• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Neuromedin B (NMB) acts as a growth factor or a morphogen and plays a role in cancer progression. Indeed, the NMB receptor (NMB-R) is overexpressed in different types of tumors. In our current study, we investigated the involvement of NMB-R in the proliferation of oral cancer cells. Human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and human oral cancer cells, SCC-25 cells were found to be NMB-R-positive. The NMB-R antagonist PD168368 inhibited the proliferation of SCC-25 cells and reduced their colony formation capacity. We also found that PD168368 induced the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of SCC-25 cells in a dose-/time-dependent manner. Overall, this antitumor activity of PD168368 in human oral cancer cells suggests that NMB-R is a potential target for the future prevention and treatment of human cancers.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.194-200
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• 2017

Bone-resorbing osteoclasts play a major role in maintaining bone homeostasis with bone-forming osteoblasts. Although it has been reported that A2B adenosine receptor (A2BAR) regulates osteoclast differentiation, its effects on apoptosis or proliferation of osteoclasts have been less-defined. Here, we demonstrate that A2BAR stimulation regulates macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)-mediated osteoclast proliferation. Stimulation with a specific agonist of A2BAR, BAY 60-6583, significantly reduced M-CSF-mediated osteoclast proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, A2BAR stimulation induced both apoptosis of the cells and cell arrest in the G1 phase with a decrease of cell number in the G2/M phase. Stimulation with BAY 60-6583 inhibited the activation of Akt by M-CSF, whereas M-CSF-induced ERK1/2 activation was not affected. These results suggest that the inhibition of M-CSF-mediated Akt activation by A2BAR stimulation increases apoptotic response of osteoclasts and induces cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, thus contributing to the down-regulation of osteoclast proliferation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.412-415
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• 2003

In order to elucidate the mechanism between cytotoxicity of methhylmercuric chloride(MMC) and oxygen radicals in cultured osteoblasts of neonatal mouse, cell viability was measured by MTT assay in osteoblasts treated with 1～50 μM MMC for 30 hours. And also, the protective effect of N-methyl D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor antagonist, D-2-amino-5-phosphovaleric acid(APV) was examined by cell viability in these cultures. Cell viability was significantly decreased in dose dependently after exposure of 30 μM MMC to cultured osteoblasts for 30 hours. Protective effect of APV against MMC-mediated toxicity was very effective in these cultures. From above the results, it suggests that MMC is toxic in cultured mouse osteoblasts and NMDA receptor antagonist such as APV is effective in blocking the osteotoxicity induced by MMC.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2016

The histology and anatomy of the olfactory organ in Luciogobius guttatus was investigated using a light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The paired olfactory organs in the dorsal part of the snout are situated in between the upper lip and the eyes. They consist of two nostrils, one anterior and the other posterior openings, and a single olfactory cavity. The anterior nostril, an incurrent opening, forms a short tubular structure from the skin. The posterior nostril, an excurrent opening, forms a circular structure opened to the exterior. The distributional pattern of the sensory epithelium is a continuous type. The sensory epithelium with numerous-motile cilia is made up of receptor cells, supporting cells, basal cells, and mucous cells. In contrast, the non-sensory epithelium is comprised of stratified epithelial cells and two types of mucous cells, acidic and neutral cells. The cilia number of the receptor cell is in range of 3 to 4 units. Such results in L. guttatus may reflect its ecological habit and microhabitat in the tidal zone with a periodic tide.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2011

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channels are novel $Ca^{2+}$-permeable non-selective cation channels that are ubiquitously expressed. Activation of TRPM7 channels has been shown to be involved in the survival of gastric cancer cells. Here we show evidence suggesting that TRPM7 channels play an important role in $Zn^{2+}$- mediated cellular injury. Using a combination of electrophysiology, pharmacological analysis, small interfering RNA (siRNA) methods and cell death assays, we showed that activation of TRPM7 channels augmented $Zn^{2+}$-induced apoptosis of AGS cells, the most common human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line. The $Zn^{2+}$-mediated cytotoxicity was inhibited by the non-specific TRPM7 blockers $Gd^{3+}$ or 2 aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) and TRPM7 specific siRNA. In addition, we showed that overexpression of TRPM7 channels in HEK293 cells increased $Zn^{2+}$- induced cell injury. Thus, TRPM7 channels may represent a novel target for physiological disorders where $Zn^{2+}$ toxicity plays an important role.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2021

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is likely to metastasize to other organs, and is often resistant to conventional chemotherapies. Thymoquinone (TQ), a phytochemical derived from the seeds of Nigella sativa, has been shown to inhibit migration and metastasis in various cancers. In this study, we assessed the effect of TQ on the migratory activity of human RCC Caki-1 cells. We found that treatment with TQ reduced the proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in Caki-1 cells. TQ significantly repressed prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, its EP2 receptor expression as well as the activation of Akt and p38, the wellknown upstream signal proteins of MMP-9. In addition, treatment with butaprost, a PGE2 agonist, also induced MMP-9 activity and migration/invasion in Caki-1 cells. Moreover, pharmacological inhibitors of PI3K/Akt and p38 remarkably attenuated butaprost-induced Caki-1 cell migration and invasion, implying that activation of PI3K/Akt and p38 is a bridge between the PGE2-EP2 axis and MMP-9-dependent migration and invasion. Taken together, these data suggest that TQ is a promising anti-metastatic drug to treat advanced and metastatic RCC.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.299-304
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• 2010

Losartan is a selective angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 ($AT_1$) receptor antagonist which inhibits vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contraction and proliferation. We hypothesized that losartan may prevent cell proliferation by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in VSMCs. VSMCs were treated with various concentrations of losartan. AMPK activation was measured by Western blot analysis and cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and flowcytometry. Losartan dose- and time-dependently increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream target, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in VSMCs. Losartan also significantly decreased the Ang II- or 15% FBS-induced VSMC proliferation by inhibiting the expression of cell cycle associated proteins, such as p-Rb, cyclin D, and cyclin E. Compound C, a specific inhibitor of AMPK, or AMPK siRNA blocked the losartan-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and the $G_0/G_1$ cell cycle arrest. These data suggest that losartan-induced AMPK activation might attenuate Ang II-induced VSMC proliferation through the inhibition of cell cycle progression.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.572-582
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• 2023

Background: Free fatty acid-induced lipotoxicity is considered to play an important role in pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. The effect of ginsenosides on palmitic acid-induced pancreatic beta-cells cell death and failure of glucose-stimulated secretion of insulin (GSIS) was evaluated in this study. Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit for a rat insulin was used to quantify glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Protein expression was examined by western blotting analysis. Nuclear condensation was measured by staining with Hoechst 33342 stain. Apoptotic cell death was assessed by staining with Annexin V. Oil Red O staining was used to measure lipid accumulation. Results: We screened ginsenosides to prevent palmitic acid-induced cell death and impairment of GSIS in INS-1 pancreatic β-cells and identified protopanaxadiol (PPD) as a potential therapeutic agent. The protection effect of PPD was likely due to a reduction in apoptosis and lipid accumulation. PPD attenuated the palmitic acid-induced increase in the levels of B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X/B-cell lymphoma 2, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and cleaved caspase-3. Moreover, PPD prevented palmitic acid-induced impairment of insulin secretion, which was accompanied by an increase in the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, insulin receptor substrate-2, serine-threonine kinase, and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the protective effect of PPD on lipotoxicity and lipid accumulation induced by palmitic acid in pancreatic β-cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.8.1-8.13
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• 2023

CD8⁺ T cells are activated by TCRs that recognize specific cognate Ags, while NK-cell activation is regulated by a balance between signals from germline-encoded activating and inhibitory NK receptors. Through these different processes of Ag recognition, CD8⁺ T cells and NK cells play distinct roles as adaptive and innate immune cells, respectively. However, some human CD8⁺ T cells have been found to express activating or inhibitory NK receptors. CD8⁺ T-cell populations expressing NK receptors straddle the innate-adaptive boundary with their innate-like features. Recent breakthrough technical advances in multi-omics analysis have enabled elucidation of the unique immunologic characteristics of these populations. However, studies have not yet fully clarified the heterogeneity and immunological characteristics of each CD8⁺ T-cell population expressing NK receptors. Here we aimed to review the current knowledge of various CD8⁺ T-cell populations expressing NK receptors, and to pave the way for delineating the landscape and identifying the various roles of these T-cell populations.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.144-149
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• 2005

Background: Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis is a complex process involving the activation of kinases and phosphatases. FcgammaRIIB has been known to transduces inhibitory signals through an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) in cytoplasmic domains. In this study, we examined the involvement of inositol-phosphatase in the Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis. Methods: J774 cells were infected using vaccinia viral vector containing SH2 domain-containing inositol-phosphatase (SHIP) cDNA and stimulated with the sensitized sheep red blood cells. Results: Stimulation of J774 cells induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of SHIP which was maximal at 5 minutes. Phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase inhibitor (wortmannin) inhibits J774 cell phagocytosis of sensitized sheep red blood cells in a dose-dependent manner. Heterologious expression of SHIP in J774 cells inhibits phagocytosis of sensitized sheep red blood cells in a dose-dependency manner, but catalytically dead mutants of SHIP has no effect on phagocytosis. Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that the active signals mediated by PI-3 kinase are opposed by inhibitory signals through SHIP in the regulation of Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis.