• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

Biodevices composed of biomolecular layer by mimicking the natural functions of cells and the interaction mechanisms of the constituted biomolecules have been developed in various industrial fields such as medical diagnosis, drug screening, electronic device, bioprocess, and environmental pollution detection. To construct biodevices such as bioelectronic devices (biomolecular diode, bio-information storage device and bioelectroluminescence device), protein chip, DNA chip, and cell chip, biomolecules including DNA, protein, and cells have been used. Fusion technology consisting of immobilization technology of biomolecules, micro/nano-scale patterning, detection technology, and MEMs technology has been used to construct the biodevices. Recently, nanotechnology has been applied to construct nano-biodevices. In this paper, the current technology status of biodevice including its fabrication technology and applications is described and the future development direction is proposed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.154-162
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• 2018

Objective: The fallopian tubes play a critical role in the early events of fertilization. The rapid innate immune defense is an important part of the fallopian tubes. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), as a part of the innate immune system, plays an important role in detecting viral infections. In this basic and experimental study, the effect of sex hormones on the function of TLR3 in the OE-E6/E7 cell line was investigated. Methods: The functionality of TLR3 in this cell line was evaluated by cytokine measurements (interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-1b) and the effects of sex hormones on TLR3 were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Additionally, TLR3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and a TLR3 function-blocking antibody were used to confirm our findings. Results: The production of IL-6 significantly increased in the presence of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) as the TLR3 ligand. Using a TLR3-siRNA-ransfected OE-E6/E7 cell line and function-blocking antibody confirmed that cytokine production was due to TLR3. In addition, 17-${\beta}$ estradiol and progesterone suppressed the production of IL-6 in the presence and absence of poly(I:C). Conclusion: These results imply that sex hormones exerted a suppressive effect on the function of TLR3 in the fallopian tube cell line when different concentrations of sex hormones were present. The current results also suggest that estrogen receptor beta and nuclear progesterone receptor B are likely to mediate the hormonal regulation of TLR3, as these two receptors are the main estrogen and progesterone receptors in OEE6/E7 cell line.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.32-47
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) characterized by an enlarged prostate gland is common in elderly men. Corni Fructus (CF) and Schisandrae Fructus (SF) are known to have various pharmacological effects, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory efficacy of CF, SF, and their mixture (MIX) on the development of BPH using an in vivo model of testosterone-induced BPH. MATERIALS/METHODS: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups. To induce BPH, testosterone propionate (TP) was injected to rats except for those in the control group. Finasteride, saw palmetto (SP), CF, SF, and MIX were orally administered along with TP injection. At the end of treatment, histological changes in the prostate and the level of various biomarkers related to BPH were evaluated. RESULTS: Our results showed that BPH induced by TP led to prostate weight and histological changes. Treatment with MIX effectively improved TP-induced BPH by reducing prostate index, lumen area, epithelial thickness, and expression of BPH biomarkers such as 5α-reductase type 2, prostate-specific antigen, androgen receptor, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen compared to treatment with CF or SF alone. Moreover, MIX further reduced levels of elevated serum testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and prostate-specific antigen in BPH compared to the SP, a positive control. BPH was also improved more by MIX than by CF or SF alone. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, MIX is a potential natural therapeutic candidate for BPH by regulating 5α-reductase and AR signaling pathway.

• Korean Journal of Crystallography
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2004

Three crystal structures of dehydrated partially $Co^{2+}-exchanged$ zeolite A treated with 0.6 Torr of K at $300^{\circ}C$ (for 12 hrs, 6 hrs, and 2 hrs) vapor have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Pm3m at 21(1)$^{\circ}C(a=12.181(1)\;{\AA},\;a=12.184(1)\;{\AA},\;and\;a=12.215(1)\;{\AA})\;respectively)$. Their structures were refined to the final error indices, R(weight) of 0.090 with 10 reflections, 0.091 with 82 reflections, and 0.090 with 80 reflections, respectively, for which $1>\sigma(I)$. In each structure, all four $Co^{2+}$ and four $Na^+$ ions to be reduced by K atoms. The cobalt and sodium atoms produced are no longer found in the zeolite. K species are found at five different crystallographic sites: three $K^+$ ions lie at the planes of 8-rings, filling that position, ca. 11.5 K^+$ ions lie on threefold axes, ca. 4.0 in the large cavity and ca. 4.0 in the sodalite cavity, and ca. 0.5 $K^+$ ion is found near a 4-ring. ca. three $K^0$ atoms are found deep into the large cavity on threefold axes. In these structures, crystallographic results show that cationic tetrahedral $K_4$ (and/or triangular $K_3$) clusters have formed in the sodalites of zeolite A. The $K_4$ and/or $K_3$ clusters coordinate trigonally to three oxygens of a six-oxygen ring. The partially reduced ions of these clusters interact primarily with oxygen atoms of the zeolite structure rather than with each other. ca. 14.5K species are found per unit cell, more than the twelve $K^+$ ions needed to balance the anionic charge of zeolite framework, indicating that sorption of $K^0$ has occurred. The three $K^0$ atoms in the large cavity are closely associated with three out of four $K^+$ ions in the large cavity to form $K_7^{4+}$ clusters. The $K_7^{4+}$ cluster not interacts primarily with framework oxygens.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.106-112
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• 2020

Aminoacyl tRNA synthetase complex interacting multifunctional protein 2 (AIMP2) is a scaffolding protein required for the assembly of multi-tRNA synthetase, and it can exert pro-apoptotic activity in response to DNA damage. In the presence of DNA damage, AIMP2 binds to mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) to protect p53 from MDM2 attack. TGF-β signaling results in the nuclear translocation of AIMP2, whereby AIMP2 interacts with FUSE-binding protein, and, thus, suppresses c-myc. TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) is an important mediator between TNF-receptors 1 and 2 which are involved in the signaling of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). TRAF2 is required for the activations of JNK and NF-κB via TNF-α and the mediation of anti-apoptosis signaling. AIMP2 can also enhance pro-apoptosis in the TNF-α signaling. During this signaling, AIMP2 assists the association of E3 ubiquitin ligase, the cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (c-IAP1) which is well known and responsible for the degradation of TRAF2. The formation of a complex among AIMP2, TRAF2, and c-IAP1 results in proteasome-mediated TRAF2 degradation. AIMP2 can induce apoptosis via downregulation of TRAF2 to interact directly in TNF-α signaling. This review provides new insight into the molecular mechanism responsible for AIMP2 and TRAF2 complex formation and treatments for TNFα-associated diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1018-1023
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• 2012

Snail is a zinc finger transcription factor that induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which promotes tumor invasion and metastasis by repressing E-cadherin expression. In addition, Snail restricts the cellular apoptotic response to apoptotic stimuli or survival factor withdrawal; however, its molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we have investigated the mechanism underlying Snail-mediated chemoresistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), one of the most widely used anti-cancer drugs. When Snail was overexpressed by doxycycline (DOX) in MCF-7 #5 cells, it inhibited 5-FU-induced apoptotic cell death and switched the cell death mode to necrosis. Snail expression, either by DOX treatment in MCF-7 #5 cells or by the transfection of Snail expression vectors pCR3.1-Snail-Flg, phosphorylation-resistant pCR3.1-S104, and 107A Snail-Flg in MCF-7 cells specifically induced PTEN down-regulation/inactivation and Akt/PKB activation, without affecting ERK1/2 activity. In addition, Snail prominently suppressed 5-FU-induced increases in p53 levels. These findings demonstrate that Snail switches 5-FU-induced apoptosis to necrosis through the activation of Akt/PKB and the down-regulation of p53 levels.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.970-977
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• 2013

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an essential role in embryogenesis and is involved in tumor metastasis and invasion; it significantly contributes to tumor progression and aggressiveness. The EMT is characterized by a loss of epithelial cell polarity as a result of the reduced expression of epithelial E-cadherin, a hallmark of the EMT, and the acquisition of mesenchymal-like cell morphology. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as $O_2{^-}$, $H_2O_2$, and $OH^-$ have been demonstrated to induce the EMT; although Snail is involved in ROS-induced EMT by transcriptionally repressing E-cadherin, its mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, we examined the effects of early growth response 1 (Egr-1) overexpression in noninvasive breast tumor cell line MCF-7 cells. Upon Egr-1 overexpression, MCF-7 cells lost epithelial cell polarity and became more spindle-shaped, indicating that Egr-1 may induce EMT. We found that Snail is implicated in Egr-1 induced EMT. We further demonstrate that the Egr-1-Snail axis is activated by ROS and plays a critical role(s) in ROS-induced EMT.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.651-656
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• 2006

Activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ is known to be a trigger of various cellular disorders including inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Numerous approaches are ongoing within laboratories to identify potential therapeutic agents which inhibit the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. In this study, we have tested the inhibitory effects of five traditional medicines on the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ by NIK. Among three medicines which exhibited inhibitory effect on the expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ repoter plasmid, we investigated further the inhibitory mechanism of Dichroa febrifuga in connection with IKKY activity. Wild type $IKK{\gamma}$ inhibited the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation by NIK but the C-terminal deletion mutant of IKKY did not show the inhibitory effect, indicating that the C-terminal leucine zipper domain of $NF-{\kappa}B$ is important for the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. The water extract of Dichroa febrifuga(DFE) also strongly inhibited the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation by NIK. The inhibitory activity of DFE appeared to be independent of the expression of $IKK{\gamma}$, suggesting that the pathways of inhibition by Dichroa febrifuga and $IKK{\gamma}$ are different. Our results suggest that Dichroa febrifuga can be used as a medicine for inhibition of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in a wide range of cells without relation to the expression of $IKK{\gamma}$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1145-1151
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• 2012

Aspirin and its deacetylated form, sodium salicylate (NaSal), have been shown to exert chemopreventive activities against many human cancers including those of the colon, lung, and breast. Previously, we showed that combined treatment of NaSal and genistein synergistically induced apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells, indicating that these two natural chemicals could be used in combination for cancer therapy. In this study, we examined effects of NaSal/genistein combined treatment on other cancer cells and in three-dimensional multicellular tumor spheroid (MTS) and in an in vitro solid tumor model. We found that the combined treatment induces apoptosis in the HCT116 cells and the A549 cells, but not in the MCF-7 cells. Interestingly, the MCF-7 cells responded to the NaSal/genistein combined treatment by undergoing cell death when they were cultivated as MTS. The combined treatment induced apoptosis at an earlier stage in the MCF-7 MTS culture. However, when the MCF-7 MTS was cultivated for a longer period, it induced necrosis rather than apoptosis. We further found that the apoptotic pattern observed in MCF-7 MTS was incomplete: the chromatins were condensed and fragmented, but the nuclear membrane was still intact. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the NaSal/genistein combined treatment induces incomplete apoptosis and necrosis in the MCF-7 MTS culture system.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.953-960
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• 2011

Necrosis is characterized by the cell membrane rupture and release of the cellular contents, including high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), into the extracellular microenvironment. HMGB1 acts as a transcriptional regulator in nuclei, but exerts a pro-inflammatory and tumor-promoting cytokine activity when released into the extracellular space. Its overexpression is associated with tumor progression and chemoresistance. Thus, HMGB1 acts as a clinically important molecule in tumor biology. In this study, we examined whether HMGB1 affects cell death induced by anti-cancer drugs. Here we show that HMGB1 prevented cisplatin (alkylating agent)-induced apoptosis and switched the cell fate to necrosis in MCF-7, MDA-MB231, and MDA-MB361 cells. Similar apoptosis-to-necrosis switch effects of HMGB1 were observed in cells treated with 4-HC, another alkylating agent. In contrast, HMGB1 did not exert any significant effects on docetaxel (DOC)-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. We also show that cisplatin-induced apoptosis was switched to necrosis in MCF-7 multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) that were cultured for 8 days and had necrotic cores, but DOC-induced apoptosis was prevented without the apoptosis-to-necrosis switch. Finally, the levels of RAGE, a receptor of HMGB1, were increased with extended culture of MTS. These findings demonstrate that HMGB1 switches alkylating agent-induced apoptosis to necrosis, suggesting that the strategy to prevent necrosis occurring as an undesirable action of alkylating agent-based chemotherapy should be delineated to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for cancer.