• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2024

Solute carrier 40A1 (SLC40A1) encodes ferroportin, which is the only known transmembrane protein that exports elemental iron from mammalian cells and is essential for iron homeostasis. Mutations in SLC40A1 are associated with iron-overload disorders. In addition to ferroportin diseases, SLC40A1 expression is downregulated in various cancer types. Despite the clinical significance of the SLC40A1 transporter, only a few studies have investigated genetic variants in SLC40A1. The present study was performed to identify genetic variations in the SLC40A1 promoter and functionally characterize each variant using in vitro assays. We investigated four haplotypes and five variants in the SLC40A1 promoter. We observed that haplotype 3 (H3) had significantly lower promoter activity than H1, whereas the activity of H4 was significantly higher than that of H1. Luciferase activity of H2 was comparable to that of H1. In addition, four variants of SLC40A1, c.-1355G>C, c.-662C>T, c.-98G>C, and c.-8C>G, showed significantly increased luciferase activity compared to the wild type (WT), whereas c.-750G>A showed significantly decreased luciferase activity compared to the WT. Three transcription factors, cAMP response element-binding protein-1 (CREB-1), chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor 1, and hepatic leukemia factor (HLF), were predicted to bind to the promoter regions of SLC40A1 near c.-662C>T, c.-98G>C, and c.-8C>G, respectively. Among these, CREB1 and HLF bound more strongly to the variant sequences than to the WT and functioned as activators of SLC40A1 transcription. Collectively, our findings indicate that the two SLC40A1 promoter haplotypes affect SLC40A1 transcription, which is regulated by CREB-1 and HLF.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2017

Granulosa cells, which surround the oocyte within the ovarian follicle, play an essential role in creating conditions required for the development of oocytes and follicles. The solute carrier family (SLC) is comprised of influx transporters of steroidal hormones, various drugs, and several other substrates. The differential expression of selected DEGs was confirmed using in situ hybridization analysis. SLC23A3 and SLC39A10 were highly expressed in the ovary. The SLC39A10 gene was expressed in the primordial follicle stage, but SLC23A3 was expressed in the growing follicle stage. Contrastingly, the expression of SLC23A3 was increased in granulosa cells at the growing follicle stage. The differential expressions of SLC23A3 and SLC39A10 between the primordial and primary follicles were additionally confirmed by using follicle isolations. The gene expression profile from the present study may provide insight for future studies on the mechanism(s) involved in primordial-primary follicular transition and suggestions to promote follicular development in ovarian dysfunction.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.761-772
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• 2017

Glioblastoma is the most frequent and most aggressive brain tumor in adults. Solute carrier family 8 member 2 (SLC8A2) is only expressed in normal brain, but not present in other human normal tissues or in gliomas. Therefore, we hypothesized that SLC8A2 might be a glioma tumor suppressor gene and detected the role of SLC8A2 in glioblastoma and explored the underlying molecular mechanism. The glioblastoma U87MG cells stably transfected with the lentivirus plasmid containg SLC8A2 (U87MG-SLC8A2) and negative control (U87MG-NC) were constructed. In the present study, we found that the tumorigenicity of U87MG in nude mice was totally inhibited by SLC8A2. Overexpression of SLC8A2 had no effect on cell proliferation or cell cycle, but impaired the invasion and migration of U87MG cells, most likely through inactivating the extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK)1/2 signaling pathway, inhibiting the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), reducing the level of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)-its receptor (uPAR) system (ERK1/2-$NF-{\kappa}B$-MMPs/uPA-uPAR), and altering the protein levels of epithelial to mesenchymal transitions (EMT)-associated proteins E-cardherin, vimentin and Snail. In addition, SLC8A2 inhibited the angiogenesis of U87MG cells, probably through combined inhibition of endothelium-dependent and endothelium-nondependent angiogenesis (vascular mimicry pattern). Totally, SLC8A2 serves as a tumor suppressor gene and inhibits invasion, angiogenesis and growth of glioblastoma.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 2012

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a number of common variants associated with blood pressure homeostasis and hypertension in population. In the previous study, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SLC4A4 gene have been reported to be associated with hypertension in Han Chinese population. We aimed to confirm whether the genetic variation of SLC4A4 gene influence the susceptibility to blood pressure and hypertension in Korean population. We genotyped variants in or near SLC4A4 in a population-based cohort including 7,551 unrelated Korean from Ansan and Ansung. Here, we performed association analysis to elucidate the possible relations of genetic polymorphisms in SLC4A4 gene with blood pressure traits. By examining genotype data of a total of 7,551 subjects in the Korean Association REsource (KARE) study, we discovered the SLC4A4 gene polymorphisms are associated with blood pressure and hypertension. The common and highest significant polymorphism was rs6846301 (${\beta}$=0.839, additive P=0.032) with systolic blood pressure (SBP), rs6846301 (${\beta}$=0.588, additive P=0.027) with diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and rs6846301 (OR=1.23, CI: 1.09~1.40, additive $P=1.2{\times}10^{-3}$) with hypertension. Furthermore, the SNP rs6846301 was consistently associated with both blood pressure and hypertension. Consequently, we found statistically significant SNPs in SLC4A4 gene that are associated with both blood pressure and hypertension traits. In addition, these results suggest that the individuals with the minor alleles of the SNP in the SLC4A4 gene may be more susceptible to the development of hypertension in the Korean population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2017

Purpose: Obesogenic environments in children, in particular excessive intake of sodium, generate hypertension, which is a major risk factor for chronic diseases. Methods: In all, 725 children, 379 boys and 373 girls, aged 8~9 years were recruited from seven elementary schools in Kuro-ku, Seoul. To evaluate whether or not obesity risk was modulated by salt-sensitive genes, Solute Carrier Familiy 12 member 3 (SLC12A3) was used as the target. After children were assigned into obese (BMI > 85 percentile) or non-obese groups, anthropometry, blood biochemistry, and dietary intakes were measured according to the genotypes GG (wild) or GA+AA (hetero+mutant). Results: Without gender differences, high TG and low HDLc were detected in the obese group compared to the non-obese group. Regardless of obesity, weight gain and blood pressure (BP) increased in the SLC12A3 GA+AA genotype rather than in the GG type. HDLc was associated with obesity risk without genotype difference. Odd ratios for risk of obesity were 15.57 (95% CI 2.192~110.654), 22.84 (95% CI 1.565~333.469), and 9.32 (95%CI 1.262~68.817) in boys and girls with GA+AA genotypes as sodium intake increased above 4,000 mg/day. Dietary calcium, sodium, folate, and vit C were associated with obesity risk according to gender or genotype differences. Since high folate intake reduced obesity risk in only boys with GG type. Risk for overweight and obesity increased in boys with GA+AA genotypes and dietary habits with high sodium and cholesterol and low folate. Conclusion: The A allele of SLC12A3 rs11643718 was sensitive to development of obesity in children as sodium intake increased.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.435-447
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• 2021

Purpose: Body adiposity is negatively correlated with hepatic iron status, and Korean pine nut oil (PNO) has been reported to reduce adiposity. Therefore, we aimed to study the effects of PNO on adiposity, hepatic mineral status, and the expression of genes and proteins involved in iron absorption. Methods: Five-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed a control diet containing 10% kcal from PNO (PC) or soybean oil (SBO; SC), or a high-fat diet (HFD) containing 35% kcal from lard and 10% kcal from PNO (PHFD) or SBO (SHFD). Hepatic iron, copper, and zinc content; and expression of genes and proteins related to iron absorption were measured. Results: HFD-fed mice had a higher white fat mass (2-fold; p < 0.001), lower hepatic iron content (25% lower; p < 0.001), and lower hepatic Hamp (p = 0.028) and duodenal Dcytb mRNA levels (p = 0.037) compared to the control diet-fed mice. Hepatic iron status was negatively correlated with body weight (r = -0.607, p < 0.001) and white fat mass (r = -0.745, p < 0.001). Although the PHFD group gained less body weight (18% less; p < 0.05) and white fat mass (18% less; p < 0.05) than the SHFD group, the hepatic iron status impaired by the HFD feeding did not improve. The expression of hepatic and duodenal ferroportin protein was not affected by the fat amount or the oil type. PNO-fed mice had significantly lower Slc11a2 (p = 0.022) and Slc40a1 expression (p = 0.027) compared to SBO-fed mice. However, the PC group had a higher Heph expression than the SC group (p < 0.05). The hepatic copper and zinc content did not differ between the four diet groups, but hepatic copper content adjusted by body weight was significantly lower in the HFD-fed mice compared to the control diet-fed mice. Conclusion: HFD-induced obesity decreased hepatic iron storage by affecting the regulation of genes related to iron absorption; however, the 18% less white fat mass in the PHFD group was not enough to improve the iron status compared to the SHFD group. The hepatic copper and zinc status was not altered by the fat amount or the oil type.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.26-31
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• 2019

[Purpose] Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that it is possible to prescribe exercise for neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, despite the availability of diverse scientific knowledge, the effects of exercise in this regard are still unclear. Therefore, this study attempted to investigate a substance, such as black chokeberry (Aronia melanocapa L.) that could improve the ability of the treatment and enhance the benefits of exercising in neurodegenerative diseases. [Methods] The cell viability was tested with 2,3-bis[2-methyloxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolim-5-carboxanilide and the cells were stained with ethidium homodimer-1 solution. The mRNA expression levels were evaluated by microarray. The active compounds of black chokeberry ethanolic extract (BCE) were analyzed by gas chromatography. The chemical shift analysis in the brain was performed using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. [Results] BCE treatment decreased hydrogen peroxide-induced L6 cell death and beta amyloid induced primary neuronal cell death. Furthermore, BCE treatment significantly reduced the mRNA levels of the inflammatory factors, such as IL-1α, Cxcl13, IL36rn, Itgb2, Epha2, Slamf8, Itgb6, Kdm6b, Acvr1, Cd6, Adora3, Cd27, Gata3, Tnfrsf25, Cd40lg, Clec10a, and Slc11a1, in the primary neuronal cells. Next, we identified 16 active compounds from BCE, including D-mannitol. In vivo, BCE (administered orally at a dosage of 50 mg/kg) significantly regulated chemical shift in the brain. [Conclusion] Our findings suggest that BCE can serve as a candidate for neurodegenerative disease therapy owing to its cyto-protective and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, BCE treatment is expected to prevent damage to the muscles and neurons of the athletes who continue high intensity exercise. In future studies, it would be necessary to elucidate the effects of combined BCE intake and exercise.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.529-536
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• 2009

Genome sequencing of the pig is being accelerated because of its importance as an evolutionary and biomedical model animal as well as a major livestock animal. However, information on expressed porcine genes is insufficient to allow annotation and use of the genomic information. A series of expressed sequence tags of 5' ends of five full-length enriched cDNA libraries (SUSFLECKs) were functionally characterized. SUSFLECKs were constructed from porcine abdominal fat, induced fat cells, loin muscle, liver, and pituitary gland, and were composed of non-normalized and normalized libraries. A total of 55,658 ESTs that were sequenced once from the 5′ ends of clones were produced and assembled into 17,684 unique sequences with 7,736 contigs and 9,948 singletons. In Gene Ontology analysis, two significant biological process leaf nodes were found: gluconeogenesis and translation elongation. In functional domain analysis based on the Pfam database, the beta transducin repeat domain of WD40 protein was the most frequently occurring domain. Twelve genes, including SLC25A6, EEF1G, EEF1A1, COX1, ACTA1, SLA, and ANXA2, were significantly more abundant in fat tissues than in loin muscle, liver, and pituitary gland in the SUSFLECKs. These characteristics of SUSFLECKs determined by EST analysis can provide important insight to discover the functional pathways in gene networks and to expand our understanding of energy metabolism in the pig.