• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.249-254
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• 2006

It has been reported that liver is a very important organ to xenotransplantation. Pig is known to be a most suitable species in transplantation of human organs. However, the physiological function of pig hepatocytes is not clear elucidated. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to be a mitogen in various cell systems. Thus, we examined the effect of EGF on cell proliferation and its related signal cascades in primary cultured pig hepatocytes. EGF stimulates cell proliferation in a dose (>1ng/ml) dependent manner. EGF-induced increase of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was blocked by AG 1478 ($10^{-6}M$, an EGF receptor antagonist) genistein and herbymycin A (tyrosine kinase inhibitors, $10^{-6}M$), suggesting the role of activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor. In addition, EGF-induced increase of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was prevented by neomycin $(10^{-4}M)$, U73122 $(10^{-5}M)$ (phospholipase C [PLC] inhibitors), staurosporine ($(10^{-8}M)$, or bisindolylmaleimide I $(10^{-6}M)$ (protein kinase C [PKC] inhibitors), suggesting the role of PLC and PKC. Moreover, EGF-induced increase of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was blocked by PD 98059 (a p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase [MAPK] inhibitor), SB 203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor), and SP 600125 (a JNK inhibitor). EGF increased the translocation of PKC from cytosol to membrane fraction and activated p42/44 MAPK, p38 MAPK and JNK. In conclusion, EGF stimulates cell proliferation via PKC and MAPK in cultured pig hepatocytes.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.287-293
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• 2009

Cell survival is the result of a balance between programmed cell death and cellular proliferation. Cell membrane receptors and their associated signal transducing proteins control these processes. Of the numerous receptors and signaling proteins, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the most important receptors involved in signaling pathways implicated in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells. EGFR is often highly expressed in human tumors including oral squamous cell carcinomas, and there is increasing evidence that high expression of EGFR is correlated with poor clinical outcome of common human cancers. Therefore, we examined the antiproliferative activity of gefitinib, epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI), in head and neck cancer cell lines. SCC-9, KB cells were cultured and growth inhibition activity of gefitinib was measured with MTT assay. To study influence of gefitinib in cell cycle, we performed cell cycle analysis with flow cytometry. Western blot was done to elucidate the expression of EGFR in cell lines and phosphorylation of EGFR and downstream kinase protein, Erk and Akt. Significant growth inhibition was observed in SCC-9 cells in contrast with KB cells. Also, flow cytometric analysis showed G1 phase arrest only in SCC-9 cells. In Western blot analysis for investigation of EGFR expression and downstream molecule phosphorylation, gefitinib suppressed phosphorylation of EGFR and downstream protein kinase Erk, Akt in SCC-9. However, in EGFR positive KB cells, weak expression of active form of Erk and Akt and no inhibitory activity of phosphorylation in Erk and Akt was observed. The antiproliferative activity of gefitinib was not correlated with EGFR expression and some possibility of phosphorylation of Erk and Akt as a predictive factor of gefitinib response was emerged. Further investigations on more reliable predictive factor indicating gefitinib response are awaited to be useful gefitinib treatment in head and neck cancer patients.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.438-446
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• 2007

Viable cells of periodontal ligament would be an important factor for the successful replantation of an avulsed tooth. Therefore, it is critical to choose the storage medium for the preservation of traumatically avulsed teeth. Growth factors and hormones could be considered for the therapeutic application of the maintenance of viable periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs). Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been suggested as an important player for the regeneration and wound healing process on other tissues. Therefore, EGF was evaluated for the therapeutic application on avulsed teeth. In addition, the synergic effect of EGF with tri-iodothyronine (T3) and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF). The cell proliferation of PDLFs was determined by MTT assay and increased dose-dependently up to 10 ng/ml in the presence of EGF. Maximum cellular growth was shown at the concentration of 10 ng/ml EGF. Also, EGF promoted the wound healing of PDLFs examined by in vitro wound healing assay. Combined effects of EGF with T3 or HB-EGF on the proliferation of PDLFs were also studied. Interestingly, EGF showed the synergic effect on the proliferation of PDLFs with T3 and HB-EGF. To find out the mechanism of the synergic effect of EGF and T3, the effect of T3 on the expression of endogenous EGF receptor was determined by RT-PCR. The result was that T3 enhanced the expression of EGF receptor in PDLFs. It suggested that EGF might be a good choice for a therapeutic application, which can be used as combination with T3 and HB-EGF.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.194-196
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• 2002

While ultraviolet radiation alters various cutaneous cell functions, little is known about photo-immunological and photobiological effects of infrared radiation (IR) on the skin except its local thermal effects. The fIrst part of this study demonstrated that single exposure of mouse skin to near IR (0.7 - 1.3 $\mu$m) reversibly suppressed the proliferating activity of the epidermis, the density of Langerhans cells, and the ability of skin to induce contact hypersensitivity reaction. The second part demonstrated that the rate of wound closure was significantly accelerated by repeated exposures in animal models. The production of transforming growth factor-$\beta$l and matrix metalloproteinase-2, which are responsible for the wound healing processes, was significantly upregulated by irradiation, as shown by enzyme immunoassay, zymography, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Thermal controls were negative. The results suggest that near-IR irradiation can modulate the epidermal proliferation and part of the skin immune system, and stimulate the wound healing processes, presumably by non-thermal effects.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.29 no.2 s.43
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• pp.105-130
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• 2003

Human skin equivalents, also designated as cultured skin substitute (Boyce and Warden, 2002) or organotypic co-cultures (Maas-Szabowski et al., 1999, 2000, 2003), are three-dimensional systems that are engineered by seeding fibroblasts into a three-dimensional dermal matrix. Such a dermal equivalent is then subsequently seeded with human keratinocytes. After cell attachment, the culture is kept first under submerged condition to allow keratinocyte proliferation. Thereafter, the culture is lifted the air-liquid interface (A/L) to expose the epidermal compartment to the air, and to further induce keratinocyte differentiation. During the air-exposure, nutrients from the medium will diffuse through the underlying dermal substrate towards the epidermal compartment and support keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. Under these conditions, a HSE is formed that shows high similarity with the native tissue from which it was derived (Figure 1) (Bell et at., 1981; Boyce et al., 1988; Ponec et al., 1997;El Ghalbzouri et al.., 2002).

• Toxicological Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.209-229
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• 1991

In the epidermis of skin, a fine balance exists between proliferating progenitor cells and terminally differentiating cells. We examined the effects of TGF-betas and retinoic acid (RA) on controlling this balance in normal human epidermal keratinocytes cultured under conditions where most morphological and biochemical features of epidermis in vivo are retained. Our results revealed marked and pleiotropic effects of both TGF-beta and RA on kerationcytes. In contrast to retinoids, TGF-betas acted on mitotically active basal cells to retard cell proliferation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.263-270
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• 2005

Transactivation of EGF-receptor (EGFR) by G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) is emerging as an important pathway in cell proliferation, which plays a crucial role in the development of atherosclerotic lesion. Angiotensin II (Ang II) has been identified to have a major role in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions, although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. We hypothesize that Ang II promotes the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells through the release of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor like growth factor (HB-EGF), transactivation of EGFR and activation of Akt and Erk 1/2, with matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) playing a dispensable role. Primary rat aortic smooth muscle cells were used in this study. Smooth muscle cells rendered quiescent by serum deprivation for 12 h were treated with Ang II (100 nM) in the presence of either GM6001 ($20{\mu}M$), a specific inhibitor of MMPs or AG1478 ($10{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of EGFR. The levels of phosphorylation of EGFR, Akt and Erk 1/2 were assessed in the cell lysates. Inhibition of MMPs by GM6001 significantly attenuated Ang II-stimulated phosphorylation of EGFR, suggesting that MMPs may be involved in the transactivation of EGFR by Ang II receptor. Furthermore Ang II-stimulated proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells were significantly blunted by inhibiting MMPs and EGFR and applying HB-EGF neutralization antibody, indicating that MMPs, HB-EGF and EGFR activation is necessary for Ang-II stimulated migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells. Our results suggest that inhibition of MMPs may represent one of the strategies to counter the mitogenic and motogenic effects of Ang II on smooth muscle cells and thereby prevent the formation and development of atherosclerotic lesions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.581-586
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• 2014

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to play key roles in skin regeneration and wound-healing. Here, we demonstrate that Pep2-YAC, a tripeptide covering residues 29-31 in the B loop of EGF, promotes the proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes with activity comparable to EGF. The treatment of HaCaT cells with Pep2-YAC induced phosphorylation, internalization, and degradation of EGFR and organization of signaling complexes, which consist of Grb2, Gab1, SHP2, and PI3K. In addition, it stimulated the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 at Thr 202/Tyr 204 and of Akt1 at Ser 473 and the nuclear translocation of EGFR, STAT3, c-Jun, and c-Fos. These results suggest that Pep2-YAC may be useful as a therapeutic agent for skin regeneration and wound-healing as an EGFR agonist.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2019

Andrographolide, the main compound of Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata), shows various biological properties including anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and hepatoprotective effects. Our previous study has shown that A. paniculata extract exerts antiaging effects by activation of stemness in epidermal stem cells (EpSCs). In this study, we investigated the effect of andrographolide as a main compound of A. paniculata on EpSCs and its mechnism of action using several in vitro assays. Andrographolide increased the proliferation of EpSCs and induced cell cycle progression. Additionally, andrographolide increased VEGF production and the expression of stem cell markers integrin ${\beta}1$ and p63. Furthermore, phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), S6 ribosomal protein (S6RP) and Akt were increased by andrographolide. Taken together, these results indicate that andrographolide-induced proliferation of EpSCs is mediated by the ERK1/2, Akt-dependent pathway with increased production of VEGF and upregulated stemness through integrin ${\beta}1$ and p63.

• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.714-717
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• 2018

Epidermal cysts are generally benign tumors that usually originate from the skin caused by inflammation of hair cortex and proliferation of epidermal cells within the dermis; however, for these cysts to occur in the bony external auditory canal (EAC) is rare. They are often present as a solitary, painless lesion and usually asymptomatic and the diagnosis depends on the results of the histological examination. In treatment, the cyst wall must be completely removed surgically. We recently encountered a 82-year-old male with a mass in the right EAC. An otoscopic examination showed a polypoid mass on the bony EAC, which was finally diagnosed as epidermal cyst after an initial misdiagnosis as EAC carcinoma. We report the rare, unique case with literature review.