• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.37.1-37.11
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• 2023

Forkhead box P3-positive (Foxp3⁺)-inducible Tregs (iTregs) are readily generated by TGF-β1 at low TCR signaling intensity. TGF-β1-mediated Foxp3 expression is further enhanced by retinoic acid (RA) and lactoferrin (LF). However, the intensity of TCR signaling required for induction of Foxp3 expression by TGF-β1 in combination with RA and LF is unknown. Here, we found that either RA or LF alone decreased TGF-β1-mediated Foxp3 expression at low TCR signaling intensity. In contrast, at high TCR signaling intensity, the addition of either RA or LF strongly increased TGF-β1-mediated Foxp3 expression. Moreover, decreased CD28 stimulation was more favorable for TGF-β1/LF-mediated Foxp3 expression. Lastly, we found that at high signaling intensities of both TCR and CD28, combined treatment with TGF-β1, RA, and LF induced robust expression of Foxp3, in parallel with powerful suppressive activity against responder T cell proliferation. Our findings that TGFβ/RA/LF strongly generate high affinity Ag-specific iTreg population would be useful for the control of unwanted hypersensitive immune reactions such as various autoimmune diseases.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.103-115
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• 2009

In vertebrates, the face is mainly formed with neural crest derived neural crest cells by the inherent programs and the interactive environmental factors. Extracellular signaling-regulated kinase (Erk) is one of such programs to regulate the various cellular functions. And retinoic acid (RA) also plays an important role as a regulator in differentiation process at various stages of vertebrate embryogenesis. We wanted to know that the segregation as well as the patterning of maxillary and mandibular structure is greatly influenced by the maxillomandibular cleft (MMC) and the failure of this development may result in the maxillomandibular fusion (syngnathia) or other patterning related disorder. It has been well documented that the epithelium at this cleft region has significant expression of Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) 8, and it is essential for the patterning of the first arch derived structures. By the morphological, skeletal, cell proliferation and apoptotic, and hybridization analysis, we checked the effects of Erk inhibition and/or RA activation onto MMC and could observe that Erk and RA signaling is individually and synergically involved in the facial patterning in terms of FGF signaling pathway via Barx-l. So RA and Erk signaling work together for the MMC patterning and the segregation of maxilla-mandible by controlling the Fgf-related signaling pathways. And the abnormality in MMC brought by aberrant Fgf signaling may result in the disturbances of maxillary-mandibular segregation.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.247-257
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Although human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) can be efficiently differentiated into cardiomyocytes (CMs), the heterogeneity of the hiPSC-CMs hampers their applications in research and regenerative medicine. Retinoic acid (RA)-mediated signaling pathway has been proved indispensable in cardiac development and differentiation of hiPSC toward atrial CMs. This study was aimed to test whether RA signaling pathway can be manipulated to direct the differentiation into sinoatrial node (SAN) CMs. Methods and Results: Using the well-characterized GiWi protocol that cardiomyocytes are generated from hiPSC via temporal modulation of Wnt signaling pathway by small molecules, RA signaling pathway was manipulated during the differentiation of hiPSC-CMs on day 5 post-differentiation, a crucial time point equivalent to the transition from cardiac mesoderm to cardiac progenitor cells in cardiac development. The resultant CMs were characterized at mRNA, protein and electrophysiology levels by a combination of qPCR, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and whole-cell patch clamp. The results showed that activation of the RA signaling pathway biased the differentiation of atrial CMs, whereas inhibition of the signaling pathway biased the differentiation of sinoatrial node-like cells (SANLCs). Conclusions: Our study not only provides a novel and simple strategy to enrich SANLCs but also improves our understanding of the importance of RA signaling in the differentiation of hiPSC-CMs.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.481-489
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• 2010

Introduction: TLR-5, a member of the toll-like receptor (TLR) family, is a element of the type I transmembrane receptors, which are characterized by an intracellular signaling domain homolog to the interleukin-1 receptor. These receptors recognize microbial components, particularly bacterial flagellin. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA, tretinoin), a natural metabolite of vitamin A, acts as a growth and differentiation factor in many tissues, and is also needed for immune functions. In this study, THP-1 human macrophage-monocytes were used to examine the mechanisms by which atRA regulated the expression of TLR-5. Because the molecular mechanism underlying this regulation at the transcriptional level is also unclear, this study examined which putative transcription factors are responsible for TLR-5 expression by atRA in immune cells. Materials and Methods: This study examined whether atRA induces the expression of TLR-5 in THP-1 cells using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and which transcription factors are involved in regulating the TLR-5 promoter in RAW264.7 cells using a reporter assay system. Western blot analysis was used to determine which signal pathway is involved in the expression of TLR-5 in atRA-treated THP-1 cells. Results: atRA at a concentration of 10 nM greatly induced the expression of TLR-5 in THP-1 cells. Human TLR-5 promoter contains three Sp-1/GC binding sites around -50 bp and two NF-kB binding sites at -380 bp and -160 bp from the transcriptional start site of the TLR-5 gene. Sp-1/GC is primarily responsible for the constitutive TLR-5 expression, and may also contribute to NF-kB at -160 bp to induce TLR-5 after atRA stimulation in THP-1 cells. The role of NF-kB in TLR-5 expression was further confirmed by inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) experiments, which greatly reduced the TLR-5 transcription by 70-80%. Conclusion: atRA induces the expression of the human TLR-5 gene and NF-kB is a critical transcription factor for the atRA-induced expression of TLR-5. Accordingly, it is conceivable that retinoids are required for adequate innate and adaptive immune responses to agents of infectious diseases. atRA and various synthetic retinoids have been used therapeutically in human diseases, such as leukemia and other cancers due to the antiproliferative and apoptosis inducing effects of retinoids. Therefore, understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism of TLR-5 may assist in the design of alternative strategies for the treatment of infectious diseases, leukemia and cancers.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제82권1호
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• pp.42-52
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• 2019

Background: Transforming growth factor ${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$), retinoic acid (RA), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and MEK signaling play critical roles in cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. We investigated the effect of RA and the role of these signaling molecules on the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) induced by TGF-${\beta}1$. Methods: A549 epithelial cells and CCD-11Lu fibroblasts were incubated and stimulated with or without all-trans RA (ATRA) and TGF-${\beta}1$ and with MAPK or MEK inhibitors. The levels of p-Smad2/3 were analyzed by western blotting. For animal models, we studied three experimental mouse groups: control, bleomycin, and bleomycin+ATRA group. Changes in histopathology, lung injury score, and levels of TGF-${\beta}1$ and Smad3 were evaluated at 1 and 3 weeks. Results: When A549 cells were pre-stimulated with TGF-${\beta}1$ prior to RA treatment, RA completely inhibited the p-Smad2/3. However, when A549 cells were pre-treated with RA prior to TGF-${\beta}1$ stimulation, RA did not completely suppress the p-Smad2/3. When A549 cells were pre-treated with MAPK inhibitor, TGF-${\beta}1$ failed to phosphorylate Smad2/3. In fibroblasts, p38 MAPK inhibitor suppressed TGF-${\beta}1$-induced p-Smad2. In a bleomycin-induced lung injury mouse model, RA decreased the expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ and Smad3 at 1 and 3 weeks. Conclusion: RA had inhibitory effects on the phosphorylation of Smad induced by TGF-${\beta}1$ in vitro, and RA also decreased the expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ at 1 and 3 weeks in vivo. Furthermore, pre-treatment with a MAPK inhibitor showed a preventative effect on TGF-${\beta}1$/Smad phosphorylation in epithelial cells. As a result, a combination of RA and MAPK inhibitors may suppress the TGF-${\beta}1$-induced lung injury and fibrosis.

• BMB Reports
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.185-191
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• 2004

Tissue transglutaminase (tTGase) regulates various biological processes, including extracellular matrix organization, cellular differentiation, and apoptosis. Here we report the protective role of tTGase in the cell death that is induced by the tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and ceramide, a product of the TNF-$\alpha$ signaling pathway, in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Treatment with retinoic acid (RA) induced the differentiation of the neuroblastoma cells with the formation of extended neurites. Immunostaining and Western blot analysis showed the tTGase expression by RA treatment. TNF-$\alpha$ or $C_2$ ceramide, a cell permeable ceramide analog, induced cell death in normal cells, but cell death was largely inhibited by the RA treatment. The inhibition of tTGase by the tTGase inhibitors, monodansylcadaverine and cystamine, eliminated the protective role of RA-treatment in the cell death that is caused by TNF-$\alpha$ or $C_2$-ceramide. In addition, the co-treatment of TNF-$\alpha$ and cycloheximide ecreased the protein level of tTGase and cell viability in the RA-treated cells, supporting the role of tTGase in the protection of cell death. DNA fragmentation was also induced by the co-treatment of TNF-$\alpha$ and cycloheximide. These results suggest that tTGase expressed by RA treatment plays an important role in the protection of cell death caused by TNF-$\alpha$ and ceramide.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.42-49
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• 2016

레티노산(RA)는 많은 유형의 세포에서 성장 및 발달에 중요한 역할을 수행하며 생체 활성화에 적합한 RA의 농도는 CYP26A1 등 여러 가지 효소에 의해 조절된다. CYP26A1의 발현은 RA에 의해서 조절되며 CYP26A1는 RA에 반응하는 유전자 중 하나이다. CYP26A1 유전자 클로닝은 여러 동물에서 보고되어 있지만, 소에서 CYP26A1 유전자의 클로닝은 아직 보고되지 않았다. 소로부터 CYP26A1의 프로모터 부위를 중합효소 연쇄반응을 이용하여 클로닝 한 후 다른 동물과 염기 서열 비교분석 결과 RARE DR-5 (ttggg)의 존재를 확인하였고, DR-5의 염기서열은 분석한 종 에서 완전히 일치하였다. DR-5 motif를 함유한 소의 CYP26A1 프로모터 부위를luciferase리포터 유전자에 결합한 후 transient transfection에 의해 promoter 발현을 분석하였다. 폐 유래 세포주인 MTCC 세포에서 CYP26A1 promoter의 발현은 ATRA의 처리에 의하여 촉진되었다. CYP26A1 유전자의 발현은 ATRA 의존적으로 RAR-α 및 RAR-β에 의하여 현저하게 촉진되었다. 그러나 RAR-γ나 RXR-γ는 CYP26A1 발현에 별다른 영향을 미치지는 않았다. 또한 MTCC 세포주가 생산하는 내인성 CYP26A1 유전자 발현을 Q-RT-PCR로 분석한 결과 1-2일간의 ATRA 처리에 의해서는 현저한 영향을 받지 않으나, 3일 동안 ATRA를 처리한 샘플에서는 CYP26A1의 발현이 현저하게 감소하였다. 결론적으로, 소의 CYP26A1유전자의 프로모터 부위에 존재하는 DR-5 RARE는 RAR-α 및 RAR-β의 결합부위로 작용하여 MTCC 세포에서 CYP26A1 유전자 발현 조절과 RA signal의 조절에 관여하는 것을 확인하였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.352-357
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• 2016

Vertebrate neurogenesis requires inhibition of endogenous bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signals in the ectoderm. Blocking of BMPs in animal cap explants causes the formation of anterior neural tissues as a default fate. To identify genes involved in the anterior neural specification, we analyzed gene expression profiles using a Xenopus Affymetrix Gene Chip after BMP-4 inhibition in animal cap explants. We found that the xCyp26c gene, encoding a retinoic acid (RA) degradation enzyme, was upregulated following inhibition of BMP signaling in early neuroectodermal cells. Whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis showed that xCyp26c expression started in the anterior region during the early neurula stage. Overexpression of xCyp26c weakly induced neural genes in animal cap explants. xCyp26c abolished the expression of all trans-/cis-RA-induced posterior genes, but not basic FGF-induced posterior genes. Depletion of xCyp26c by morpholino-oligonucleotides suppressed the normal formation of the axis and head, indicating that xCyp26c plays a critical role in the specification of anterior neural tissue in whole embryos. In animal cap explants, however, xCyp26c morpholinos did not alter anterior-to-posterior neural tissue formation. Together, these results suggest that xCyp26c plays a specific role in anterior-posterior (A-P) neural patterning of Xenopus embryos.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.182-188
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• 2008

목적: 인체 내 여러 조직에서 상피세포의 분화 및 증식에 중요한 역할을 담당한다고 알려진 retinoic acid (RA)와 여러 유전자들에서 전사조절인자로 성장관여 유전자들의 활성화에 관여하며 세포증식 및 분화에 매우 중요한 세포내 조절인자인 CREB의 발현정도와 위선암종간의 상호 연관성 및 병리학적 인자들과의 관계를 관찰하였다. 대상 및 방법: 중앙대학교 의과대학 용산병원에서 1998년 1월부터 2007년 12월까지 위절제술을 시행 받고 위선암종으로 진단받은 환자의 위조직표본 중 보존상태가 양호한 파라핀 포매괴 150예를 연구대상으로 조직 표본에서 면역 조직화학적 염색을 통해 관찰하였다. 결과: 1. RAR의 발현은 장형 위선암종(72.2%)에서 미만형 위선암종(40.5%)보다 높게 나타났으며(P<0.01), 림프절 전이가 있는 경우(74.7%)가 림프절 전이가 없는 경우(49.2%)보다 의미 있는 발현양상을 나타냈다(P<0.01). 2. cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)의 발현은 장형 위선암종(69.4%)에서 미만형 위선암종(38.1%)보다 높게 나타났으며(P<0.01), 림프절 전이가 있는 경우(71.1%)가 림프절 전이가 없는 경우(47.8%)보다 높은 발현양상을 나타냈다(P<0.01). 3. 총 150예의 위선암종에서 RAR은 63.3% (95/150), CREB은 60.7%(91/150)에서 발현을 나타냈다(P<0.01). 결론: 이상의 결과로 RAR과 CREB은 조직학적 분화도 및 종양의 전이와 관련이 있고, 이들의 발현이 장형 위선암종에서의 생물학적 악성도에 관한 예후인자로서 관련이 있으나 이들의 발현이 위선암종에 미치는 생물학적 기전에 대한 추가 연구가 필요하다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.356-361
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• 2015

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. We previously showed that retinoid X receptor ${\alpha}$ ($RXR{\alpha}$) played an important role in transcriptional regulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes in cells with mitochondrial dysfunction caused by mitochondrial DNA mutation. In this study, we investigated whether mitochondrial dysfunction induced by incubation with OXPHOS inhibitors affects insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) mRNA and protein levels and whether $RXR{\alpha}$ activation or overexpression can restore IRS1 expression. Both IRS1 and $RXR{\alpha}$ protein levels were significantly reduced when C2C12 myotubes were treated with the OXPHOS complex inhibitors, rotenone and antimycin A. The addition of $RXR{\alpha}$ agonists, 9-cis retinoic acid (9cRA) and LG1506, increased IRS1 transcription and protein levels and restored mitochondrial function, which ultimately improved insulin signaling. $RXR{\alpha}$ overexpression also increased IRS1 transcription and mitochondrial function. Because $RXR{\alpha}$ overexpression, knock-down, or activation by LG1506 regulated IRS1 transcription mostly independently of mitochondrial function, it is likely that $RXR{\alpha}$ directly regulates IRS1 transcription. Consistent with the hypothesis, we showed that $RXR{\alpha}$ bound to the IRS1 promoter as a heterodimer with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\delta}$ ($PPAR{\delta}$). These results suggest that $RXR{\alpha}$ overexpression or activation alleviates insulin resistance by increasing IRS1 expression.