• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.84-89
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• 2009

The main stream of CD137 studies has been directed to the function of CD137 in $CD8^+$ T-cell immunity, including its anti-tumor activity, and paradoxically the immunosuppressive activity of CD137, which proves to be of a great therapeutic potential for animal models of a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Recent studies, however, add complexes to the biology of CD137. Accumulating is evidence supporting that there exists a bidirectional signal transduction pathway for the CD137 receptor and its ligand (CD137L). CD137/CD137L interactions are involved in the network of hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells in addition to the well characterized antigen-presenting cell-T cell interactions. Signaling through CD137L plays a critical role in the differentiation of myeloid cells and their cellular activities, suggesting that CD137L signals trigger and sustain inflammation. The overall consequence might be that the amplified inflammation by CD137L enhances the T-cell activity together with CD137 signals by upregulating costimulatory molecules, MHC molecules, cell adhesion molecules, cytokines, and chemokines. Solving this outstanding issue is urgent and will have an important clinical implication.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.18.1-18.8
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• 2021

G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs), including olfactory receptors, account for the largest group of genes in the human genome and occupy a very important position in signaling systems. Although olfactory receptors, which belong to the broader category of GPCRs, play an important role in monitoring the organism's surroundings, their actual three-dimensional structure has not yet been determined. Therefore, the specific details of the molecular interactions between the receptor and the ligand remain unclear. In this report, the interactions between human olfactory receptor 1A1 and its odorant molecules were simulated using computational methods, and we explored how the chemically simple odorant molecules activate the olfactory receptor.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• 제54권2호
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• pp.149-155
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• 2019

Controlled mass transport in response to stimuli is essential for drug carriers. The complexity of the signaling system under physiological conditions has led researchers to develop precise nanocontainers that respond to stimuli in the physiological environment. Owing to several reasons, soft nanocontainers such as liposomes and micelles have been investigated for use as drug delivery systems. However, such carriers often suffer from the undesired leakage of drug molecules. In contrast, inorganic nanocontainers are robust, and their surfaces can be easily functionalized. For example, mesoporous silica nanoparticles equipped with gatekeeper molecules are increasingly being used for the controlled release of drug molecules in response to the desired stimuli. Since the development of the first hybrid nanocontainer comprising molecular machines, multiple versions of such gatekeeper systems featuring significantly improved stability and precise response to stimuli have been reported. In this study, various methods for incorporating photoresponsive nanocontainers with porous channels are developed.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2017

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades play critical roles in various cellular events in plants, including stress responses, innate immunity, hormone signaling, and cell specificity. MAPK-mediated stress signaling is also known to negatively regulate nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interactions, but the molecular mechanism of the MAPK signaling cascades underlying the symbiotic nodule development remains largely unknown. We show that the MtMKK5-MtMPK3/6 signaling module negatively regulates the early symbiotic nodule formation, probably upstream of ERN1 (ERF Required for Nodulation 1) and NSP1 (Nod factor Signaling Pathway 1) in Medicago truncatula. The overexpression of MtMKK5 stimulated stress and defense signaling pathways but also reduced nodule formation in M. truncatula roots. Conversely, a MAPK specific inhibitor, U0126, enhanced nodule formation and the expression of an early nodulation marker gene, MtNIN. We found that MtMKK5 directly activates MtMPK3/6 by phosphorylating the TEY motif within the activation loop and that the MtMPK3/6 proteins physically interact with the early nodulation-related transcription factors ERN1 and NSP1. These data suggest that the stress signaling-mediated MtMKK5/MtMPK3/6 module suppresses symbiotic nodule development via the action of early nodulation transcription factors.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.107-112
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• 2007

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to negatively control protein-coding genes by binding to messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cytoplasm. In innate immunity, the role of miRNA gene silencing is largely unknown. In this study, we performed microarray-based experiments using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages derived from wild-type, MyD88 knockout (KO), TRIF KO, and MyD88/TRIF double KO mice. We employed a statistical approach to determine the importance of the commonality and specificity of miRNA binding sites among groups of temporally co-regulated genes. We demonstrate that both commonality and specificity are irrelevant to define a priori groups of co-down regulated genes. In addition, analyzing the various experimental conditions, we suggest that miRNA regulation may not only be a late-phase process (after transcription) but can also occur even early (1h) after stimulation in knockout conditions. This further indicates the existence of dynamic interactions between miRNA and signaling molecules/transcription factor regulation; this is another proof for the need of shifting from a 'hard-wired' paradigm of gene regulation to a dynamical one in which the gene co-regulation is established on a case-by-case basis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.110-122
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• 2005

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of salivary glands has a protracted clinical course with perineural invasion, delayed onset of hematogenous metastasis, and poor responses to classical cytotoxic chemotherapic agents. Most deaths from salivary ACC are caused by lung metastases that are resistant to conventional therapy. Therefore, knowledge of cellular properties and tumor-host interactions that influence the dissemination of metastatic cells is important for the design of more effective therapy of salivary cancer. I determined in vitro expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its downstream effectors and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2 on a human salivary ACC cell line (ACC2). I also evaluated the expression of EGF and VEGF signaling molecules and metastasis-related proteins on human salivary ACC cells orthotopically growing in nude mice. In Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses, EGFR and VEGFR-2 were presented and phosphorylated in ACC2 cells. In human parotid cancer xenografts in nude mice, EGF and VEGF signaling molecules, IL-8, and MMP-9 were expressed at markedly higher levels than in normal parotid tissues. Moreover, tumor-associated endothelial cells of this orthotopic parotid tumor expressed phosphorylated VEGFR-2 and phosphorylated Akt, which is a cell-survival protein. These data show that those biomarkers can be molecular targets for therapy of salivary ACC, which has a propensity for delayed lung metastasis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.304-309
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• 2022

Background: This study was conducted to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of astaxanthin, on atopic dermatitis. Methods: Changes in mouse body weight, lymph node weight, and the degree of improvement in symptoms were measured to determine the inflammatory response. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests were performed to determine the degree of expression of inflammation-related cytokines (IL-31 and IL-33 and chemokines such as CCL17 and CCL22), and western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of inflammation-related factors (iNOS, COX-2, and NF-kB signaling molecules p-IkBα, p50, p-65 and pSTAT3). Results: The degree of symptoms significantly improved in the PA+AX group. Lymph node weight in the PA+AX group was lower than the PA group. Inflammatory cytokines (IL-31, IL-33, and inflammatory chemokines such as CCL17 and CCL22) were significantly reduced in the PA+AX group compared with the PA group. The expression of inflammatory genes (iNOS, COX-2, NF-kB and signaling molecules (p-IkBα, p50, p65, and p-STAT 3) was lower in the PA+AX group compared with the PA group. Conclusion: Astaxanthin may modulate the inflammatory response in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제24권9호
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• pp.1006-1011
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• 2014

인삼은 건강에 효과적인 약초라고 알려져 왔다. 인삼의 열매인 진생베리는 인삼의 주성분과 비슷한 ginsenoside, saponin, polyphenol, polyacetylene, alkaloid 등의 성분을 포함한다. 본 연구의 목적은 인삼과 같이 진생베리 열수 추출물(Ginseng berry water extract, GBE)이 당뇨와 연관된 세포 외 효소와 인슐린 신호전달 경로에 있는 분자의 발현에 어떤 효과를 가지고 있는지를 조사하였다. ${\alpha}$-Amylase와 ${\alpha}$-glucosidase는 섭취한 다당분자를 분해하여 포도당을 생성함으로 항당뇨 약물개발의 표적 효소이다. GBE에 의한 두 효소의 활성 억제능을 in vitro에서 측정하였으나 최고 $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ 농도에서도 효소활성 억제능이 나타나지 않았다. 인슐린 신호전달 경로의 영향을 확인하기 위해서 HepG2 세포에서 GBE에 의한 인슐린 신호전달 경로의 주요 단백질인 protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B)와 Akt1의 발현수준 변화를 Western blot 방법으로 조사하였다. 이때 인슐린에 의한 이들 분자의 변화에 GBE가 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났다. PTP1B는 인슐린에 의해 증가된 발현량이 저농도의 GBE이 의해 더욱 증가하였으나, $200{\mu}g/ml$ 농도의 GBE에 의해서는 다소 감소하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, Akt1도 인슐린에 의해 증가된 발현량이 GBE 농도에 따라 감소하는 것으로 나타났다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.421-429
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• 2022

본 연구에서는 죽상경화 플락에서 발견되는 펩티도글리칸이 혈관염증에서 어떠한 역할을 하는지 알아보기 위하여 염증성 사이토카인의 한 종류인 인터루킨-1 알파의 발현에 대한 영향을 조사하였다. 실험방법으로는 혈관염증을 주도하는 단핵구/대식세포인 THP-1 세포주에 펩티도글리칸을 처리하고 인터루킨-1 알파의 발현을 RT-PCR, real-time PCR, ELISA 방법으로 분석하였다. 펩티도글리칸의 처리 시간과 농도에 비례하여 단핵구/대식세포에서 인터루킨-1 알파의 전사체와 단백질 분비가 증가함을 관찰하였다. 또한 펩티도글리칸의 작용기전을 규명하기 위하여 신호전달을 차단하는 억제제를 세포에 처리하고 인터루킨-1 알파의 발현을 조사하였다. TLR2/4의 억제제인 OxPAPC 그리고 세포 kinase의 작용을 억제하는 LY294002(PI3 kinase 억제), Akti IV (Akt 억제), rapamycin (mTOR 억제), U0126 (MEK 억제), SB202190 (p38 MAPK 억제), SP6001250 (JNK 억제), DPI (NOX 억제)를 처리하는 경우 인터루킨-1 알파 전사체의 발현 그리고 단백질의 분비가 감소되었다. 반면에 LPS의 작용을 억제하는 polymyxin B는 인터루킨-1 알파의 발현에 영향을 주지 않았다. 이상의 결과는, 펩티도글리칸이 TLR2, PI3K, Akt, mTOR, MAPKs를 통하여 단핵구/대식세포의 인터루킨-1 알파 발현을 증가시키고 혈관염증에 기여한다는 것을 나타낸다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.457-461
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• 2008

DNA damage checkpoint is an important self-defense mechanism for the maintenance of genome stability. Defects in DNA damage signaling and repair lead to various disorders and increase tumor incidence in humans. In the past 10 years, we have identified many components involved in the DNA damage-signaling pathway, including the product of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1). Mutations in BRCA1 are associated with increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, highlighting the importance of this DNA damage-signaling pathway in tumor suppression. While it becomes clear that BRCA1 plays a crucial role in the DNA damage responsive pathway, exactly how BRCA1 receives DNA damage signals and exerts its checkpoint function has not been fully addressed. A series of recent studies reported the discovery of many novel components involved in DNA damage-signaling pathway. These newly identified checkpoint proteins, including RNF8, RAP80 and CCDC98, work in concern in recruiting BRCA1 to DNA damage sites and thus regulate BRCA1 function in G2/M checkpoint control. This review will summarize these recent findings and provide an updated view of the regulation of BRCA1 in response to DNA damage.