• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.541-547
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Gap junction intercellular communication(GJIC) is an important mechanism of the bystander effect in herpes simplex thymidine kinase/ganciclovir(HSVtk/GCV) gene therapy Therefore, we attempted to enhance the bystander effect in vitro by exogenous overexpressing connexin 37(Cx37) in cells to increase GJIC. Methods : NIH3T3 cells were transfected with the Cx37 and HSVtk gene or the HSVtk gene alone by the calcium phosphate method, and we detected their expression from these cells by RT-PCR. GCV-mediated cytotoxicity and the bystander effect of each transfectant was then assessed and compared. Results : Cells transfected with HSVtk became sensitive to low concentration of GCV. We found significantly increased cytotoxicity in HSVtk/GCV gene therapy after introduction of the HSVtk and Cx37 genes together compared with the cytotoxicity seen after introduction of the HSVtk gene in vitro. Co-expression of the HSVtk and Cx37 genes potentiates HSVtk/GCV gene therapy through the bystander effect. Conclusion : These results indicated that the increase of GJIC using Cx37 have potentiated the bystander effect of HSVtk/GCV therapy, and may be a new approach to improve response in suicidal cancer gene therapy.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.297-307
• /
• 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) during in vitro maturation (IVM) on cumulus expansion, nuclear maturation, fertilization capacity and subsequent development in porcine oocytes. The oocytes were incubated with 0, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}M$ ALA. Cumulus expansion was measured at 22 h, and gene expresison and nuclear maturation were analyzed at 44 h after maturation. Then, mature oocytes with ALA were inseminated, and fertilization parameters and embryo development were evaluated. In results, both of cumulus expansion and nuclear maturation were increased in $50{\mu}M$ ALA groups compared to control groups (p<0.05). However, expression of gap junction protein alpha 1 (GJA1, cumulus expansion-related gene), delta-6 desaturase (FADS1, fatty acid metabolism-related gene), and delta-5 desaturase (FADS2) mRNA in cumulus cells were reduced by $50{\mu}M$ ALA treatment (p<0.05). Cleavage rate was enhanced in 25 and $50{\mu}M$ ALA groups (p<0.05), especially, treatment of $50{\mu}M$ ALA promoted early embryo develop to 4 and 8 cell stages (p<0.05). However, blastocyst formation and number of cells in blastocyst were not differ in 25 and $50{\mu}M$ ALA groups. Our findings show that ALA treatment during maturation could improve nuclear maturation, fertilization, and early embryo development through enhancing of cumulus expansion, however, fatty acid metabolism- and cumulus expansion-related genes were down-regulated. Therefore, addition of ALA during IVM of oocytes could improve fertilization and developmental competence, and further studies regarding with the mechanism of ALA metabolism are needed.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.86-92
• /
• 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of hyaluronidase during IVM on oocyte maturation, oxidative stress status, expression of cumulus expansion-related (PTX, pentraxin; GJA1, gap junction protein alpha 1; PTGS2, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2) and fatty acid metabolism-related (FADS1, delta-6 desaturase; FADS2, delta-5 desaturase; PPARα, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha) mRNA, and embryonic development of porcine oocytes. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were incubated with 0.1 mg/mL hyaluronidase for 44 h. Cumulus expansion was measured at 22 h after maturation. At 44 h after maturation, nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. Gene expression in cumulus cells was analyzed using real time PCR. The cleavage rate and blastocyst formation were evaluated at Day 2 and 7 after insemination. In results, expansion of cumulus cells was suppressed by treatment of hyaluronidase at 22 h after maturation. Intracellular GSH level was reduced by hyaluronidase treatment (p < 0.05). On the other hand, hyaluronidase increased ROS levels in oocytes (p < 0.05). Only PTGS2 mRNA was enhanced in COCs by hyaluronidase (p < 0.05). Population of oocytes reached at metaphase II stage was higher in control group than hyaluronidase treated group (p < 0.05). Both of cleavage rate and blastocyst formation were higher in control group than hyaluronidase group (p < 0.05). Our present results showed that developmental competence of porcine oocytes could be reduce by hyaluronidase via inducing oxidative stress during maturation process and it might be associated with prostaglandin synthesis. Therefore, we suggest that suppression of cumulus expansion of COCs could induce oxidative stress and decrease nuclear maturation via reduction of GSH synthesis and it caused to decrease developmental competence of mammalian oocytes.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.43-51
• /
• 1998

Studies were carried out to investigate phenotypic expression, mortality and biochemical analysis of haemolymph proteins of nm-d, nm-f, nm-k and nmn bib-molting mutants of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The non-molting mutants characters were expressed in the homozygote of each mutant genes. All strains of non-molting mutants were similar with each other in physiological characteristics, but the expression varied with each strains. The larvae of nm-d, nm-i and nmn died between day 5 and day 9 after hatching without the first molt. The nm-f and nm-k mutants died between day 5 and day 16 with a slight increase of body weight and, more than 90% of the mutants larvae died before the first molt and a few of them survived to the 2nd and the 3rd instar and died. The haemolymph protein components of nm-d, nm-i, and nmn were rapidly reduced, and on the other hand those of nm-f and nm-k consistently until they died. And there were no distinguishable difference in haemolymph components of non-molting mutants, as compared to those normals.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.114-121
• /
• 2014

Refractoriness of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells to chemotherapeutics represents a major clinical barrier. Suicide gene therapy for cancer has been attractive but with limited clinical efficacy. In this study, we investigated the potential application of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-TK/GCV) based system to inhibit chemoresistant AML cells. We first generated Ara-C resistant K562 cells and doxorubicin-resistant THP-1 cells. We found that the HSV-TK/GCV anticancer system suppressed drug resistant leukemic cells in culture. Chemoresistant AML cell lines displayed similar sensitivity to HSV-TK/GCV. Moreover, HSV-TK/GCV killing of leukemic cells was augmented to a mild but significant extent by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) with concomitant upregulation of Connexin 43, a major component of gap junctions. Interestingly, HSV-TK/GCV killing was enhanced by expression of vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G), a fusogenic membrane protein, which also increased leukemic cell fusion. Co-culture resistant cells expressing HSV-TK and cells stably transduced with VSV-G showed that expression of VSV-G could promote the bystander killing effect of HSV-TK/GCV. Furthermore, combination of HSV-TK/GCV with VSV-G plus ATRA produced more pronounced antileukemia effect. These results suggest that the HSV-TK/GCV system in combination with fusogenic membrane proteins and/or ATRA could provide a strategy to mitigate the chemoresistance of AML.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.100005.1-100005.15
• /
• 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with a complex genetic basis, presenting both in familial and sporadic forms. The hexanucleotide (G₄C₂) repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene, which triggers distinct pathogenic mechanisms, has been identified as a major contributor to familial and sporadic Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases. Animal models have proven pivotal in understanding these mechanisms; however, discrepancies between models due to variable transgene sequence, expression levels, and toxicity profiles complicate the translation of findings. Herein, we provide a systematic comparison of 7 publicly available Drosophila transgenes modeling the G₄C₂ expansion under uniform conditions, evaluating variations in their toxicity profiles. Further, we tested 3 previously characterized disease-modifying drugs in selected lines to uncover discrepancies among the tested strains. Our study not only deepens our understanding of the C9orf72 G₄C₂ mutations but also presents a framework for comparing constructs with minute structural differences. This work may be used to inform experimental designs to better model disease mechanisms and help guide the development of targeted interventions for neurodegenerative diseases, thus bridging the gap between model-based research and therapeutic application.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the analysis of apoptosis by Scirpi Tuber in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Methods: For cytotoxic effect of Scirpi Tuber extract, Scirpi Tuber extract were cultured on NIH3T3 cell in vitro. After treatment with various concentration of Scirpi Tuber, cell growth was evaluated in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Hoechst 33342 staining was performed to estimate DNA fragment effect of Scirpi Tuber on the apoptosis in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay was used to estimate the effects of Scirpi Tuber on the early apoptosis in Hela cell MCF-7 cell. All the stained cells were analyzed by a FACS. RT-PCR was used to estimate the apoptosis gene expression effect of Scirpi Tuber extract on Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Results: Cytotoxic effect of Scirpi Tuber extract was not found on per NIH3T3 cell. The viability of Hela cell was significantly decreased Scirpi Tuber (500, $1000{\mu}g/m\ell$) in Hela cell 1day, 3day and 5days after treatment (p<0.01). The viability of MCF-7 cell was significantly decresed Scirpi Tuber ($1000{\mu}g/m\ell$) in MCF-7 cell (p<0.01), Scirpi Tuber ($500{\mu}g/m\ell$) in MCF-7 cell only 3days after treatment (p<0.01). In RT-PCR analysis, after treatment of $100{\mu}g/m\ell$ of ACR extract, BCL-2 were decreased and BAX, caspase-3 were increased both in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. DNA fragmentation was observed the Scirpi Tuber on Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. As time goes on DNA fragmentation incresed. In Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay, after treatment of $1mg/m\ell$ of Scirpi Tuber, the early apoptotic cell increased both in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. As time goes on apoptotic cell increased. Conclusion: Scirpi Tuber appears to have considerable activity on the apoptosis in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell.