• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.129-145
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• 2001

Objectives : To characterize the antitumorigenic potential of three representative bee venom components, Melittin, Apamin, and Phospholipase A2, their effects on cell proliferation and apotosis of the human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-2 were analyzed using molecular biological approaches. Methodes & Results : To determine the doses of the drugs that do not induce cytotoxic damage to this cell line, cell viability was examined by MTT assay. While SK-MEL-2 cells treated with 0.5 - 2.0㎍/㎖ of each drug showed no recognizable cytotoxic effect, marked reductions of cell viability were detected at concentrations over 5.0㎍/㎖. [3H]thymidine incorporation assay for cell proliferation demonstrated that DNA replication of SK-MEL-2 cells is inhibited by Apamin and Phospholipase A2 in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with this result, the cells were accumulated at the G1 phase of the cell cycle after treatment with Apamin and Phospholipase A2, whereas no detectable change in cell proliferation was identified by Melittin treatment. In addition, tryphan blue exclusion and flow cytometric analyses showed that all of these drugs can trigger apoptotic cell death of SK-MEL-2, suggesting that Melittin, Apamin, and Phospholipase A2 have antitumorigenic potential through the suppression of cell growth and/or induction of apoptosis. Qantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that Apamin and Phospholipase A2 inhibit expression of growth-promoting genes such as c-Jun, c-Fos, and Cyciin D1. Furthermore, Phospholipase A2 induced tumor suppressors p53 and p21/Wafl. In addition, all three drugs were found to activate expression of a representative apoptosis-inducing gene Bax while expression of apoptosis-suppressing Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL genes was not changed. Taken together, this study strongly suggests that Metittin, Apamin, and Phosphalipase A2 may have antitumorigenic activities, which are associated with its growth-inhibiting and/or apoptosis-inducing potentials.

• 한국작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국작물학회 2017년도 9th Asian Crop Science Association conference
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• pp.328-328
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• 2017

Drought is a major limiting factor that reduces rice production and occurs often especially under recent climate change. Plants have the ability to alter their developmental morphology in response to changing environment, which is known as phenotypic plasticity. In our previous studies, we found that one chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL50 derived from Nipponbare and Kasalath crosses) showed no differences in shoot and root growth as compared with the recurrent genotype, Nipponbare under non-stress condition but showed greater growth responses compared with Nipponbare under mild drought stress condition. We hypothesized that reducing root respiration as metabolic cost, which may be largely a consequence of aerenchyma formation would be one of the key mechanisms for root plasticity expression. This study aimed to evaluate the root respiration and aerenchyma formation under various soil moisture conditions among genotypes with different root plasticity. CSSL50 together with Nipponbare and Kasalath were grown under waterlogged conditions (Control) and mild drought stress conditions (20% of soil moisture content) in a plastic pot ($11cm{\times}14cm$, ${\varphi}{\times}H$) and PVC tube ($3cm{\times}30cm$, ${\varphi}{\times}H$). Root respiration rate was measured with infrared gas analyzer (IRGA, GMP343, Vaisala, Finland) with a closed static chamber system. There was no significant difference between genotypes in control for shoot and root growth as well as root respiration rate. In contrast, all the genotypes increased their root respiration rates in response to mild drought stress. However, CSSL50 showed lower root respiration rate than Nipponbare, which was associated by higher root aerenchyma formation that was estimated based on internal gas space (porosity) under mild drought stress conditions. Furthermore, there were significant negative correlations between root length and root respiration rate. These results imply that reducing the metabolic cost (= root respiration rate) is a key mechanism for root plasticity expression, which CSSL50 showed under mild drought.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권10호
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• pp.5663-5669
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• 2013

The histone methyltransferase EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2) plays critical roles in prostate cancer (PCa) development and is a potential target for PCa treatment. Triptolide possesses anti-tumor activity, but it is unknown whether its therapeutic effect relates with EZH2 in PCa. Here we described EZH2 as a target for Triptolide in PCa cells. Our data showed that Triptolide suppressed PCa cell growth and reduced the expression of EZH2. Overexpression of EZH2 attenuated the Triptolide induced cell growth inhibition. Moreover, Triptolide treatment of PC-3 cells resulted in elevated mRNA levels of target genes (ADRB2, CDH1, CDKN2A and DAB2IP) negatively regulated by EZH2 as well as reduced mRNA levelsan of EZH2 positively regulated gene (cyclin D1). Our findings suggest the PCa cell growth inhibition mediated by Triptolide might be associated with downregulation of EZH2 expression and the subsequent modulation of target genes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.134-141
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• 2016

To investigate the role of polysaccharide from Acanthopanax senticosus (ASPS) in preventing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury, 18 mice (at 5 wk of age) were assigned to three groups with 6 replicates of one mouse each. Mice were administrated by oral gavage with or without ASPS (300 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days and were injected with saline or LPS at 15 days. Intestinal samples were collected at 4 h post-challenge. The results showed that ASPS ameliorated LPS-induced deterioration of digestive ability of LPS-challenged mice, indicated by an increase in intestinal lactase activity (45%, p<0.05), and the intestinal morphology, as proved by improved villus height (20.84%, p<0.05) and villus height:crypt depth ratio (42%, p<0.05), and lower crypt depth in jejunum (15.55%, p<0.05), as well as enhanced intestinal tight junction proteins expression involving occludin-1 (71.43%, p<0.05). ASPS also prevented intestinal inflammation response, supported by decrease in intestinal inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (22.28%, p<0.05) and heat shock protein (HSP70) (77.42%, p<0.05). In addition, intestinal mucus layers were also improved by ASPS, as indicated by the increase in number of goblet cells (24.89%, p<0.05) and intestinal trefoil peptide (17.75%, p<0.05). Finally, ASPS facilitated mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor (100%, p<0.05) and its receptor (200%, p<0.05) gene. These results indicate that ASPS can prevent intestinal mucosal barrier injury under inflammatory conditions, which may be associated with up-regulating gene mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor and its receptor.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.81-88
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• 2012

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes involved in the remodelling of chromatin, and have a key role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are emerging as an exciting new class of potential anti-cancer agents. In recent years, a number of structurally diverse HDAC inhibitors have been identifi ed and these HDAC inhibitors induce growth arrest, differentiation and/or apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed at investigating the anti-tumor activity of various HDAC inhibitors, IN-2001, using T47D human breast cancer cells. Moreover, the possible mechanism by which HDAC inhibitors exhibit anti-tumor activity was also explored. In estrogen receptor positive T47D cells, IN-2001, HDAC inhibitor showed anti-proliferative effects in dose-and time-dependent manner. In T47D human breast cancer cells showed anti-tumor activity of IN-2001 and the growth inhibitory effects of IN-2001 were related to the cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Flow cytometry studies revealed that IN-2001 showed accumulation of cells at $G_2$/M phase. At the same time, IN-2001 treatment time-dependently increased sub-$G_1$ population, representing apoptotic cells. IN-2001-mediated cell cycle arrest was associated with induction of cdk inhibitor expression. In T47D cells, IN-2001 as well as other HDAC inhibitors treatment significantly increased $p21^{WAF1}$ and $p27^{KIP1}$ expression. In addition, thymidylate synthase, an essential enzyme for DNA replication and repair, was down-regulated by IN-2001 and other HDAC inhibitors in the T47D human breast cancer cells. In summary, IN-2001 with a higher potency than other HDAC inhibitors induced growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and eventual apoptosis in human breast cancer possibly through modulation of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory proteins, such as cdk inhibitors, cyclins, and thymidylate synthase.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.198-203
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• 2020

Synovial fluid (SF) contains various factors which may be helpful for corneal stromal healing, such as cytokines, growth factors, hyaluronic acid, and proteins. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of SF on proliferation and migration in canine keratocytes. In order to evaluate the degree of proliferation and migration, canine keratocytes were cultured in DMEM containing 1%, 3%, 5%, or 10% SF. Real-time PCR was performed in a control group and the group treated with 5% SF, in order to measure the expression levels of factors associated with corneal wound healing. These factors included interleukin-1α (IL-1α), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA-α). Proliferation assays demonstrated that proliferation was significantly enhanced in groups treated with greater than 3% SF, as compared with that of the control group. In addition, migration in all SF-treated groups was significantly increased as compared with migration in the control group, as measured by migration assays. mRNA expression of IL-1α and HGF was significantly increased and mRNA expression of TGF-β and SMA-α was significantly decreased in the cells treated with 5% SF. These findings suggest that SF may promote corneal wound healing.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

Inflammation is a protective mechanism against pathogens, but if maintained continuously, it destroys tissue structures. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacterium often found in severe periodontitis. A. actinomycetemcomitans invades epithelial cells and triggers inflammatory response in the immune cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of water-soluble rosehip extract on A. actinomycetemcomitans-induced inflammatory responses. A human monocytic cell line (THP-1) was differentiated to macrophages by phorbol 12-mystristate 13-acetate treatment. The cytotoxic effect of extract was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The effects of extract on bacterial growth were examined by measuring the optical densities using a spectrophotometer. THP-1-derived macrophages were infected A. actinomycetemcomitans after extract treatment, and culture supernatants were analyzed for cytokine production using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Protein expression was measured by western blotting. Extract was not toxic to THP-1-derived macrophages. A. actinomycetemcomitans growth was inhibited by 1% extract. The extract suppressed A. actinomycetemcomitans-induced tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-8 production. It also decreased mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) phosphorylation. Moreover, the extract inhibited the expression of inflammasome components, including nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3, Absent in Melanoma 2, and apoptosis associated speck-like protein containing a CARD. And cysteine-aspartic proteases-1 and IL-1β expression were decreased by the extract. In summary, extract suppressed A. actinomycetemcomitans growth and decreased inflammatory cytokine production by inhibiting activation of MAP kinase, NF-κB, and inflammasome signaling. Rosehip extract could be effective in the treatment of periodontal inflammation induced by A. actinomycetemcomitans infection.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.380-387
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• 2023

Stocking density is associated with Paralichthys olivaceus growth; thus, fish should be rapidly reared at high densities for commercial reasons. Studies have reported that high stocking density retards growth; however, few have investigated the malformations caused by stocking density stress. This study compared the growth and malformation rates of P. olivaceus at different densities and stress- and immune-related gene expression between malformed and normal fish. Forty days post-hatching, fish (total length, 1.49±0.02 cm) were reared at 800 (low density; LD), 1500 (medium density; MD), and 4000 (high density; HD) fish/m², and the growth rate was measured weekly. On day 30, RNA was extracted from the kidneys, and the expression of stress-, immune-, and malformation-related genes was analyzed using qRT-PCR. The malformation rate in the HD groups was approximately three times higher (62%) than that in the LD and MD groups (approximately 20%), and growth was lower regarding length and weight. The stress-related (HSP70 and GPX) and immune-related (PIR and IgM) genes showed higher mRNA expression in the HD group and malformed fish than in the LD group and normal fish. However, TLR3 showed the opposite results. In summary, high stocking density suppressed growth and increased malformation risk in P. olivaceus.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권12호
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• pp.7737-7741
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• 2013

Background: Human papilloma virus infection is associated with genesis and malignant potential of cervical cancer. E6 and E7 oncogens are known to bind to p53 and retinoblastoma gene products, abrogating their functions as tumor suppressors, leading to an abnormal cell cycle machinery. Roles of the p53 homolog p63 have also been postulated, E6 expression leading to TAp63b degradation allowing anchorage independent growth. Molecular studies correlated with clinicopathological factors are important to determine prognosis and treatment strategies, but results have been controversial and need to be clarified. Aim: To investigate expression of p53 and p63 in cervical squamous cell carcinomas in correlation with age, FIGO staging, morphology, and cancer cell proliferation. Materials and Methods: Expression of p53 and p63 immunohistochemical staining in a total of 56 paraffin-embedded tissues of cervical squamous cell carcinomas from Dr. Sardjito General Hospital Indonesia, was evaluated for correlation with clinicopathological parameters. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the percentage of p53 and p63 expression with patient age, FIGO staging and morphology and to compare mean p53 and p63 expression. The Spearman correlation test was applied to correlate p53 and p63 expression with that of Ki-67. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were significant associations between p53 expression with age (p=0.019) and FIGO staging (p=0.026), but not with with morphology or Ki-67 expression. There were no links between p63 expression and age, morphology, FIGO staging or Ki-67. Conclusions: This study indicated that p53 has a prognostic value in cervical squamous cell carcinomas given the relation with FIGO staging.

• 한국식물병리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식물병리학회 2003년도 정기총회 및 추계학술발표회
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• pp.74.2-74
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• 2003

Arabidopsis infected with beet curly top virus (BCTV) has the systemic symptoms like stunting of Plant growth, curling of leaves and shoot tips, and callus induction. The regulation of sucrose metabolism by BCTV infection is essential for obtaining the energy source in the process of virus replication and symptom development. Sucrose metabolism-associated gene expression and biochemical enzyme activity were analyzed with the rossette leaves and inflorescencestems of BCTV infected Arabidopsis by the time course of 1, 7, 14, 21 day postinoculation. The expression of invertase and sucrose synthase genes ( encoding sucrose-cleaving enzymes )was increased and reversely the level of Atkin10a ( sucrose non-fermenting gene ) was decreased, resulting by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The biochemical analysis of invertase and sucrose synthase activity was performed. The activity of neutral invertase in the inflorescence stems was elevated remarkably. The photosynthetic response in the source of sucrose metabolism was consistent with the down-regulation of ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase gene, and lower activity than mock-inoculated plants. The levels of genes pertaining to the cell cycle, hormone, and biotic stress-related pathway showed an increase or a decrease dependent on viral symptoms. Therefore, sucrose sensing by BCTV infection can regulate the expression of sucrose metabolism-related key enzymes such as invertase and Atkin10a, and these gene products might influence to symptom development.