• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• 제59권9호
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• pp.1096-1106
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• 2018

Purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the sixth most common cause of death in the United States. MicroRNAs have been identified as vital players in neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. microRNA-128 (miR-128) has been shown to be dysregulated in AD. This study aimed to explore the roles and molecular mechanisms of miR-128 in AD progression. Materials and Methods: Expression patterns of miR-128 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR-{\gamma}$) messenger RNA in clinical samples and cells were measured using RT-qPCR assay. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ protein levels were determined by Western blot assay. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry via double-staining of Annexin V-FITC/PI. Caspase 3 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity was determined by a Caspase 3 Activity Assay Kit or $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 Transcription Factor Assay Kit, respectively. Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assay were used to investigate interactions between miR-128 and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ 3'UTR. Results: MiR-128 expression was upregulated and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expression was downregulated in plasma from AD patients and $amyloid-{\beta}$ $(A{\beta})-treated$ primary mouse cortical neurons (MCN) and Neuro2a (N2a) cells. Inhibition of miR-128 decreased $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity through inactivation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells. Moreover, $PPAR-{\gamma}$ was a target of miR-128. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ upregulation attenuated $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity by inactivating $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells. Furthermore, $PPAR-{\gamma}$ downregulation was able to abolish the effect of anti-miR-128 on cytotoxicity and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity in MCN and N2a cells. Conclusion: MiR-128 inhibitor decreased $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity by upregulating $PPAR-{\gamma}$ via inactivation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells, providing a new potential target in AD treatment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.211-219
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• 2021

Alopecia is a distressing condition caused by the dysregulation of anagen, catagen, and telogen in the hair cycle. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) regulate the hair cycle and play important roles in hair growth and regeneration. Myristoleic acid (MA) increases Wnt reporter activity in DPCs. However, the action mechanisms of MA on the stimulation of anagen signaling in DPCs is not known. In this study, we evaluated the effects of MA on anagen-activating signaling pathways in DPCs. MA significantly increased DPC proliferation and stimulated the G2/M phase, accompanied by increasing cyclin A, Cdc2, and cyclin B1. To elucidate the mechanism by which MA promotes DPC proliferation, we evaluated the effect of MA on autophagy and intracellular pathways. MA induced autophagosome formation by decreasing the levels of the phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (phospho-mTOR) and increasing autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3II (LC3II). MA also increased the phosphorylation levels of Wnt/β-catenin proteins, such as GSK3β (Ser9) and β-catenin (Ser552 and Ser675). Treatment with XAV939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, attenuated the MA-induced increase in β-catenin nuclear translocation. Moreover, XAV939 reduced MA-induced effects on cell cycle progression, autophagy, and DPC proliferation. On the other hand, MA increased the levels of phospho (Thr202/Tyr204)-extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK). MA-induced ERK phosphorylation led to changes in the expression levels of Cdc2, Atg7 and LC3II, as well as DPC proliferation. Our results suggest that MA promotes anagen signaling via autophagy and cell cycle progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and ERK pathways in DPCs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.738-749
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• 2022

Background: Ginseng possesses antitumor effects, and ginsenosides are considered to be one of its main active chemical components. Ginsenosides can further be hydrolyzed to generate secondary saponins, and 20(R)-panaxotriol is an important sapogenin of ginsenosides. We aimed to synthesize a new ginsengenin derivative from 20(R)-panaxotriol and investigate its antitumor activity in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Here, 20(R)-panaxotriol was selected as a precursor and was modified into its derivatives. The new products were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and HR-MS and evaluated by molecular docking, MTT, luciferase reporter assay, western blotting, immunofluorescent staining, colony formation assay, EdU labeling and immunofluorescence, apoptosis assay, cells migration assay, transwell assay and in vivo antitumor activity assay. Results: The derivative with the best antitumor activity was identified as 6,12-dihydroxy-4,4,8,10,14-pentamethyl-17-(2,6,6-trimethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)hexadecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl(tert-butoxycarbonyl)glycinate (A11). The focus of this research was on the antitumor activity of the derivatives. The efficacy of the derivative A11 (IC₅₀ < 0.3 µM) was more than 100 times higher than that of 20(R)- panaxotriol (IC₅₀ > 30 µM). In addition, A11 inhibited the protein expression and nuclear accumulation of the hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1α in HeLa cells under hypoxic conditions in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, A11 dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HeLa cells, while promoting their apoptosis. Notably, the inhibition by A11 was more significant than that by 20(R)-panaxotriol (p < 0.01) in vivo. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the production of derivative A11 from 20(R)-panaxotriol and its superior antitumor activity compared to its precursor. Moreover, derivative A11 can be used to further study and develop novel antitumor drugs.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.287-293
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• 2022

흰머리는 대표적인 노화의 징후이자 피부, 모발 노화의 특징이다. 내인성 노화, 스트레스, 외부 환경으로 인해 백모가 발생하는데, 조기 백모 발생에는 스트레스가 주요한 요인이 된다고 알려져 있다. 과거 우리는 갈근 추출물이 멜라닌 형성 촉진을 통해 백모를 케어를 할 수 있음을 밝힌 바 있으며, 이에 갈근 추출물이 스트레스에 의한 백모 형성 또한 예방 할 수 있을지 본 연구를 통해 확인하였다. 연구를 위해 멜라닌 생성 주요 전사인자인 MITF 발현을 확인 할 수 있는 세포주를 구축하였다. 스트레스 호르몬 cortisol과 산화 스트레스 유발 인자 H₂O₂를 처리할 경우 MITF 발현이 감소하고, 인체 모낭 조직에서 멜라닌 색소가 감소함을 확인하였다. 여기에 갈근 추출물을 함께 처리할 경우 MITF 발현과 모낭 내 멜라닌 색소 량이 다시 증가하였다. 뿐만 아니라 모낭 내 멜라닌 합성에 관여하는 효소인 TRP-2의 발현도 증가함을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과를 통해 갈근 추출물은 스트레스 호르몬과 산화 스트레스 자극에 의한 멜라닌 합성 저해도 효과적으로 막아줄 수 있음을 입증하였다.

• 한국재난정보학회 논문집
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.245-253
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• 2021

연구목적: 본 연구는 화재발생 건축물 정보, 신고자 취득 정보 등 초기 정보를 활용하여 화재현장의 위험도를 예측하여, 재난 발생 초기에 효과적인 소방자원 동원 및 적절한 대응을 위한 피해최소화 전략 수립을 지원하는 위험도 예측 모델을 개발하고자 한다. 연구방법: 화재 통계 데이터 상에서 화재의 피해규모와 관련된 변수 규명을 위해 머신러닝 알고리즘을 이용한 변수간 상관성 분석을 실시하여 예측 가능성을 검토하고, 데이터 표준화 및 이산화 등의 전처리를 통해 학습 데이터 셋을 구축하였다. 이를 활용하여 예측 정확도가 높은 것으로 평가 받고 있는 복수의 머신러닝 알고리즘을 테스트하여 가장 정확도가 높은 알고리즘을 적용한 위험도 예측 모델을 개발하였다. 연구결과: 머신러닝 알고리즘 성능 테스트 결과 랜덤포레스트 알고리즘의 정확도가 가장 높게 나왔으며, 위험도 등급에 대해서는 중간치에 대한 정확성이 상대적으로 높은 것으로 확인되었다. 결론: 화재 통계 상 피해규모 데이터의 편향성에 의해 예측모델 정확도가 제한적으로 나타났으며, 예측 모델 성능 개선을 위해 데이터 정합성 및 결손치 보완 등을 통한 데이터 정제가 필요하다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.239-253
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• 2022

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is known to be involved in airway remodeling and fibrosis of bronchial asthma. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to EMT have yet to be fully clarified. The current study was designed to reveal the potential mechanism of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) affecting EMT through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE cells) were transfected with miR-21 mimics/inhibitors and PARP-1 plasmid/small interfering RNA (siRNA). A dual luciferase reporter assay and biotin-labeled RNA pull-down experiments were conducted to verify the targeting relationship between miR-21 mimics and PARP-1. The migration ability of 16HBE cells was evaluated by Transwell assay. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting experiments were applied to determine the expression of Snail, ZEB1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and PARP-1. The effects of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 on the migration of 16HBE cells and EMT were investigated. Overexpression of miR-21 mimics induced migration and EMT of 16HBE cells, which was significantly inhibited by overexpression of PARP-1. Our findings showed that PARP-1 was a direct target of miR-21, and that miR-21 targeted PARP-1 to promote migration and EMT of 16HBE cells through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Using LY294002 to block PI3K/AKT signaling pathway resulted in a significant reduction in the migration and EMT of 16HBE cells. These results suggest that miR-21 promotes EMT and migration of HBE cells by targeting PARP-1. Additionally, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway might be involved in this mechanism, which could indicate its usefulness as a therapeutic target for asthma.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.355-361
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• 2022

멜라닌 색소는 피부색의 주요 원인이다. 멜라닌 색소는 멜라닌 세포에서 생성된 다음 각질 세포로 전달되어 결국 피부 표면에 다양한 색상을 부여한다. 많은 탈색제 및 피부 미백제가 개발되었지만, 색소 침착을 감소시키기 위한 재료에 대한 수요는 여전히 증가하고 있다. 본 연구에서 천연 화합물을 사용하여 탈색 및 피부 미백에 대한 재료를 찾으려고 시도한 결과 겨우살이(Viscum album var. coloratum) 추출물이 색소 침착을 억제할 수 있음을 발견하였다. 인간 멜라닌 세포에 겨우살이 추출물(mistletoe extracts, ME)을 처리했을 때 색소 침착이 극적으로 감소하였다. 프로모터 리포터 분석은 ME 처리가 HM3KO 흑색종 세포에서 microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), melanophilin (MLPH), tyrosinase related protein 2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase (TYR) 유전자의 전사를 억제한다는 것을 보여주었다. 일관되게 ME는 MITF, TRP-1 및 TYR과 같은 색소 침착 관련 분자의 단백질 수준을 감소시켰다. 또한 ME는 cAMP Responsive Element Binding Protein (CREB), AKT 및 ERK의 인산화를 감소시켰다. 이러한 결과는 ME가 색소 침착과 관련된 세포 내 신호 전달의 조절을 통해 멜라닌 생성을 억제한다는 것을 시사한다. 끝으로 ME는 색소 침착에 대한 생체 내 평가 모델인 제브라피쉬 배아의 멜라닌 생성을 현저하게 억제하였다.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2000년도 국제심포지움 및 추계학술대회
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• pp.45-67
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• 2000

2-Amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) is a mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amino found in cooked meat. The in vivo mutagenicity and hepatocarcinogenicity of MeIQx were examined in mice harboring the lacZ mutation reporter gene ($Muta^{TM}$ Mice) and bitransgenic mice over-expressing the c-myc oncogene. C57B1/$\lambda$lacZ and bitransgenic c-myc (albumin promoter)/$\lambda$lacZ mice were bred and weaned onto an AIN-76 based diet containing $0.06\%$ (w/w) MeIQx or onto control diet. After 30 weeks on diet, only male bitransgenic mice on MeIQx developed hepatocellular carcinoma ($100\%$ incidence) indicating that there was synergism between c-myc over-expression and MeIQx. By 40 weeks, hepatic tumor incidence was $100\%$ ($17\%$) and $44\%$ ($0\%$) in male c-myc/$\lambda$lacZ and C57B1/$\lambda$lacZ mice given MeIQx (or control) diet, respectively, indicating that either MeIQx or c-myc over-expression alone eventually induced hepatic tumors. At either time point, mutant frequency in the lacZ gene was at least 40-fold higher in MeIQx-treated mice than in control mice of either strain. These findings suggest that MeIQx-induced hepatocarcinogenesis is associated with MeIQx-induced mutations. Elevated mutant frequency in MeIQx-treated mice also occurred concomitant with the formation of MeIQx-guanine adducts as detected by the $^{32}P$-postlabeling assay. Irrespective of strain or diet, sequence analysis of the lacZ mutants from male mouse liver showed that the principal sequence alteration was a single guanine-base substitution. Adenine mutations, however, were detected only in animals on control diet. MeIQx-fed mice harboring the c-myc oncogene showed a l.4-2.6-fold higher mutant frequency in the lacZ gene than mice not carrying the transgene. Although there was a trend toward higher adduct levels in c-myc mice, MeIQx-DNA adduct levels were not significantly different between c-myc/$\lambda$lacZ and C57B1/$\lambda$lacZ mice after 30 weeks on diet. Thus, it appeared that factors in addition to MeIQx-DNA adduct levels, such as the enhance rate of proliferation associated with c-myc over-expression, may have accounted for a higher mutant frequency in c-myc mice. In the control diet groups, the lacZ mutant frequency was significantly higher in c-myc/$\lambda$lacZ mice than in 057B1/$\lambda$1acZ mice. The findings are consistent with the notion that c-myc over-expression is associated with an increase in mutagenesis. The mechanism for the synergistic effects of c-myc over-expression on MeIQx hepatocarcinogenicity appears to involve an enhancement of MeIQx-induced mutations.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.34-42
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• 2023

환경 스트레스 신호 인지부터 스트레스 반응 유전자의 발현에 이르는 신호전달 네트워크에 있어서, 스트레스 반응 프로모터의 cis-조절 요소와 거기에 결합하는 다양한 전사인자는 환경 스트레스에 대한 식물의 적응을 조절한다. 애기장대 AP2/ERF 전사인자 패밀리 중 그룹 VII ERF는 RAP2.12, RAP2.2, RAP2.3, AtERF73/HRE1, AtERF71/HRE2 유전자를 포함하며, 저산소 스트레스 반응에서 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 HRE1 프로모터의 저산소 반응 부위를 동정하였다. 이를 위해 1,000 bp, 800 bp, 600 bp, 400 bp, 200 bp, 100 bp, 그리고 50 bp HRE1 프로모터 부위를 포함하는 벡터를 제작하여 프로모 터 활성을 분석한 결과, -200에서 -100 프로모터 부위가 HRE1의 저산소 반응에서 중요함을 확인하였다. HRE1의 -200에서 -100 프로모터 부위에는 저산소 반응 cis-조절 요소로 알려진 ERF-결합 부위와 DOF-결합 부위가 존재하는데, 이는 HRE1의 발현이 ERF 전사인자와 DOF 전사인자에 의해 조절될 수 있음을 시사한다. 전체적으로, 본 연구를 통해 HRE1 의 저산소 스트레스 반응에는 -200에서 -100 프로모터 부위에 존재하는 cis-조절 요소가 중요한 역할을 한다는 것을 확인하였다.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1997년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.107-107
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• 1997

Cytochrome P450 enzymes have been intensively investigated in hepatic tissues and several mammalian cell lines. Compared to most studies about cytochrome P450 isozymes in liver in vivo and hepatic, cell lines in vitro, the study of cytochrome P450IA1 in human breast cancer cells could be very important to understand the mechanism of the regulation of CYPIA1 gene expression and cell growth. MCF-7 human breast cancer cells are well characterized to study estrogen and antiestrogen action due to the fact that they contain high level of estrogen receptor and have biological markers characterized. And also MCF-7 cells express high level of arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase activity and human cytochrome P450IA1 cDNA was cloned from MCF-7 cells. Ah receptor was characterized in many breast cancer cell lines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon such as 3-MC induced the expression of CYPIA1 gene and cytochrome P450- dependent monooxygenase activity. We undertook a study to examine the effect of estrogens and other chemicals on the regulation of human CYPIA1 gene expression in MCF-7 cells via RTPCR analysis, that might help us to understand the mechanism of the regulation of CYPIA1 gene expression and MCF-7 cell growth. Expression vector containing the functional 5'-regulatory region of human CYPIA1 fused to the CAT reporter gene was transfected into estrogen receptor positive MCF-T cells or estrogen receptor negative MDA-MB-231 cells. After these cells were treated with various chemicals, RTPCR was carried out to measure both CYPIA1 mRNA and CAT mRNA levels. 1nM 3-MC increased in both P450 and CAT mRNA levels over those of control by two folds in MCF-7 cells but does not in MDA-MB-231 cells. Estrogen or tamoxifen or retinoic acid or chrysin decreased in both P450 and CAT mRNA levels that were induced by 3-MC in MCF-7 when each chemical was administered with 3-MC concomitantly. These results suggested that the level of CYPIA1 gene expression is modulated with estrogen-related molecules and make it possible to speculate that ER is related to CYPIA1 gene expression and cell growth in breast cancer cells. [Supported by grants from the Korean Ministry of Education ]