• BMB Reports
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• 제52권7호
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• pp.451-456
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• 2019

NDRG1 has been reported to exert pivotal roles in tumor progression and metastasis via Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway. However, little is known about the role of NDRG3 in hepatocarcinogenesis despite its classification in the same subfamily of NDRG1. The present study was aimed to characterize the expression pattern and understand the biological roles of NDRG3 in hepatocarcinogenesis, as a means to exploit its therapeutic potential. It was observed that NDRG3 was up-regulated in HCC tissues and higher NDRG3 expression was associated with significantly shorter overall survival. Furthermore, a lower level of NDRG3 exhibited marked positive correlation with metastasis-free survival. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that knock-down of NDRG3 inhibits HCC metastasis and angiogenesis. We further demonstrated that activation of WNT/${\beta}$-catenin signaling and enhanced CSC-like properties were responsible for NDRG3-mediated promoting effect on HCC. In conclusion, the principal findings demonstrated that high NDRG3 expression facilitates HCC metastasis via regulating the turnover of ${\beta}$-catenin, as well as provides a potential therapeutic target for future therapeutic interventions.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.957-966
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• 2021

Objective: Ovarian follicular development, which dependent on the proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells (GCs), is a complex biological process in which miRNA plays an important role. Our previous study showed that miR-458b-5p is associated with ovarian follicular development in chicken. The detailed function and molecular mechanism of miR-458b-5p in GCs is unclear. Methods: The luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-458b-5p and catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1), which is an important transcriptional regulatory factor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry with propidium iodide (PI) and annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeling were applied to explore the effect of miR-458b-5p on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of chicken GCs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels. Results: We demonstrated that the expression of miR-458b-5p and CTNNB1 showed the opposite relationship in GCs and theca cells of hierarchical follicles. The luciferase reporter assay confirmed that CTNNB1 is the direct target of miR-458b-5p. Using CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry with PI and Annexin V-FITC labeling, we observed that transfection with the miR-458b-5p mimics significantly reduced proliferation and has no effects on apoptosis of chicken GCs. In addition, miR-458b-5p decreased the mRNA and protein expression of CD44 molecule and matrix metallopeptidase 7, which are the downstream effectors of CTNNB1 in Wnt/β-Catenin pathway and play functional roles in cell proliferation. Conclusion: Taken together, the data indicate that miR-458b-5p regulates ovarian GCs proliferation through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by targeting CTNNB1, suggesting that miR-458b-5p and its target gene CTNNB1 may potentially play a role in chicken ovarian follicular development.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.69-80
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• 2003

대량의 발생 유전학적 연구가 가능한 척추동물로서 최근 제브라피쉬가 새로운 동물모델로 급부상하고 있다 다양한 형태의 돌연변이들로부터 새로운 유전자들이 발굴되어지고 있으며, 인간 유전체의 기능 분석 수단으로 활용되어지고 있다. 신경계의 형성과 분화에 이상이 있는 hendless와 mind bomb이라는 두 가지 돌연변이주에서 positional cloning에 의한 원인 유전자의 발굴과 기능 분석의 예로써 현재 제브라피쉬의 연구 현황을 살펴보고자 한다. headless의 원인 유전자로 Tcf-3가 밝혀졌으며, 초기 발생단계에서 Wnt 신호전달이 두뇌의 형태형성과 영역 결정에서 핵심적 역할을 하고 있다는 사실이 밝혀졌다. mind bomb에서의 비정상적인 신경세포의 운명 결정은 lateral inhibition과 Notch 신호전달의 결함에 의한 것이고, 그 원인 유전자는 Notch ligand인 Delta에 결합하는 새로운 ubiquitin E3 ligase로 밝혀졌다. 이러한 돌연변이를 통한 연구는 현재 인간 질환모델의 개발이라는 방향으로 확대되고 있다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.211-218
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• 2017

Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) acts as a hydroxylase for estrogen and activates potential carcinogens. Moreover, its expression in tumor tissues is much higher than that in normal tissues. Despite this association between CYP1B1 and cancer, the detailed molecular mechanism of CYP1B1 on cancer progression in HeLa cells remains unknown. Previous reports indicated that the mRNA expression level of Herc5, an E3 ligase for ISGylation, is promoted by CYP1B1 suppression using specific small interfering RNA, and that ISGylation may be involved in ubiquitination related to ${\beta}-catenin$ degradation. With this background, we investigated the relationships among CYP1B1, Herc5, and ${\beta}-catenin$. RT-PCR and western blot analyses showed that CYP1B1 overexpression induced and CYP1B1 inhibition reduced, respectively, the expression of $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling target genes including ${\beta}-catenin$ and cyclin D1. Moreover, HeLa cells were treated with the CYP1B1 inducer $7,12-dimethylbenz[{\alpha}]anthracene$ (DMBA) or the CYP1B1 specific inhibitor, tetramethoxystilbene (TMS) and consequently DMBA increased and TMS decreased ${\beta}-catenin$ and cyclin D1 expression, respectively. To determine the correlation between CYP1B1 expression and ISGylation, the expression of ISG15, a ubiquitin-like protein, was detected following CYP1B1 regulation, which revealed that CYP1B1 may inhibit ISGylation through suppression of ISG15 expression. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Herc5 were strongly suppressed by CYP1B1. Finally, an immunoprecipitation assay revealed a direct physical interaction between Herc5 and ${\beta}-catenin$ in HeLa cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that CYP1B1 may activate $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling through stabilization of ${\beta}-catenin$ protein from Herc5-mediated ISGylation for proteosomal degradation.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.8-16
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the gene profiles that were up- or down-regulated in the livers of high-fat diet-induced obese mice and $db_-/db_-$ mice with deficient leptin receptor. C57/BL6 normal mice and $db_-/db_-$ mice, respectively, were divided into two groups and fed a standard or high-fat diet for four weeks. Liver weight was unchanged in the normal mice but the high-fat diet led to a 10% weight increase in the $db_-/db_-$mice. Adipose tissue mass increased by about 88% in the normal mice that were fed a high-fat diet and by about 17% in the $db_-/db_-$mice on the high-fat diet. In terms of serum lipids, total cholesterol significantly increased in mice on the high-fat diet. Microarray analysis was carried out using total RNA isolated from the livers of standard or high-fat diet-fed mice of the normal and $db_-/db_-$ strains. The change of gene expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. About 1.6% and 6.8% of total genes, respectively, showed different expression patterns in the normal mice fed the high-fat diet and $db_-/db_-$ mice. As a result of microarray, many genes involved in metabolism and signal pathways were shown to have different expression patterns. Expression of Mgst3 gene increased in the livers of normal and $db_-/db_-$ mice that were fed a high-fat diet. Wnt7b and Ptk9l were down-regulated in the livers of the normal mice and $db_-/db_-$ mice that were fed a high-fat diet. In conclusion, a high-fat diet induced obesity and affected gene expression involved in metabolism and signal pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권20호
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• pp.8829-8836
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• 2014

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), considered to have tumor-promoting potential, is highly expressed in a variety of tumors, including breast cancer. Since the functions and action mechanisms of COX-2 in breast cancer have not been fully elucidated, in the present study, the effects of target inhibiting COX-2 with recombinant adenovirus Ad-COX-2-shRNA on malignant biological behavior were investigated in representative cell lines. Materials and Methods: Breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were transfected with Ad-COX-2-shRNA and COX-2 expression was tested by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Changes in proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of breast cancer cells were detected with various assays including MTT, colony forming, flowcytometry and Transwell invasion tests. The expression of related proteins involved in the cell cycle, apoptosis, invasion and signaling pathways was assessed by Western blotting. Results: COX-2 expression was significantly reduced in both breast cancer cell lines infected with Ad-COX-2-shRNA, with obvious inhibition of proliferation, colony forming rate, G2/M phase passage and invasion, as well as induction of apoptosis, in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. At the same time, proteins related to the cell cycle, anti-apoptosis and invasion were significantly downregulated. In addition, c-myc expression and phosphorylation activation of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin and p38MAPK pathways were reduced by the Ad-COX-2-shRNA. Conclusions: COX-2 expression is associated with proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of breast cancer cells, and its mechanisms of action involve regulating expression of c-myc through the p38MAPK and Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin pathways.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권7호
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• pp.933-941
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• 2021

Ginsenoside Rg4 is a rare ginsenoside that is naturally found in ginseng, and exhibits a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in several cell types. The purpose of this study was to use an in vivo model of hair follicle (HF)-mimic based on a human dermal papilla (DP) spheroid system prepared by three-dimensional (3D) culture and to investigate the effect of Rg4 on the hair-inductive properties of DP cells. Treatment of the DP spheroids with Rg4 (20 to 50 ㎍/ml) significantly increased the viability and size of the DP spheres in a dose-dependent manner. Rg4 also increased the mRNA and protein expression of DP signature genes that are related to hair growth including ALP, BMP2, and VCAN in the DP spheres. Analysis of the signaling molecules and luciferase reporter assays further revealed that Rg4 induces the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3β, which activates the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. These results correlated with not only the increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin following the treatment of the DP spheres with Rg4 but also the significant elevation of mRNA expression of the downstream target genes of the WNT/β-catenin pathway including WNT5A, β-catenin, and LEF1. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg4 promotes the hair-inductive properties of DP cells by activating the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway in DP spheres, suggesting that Rg4 could be a potential natural therapy for hair growth.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.75-85
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• 2023

본 연구에서는 7 개의 아미노산으로 이루어진 헵타펩타이드의 Lgr5 binding에 따른 인체 모낭 구성 세포의 활성에 대한 영향을 확인하였다. 표면 플라즈몬 공명(surface plasmon resonance, SPR) 시스템을 이용하여 헵타펩타이드가 Lgr5에 결합하는 것을 확인하였다. 인체 모유두세포(human hair follicle dermal papilla cell, HHFDPC)에 헵타펩타이드를 처리한 결과, 농도 의존적인 세포 증식이 나타났으며 β-catenin의 세포 내핵 이동 및 하위 유전자인 LEF1, Cyclin-D1, c-Myc의 발현 증가가 관찰되었다. 그리고 세포 증식 기전 관련 인자인 Akt와 ERK의 인산화 수준이 증가되었으며, 성장인자인 hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 발현이 유도되었다. 또한 인체 모모세포(human hair germinal matrix cell, HHGMC)의 분화 관련 전사 인자와 인체 외모근초세포(human hair outer root sheath cell, HHORSC)의 분화 표지 인자들도 헵타펩타이드 처리 시 높은 발현율을 보였다. 추가적으로 우리는 헵타펩타이드의 인체 모낭줄기세포(human hair follicle stem cell, HHFSC) 분화에 대한 영향을 조사하였다. 그 결과, HHFSC 표지인자들의 mRNA와 단백질 수준이 감소하였고 반면에 분화 표지인자들은 증가하였다. 상기의 결과들은 헵타펩타이드가 인체 모낭 구성 세포에서 Wnt/β-catenin 경로를 촉진시켜 증식 또는 분화를 유도할 수 있음을 보여준다. 이를 토대로 종합해 볼 때, 본 연구의 헵타펩타이드는 모발 성장을 유도하고 탈모 개선에 도움을 줄 수 있는 기능성 원료로 사용될 수 있을 것으로 보인다.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.146-155
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Crataegi Fructus water extract(CFWE) on hair growth in an alopecia model of C57BL/6N mice and human dermal papilla cells(hDPCs). Methods : Six-week old mice were depilated and separated in 3 groups ; CON, MXD(2% Minoxidil), and CFWE. The treatments were applied twice a day for 18 days. The hair growth was determined photographically. The hair density, thickness and length were identified by Folliscope and the weights of body were measured. In dorsal skin tissue, the expression of hair growth-related protein was analyzed by Western blot. In hDPCs with/without $IFN-{\gamma}$, cell proliferation and the expression of hair growth-related genes were analyzed. Results : We observed that CFWE promoted hair growth compared to CON. CFWE improved the hair density, thickness and length compared to CON. CFWE increased the $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling in dorsal skin. In hDPCs, CFWE accelerated the cell proliferation and inhibited $IFN-{\gamma}$-induced hDPCs degeneration. CFWE increased the mRNA expression of ${\beta}$-catenin, Axin-2, BMP-4, FGF-7, FGF-10, and ALP compared to CON and $IFN-{\gamma}$ treated cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that CFWE has a hair regrowth activity via $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling and can be useful for the treatment of alopecia.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

Objective : As more and more people are interested in appearance in modern society, the increasing number of hair loss population can have an important impact on psychological and social problems such as depression and inappropriate interpersonal symptoms. Therefore, much research is being done on treatments for alopecia using herbal extracts with relatively few side effects. This study was investigated about the effect of Achyranthis Radix (AR) extract with ethanol solvent on hair growth. Methods : We determined the promoting efficacy of AR-ethanol extract compared with minoxidil (MNXD) on the growth of human hair dermal papilla cells (HDPCs). Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and cell proliferation was confirmed by cell cycle analysis from flow cytometry in HDPCs. Also, we monitored the safe concentration range through MTT assay. And protein expression of hair growth-related genes (insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), Wnt3a, Protein kinase B (Akt), Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk)) was monitored by western blot. Results : On cell cycle analysis, the G2/M phase was higher than that of the DW group in AR ethanol extract group at 0.05 and 0.1 mg/㎖. All protein expression levels of HDPCs were increased in AR ethanol extract groups and the MNXD group, compared to the DW group, respectively. Conclusion : As mentioned above, AR extract increased cell proliferation and the protein expression of IGF-1, Wnt3a, Akt, Erk in HDPCs. These results suggest that AR ethanol extract has promoted hair growth and it might be potential hair growth supplement.