• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2005

Although much is known about the molecular biology of platelets, the megakaryocytes' (MKs) molecular biology was not understood so well because of their rareness. By the cloning and characterization of thrombopoietin (TPO), which is the principal regulator of the growth and development of the MKs, researches on the MKs have been growing rapidly. To understand megakaryocytopoiesis, we investigated the gene expression profile of the MKs using oligonucleotide microarray where 10,108 unique genes were spotted. Comparing the fluorescence intensities of which ratio is $\ge$ ${\mid}2{\mid}$, 372 genes were up-regulated and 541 genes were down-regulated in MKs. For confirmatory expression, RNase protection assay (RPA) establishing abundant apoptotic gene expression was carried out. In MKs, many of the known genes, including several platelet related genes, GATA binding protein were highly expressed. Particularly, TGF beta, clusterin (complement lysis inhibitor), and thymosin beta 4 (actin-sequestering molecules) were expressed highly in MKs. As MKs specific expressed genes may regulate normal and pathologic platelet (and/or MK) functions, the transcript profiling using microarray was useful on molecular understanding of MKs,

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.194-200
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• 2017

Bone-resorbing osteoclasts play a major role in maintaining bone homeostasis with bone-forming osteoblasts. Although it has been reported that A2B adenosine receptor (A2BAR) regulates osteoclast differentiation, its effects on apoptosis or proliferation of osteoclasts have been less-defined. Here, we demonstrate that A2BAR stimulation regulates macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)-mediated osteoclast proliferation. Stimulation with a specific agonist of A2BAR, BAY 60-6583, significantly reduced M-CSF-mediated osteoclast proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, A2BAR stimulation induced both apoptosis of the cells and cell arrest in the G1 phase with a decrease of cell number in the G2/M phase. Stimulation with BAY 60-6583 inhibited the activation of Akt by M-CSF, whereas M-CSF-induced ERK1/2 activation was not affected. These results suggest that the inhibition of M-CSF-mediated Akt activation by A2BAR stimulation increases apoptotic response of osteoclasts and induces cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, thus contributing to the down-regulation of osteoclast proliferation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.367-372
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• 2009

In this study, we showed that WAX9D, a nonspecific lipid-transfer protein found in broccoli, binds palmitate (C16) and stearate (C18) with dissociation constants of 0.56 ${\mu}M$ and 0.52 ${\mu}M$, respectively. WAX9D was fused to thioredoxin protein by genetic manipulation to enhance its solubility. The data revealed strong interaction of Trx-WAX9D with palmitate and stearate. The dissociation constants of Trx-WAX9D for palmitate and stearate were 1.1 ${\mu}M$ and 6.4 ${\mu}M$, respectively. The calculated number of binding sites for palmitate and stearate was 2.5 to 2.7, indicating that Trx-WAX9D can bind three molecules of fatty acids. Additionally, Trx-WAX9D was shown to inhibit the apoptotic effect of palmitate in endothelial cells. Our data using Trx-WAX9D provide insight into the broad spectrum of its biological applications with specific palmitate binding.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.244-249
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• 2014

Arazyme is a metalloprotease secreted by Aranicola proteolyticus that was previously shown to suppress cytokine expression of keratinocytes and endothelial cells and inhibit histopathological features in an atopic dermatitis-like animal model. However, the regulatory effects of arazyme in other allergic diseases have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated whether arazyme is effective against neutrophil apoptosis in allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Arazyme inhibited neutrophil apoptosis of normal subjects in a dose-dependent manner. However, the antiapoptotic effect of arazyme was reversed by LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K, AKTi, an inhibitor of Akt, PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK, and BAY-11-7085, an inhibitor of NF-${\kappa}B$. Arazyme induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ via PI3K/Akt/ERK pathway. The anti-apoptotic effect of arazyme is associated with inhibition of cleavage of caspase 3 and caspase 9. Arazyme inhibited constitutive apoptosis of neutrophil in a dose-dependent manner in allergic subjects, and its mechanism was shown to be associated with PI3K/Akt/ERK/NF-${\kappa}B$. The results presented here improve our understanding of neutrophil apoptosis regulation and will facilitate development of drugs for treatment of allergic diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.643-647
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• 2003

The Methylene Chloride(MC) fraction of Trichosanthis kirilowii Maxim has been investigated anti-tumor activities in vitro. The MC fraction of Trichosanthis kirilowii Maxim significantly inhibited the proliferation of human leukemic U937 cell with an IC50 of approximately 10μg/ml in a dose-dependent manner. We found that the MC fraction upregulated of caspase9 and caspase-3 activity and cleaved PARP expression but it didn't affect bax and bcl-2. which were demonstrated by western blot analysis. Taken together, these results exerted that the MC fraction suppessed human leukemic U937 cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis, suggesting the MC fraction of Trichosanthis kirilowii Maxim is possible to show anti-cancer activity in vivo.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.174-178
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• 1995

Granulomatous mastitis is a rare inflammatory breast lesion, usually presented with rapidly enlarging palpable mass in young parous women and can simulate carcinoma. Unnecessary surgical procedure can be avoided if the nature of the lesion were defined by fine needle aspiratio(FNA) cytology. We experienced a case of bilateral granulomatous mastitis diagnosed by FNA cytology. The patient was a 31-year-old woman with one month history of a rapidly enlarging mass in the left breast, considered clinically to be malignant. After 4 years, she presented with a palpable mass in the right breast. The FNA cytology smears contained numerous aggregates of epithelioid histiocytes admixed with Langhans' and foreign body giant cells, lymphoytes, neutrophils and apoptotic debris leading to a diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis. The subsequent lumpectomy of the left breast confirmed the diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis. The FNA cytology smears from right breast showed identical cytologic findings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.299-304
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• 2016

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is a secreted tripartite genotoxin produced by many pathogenic gram-negative bacteria. It is composed of three subunits, CdtA, CdtB and CdtC, and CdtB-associated deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity is essential for the CDT toxicity. In the present study, to design a novel potentially antitumor drug against lung cancer, the possible mechanisms of cdtB anticancer properties were explored in the A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. A recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1/cdtB was constructed expressing CdtB of human periodontal bacterium Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and investigated for toxic properties in A549 cells and possible mechanisms. It was observed that plasmid pcDNA3.1/cdtB caused loss of cell viability, morphologic changes and induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, measurement of caspase activity indicated involvement of an intrinsic pathway of cell apoptosis. Consequently, the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1/cdtB may have potential as a new class of therapeutic agent for gene therapy of lung cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.260-264
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• 2009

Tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) exhibits cytotoxicity towards various tumor cells in vitro and induces apoptotic necrosis in transplanted tumors in vivo. It also shows severe toxicity when used systemically for the treatment of cancer patients, hampering the development of TNF-$\alpha$ as a potential anticancer drug. In order to understand the structure-function relation of TNF-$\alpha$ with respect to receptor binding, we selected four regions on the bottom of the TNF-$\alpha$ trimer that are in close contact with the receptor and carried out mutagenesis studies and computational modeling. From the study, various TNF-$\alpha$ muteins with a high therapeutic index were identified. These results will provide a structural basis for the design of highly potent TNF-$\alpha$ for therapeutic purposes. By conjugating TNF-$\alpha$ muteins with a high therapeutic index to a fusion partner, which targets a marker of angiogenesis, it could be possible to develop TNF-$\alpha$ based anticancer drugs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5243-5248
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• 2013

Background: Triptolide, extracted from the herb Tripteryglum wilfordii Hook.f that has long been used as a natural medicine in China, has attracted much interest for its anti-cancer effects against some kinds of tumours in recent years. Artesunate, extracted from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua, has proven to be effective and safe as an anti-malarial drug that possesses anticancer potential. The present study attempted to clarify if triptolide enhances artesunate-induced cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Methods: In vitro, to test synergic actions, cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed after treatment of pancreatic cancer cell lines with the two agents singly or in combination. The molecular mechanisms of apoptotic effects were also explored using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was established in nude mice, for assessment of inhibitory effects of triptolide and artesunate. Results: We could show that the combination of triptolide and artesunate could inhibit pancreatic cancer cell line growth, and induce apoptosis, accompanied by expression of HSP 20 and HSP 27, indicating important roles in the synergic effects. Moreover, tumor growth was decreased with triptolide and artesunate synergy. Conclusion: Our result indicated that triptolide and artesunate in combination at low concentrations can exert synergistic anti-tumor effects in pancreatic cancer cells with potential clinical applications.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.173-180
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• 2020

Galectin-3 is a carbohydrate-binding protein and regulates diverse functions, including cell proliferation and differentiation, mRNA splicing, apoptosis induction, immune surveillance and inflammation, cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and cancer-cell metastasis. Galectin-3 is also recommended as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker of various diseases, including heart disease, kidney disease, and cancer. Galectin-3 exists as a cytosol, is secreted in extracellular spaces on cells, and is also detected in nuclei. It has been found that galectin-3 has different functions in cellular localization: (i) Extracellular galectin-3 mediates cell attachment and detachment. (ii) cytosolic galectin-3 regulates cell survival by blocking the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, and (iii) nuclear galectin-3 supports the ability of the transcriptional factor for target gene expression. In this review, we focused on the role of galectin-3 on translocation from cytosol to nucleus, because it happens in a way independent of carbohydrate recognition and accelerates cancer progression. We also suggested here that intracellular galecin-3 could be a potent therapeutic target in cancer therapy.