor subtypes were sst2＞sst5＞sst3=sst1＞ sst4. GHRH treatment increased sst1 and sst2 mRNA levels and decreased sst3, sst4 and sst5 mRNA levels in purified somatotropes, comparable to the effects of FSK on purified somatotropes and mixed pituitary cell cultures. Taken together, these results demonstrate that GHRH acutely modulates the expression of all somatostatin receptor subtypes within GH-producing cells and its actions are likely mediated by activation of AC.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.340-349
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• 2020

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA), a bioactive lipid in bone, is known as an endogenous ligand for G protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119). Here, we explored the effects of OEA on osteoclast differentiation, function, and survival. While OEA inhibits osteoclast resorptive function by disrupting actin cytoskeleton, it does not affect receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. OEA attenuates osteoclast spreading, blocks actin ring formation, and eventually impairs bone resorption. Mechanistically, OEA inhibits Rac activation in response to macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), but not RANKL. Furthermore, the OEA-mediated cytoskeletal disorganization is abrogated by GPR119 knockdown using small hairpin RNA (shRNA), indicating that GPR119 is pivotal for osteoclast cytoskeletal organization. In addition, OEA induces apoptosis in both control and GPR119 shRNA-transduced osteoclasts, suggesting that GPR119 is not required for osteoclast apoptosis. Collectively, our findings reveal that OEA has inhibitory effects on osteoclast function and survival of mature osteoclasts via GPR119-dependent and GPR119-independent pathways, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.154-163
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• 2000

Growth factors and the receptors play an important role in the regulation of the growth and development of mammalian cells. In particular, epidermal growth factor is a polypeptide with potent mitogenic activity that stimulates proliferation of various normal and neoplastic cells through the interaction with its specific receptor(EGFR). EGFR has been described as a parameter of poor prognosis in many human neoplasms such as breast, bladder, and vulvar cancers. The objectives of this study are the evaluation of the expression of EGFR and cell cycle analysis in the head and neck squamous cell carcinomas(SCC), and the evaluation of the correlation between clinico-patholgic features and expression of EGFR and S-phase fraction. 37 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma specimens were evaluated for expression of EGFR by Western blot analysis and S-phase fraction by cell cycle analysis using the flow cytometry. The obtained results were as follows : 1. The expressions of EGFR were observed in 20 specimens(54%) among 37 head and neck SCC specimens. In case of oral SCC, 15 specimens(56%) out of 27 specimens were observed, and in case of nasopharyngeal SCC 5 specimens(50%) out of 10 specimens. 2. There was no correlation between clinical features(location, stage) of head and neck SCC and expression of EGFR (p>0.05). 3. There was a significant correlation between histo-pathological differentiation of head and neck SCC and expression of EGFR (p<0.02). 4. There was a significant correlation between expression of EGFR and S-phase fraction of cell cycle in the head and neck SCC (p<0.05). The above results suggest that expression of EGFR and S-phase fraction of cell cycle are adjunctive prognostic marker in the head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.349-355
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• 2015

EphA7 has been implicated in the regulation of apoptotic cell death in neural epithelial cells. In this report, we provide evidence that EphA7 interacts with caspase-8 to induce apoptotic cell signaling. First, a pull-down assay using biotinylated ephrinA5-Fc showed that EphA7 co-precipitated with wild type caspase-8 or catalytically inactive caspase-8 mutant. Second, co-transfection of EphA7 with caspase-8 significantly increased the number of cleaved caspase-3 positive apoptotic cells under an experimental condition where transfection of EphA7 or caspase-8 alone did not affect cell viability or apoptosis. EphA4 also had a causative role in inducing apoptotic cell death with caspase-8, whereas EphA8 did not. Third, caspase-8 catalytic activity was essential for the apoptotic signaling cascade, whereas tyrosine kinase activity of the EphA4 receptor was not. Interestingly, we found that kinase-inactive EphA4 was well co-localized at the plasma membrane with catalytically inactive caspase-8, suggesting that an interaction between these mutant proteins was more stable. Finally, we observed that the extracellular region of the EphA7 receptor was critical for interacting with caspase-8, whereas the cytoplasmic region of EphA7 was not. Therefore, we propose that Eph receptors physically associate with a transmembrane protein to form an apoptotic signaling complex and that this unidentified receptor-like protein acts as a biochemical linker between the Eph receptor and caspase-8.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.844-850
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• 2000

The specific binding and internalization of viral particles is an essential step for the successful infection of viral pathogens. In the case of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), virions bind to the host cell via the preS domain of the viral surface antigen and are subsequently internalized by endocytosis. HBV-preS specific receptors are primarily expressed on hepatocytes, however, viral DNA and proteins have also been detected in extrahepatic sites, suggsting that celluar recepators for HBV may also exist on extrahepatic cells. Recently, an EBV-transformed B-cell line was identified onto which the preS region binds in a receptor-ligand specific manner. In this study, this specific interaction was further characterized, and the binding region within the preS protein was locaized. Also the internalization after host cell attachment was visualized and analyzed by fluorescence-labeled HBV-preS1 proteins using confocal microscopy. Energy depletion by sodium azide treatment effectively inhibited the internalization of the membrane-bound preS1 ligands, thereby indicating an energy-dependent receptor-mediated endocytotic pathway. Accordingly, the interaction of HBV-pres! with this specific B-cell line may serve as an effective model for an infection pathway in extrahepatic cells.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.166-173
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• 2000

Angiopoietin-1(Ang-1) is a vasculogenic factor that signals through the endothelial cell-specific Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase. We examined the effect of angiopoietin-1(Ang-1) on radiation-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECS) and receptor/second messenger signal transduction pathway for Ang-1's effect on HUVECs. The percent of apoptotic cells under control condition(0Gy) was $8.2\%$. Irradiation induced apoptosis was increased in a dose(1, 5, 10, and 15Gy)- and time 12, 24, 48 and 72hr)-dependent manner. The percent of apoptotic cells was approximately $34.9\%$ after 15 Gy of irradiation. Under these conditions, pretreatment with Ang-1's (50, 100, 200, and 400 ng/ml) inhibited irradiation-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. Two hundred ng/ml of Ang-1 inhibited approximately $55-60\%$ of the apoptotic events that occurred in the 10 Gy-irradiated cells. Pre-treatment with soluble Tie2 receptor, but not Tie1 receptor, blocked the Ang-1's antiapoptotic effects. Phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (P13-kinase) specific inhibitor, wortmanin and LY294002, blocked the Ang-1-induced antiapoptotic effect. Ang-1 promotes the survival of endothelial cells in irradiation-induced apoptosis through Tie2 receptor binding and P13-kinase activation. Pretreatment of Ang-1 could be beneficial in maintaining normal endothelial cell integrity during irradiation therapy.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2008

Diethylstilbestrol (DESB) is a synthetic estrogen not only that routinely prescribed, but also that known to be a teratogen. In this study, we found a novel pharmacological feature that DESB is able to positively modulate CD29 $({\beta}1-integrin)$ function. Thus, DESB up-regulated homotypic cell-cell adhesion of monocytic U937 cells mediated by CD29. However, DESB did not increase the surface level of CD29 and its binding activity to ligand (fibronectin), according to flow cytometric analysis and cell-fibronectin adhesion assay. Instead, the DESB-mediated up-regulation of cell-cell adhesion was blocked by several signaling enzyme inhibitors. Treatment of U0126 [an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor], SB20358 (a p38 inhibitor) or Rp-8-pCPT-cGMP (a protein kinase G inhibitor) clearly inhibited DESB-mediated up-regulation of cell-cell adhesion induced by CD29. However, estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 failed to abrogate DESB effect. Therefore, our data suggest that DESB may up-regulate CD29-mediated cell-cell adhesion via modulating intracellular signaling enzymes such as ERK, PKG, and p38, independent of estrogen receptor function.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2006

The tadpole larvae of most ascidians have two sensory pigment cells in their brain vesicle. The anterior otolith pigment cell is sensitive to gravity, whereas the posterior ocellus pigment cell responds to light. Besides these two sensory cells, the larvae also possess another type of sensory receptor cell: hydrostatic pressure receptor (Hpr) cells. The Hpr cells have been presumed to sense hydrostatic water pressure, although no functional analysis has been performed. In larvae of the ascidian Halocynthia reretzi, the development of the Hpr cells and their structure in the brain vesicle are poorly understood. To investigate the morphology and formation of the Hpr cells, we established a monoclonal antibody, Hpr-1, that specifically recognizes Hpr cells. The Hpr-1 antigens became detectable in the brain vesicle at the late tailbud stage. Each Hpr cell projected a small globular body, connected by a short stalk, into the lumen of the brain vesicle. The brain vesicle showed remarkable left-right asymmetry. Pigment cells were located on the right side in the lumen of the brain vesicle, whereas Hpr cells were present in the left side. After metamorphosis, the Hpr cells were observed near the rudimental siphons of the juvenile.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 2013

Ginsenoside, one of the active ingredients of Panax ginseng, has a variety of physiologic and pharmacologic effects. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of ginsenoside Rd (G-Rd) on melastatin type transient receptor potential 7 (TRPM7) channels with respect to the proliferation and survival of AGS and MCF-7 cells (a gastric and a breast cancer cell line, respectively). AGS and MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of G-Rd, and caspase-3 activities, mitochondrial depolarizations, and sub-G1 fractions were analyzed to determine if cell death occurred by apoptosis. In addition, human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells overexpressing TRPM7 channels were used to confirm the role of TRPM7 channels. G-Rd inhibited the proliferation and survival of AGS and MCF-7 cells and enhanced caspase-3 activity, mitochondrial depolarization, and sub-G1 populations. In addition, G-Rd inhibited TRPM7-like currents in AGS and MCF-7 cells and in TRPM7 channel overexpressing HEK 293 cells, as determined by whole cell voltage-clamp recordings. Furthermore, TRPM7 overexpression in HEK 293 cells promoted G-Rd induced cell death. These findings suggest that G-Rd inhibits the proliferation and survival of gastric and breast cancer cells by inhibiting TRPM7 channel activity.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2009

Purpose: We determined the therapeutic effect of an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), cetuximab (Erbitux) on the growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) xenografted in athymic nude mice. Experimental Design: We induced subcutaneous tumors by inoculating human tumor cell suspension into the right flank of nude mice. Nude mice with subcutaneous tumors were randomized to receive cetuximab alone, paclitaxel alone, cetuximab plus paclitaxel, or a placebo (control). Antitumor mechanisms of cetuximab were determined by immunohistochemical and apoptosis assays. Results: Cetuximab, paclitaxel, and cetuximab/paclitaxel combined therapy resulted in 50%, 52%, 67% in vivo inhibition of tumor proliferation, respectively. Tumors of mice treated with cetuximab plus paclitaxel demonstrated decreased PCNA-positive tumor cells and increased apoptotic tumor cells, which slowed growth of the murine tumors. Conclusion: These data show that EGFR can be a molecular target for the treatment of OSCC. And combination therapy with cetuximab and paclitaxel warrants further clinical study.