• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2013

We report on direct finding of how the morphology (i.e. filopodia width) of $CD4^+$ T lymphocytes correlates with the size of the quartz nanohohole arrays (QNHAs, 140, 200, 270, and 550 nm in diameter) via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This research exhibits that the filopodia of $CD4^+$ T-lymphocytes extended on the QNHA substrates were observed to increase in width by increasing the size of QNHA in diameter from 140 to 550 nm. This strong linear response ($R^2$=0.988, n = 6) in filopodia's width of surface-bound $CD4^+$ T-cells with topographical structures of QNHA can be explained by contact guidance between the cells and solid-state substrates. Furthermore, this research suggests that the protruded filopodia of surface-bound T-lymphocytes can be used as a biosensor for sensing the topographical information of the nano-patterned substrates.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2187-2191
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• 2015

Background: Protrusive structures formed by migrating and invading cells are termed lamellipodia, filopodia, invadopodia and podosomes. Lamellipodia and filopodia appear on the leading edges of migrating cells and function to command the direction of the migrating cells. Invadopodia and podosomes are special F-actin-rich matrix-degrading structures that arise on the ventral surface of the cell membrane. Invadopodia are found in a variety of carcinomatous cells including squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck region whereas podosomes are found in normal highly motile cells of mesenchymal and myelomonocytic lineage. Invadopodia-associated protein markers consisted of 129 proteins belonging to different functional classes including WASP, NWASP, cortactin, Src kinase, Arp 2/3 complex, MT1-MMP and F-actin. To date, our current understanding on the role(s) of these regulators of actin dynamics in tumors of the orofacial region indicates that upregulation of these proteins promotes invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma, is associated with poor/worst prognostic outcome in laryngeal cancers, contributes to the persistent growth and metastasis characteristics of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, is a significant predictor of increased cancer risk in oral mucosal premalignant lesions and enhances local invasiveness in jawbone ameloblastomas.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2016

Rap1 is a key regulator of cell adhesion and migration. Although increasing evidence indicates that the Rap1 signaling pathway is involved in the process of bone remodeling, the mechanism by which Rap1 regulates osteoblastic differentiation and cell adhesion remains unknown. Here, we investigated the morphological characteristics and osteoblastic differentiation of cells expressing constitutively activated form of Rap1A (Rap1ACA) or Rap1 GTPase activating protein Rap1GAP and found that activated Rap1 induces osteoblastic differentiation and cell adhesion as well as cell spreading. When osteoblastic differentiation was induced, Rap1ACA cells showed considerably higher levels of calcium deposits than the wild-type and Rap1GAP-overexpressing cells did. Rap1ACA cells showed increased spreading and size, as well as strong cell adhesion and significantly decreased growth rates. F-actin staining using phalloidin revealed several thin thread-like filopodia around the protrusions in Rap1ACA cells, which possibly contribute to the increased cell adhesion.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.844-854
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fucoidan, a polysaccharide content in brown algae, has been reported to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate the suppression effects of fucoidan on A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells migration. MATERIALS/METHODS: The anti-migratory activity of fucoidan in A549 cells was examined by wound healing assay and phalloidin-rhodamine staining in response to fucoidan (0-100 ㎍/mL) treatment for 48 h. Western blot analysis was performed to clarify the protein expressions relevant to migratory activity. RESULTS: Fucoidan (25-100 ㎍/mL) significantly suppressed A549 cells migration together with reduced the intensity of phalloidin-rhodamine which detect filopodia and lamellipodia protrusions at 48 h of treatment. The protein expression indicated that fucoidan significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Src, and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK). In addition, the phosphorylation of p38 in A549 cells was found to be increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our data conclude that fucoidan exhibits anti-migratory activities against lung cancer A549 cells mediated by inhibiting ERK1/2 and FAK-Src pathway.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1050-1056
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• 2013

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia throughout the world. The bacteria invade through lung tissue and cause sepsis, shock, and serious sequelae, including rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis. However, the molecular mechanism associated with pneumonia's penetration of lung tissue and invasion of the blood stream are still unclear. We attempted to investigate the host cell response at protein levels to S. pneumoniae D39 invasion using human lung cancer epithelial cells, A549. Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 began to change the morphology of A549 cells to become round with filopodia at 2 hours post-infection. A549 cell proteins obtained at each infection time point were separated by SDS-PAGE and analyzed using MALDI-TOF. We identified several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident proteins such as Grp94 and Grp78 and mitochondrial proteins such as ATP synthase and Hsp60 that increased after S. pneumoniae D39 infection. Cytosolic Hsc70 and Hsp90 were, however, identified to decrease. These proteins were also confirmed by Western blot analysis. The identified ER resident proteins were known to be induced during ER stress signaling. These/ data, therefore, suggest that S. pneumoniae D39 infection may induce ER stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.875-880
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• 2016

The plasma membrane plays a crucial role in relaying signals from the outside environment to the inside of the cells. In eukaryotic cells, the inner leaflets of the plasma membrane are composed mostly of phospholipids, including phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylinositides (PIs). In this study, we tried to analyze the morphological changes induced by EGFP-fused membrane binding proteins, which are targeted to the plasma membrane via specific phospholipids binding. As a result, we found that overexpression of EGFP-P4M-SidM, a specific PI4P binding protein, or EGFP alone, did not induce any morphological changes. On the other hand, overexpression of EGFP-PLCδ1(PH), which is a specific PI(4,5)P₂ binding protein, EGFP-AKT1(PH) which binds to PI(3,4,5)P₃, or EGFP-OSH2(PH)×2 which binds to PI4P and PI(4,5)P₂, could induce the filopodia and lamilapodia formation as well as cell shrinkage. Overexpression of Lact-C2-EGFP which is a specific PS-binding probe, EGFP fused Aplysia phosphodiesterase 4 (ApPDE4) long-form (L(N20)-EGFP) which is localized to the plasma membrane via hydrophobic interaction, or EGFP fused Aplysia PDE4 short-form (S(N-UCR1-2)-EGFP) which is localized to the plasma membrane via electrostatic interaction, could induce cell shrinkage, but not filopodia or lamilapodia formation. Taken together, our data support that the different phospholipid bindings in the plasma membrane could induce different characteristic morphological changes. Thus, we can analyze, characterize, and classify the cellular morphological changes induced by the various phospholipid binding proteins.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2023

Prominin-1 (PROM1), also called CD133, is a penta-span transmembrane protein that is localized in membrane protrusions, such as microvilli and filopodia. It is known to be expressed in cancer stem cells and various progenitor cells of bone marrow, liver, kidney, and intestine. Accumulating evidence has revealed that PROM1 has multiple functions in various organs, such as eye, tooth, peripheral nerve, and liver, associating with various molecular protein partners. PROM1 regulates PKA-induced gluconeogenesis, TGFβ-induced fibrosis, and IL-6-induced regeneration in the liver, associating with Radixin, SMAD7, and GP130, respectively. In addition, PROM1 is necessary to maintain cancer stem cell properties by activating PI3K and β-Catenin. PROM1-deficienct mice also show distinct phenotypes in eyes, brain, peripheral nerves, and tooth. Here, we discuss recent findings of PROM1-mediated signal transduction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1401-1406
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• 2011

Morphological changes in immune cells occur due to pathogen infection and natural circulation. T cells produce uropod, filopodia, lamellipodia, and microvilli for inflammation, immunosurvelliance, migration, and diapedesis. Short finger-like microvilli cover the surfaces of circulating mammalian immune cells. The surface features of monocytes and neutrophils are quite different, containing membrane ruffles as their predominant structure. In this study, we present the involvement of actin cytoskeleton regarding T lymphocyte microvilli. From analysis of scanning electron micrographs, Jurkat T lymphocyte microvilli was observed to rapidly disassemble when exposed to the actin-sequestering molecule, cytochalasin D. In contrast to cytochalasin D treatment, we found that median microvillar thickness was enlarged on Jurkat T lymphocytes treated with PMA via Lin-11, Isl-1, Mec-3 Kinase (LIMK) and cofilin signaling. In addition, actin cytoskeleton was involved in polarity formation in EL4 T lymphocytes. These results suggest that microvilli formation or polarity of T lymphocytes are involved in actin cytoskeleton dynamics.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.141-146
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• 2004

SPIN90 was identified to farm molecular complex with $\betaPIX$, WASP and Nck. This complex shows that SPIN90 interacts with Nck in a manner dependent upon cell adhesion to extracellular matrix, but $SPIN90{\cdot}{\beta}PIX{\cdot}WASP$ complex was stable even in suspended cells. This suggests that SPIN90 serves as an adaptor molecule to recruit other proteins to Nck at focal adhesions. SPIN90 was phosphorylated by ERK1, which was, itself, activated by cell adhesion and platelet-derived growth factor. Such phosphorylation of SPIN90 likely promotes the interaction of the $SPIN90{\cdot}{\beta}PIX{\cdot}WASP$ complex and Nck. It thus appears that the interaction of the $SPIN90{\cdot}{\beta}PIX{\cdot}WASP$ complex with Nck is crucial for stable cell adhesion and can be dynamically modulated by SPIN90 phosphorylation that is dependent on cell adhesion and ERX activation. SPIN90 directly binds syndapin I, syndapin isoform II-1 and II-s via its PRD region in vitro, in vivo and also associates with endocytosis core components such as clathrin and dynamin. In neuron and fibroblast, SPIN90 colocalizes with syndapins as puntate form, consistent with a role for SPIN90 in clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathway. Overexpression of SPIN90 N-term inhibits receptor-mediated endocytosis. Interestingly, SPIN90 PRD, binding interface of syndapin, significantly blocks internalization of transferrin, demonstrating SPIN90 involvement in endocytosis in vivo by interacting syndapin. Depletion of endogenous SPIN90 by introducing $\alpha-SPIN90$ also blocks receptor-mediated endocytosis. Actin polymerization could generate farce facilitating the pinch-out event in endocytosis, detach newly formed endocytic vesicle from the plasma membrane or push out them via the cytosol on actin tails. Here we found that SPIN90 localizes to high actin turn over cortical area, actin-membrane interface and membrane ruffle in PDGF treated cells. Overexpression of SPIN90 has an effect on cortical actin rearrangement as filopodia induction and it is mediated by the Arp2/3 complex at cell periphery. Consistent with a role in actin organization, CFP-SPIN90 present in actin comet tail generated by PIP5 $kinase\gamma$ overexpression. Therefore this study suggests that SPIN90 is functional linker between endocytosis and actin cytoskeleton.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.620-627
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• 2008

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A biochemical approach for surface modification has offered an alternative for physicochemical and morphological methods to obtain desirable bone-implant interfaces. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate cell responses to poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)/$1{\alpha}$,25-(OH)$_2D_3$ coating with reference to cellular proliferation and differentiation in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 96 titanium discs were fabricated and divided into four groups. Group 1 was anodized under 300 V as control. Group 2, 3 and 4 were anodized then coated with 3 ml PLGA/$1{\alpha}$,25-(OH)$_2D_3$ solutions. Amount of the solutions were 2 ul, 20 ul and 200ul respectively. The osteoblast-like Human Osteogenic Sarcoma (HOS) cells were seeded and cultured for 1, 3 and 7 days. MTSbased cell proliferation assay and ALPase activity test were carried out. RESULTS: PLGA nanoparticles were observed as fine, smooth and round and HOS cells attached to the anodized surfaces through strand-like and sheet-like filopodia. After 3 days of culture, the dendritic filopodia were exaggerated and sheet-like cytoplasmic projections covered the coated titanium surfaces. After 3 days of culture, all of the groups showed increased cellular proliferation and the lowest proliferation rate was measured on group 2. Higher amount of incorporated $1{\alpha}$,25-(OH)$_2D_3$ (Group 3 and 4) improved cellular proliferation but the differences were not significant statistically (P > .05). But they increased the rate of ALP activities than the control group at day 3 (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles incorporated with vitamin D metabolite positively affected proliferation and differentiation of cells on the anodized titanium surface.