• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.17-24
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• 2014

Gastric cancer is highly invasive, aggressively malignant, and amongst the most prevalent of all forms of cancer. Despite improved management strategies, early stage diagnosis of gastric cancer and accurate prognostic assessment is still lacking. Several recent reports have indicated that the pathogenesis of gastric cancer involves complex molecular mechanisms and multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Functional inactivation of the tumor suppressor protein PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog) has been detected in multiple cases of gastric cancer, and already shown to be closely linked to the development, progression and prognosis of the disease. Inactivation of PTEN can be attributed to gene mutation, loss of heterozygosity, promoter hypermethylation, microRNA- mediated regulation of gene expression, and post-translational phosphorylation. PTEN is also involved in mechanisms regulating tumor resistance to chemotherapy. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of PTEN and its roles in gastric cancer, and emphasizes its potential benefits in early diagnosis and gene therapy-based treatment strategies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권15호
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• pp.6243-6246
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• 2014

To investigate the role of miR-1297 and the tumor suppressor gene PTEN in cell proliferation of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). MTT assays were used to test the effect of miR-1297 on proliferation of the NCCIT testicular germ cell tumor cell line. In NCCIT cells, the expression of PTEN was assessed by Western blotting further. In order to confirm target association between miR-1297 and 3'-UTR of PTEN, a luciferase reporter activity assay was employed. Moreover, roles of PTEN in proliferation of NCCIT cells were evaluated by transfection of PTEN siRNA. Proliferation of NCCIT cells was promoted by miR-1297 in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, miR-1297 could bind to the 3'-UTR of PTEN based on luciferase reporter activity assay, and reduced expression of PTEN at protein level was found. Proliferation of NCCIT cells was significantly enhanced after knockdown of PTEN by siRNA. miR-1297 as a potential oncogene could induce cell proliferation by targeting PTEN in NCCIT cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제44권8호
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• pp.613-622
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• 2021

In vertebrate eyes, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) provides structural and functional homeostasis to the retina. The RPE takes up retinol (ROL) to be dehydrogenated and isomerized to 11-cis-retinaldehyde (11-cis-RAL), which is a functional photopigment in mammalian photoreceptors. As excessive ROL is toxic, the RPE must also establish mechanisms to protect against ROL toxicity. Here, we found that the levels of retinol dehydrogenases (RDHs) are commonly decreased in phosphatase tensin homolog (Pten)-deficient mouse RPE, which degenerates due to elevated ROL and that can be rescued by feeding a ROL-free diet. We also identified that RDH gene expression is regulated by forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors, which are inactivated by hyperactive Akt in the Pten-deficient mouse RPE. Together, our findings suggest that a homeostatic pathway comprising PTEN, FOXO, and RDH can protect the RPE from ROL toxicity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.17-20
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• 2004

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) is a dual specific phosphatase antagonizing phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity, and has first been cloned as a tumor suppressor for glioma. Although the role of PTEN as a tumor suppressor has been well studied, little is known about signaling mechanisms regulating expression and/or activity of PTEN in the central nervous system. In this study, we investigated whether PTEN expression is regulated by sensory deprivation. P5 rat pups were unilaterally naris-closed, and olfactory bulbs were immunohistochemically analyzed with PTEN antibody at the $7^{th}$ day after naris closure. PTEN immunoreactivity was found to be down-regulated in both glomerular, external plexiform and subependymal cell layers, suggesting that odor deprivation signals down-regulate expression of PTEN in the olfactory bulb. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to suggest that PTEN expression is regulated by sensory deprivation signals in neonatal rats.

• BMB Reports
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• 제46권10호
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• pp.490-494
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• 2013

The phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a tumor-suppressing lipid phosphatase that is frequently absent in breast tumors. Thus, the stability of PTEN is essential for tumor prevention and therapy. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway has an important role in regulating the functions of PTEN. Specifically, carboxyl terminus Hsp70-interacting protein (CHIP), the E3 ubiquitin ligase of PTEN, can regulate PTEN levels. In this study, we report that BCL-2-associated athanogene 5 (BAG5), a known inhibitor of CHIP activity, reduces the degradation of PTEN and maintains its levels via an ubiquitylation-dependent pathway. BAG5 is identified as an antagonist of cell tumorigenicity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.10-14
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• 2012

The ovarian follicles develop initially from primordial follicles. The majority of ovarian primordial follicles are maintained quiescently as a reserve for the reproductive life span. Only a few of them are activated and develop to an advanced follicular stage. The maintenance of dormancy and activation of primordial follicles are controlled by coordinated actions of a suppressor/activator with close communications with somatic cells and intra-oocyte signaling pathways. Many growth factors and signaling pathways have been identified and the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily plays important roles in early folliculogenesis. However, the mechanism of maintaining the dormancy and survival of primordial follicles has remained unknown for decades. Recently, since the first finding that all primordial follicles are activated prematurely in mice deficient forkhead box O3a, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) signaling pathway was reported to be important in the regulation of dormancy and initial follicular activation. With these informations on early folliculogenesis, clinical application can be expected such as in vitro maturation of immature oocytes or in vitro activation of follicles by PTEN inhibitor in cryopreserved ovarian cortical tissues for fertility preservation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.65-70
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• 2017

Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS) is one of the phosphatase and tensin homolog hamartoma tumor syndrome with a PTEN gene mutation. It is a rare dominant autosomal disorder characterized by cutaneous lipomas, macrocephaly, intestinal polyps, and developmental delay. Diagnosing this syndrome is important, because it may represent the pediatric phenotype of Cowden syndrome, in which there is an increased risk for malignant tumors in children. Until now, the prevalence of BRRS is unknown. Several dozen cases have been reported in the medical literature, but no case has been reported in Korea. Here we report a case of a 19-year-old girl who was diagnosed with BRRS because of macrocephaly, intellectual disability, and intestinal polyps. Her mother had similar findings and a PTEN mutation. Neither patient had mutations detected by conventional mutation-detection techniques, but a PTEN gene deletion was demonstrated by chromosomal microarray analysis.

• Journal of Breast Disease
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.79-83
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• 2018

Cowden syndrome (CS), also known as multiple hamartomas syndrome, is a rare hereditary autosomal dominant disorder caused by a germline mutation in the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene mapped on chromosome 10. The clinical features of CS are variable, primarily presenting as mucocutaneous lesions (99%). A mucocutaneous lesion, such as trichilemmoma of the face or keratosis of the extremities, is an important diagnostic marker for CS. CS has been reported to increase the incidence of benign and malignant neoplasms in the breast, thyroid, and gastrointestinal tract. The risk of developing malignancy in individuals with CS is up to 10 times higher than general population throughout an entire life time.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.2201-2205
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• 2013

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in many parts of the world. Its development is a multi-step process involving three distinct stages, initiation that alters the molecular message of a normal cell, followed by promotion and progression that ultimately generates a phenotypically altered transformed malignant cell. Reports have suggested an association of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway with colon tumorigenesis. Activation of Akt signaling and impaired expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) (a negative regulator of Akt) has been reported in 60-70% of human colon cancers and inhibitors of PI3K/Akt signaling have been suggested as potential therapeutic agents. Around 80% of human colon tumors possess mutations in the APC gene and half of the remainder feature ${\beta}$-catenin gene mutations which affect downstream signaling of the PI3K/Akt pathway. In recent years, there has been a great focus in targeting these signaling pathways, with natural and synthetic drugs reducing the tumor burden in different experiment models. In this review we survey the role of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Wnt signaling in CRC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권9호
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• pp.1485-1492
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• 2015

Makgeolli is a traditional wine in Korea and has been traditionally believed to exhibit health benefits. However, the inhibitory effect of dealcoholized makgeolli (MK) on cancer has never been investigated scientifically. In this study, MK exhibited an anti-angiogenic effect by inhibiting tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, without cytotoxicity. Treatment with MK reduced the proliferation of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner and increased the sub-G1 population. Next, we evaluated whether MK could induce apoptosis in AGS cells by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay or Annexin V method. Treatment with MK at 500 and 1,000 μg/ml increased the number of TUNEL-positive AGS cells. Under the same conditions, MK-treated (500 and 1,000 μg/ml) cells showed significant induction of early or late apoptosis, compared with untreated cells (no induction). In addition, MK also induced phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression in AGS cells. However, p53 expression in AGS cells was not changed by MK treatment. Furthermore, MK at 500 mg/kg·d reduced the tumor size and volume in AGS tumor xenografts. Taken together, MK may be useful for the prevention of cancer cell growth.