• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제16권5호
• /
• pp.333-337
• /
• 2012

Gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) changes in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) depending on feeding conditions, which is decreased during food deprivation and restored by refeeding, and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB) was suggested to play a role in its regulation. This study was conducted to examine if the fasting-induced down-regulation of the PVN-nNOS expression is restored by activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) pathway. Freely moving rats received intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of cAMP/PKA activator Sp-cAMP (40 nmol) or vehicle (sterilized saline) following 48 h of food deprivation. One hour after drug injections, rats were transcardially perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde, and the PVN tissues were processed for nNOS or pCREB immunohistochemistry. Sp-cAMP significantly increased not only nNOS but also pCREB immunoreactivities in the PVN of food deprived rats. Fastinginduced down-regulation of the PVN-nNOS was restored by 1 h after the icv Sp-cAMP. Results suggest that cAMP/PKA pathway may mediate the regulation of the PVN-nNOS expression depending on different feeding conditions.

• 대한약침학회지
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.19-26
• /
• 2015

Objectives: Quercetin, a flavonoid compound, has been reported to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, but its anti-inflammatory effects, which are also closely linked with apoptosis, if any, on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not so far been critically examined. In this study, we tried to determine if quercetin had any demonstrable anti-inflammatory potential, which also could significantly contribute to inducing apoptosis in a NSCLC cell line, A549. Methods: In this context, several assays, including cytotoxicity, flow cytometry and fluorimetry, were done. Gene expression was analyzed by using a western blot analysis. Results: Results revealed that quercetin could induce apoptosis in A549 cells through mitochondrial depolarization by causing an imbalance in B-cell lymphoma 2/Bcl2 Antagonist X (Bcl2/Bax) ratio and by down-regulating the interleukine-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (IL-6/STAT3) signaling pathway. An analysis of the data revealed that quercetin could block nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-${\kappa}B$) activity at early hours, which might cause a down-regulation of the IL-6 titer, and the IL-6 expression, in turn, could inhibit p-STAT3 expression. Down-regulation of both the STAT3 and the NF-${\kappa}B$ expressions might, therefore, cause down-regulation of Bcl2 activity because both are major upstream effectors of Bcl2. Alteration in Bcl2 responses might result in an imbalance in the Bcl2/Bax ratio, which could ultimately bring about mitochondria mediated apoptosis in A549 cells. Conclusion: Overall, the finding of this study indicates that a quercetin induced anti-inflammatory pathway in A549 cells appeared to make a significant contribution towards induction of apoptosis in NSCLC and, thus, may have a therapeutic use such as a strong apoptosis inducer in cancer cells.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제37권4호
• /
• pp.337-344
• /
• 2014

Adipose-derived stem cells represent a type of mesenchymal stem cells with the attendant capacity to self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell lineages. We have performed a microarray-based gene expression profiling of osteogenic differentiation and found that the transcription factor Sox11 is down-regulated during the process. Functional assays demonstrate that down-regulation of Sox11 is required for an efficient differentiation. Furthermore, results from forced expression of constitutively-active and dominant-negative derivatives of Sox11 indicate that Sox11 functions as a transcriptional activator in inhibiting osteogenesis. Sox11 thus represents a novel regulator of osteogenesis whose expression and activity can be potentially manipulated for controlled differentiation.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• 제18권5호
• /
• pp.1536-1544
• /
• 2018

The existing 24-pulse autotransformer rectifier unit (ATRU) needs interphase reactors for parallel work of the rectifier bridges, and its output voltage cannot be regulated. Aiming at these problems, a step-up and step-down asymmetrical 24-pulse ATRU is proposed in this paper. The connections and turns ratios among transformer windings are well designed. In addition, a 15-degree phase difference is formed between two of the 24 voltage vectors produced by the transformer, which makes the four rectifier bridge groups produce a 24-pulse DC voltage without interphase reactors. Meanwhile, by adding extended winding to each phase of the transformer, wide-range regulation of the ATRU output voltage can be realized, and the reasonable voltage regulation range is between 0.2 and 1.6. The superposition of the voltage vectors and the principle of the voltage regulation are analyzed in detail. Furthermore, the turns ratio of the windings, winding current, output voltage, and kilovolt-ampere rating are all derived. Finally, the simulations and experiments are carried out, and the correctness of the principle and theoretical analysis of the new 24-pulse ATRU are verified.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
• /
• 제30권2호
• /
• pp.314-319
• /
• 2001

In the present study, effects of $\beta$-alanine, a known taurine antagonist for its structural similarity, on the adaptive regulation and kinetic behavior of the taurine transporter were investigated in the HT-29, human colon carcinoma cell line. Pretreatment of the cell with $\beta$-alanine(10mM) for varying periods from 3 to 30 hrs significantly reduced the taurine uptake compared to the value for control cells. This decrease in the taurine transporter activity was dependent on the incubation time with $\beta$-alanine, and the maximal down-regulation of the transporter activity was observed in cells pretreated with $\beta$-alanine for 24 hrs (25% of the control value, p<0.01). The taurine transporter appears to bind exclusively with $\beta$-alanine in the HT-29 cells since the same concentration of $\alpha$-alanine added in the culture medium for 24 hrs did not influence the taurine uptake. Kinetic analyses of the taurine transporter activity was performed in the HT-29 cell line with varying taurine concentration (5~60$\mu$M) in the uptake medium. Active taurine uptake was significantly lower in $\beta$-alanine pretreated cells compared to the value for control cells in the range of taurine concentration used in the experiment (p<0.001). The cells pretreated with $\beta$-alanine showed a 50% lower maximal velocity (Vmax, 1.7$\pm$2.0 nmole.mg $protein^{-1}$.$30min^{-1}$), and a 99% higher Michaelis constant (Km, 40.3$\pm$7.6$\mu$M) than the control values (3.3$\pm$1.9 nmole.mg $protein^{-1}$.$30min^{-1}$, and 20.3$\pm$2.1$\mu$M, respectively). These results on kinetic data suggest that $\beta$-alanine induced down-regulation of the taurine transporter activity was associated with decreases in both maximal velocity and affinity of the transporter.

• 한국해양바이오학회지
• /
• 제1권4호
• /
• pp.243-251
• /
• 2006

Dideoxypetrosynol A, a polyacetylene from the marine sponge Petrosia sp., is known to exhibit significant selective cytotoxic activity against a small panel of human tumor cell lines, however, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. In the present study, it was investigated the further possible mechanisms by which dideoxytetrosynol A exerts its anti-proliferative action in cultured human leukemia cell line U937. We observed that the proliferation-inhibitory effect of dideoxypetrosynol A was due to the induction of G1 arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis, which effects were associated with up-regulation of cyclin D1 and down-regulation of cyclin E without any change in cyclin-dependent-kinases (Cdks) expression. Dideoxypetrosynol A markedly induced the levels of Cdk inhibitor p16/INK4a expression. Furthermore, down-regulation of phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) by this compound was associated with enhanced binding of pRB and the transcription factor E2F-1. The increase in apoptosis was associated with a dose-dependent up-regulation in pro-apoptotic Bax expression and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. Dideoxytetrosynol A decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein expression without significant changes in the levels of COX-1, which was correlated with a decrease in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis. Furthermore, dideoxytetrosynol A treatment markedly inhibited the activity of telomerase, and the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), a main determinant of the telomerase enzymatic activity, was progressively down-regulated by dideoxytetrosynol A treatment in a dose-dependent fashion. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of dideoxytetrosynol A.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권7호
• /
• pp.2987-2991
• /
• 2014

Connexin 43 is an important gap junction protein in vertebrates and is known for its tumor suppressive properties. Cx43 is abundantly expressed in the human intestinal epithelial cells and muscularis mucosae. To explore the role of Cx43 in the genesis of human colon cancer, we performed the expression analysis of Cx43 in 80 cases of histopathologically confirmed and clinically diagnosed human colon cancer samples and adjacent control tissue and assessed correlations with clinicopathological variables. Western blotting using anti-Cx43 antibody indicated that the expression of Cx43 was significantly down regulated (75%) in the cancer samples as compared to the adjacent control samples. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis of the tissue samples confirmed the down regulation of the Cx43 in the intestinal epithelial cells. Cx43 down regulation showed significant association (p<0.05) with the histological type and tumor invasion properties of the cancer. Our data demonstrated that loss of Cx43 may be an important event in colon carcinogenesis and tumor progression, providing significant insights about the tumor suppressive properties of the Cx43 and its potential as a diagnostic marker for colon cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권23호
• /
• pp.10355-10361
• /
• 2015

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules found in multicellular eukaryotes which are implicated in development of cancer, including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Expression is controlled by transcription factors (TFs) that bind to specific DNA sequences, thereby controlling the flow (or transcription) of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA. Interactions result in biological signal control networks. Materials and Methods: Molecular components involved in cSCC were here assembled at abnormally expressed, related and global levels. Networks at these three levels were constructed with corresponding biological factors in term of interactions between miRNAs and target genes, TFs and miRNAs, and host genes and miRNAs. Up/down regulation or mutation of the factors were considered in the context of the regulation and significant patterns were extracted. Results: Participants of the networks were evaluated based on their expression and regulation of other factors. Sub-networks with two core TFs, TP53 and EIF2C2, as the centers are identified. These share self-adapt feedback regulation in which a mutual restraint exists. Up or down regulation of certain genes and miRNAs are discussed. Some, for example the expression of MMP13, were in line with expectation while others, including FGFR3, need further investigation of their unexpected behavior. Conclusions: The present research suggests that dozens of components, miRNAs, TFs, target genes and host genes included, unite as networks through their regulation to function systematically in human cSCC. Networks built under the currently available sources provide critical signal controlling pathways and frequent patterns. Inappropriate controlling signal flow from abnormal expression of key TFs may push the system into an incontrollable situation and therefore contributes to cSCC development.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제43권7호
• /
• pp.619-631
• /
• 2020

In this study, we describe a novel function of TNNC1 (Troponin C1, Slow Skeletal and Cardiac Type), a component of actin-bound troponin, as a tumor suppressor of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). First, the expression of TNNC1 was strongly down-regulated in cancer tissues compared to matched normal lung tissues, and down-regulation of TNNC1 was shown to be strongly correlated with increased mortality among LUAD patients. Interestingly, TNNC1 expression was enhanced by suppression of KRAS, and ectopic expression of TNNC1 in turn inhibited KRAS^G12D-mediated anchorage independent growth of NIH3T3 cells. Consistently, activation of KRAS pathway in LUAD patients was shown to be strongly correlated with down-regulation of TNNC1. In addition, ectopic expression of TNNC1 inhibited colony formation of multiple LUAD cell lines and induced DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and ultimately apoptosis. We further examined potential correlations between expression levels of TNNC1 and various clinical parameters and found that low-level expression is significantly associated with invasiveness of the tumor. Indeed, RNA interference-mediated down-regulation of TNNC1 led to significant enhancement of invasiveness in vitro. Collectively, our data indicate that TNNC1 has a novel function as a tumor suppressor and is targeted for down-regulation by KRAS pathway during the carcinogenesis of LUAD.

• 대한약리학회지
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.139-148
• /
• 1993

SCC 12와 SCC 13 세포주는 피부의 상피암 조직에서 유래되었다. 본 연구에서는, 세포배양으로 in vivo 피부의 거의 모든 특징들을 재현할 수 있는 raft 배양법을 이용하여, 두 종류의 상피 암세포주의 진피 침투성 정도를 비교해 보았다. SCC 12 세포주의 raft 배양에서는, collagen matrix로 침투하는 많은 세포군들이 관찰되었고, 또한 기저세포와 유사한 세포들이 분화층 중간에 관찰되었다. 그러나 SCC 13 세포주의 raft 배양에서는 침투성 세포들이 전혀 관찰되지 않았다. 어떤 인자가 SCC 12 세포주의 침투성에 관여하였는지를 조사하기 위하여, 세포이동 또는 matrix 파괴에 관여하는 각종 단백질 즉, type 1 collagenase, Fn, Fn 수용체와 EGF 수용체 등의 기본 생합성속도를 침투성과 비침투성 세포주에서 측정하였다. 그 중 type 1 collagenase의 생합성만이 침투성 세포주에서 현저히 높게 나타났다. 침투성 SCC 12 세포주에서 관찰된 높은 type 1 collagenase 생합성과 이들 세포주의 침투성과의 연관관계 및 그 기작을 조사하기 위하여 두 세포주에서 TGF alpha에 대한 반응의 차이를 조사하였다. 비침투성 세포주에서는, TGF alpha에 의해 type 1 collagenase의 생합성이 처음 12시간 동안에 현저한 증가를 보였으나 24시간부터 그 유도가 down-regulation되는 현상을 보였다. 그러나 침투성 세포는 TGF alpha에 의해 계속적인 type 1 collagenase의 유도를 보였다. 이에 저자들은 EGF 수용체의 down-regulation으로 인해 type 1 collagenase의 down-regulation이 유도되고, 이와 같은 regulation의 결함으로 인해 SCC 12 세포주가 collagen matrix로 침투하는 현상을 나타낼 것으로 제시하였다.