• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.557-562
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• 2018

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are major sources of cellular oxidative stress. Specifically, cancer cells harbor genetic alterations that promote a continuous and elevated production of ROS. While such oxidative stress conditions could be harmful to normal cells, they facilitate cancer cell growth in multiple ways by causing DNA damage and genomic instability, and ultimately by reprogramming cancer cell metabolism. This review provides up to date findings regarding the roles of ROS generation induced by diverse biological molecules and chemicals in representative women's cancer. Specifically, we describe the cellular signaling pathways that regulate direct or indirect interactions between ROS homeostasis and metabolism within female genital cancer cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2017

The Hippo signaling pathway plays an essential role in adult-tissue homeostasis and organ-size control. In Drosophila and vertebrates, it consists of a highly conserved kinase cascade, which involves MST and Lats that negatively regulate the activity of the downstream transcription coactivators, YAP and TAZ. By interacting with TEADs and other transcription factors, they mediate both proliferative and antiapoptotic gene expression and thus regulate tissue repair and regeneration. Dysregulation or mutation of the Hippo pathway is linked to tumorigenesis and cancer development. Recent studies have uncovered multiple upstream inputs, including cell density, mechanical stress, G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, and nutrients, that modulate Hippo pathway activity. This review focuses on the role of the Hippo pathway as effector of these biophysical cues and its potential implications in tissue homeostasis and cancer.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2003

Differences between the principles for the radiological protection of man and the environment are compared. The derived levels of exposure for man and biota recommended by the international agencies with dose rates for chronic radiation producing effects at different levels of biological organization were given in terms of the biological effects. Cytogenetic effects on plants after an exposure to ionizing radiation at low doses alone and in combination with other factors are discussed. A wide range of experimental data were analysed and the general conclusions were extracted to cover the topics such as non-linearity of dose response, synergistic and antagonistic effects of the combined exposure of different factors, radiation-induced genomic instability, and the phenomena of radioadaptation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.489-495
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• 2001

DNA damage by UV and environmental agents are the major cause of genomic instability that needs to be repaired, otherwise it give rise to cancer. Accordingly, mammalian cells operate several DNA repair pathways that are not only responsible for identifying various types of DNA damage but also involved in removing DNA damage. In mammals, nucleotide excision repair (NER) machinery is responsible for most, if not all, of the bulky adducts caused by UV and chemical agents. Although most of the proteins involved in NER pathway have been identified, only recently have we begun to gain some insight into the mechanism by which proteins recognize damaged DNA. Binding of Xeroderma pigmentosum group C protein (XPC)-hHR23B complex to damaged DNA is the initial damage recognition step in NER, which leads to the recruitment of XPA and RPA to form a damage recognition complex. Formation of damage recognition complex not only stabilizes low affinity binding of XPA to the damaged DNA, but also induces structural distortion, both of which are likely necessary for the recruitment of TFIIH and two structure-specific endonucleases for dual incision.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1047-1054
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• 2019

Transposable elements (TEs) occupy approximately 45% of the human genome and can enter functional genes randomly. During evolutionary radiation, multiple copies of TEs are produced by duplication events. Those elements contribute to biodiversity and phylogenomics. Most of them are controlled by epigenetic regulation, such as methylation or acetylation. Every species contains their own specific mobile elements, and they are divided into DNA transposons and retrotransposons. Retrotransposons can be divided by the presence of a long terminal repeat (LTR). They show various biological functions, such as promoter, enhancer, exonization, rearrangement, and alternative splicing. Also, they are strongly implicated to genomic instability, causing various diseases. Therefore, they could be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases such as cancers. Recently, it was found that TEs could produce miRNAs, which play roles in gene inhibition through mRNA cleavage or translational repression, binding seed regions of target genes. Studies of TE-derived miRNAs offer a potential for the expression of functional genes. Comparative analyses of different types of miRNAs in various species and tissues could be of interest in the fields of evolution and phylogeny. Those events allow us to understand the importance of TEs in relation to biological roles and various diseases.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2003

Background: An aberrant function of the mismatch repair system has been reported to underlie carcinogenesis in several tumors, including colorectal and gastric carcinomas, and to induce the typical genotype of microsatellite instability (MSI). Purpose: We aimed to determine the frequency of MSI in early-onset sporadic gastric carcinoma and elucidate the role of promoter methylation in hMLH1 as the mechanism of MSI. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six early-onset sporadic gastric carcinomas were analyzed to determine the status of MSI and the frequency of methylation of the promoter region in hMLH1. MSI was determined using five markers recommended by NCI: MSI-H (high), MSI-L (low), and MSS (Microsatellite stable). Methylation specific PCR (MSP) and direct automated genomic sequencing analysis with DNA modified by sodium bisulfite have been performed to confirm promoter region methylation. All the data were analyzed regarding characteristics of molecular changes, and clinicopathologic variables. Results: The microsatellite status was determined as MSI-H in five cases ($13.8\%$), MSI-L in 13 cases ($36.1\%$), and MSS in 18 cases ($50.0\%$). hMLH1 was methylated in seven cases ($19.4\%$). In all cases of MSI-H, promoter of hMLH1 was methylated, and in two of the 13 cases of MSI-L, hMLH1 promoter methylation was identified. Methylation was not found in any cases of MSS. Promoter methylation in hMLH1 was significantly correlated with MSI status (P<0.001). We could not find any relationship between MSI and clinicopathologic parameters. Conclusion: These results suggest that an abnormal function of the mismatch repair system may be associated with gastric carcinogenesis in more than $10\%$ of early-onset gastric carcinomas and MSI appeared to be closely related to the promoter methylation in hMLH1.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.759-765
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• 2015

The effects of extracts from Lentinula edodes (L. edodes) and Aquilariae agallocha (A. agallocha) on the DNA damage response in ultraviolet A (UVA)-exposed HaCaT cells and on the allergic contact dermatitis caused by 2,4-dinitro-chlorobezene (DNCB) were investigated. When UVA-exposed cells were incubated for 24 hours in medium containing L. edodes or A. agallocha extract, the level of 8-OHdG and CPD decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The combined treatment with both extracts potentiated the decrease in UVA-induced 8-OHdG and CPD levels as compared with those following treatment with a single extract. In addition, the two extracts showed preventive effects against the UVA-induced reduction in collagen levels. Furthermore, the blood levels of IgE, IL-6, and histamine decreased more significantly upon combined treatment with L. edodes and A. agallocha extracts as compared with those following treatment with single extracts in DNCB-induced allergic contact dermatitis in the ICR mouse. The results of the present study suggest that the components with in the extracts of L. edodes and A. agallocha can help to prevent of UVA-induced genomic instability via a decrease in DNA damage, and to decrease the DNCB-induced allergic dermatitis via modulation of relevant proteins including IgE and IL-6. Further study is needed to clarify the purified components related to the preventative effects of the two extracts against UVA- or DNCB-induced genomic damage.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.208-216
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• 2002

Background: Reactive oxygen and nitrogen are produced by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial tissue and can induce mutations in key genes. Normally, this process is prevented by a DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system that maintains sequence fidelity. Key members of the MMR system include MutS${\alpha}$ (comprised of hMSH2 and hMSH6), which can sense and repair single base mismatches and 8-oxoguanine, and MutS${\beta}$ (comprised of hMSH2 and hMSH3), which repairs longer insertion/deletion loops. Methods: To provide further evidence of DNA damage, we analyzed synovial tissues for microsatellite instability (MSI). MSI was examined by PCR on genomic DNA of paired synovial tissue and peripheral blood cells (PBC) of RA patients using specific primer sequences for 5 key microsatellites. Results: Surprisingly, abundant MSI was observed in RA synovium compared with osteoarthritis (OA) tissue. Western blot analysis of the same tissues for the expression of MMR proteins demonstrated decreased hMSH6 and increased hMSH3 in RA synovium. To evaluate potential mechanisms of MMR regulation in arthritis, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were isolated from synovial tissues and incubated with the nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP). Western blot analysis demonstrated constitutive expression of hMSH2, 3 and 6 in RA and OA FLS. When FLS were cultured with SNAP, the RA synovial pattern of MMR expression was reproduced (high hMSH3, low hMSH6). Conclusion: Therefore, oxidative stress can relax the DNA MMR system in RA by suppressing hMSH6. Decreased hMSH6 can subsequently interfere with repair of single base mutations, which is the type observed in RA. We propose that oxidative stress not only creates DNA adducts that are potentially mutagenic, but also suppresses the mechanisms that limit the DNA damage.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.180-190
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• 2000

Background: Genomic instability, which is manifested by the replication error(RER) phenotype, has been proposed for the promotion of genetic alterations necessary for carcinogenesis. Merlo et al. reported frequent microsatellite instability in primary small cell lung cancers. However, Kim et al. found that instability occurred in only 1% of the loci tested and did not resemble the replication error-positive phenotype. The significance of microsatellite instability in the tumorigenesis of small cell lung cancer as well as the relationship between microsatellite instability and its clinical prognosis was investigated in our study. Methods: Fifteen primary small cell lung cancers were chosen for this study. The DNAs extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue blocks with primary tumor and corresponding control tissue were investigated. Forty microsatellite markers on chromosome 1p, 2p, 3p, 5q, 6p, 6q, 9p, 9q, 13q, and 17p were used in the microsatellite analysis. Results: Thirteen(86.7%) of 15 tumors exhibited LOH in at least one of the tested microsatellite markers. Three of 13 tumors exhibiting LOH lost a larger area in chromosome 9p. LOH was shown in 72.7% on chromosome 2p, 40% on 3p, 50% on 5q, 46.7% on 9p, 69.2% on 13q, and 66.7% on 17p(Table 1). Nine(60%) of 15 tumors exhibited shifted bands in at least one of the tested microsatellite markers. Nine cases exhibiting shifted bands showed altered loci ranging 2.5~52.5%(mean $9.4%\pm16.19$)(Table 2). Shifted bands occurred in 5.7% (34 of 600) of the loci tested(Table 2). Nine cases with shifted bands exhibited LOH ranging between 0~83.3%, and the median survival duration of those cases was 35 weeks. Six cases without shifted bands exhibited LOH ranging between 0~83.3%, and the median survival duration of those cases was 73 weeks. There was no significant difference between median survival durations of the two groups(p=0.4712). Conclusion: Microsatellite instability as well as the inactivation of several tumor suppressor genes may play important roles in the development and progression process of tumors. However, the relationship between microsatellite instability and its clinical prognosis in primary small cell lung cancer could not be established.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.3865-3871
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• 2014

It is becoming progressively more understandable that different phytochemicals isolated from edible plants interfere with specific stages of carcinogenesis. Cancer cells have evolved hallmark mechanisms to escape from death. Concordant with this approach, there is a disruption of spatiotemproal behaviour of signaling cascades in cancer cells, which can escape from apoptosis because of downregulation of tumor suppressor genes and over-expression of oncogenes. Genomic instability, intra-tumor heterogeneity, cellular plasticity and metastasizing potential of cancer cells all are related to molecular alterations. Data obtained through in vitro studies has convincingly revealed that curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin are promising anticancer agents. Their efficacy has been tested in tumor xenografted mice and considerable experimental findings have stimulated researchers to further improve the bioavailability of these nutraceuticals. We partition this review into different sections with emphasis on how bioavailability of curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin has improved using different nanotechnology approaches.