• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.241-248
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• 2022

NF-κB는 염증과 선천성 면역에 중요한 전사인자이며 anti-apoptotic gene을 유도하여 세포의 생존과 발암에도 깊이 연관되어 있으며 많은 신호전달분자 및 신호전달회로와 연결되어있다. 한편, Hsp90는 NF-κB의 활성을 조절한다는 보고가 이루어졌으나 그 구체적인 기전은 알려져 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 IKK compelx를 구성하는 인자들의 발현 plasmid를 이용하여 NF-κB의 활성조절에서 Hsp90와 IKKγ의 연관성 및 역할을 연구하였다. 그 결과 Hsp90는 IκBα의 인산화와 분해를 촉진하여 NF-κB를 활성화시켰고, NIK과 LPS에 의한 NF-κB의 활성화는 Hsp90에 의해 더욱 활성이 증가하였다. IKKγ는 Hsp90에 의해 증가된 IκBα의 인산화와 분해를 더욱 촉진함으로써 Hsp90의 NF-κB 활성화 작용을 상승시켰다. 이러한 Hsp90와 IKKγ에 의한 NF-κB의 활성화 현상은 항상 활성화 된 상태를 유지하는 IKKβ-EE mutant를 이용한 검토에서도 입증되었다. 또한 IKKγ의 deletion mutant를 이용한 검토에서 IKKγ의 N-말단에 위치하는 IKKβ 결합부위와 C-말단에 위치하는 leucine zipper 및 zinc finger 부위는 IKKγ와 Hsp90의 NF-κB에 대한 상호협력적 촉진작용에 필요하지 않았다. 또한 Hsp90에 의해 촉진된 세포내 pro-inflammatory cytokine들의 발현은 IKKγ에 의해 더욱 상승하였다. 이러한 결과로부터 Hsp90와 IKKγ의 상호작용을 차단한다면 NF-κB의 과다활성으로 인한 질병의 예방과 치료에 도움을 줄 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.417-426
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• 2023

The TRPM4 gene encodes a Ca²⁺-activated monovalent cation channel called transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) that is expressed in various tissues. Dysregulation or abnormal expression of TRPM4 has been linked to a range of diseases. We introduced the hemagglutinin (HA) tag into the extracellular S6 loop of TRPM4, resulting in an HA-tagged version called TRPM4-HA. This TRPM4-HA was developed to investigate the purification, localization, and function of TRPM4 in different physiological and pathological conditions. TRPM4-HA was successfully expressed in the intact cell membrane and exhibited similar electrophysiological properties, such as the current-voltage relationship, rapid desensitization, and current size, compared to the wild-type TRPM4. The presence of the TRPM4 inhibitor 9-phenanthrol did not affect these properties. Furthermore, a wound-healing assay showed that TRPM4-HA induced cell proliferation and migration, similar to the native TRPM4. Co-expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 6 (PTPN6 or SHP1) with TRPM4-HA led to the translocation of TRPM4-HA to the cytosol. To investigate the interaction between PTPN6 and tyrosine residues of TRPM4 in enhancing channel activity, we generated four mutants in which tyrosine (Y) residues were substituted with phenylalanine (F) at the N-terminus of TRPM4. The YF mutants displayed properties and functions similar to TRPM4-HA, except for the Y256F mutant, which showed resistance to 9-phenanthrol, suggesting that Y256 may be involved in the binding site for 9-phenanthrol. Overall, the creation of HA-tagged TRPM4 provides researchers with a valuable tool to study the role of TRPM4 in different conditions and its potential interactions with other proteins, such as PTPN6.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.709-717
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• 2024

Objective: Abnormally increased somatic cell counts (SCCs) in milk is usually a sign of bovine subclinical mastitis. Mutual interaction between the host and its associated microbiota plays an important role in developing such diseases. The main objective of this study was to explore the difference between cows with elevated SCCs and healthy cattle from the perspective of host-microbe interplay. Methods: A total of 31 milk samples and 23 bovine peripheral blood samples were collected from Holstein dairy cattle to conduct an integrated analysis of transcriptomic and metagenomics. Results: The results showed that Ralstonia and Sphingomonas were enriched in cows with subclinical mastitis. The relative abundance of the two bacteria was positively correlated with the expression level of bovine transcobalamin 1 and uridine phosphorylase 1 encoding gene. Moreover, functional analysis revealed a distinct alternation in some important microbial biological processes. Conclusion: These results reveal the relative abundance of Ralstonia and Sphingomonas other than common mastitis-causing pathogens varied from healthy cows to those with subclinical mastitis and might be associated with elevated SCCs. Potential association was observed between bovine milk microbiota composition and the transcriptional pattern of some genes, thus providing new insights to understand homeostasis of bovine udder.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.38.1-38.8
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• 2021

Recently, a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (B.1.1.529) Omicron variant originated from South Africa in the middle of November 2021. SARS-CoV-2 is also called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of COVID-19. Several studies already suggested that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant would be the fastest transmissible variant compared to the previous 10 SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, interest, and alert. Few clinical studies reported the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant but there is insufficient time to perform actual experiments to prove it, since the spread is so fast. We analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, which revealed a very high rate of mutation at amino acid residues that interact with angiostatin-converting enzyme 2. The mutation rate of COVID-19 is faster than what we prepared vaccine program, antibody therapy, lockdown, and quarantine against COVID-19 so far. Thus, it is necessary to find better strategies to overcome the current crisis of COVID-19 pandemic.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.199-217
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• 2023

People with higher genetic predisposition to obesity are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and healthy plant-based foods may be associated with reduced risks of obesity and other metabolic markers. We investigated whether healthy plant-foods-rich dietary patterns might have inverse associations with cardiometabolic risk factors in participants at genetically elevated risk of obesity. For this cross-sectional study, 377 obese and overweight women were chosen from health centers in Tehran, Iran. We calculated a healthy plant-based diet index (h-PDI) in which healthy plant foods received positive scores, and unhealthy plant and animal foods received reversed scores. A genetic risk score (GRS) was developed based on 3 polymorphisms. The interaction between GRS and h-PDI on cardiometabolic traits was analyzed using a generalized linear model (GLM). We found significant interactions between GRS and h-PDI on body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.02), body fat mass (p = 0.04), and waist circumference (p = 0.056). There were significant gene-diet interactions for healthful plant-derived diets and BMI-GRS on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.03), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.04), alanine transaminase (p = 0.05), insulin (p = 0.04), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (p = 0.002). Adherence to h-PDI was more strongly related to decreased levels of the aforementioned markers among participants in the second or top tertile of GRS than those with low GRS. These results highlight that following a plant-based dietary pattern considering genetics appears to be a protective factor against the risks of cardiometabolic abnormalities.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.28-38
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• 2024

Objective: Tibetan chickens, which have unique adaptations to extreme high-altitude environments, exhibit phenotypic and physiological characteristics that are distinct from those of lowland chickens. However, the mechanisms underlying hypoxic adaptation in the liver of chickens remain unknown. Methods: RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology was used to assess the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in hypoxia adaptation in highland chickens (native Tibetan chicken [HT]) and lowland chickens (Langshan chicken [LS], Beijing You chicken [BJ], Qingyuan Partridge chicken [QY], and Chahua chicken [CH]). Results: A total of 352 co-DEGs were specifically screened between HT and four native lowland chicken breeds. Gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analyses indicated that these co-DEGs were widely involved in lipid metabolism processes, such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling pathway, fatty acid degradation, fatty acid metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis. To further determine the relationship from the 352 co-DEGs, protein-protein interaction network was carried out and identified eight genes (ACSL1, CPT1A, ACOX1, PPARC1A, SCD, ACSBG2, ACACA, and FASN) as the potential regulating genes that are responsible for the altitude difference between the HT and other four lowland chicken breeds. Conclusion: This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating hypoxia adaptation via lipid metabolism in Tibetan chickens and other highland animals.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.359-371
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the mechanism of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived microRNA (miR)-150-5p-expressing exosomes in promoting skin wound healing through activating PI3K/AKT pathway by PTEN. Methods and Results: Human umbilical cord (HUC)-MSCs were infected with miR-150-5p overexpression and its control lentivirus, and HUC-MSCs-derived exosomes (MSCs-Exos) with stable expression of miR-150-5p were obtained. HaCaT cells were induced by H₂O₂ to establish a cellular model of skin injury, in which the expression of miR-150-5p and PTEN and the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT were evaluated. HaCaT cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-PTEN or pcDNA3.1 and then cultured with normal exosomes or exosomes stably expressing miR-150-5p. Cell proliferation was inspected by CCK-8. Cell migration was detected by scratch test and cell apoptosis by flow cytometry. The starBase tool was used to predict the binding site of miR-150-5p to PTEN. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were applied to assess the interaction between miR-150-5p and PTEN. In H₂O₂-induced HaCaT cells, the miR-150-5p expression decreased, and PTEN expression increased in a concentration-dependent manner. MSCs-Exos promoted the growth and migration of H₂O₂-induced HaCaT cells and inhibited their apoptosis. In addition, overexpression of exosomal miR-150-5p enhanced the protective effect of MSCs-Exos on H₂O₂-induced HaCaT cells; PTEN overexpression in HaCaT cells partially restrained miR-150-5p-mediated inhibition on H₂O₂-induced injury in HaCaT cells. PTEN was a target gene of miR-150-5p. MiR-150-5p regulated PI3K/AKT pathway through PTEN. Conclusions: MSCs-derived miR-150-5p-expressing exosomes promote skin wound healing by activating PI3K/AKT pathway through PTEN.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.25-33
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• 2002

우울증 환자들에게 항우울제를 처방하는 임상의들이 흔히 겪게 되는 두 가지 어려움은 약물의 치료 반응 유무를 판단하기 위하여 처음 약물을 투여한 후 4~6주 이상을 기다려야 하는 것과 어떤 종류의 항우울제라도 처음 4~6주 이후에도 반응을 보이지 않는 환자들이 30~40% 이상이 된다는 것이다. 이와 같은 어려움을 극복하기 위해서는 환자 개개인의 항우울제에 대한 반응성을 미리 예측하는 것이 필요하다. 이 논문에서는 연구자들의 과거 실험들과 이미 발표된 연구들을 중심으로 하여 항우울제에 대한 치료 반응성을 예측하는데 약리유전학적 방법을 이용한 현재까지의 연구들과 연구 결과를 해석 할때 고려해야 할 사항을 살펴보고자 한다. 세로토닌 수송체(serotonin transporter, 5-HTT)는 항우울제가 신경세포에 작용하는 주요 작용부위 중 하나이다. 최근의 연구들에 의하면 5-HTT 유전자 promoter 부위의 기능적인 다형성(5-HTT linked polymorphism repetitive element in promoter region, 5-HTTLPR)이 항우울제에 대한 치료 반응성과 관련이 있는 것으로 알려져 있으며, 5-HTTLPR 유전형의 분포빈도는 인종들 간에서 차이가 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 연구자들은 최근의 실험을 통하여 5-HTTLPR 유전형들의 endophenotype을 혈소판 막에 분포하는 5-HTT의 약동학적 특성으로 측정할 수 있음을 발견하였다. 흥미로운 사실은 5-HTTLPR 유전형의 분포가 인종적으로 다른 양상으로 나타났듯이, 그 endophenotype인 혈소판막의 5-HTT의 약동학적 특성 역시 전혀 반대되는 양상으로 나타났다. 하지만 이 endophenotype의 특성만으로 항우울제의 치료반응을 예측하는 것은 아직까지 한계가 있으며, 향후 이러한 과제를 해결하기 위한 방법중 약리유전학적 방법을 사용할 수 있음을 제안하였다. 예비적으로 시행한 실험을 통하여 연구자들은 세로토닌 수송체의 구조와 특징이 비슷한 생체아민 수송체들의 유전자 다형성들 간에 유의한 상관관계가 있음을 발견하였으며, 이들 유의한 상관관계가 있는 유전자형을 연합하여 조합할 때 세로토닌 수송체의 유전형만의 기여도보다도 항우울제에 대한 반응 예측도의 odds ratio가 유의하게 상승함을 발견하였다. 이러한 연구 결과들은 임상의가 항우울제를 처방 할 때에 환자들의 유전적 그리고 인종적인 배경을 고려하여 개별화된 전략을 사용하여야 한다는 가설을 뒷받침한다. 앞으로 항우울제의 작용기전과 그 대사과정에 관여하는 유전자들들 중심으로 유전자 간의 상호 작용을 밝히고 그 표현형이 약물의 치료 반응도에 미치는 기여도를 평가하는 작업들은 항우울제의 치료 반응과 그 부작용을 미리 예측할 수 있는 평가 도구를 개발할 수 있는 가장 최선의 길이 될 수 있을 것이다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.467-475
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• 2015

Improvement for carcass traits related to beef quality is the key concern in beef production. Recent reports found that epigenetics mediates the interaction of individuals with environment and nutrition. The present study was designed to analyze the genetic effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven epigenetic-related genes (DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, DNMT3L, Ago1, Ago2, and HDAC5) and two meat quality candidate genes (CAPN1 and PRKAG3) on fourteen carcass traits related to beef quality in a Snow Dragon beef population, and also to identify SNPs in a total of fourteen cattle populations. Sixteen SNPs were identified and genotyped in 383 individuals sampled from the 14 cattle breeds, which included 147 samples from the Snow Dragon beef population. Data analysis showed significant association of 8 SNPs within 4 genes related to carcass and/or meat quality traits in the beef populations. SNP1 (13154420A>G) in exon 17 of DNMT1 was significantly associated with rib-eye width and lean meat color score (p<0.05). A novel SNP (SNP4, 76198537A>G) of DNMT3a was significantly associated with six beef quality traits. Those individuals with the wild-type genotype AA of DNMT3a showed an increase in carcass weight, chilled carcass weight, flank thicknesses, chuck short rib thickness, chuck short rib score and in chuck flap weight in contrast to the GG genotype. Five out of six SNPs in DNMT3b gene were significantly associated with three beef quality traits. SNP15 (45219258C>T) in CAPN1 was significantly associated with chuck short rib thickness and lean meat color score (p<0.05). The significant effect of SNP15 on lean meat color score individually and in combination with each of other 14 SNPs qualify this SNP to be used as potential marker for improving the trait. In addition, the frequencies of most wild-type alleles were higher than those of the mutant alleles in the native and foreign cattle breeds. Seven SNPs were identified in the epigenetic-related genes. The SNP15 in CAPN1 could be used as a powerful genetic marker in selection programs for beef quality improvement in the Snow Dragon Beef population.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.149-154
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• 2017

미만성 거대 B 세포 림프종(DLBCL)은 비호지킨 림프종에서 가장 흔한 형태이다. DLBCL에서 약물치료에 대한 연구가 많은 진전을 보였지만, 아직 많은 환자의 경우 DLBCL로 인한 사망률이 상당하다. 따라서 DLBCL에 대한 이해와 새로운 표적 치료제의 개발이 필요하다. PDE (인산이에스테르 가수분해효소)4B는 최근 시행된 유전자 발현 프로파일링에서 약제내성을 가지는 DLBCL에서 과발현 되는 유전자로 밝혀졌다. PDE4B의 주된 역할은 이차전달자인 고리형 AMP (cylclic AMP, cAMP)를 5'AMP로의 가수분해를 촉진시켜 cAMP를 비활성화 시키는 것이다. cAMP는 B 세포에서 세포증식 저해와 세포사멸을 유도하고 PDE4B는 B 세포에서 이러한 cAMP의 기능을 소멸시키는 것으로 알려져 있다. 그러나 PDE4B의 과발현이 어떤 기작에 의한 것인지는 연구가 미비하다. 본 논문에서는 비정상적으로 발현된 마이크로 RNA (microRNA, miRNA)가 PDE4B의 과발현에 관련되어 있을 것이라는 가정하에 실험을 진행하였다. PDE4B 3'-UTR에는 세 개의 miR-23b 예상 결합부위가 존재하고, 이는 luciferase reporter assay를 통해서 확인하였다. 흥미롭게도, miR-23b 결합 부위들은 인간에서부터 도마뱀에 이르기까지 진화적으로 보존되어 있었고, 이는 세포 생리학적 측면에서 PDE4B-miR-23b 사이의 상호작용이 중요한 역할을 수행함을 암시하고 있다. miR-23b의 과발현은 PDE4B의 mRNA 발현을 감소시키고 세포내의 cAMP의 농도를 증가시켰다. 뿐만 아니라, miR-23b의 발현은 아데닐산고리화효소(adenylyl cyclase)의 활성약제인 forskolin이 처리된 경우에만 DLBCL 세포들의 증식과 생존을 억제하였다. 이는 miR-23b는 PDE4B 발현을 감소시킴으로써 세포증식과 생존을 조절함을 보여주는 것이다. 이를 통해 생각해 볼 때, miR-23b는 PDE4B를 억제함으로써 DLBCL에서 나타나는 항암제 내성을 극복할 수 있고, 따라서 miR-23b는 잠재적 종양 억제자로서 효과적인 치료적 타겟으로 예상된다.