• Animal Bioscience
• /
• 제36권9호
• /
• pp.1336-1349
• /
• 2023

Objective: The study was conducted to screen differentially expressed miRNAs in sows at early pregnancy by high-throughput sequencing and explore its mechanism of action on embryo implantation. Methods: The blood serum of pregnant and non-pregnant Landrace×Yorkshire sows were collected 14 days after artificial insemination, and exosomal miRNAs were purified for high throughput miRNA sequencing. The expression patterns of 10 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR quantified the abundance of serum exosomal miR-192 in pregnant and control sows, and the diagnostic power was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The target genes of DE miRNAs were predicted with bioinformatics software, and the functional and pathway enrichment analysis was performed on gene ontology and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes terms. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter system was used to identify the target relation between miR-192 and integrin alpha 4 (ITGA4), a gene influencing embryo implantation in pigs. Finally, the expression levels of miRNAs and the target gene ITGA4 were analyzed by qRT-PCR, and western blot, with the proliferation of BeWo cells detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Results: A total of 221 known miRNAs were detected in the libraries of the pregnant and non-pregnant sows, of which 55 were up-regulated and 67 were down-regulated in the pregnant individuals compared with the non-pregnant controls. From these, the expression patterns of 10 DE miRNAs were validated. The qRT-PCR analysis further confirmed a significantly higher expression of miR-192 in the serum exosomes extracted from pregnant sows, when compared to controls. The ROC analysis revealed that miR-192 provided excellent diagnostic accuracy for pregnancy (area under the ROC curve [AUC]=0.843; p>0.001). The dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-192 directly targeted ITGA4. The protein expression of ITGA4 was reduced in cells that overexpressed miR-192. Overexpression of miR-192 resulted in the decreased proliferation of BeWo cells and regulated the expression of cell cycle-related genes. Conclusion: Serum exosomal miR-192 could serve as a potential biomarker for early pregnancy in pigs. miR-192 targeted ITGA4 gene directly, and miR-192 can regulate cellular proliferation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제32권7호
• /
• pp.922-929
• /
• 2019

Objective: Mutations in low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which encodes a critical protein for cholesterol homeostasis and lipid metabolism in mammals, are involved in cardiometabolic diseases, such as familial hypercholesterolemia in pigs. Whereas microRNAs (miRNAs) can control LDLR regulation, their involvement in circulating cholesterol and lipid levels with respect to cardiometabolic diseases in pigs is unclear. We aimed to identify and analyze LDLR as a potential target gene of SSC-miR-20a. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis predicted that porcine LDLR is a target of SSC-miR-20a. Wild-type and mutant LDLR 3'-untranslated region (UTR) fragments were generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into the pGL3-Control vector to construct pGL3 Control LDLR wild-3'-UTR and pGL3 Control LDLR mutant-3'-UTR recombinant plasmids, respectively. An miR-20a expression plasmid was constructed by inserting the porcine premiR-20a-coding sequence between the HindIII and BamHI sites in pMR-mCherry, and constructs were confirmed by sequencing. HEK293T cells were co-transfected with the miR-20a expression or pMR-mCherry control plasmids and constructs harboring the corresponding 3'-UTR, and relative luciferase activity was determined. The relative expression levels of miR-20a and LDLR mRNA and their correlation in terms of expression levels in porcine liver tissue were analyzed using reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. Results: Gel electrophoresis and sequencing showed that target gene fragments were successfully cloned, and the three recombinant vectors were successfully constructed. Compared to pMR-mCherry, the miR-20a expression vector significantly inhibited wild-type LDLR3'-UTR-driven (p<0.01), but not mutant LDLR-3'-UTR-driven (p>0.05), luciferase reporter activity. Further, miR-20a and LDLR were expressed at relatively high levels in porcine liver tissues. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that porcine liver miR-20a and LDLR levels were significantly negatively correlated (r = -0.656, p<0.05). Conclusion: LDLR is a potential target of miR-20a, which might directly bind the LDLR 3'-UTR to post-transcriptionally inhibit expression. These results have implications in understanding the pathogenesis and progression of porcine cardiovascular diseases.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제29권3호
• /
• pp.413-418
• /
• 2016

Myostatin (MSTN) is a secreted growth factor expressed in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue that negatively regulates skeletal muscle mass. Gene knockout of MSTN can result in increasing muscle mass in sheep. The objectives were to investigate whether myostatin gene can be edited in sheep by transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) in tandem with single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides (ssODNs). We designed a pair of TALENs to target a highly conserved sequence in the coding region of the sheep MSTN gene. The activity of the TALENs was verified by using luciferase single-strand annealing reporter assay in HEK 293T cell line. Co-transfection of TALENs and ssODNs oligonucleotides induced precise gene editing of myostatin gene in sheep primary fibroblasts. MSTN gene-edited cells were successfully used as nuclear donors for generating cloned embryos. TALENs combined with ssDNA oligonucleotides provide a useful approach for precise gene modification in livestock animals.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.171-180
• /
• 2001

목적 : Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)는 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)에 작용하여 암세포의 침윤과 전이를 억제하고 염증, angiogenesis, fibrosis에 중요한 역할을 한다. TIMP 유전자는 여러 cytokine 및 signal molecule에 의하여 조절되는 유전자이므로 방사선에 의한 TIMP의 발현을 측정하고 전사 조절 기전을 연구하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 두경부암 환자의 병변에서 유도하여 확립한 두경부암 세포주를 이용하여 방사선에 의한 TIMP 유전자 발현을 측정하였다. 각 세포주의 방사선 민감도를 측정하고 transwell을 이용한 invasion assay로 전이성을 측정하였다. TIMP1, TIMP2 발현은 conditioned medium을 취해 ELISA assay로 측정하였다. 방사선조사는 2 Gy, 10 Gy 군으로 나누어 관찰했고 조사 후 시간 간격은 24, 48시간이었다. MTT assay로 생존세포 수를 측정하여 방사선 세포치사로 인한 발현 변화를 보정하였다. hTIMP1 promoter region을 PCR하여 pGL2-basic luciferase reporter vector에 cloning하여 인간 두경부암 세포주에 이입하여 functional TIMP1 발현이 증가하는지 확인하였고 protein kinase C (PKC) activator인 PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate)와 Ras에 의한 TIMP1 발현이 유도되는지 확인하였다. 결과 : HN-1, HN-2, HN-3, HN-5, HN골 세포주의 $D_0$는 각각 1.55 Gy, 1.8 Gy, 1.5 Gy, 1.55 Gy, 2.45 Gy 이었다. 각 세포주의 방사선조사 후 MTT assay에 의한 cell viability는 24, 48시간에서 2 Gy인 경우 모두 $94\%$ 이상 그리고 10 Gy에서는 $73\%$ 이상의 생존 세포를 확인하였다. TIMP1, TIMP2 단백의 basal 농도는 24시간 48시간에서 점점 증가하여 세포에서 계속 합성되어 분비되고 있음을 확인하였다. 2 Gy 조사 후 24시간에서 TIMP2는 HN-1, HN-9 세포주에서 감소하였으나, 10 Gy 조사 후에는 두 세포주에서 모두 증가하여 방사선량에 따라 반응이 달랐고, 방사선조사 후 48시간에는 HN-9 세포주에서는 증가하나 HN-9 세포주에서는 감소하여 세포주에 따라 반응이 달랐다. 그러나 방사선에 의한 TIMP1 발현 변화는 미미하였다. TIMP1 reporter gene을 인간 두경부암 세포주에 transfection하고 PMA (100 ng/ml)을 가한 경우 HN-1세포주에서는 유의하게 증가하고 HN-9 세포주에서는 감소하였다. Ras 발현 벡터와 co-transfection한 경우 TIMP1 promoter가 활성화 되었다. 결론 : 모두 두경부 암에서 유래된 세포주 이지만 방사선에 의한 TIMP의 발현 및 전사조절 기전은 세포주 마다 차이가 있었고 이온화 방사선의 용량에 따라서, 방사선조사 후의 시간 경과에 따라서도 TIMP 발현에 차이가 있었다. 이 결과는 TIMP의 전사 및 발현이 여러 종류의 signal molecule에 의하여 영향을 받고, 이 signal molecule들이 각 세포주 마다 다르기 때문으로 사료된다.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제40권6호
• /
• pp.426-433
• /
• 2017

Ephrin-A5 has been implicated in the regulation of brain morphogenesis and axon pathfinding. In this study, we used bacterial homologous recombination to express a LacZ reporter in various ephrin-A5 BAC clones to identify elements that regulate ephrin-A5 gene expression during mesencephalon development. We found that there is mesencephalon-specific enhancer activity localized to a specific +25.0 kb to +30.5 kb genomic region in the first intron of ephrin-A5. Further comparative genomic analysis indicated that two evolutionary conserved regions, ECR1 and ECR2, were present within this 5.5 kb region. Deletion of ECR1 from the enhancer resulted in disrupted mesencephalon-specific enhancer activity in transgenic embryos. We also found a consensus binding site for basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) in a highly conserved region at the 3'-end of ECR1. We further demonstrated that specific deletion of the bHLH TF binding site abrogated the mesencephalon-specific enhancer activity in transgenic embryos. Finally, both electrophoretic mobility shift assay and luciferase-based transactivation assay revealed that the transcription factor Ascl1 bound the bHLH consensus binding site in the mesencephalon-specific ephrin-A5 enhancer in vitro. Together, these results suggest that the bHLH TF binding site in ECR1 is involved in the positive regulation of ephrin-A5 gene expression during the development of the mesencephalon.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제41권1호
• /
• pp.43-51
• /
• 2017

Background: BIOGF1K, a compound K-rich fraction prepared from the root of Panax ginseng, is widely used for cosmetic purposes in Korea. We investigated the functional mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities of BIOGF1K by discovering target enzymes through various molecular studies. Methods: We explored the inhibitory mechanisms of BIOGF1K using lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammatory responses, reporter gene assays involving overexpression of toll-like receptor adaptor molecules, and immunoblotting analysis. We used the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay to measure the antioxidative activity. We cotransfected adaptor molecules, including the myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) and Toll/interleukin-receptor domain containing adaptor molecule-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF), to measure the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). Results: BIOGF1K suppressed lipopolysaccharide-triggered NO release in macrophages as well as DPPH-induced electron-donating activity. It also blocked lipopolysaccharide-induced mRNA levels of interferon-${\beta}$ and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Moreover, BIOGF1K diminished the translocation and activation of IRF3 and NF-${\kappa}B$ (p50 and p65). This extract inhibited the upregulation of NF-${\kappa}B$-linked luciferase activity provoked by phorbal-12-myristate-13 acetate as well as MyD88, TRIF, and inhibitor of ${\kappa}B$ ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$) kinase ($IKK{\beta}$), and IRF3-mediated luciferase activity induced by TRIF and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). Finally, BIOGF1K downregulated the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway by blocking $IKK{\beta}$ and the IRF3 pathway by inhibiting TBK1, according to reporter gene assays, immunoblotting analysis, and an AKT/$IKK{\beta}$/TBK1 overexpression strategy. Conclusion: Overall, our data suggest that the suppression of $IKK{\beta}$ and TBK1, which mediate transcriptional regulation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and IRF3, respectively, may contribute to the broad-spectrum inhibitory activity of BIOGF1K.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제40권3호
• /
• pp.202-210
• /
• 2017

The nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) encoded by the human hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome is a multifunctional phosphoprotein. To analyse the influence of NS5A on apoptosis, we established an Hep-NS5A cell line (HepG2 cells that stably express NS5A) and induced apoptosis using tumour necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$. We utilised the MTT assay to detect cell viability, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot to analyse gene and protein expression, and a luciferase reporter gene experiment to investigate the targeted regulatory relationship. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to identify the combination of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and miR-503. We found that overexpression of NS5A inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced hepatocellular apoptosis via regulating miR-503 expression. The cell viability of the $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced Hep-mock cells was significantly less than the viability of the $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced Hep-NS5A cells, which demonstrates that NS5A inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced HepG2 cell apoptosis. Under $TNF-{\alpha}$ treatment, miR-503 expression was decreased and cell viability and B-cell lymphoma 2 (bcl-2) expression were increased in the Hep-NS5A cells. Moreover, the luciferase reporter gene experiment verified that bcl-2 was a direct target of miR-503, NS5A inhibited $TNF{\alpha}$-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and $NF-{\kappa}B$ regulated miR-503 transcription by combining with the miR-503 promoter. After the Hep-NS5A cells were transfected with miR-503 mimics, the data indicated that the mimics could reverse $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced cell apoptosis and blc-2 expression. Collectively, our findings suggest a possible molecular mechanism that may contribute to HCV treatment in which NS5A inhibits $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation to decrease miR-503 expression and increase bcl-2 expression, which leads to a decrease in hepatocellular apoptosis.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제41권10호
• /
• pp.733-738
• /
• 2008

Although previous studies have implicated a role for TC1 (C8orf4) in cancer cell proliferation, the molecular mechanism of its action is still largely unclear. In this study, we showed, for the first time, that the mRNA levels of TC1 were upregulated by mitogens (FBS/thrombin) and at least partially, through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Interestingly, the over-expression of TC1 promoted the $G_1$- to S-phase transition of the cell cycle, which was delayed by the deficiency of ERK1/2 signaling in fibroblast cells. Furthermore, the luciferase reporter assay indicated that the over-expression of TC1 significantly increased Cyclin D1 promoter-driven luciferase activity. Taken together, our findings revealed that TC1 was involved in the mitogen-activated ERK1/2 signaling pathway and positively regulated $G_1$- to S-phase transition of the cell cycle. Our results may provide a novel mechanism of the role of TC1 in the regulation of cell proliferation.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
• /
• 제39권2호
• /
• pp.119-125
• /
• 2011

전국 경작지 토양에서 분리한 저 영양 세균 3,800주를 대상으로 암 억제유전자의 작동과 관여하는 전사인자인 Egr-1의 promoter 활성화를 유도하는 세 균주(SSG5, SSG6, SSG10)가 Egr-1 reporter assay와 western blotting 분석으로 최종 선발되었다. 이들 선발 균주들은 16S rDNA와 상업용 생화학적 키트(API 20NE, API ZYM, ID 32GN) 분석에 의해 모두 Pseudomonas koreensis인 것으로 최종 동정되었다. 이들 균주들은 Egr-1 발현을 유도하는 물질뿐만 아니라 다양한 세균의(B. subtilis, S. aureus, and L. monocytogenes) 성장을 저해하는 항균물질도 생산하는 것을 확인하였다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제29권10호
• /
• pp.1383-1391
• /
• 2016

Bovine embryonic stem cells have potential for use in research, such as transgenic cattle generation and the study of developmental gene regulation. The Nanog may play a critical role in maintenance of the undifferentiated state of embryonic stem cells in the bovine, as in murine and human. Nevertheless, efforts to study the bovine Nanog for pluripotency-maintaining factors have been insufficient. In this study, in order to understand the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of the bovine Nanog, the 5'-flanking region of the Nanog was isolated from ear cells of Hanwoo. Results of transient transfection using a luciferase reporter gene under the control of serially deleted 5'-flanking sequences revealed that the -134 to -19 region contained the positive regulatory sequences for the transcription of the bovine Nanog. Results from mutagenesis studies demonstrated that the Sp1-binding site that is located in the proximal promoter region plays an important role in transcriptional activity of the bovine Nanog promoter. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay with the Sp1 specific antibody confirmed the specific binding of Sp1 transcription factor to this site. In addition, significant inhibition of Nanog promoter activity by the Sp1 mutant was observed in murine embryonic stem cells. Furthermore, chromatin-immunoprecipitation assay with the Sp1 specific antibody confirmed the specific binding of Sp1 transcription factor to this site. These results suggest that Sp1 is an essential regulatory factor for bovine Nanog transcriptional activity.