• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제22권5호
• /
• pp.390-399
• /
• 2014

Chalcones (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones), a flavonoid subfamily, are widely known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Propenone moiety in chalcones is known to play an important role in generating biological responses by chalcones. In the present study, we synthesized chalcone derivatives structurally modified in propenone moiety and examined inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production and its potential mechanisms. Among the chalcone derivatives used for this study, TI-I-174 (3-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-1-(thiophen-3-yl)prop-2-en-1-one) most potently inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitrite production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. TI-I-174 treatment also markedly inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. However, TI-I-174 did not significantly affect production of IL-6, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), implying that TI-I-174 inhibits production of inflammatory mediators in a selective manner. Treatment of macrophages with TI-I-174 significantly inhibited transcriptional activity of activator protein-1 (AP-1) as determined by luciferase reporter gene assay, whereas nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) activity was not affected by TI-I-1744. In addition, TI-I-174 significantly inhibited activation of c-Jun-N-Terminal kinase (JNK) without affecting ERK1/2 and p38MAPK, indicating that down-regulation of iNOS gene expression by TI-I-174 is mainly attributed by blockade of JNK/AP-1 activation. We also demonstrated that TI-I-174 treatment led to an increase in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression both at mRNA and protein level. Transfection of siRNA targeting HO-1 reversed TI-I-174-mediated inhibition of nitrite production. Taken together, these results indicate that TI-I-174 suppresses NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages via induction of HO-1 and blockade of AP-1 activation.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• 제44권2호
• /
• pp.226-232
• /
• 2006

Swarming has proven to be a good in vitro model for bacterial surface adherence and colonization, and the swarming differentiation of a bacterium has been shown to be coupled with changes in the expression of virulence factors associated with its invasiveness, particularly in the early stages of infection. In this study, we attempted to determine whether the expression of vvhA, which encodes for hemolysin/cytolysin (VvhA), is either upregulated or downregulated during the swarming differentiation of V. vulnificus. The insertional inactivation of vvhA itself exerted no detectable effect on the expression of V. vulnificus swarming motility. However, in our lacZ-fused vvhA transcriptional reporter assay, vvhA expression decreased in swarming V. vulnificus as compared to non-swarming or planktonic V. vulnificus. The reduced expression of vvhA in swarming V. vulnificus increased as a result of the deletional inactivation of luxS, a gene associated with quorum sensing. These results show that vvhA expression in swarming V. vulnificus is downregulated via the activity of the LuxS quorum-sensing system, suggesting that VvhA performs no essential role in the invasiveness of V. vulnificus via the adherence to and colonization on the body surfaces required in the early stages of the infection. However, VvhA may playa significant role in the pathophysiological deterioration occurring after swarming V. vulnificus is differentiated into planktonic V. vulnificus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제31권11호
• /
• pp.1508-1518
• /
• 2021

Hsa_circ_0001947 is associated with multiple cancers, but its function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is ambiguous and needs further research. The targeting relationship among circ_0001947, miR-661, and downstream of tyrosine kinase 7 (DOK7) was predicted by database and further verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay, while their expressions in cancer tissues and cells were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). After transfection, cell biological behaviors and expressions of miRNAs, miR-661 and DOK7 were determined by cell function experiments and qRT-PCR, respectively. Circ_0001947 was low-expressed in NSCLC tissues and cells. Circ_0001947 knockdown intensified cell viability and proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest at S phase, suppressed apoptosis and evidently enhanced miR-510, miR-587, miR-661 and miR-942 levels, while circ_0001947 overexpression did the opposite. MiR-661 was a target gene of circ_0001947 that participated in the regulation of circ_0001947 on cell biological behaviors. Furthermore, DOK7, the target gene of miR-661, partly participated in the regulation of miR-661 on cell viability. Hsa_circ_0001947 acts as a sponge of miR-661 to repress NSCLC development by elevating the expression of DOK7.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제32권7호
• /
• pp.922-929
• /
• 2019

Objective: Mutations in low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which encodes a critical protein for cholesterol homeostasis and lipid metabolism in mammals, are involved in cardiometabolic diseases, such as familial hypercholesterolemia in pigs. Whereas microRNAs (miRNAs) can control LDLR regulation, their involvement in circulating cholesterol and lipid levels with respect to cardiometabolic diseases in pigs is unclear. We aimed to identify and analyze LDLR as a potential target gene of SSC-miR-20a. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis predicted that porcine LDLR is a target of SSC-miR-20a. Wild-type and mutant LDLR 3'-untranslated region (UTR) fragments were generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into the pGL3-Control vector to construct pGL3 Control LDLR wild-3'-UTR and pGL3 Control LDLR mutant-3'-UTR recombinant plasmids, respectively. An miR-20a expression plasmid was constructed by inserting the porcine premiR-20a-coding sequence between the HindIII and BamHI sites in pMR-mCherry, and constructs were confirmed by sequencing. HEK293T cells were co-transfected with the miR-20a expression or pMR-mCherry control plasmids and constructs harboring the corresponding 3'-UTR, and relative luciferase activity was determined. The relative expression levels of miR-20a and LDLR mRNA and their correlation in terms of expression levels in porcine liver tissue were analyzed using reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. Results: Gel electrophoresis and sequencing showed that target gene fragments were successfully cloned, and the three recombinant vectors were successfully constructed. Compared to pMR-mCherry, the miR-20a expression vector significantly inhibited wild-type LDLR3'-UTR-driven (p<0.01), but not mutant LDLR-3'-UTR-driven (p>0.05), luciferase reporter activity. Further, miR-20a and LDLR were expressed at relatively high levels in porcine liver tissues. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that porcine liver miR-20a and LDLR levels were significantly negatively correlated (r = -0.656, p<0.05). Conclusion: LDLR is a potential target of miR-20a, which might directly bind the LDLR 3'-UTR to post-transcriptionally inhibit expression. These results have implications in understanding the pathogenesis and progression of porcine cardiovascular diseases.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• 제42권5호
• /
• pp.383-393
• /
• 2008

목적: 조직 특이 프로모터를 이용하면 특정 암조직내에서만 원하는 치료유전자를 발현시킬 수 있다. 나트륨 옥소 공동 수송체(sodium iodide symporter: NIS) 유전자는 옥소를 섭취하는 특성을 가져 방사성옥소를 이용한 치료용 유전자로 사용될 수 있다. 광학 영상용 유전자인 luciferase (Luc) 유전자를 세포에 이입하면 비침습적으로 유전자가 이입된 세포의 상태를 평가할 수 있다. 본 연구는 간암 특이성을 나타내는 AFP 프로모터에 의해 발현이 조절되는 NIS유전자와 CMV프로모터에 의해 발현되는 Luc유전자를 간암세포에 이입하여 NIS유전자 이입에 의한 방사성옥소 유전자치료의 효과를 알아보고, 종양사멸 정도를 광학 리포터 유전자 발현으로 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: AFP enhancer와 GSTP 프로모터를 연결하여 AFP프로모터를 제작하였으며 이를 NIS유전자와 연결하였다. 또한 CMV 프로모터에 조절 받는 Luc 유전자를 동시에 삽입하여 AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자 발현 벡터를 생산하였다. 실험 대상 세포주로는 간암세포주인 HepG2와 Huh-7 세포와 사람 대장암세포주인 HCT-15 세포를 이용하였다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 발현벡터를 Liposome을 이용해 실험대상 세포주 내로 이입하였으며, 방사성옥소 섭취율과 방사성옥소의 유출량을 측정하였다. 또한 Luciferase 발현 정도를 luminometer로 측정하였으며, clonogenic assay를 통하여 I-131에 대한 세포주에 따른 사멸효과 차이를 알아보았다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자 이입 세포주를 누드마우스에 대퇴부 피하에 주입하여 I-131 축적여부를 감마카메라 영상을 획득하였다. 결과: AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자 발현 벡터를 제작하였다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자가 이입된 HepG2와 Huh-7 세포의 방사성옥소 섭취율은 유전자 이입이 되지 않은 대조군 HepG2와 Huh-7 세포에 비하여 높았으며, $KClO_4$를 처리시 옥소 섭취가 저해되었다. 대장암 세포주인 HCT-15세포에 AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc유전자를 이입 시 방사성옥소의 섭취률은 증가되지 않았다. 30분간 방사성옥소를 섭취시킨 AFP-NIS-Luc 유전자가 이입된 HepG2와 Huh-7 세포에서의 방사성옥소의 유출반감기는 약 4분과 6분으로 각각 나타났다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자가 이입된 HepG2, Huh-7세포의 Luc 유전자의 발현은 241, 441 $RLU/2\;{\times}\;10^5$ cells로 나타났으며, 대조군 HepG2와 Huh구세포에서의 Luc 유전자의 발현은 74, $RLU/2\;{\times}\;10^5$ cells로 나타났다. HCT-15 세포는 AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자 이입에 따라 I-131에 의한 세포 사멸능이 증가되지 않았으나, HepG2 및 Huh-7 세포는 FP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자 이 입에 따라 I-131에 의한 세포 사멸능이 증가되었으며, Huh-7세포의 경우 0.5mCi의 I-131을 투여한 경우 모든 세포가 사멸하였다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자가 이입된 Huh-7 세포수가 많을수록 방사성옥소 섭취율이 증가하며 luciferase활성도도 높게 나타났다. AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc 유전자가 이입된 Huh-7 세포를 이식한 누드마우스에 I-131 감마카메라 영상에서 종양이식부위에 방사능 축적을 관찰 할 수 있었다. 결론: AFP프로모터의 의하여 NIS유전자가 발현되며, CMV프로모터에 의한 Luc 유전자가 발현되는 벡터를 제작하였으며, 이 벡터를 이입한 경우 간암세포에서만 I-131의 세포 독성이 증가하는 효과를 나타내었다. 또한 Luc유전자를 이용하여 비침습적인 광학 영상으로 세포사멸 효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 간암특이 프로모터에 조절되는 치료 유전자와 광학리포터 유전자를 한 벡터에 동시에 이입하면 간암 특이 유전자 치료와 그 치료효과를 비침습적으로 평가할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• 제2권2호
• /
• pp.61-71
• /
• 2000

By screening a cDNA library of auxin-treated mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) hypocotyls, we have isolated two full-length cDNA clones, pVR-ACS6 and pVR-ACS7, for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the ethylene biosynthetic pathway. While PVR-ACS6 corresponds to the previously identified PCR fragment pMBA1, pVR-ACS7 is a new cDNA clone. A comparison of deduced amino acid sequences among auxin-induced ACC synthases reveal that these enzymes share a high degree of homology (65-75%) to VR-ACS6 and VR-ACS7 polypeptides, but only about 50% to VR-ACS1 polypeptide. ACS6 and ACS7 are specifically induced by auxin, while ACS1 is induced by cycloheximide, and to lesser extent by excision and auxin treatment. Results from nuclear run-on transcription assay and RNA gel blot studies revealed that all three genes were transcriptionally active displaying unique patterns of induction by IAA and various hormones in etiolated hypocotyls. Particularly, 24-epibrassinolide (BR), an active brassinosteroid, specifically enhanced the expression of VR-ACS7 by distinct temporal induction mechanism compared to that of IAA. In addition, BR synergistically increased the IAA-induced VR-ACS6 and VR-ACS7 transcript levels, while it effectively abolished both the IAA- and kinetin-induced accumulation of VR-ACS1 mRNA. In light-grown plants, VR-ACS1 was induced by IAA in roots, whereas W-ACS6 in epicotyls. IAA- and BR-treatments were not able to increase the VR-ACS7 transcript in the light-grown tissues. These results indicate that the expression of ACC synthase multigene family is regulated by complex hormonal and developmental networks in a gene- and tissue-specific manner in mung bean plants. The VR-ACS7 gene was isolated, and chimeric fusion between the 2.4 kb 5'-upstream region and the $\beta$-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene was constructed and introduced into Nicotiana tobacum. Analysis of transgenic tobacco plants revealed the VR-ACS7 promoter-driven GUS activity at a highly localized region of the hypocotyl-root junction of control seedlings, while a marked induction of GUS activity was detected only in the hypocotyl region of the IAA-treated transgenic seedlings where rapid cell elongation occurs. Although there was a modest synergistic effect of BR on the IAA-induced GUS activity, BR alone failed to increase the GUS activity, suggesting that induction of VR-ACS7 occurs via separate signaling pathways in response to IAA and BR.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• 제37권3호
• /
• pp.319-326
• /
• 2010

화석에너지의 고갈과 지구 온난화 현상으로 인해 재생 가능한 식물자원으로부터 바이오에너지를 얻고자 하는 관심이 높아지고 있다. 이에 바이오디젤의 원료로 사용 되기 적합한 형질전환이 된 유채를 개발하기 위한 첫 단계로 한국 고유 유채 품종을 이용한 형질전환 체계를 구축하였다. 내한, 영산, 탐미, 한라 유채의 종자를 분양 받아 지방산 분석을 실시한 결과, 종자의 약 32-40% 식물성 오일이 포함되어 있었고, 그 중 올레인산의 함량은 60mole% 이상 존재하는 것으로 확인되었다. 그 중 오일 함량 및 올레인산 함량이 높고, 형질전환 효율이 비교적 높은 한라 유채품종이 그리고 $\beta$-glucuronidase (GUS)와 phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) 유전자가 포함된 pCAM-BIA3301 벡터가 도입된 Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV3101균주가 형질전환에 사용되었다. 형질전환이 된 유채 식물체는 제초제에 대한 내성, PCR을 이용한 PAT 유전자의 도입 여부 및 GUS 활성 분석을 통하여 선별하였다. 그 결과 한라 유채의 경우, 10. 4% 형질전환 효율을 보였고, 제초제 저항성이 다음 세대 ($T_1$ 식물체)로 안정되게 유전됨을 확인하였다. 이러한 연구는 바이오디젤 원료로 사용될 다양한 유채 품종에 교배를 통해 제초제 저항성 유전자를 쉽게 도입할 수 있는 가능성을 제시하였다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제32권3호
• /
• pp.153-158
• /
• 2008

형질 전환 동물 생산에는 조직 및 시기 특이적 발현 조절이 가능하다는 장점 때문에 유즙 내로 외부 유전자를 발현시키는 시스템이 널리 이용되고 있다. 유전자 발현 즉, 단백질 생산은 프로모터의 강도뿐만 아니라 mRNA의 안정성에 의해서도 조절된다. 특히, polyadenylation에 의한 poly A의 길이는 in vivo와 올 in vitro에서 mRNA 안정성 및 목적 유전자의 번역효율에 영향을 준다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 mRNA 안정성이 목적 유전자의 발현에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해 3'-UTR 염기 서열을 분석하였다. 이 3'-untranslated region(UTR) 내의 poly A signal을 기준으로 putative cytoplasmic polyadenylation element(CPE) 부위와 downstream elements(DSE: U-rich, G-rich, GU-rich)의 염기 서열을 분석하고, 각각의 element를 기준으로 15 종의 luciferase reporter vector를 제작하여, 생쥐 유선 세포주(HC11)와 돼지 유선 세포주(PMGC)에 각각 transfection시킨 후 48시간 동안 배양하고 luciferase 발현량을 분석하였다. PMGC의 경우, luciferase의 발현은 exon 9의 CPE 2,3 및 DSE 1을 포함한 #6 construct에서 유의적으로 높은 발현량을 보였으며, exon 9의 CPE 2, 3과 DSE를 모두 포함하고 있는 #11 construct에서도 유의적으로 높은 발현량을 보였다. 이러한 결과는 형질 전환 돼지 생산에 있어 #6 및 11 construct의 사용은 목적의 유전자를 효과적으로 발현시키는데 기여할 것으로 사료된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권17호
• /
• pp.7749-7754
• /
• 2015

Background: Currently, cationic liposome has become the commonly used vehicles for gene transfection. Furthermore, one of the most significant steps in microRNAs expression studies is transferring microRNAs into cell cultures successfully. In this study we aim to approach the feasibility of transfection of cervical cancer cell lines mediated by liposome and to obtain the optimized transfection condition for cervical cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: $Lipofectamine^{TM}2000$ as the carrier, miR-101 mimic was transfected into Hela cells and Siha cells. Using green fluorescent protein as reporter gene, to set different groups according to cell seeding density, the amount of miRNA, miRNA and the proportion of Liposomes, Whether to add serum into medium to study their impact on the liposomal transfection efficiency. Finally, MTT assay was used to analyze the relative minimal cell toxicity of liposome reagents. Results: The seeding density of Hela cell line and Siha are $1.5{\times}10^4$ (per well of 24 well plates), miRNA amount is 1ul of both, the ratio of miRNA and liposome is 1:0.5 of Hela cell line; 1:0.7 of Siha cell line respectively, after 24 hours we can get the highest transfection efficiency. Compared with serum medium, only Siha cells cultured with serum-free medium obtained higher transfection efficiency before transfection (P<0.01). MTT assay showed that according to the above conditions which has the lowest cytotoxicity. Conclusions: The method of Liposome to transfected is a suitable way and it can be an efficient reagent for miRNA delivery for Hela cells and Siha cells in vitro. It may serve as a reference for the further research or application.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• 제12권4호
• /
• pp.240-246
• /
• 2014

Mutation in HNF1B, the hepatocyte nuclear factor-$1{\beta}$ (HNF-$1{\beta}$) gene, results in maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) 5, which is characterized by gradual impairment of insulin secretion. However, the functional role of HNF-$1{\beta}$ in insulin secretion and glucose metabolism is not fully understood. We identified a family with early-onset diabetes that fulfilled the criteria of MODY. Sanger sequencing revealed that a heterozygous P159L (CCT to CTT in codon 159 in the DNA-binding domain) mutation in HNF1B was segregated according to the affected status. To investigate the functional consequences of this HNF1B mutation, we generated a P159L HNF1B construct. The wild-type and mutant HNF1B constructs were transfected into COS-7 cells in the presence of the promoter sequence of human glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2). The luciferase reporter assay revealed that P159L HNF1B had decreased transcriptional activity compared to wild-type (p < 0.05). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed reduced DNA binding activity of P159L HNF1B. In the MIN6 pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell line, overexpression of the P159L mutant was significantly associated with decreased mRNA levels of GLUT2 compared to wild-type (p < 0.05). However, INS expression was not different between the wild-type and mutant HNF1B constructs. These findings suggests that the impaired insulin secretion in this family with the P159L HNF1B mutation may be related to altered GLUT2 expression in ${\beta}$-cells rather than decreased insulin gene expression. In conclusion, we have identified a Korean family with an HNF1B mutation and characterized its effect on the pathogenesis of diabetes.