• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.703-712
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• 2016

Monoclonal antibodies with specific antigens have been widely used as targeted therapy for cancer. Hep88 mAb is a monoclonal antibody which shows specific binding with anti-cancer effects against the HepG2 cell line. However, its mechanisms of action are still not completely understood. We examined cell cycling and apoptosis by flow cytometry and mRNA expression of factors involved in apoptosis and paraptosis in Hep88 mAb-treated HepG2 cells by real-time PCR. The cell-cycle analysis demonstrated that growth-inhibitory activity was associated with G2/M cell cycle arrest. Hep88 mAb induced a significant increase in apoptotic cell populations in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The mRNA expression results also suggested that the process triggered by Hep88 mAb involved up-regulation of tumor suppressor p53, pro-apoptotic Bax, Cathepsin B, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9, with a decrease of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 - thus confirming paraptosis and apoptosis programmed cell death. These findings represent new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer properties of Hep88 mAb in liver cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 1986

The present study has been carried out to elucidate the antiestrogenic effects of tamoxifen on RNA and protein synthesis in uteri of immature rats. Immature female Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into 4 groups and injected with $5{\mu}g$ of estradiol-$17{\beta}$, $50{\mu}g$ of tamoxifen, a combination of both, or vehicle only subcutaneously three times with an interval of 24 hours respectively. The specific activities of $^3H$-uridine incorporation into uterine RNA and those of $^3H$-leucine incorporation into uterine protein were measured before and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the above treatments. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. Tamoxifen itself increased RNA synthesis an hour after treatment(169.18% of control), but it's specific activity was reduced to control level after 3 hours. Tamoxifen inhibited significantly (p<0.01) the activity of RNA synthesis of estradiol-$17{\beta}$. 2. The increasing rate of protein synthesis was lower in tamoxifen treated group than that in estradiol-$17{\beta}$ treated group. While the rate was steadily increased up to 357.4% of control by estradiol-$17{\beta}$ in 72 hours, tamoxifen itself failed to increase the rate after 24 hours and significantly (p<0.01) inhibited the activity of estradiol-$17{\beta}$(-167.4%).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1739-1743
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• 2014

MicroRNAs are a class of small noncoding RNA which play important regulatory roles in a variety of cancers. MiRNA-specific expression profiles have been reported for several pathological conditions. In this study, we combined large scale parallel Solexa sequencing to identify 11 up-regulated miRNAs and 19 down-regulated miRNAs with computational techniques in the sera of ovarian cancer patients while using healthy serum as the control. Among the above, four miRNAs (miR-22, miR-93, miR-106b, miR-451) were validated by quantitative RT-PCR and found to be significantly aberrantly expressed in the serum of ovarian cancer patients (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between samples from cancer stage I/II and III/IV. However, the levels of miR-106b (p=0.003) and miR-451 (p=0.007) were significantly different in those patients under and over 51 yearsof age. MiR-451 and miR-93 were also specific when analyzed with reference to different levels of CA125. This study shows that Solexa sequencing provides a promising method for cancer-related miRNA profiling, and selectively expressed miRNAs could be used as potential serum-based biomarkers for ovarian cancer diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.346-353
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• 2015

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones regulated through responses to stress to maintain diverse metabolic and homeostatic functions. GCs act on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a member of the nuclear receptor family. This study identified and characterized the GR gene from the big-belly seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis designating it HaGR. The open reading frame of the HaGR cDNA was 2,346 bp in length, encoding a 782-amino-acid polypeptide with a theoretical isoelectric point of 6.26 and predicted molecular mass of 86.8 kDa. Nuclear receptors share a common structural organization, comprising an N-terminal transactivation domain, DNA-binding domain, and C-terminal ligand-binding domain. The tissue-specific mRNA expression profile of HaGR was analyzed in healthy seahorses using a qPCR technique. HaGR mRNA was expressed ubiquitously in all of the tissues examined, with the highest expression levels in kidney, intestine, stomach, and gill tissues. The mRNA expression in response to immune challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), Edwardsiella tarda, and Streptococcus iniae revealed that it is inducible in response to pathogen infection. These results suggest that HaGR is involved in the immune response of the big-belly seahorse.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.827-833
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• 1999

In this study, we have investigated the effect of Biphenyl Dimethyl Dicarboxylate (DDB), a synthetic analogue of Schizandrin C isolated from Schizandrae Fructus on cytochrome $P_450$ lAl and 2Bl, and the protective mechanism against $CCl_4-induced$ hepatotoxicity in rat liver. After DDB was administered into male rats for different periods of time (1~7 days) and with different doses (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg), mRNA levels of CYPlAl were measured by polymearse chain reaction (PCR) and assayed the activities of CYPlAl specific ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) and CYP2Bl specific benzyloxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (BROD). DDB treatment resulted in increase in CYP2Bl mRNA level and BROD activity, whereas there was no change in CYPlAl mRNA level and EROD activity. This effect of DDB was time-and dose-dependent and reached maximal level by 3 day and 200 mg/kg treatment. In addition, rats were pre-treated with DDB at doses of 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg daily for 4 days, 3-hr after final treatment on the 4th day, $CCl_4$ 0.3ml/kg was intraperitonially injected into the rats to examine the effect of DDB on $CCl_4-induced$ hepatic injury. Serum levels of ALT and AST were determined and histopathological examination was done in rat liver. Furthermore, we have measured hepatic microsomal malondialdehyde(MDA) level, a parameter of lipid peroxidation. Based on serum ALT level and lipid peroxidation, pretreatment of DDB, 50 mg/kg appeared the most protective effect against $CCl_4-induced$ heapatotoxity. These results indicate that DDB stimulates CYP2Bl mRNA level and BROD activity in time and dose dependent manner and suggest that protective effect of DDB on $CCl_4-induced$ hepatotoxicity may be mediated through free radical scavenging.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1228-1237
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• 2023

The CRISPR-Cas system has emerged as the most efficient genome editing technique for a wide range of cells. Delivery of the Cas9-sgRNA ribonucleoprotein complex (Cas9 RNP) has gained popularity. The objective of this study was to develop a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based assay to quantify the double-strand break reaction mediated by Cas9 RNP. To accomplish this, the dextransucrase gene (dsr) from Leuconostoc citreum was selected as the target DNA. The Cas9 protein was produced using recombinant Escherichia coli BL21, and two sgRNAs were synthesized through in vitro transcription to facilitate binding with the dsr gene. Under optimized in vitro conditions, the 2.6 kb dsr DNA was specifically cleaved into 1.1 and 1.5 kb fragments by both Cas9-sgRNA365 and Cas9-sgRNA433. By monitoring changes in dsr concentration using qPCR, the endonuclease activities of the two Cas9 RNPs were measured, and their efficiencies were compared. Specifically, the specific activities of dsr365RNP and dsr433RNP were 28.74 and 34.48 (unit/㎍ RNP), respectively. The versatility of this method was also verified using different target genes, uracil phosphoribosyl transferase (upp) gene, of Bifidobacterium bifidum and specific sgRNAs. The assay method was also utilized to determine the impact of high electrical field on Cas9 RNP activity during an efficient electroporation process. Overall, the results demonstrated that the qPCR-based method is an effective tool for measuring the endonuclease activity of Cas9 RNP.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2045-2049
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• 2012

Objective: To investigate the effect of down-regulation of Sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) expression on the apoptosis of human Burkitt lymphoma cells (Daudi cells) and potential mechanisms. Methods: Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting SENP1 was designed and synthesized and then cloned into a lentiviral vector. A lentiviral packaging plasmid was used to transfect Daudi cells (sh-SENP1-Daudi group). Daudi cells without transfection (Daudi group) and Daudi cells transfected with blank plasmid (sh-NC-Daudi group) served as control groups. Flow cytometry was performed to screen GFP positive cells and semiquantitative PCR and Western blot assays were employed to detect the inference efficiency. The morphology of cells was observed under a microscope before and after transfection. Fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot assays were conducted to measure the mRNA and protein expression of apoptosis related molecules (caspase-3, 8 and 9). After treatment with $COCl_2$ for 24 h, the mRNA and protein expression of hypoxia inducible factor -$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) was determined. Results: Sequencing showed the expression vectors of shRNA targeting SENP1 to be successfully constructed. Following screening of GFP positive cells by FCM, semiqualitative PCR showed the interference efficiency was $79.2{\pm}0.026%$. At 48 h after transfection, the Daudi cells became shrunken, had irregular edges and presented apoptotic bodies. Western blot assay revealed increase in expression of caspase-3, 8 and 9 with prolongation of transfection (P<0.05). Following hypoxia treatment, mRNA expression of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ remained unchanged in three groups (P>0.05) but the protein expression of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ markedly increased (P<0.05). However, in the sh-SENP1-Daudi group, the protein expression of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ remained unchanged Conclusion: SENP1-shRNA can efficiently inhibit SENP1 expression in Daudi cells. SENP1 inhibition may promote cell apoptosis. These findings suggest that SENP1 may serve as an important target in the gene therapy of Burkitts lymphoma.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.103-109
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• 1999

Objective: Heat shock protein 70-2 (Hsp70-2) gene knockout mice are found to have premeiotic arrest at the primary spermatocyte stage with a complete absence of spermatids and spermatozoa. This observation led to the hypothesis that hspA2 may be disrupted in human testes with abnormal spermatogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we studied the mRNA expression of hspA2 in infertile men with azoospermia. Design: The mRNA expression were analyzed by competitive RT-PCR among testes with normal spermatogenesis, pachytene spermatocyte arrest, and sertoli-cell only syndrome. Materials and methods: Testicular biopsy was performed in men with azoospermia (n=15). Specimens were subdivided into three groups: (group 1) normal spermatogenesis (n=5), (group 2) spermatocyte arrest (n=5), (group 3) Sertoli-cell only syndrome (n=5). Total RNA was extracted by Trizol reagent. Total extracted RNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA and amplified by PCR using specific primers for hspA2 target cDNAs. A competitive cDNA fragment was constructed by deleting a defined fragment from the target cDNA sequence, and then coamplified with the target cDNA for competitive PCR. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene was used as an internal control. Results: On Competitive RT-PCR analyses for hspA2 mRNA, significant amount of hspA2 expression was observed in group 1, whereas a constitutively low level of hspA2 was expressed in groups 2 and 3. Conclusion(s): The study demonstrates that the hspA2 gene expression is down-regulated in human testes with abnormal spermatogenesis, which in turn suggests that hspA2 gene may play a specific role during meiosis in human testes.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2000

The intern1 spacer regions (ISR) between the 16s and 23s $1_RNA$ genes of Aeronzonus iwonii blogroupsobria and A. caviae were investigated by PCR fragment length typing and DNA sequencing. A. iwonii bv.sobria has a speciIic 16s-23s pattern of 2-4 fiagments ranging Goin 479-539 bp, with the exception of thespecies Aeron7onns cmiae, which has 3 fragments ranglog from 470-602 bp. In all of the.4 vei*onii bv. sobr,iaand A, caviae strains examined in this study, the 470-481bp Tragnent, designated TSR-1, invariably contained $tDNA^{uc(GAT)$ and $tDNA^{Ala(TGC)$ in contrast to ISR-2 (513-525 bp). ISR-3 (537-539 bp) and ISR-4 (568-602 bp)containing TEX>$tDNA^{Olu(ITC)$ A stretch of 20 nucleotides (178-197 bp) in the ISR-4 was conserved only wit11mA.caiiue, from which the A. caiiae specific primer, named prAC-F, was designed and used for PCR with aAcaviae coimnon reverse primer A PCR product of 450 bp was apparent alnong I , caiizne strains, but not ii1.4.ijeronii bv. sob~ia strains. The PCR product was oot detected t"-om strains belonging to A. hjili-o~~hila, Ebrio,aud the family Ef\ulcornertei,obncteriaceae. This study provides the first molecular tool for mdentifying the species 8.caviae.ing the species 8. caviae.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2005

Objective: To understand the crucial requirement for the normal early folliculogenesis, we evaluated molecular as well as physiological differences during in vitro ovarian culture. Among the important regulators for follicle development, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and FSH Receptor (FSHR) have been known to be expressed in the cuboidal granulosa cells. Meanwhile, it is known that c-kit is germ cell-specific and GDF-9 is also oocyte-specific regulator. To evaluate the functional requirement for the competence of normal follicular development, we investigated the differential mRNA expression of several factors secreted from granulosa cells and oocytes between in vivo and in vitro developed ovaries. Materials and Methods: Ovaries from ICR neonates (the day of birth) were cultured for 4 days (for primordial to primary transition) or 8 days (for secondary follicle formation) in ${\alpha}$-MEM glutamax supplemented with 3 mg/ml BSA without serum or growth factors. The mRNA levels of the several factors were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Freshly isolated 0-, 4-, and 8-day-old ovaries were used as control. Results: The mRNA of AMH and FSHR as granulosa cell factors was highly increased according to the ovarian development in both of 4- and 8-day-old control. However, the mRNA expression was not induced in both of 4- and 8-day in vitro cultured ovaries. The mRNA expression of GDF-9 known to regulate follicle growth as an oocyte factor was different between in vivo and in vitro developed ovaries. In addition, the transcript of GDF-9 was expressed in the primordial follicles of mouse ovaries. The mRNA expression of c-kit was not significantly different during the early folliculogenesis in vitro. Conclusion: This is the first report regarding endogenous AMH and FSHR expression during the early folliculogenesis in vitro. In conclusion, it will be very valuable to evaluate cuboidal granulosa cell factors as functional marker(s) for normal early folliculogenesis in vitro.