• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.425-431
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• 2018

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide is a widely distributed neurotransmitter expressed in the central nervous systems. Previously, several reports demonstrated that nucleus accumbal-injected CART peptide positively modulated behavioral sensitization induced by psychostimulants and regulated the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic pathway. It is confirmed that CART peptide exerted inhibitory effect on psychostimulant-enhanced dopamine receptors signaling, $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent kinase signaling and crucial transcription factors expression. Besides modulation of dopamine receptors-related pathways, CART peptide also exhibited elaborated interactions with other neurotransmitter receptors, such as glutamate receptors and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid receptors, which further account for attribution of CART peptide to inhibition of psychostimulant-potentiated locomotor activity. Recently, CART peptide has been shown to have anxiolytic functions on the aversive mood and uncontrolled drug-seeking behaviors following drug withdrawal. Moreover, microinjection of CART peptide has been shown to have an antidepressant effect, which suggests its potential utility in the mood regulation and avoidance of depression-like behaviors. In this review, we discuss CART pathways in neural circuits and their interactions with neurotransmitters associated with psychostimulant-induced depression.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2008

Diethylstilbestrol (DESB) is a synthetic estrogen not only that routinely prescribed, but also that known to be a teratogen. In this study, we found a novel pharmacological feature that DESB is able to positively modulate CD29 $({\beta}1-integrin)$ function. Thus, DESB up-regulated homotypic cell-cell adhesion of monocytic U937 cells mediated by CD29. However, DESB did not increase the surface level of CD29 and its binding activity to ligand (fibronectin), according to flow cytometric analysis and cell-fibronectin adhesion assay. Instead, the DESB-mediated up-regulation of cell-cell adhesion was blocked by several signaling enzyme inhibitors. Treatment of U0126 [an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor], SB20358 (a p38 inhibitor) or Rp-8-pCPT-cGMP (a protein kinase G inhibitor) clearly inhibited DESB-mediated up-regulation of cell-cell adhesion induced by CD29. However, estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 failed to abrogate DESB effect. Therefore, our data suggest that DESB may up-regulate CD29-mediated cell-cell adhesion via modulating intracellular signaling enzymes such as ERK, PKG, and p38, independent of estrogen receptor function.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2020

Purpose Along with increasing use of mobile devices, the sharing economy platform services, which generate profits by sharing products owned or labor, have been activated. A representative example of the sharing economy platform service is Airbnb, which connects providers having idle residential space with users. The results revealed that the cases of superhosts and professional companies had a positive and negative effect on user satisfaction, respectively. Based on signaling theory, this study drew the following implications: residential space providers should make an effort to meet the superhost conditions suggested by Airbnb, and offering residential spaces by individual suppliers rather than professional accommodation companies can more heighten user satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach Because sharing behavior is promoted through trust between interested parties, this study aimed to verify the effects of provider characteristics on user satisfaction in a sharing economy platform service. Specifically, it analyzed user satisfaction, according to host attributes (i.e., "superhost or not," gender, and "professional company or not") among the characteristics of Airbnb suppliers. Findings The results revealed that the cases of superhosts and professional companies had a positive and negative effect on user satisfaction, respectively. Based on these analyses results, this study drew the following implications: residential space providers should make an effort to meet the superhost conditions suggested by Airbnb, and offering residential spaces by individual suppliers rather than professional accommodation companies can more heighten user satisfaction.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.3707-3710
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• 2010

A chromo/fluorogenic $NO_2S_2$-macrocycle L functionalized with nitrobenzofurazan unit as a dual-signaling probe was synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. In a cation-induced color change experiment, L exhibited excellent $Hg^{2+}$ ion selectivity by showing the color change from orange-red to yellow. However, this hypochromic shift by $Hg^{2+}$ was observed for the weaker coordinating anion system such as ${NO_3}^-$ and ${ClO_4}^-$ ions. The observed anion effect is due to the strong coordination of anions inhibits the bond formation between $Hg^{2+}$ and the macrocyclic tert-N atom, which is sensitive to induce the color change. In the fluorometric experiment, L showed chelate-enhanced fluorescence change effect only with $Hg^{2+}$ ion, together with a change from yellow to green emission. The sensing ability for $Hg^{2+}$ with the proposed chemosensor L is due to the stable complexation with 1:1 stoichiometry (metal-to-ligand).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.399-405
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• 2012

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used nanoparticles and they are mainly used in antibacterial and personal care products. In this study, we evaluated the effect of AgNPs on cell death induction in the murine dendritic cell line DC2.4. DC2.4 cells exposed to AgNPs showed a marked decrease in cell viability and an induction of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, AgNPs promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent apoptosis and AgNP-induced ROS triggered a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. The activation of the intracellular signal transduction pathway was also observed in cells cultured with AgNPs. Taken together, our data demonstrate that AgNPs are able to induce a cytotoxic effect in DCs through ROS generation. This study provides important information about the safety of AgNPs that may help in guiding the development of nanotechnology applications.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.431-436
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• 2020

In this study, diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was investigated for its potential effect on the gene expression and production of airway MUC5AC mucin. The human respiratory epithelial NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with diclofenac for 30 min and stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), for the following 24 h. The effect of diclofenac on PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway was also investigated. Diclofenac suppressed the production and gene expression of MUC5AC mucins, induced by PMA through the inhibition of degradation of inhibitory kappa Bα (IkBα) and NF-kB p65 nuclear translocation. These results suggest diclofenac regulates the gene expression and production of mucin through regulation of NF-kB signaling pathway, in human airway epithelial cells.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.441-448
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• 2021

This study was designed to investigate the intracellular signaling pathways and immunoenhancing effect of macrophage activation by crude polysaccharides (CPP) extracted from citrus peels. CPP did not affect the cytotoxicity of RAW264.7 cells, but showed dose-dependent effects on cell viability. Also, CPP showed high production of chemokine (nitric oxide (NO)) and cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α). CPP increased IL-6, TNF-α, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression dose-dependently. CPP also strongly induced the phosphorylation of the ERK, p38, and IκBα pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. In anti-pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) experiments, the effect of CPP on NO production was strongly suppressed by neutralizing toll-like receptor (TLR)2, TLR4, and Dectin1 antibodies, whereas IL-6 and TNF-α production by CPP was mainly suppressed by mannose receptor (MR). Therefore, these results suggest that CPP treatment-induced NO production was regulated by the ERK, p38, and NF-κB pathways through TLR2, TLR4, and Dectin1 receptors, whereas IL-6 and TNF-α production was primarily regulated by the ERK, p38, and NF-κB pathways through MR receptors.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.304-309
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• 2022

Background: This study was conducted to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of astaxanthin, on atopic dermatitis. Methods: Changes in mouse body weight, lymph node weight, and the degree of improvement in symptoms were measured to determine the inflammatory response. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests were performed to determine the degree of expression of inflammation-related cytokines (IL-31 and IL-33 and chemokines such as CCL17 and CCL22), and western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of inflammation-related factors (iNOS, COX-2, and NF-kB signaling molecules p-IkBα, p50, p-65 and pSTAT3). Results: The degree of symptoms significantly improved in the PA+AX group. Lymph node weight in the PA+AX group was lower than the PA group. Inflammatory cytokines (IL-31, IL-33, and inflammatory chemokines such as CCL17 and CCL22) were significantly reduced in the PA+AX group compared with the PA group. The expression of inflammatory genes (iNOS, COX-2, NF-kB and signaling molecules (p-IkBα, p50, p65, and p-STAT 3) was lower in the PA+AX group compared with the PA group. Conclusion: Astaxanthin may modulate the inflammatory response in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2022

Objectives : Brain-Liver axis is an important target of the chronic human diseases. Hepatic steatosis is one of the most famous disorders in the chronic diseases. This study investigated the moderating effect of beneficial herbs on the fat accumulation, which is mediated by the LXR alpha-SREBP-1c signaling pathway. Methods : In order to confirm the SREBP-1c inhibitory effect, we performed immonoblotting ananlysis using HepG2 cells and Huh 7 cells treated by T0901317, the ligand of LXRα. Results : Forsythiae suspensa water extract (FSE) was not cytotoxicity in cell lines. FSE inhibited SREBP-1c protein expression in HepG2 and Huh7 cells induced by T0901317. In addition, FSE increased the phosphorylation of LKB1, which is associated with LXR-related pathway in HepG2 and Huh 7 cells. Conclusions : These results showed that FSE activated LKB1 to suppress SREBP-1c, which protects the cells against oxidative stress.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.194-199
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• 2024

Overexpression of mitofusin-2 (MFN2), a mitochondrial fusion protein, is frequently associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients. Here, I aimed to investigate the involvement of MFN2 in cervical cancer progression and determine the effect of MFN2 on prognosis in cervical cancer patients. After generating MFN2-knockdown SiHa cells derived from squamous cell carcinoma, I investigated the effect of MFN2 on SiHa cell proliferation using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and determined the mRNA levels of proliferation markers. Colony-forming ability and tumorigenesis were evaluated using a colony-formation assay and tumor xenograft mouse models. The migratory and invasive abilities associated with MFN2 were measured using wound-healing and invasion assays. Wnt/β-catenin-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers related to MFN2 were assessed through quantitative RT-PCR. MFN2-knockdown SiHa cells exhibited reduced proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and tumor formation in vivo. The motility of SiHa cells with MFN2 knockdown was reduced through Wnt/β-catenin-mediated EMT inhibition. MFN2 promoted cancer progression and tumorigenesis in SiHa cells. Overall, MFN2 could serve as a therapeutic target and a novel biomarker for cervical cancer.