• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5243-5245
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• 2016

Background and Objective : Bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) plays an essential role in mesenchymal cell differentiation into osteoblasts، through many intracellular pathways which may also be active in tumors. Invasive oral squamous cell carcinomas account for more than 90% of head and neck malignancies in many cancer registries. They are classified into three types according to epithelial cell differentiation. The present study aimed to identify any relation between BMP-2 expression and tumor histology. Materials and methods: BMP-2 expression was compared immunohistochemically among 30 cases (19 male and 11 female, mean age 48 years) of oral squamous cell carcinoma, Division was into 3 groups (each containing 10 cases) according to the histological grade. Results: No significant correlation between BMP-2 expression and histological grade was observed. Changes in localization and cytoplasmic staining were also not apparent. Conclusion: From the results of this study BMP-2 does not appear to have any application as a prognostic marker for oral squamous cell carcinomas.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.196-201
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• 2019

The Alu element, the most abundant transposable element, is transcribed to Alu RNA. We hypothesized that the PIWI protein regulates the expression of Alu RNA in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, where accumulated Alu RNA leads to macular degeneration. Alu transcription was induced in RPE cells treated with $H_2O_2$. At an early stage of oxidative stress, PIWIL4 was translocated into the nucleus; however, subsequently it was sequestered into cytoplasmic stress granules, resulting in the accumulation of Alu RNA. An elevated amount of Alu RNA was positively correlated with the disruption of the epithelial features of RPE via induction of mesenchymal transition. Therefore, we suggest that oxidative stress causes Alu RNA accumulation via PIWIL4 sequestration into the cytoplasmic stress granules.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3627-3630
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• 2012

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a pan-epithelial differentiation antigen that is expressed on almost all carcinomas. However, a role in rat liver carcinogenesis has never been reported previously. Thus, its expression was investigated herein in rat liver tumors induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Twenty male 5-week-old F344 rats were used in this experiment. Mini-osmotic pumps containing doses of 47.5 mg of DEN were inserted into the abdominal cavity of each animal to initiate liver carcinogenesis. All animals were sacrificed at 26 weeks after DEN treatment. At necropsy, hepatic masses were processed for histopathological examination, which revealed forty-four hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) and twenty hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Tumors were immunohistochemically analyzed for EpCAM, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and co-localization of the two. EpCAM expression was mainly detected in hepatic tumor cells, showing a cytoplasmic staining pattern. However, expression was also slightly observed in normally-appearing surrounding hepatic cells. PCNA expression was highly detected in tumor cells, showing nuclear staining. Double staining of EpCAM and PCNA in tumors showed many cells with co-localization. Taken together, EpCAM and PCNA expression were increased in DEN-induced tumors and many tumor cells showed co-expression. It is suggested that EpCAM may increase during DEN-induced tumors, possibly associated with cell proliferation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.356-361
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• 2018

Actin-binding LIM protein 1 (ABLIM1), a member of the LIM-domain protein family, mediates interactions between actin filaments and cytoplasmic targets. However, the role of ABLIM1 in osteoclast and bone metabolism has not been reported. In the present study, we investigated the role of ABLIM1 in the receptor activator of $NF-{\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-mediated osteoclastogenesis. ABLIM1 expression was induced by RANKL treatment and knockdown of ABLIM1 by retrovirus infection containing Ablim1-specific short hairpin RNA (shAblim1) decreased mature osteoclast formation and bone resorption activity in a RANKL-dose dependent manner. Coincident with the downregulated expression of osteoclast differentiation marker genes, the expression levels of c-Fos and the nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), critical transcription factors of osteoclastogenesis, were also decreased in shAblim1-infected osteoclasts during RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation. In addition, the motility of preosteoclast was reduced by ABLIM1 knockdown via modulation of the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/Rac1 signaling pathway, suggesting another regulatory mechanism of ABLIM1 in osteoclast formation. These data demonstrated that ABLIM1 is a positive regulator of RANKL-mediated osteoclast formation via the modulation of the differentiation and PI3K/Akt/Rac1-dependent motility.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.68-72
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• 1996

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), secondary bile acids, have been shown to have a cell differentiation activity in mouse F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells. Treatment with bile acids induced morphological changes, including cytoplasmic and nuclear membrane blebbing, aggregation of organelles, and chromatin condensation, corresponding to apoptosis. Moreover, the bile acids induced intemucleosomal DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis. In addition, the expression of c-jun was increased, but that of c-myc and laminin was decreased during apoptosis induced by the bile acids in F9 cells. These results suggest that the bile acids can induce apoptosis in F9 cells. Furthermore, the c-jun expression may be related to the apoptosis induced by UDCA or LCA in F9 cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.424-427
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• 2011

The nucleotide-oligomerization domain (NOD) proteins are members of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) family, which are intracellular and cytoplasmic receptors. We analyzed the role of NODs for cytokine production by macrophages infected with intracellular pathogen M. leprae, the causative agent of leprosy. Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ was inhibited in the presence of cytochalasin D, an agent blocking phagocytosis, suggesting that intracellular signaling was, partially, required for macrophage activation to M. leprae infection. Next, we investigated the role of NOD1 and NOD2 proteins on NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and cytokine expression. Treatment with M. leprae significantly increased NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in NOD1- and NOD2-transfected cells. Interestingly, their activation and expression were inhibited by cytochalasin D, suggesting that stimulation of NOD proteins may be associated with the enhancement of cytokine production in host to M. leprae.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.49-54
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• 2018

To artificially enhance antimicrobial peptide expression in Bombyx mori, we constructed genetically engineered silkworms overexpressing Rel family transcription factor. The truncated BmRelish1 (BmRelish1t) gene contained a Rel homolog domain (RHD), nuclear localization signal (NLS), acidic and hydrophobic amino acid (AHAA)-rich region, and death domain (DD), but no ankyrin-repeat (ANK) domain. The BmRelish1t gene was controlled by B. mori cytoplasmic actin 3 promoter in the PiggyBac transposon vector. Chromosome analysis of G1 generations of a transgenic silkworm with EGFP expression confirmed stable insertion of BmRelish1t. BmRelish1t gene overexpression in transgenic silkworms resulted in higher mRNA expression levels of B. mori antimicrobial peptides such as lebocin(~20.5-fold), moricin(~8.7-fold), and nuecin(~17.4-fold) than those in normal silkworms.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.307-313
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• 2001

Whether there exists a sympathetic neural mechanism regulating the expression of aquaporin (AQP) water channels in the kidney was investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with reserpine (1 mg/kg, IP), and the expression of AQP1-4 proteins was determined in the kidney one day thereafter. Following the treatment with reserpine, the systolic blood pressure measured in a conscious state was significantly decreased in the experimental group compared with that in the control $(83{\pm}8\;vs\;124{\pm}6\;mmHg;\;n=6\;each,\;P＜0.05)$. The expression of AQP2 proteins was decreased in the cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla. The decrease of AQP2 proteins was in parallel in the membrane and the cytoplasmic fractions, suggesting a preserved AQP2 targeting. No significant changes were observed in the expression of AQP1, AQP3, or AQP4. Neither basal nor AVP-stimulated formation of cAMP was significantly altered. These results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system has a tonic stimulatory effect specifically on the expression of AQP2 water channels in the kidney.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.199-204
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• 2013

Syntenin is an adaptor molecule containing 2 PDZ domains which mediate molecular interactions with diverse integral or cytoplasmic proteins. Most of the results on the biological function of syntenin were obtained from studies with malignant cells, necessitating exploration into the role of syntenin in normal cells. To understand its role in normal cells, we investigated expression and function of syntenin in human lymphoid tissue and cells in situ and in vitro. Syntenin expression was denser in the germinal center than in the extrafollicular area. Inside the germinal center, syntenin expression was obvious in follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). Flow cytometric analysis with isolated cells confirmed a weak expression of syntenin in T and B cells and a strong expression in FDCs. In FDC-like cells, HK cells, most syntenin proteins were found in the cytoplasm compared to weak expression in the nucleus. To study the function of syntenin in FDC, we examined its role in the focal adhesion of HK cells by depleting syntenin by siRNA technology. Knockdown of syntenin markedly impaired focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation in HK cells. These results suggest that syntenin may play an important role in normal physiology as well as in cancer pathology.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.11.1-11.12
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• 2018

USP15 has been shown to stabilize transcription factors, to be amplified in many cancers and to mediate cancer cell survival. However, the underlying mechanism by which USP15 regulates multiple myeloma (MM) cell proliferation and apoptosis has not been established. Here, our results showed that USP15 mRNA expression was upregulated in MM patients. USP15 silencing induced MM cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, and the expression of nuclear and cytoplasmic NF-${\kappa}Bp65$, while USP15 overexpression exhibited an inverse effect. Moreover, in vivo experiments indicated that USP15 silencing inhibited MM tumor growth and NF-${\kappa}Bp65$ expression. PDTC treatment significantly inhibited USP15 overexpression-induced cell proliferation, apoptosis inhibition, and NF-${\kappa}Bp65$ expression. USP15 overexpression promoted NF-${\kappa}Bp65$ expression through inhibition of its ubiquitination, whereas NF-${\kappa}Bp65$ promoted USP15 expression as a positive regulator. Taken together, the USP15-NF-${\kappa}Bp65$ loop is involved in MM tumorigenesis and may be a potential therapeutic target for MM.