• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.30-36
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• 2019

Numerous studies have reported that enteric neurons involved in controlling neurotransmitter secretion and motility in the gut critically contribute to the progression of gut inflammation. Clostridium difficile toxins, which cause severe colonic inflammation, are also known to affect enteric neurons. Our previous study showed that C. difficile toxin A directly induces neural cell toxicities, such as viability loss and apoptosis. In the current study, we attempted to identify a potent inhibitor of toxin A-induced neural cell toxicity that may aid in managing toxin A-induced gut inflammation. In our recent study, we found that the Korea dung beetle-derived antimicrobial peptide CopA3 completely blocked neural cell apoptosis caused by okadaic acid or 6-OHDA. Here, we examined whether the antimicrobial peptide CopA3 inhibited toxin A-induced neural cell damage. In neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, CopA3 treatment protected against both apoptosis and viability loss caused by toxin A. CopA3 also completely inhibited activation of the pro-apoptotic factor, caspase-3. Additionally, CopA3 rescued toxin A-induced downregulation of neural cell proliferation. However, CopA3 had no effect on signaling through ROS/p38 $MAPK/p27^{kip1}$, suggesting that CopA3 inhibits toxin A-induced neural cell toxicity independent of this well-characterized toxin A pathway. Our data further suggest that ability of CopA3 to rescue toxin A-induced neural cell damage may also ameliorate the gut inflammation caused by toxin A.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.157-163
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• 2022

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which encompasses alcoholic steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the economic and health impacts of ALD are clear, few advances have been made in its prevention or treatment. We recently demonstrated that the insect-derived antimicrobial peptide CopA3 exerts anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities in various cell systems, including neuronal cells and colonic epithelial cells. Here, we tested whether CopA3 inhibits ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with ethanol only or ethanol plus CopA3 for 24 h and then liver injury and inflammatory responses were measured. Ethanol enhanced the production of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-10. It also induced hepatocyte apoptosis and ballooning degeneration in hepatocytes. Notably, all these effects were eliminated or significantly reduced by CopA3 treatment. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that CopA3 ameliorates ethanol-induced liver cell damage and inflammation, suggesting the therapeutic potential of CopA3 for treating ethanol-induced liver injury.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.1023-1035
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of colon cancer stem cells (CSCs) during chemically-induced rat multi-step colon carcinogenesis with or without the treatment with a specific cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor drug (celecoxib). Two experiments were performed, the first, a short term 12 week colon carcinogenesis bioassay in which only surrogate markers for colon cancer, aberrant crypt foci (ACF) lesions, were formed. The other experiment was a medium term colon cancer rat assay in which tumors had developed after 32 weeks. Treatment with celecoxib lowered the numbers of ACF, as well as the tumor volumes and multiplicities after 32 weeks. Immunohistochemical proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling indexes LI (%) were downregulated after treatment by celecoxib. Also different cell surface antigens known to associate with CSCs such as the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), CD44 and CD133 were compared between the two experiments and showed differential expression patterns depending on the stage of carcinogenesis and treatment with celecoxib. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the numbers of CD133 cells were increased in the colonic epithelium after 12 weeks while those of CD44 but not CD133 cells were increased after 32 weeks. Moreover, aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 activity levels in the colonic epithelium (a known CSC marker) detected by ELISA assay were found down-regulated after 12 weeks, but were up-regulated after 32 weeks. The data have also shown that the protective effect of celecoxib on these specific markers and populations of CSCs and on other molecular processes such as apoptosis targeted by this drug may vary depending on the genetic and phenotypic stages of carcinogenesis. Therefore, uncovering these distinction roles of CSCs during different phases of carcinogenesis and during specific treatment could be useful for targeted therapy.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권9호
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• pp.941-948
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• 2019

Ziyuglycoside-II ($3{\beta}-3-{\alpha}$-1-arabinopyranosyloxy-19-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oicacid)는 오이풀(Sanguisorba officinalis L.)의 주요 활성 화합물 중 하나로 지혈작용, 항산화활성, 항염증활성 등의 활성이 보고되어 있다. 그러나 염증성 대장암에서의 ziyuglycoside-II의 활성에 관해서는 아직 보고되지 않아 본 연구에서 azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)으로 유발된 대장암 모델에서 ziyuglycoside-II 항종양활성을 조사하였다. 염증성 대장암을 유발하기 위해 BALB/c 마우스에게 AOM을 1회 복강 주사하고 AOM 투여 1주일 후 총 3 cycle의 2% 농도의 DSS를 음용수로 공급 하였다. Ziyuglycoside-II (1 또는 5 mg/kg)는 1주일에 3회 경구 투여하고, 64일에 대장을 적출하였다. 대장 조직에서의 종양 개수를 관찰한 결과 ziyuglycoside-II의 투여가 종양의 형성을 유의적으로 감소시키는 것을 확인하였다. 또한 Western blot 방법과 면역 조직학 분석의 결과, ziyuglycoside-II의 투여가 대장 조직에서 nuclear factor kappa-B 양성 세포와 염증 관련 단백질의 양을 현저히 감소시킴을 관찰하였다. 또한 ziyuglycoside-II 투여에 의해 대장조직내의 세포사멸이 촉진되었고 cleaved-caspase 3, cleaved-caspase 7과 같은 세포사멸 관련 단백질의 발현이 증가함을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과는 ziyuglycoside-II의 투여가 염증반응을 억제하고 세포 자멸을 유도하여 염증성대장암의 발생을 억제함을 시사하고 있다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권9호
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• pp.1016-1021
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• 2018

C. difficile 톡신A에 의한 대장상피세포 자살과정은 위막성대장염(Pseudomembranous colitis)의 주요 원인으로 고려되고 있다. 톡신A는 활성산소 를 증가시켜 세포자살 신호를 유도한다. 또한 톡신A는 미세섬유나 미세소관과 같은 세포골격계 형성을 저해함으로써 자살을 유도한다고 알려져 있다. 하지만 톡신A가 야기하는 소화기 상피세포 자살경로는 아직 불분명하다. 본 연구에서는 소화관 상피세포의 성장과 분화 그리고 기능에 중요하다고 알려져 온 Wnt 신호경로에 대한 톡신A의 영향을 확인해보았다. 이를 위해 비암화-인간대장세포주(NCM460)에 톡신A를 처치하고 Wnt 신호 분자들의 변화를 추적하였다. 또한 톡신A를 주입한 생쥐의 회장 상피세포 속 Wnt 신호경로 변화도 평가하였다. 인간 대장상피세포에서 톡신A는 Wnt 경로의 핵심 신호분자인 ${\beta}$-catenin 단백질의 양을 빠르게 감소시켰다. 이 현상은 생쥐 회장 상피세포에서도 동일하게 확인되었다. 연구자 등은 톡신A가 $GSK3{\beta}$ 활성형 인산화(Thr390)를 증가시킴도 확인하였다. 이는 톡신A가 $GSK3{\beta}$의 활성을 높여서 ${\beta}$-catenin의 인산화시키고 이를 통해 단백질 분해 과정이 촉진되었음을 보여준다. 이 결과들을 종합하면, 톡신A에 의한 소화관 상피세포 자살과정이 상피세포의 성장과 자살을 조절하는 Wnt 신호경로 차단과 밀접하게 연관되어 있음을 보여준다.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.98-112
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• 2020

There is a strong connection between the diet rich in antioxidants and the decreased incidence of inflammatory bowel disease and cancerous diseases. Diets that are rich in anti-oxidants particularly include fruits and vegetables containing the high amounts of vitamin A-E, carotenoids, and minerals. The supercritical heat-treated radish extracts of the research result had an inhibitory effect on the development of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), namely, preneoplastic lesions having a potential to become cancer cells and reduced the number of the aberrant crypt foci (ACF) consisting of four or more aberrant crypts (AC) having high risk to become tumors by about half. The supercritical heat-treated radish extracts can reduce the incidence of preneoplastic lesions having a high risk of developing cancer by about 28 %. DSS-treated mice developed symptoms similar to those of human UC, such as severe bloody diarrhea and weight loss. Supercritical heat-treated radish extracts, as well as sulfasalazine, suppressed colonic length and mucosal inflammatory infiltration. In addition, supercritical heat-treated radish extracts treatment significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules through suppression both mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathways, and prevented the apoptosis of colon. Moreover, supercritical heat-treated radish extracts administration significantly led to the up-regulation of anti-oxidant enzyme including SOD and Catalase.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권11호
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• pp.1800-1805
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• 2018

Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) constitute barrier surfaces and play a critical role in maintaining gut health. Dysregulated immune responses and destruction of IECs disrupt intestinal balance. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) is the most widely used chemical for inducing colitis in animals, and its treatment induces colonic inflammation, acute diarrhea, and shortening of the intestine, with clinical and histological similarity to human UC. Current treatments for this inflammatory disorder have poor tolerability and insufficient therapeutic efficacy, and thus, alternative therapeutic approaches are required. Recently, dietary supplements with probiotics have emerged as promising interventions by alleviating disturbances in the indigenous microflora in UC. Thus, we hypothesized that the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BB12 could protect against the development of colitis in a DSS-induced mouse model of UC. In the present study, oral administration of BB12 markedly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, accompanied by reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$-mediated IEC apoptosis. These findings indicate that the probiotic strain BB12 can alleviate DSS-induced colitis and suggest a novel mechanism of communication between probiotic microorganisms and intestinal epithelia, which increases intestinal cell survival by modulating pro-apoptotic cytokine expression.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.139-151
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• 2024

The objective of this study was to investigate the anticancer effects of EMPS (edible mushroom mycelium polysaccharide: Tremella fuciformis) in animal models with colorectal cancer induced by AOM/DSS. The experimental groups consisted of Nor (normal), NC (AOM/DSS), EMPS (EMPS 50, EMPS 100), and PC (Fluorouracil). The NC group had the highest number of colon tumors, whereas it was observed that tumor occurrence was significantly reduced in the EMPS consumption group. The expression of Bcl-2, an apoptosis inhibitor, was significantly lower in the EMPS 50 & 100 and PC groups. On the other hand, the mRNA gene expression of Bax, a factor that induces apoptosis, was significantly higher in the EMPS 50 & 100 and PC groups compared to the NC group. The mRNA expression levels of TNF-α and COX-2 significantly increased in the NC group, but showed a significant decrease in the EMPS and PC groups, indicating inhibition of the cancer-promoting response of cells. At the phylum level of the mice's intestinal microbial composition, the proportion of Bacteroidetes tended to decrease, while the proportion of Firmicutes tended to increase with EMPS administration. This suggests that changes in the gut microbiota caused by inflammation can be influenced by dietary intake.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Carvacrol (CAR) has demonstrated the potential to mitigate dyslipidemia. This study aims to investigate whether CAR can modulate blood glucose and lipid levels in a T2DM rat model by regulating short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and the GPR41/43 pathway. The T2DM rat model was induced by a high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozocin injection and treated with oral CAR and/or mixed antibiotics. Fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, and insulin tolerance tests were assessed. Serum lipid parameters, hepatic and renal function indicators, tissue morphology, and SCFAs were measured. In vitro, high glucose (HG)-induced IEC-6 cells were treated with CAR, and optimal CAR concentration was determined. HG-induced IEC-6 cells were treated with SCFAs or/and GPR41/43 agonists. CAR significantly reduced blood lipid and glucose levels, improved tissue damage, and increased SCFA levels in feces and GPR41/43 expression in colonic tissues of T2DM rats. CAR also attenuated HG-induced apoptosis of IEC-6 cells and enhanced GPR41/43 expression. Overall, these findings suggest that CAR alleviates blood lipid and glucose abnormalities in T2DM rats by modulating SCFAs and the GPR41/43 pathway.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.110-115
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• 2007

Tumor suppressor 유전자로알려진 early growth response gene 1 (EGR-1)에 있어 항산화 천연물인 apigenin과 그대사물인 isovitexin에 의한 장관 상피성 종양세포에 대하여 항종양 역할을 규명하였다. Apigenin 과 isovitexin은 대장암세포에서의 EGR-1 단백질의 발현을 9-12시간의 노출에 의해 농도 의존적으로 증가하였다. 또한 신호전달측면에서 이런 apigenin에 의한 EGR-1 유전자의 유도가 U0126 화합물에 의해 완벽하게 저해 받는 것으로 보아 ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathway의 이 신호전달계에서의 관여를 보여주었다. 본 연구에서 apigenin에 의해 농도 의존적으로 대장암세포의 세포활성의 저해를 MTT assay를 통해 보였고, 또한 EGR-1 siRNA를 transfectien한 세포의 경우 이런 apigenin에 의한 세포활성의 저해효과를 완화하였다. 따라서 apigenin에 의한 항종암세포 세포활성 억제에 있어 EGR-1의 중요성을 보여 준다. 이런 EGR-1에 의해 유도되는 유전자중 대표적으로 NAG-1 유전자의 경우 apigenin과 isovitexin에 의해 24-48시간에 발현이 증가하였다. 결론적으로 암세포 증식억제활성이 있고 apoptosis 유도효과가 있는 NAG-1의 유도에 의해 대장암 세포의 세포활성이 억제된 것으로 의미되고 향후 apigenin 유도의 NAG-1유전자에 의한 암세포증식의 억제기전에 대한 명확한 연구가 요구된다.