• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권9호
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• pp.1620-1628
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated colistin resistance mechanisms associated with the regulation of the pbgP operon in Klebsiella pneumoniae, using four isogenic pairs of colistin-susceptible strains and their colistin-resistant derivatives and two colistin-resistant clinical isolates. Amino acid sequence alterations of PhoPQ, PmrAB, and MgrB were investigated, and mRNA expression levels of phoQ, pmrB, pmrD, and pbgP were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The phoQ and pmrB genes were deleted from two colistin-resistant derivatives, 134R and 063R. We found that phoQ, pmrD, and pbgP were significantly upregulated in all colistin-resistant derivatives. However, pmrB was significantly upregulated in only two colistin-resistant derivatives and one clinical strain. pmrB was not overexpressed in the other strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration of colistin was drastically lower in both phoQ- and pmrB-deleted mutants from a colistin-resistant derivative (134R) that was overexpressing phoQ and pmrB. However, colistin susceptibility was restored only in a phoQ-deleted mutant from a colistin-resistant derivative (063R) without overexpression of pmrB. In conclusion, two different regulations of the pbgP operon may associate with the development of colistinresisant K. pneumoniae.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권11호
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• pp.4991-4998
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• 2016

Objective: This research was conducted to explore mechanisms behind the potency of quercetin in inhibiting colon cancer induced in an experimental model. Materials and Methods: Forty adult male rats of Wistar strain were distributed into 4 groups; a negative control group, a colon cancer bearing group, a quercetin-treated group and a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-treated group. Serum TAG72 and GAL3 levels were quantified by ELISA. Colonic Wnt5a and Axin-1 gene expression was estimated by PCR. In addition, colonic tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical examination of Bax expression and histological investigation of histopathological alterations. Results: Quercetin elicited significant reduction in serum TAG72 and GAL3 levels, in addition to significant suppression of colonic Wnt5a gene expression and amplification of colonic Axin-1 gene expression. Also, it caused moderate positive reaction for Bax in mucosal epithelium. Conclusion: The present research provides experimental evidence about the activity of quercetin in the colon cancer of rats. Inhibitory effects on cancer development might be ascribable to regulatory action on Wnt signaling and induction of apoptosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권11호
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• pp.4477-4487
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• 2015

In this review we summarize the results of studies employing high-throughput methods of profiling of HPV-associated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and squamous cell cervical cancers at key intracellular regulatory levels to demonstrate the unique identity of the landscape of molecular changes underlying this oncopathology, and to show how these changes are related to the 'natural history' of cervical cancer progression and the formation of clinically significant properties of tumors. A step-wise character of cervical cancer progression is a morphologically well-described fact and, as evidenced by genome-wide screenings, it is indeed the consistent change of the molecular profiles of HPV-infected epithelial cells through which they progressively acquire the phenotypic hallmarks of cancerous cells. In this sense, CIN/cervical cancer is a unique model for studying the driving forces and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Recent research has allowed definition of the whole-genome spectrum of both random and regular molecular alterations, as well as changes either common to processes of carcinogenesis or specific for cervical cancer. Despite the existence of questions that are still to be investigated, these findings are of great value for the future development of approaches for the diagnostics and treatment of cervical neoplasms.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.202-209
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• 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a highly malignant disease and the third leading cause of all cancer mortalities worldwide, often responses poorly to current treatments and results in dismal outcomes due to frequent chemoresistance and tumor relapse. The heterogeneity of HCC is an important attribute of the disease. It is the outcome of many factors, including the cross-talk between tumor cells within the tumor microenvironment and the acquisition and accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in tumor cells. In addition, there is accumulating evidence in recent years to show that the malignancy of HCC can be attributed partly to the presence of cancer stem cell (CSC). CSCs are capable to self-renew, differentiate and initiate tumor formation. The regulation of the stem cell-like properties by several important signaling pathways have been found to endow the tumor cells with an increased level of tumorigenicity, chemoresistance, and metastatic ability. In this review, we will discuss the recent findings on hepatic CSCs, with special emphasis on their putative origins, relationship with hepatitis viruses, regulatory signaling networks, tumor microenvironment, and how these factors control the stemness of hepatic CSCs. We will also discuss some novel therapeutic strategies targeted at hepatic CSCs for combating HCC and perspectives of future investigation.

• 한국조경학회지
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.35-42
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• 2004

This study examines the traffic noise reduction effects of the diverse efficiency features of a sunken square, and investigates the reduction effects and characteristics of noise alterations according to the construction conditions in order to verify its possibility as a new noise reduction facility. The measured data were analyzed. As a result, (1) the traffic noise from the roads around the sunken squares exceeded the regulatory standards; (2) the sunken squares were protected from noise; (3) the sunken spaces yielded a greater reduction by 6∼7dB than the flat ground thanks to the diffraction effect; and (4) there were fine changes to noise according to the conditions of space construction. In short, a sunken square has the potential to afford new applications as a noise reduction facility in a highly concentrated downtown with the existing defects solved. In addition, its use for effective noise control is evident based on the noise characteristics of a space. Future studies need to include efforts to provide clearer quantitative data, as well as research on shape, layout, and materials.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.236-248
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• 1986

Alterations of renin-angiotensin system have been suggested as one of the mechanisms increasing arterial blood pressure in experimental and clinical hypertension. But the exact nature of high blood pressure in the early and late phase of renal hypertension is still controversial. To clarify the nature of renin release in both unclipped and clipped kidney of two kidney one clip Goldblatt lypertensive rat, experiments have been done in kidney slices, which were obtained from the rats of 3 and 7 days of operation. Basal rate of renin release was suppressed in unclipped kidney slices compared to clipped kidney Norepinephrine increased renin release from unclipped kidney slices, but not from clipped kidney slices. Suppressions by angiotensin Il and arginine vasopressin of renin release were attenuated in the clipped kidney slices compared to unclipped and sham-operated kidney slices. Increases by verapamil and trifluoperazine of renin release were attenuated in the clipped kidney slices compared to unclipped and sham-operated kidney slices. These results suggest that the negative feedback control mechanism of the renin-angiotensin system by angiotensin Il and arginine vasopressin is attenuated in the clipped kidney of two kidney one clip Goldblatt hypertensive rat, and that one of the altered mechanisms may be caused by certain regulatory changes of intracellular calcium and/or calcium-calmodulin complex in the juxtaglomerular cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.75-79
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• 2013

Evidence for immunoregulatory roles of prostaglandins (PGs) is accumulating. Since our observation of PG production by human follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), we investigated the regulatory mechanism of PG production in FDC and attempted to understand the functions of released PGs in the responses of adjacent lymphocytes. Here, using FDC-like cells, HK cells, we analyzed protein expression alterations in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the presence of IL-4 or histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. Both IL-4 and HDAC inhibitors suppressed COX-2 expression in dose-dependent manners. Their effect was specific to COX-2 and did not reach to COX-1 expression. Interestingly, HDAC inhibitors gave rise to an opposing effect on COX-2 expression in peripheral blood monocytes. Our results suggest that IL-4 may regulate COX-2 expression in FDCs by affecting chromatin remodeling and provide insight into the role of cellular interactions between T cells and FDC during the GC reaction. Given the growing interests in wide-spectrum HDAC inhibitors, the differential results on COX-2 expression in HK cells and monocytes raise cautions on their clinical use.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.501-510
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• 2019

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children. The global prevalence of pediatric NAFLD from general populations is 7.6%. In obese children, the prevalence is higher in Asia. NAFLD has a strong heritable component based on ethnic difference in the prevalence and clustering within families. Genetic polymorphisms of patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3), transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2, and glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) are associated with the risk of NAFLD in children. Variants of PNPLA3 and GCKR are more common in Asians. Alterations of the gut microbiome might contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. High fructose intake increases the risk of NAFLD. Liver fibrosis is a poor prognostic factor for disease progression to cirrhosis. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance proton density fat fraction are more accurate for steatosis quantification than ultrasound. Noninvasive imaging methods to assess liver fibrosis, such as transient elastography, shear-wave elastography, and magnetic resonance elastography are useful in predicting advanced fibrosis, but they need further validation. Longitudinal follow-up studies into adulthood are needed to better understand the natural history of pediatric NAFLD.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.86-108
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• 2019

In multi-cellular organisms, the control of gene expression is key not only for development, but also for adult cellular homeostasis, and gene expression has been observed to be deregulated with aging. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on the transcriptional alterations that have been described to occur with age in metazoans. First, we discuss age-related transcriptional changes in protein-coding genes, the expected functional impact of such changes, and how known pro-longevity interventions impact these changes. Second, we discuss the changes and impact of emerging aspects of transcription in aging, including age-related changes in splicing, lncRNAs and circRNAs. Third, we discuss the changes and potential impact of transcription of transposable elements with aging. Fourth, we highlight small ncRNAs and their potential impact on the regulation of aging phenotypes. Understanding the aging transcriptome will be key to identify important regulatory targets, and ultimately slow-down or reverse aging and extend healthy lifespan in humans.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권12호
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• pp.1515-1526
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• 2022

Eukaryotic chromatin is highly organized in the 3D nuclear space and dynamically regulated in response to environmental stimuli. This genomic organization is arranged in a hierarchical fashion to support various cellular functions, including transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Like other host cellular mechanisms, viral pathogens utilize and modulate host chromatin architecture and its regulatory machinery to control features of their life cycle, such as lytic versus latent status. Combined with previous research focusing on individual loci, recent global genomic studies employing conformational assays coupled with high-throughput sequencing technology have informed models for host and, in some cases, viral 3D chromosomal structure re-organization during infection and the contribution of these alterations to virus-mediated diseases. Here, we review recent discoveries and progress in host and viral chromatin structural dynamics during infection, focusing on a subset of DNA (human herpesviruses and HPV) as well as RNA (HIV, influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2) viruses. An understanding of how host and viral genomic structure affect gene expression in both contexts and ultimately viral pathogenesis can facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies.