• 융합정보논문지
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• 제7권6호
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• pp.89-95
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• 2017

암을 유발하는 PMA는 세포를 자극하여 전사인자 C-Jun/C-fos의 발현을 증가시키며 핵 내의 AP-1의 활성을 증가하게 되고 결과적으로 각종 암이 발생된다고 보고되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 천연물 지표성분의 안전성을 보기위한 세포독성과 암예방 효과를 예측할 수 있는 Activator protein(AP-1) 활성억제를 관찰하였다. 천연물 지표성분 38종을 대상으로 세포독성과 AP-1 활성억제를 관찰한 결과 섬수의 지표성분인 Bufogein 과 Cinobufagin에서는 세포독성을 보이며 AP-1 활성 억제와 비교 시 5배 정도 차이를 보임을 알 수가 있다. 반면에 Arctigenin, Manassantin A, B에서는 AP-1 활성 억제 농도는 $2{\mu}M$ 이하이면서 세포독성과의 비율은 15배 이상임을 알 수 있다. 본 실험의 결과를 통해 우방자와 삼백초의 지표성분인 Arctigenin, Manassantin A,B는 암 예방 연구의 가능성을 시사하였다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.593-602
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• 2022

The human papillomavirus (HPV)-18 E7 (E7) oncoprotein is a major transforming protein that is thought to be involved in the development of cervical cancer. It is well-known that E7 stimulates tumour development by inactivating pRb. However, this alone cannot explain the various characteristics acquired by HPV infection. Therefore, we examined other molecules that could help explain the acquired cancer properties during E7-induced cancer development. Using the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) method, we found that the Elk-1 factor, which is crucial for cell proliferation, invasion, cell survival, anti-apoptotic activity, and cancer development, binds to the E7. By determining which part of E7 binds to which domain of Elk-1 using the Y2H method, it was found that CR2 and CR3 of the E7 and parts 1-206, including the ETS-DNA domain of Elk-1, interact with each other. As a result of their interaction, the transcriptional activity of Elk-1 was increased, thereby increasing the expression of target genes EGR-1, c-fos, and E2F. Additionally, the colony forming assay revealed that overexpression of Elk-1 and E7 promotes C33A cell proliferation. We expect that the discovery of a novel E7 function as an Elk-1 activator could help explain whether the E7 has novel oncogenic activities in addition to p53 inactivation. We also expect that it will offer new methods for developing improved strategies for cervical cancer treatment.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권10호
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• pp.497-504
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• 2021

EGR1 (early growth response 1) is dysregulated in many cancers and exhibits both tumor suppressor and promoter activities, making it an appealing target for cancer therapy. Here, we used a systematic multi-omics analysis to review the expression of EGR1 and its role in regulating clinical outcomes in breast cancer (BC). EGR1 expression, its promoter methylation, and protein expression pattern were assessed using various publicly available tools. COSMIC-based somatic mutations and cBioPortal-based copy number alterations were analyzed, and the prognostic roles of EGR1 in BC were determined using Prognoscan and Kaplan-Meier Plotter. We also used bc-GenEx-Miner to investigate the EGR1 co-expression profile. EGR1 was more often downregulated in BC tissues than in normal breast tissue, and its knockdown was positively correlated with poor survival. Low EGR1 expression levels were also associated with increased risk of ER+, PR+, and HER2- BCs. High positive correlations were observed among EGR1, DUSP1, FOS, FOSB, CYR61, and JUN mRNA expression in BC tissue. This systematic review suggested that EGR1 expression may serve as a prognostic marker for BC patients and that clinicopathological parameters influence its prognostic utility. In addition to EGR1, DUSP1, FOS, FOSB, CYR61, and JUN can jointly be considered prognostic indicators for BC.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.57-61
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• 2012

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family is involved in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix during normal physiological processes such as embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling, as well as in disease processes such as pathological aging, arthritis, and metastasis. Oxidative conditions generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) (e.g., hydrogen peroxide [$H_2O_2$]) in cells, which subsequently induce the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1). MMP-1, an interstitial collagenase, in turn stimulates an aging phenomenon. In this study, baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyfl avone) was investigated for its in vitro activity against $H_2O_2$-induced damage using a human skin keratinocyte model. Baicalein pretreatment signifi cantly inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced up-regulation of MMP-1 mRNA, MMP-1 protein expression and MMP-1 activity in cultured HaCaT keratinocytes. In addition, baicalein decreased the transcriptional activity of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and the expression of c-Fos and c-Jun, both components of the heterodimeric AP-1 transcription factor. Furthermore, baicalein reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), which are upstream of the AP-1 transcription factor. The results of this study suggest that baicalein is involved in the inhibition of oxidative stress-induced expression of MMP-1 via inactivation of the ERK/JNK/AP-1 signaling pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.387-398
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• 2023

Microtubule acetylation has been proposed as a marker of highly heterogeneous and aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The novel microtubule acetylation inhibitors GM-90257 and GM-90631 (GM compounds) cause TNBC cancer cell death but the underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that GM compounds function as anti-TNBC agents through activation of the JNK/AP-1 pathway. RNA-seq and biochemical analyses of GM compound-treated cells revealed that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and members of its downstream signaling pathway are potential targets for GM compounds. Mechanistically, JNK activation by GM compounds induced an increase in c-Jun phosphorylation and c-Fos protein levels, thereby activating the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. Notably, direct suppression of JNK with a pharmacological inhibitor alleviated Bcl2 reduction and cell death caused by GM compounds. TNBC cell death and mitotic arrest were induced by GM compounds through AP-1 activation in vitro. These results were reproduced in vivo, validating the significance of microtubule acetylation/JNK/AP-1 axis activation in the anti-cancer activity of GM compounds. Moreover, GM compounds significantly attenuated tumor growth, metastasis, and cancer-related death in mice, demonstrating strong potential as therapeutic agents for TNBC.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.75-80
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• 2004

In a variety of animal species, the perinatal exposure of experimental animals to the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo­p-dioxin (TCDD) leads to the immune dysfunction, which is more severe and persistent than that caused by adult exposure. We report here the changes of gene expression and the identification of the marker-genes representing the dioxin exposure. The expressions of the transcripts were analyzed using the 11 K oligonucleotide­microarray from the bone marrow cells of male C57BL/6J mice after an intraperitoneal injection of $1{\mu}g$ TCDD/kg body weight at various time intervals: gestational 6.5 day(G6.5), 13.5 day(G13.5), 18.5 day(G18.5), and postnatal 3 (P3W)and 6 week (P6W). The type of self-organizing maps(SOM) representing the specific exposure dioxin could be identified as follows; G6.5D(C14), G13.5D(C0, C5, C10, C18), G18.5D(7): P3W(C2, C21), and P6W(C4, C15, C20). The candidate marker-genes were restricted to the transcripts, which could be consistently expressed greater than $\pm$2-fold in three experiments. The resulting candidates were 85 genes, the characteristics of that were involved in cell physiology and cell functions such as cell proliferation and immune function. We identified the biomarker-genes for dioxin exposure: smc -like 2 from SOM C14 for the dioxin exposure at G6.5D, focal adhesion kinase and 6 other genes from C0, and protein tyrosine phosphatase 4a2 and 3 other genes from C5 for G13.5D, platelet factor 4 from C7 for G18.5D, fos from C2 for P3W.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권7호
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• pp.388-392
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• 2014

Berberine, a type of isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs, has been reported to have various pharmacological activities. Studies have demonstrated that berberine has beneficial effects on vascular remodeling and alleviates restenosis after vascular injury. However, its mechanism of action on vascular smooth muscle cell migration is not fully understood. We therefore investigated the effect of berberine on human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC) migration. Boyden chamber assay was performed to show that berberine inhibited HASMC migration dose-dependently. Real-time PCR and Western blotting analyses showed that levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) were reduced by berberine at both the mRNA and protein levels. Western blotting assay further confirmed that activities of c-Fos, c-Jun, and NF-${\kappa}B$ were significantly attenuated. These results suggest that berberine effectively inhibited HASMC migration, possibly by down-regulating MMP-2, MMP-9, and u-PA; and interrupting AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ mediated signaling pathways.

• 약학회지
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.326-332
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• 2012

Mast cells play pivotal pathologic roles in allergic disease involving T helper 2 (Th2) cytokine such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. Fisetin has been known as an anti-allergic agent having inhibitory effects on the IL-4 and IL-13 gene expressions in inflammatory immune cells. However, its molecular mechanisms for suppressive effects of fisetin on IL-4 and IL-13 in activated mast cells have been incompletely elucidated. In this study we found that fisetin significantly inhibited the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin (PI)-induced production of IL-4 and IL-13 in mast cells. The levels of mRNA were dramatically decreased by fisetin, indicating the suppression might be regulated at the transcriptional levels. Western blot analysis of the nuclear expression of various transcription factors involved in the promoter activation indicated that suppression of c-Fos was prominent together with significant down-regulation of nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NF-AT) and NF-${\kappa}B$, but not c-Jun. Furthermore, the nuclear expression of GATA binding protein 2 (GATA-2) transcription factor was significantly down-regulated by fisetin. Taken together, our study indicated fisetin has suppressive effects on IL-4 and IL-13 gene expression through the regulation of selective transcription factors.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.455-462
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• 2023

임신 중 감염에 의한 산모의 면역 활성화는 조현병과 자폐 스펙트럼 장애를 포함한 신경 발달 질환의 위험을 증가시킨다. 여러 연구에서 poly (I:C) 또는 LPS를 사용하여 모체 면역 활성화 유도한 자손에서 비정상적인 행동과 뇌 발달을 관찰하였다. 또한 최근 뇌에 상주하며 면역 세포로 기능하는 미세아교세포가 MIA 유발 자손의 행동 이상과 뇌 발달에 중요한 역할을 한다는 것이 보고되고 있으나 아직 메커니즘은 명확하지 않다. 본 연구에서는 GPCR의 구성원인 GPR56의 미세아교세포 특이적 억제가 행동 이상과 뇌 발달을 유발하는지 여부를 조사하였다. 먼저, MIA 유도는 발달 중인 뇌의 미세아교세포 집단에 영향을 미치지 않으나, 미세아교세포를 분리하여 GRP56의 발현을 조사한 결과, MIA 유도 태아에서 성별에 관계 없이 E14.5와 E18.5 사이에서 GPR56 발현이 억제됨을 관찰하였다. 그리고 미세아교세포 특이적 GPR56 억제는 MIA 유도 자손에게서 나타나는 사교성 결손, 반복적인 행동 패턴 및 증가된 불안 수준과 같은 비정상적인 행동을 관찰하였다. 미세아교세포 GPR56 억제 마우스에서는 MIA 유도 자손과 같은 비정상적인 피질 발달이 관찰되지 않았지만, c-fos 염색을 통해 뇌 활동이 관찰되었다. 따라서 본 연구는 미세아교세포 특이적 GPR56 결핍이 이상 행동을 유발함을 시사하며, 추후 연구를 통해 MIA 자손의 행동 결손 진단 및/ 치료 표적을 위한 바이오마커로 활용될 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 생약학회지
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.104-109
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• 2013

Hesperidin (HES), a flavonone glycoside isolated from the citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges, has been reported to have many biological properties including antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antiallergy activities. In this study, we focused on the action of HES modulating Th2-associated cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13 expression in PMA/ionomycin (PI)-stimulated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. The production of IL-4 and IL-13 was quantified by ELISA and the mRNA expression was detected by using RT-PCR assay. In addition, western blot analysis was performed to determine the transcription factors involved in the cytokine expression. We found that HES significantly decreased PI-induced IL-4 and IL-13 productions and also decreased the level of mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, western blot analysis of the transcription factors implied that HES down-regulated the protein level of c-Jun and c-Fos, which are the activating protein 1 (AP-1) family and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$) characterized as a transcription factors related to the Th2-associated cytokine expression. Taken together, our data showed that the action of HES responsible for antiallergy activities is based on suppression of Th2-associated cytokines through inhibition of AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ transcription factors.