• BMB Reports
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• 제53권8호
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• pp.425-430
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• 2020

Tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 protein (TSG-6) is a cytokine secreted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and regulates MSC stemness. We previously reported that TSG-6 changes primary human hepatic stellate cells (pHSCs) into stem-like cells by activating yes-associated protein-1 (YAP-1). However, the molecular mechanism behind the reprogramming action of TSG-6 in pHSCs remains unknown. Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a transmembrane protein that has multiple functions depending on the ligand it is binding, and it is involved in various signaling pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Given that β-catenin influences stemness and acts downstream of CD44, we hypothesized that TSG-6 interacts with the CD44 receptor and stimulates β-catenin to activate YAP-1 during TSG-6-mediated transdifferentiation of HSCs. Immunoprecipitation assays showed the interaction of TSG-6 with CD44, and immunofluorescence staining analyses revealed the colocalization of TSG-6 and CD44 at the plasma membrane of TSG-6-treated pHSCs. In addition, TSG-6 treatment upregulated the inactive form of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, which is a negative regulator of β-catenin, and promoted nuclear accumulation of active/nonphosphorylated β-catenin, eventually leading to the activation of YAP-1. However, CD44 suppression in pHSCs following CD44 siRNA treatment blocked the activation of β-catenin and YAP-1, which inhibited the transition of TSG-6-treated HSCs into stem-like cells. Therefore, these findings demonstrate that TSG-6 interacts with CD44 and activates β-catenin and YAP-1 during the conversion of TSG-6-treated pHSCs into stem-like cells, suggesting that this novel pathway is an effective therapeutic target for controlling liver disease.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.73-82
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• 2018

Cancer preventive activities of green tea and its main constituent, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been extensively studied by scientists all over the world. Since 1983, we have studied the cancer chemopreventive effects of EGCG as well as green tea extract and underlying molecular mechanisms. The first part of this review summarizes groundbreaking topics with EGCG and green tea extract: 1) Delayed cancer onset as revealed by a 10-year prospective cohort study, 2) Prevention of colorectal adenoma recurrence by a double-blind randomized clinical phase II trial, 3) Inhibition of metastasis of B16 melanoma cells to the lungs of mice, 4) Increase in the average value of Young's moduli, i.e., cell stiffness, for human lung cancer cell lines and inhibition of cell motility and 5) Synergistic enhancement of anticancer activity against human cancer cell lines with the combination of EGCG and anticancer compounds. In the second part, we became interested in cancer stem cells (CSCs). 1) Cancer stem cells in mouse skin carcinogenesis by way of introduction, after which we discuss two subjects from our review on human CSCs reported by other investigators gathered from a search of PubMed, 2) Expression of stemness markers of human CSCs compared with their parental cells, and 3) EGCG decreases or increases the expression of mRNA and protein in human CSCs. On this point, EGCG inhibited self-renewal and expression of pluripotency-maintaining transcription factors in human CSCs. Human CSCs are thus a target for cancer prevention and treatment with EGCG and green tea catechins.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• 제50권12호
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• pp.5.1-5.15
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• 2018

Targeting hair follicle regeneration has been investigated for the treatment of hair loss, and fundamental studies investigating stem cells and their niche have been described. However, knowledge of stem cell metabolism and the specific regulation of bioenergetics during the hair regeneration process is currently insufficient. Here, we report the hair regrowth-promoting effect of a newly synthesized novel small molecule, IM176OUT05 (IM), which activates stem cell metabolism. IM facilitated stemness induction and maintenance during an induced pluripotent stem cell generation process. IM treatment mildly inhibited mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and concurrently increased glycolysis, which accelerated stemness induction during the early phase of reprogramming. More importantly, the topical application of IM accelerated hair follicle regeneration by stimulating the progression of the hair follicle cycle to the anagen phase and increased the hair follicle number in mice. Furthermore, the stem cell population with a glycolytic metabotype appeared slightly earlier in the IM-treated mice. Stem cell and niche signaling involved in the hair regeneration process was also activated by the IM treatment during the early phase of hair follicle regeneration. Overall, these results show that the novel small molecule IM promotes tissue regeneration, specifically in hair regrowth, by restructuring the metabolic configuration of stem cells.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.161-172
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and has a high recurrence rate, which is associated with cancer stem cells (CSCs). β-carotene (BC) possesses antioxidant activity and several anticancer mechanisms. However, no investigation has examined its effect on colon cancer stemness. MATERIALS/METHODS: CD133⁺CD44⁺ HCT116 and CD133⁺CD44⁺ HT-29 cells were isolated and analyzed their self-renewal capacity by clonogenic and sphere formation assays. Expressions of several CSCs markers and Wnt/β-catenin signaling were examined. In addition, CD133⁺CD44⁺ HCT116 cells were subcutaneously injected in xenograft mice and analyzed the effect of BC on tumor formation, tumor volume, and CSCs markers in tumors. RESULTS: BC inhibited self-renewal capacity and CSC markers, including CD44, CD133, ALDH1A1, NOTCH1, Sox2, and β-catenin in vitro. The effects of BC on CSC markers were confirmed in primary cells isolated from human CRC tumors. BC supplementation decreased the number and size of tumors and delayed the tumor-onset time in xenograft mice injected with CD133⁺CD44⁺ HCT116 cells. The inhibitory effect of BC on CSC markers and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in tumors was confirmed in vivo as well. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that BC may be a potential therapeutic agent for colon cancer by targeting colon CSCs.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권11호
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• pp.1313-1319
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• 2016

암은 비균질적으로 구성된 세포집합체로 간질세포 및 세포 외 기질로 구성된 미세환경과 상호작용에 의해 발병, 전이, 심화되는 복잡한 질병이다. 하지만, 기존의 2차원 배양 세포 기반 플랫폼이 3차원적 생체 환경과 암의 비균질성을 대표하기 힘든 한계를 극복하기 위해 스페로이드 배양 세포를 비롯한 다양한 플랫폼 개발이 활발해지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 특히 감염, 염증 및 식이적 환경성 영향력에 민감한 HCT-8 대장암 세포주를 기반으로 하여 3차원 스페로이드 배양법을 보다 효과적인 방법으로 개선하고, 대장암 스페로이드 세포를 기반으로 암의 비균질적인 특질과 항암내성 연구의 간단하고 개선된 플랫폼을 제시고자 하였다. 3차원 배양법 최적화를 위해 물리적 배양환경 조성과 배양배지 구성에 따른 스페로이드 형태형성을 비교 분석하고 암 줄기세포군의 증가 양상을 확인한 결과, 필수요소로 구성된 제한 배지와 균일한 형태의 비부착성 표면 배양접시에서 배양된 스페로이드가 균일한 형태의 구형을 형성하고 암 줄기세포군이 증가함을 확인하였다. 대장암 스페로이드 세포를 기반으로 대장암 치료제인 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)에 대한 화학적 감응성 변화를 측정한 결과, 암 줄기세포가 5-FU에 대한 화학적 감수성 저해의 원인이 되며, 최적배양 조건에서 암 줄기세포의 약제 내성의 표현이 증대되었다. 이는 암줄기세포의 항암제 내성에 대한 잠재적 위험성을 내포하는 것으로, 이 방법론은 감염, 염증 및 식이적 요인과 연관된 대장암 스페로이드 세포 기반 항암제 약물반응을 검증하기 위해 효과적이면서 간소한 시험법으로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.12-20
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• 2021

In the last decade, we have witnessed an unprecedented clinical success in cancer immunotherapies targeting the programmed cell-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell-death 1 (PD-1) pathway. Besides the fact that PD-L1 plays a key role in immune regulation in tumor microenvironment, recently a plethora of reports has suggested a new perspective of non-immunological functions of PD-L1 in the regulation of cancer intrinsic activities including mesenchymal transition, glucose and lipid metabolism, stemness, and autophagy. Here we review the current understanding on the regulation of expression and intrinsic protumoral activity of cancer-intrinsic PD-L1.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.26-31
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• 2023

Chicken embryonic stem (ES) cells have great potential and provide a powerful tool to investigate embryonic development and to manipulate genetic modification in a genome. However, very limited studies are available on the functional characterization and robust expansion of chicken ES cells compared to other species. Here, we have developed a method to generate chicken embryonic stem cell-like cells under pluripotent culture conditions. The chicken embryonic stem cell-like cells were cultivated long-term over several passages of culture without loss of pluripotency in vitro and had the specific expression of key stem cell markers. Furthermore, they showed severe changes in morphology and a significant reduction in pluripotent genes after siRNA-mediated NANOG knockdown. Collectively, these results demonstrate the efficient generation of chicken embryonic stem cell-like cells from EGK stage X blastoderm-derived singularized cells and will facilitate their potential use for various purposes, such as biobanking genetic materials and understanding stemness in the fields of animal biotechnology.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.105-114
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• 2005

배아 줄기세포는 세포 치료 목적을 위한 재료로써 매우 큰 잠재력을 가지고 있으며, 이러한 잠재력의 실현을 위해서 세포의 운명에 결정적인 역할을 하는 요소들을 확인하고 특정 세포의 대량 생산을 위한 방법을 개발하여야 한다. 조혈과정은 폭넓게 연구되어 왔으며, 배아 줄기세포로부터 조혈세포의 분화는 lineage commitment에 관한 연구에 좋은 모델이 된다. 본 연구에서는, 두 종류의 마우스 배아 줄기세포주 TC-1과 B6-1를 이용하여 그 특성과 조혈세포 분화능을 비교하여 보았다. 두 세포주는 작은 차이는 있으나 줄기세포로서의 특성을 공통적으로 가지고 있었다. 그러나 methylcellulose 배양 system을 사용하여 embryonic body 형성능을 확인한 결과 TC-1이 B6-1에 비해 월등함을 확인하였다. 조혈세포 분화의 추적을 위해 blast colony의 형성, progenitor assay, RT-PCR을 통한 조혈세포 분화 관련 marker의 발현 분석을 수행한 결과, TC-1은 정상적으로 조혈세포를 생성해 내지만, B6-1은 제대로 분화되지 못함을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과들은 in vitro에서 배아 줄기세포로부터 조혈세포로 분화를 유도할 때, 보다 적합한 세포주의 탐색이 요구됨을 제시하며 이는 향후 인간 배아 줄기세포주에서도 마찬가지로 적용될 수 있음을 암시한다고 사료된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제30권8호
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• pp.661-671
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• 2020

항암 요법의 실패의 주요 원인으로 암세포의 항암제에 대한 내성 획득이 잘 알려져 있다. 비스테로이드소염제(NSAID)는 항염증작용뿐만 아니라 항암제와의 병용요법으로 임상적인 암 치료 요법에 응용되고있다. 본 연구에서는 NSAIDs 인 celecoxib 및 이의 구조 유사체인 2,5-dimethyl celecoxib 그리고 ibuprofen의 인간 암세포에 대한 imatinib 및 TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) 세포 독성 변화에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. NSAID는 TRAIL 및 imatinib에 각각 약제 내성을 나타내는 간암 세포와 백혈병 세포에서 이들 약물의 세포독성을 증강시키는 활성을 나타내었다. NSAID는 ATF4/CHOP의 발현 증강으로 소포체 스트레스 및 오토파지(Autophagy, 자가포식)를 유도하였다. 이로 인한 DR5 발현 증강과 함께 c-FLIP 발현 억제로 TRAIL의 세포독성을 증강시키는 기전을 나타내었다. NSAID로 유도되는 오토파지 활성은 imatinib-resistant CD44^highK562 백혈병세포의 imatinib 감수성을 증강시켰으며, NSAID는 이 세포에서 높은 발현을 나타내는 다양한 stemness-related marker 단백질의 발현 감소를 촉진시키는 활성으로 세포사멸을 유도하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 NSAID의 오토파지 유도 활성이 TRAIL과 imatinib의 세포 독성을 증강시키는 것으로서, NSAID와 이들 약물과 병용 처리방법은 인간 암세포의 TRAIL 및 imatinib 내성을 극복 시킴과 동시에 암세포에 이들 약물의 독성 부작용을 감소시킬 수 있는 낮은 농도의 처리를 가능하게 할 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.119-128
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the stemness of cells from canine dental tissues and bone marrow. Methods: Canine periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC), alveolar bone stem cells (ABSC) and bone marrow stem cells(BMSC) were isolated and cultured. Cell differentiations (osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic) and surface antigens (CD146, STRO-1, CD44, CD90, CD45, CD34) were evaluated in vitro. The cells were transplanted into the subcutaneous space of nude mice to assess capacity for ectopic bone formation at 8 weeks after implantation. Results: PDLSC, ABSC and BMSC differentiated into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondrocytes under defined condition. The cells expressed the mesenchymal stem cell markers differently. When transplanted into athymic nude mice, these three kinds of cells with hydroxyapatite /${\beta}$- tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP) carrier showed ectopic bone formation. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that canine dental stem cells have stemness like bone marrow stem cells. Transplantation of these cells might be used as a therapeutic approach for dental stem cell-mediated periodontal tissue regeneration.