• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2023

Background: Ca²⁺ signaling plays a vital role in neuronal signaling and altered Ca²⁺ homeostasis in Parkinson's disease (PD). Overexpression of αSYN significantly promote the Ca²⁺-Calmodulin (CaM) activity and subsequent nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factor in dopaminergic neurons of midbrain. However, the exact role of Ca²⁺-CaM and NFAT in PD pathology is yet to be elucidated. Methods: We designed the CaM-NFAT-oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), a synthetic short DNA containing complementary sequence for NFAT transcription factor and CaM mRNA. Then, the effect of CaM-NFAT-ODN on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-mediated neurotoxicity was investigated in mimic PD model in vitro. Results: First, the expression of αSYN and CaM was strongly increased in substantia nigra (SN) of PD and the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was strongly increased in control SN. Additionally, the expression of apoptosis marker proteins was strongly increased in SN of PD. Transfection of CaM-NFAT-ODN repressed CaM and pNFAT, the target genes of this ODN in rat embryo primary mesencephalic neurons. It also reduced ERK phosphorylation, a downstream target of these genes. These results demonstrated that CaM-NFAT-ODN operated successfully in rat embryo primary mesencephalic neurons. Transfection of CaM-NFAT-ODN repressed TH reduction, αSYN accumulation, and apoptosis by MPP⁺-induced neurotoxicity response through Ca²⁺ signaling and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling. Conclusion: Synthetic CaM-NFAT-ODN has substantial therapeutic feasibility for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2013

Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) have therapeutic potential, including the ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple lineages. Understanding of molecular mechanisms of stem cell differentiation is important for improving the therapeutic efficacies of stem cell transplantation. In this study, we determined the role of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT5) in the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs. The down-regulation of NFAT5 expression by the transfection of a specific siRNA significantly inhibited osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs and decreased the activity of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-${\kappa}B$) promoter without affecting their proliferation and adipogenic differentiation. The inhibition of NFAT5 expression inhibited the basal and Tumor Necrosis Factor ${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, but it did not affect TNF-${\alpha}$-induced degradation of the $I{\kappa}B$ protein. These findings indicate that NFAT5 plays an important role in the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs through the modulation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.508-514
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• 2013

2Department of Marine Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University Recently, we reported that diarylheptanoid hirsutenone (HST) effectively inactivated T lymphocytes. However, it has not been evaluated whether HST is involved in calcineurin or calmodulin inactivation. In the present study, cells were treated with T-cell inhibitors with or without HST. Our results revealed that HST successfully inhibited expression of T-helper type I (Th1) and Th2 cytokines. Co-treatment with HST and nuclear factor-activated T cell (NFAT) activation inhibitor III (INCA-6) showed a more sensitive effect than that with other inhibitors, suggesting that HST contributes to inhibition of dephosphorylation of NFAT in the cytosol. HST up-regulated cell cycle arrest genes and inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. These effects were confirmed in an NFAT electrophoretic-mobility shift assay via successful inhibition of NFAT translocation and in the histological recovery in a 2,4-dinitrochloro benzene-induced in vivo model. Taken together, HST was shown to effectively inhibit T-cell activation via inhibition of cytosolic NFAT dephosphorylation, similar to INCA-6.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1345-1349
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• 2005

Six phenolic constituents, 2-methoxybenzyl benzoate (1), negletein (2), 2',3'-dihydroxy-4',6'­dimethoxydihydrochalcone (3), 5,6-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-dihydroflavone (4), astilbin (5), and quercitrin (6) were isolated from the methanol extract of the dried leaves of Desmos chinensis. Their structures were elucidated from spectral and chemical data. Of these constituents, compounds 2 ($IC_{50}$: 3.89 $\pm$ 0.39 $\mu$M) and 3 ($IC_{50}$: 9.77 $\pm$ 0.26 $\mu$M) exhibited potent inhibitory activity against nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factor, and compound 1 ($IC_{50}$: 28.4 $\pm$ 2.62 $\mu$M) exhibited moderate inhibitory activity.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2007

Receptor activator of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL) induces osteoclast formation from hematopoietic cells via up-regulation of positive regulators, including $NF-{\kappa}B$, c-Fos, microphthalmia transcription factor (Mitf), PU.1, and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) c1. In addition to the positive regulation by these transcription factors, RANKL appears to regulate negative regulators such as MafB and inhibitors of differentiation (Ids). Ids and MafB are abundantly expressed in osteoclast precursors, bone marrowderived monocyte/macrophage lineage cells (BMMs). Expression levels of these genes are significantly reduced by RANKL during osteoclastogenesis. Overexpression of these genes in BMMs inhibits the formation of tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinuclear osteoclasts by down-regulation of NFATc1 and osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), which are important for osteoclast differentiation. Furthermore, reduced expression of these genes enhances osteoclastogenesis and increases expression of NFATc1 and OSCAR. Taken together, RANKL induces osteoclastogenesis via up-regulation of positive regulators as well as down-regulation of negative regulators.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.499-505
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• 2014

Immunosuppressors cyclosporine A(CsA) and tacrolimus(FK506), the primary cellular target of which is calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cells(NFAT) signalling pathways, decrease beta-cell insulin content and mRNA expression. The posttransplantation diabetes mellitus(PTDM) is a frequent complication in immunosuppressive therapy. The present study was to examine the effect of a crude water extracts of medicinal herbs such as Sanguisorba officinalis(SOE) on the immunosuppressive activity with lymphocyte and insulin secretion in insulinoma cell lines with RIN-5mF. It was found that SOE treatment had effect of immunosuppressor on lymphocytes and also significantly increased insulin secretion in RIN-5mF compared to other agents. we might suggest a mechanism on insulin secretion by HNF4a. Taken together, the present study suggested that SOE might serve as immunosuppressive drug in PTDM.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.488-494
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• 2015

A recent report showed that nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFATc) 1 is a member of the NFAT family and is strictly implicated osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Furthermore, the precise expression and function of NFATc1 in periodontal tissue remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the function of NFATc1 in osteoblastic differentiation, and the underlying mechanism regulating periodontal regeneration in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs). NFATc1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels were accessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot assay, respectively. Cell proliferation determined using MTT assay. Differentiation was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase activity and formation of calcium nodule with alizarin red S staining. The mRNA expression of osteoblastic differentiation related genes were examined by RT-PCR. Marked upregulation of NFATc1 mRNA and protein was observed in cells grown in osteogenic medium (OS). NFATc1 transactivation was detected in hPDLCs that had been incubated in OS for 14 days. Treatment with $10{\mu}M$ cyclosporine A (CsA), a known calcineurin inhibitor, reduced the proliferation of hPDLCs, while $5{\mu}M$ CsA had no effect. Inhibition of the calcineurin/NFATc1 pathway by CsA, attenuated OS-induced osteoblastic differentiation in hPDLCs. In summary, this study demonstrates for the first time that NFATc1 plays a key role in osteoblastic differentiation of hPDLCs and activation of NFATc1 could provide a novel mechanism for periodontal bone regeneration.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.281-286
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• 2012

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that are formed by the fusion of pre-fusion osteoclasts (pOCs). The fusion of pOCs is known to be important for osteoclastic bone resorption. Here, we examined the effect of IFN-${\gamma}$ on the fusion of pOCs. IFN-${\gamma}$ greatly increased the fusion of pOCs in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, IFN-${\gamma}$ induced pOC fusion even in hydroxyapatite-coated plates used as a substitute for bone. The resorption area of pOCs stimulated with IFN-${\gamma}$ was significantly higher than that of the control cells. IFN-${\gamma}$ induced the expression of dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP), which is responsible for the fusion of pOCs. IFN-${\gamma}$ enhanced DC-STAMP expression in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) c1 was enhanced in the pOCs treated with IFN-${\gamma}$. Taken together, these results provide a new insight into the novel role of IFN-${\gamma}$ on the fusion of pOCs.