• BMB Reports
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• 제54권11호
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• pp.563-568
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• 2021

Cancer cells predominantly generate energy via glycolysis, even in the presence of oxygen, to support abnormal cell proliferation. Suppression of PDHA1 by PDK1 prevents the conversion of cytoplasmic pyruvate into Acetyl-CoA. Several PDK inhibitors have been identified, but their clinical applications have not been successful for unclear reasons. In this study, endogenous PDHA1 in A549 cells was silenced by the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and PDHA1^WT and PDHA1^3SD were transduced. Since PDHA1^3SD cannot be phosphorylated by PDKs, it was used to evaluate the specific activity of PDK inhibitors. This study highlights that PDHA1^WT and PDHA1^3SD A549 cells can be used as a cell-based PDK inhibitor-distinction system to examine the relationship between PDH activity and cell death by established PDK inhibitors. Leelamine, huzhangoside A and otobaphenol induced PDH activity-dependent apoptosis, whereas AZD7545, VER-246608 and DCA effectively enhanced PDHA1 activity but little toxic to cancer cells. Furthermore, the activity of phosphomimetic PDHA1 revealed the complexity of its regulation, which requires further in-depth investigation.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• 제50권11호
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• pp.6.1-6.12
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• 2018

Morphine tolerance remains a challenge in the management of chronic pain in the clinic. As shown in our previous study, the dopamine D2 receptor (D2DR) expressed in spinal cord neurons might be involved in morphine tolerance, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In the present study, selective spinal D2DR blockade attenuated morphine tolerance in mice by inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/serine-threonine kinase (Akt)-mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in a ${\mu}$ opioid receptor (MOR)-dependent manner. Levo-corydalmine (l-CDL), which exhibited micromolar affinity for D2DR in D2/CHO-K1 cell lines in this report and effectively alleviated bone cancer pain in our previous study, attenuated morphine tolerance in rats with chronic bone cancer pain at nonanalgesic doses. Furthermore, the intrathecal administration of l-CDL obviously attenuated morphine tolerance, and the effect was reversed by a D2DR agonist in mice. Spinal D2DR inhibition and l-CDL also inhibited tolerance induced by the MOR agonist DAMGO. l-CDL and a D2DR small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreased the increase in levels of phosphorylated Akt and MAPK in the spinal cord; these changes were abolished by a PI3K inhibitor. In addition, the activated Akt and MAPK proteins in mice exhibiting morphine tolerance were inhibited by a MOR antagonist. Intrathecal administration of a PI3K inhibitor also attenuated DAMGO-induced tolerance. Based on these results, l-CDL antagonized spinal D2DR to attenuate morphine tolerance by inhibiting PI3K/Akt-dependent MAPK phosphorylation through MOR. These findings provide insights into a more versatile treatment for morphine tolerance.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.107-121
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• 2021

백색증이나 백반증에서 관찰되는 피부 저색소침착은 유전적 요인, 후성유전적 요인 및 기타 요인에 의해 멜라닌 합성이 감소할 때 발생한다. 세포에서 멜라닌 합성을 촉진 할 수 있는 약물 후보를 확인하기 위해 141개의 세포 투과성 저분자 약물로 구성된 후성유전적 조절제 라이브러리를 스크리닝했다. B16/F10 쥐 흑색종 세포를 0.1 𝜇M에서 각 약물로 처리하고 멜라닌 합성 및 세포 생존력을 모니터링했다. 그 결과, (-)-네플라노신 A, 3-디아자네플라노신 A (DZNep) 및 DZNep 염산염이 세포 독성을 일으키지 않고 멜라닌 합성을 증가시키는 것으로 나타났다. 이 세 가지 구조적으로 관련된 약물은 세포 멜라닌 합성 및 세포 생존력에 유사한 용량 의존적 효과를 나타내었기 때문에 DZNep을 추가 실험을 위한 대표 약물로 선택하였다. DZNep는 세포내 멜라닌 함량과 티로시나제(TYR) 활성을 증가 시켰다. DZNep은 또한 mRNA와 단백질 수준에서 TYR, 티로시나제 관련 단백질 1 (TYRP1) 및 도파크롬 토토머라제 (DCT)의 발현을 유도했다. DZNep는 또한 멜라닌 합성의 주요 조절자인 소안구증 관련 전사 인자(MITF)의 mRNA와 단백질 발현을 유도했다. DZNep은 S-아데노실 호모시스테인 가수분해효소의 선택적 억제제이며 히스톤 메틸화효소를 저해하는 S-아데노실 호모시스테인의 세포내 축적을 유발하였다. 이 연구는 특정 세포 상황에서 S-아데노실 호모시스테인 가수분해효소를 표적함으로써 멜라닌 생성이 조절될 수 있음을 시사한다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.525-531
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• 2009

We studied the effect of carbachol on pacemaker currents in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) from the mouse small intestine by muscarinic stimulation using a whole cell patch clamp technique and $Ca^{2+}$-imaging. ICC generated periodic pacemaker potentials in the current-clamp mode and generated spontaneous inward pacemaker currents at a holding potential of -70 mV. Exposure to carbachol depolarized the membrane and produced tonic inward pacemaker currents with a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of the pacemaker currents. The effects of carbachol were blocked by 1-dimethyl-4-diphenylacetoxypiperidinium, a muscarinic $M_3$ receptor antagonist, but not by methotramine, a muscarinic $M_2$ receptor antagonist. Intracellular $GDP-{\beta}-S$ suppressed the carbachol-induced effects. Carbachol-induced effects were blocked by external $Na^+$-free solution and by flufenamic acid, a non-selective cation channel blocker, and in the presence of thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, carbachol still produced tonic inward pacemaker currents with the removal of external $Ca^{2+}$. In recording of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations using fluo 3-AM dye, carbachol increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations with increasing of $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations. These results suggest that carbachol modulates the pacemaker activity of ICC through the activation of non-selective cation channels via muscarinic $M_3$ receptors by a G-protein dependent intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release mechanism.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.35.1-35.16
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• 2023

Defining the molecular dynamics associated with T cell differentiation enhances our understanding of T cell biology and opens up new possibilities for clinical implications. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of CD5 expression in CD8⁺ T cell differentiation and explored its potential clinical uses. Using PBMCs from 29 healthy donors, we observed a stepwise decrease in CD5 expression as CD8⁺ T cells progressed through the differentiation stages. Interestingly, we found that CD5 expression was initially upregulated in response to T cell receptor stimulation, but diminished as the cells underwent proliferation, potentially explaining the differentiation-associated CD5 downregulation. Based on the proliferation-dependent downregulation of CD5, we hypothesized that relative CD5 expression could serve as a marker to distinguish the heterogeneous CD8⁺ T cell population based on their proliferation history. In support of this, we demonstrated that effector memory CD8⁺ T cells with higher CD5 expression exhibited phenotypic and functional characteristics resembling less differentiated cells compared to those with lower CD5 expression. Furthermore, in the retrospective analysis of PBMCs from 30 non-small cell lung cancer patients, we found that patients with higher CD5 expression in effector memory T cells displayed CD8⁺ T cells with a phenotype closer to the less differentiated cells, leading to favorable clinical outcomes in response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. These findings highlight the dynamics of CD5 expression as an indicator of CD8⁺ T cell differentiation status, and have implications for the development of predictive biomarker for ICI therapy.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.125-131
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• 2015

폐 선암의 일부에서 EGFR 돌연변이 활성화의 발견은 폐 선암의 생물학적 이해와 티로신 키나아제 억제제 치료에 대한 획기적인 연구에 중요하다. 세포 검체 검사는 폐암 진단에 중요한 역할을 하고 있으나 세포 검체로 부터 얻은 종양세포가 소량으로 돌연변이검사 및 다른 전문연구의 시행에 제한적이다. 본 연구에서는 폐선 암으로 알려진 76명의 환자로부터 얻은 세포슬라이드에서 미세절제기법을 통해 소량의 종양세포를 분리한 후 EGFR 돌연변이 검사를 시행하였다. 본 연구 결과는 이전 초기임상 진단의 일환으로 세포 및 조직으로 시행되었던 EGFR 돌연변이 검사 결과와 비교 분석하였다. 미세절제 기법으로 분리된 모든 종양세포는 파이로시퀀싱을 통하여 EGFR 돌연변이 분석이 가능했을 뿐만 아니라 25개의 종양세포에서도 EGFR 돌연변이 분석이 가능했다. 또한, 돌연변이 분석에서 미세절제기법을 통해 순수한 종양세포의 양을 증가시킨 검체에서 돌연변이 검출 감도가 증가하였다. 따라서, 미세절제기법은 세포 검체로 EGFR 돌연변이 분석을 시행 할수 있는 폐 선암 환자의 수를 증가시킬 뿐만 아니라 폐 선암 환자의 분자기반 맞춤치료에 세포 검체가 용이하게 사용될 수 있다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제72권1호
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• pp.15-23
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• 2012

Background: The survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases is reported to be 3~6 months even with aggressive treatment. Some patients have very short survival after aggressive treatment and reliable prognostic scoring systems for patients with cancer have a strong correlation with outcome, often supporting decision making and treatment recommendations. Methods: A total of one hundred twenty two NSCLC patients with brain metastases who received gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) were analyzed. Survival analysis was calculated in all patients for thirteen available prognostic factors and four prognostic scoring systems: score index for radiosurgery (SIR), recursive partitioning analysis (RPA), graded prognostic assessment (GPA), and basic score for brain metastases (BSBM). Results: Age, Karnofsky performance status, largest brain lesion volume, systemic chemotherapy, primary tumor control, and medication of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor were statistically independent prognostic factors for survival. A multivariate model of SIR and RPA identified significant differences between each group of scores. We found that three-tiered indices such as SIR and RPA are more useful than four-tiered scoring systems (GPA and BSBM). Conclusion: There is little value of RPA class III (most unfavorable group) for the same results of 6-month and 1-year survival rate. Thus, SIR is the most useful index to sort out patients with poorer prognosis. Further prospective trials should be performed to develop a new molecular- and gene-based prognostic index model.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.973-981
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• 2007

In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative activity of the water extract of Samgibopae-tang (SGBPT) in NCI-H460 and A549 non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines. We found that exposure of A549 cells to SGBPT resulted in the growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay, however SGBPT did not affect the growth of NCI-H460 cells. The antiproliferative effect by SGBPT treatment in A549 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. SGBPT treatment did not induce the cell cycle arrest in both cell lines, however the frequency of sub-G1 population was concentration-dependently increased by SGBPT treatment in A549 cells. SGBPT treatment partially induced the expression of tumor suppressor p53 in A549 cells and the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1) was markedly increased in both transcriptional and translational levels in A549 cells. The up-regulation of p21 by SGBPT occurred in a similar a concentration dependent manner to that observed with the inhibition of cell viability and induction of sub-G1 population of the cell cycle. However SGBPT treatment did not affect other growth regulation-related genes such as early growth response-1 (Egr-1), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (NAG-1), inducible nitric oxide synthease (iNOS), cyclooxygenases (COXs), telomere-regulatory factors in A549 as well as NCI-H460 cells. Taken together, these findings suggested that SGBPT-induced inhibition of human lung carcinoma A549 cell growth was aoosciated with the induction of p21 and the results provided important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of SGBPT.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.535-539
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• 2015

Olfactory stimulation activates multiple signaling cascades in order to mediate activity-driven changes in gene expression that promote neuronal survival. To date, the mechanisms involved in activity-dependent olfactory neuronal survival have yet to be fully elucidated. In the current study, we observed that olfactory sensory stimulation, which caused neuronal activation, promoted activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and the expression of Bcl-2, which were responsible for olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) survival. We demonstrated that Bcl-2 expression increased after odorant stimulation both in vivo and in vitro. We also showed that odorant stimulation activated Akt, and that Akt activation was completely blocked by incubation with both a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) and Akt1 small interfering RNA. Moreover, blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway diminished the odorantinduced Bcl-2 expression, as well as the effects on odorant-induced ORN survival. A temporal difference was noted between the activation of Akt1 and the expression of Bcl-2 following odorant stimulation. Blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway did not affect ORN survival in the time range prior to the increase in Bcl-2 expression, implying that these two events, activation of the PI3K pathway and Bcl-2 induction, were tightly connected to promote post-translational ORN survival. Collectively, our results indicated that olfactory activity activated PI3K/Akt, induced Bcl-2, and promoted long term ORN survival as a result.

• BMB Reports
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.308-313
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• 2018

Small-molecule inhibitors are widely used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases. In this study, we found a novel anti-inflammatory compound, 1-[(2R,4S)-2-methyl-4-(phenylamino)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-1-yl]prop-2-en-1-one (MPQP). It showed strong anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These effects were exerted through the inhibition of the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, $IL-1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$). Furthermore, MPQP decreased the expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Additionally, it mediated the inhibition of the phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), the inhibitor of ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$), and their upstream kinases, $I{\kappa}B$ kinase (IKK) ${\alpha}/{\beta}$, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) 3/6, and MKK4. Furthermore, the expression of IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) that regulates $NF-{\kappa}B$, p38, and the JNK signaling pathways, was also increased by MPQP. These results indicate that MPQP regulates the IRAK1-mediated inflammatory signaling pathways by targeting IRAK1 or its upstream factors.