• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3381-3384
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• 2016

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a key factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). About 350 million people are affected by chronic infection which is related to the rapid development of liver diseases as well as hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) in the liver demonstrates a major genetic polymorphism which is involved in resistance or susceptibility to chronic HBV infection. Materials and Methods: In this study, two populations were studied by the sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) method: HBV cases (n=409), who were HBS-Ag+, and healthy controls (n=483). Results: The results shown that the frequency of TNF-${\alpha}$ -308 G/G genotype in healthy controls (47.2%) was significantly higher than in HBV infected patients (28%) (CI = 1.29-2.61, OR = 1.83, P = 0.0004). Also TNF-${\alpha}$ -308 A/A and A/G genotype frequencies in the healthy controls were 4.6% and 48.2% and in patient group were 19.5% and 52.5% (CI = 2.23-7.12, p: 0.0001, OR: 3.94) respectively. Conclusions: We found that among Iranian people TNF-${\alpha}$ -308A allele not only has the highest genotype frequency but also it has the highest frequency in the world population. In addition, TNF-${\alpha}$-308 G/G polymorphism was associated with HBV resistance, whereas TNF-${\alpha}$-308A (A/A or A/G) polymorphism appeared to associated with chronic HBV infection. These data suggested that among the Iranian population, the -308 G/G polymorphism of TNF-${\alpha}$ gene promoter region has the potential to influence the susceptibility to HBV infection and it may be responsible for viral antigen clearance.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1996

The enzymatic properties for NADPH-P450 reductase domain of a fusion protein between human cytochrome P450 1A1 and rat NADPH-P450 reductase expressed in Escherichia coli were investigated. The fusion plasmid pCW/1A1OR-expressed E. coli membrane showed high NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity ($830.1\pm 85.8 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$), while pCW control vector and P 450 1A1 expression vector pCW/1A1 showed relatively quite low activity ($4.35\pm 0.49, 3.27\pm 0.50 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$, respectively). The kinetic curves for NADPH-cytochrome c reductase followed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The $K_{max}$ and $V_{max}$ for NADPH-dependent reductase activity were $8.24\pm 2.61\mu $and $817.9\pm 60.8 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$, respectively, whereas those for cytochrome c-dependent reductase activity were $19.97\pm 2.86\mu M$ and $1303.5\pm 67.1 nmol\cdot min^{-1}\cdot mg protein^{-1}$. The reductase activities were also compared with those of rat, porcine and human liver microsomes. The activity of pCW/ 1A1OR-expressed E. coli membrane was 15.2-fold higher than that of rat liver microsome. Treatment with benzo(a)pyrene, 7-ethoxyresorufin and $\alpha$-naphthofiavone which are known as specific substrates or inhibitor for human P450 1A1 increased NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity of fusion protein in E. coli membrane dose-dependently. These results demonstrate that the membrane topology of fused enzyme may be important for activity of its NADPH-P450 reductase domain.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.2 s.103
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• pp.97-107
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• 2003

Fish vitellogenin produces in female liver during oogensesis through estradiol cycle, and produces even in male liver by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as alkylphenols. The resulting effects of EDCs lead to the low fecundity of female and the feminization (eg. shrinkage of testis) in male. Especially, the production of vitellogenin in male indicates the environmental contamination of EDCs, resulting in the modulation of gene expression profiles and the monitoring of environmental contamination at specific area. In this paper, we suggest that fish vitellogenin is useful for biomonitoring for environmental contamination and would be substantially useful as a biomarker for a detection of EDCs in aquatic environment.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.180-192
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• 2022

Nuclear receptor coactivator 6 (NCOA6) is a transcriptional coactivator of nuclear receptors and other transcription factors. A general Ncoa6 knockout mouse was previously shown to be embryonic lethal, but we here generated liver-specific Ncoa6 knockout (Ncoa6 LKO) mice to investigate the metabolic function of NCOA6 in the liver. These Ncoa6 LKO mice exhibited similar blood glucose and insulin levels to wild type but showed improvements in glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and pyruvate tolerance. The decrease in glucose production from pyruvate in these LKO mice was consistent with the abrogation of the fasting-stimulated induction of gluconeogenic genes, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (Pck1) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6pc). The forskolin-stimulated inductions of Pck1 and G6pc were also dramatically reduced in primary hepatocytes isolated from Ncoa6 LKO mice, whereas the expression levels of other gluconeogenic gene regulators, including cAMP response element binding protein (Creb), forkhead box protein O1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α, were unaltered in the LKO mouse livers. CREB phosphorylation via fasting or forskolin stimulation was normal in the livers and primary hepatocytes of the LKO mice. Notably, it was observed that CREB interacts with NCOA6. The transcriptional activity of CREB was found to be enhanced by NCOA6 in the context of Pck1 and G6pc promoters. NCOA6-dependent augmentation was abolished in cAMP response element (CRE) mutant promoters of the Pck1 and G6pc genes. Our present results suggest that NCOA6 regulates hepatic gluconeogenesis by modulating glucagon/cAMP-dependent gluconeogenic gene transcription through an interaction with CREB.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.281-286
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• 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major health burden, and though various treatments through much research are available, difficulties in early diagnosis and drug resistance to chemotherapy-based treatments render several ineffective. Cancer stem cell model has been used to explain formation of heterogeneous cell population within tumor mass, which is one of the underlying causes of high recurrence rate and acquired chemoresistance, highlighting the importance of CSC identification and understanding the molecular mechanisms of CSC drivers. Extracellular CSC-markers such as CD133, CD90 and EpCAM have been used successfully in CSC isolation, but studies have indicated that increasingly complex combinations are required for accurate identification. Pseudogene-derived long non-coding RNAs are useful candidates as intracellular CSC markers - factors that regulate pluripotency and self-renewal - given their cancer-specific expression and versatile regulation across several levels. Here, we present the use of microarray data to identify stemness-associated factors in liver cancer, and selection of sole pseudogene-derived lncRNA ZNF204P for experimental validation. ZNF204P knockdown impairs cell proliferation and migration/invasion. As the cytosolic ZNF204P shares miRNA binding sites with OCT4 and SOX2, well-known drivers of pluripotency and self-renewal, we propose that ZNF204P promotes tumorigenesis through the miRNA-145-5p/OCT4, SOX2 axis.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1590-1599
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• 2021

Objective: This study investigates the expression patterns of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and intracellular mediators in horse muscle cells after exercise, and the relationship between TLRS expression in stressed horse muscle cells and immune cell migration toward them. Methods: The expression patterns of the TLRs (TLR2, TLR4, and TLR8) and downstream signaling pathway-related genes (myeloid differentiation primary response 88 [MYD88]; activating transcription factor 3 [ATF3]) are examined in horse tissues, and horse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and muscles in response to exercise, using the quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Expressions of chemokine receptor genes, i.e., C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) and C-C motif chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5), are studied in PBMCs and PMNs. A horse muscle cell line is developed by transfecting SV-T antigen into fetal muscle cells, followed by examination of muscle-specific genes. Horse muscle cells are treated with stressors, i.e., cortisol, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and heat, to mimic stress conditions in vitro, and the expression of TLR4 and TLR8 are examined in stressed muscle cells, in addition to migration activity of PBMCs toward stressed muscle cells. Results: The qPCR revealed that TLR4 message was expressed in cerebrum, cerebellum, thymus, lung, liver, kidney, and muscle, whereas TLR8 expressed in thymus, lung, and kidney, while TLR2 expressed in thymus, lung, and kidney. Expressions of TLRs, i.e., TLR4 and TLR8, and mediators, i.e., MYD88 and ATF3, were upregulated in muscle, PBMCs and PMNs in response to exercise. Expressions of CXCR2 and CCR5 were also upregulated in PBMCs and PMNs after exercise. In the muscle cell line, TLR4 and TLR8 expressions were upregulated when cells were treated with stressors such as cortisol, H₂O₂, and heat. Migration of PBMCs toward stressed muscle cells was increased by exercise and oxidative stresses, and combinations of these. Treatment with methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), an antioxidant on stressed muscle cells, reduced migration of PBMCs toward stressed muscle cells. Conclusion: In this study, we have successfully cultured horse skeletal muscle cells, isolated horse PBMCs, and established an in vitro system for studying stress-related gene expressions and function. Expression of TLR4, TLR8, CXCR2, and CCR5 in horse muscle cells was higher in response to stressors such as cortisol, H₂O₂, and heat, or combinations of these. In addition, migration of PBMCs toward muscle cells was increased when muscle cells were under stress, but inhibition of reactive oxygen species by MSM modulated migratory activity of PBMCs to stressed muscle cells. Further study is necessary to investigate the biological function(s) of the TLR gene family in horse muscle cells.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2004

In mammalian, cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) is very important for metabolism of xenobiotics such as PAHs(Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) and heterocyclic amine, and it is induced by environmental contaminants such as PAHs, TCDD(2,3,7,8-tetrchlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) and 3-MC (3-methylcholanthrene). In fish, like mammalian, when it is exposed to environmental contaminants, they cause specific and sensitive induction of CYP1A. Therefore, induction of CYP1A in fish and mammalian is widely used as a biomarker for exposure of environmental contaminants. In this study, to compare the function of Cyp1a1 in fish with it in mammalian, we have used rainbow trout(Oncorhynchys mykiss) hepatoma cells (RTH-149) and mouse hepatocyte (Hepa-I). in order to examine induction of Cyp1a1 by TCDD, we have used the bioassay system. We examined effects of TCDD on the Cyp1a1-luciferase reporter gene activity, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase(EROD) activity and Cypa mRNA level.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.178-178
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• 1996

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the serious problems in Southeast Asia including Korea because it causes chronic hepatitis, which can easily be transformed In fatal conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatoma. Even though lots of informations on structural characteristics and gene expression mechanisms have been accumulated, the mechanism for HBV-induced hepatocellular injury which is believed to be the consequences of the immunological response is not well understood. In order tn perform immunopathological studies for prevention and treatment of HBV infection, we designed transgenic mice as a disease model which can mimic HBV infection, In this study, a promoter-HBV DNA fragment for the preparation of HBV transgenic mice has been constructed. To add a proper enzyme site on 5' end of HBV gene, total HBV (subtype adr) gene was inserted into BamHI site of pBluescript SK vector and reextracted by PstI-SacI treatment A liver-specific promoter, rat ${\alpha}$ 2u globulin gene promoter, was insrted to pBluescript SK vector and reextracted by BamHI-PstI treatment, Promoter-HBV DNA was constructed by ligation of two fragments using identical PstI sites. For large scale production of promoter-HBV DNA, it was inserted to BamHI-SacI site of pBluescript SK vector.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.58-63
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• 1993

In order to elucidate the alteration of drug-metabolizing enzymes and mechanism in the animal with hepatic injury and ketosis, the regulation of P450IIE was studied in the rats with heaptic injury caused by CCl$_4$ and with ketosis caused by streptozotocin and high-fat diet. P450IIE expression in liver was examined by the combination of enzyme activities, Western immunoblot, and mRNA Northern blot analyses using specific polyclonal antibody and cDNA probe for P450IIE. Enzyme activity and amounts of immunoreactive P450IIE were rapidly decreased in a time-dependent manner after a single dose of CCl$_4$ . However, the decreases in P450IIE enzyme activity and immunoreactive protein by CCl$_4$ were not accompanied by a decline in its mRNA level. The data thus suggested a post-translational reduction of P450IIE by CCl$_4$. The enzyme activities (aniline hydroxylase) in hepatic microsomes were elevated about 2-3-fold by streptozotocin and feeding with a high fat diet. This increases in enzyme activities were also accompanied by 3-fold increases in immunoreactive P450IIE protein and its mRNA. Our data thus indicated that P450IIE induction during the ketosis appears to be due to pretranslational activation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2012

Previous study showed that swimming improved obesity but was not through $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation in liver and skeletal muscle in high fat diet-fed female mice with functioning ovaries as an animal model of obese premenopausal women. Thus, this study was aimed at investigation of the effects of swimming on the promotion of health and its molecular mechanism in adipose tissue of high fat diet-fed female mice. Eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups (a non-swim control group and a swim group, n=8/group). Mice in the swim group swam for 2 h daily for 6 weeks in water bath with temperature of $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. All the animals received high fat diet (45% kcal fat) for 6 weeks. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to elucidate the molecular mechanism. Female mice subjected to swimming had significantly decreased body weight gain and white adipose tissue mass compared with the female control mice. Histological studies illustrated that swimming decreases the hepatic lipid accumulation. As expected, swimming did not affect the expression of mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ${\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes responsible for mitochondrial fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, such as carnitine palmitoyltransgerase-1 and medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase in the white adipose tissue. However, mice that underwent 6-weeks of swimming exercise had decreased the mRNA expression of lipogenic genes, such as sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1C and fatty acid synthase in comparison to sedentary control mice, with decreased $PPAR{\gamma}$ target genes involved in adipocyte-specific marker genes, such as adipocyte fatty acid binding protein and leptin in the white adipose tissue. These results suggest that swimming can effectively prevent obesity induced by high fat diet-fed, in part through down-regulation of adipogenesis and lipogenesis in white adipose tissue of female obese mice. Moreover, these results suggest that swimming maybe contributing the promotion of health through regulation of adipogenesis and lipogenesis in overweight premenopausal women.