• 대한한의학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.114-125
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• 2024

Objectives: Network pharmacology is an analysis method that explores drug-centered efficacy and mechanism by constructing a compound-target-disease network based on system biology, and is attracting attention as a methodology for studying herbal medicine that has the characteristics for multi-compound therapeutics. Thus, we investigated the potential functions and pathways of Myrrha on Allergic Rhinitis (AR) via network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking. Methods: Using public databases and PubChem database, compounds of Myrrha and their target genes were collected. The putative target genes of Myrrha and known target genes of AR were compared and found the correlation. Then, the network was constructed using STRING database, and functional enrichment analysis was conducted based on the Gene Ontology (GO) Biological process and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathways. Binding-Docking stimulation was performed using CB-Dock. Results: The result showed that total 3 compounds and 55 related genes were gathered from Myrrha. 33 genes were interacted with AR gene set, suggesting that the effects of Myrrha are closely related to AR. Target genes of Myrrha are considerably associated with various pathways including 'Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway' and 'JAK-STAT signaling pathway'. As a result of blinding docking, AKT1, which is involved in both mechanisms, had high binding energies for abietic acid and dehydroabietic acid, which are components of Myrrha. Conclusion: Through a network pharmacological method, Myrrha was predicted to have high relevance with AR by regulating AKT1. This study could be used as a basis for studying therapeutic effects of Myrrha on AR.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.591-598
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• 2021

Background: Hematopoiesis is the production of blood cells from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that reside in the bone marrow. Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a chemotherapy drug that suppresses the immune system. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) and Colla corii asini (CCA) have been traditionally used for boosting the immune system. Methods: HSCs in the bone marrow, and immune cell subtype in splenocytes, PBMCs, and thymocytes were investigated. Serum levels of hematopoietic-related markers were analyzed using ELISA. Protein expression in spleen tissue was analyzed using western blot analysis. Hematoxylin & eosin staining in the femurs of mice were also conducted. Results: The combination of KRG and CCA with a ratio of 3:2 increased HSCs, CD3 and CD8⁺ T cells in the circulation, and CD3 T cells in the spleen. A ratio of 2:3 (KRG:CCA) increased the thymic regulatory T cells and recovered the CD3 T cells in the spleen and circulation while recovering proteins in the JAK-STAT pathway in the spleen. Overall, blood cell population and differentiating factors vital for cell differentiation were also significantly recovered by all combinations especially in ratios of 3:2 and 2:3. Conclusion: A ratio of 3:2 (KRG:CCA) is the most ideal combination as it recovered the HSC population in the bone marrow of mice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.614-628
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• 2019

Objective: The inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRBs) play an important role in innate immunity. The present study represents the first description of the cloning and structural and functional analysis of LILRB1 and LILRB3 isolated from two genetically disparate chicken lines. Methods: Chicken LILRB1-3 genes were identified by bioinformatics approach. Expression studies were performed by transfection, quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Signal transduction was analyzed by western blots, immunoprecipitation and flow cytometric. Cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Amino acid homology and phylogenetic analyses showed that the homologies of LILRB1 and LILRB3 in the chicken line 6.3 to those proteins in the chicken line 7.2 ranged between 97%-99%, while homologies between chicken and mammal proteins ranged between 13%-19%, and 13%-69%, respectively. Our findings indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 subdivided into two groups based on the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIM) present in the transmembrane domain. Chicken line 6.3 has two ITIM motifs of the sequence LxYxxL and SxYxxV while line 7.2 has two ITIM motifs of the sequences LxYxxL and LxYxxV. These motifs bind to SHP-2 (protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 11) that plays a regulatory role in immune functions. Moreover, our data indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 associated with and activated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and ${\beta}2-microglobulin$ and induced the expression of transporters associated with antigen processing, which are essential for MHC class I antigen presentation. This suggests that LILRB1 and LILRB3 are transcriptional regulators, modulating the expression of components in the MHC class I pathway and thereby regulating immune responses. Furthermore, LILRB1 and LILRB3 activated Janus kinase2/tyrosine kinase 2 (JAK2/TYK2); signal transducer and activator of transcription1/3 (STAT1/3), and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 genes expressed in Macrophage (HD11) cells, which induced Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines. Conclusion: These data indicate that LILRB1 and LILRB3 are innate immune receptors associated with SHP-2, MHC class I, ${\beta}2-microglobulin$, and they activate the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway. Thus, our study provides novel insights into the regulation of immunity and immunopathology.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.462-469
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• 2013

Withaferin A는 Withania somnifera에서 추출한 천연물질로 스테로이드성 락톤(steroidal lactone)으로 항암, 항염증, 면역억제기능을 가진다. 본 연구에서는 withaferin A의 다양한 기능 중 항암효과에 대하여 논하고자 한다. Withaferin A는 암세포에서 세포의 분열, 전이, 침투 및 혈관생성을 억제함으로써 항암작용을 나타내는 것으로 알려져 있다. 또한, 기존에 사용되고 있던 항암요법인 방사선 용법과 저농도의 항암제와 withaferin A를 함께 병합 처리하면 암세포의 세포사멸을 현저하게 증가시키는 약물 민감화 작용을 한다. 이러한 withaferin A에 의한 항암작용에는 다양한 신호전달체계가 수반된다. 우선, withaferin A는 세포 내 활성산소의 양을 증가시키고, ER stress와 미토콘드리아 매개의 세포사멸을 유도한다. 둘째로, withaferin A는 세포의 성장과 분열, 전이에 중요한 Jak/STAT, Akt, Notch, 그리고 c-Met의 신호전달을 억제한다. 셋째, withaferin A는 prostate apoptosis protein-4의 발현을 증가시켜 세포사멸을 유도하거나 세포의 이동을 억제한다. 마지막으로, withaferin A는 proteasome의 활성을 억제하여 세포사멸 유도단백질의 발현을 증가시킴으로써 암세포사멸을 증가시킨다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 withaferin A는 새로운 항암제로서의 가능성을 가지고 있다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.214-219
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• 2019

The role of tumor-proximal factors in tumor plasticity during chemoresistance and metastasis following chemotherapy is well studied. However, the role of endothelial cell (EC) derived paracrine factors in tumor plasticity, their effect on chemotherapeutic outcome, and the mechanism by which these paracrine factors modulate the tumor microenvironment are not well understood. In this study, we report a novel mechanism by which endothelial miR-125a and let-7e-mediated regulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling can manipulate vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We found that endothelial IL-6 levels were significantly higher in response to cisplatin treatment, whereas levels of IL-6 upon cisplatin exposure remained unchanged in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We additionally found an inverse correlation between IL-6 and miR-125a/let-7e expression levels in cisplatin treated ECs. Interestingly, IL-6, IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) genes in the IL-6 pathway are closely regulated by miR-125a and let-7e, which directly target its 3' untranslated region. Functional analyses revealed that endothelial miR-125a and let-7e inhibit IL-6-induced adhesion of monocytes to ECs. Furthermore, conditioned medium from cisplatin treated ECs induced a significantly higher formation of VM in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells as compared to that from intact ECs; this effect of cisplatin treatment was abrogated by concurrent overexpression of miR-125a and let-7e. Overall, this study reveals a novel EC-tumor cell crosstalk mediated by the endothelial miR-125a/let-7e-IL-6 signaling axis, which might improve chemosensitivity and provide potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제59권3호
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• pp.235-249
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• 2021

Leptin is a type of adipokine mainly produced by adipocytes and reported to be overproduced in prostate cancer. However, it is not known whether it stimulates the proliferation of prostate cells. In this study, we investigated whether benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial cells (BPH-1 cells) infected with Trichomonas vaginalis induced the proliferation of prostate cells via a leptin signaling pathway. To investigate the effect of crosstalk between adipocyte leptin and inflamed epithelial cell in proliferation of prostate cells, adipocytes 3T3-L1 cells were incubated in conditioned medium of BPH-1 cells infected with T. vaginalis (T. vaginalis-conditioned medium, TCM), and then the adipocyte-conditioned medium (ATCM) was identified to cause proliferation of prostate cells. BPH-1 cells incubated with live T. vaginalis released pro-inflammatory cytokines, and conditioned medium of these cells caused migration of adipocytes. When prostate stromal cells and BPH-1 cells were incubated with adipocyte conditioned medium containing leptin, their growth rates increased as did expression of the leptin receptor (known as OBR) and signaling molecules such as JAK2/STAT3, Notch and survivin. Moreover, blocking the OBR reduced this proliferation and the expression of leptin signaling molecules in response to ATCM. In conclusion, our findings show that inflamed BPH-1 cells infected with T. vaginalis induce the proliferation of prostate cells through leptin-OBR signaling. Therefore, it is likely that T. vaginalis contributes to prostate enlargement in BPH via adipocyte leptin released as a result of inflammation of the prostate.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권9호
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• pp.765-772
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• 2015

Saussurea lappa has been reported to possess anti-atopic properties. In this study, we have confirmed the S. lappa's anti-atopic properties in Nc/Nga mice and investigated the candidate gene related with its properties using microarray. We determined the target gene using real time PCR in in vitro experiment. S. lappa showed the significant reduction in atoptic dermatitis (AD) score and immunoglobulin E compared with the AD induced Nc/Nga mice. In the results of microarray using back skin obtained from animals, we found that S. lappa's properties are closely associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Consistent with the microarray data, real-time RT-PCR confirmed these modulation at the mRNA level in skin tissues from S. lappa-treated mice. Among these genes, PI3Kca and $IL20R{\beta}$ were significantly downregulated by S. lappa treatment in Nc/Nga mouse model. In in vitro experiment using HaCaT cells, we found that the S. lappa components, including alantolactone, caryophyllene, costic acid, costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone significantly decreased the expression of PI3Kca but not $IL20R{\beta}$ in vitro. Therefore, our study suggests that PI3Kca-related signaling is closely related with the protective effects of S. lappa against the development of atopic-dermatitis.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.193-201
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• 2006

Cephalexin, one of most widely prescribed cephalosporin, has been reported to cause acute renal failure as a side effect in human and experimental animals. Although numerous animal studies have been reported for the cephalosporin nephrotoxicity, the molecular and cellular nephrotoxic mechanisms of cephalexin are still unknown. This investigation evaluated the time-dependent gene expression profile of kidney in mouse during cephalexin induced nephrotoxicity. C57BL/6 female mice were administered either saline or 1,000 mg/kg cephalexin intraperitoneally. Mice were sacrificed at 3, 6, and 24 hr after administration. Blood biochemical and histopathological results indicated cephalexin induced nephrotoxicity. Microarray experiment carried out using Affymetrix $GeneChip^{(R)}$. There were 198 informative genes that were significantly expressed >5-fold versus control at 3, 6, and 24 hr (p<0.01), of which 156 and 42 were up-and down-regulated, respectively. Major classes of up-regulated genes at 3, 6 hr included those involved in MAPK/Jak-STAT signaling pathway and immune response such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and complement and coagulation cascades. At 24 hr, up-regulated genes were mainly involved in regeneration/repair and immune response; down-regulated genes were generally associated with transporters and intermediary metabolism. Among the up-regulated genes at 24 hr, several potential biomarkers on nephrotoxicity such as Kim-1, Fga, Timp1, and Slc34a2 were clustered in a same category. In addition, Tnfrsf12a and Lcn2 which were consistently up-regulated (>5 fold) were also included as potential biomarkers. These results may provide clues for elucidating the mechanism of cephalexin induced nephrotoxicity and evaluating potential biomarkers to assess nephrotoxicity.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1243-1253
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• 2012

뇌하수체 전엽에서 성장호르몬의 생산과 분비는 세포의 분열과 분화 그리고 이동을 조절하는 몇 가지 천연물질에 의해 유도된다. 따라서 발효과정을 통해 제조된 청국장이 성장호르몬의 대사에 미치는 영향을 평가하기 위하여 성장호르몬 분비능과 반응성을 뇌하수체 세포와 성장호르몬 표적세포에서 관찰하였다. 6가지 종류의 콩 품종으로 제조된 청국장 추출물 중에서, 대원, 대풍, 태광의 3종류 청국장 추출물은 5 mg/ml 농도에서 GH3 세포로부터 성장호르몬의 분비를 촉진하였다. 비록 세포 생존능은 이러한 추출물에 의해 유의적인 변화가 유도되지 않았으나, 성장호르몬의 분비량은 청국장 추출물의 농도에 의존적으로 증가하였다. 또한 성장호르몬의 표적 기관으로부터 유래된 MG63과 HepG2 세포는 GH3로부터 수집된 조건적 배양액에 의해 유의적으로 활성화되었다. 또한 이러한 세포에서 STAT5 발현은 대원 청국장 추출물을 처리 후, 15분 혹은 30분부터 세포질에서 유의적으로 증가하였으며, p-STAT5는 핵에서 30분 혹은 60분부터 증가하였다. 따라서 이러한 결과는 3가지 종류의 청국장 추출물은 성장호르몬의 분비를 촉진시키며, 청국장의 조건적 배양액은 성장호르몬 표적세포에서 신호전달을 유도함을 제시하고 있다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.298-305
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• 2012

Lutein은 식물에서 발견되는 carotenoid 계열에 속하는 물질로 항산화 기능을 가지고 있는 것으로 널리 알려져 있지만, 호흡기 질환과 관련하여 아직까지 lutein의 효능과 작용 기작이 잘 알려져 있지 않다. Ovalbumin (OVA)으로 유도한 천식(asthma) 생쥐모델에서 lutein은 기도 과민성을 억제하였고, 기관지 폐포 세척액에서 OVA의 감작에 의하여 증가한 각종 염증성 지표들을 감소시켰다. 또한, OVA의 감작에 의하여 증가한 제2형 협조 T 세포(Th2 cell)의 증가된 반응을 약화시키는 결과를 볼 수 있었다. 본 실험에서 lutein이 ovalbumin (OVA)으로 유도한 천식 생쥐 모델에서 제 2형 협조 T세포의 싸이토카인과 유전자 발현을 조절할 수 있는 면역약리학적 기능을 할 수 있는 물질로서의 가능성이 있음을 확인할 수 있었다.