• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.44.1-44.10
• /
• 2023

Tumor hypoxia, oxygen deprivation state, occurs in most cancers and promotes angiogenesis, enhancing the potential for metastasis. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family genes play crucial roles in tumorigenesis by promoting angiogenesis. To investigate the malignant processes triggered by hypoxia-induced angiogenesis across pan-cancers, we comprehensively analyzed the relationships between the expression of VEGF family genes and hypoxic microenvironment based on integrated bioinformatics methods. Our results suggest that the expression of VEGF family genes differs significantly among various cancers, highlighting their heterogeneity effect on human cancers. Across the 33 cancers, VEGFB and VEGFD showed the highest and lowest expression levels, respectively. The survival analysis showed that VEGFA and placental growth factor (PGF) were correlated with poor prognosis in many cancers, including kidney renal cell and liver hepatocellular carcinoma. VEGFC expression was positively correlated with glioma and stomach cancer. VEGFA and PGF showed distinct positive correlations with hypoxia scores in most cancers, indicating a potential correlation with tumor aggressiveness. The expression of miRNAs targeting VEGF family genes, including hsa-miR-130b-5p and hsa-miR-940, was positively correlated with hypoxia. In immune subtypes analysis, VEGFC was highly expressed in C3 (inflammatory) and C6 (transforming growth factor β dominant) across various cancers, indicating its potential role as a tumor promotor. VEGFC expression exhibited positive correlations with immune infiltration scores, suggesting low tumor purity. High expression of VEGFA and VEGFC showed favorable responses to various drugs, including BLU-667, which abrogates RET signaling, an oncogenic driver in liver and thyroid cancers. Our findings suggest potential roles of VEGF family genes in malignant processes related with hypoxia-induced angiogenesis.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.94-94
• /
• 2003

Endocrine disrupters (EDs) are exogenous chemicals that interfere with the production, releasing, metabolism, excretion, binding of natural hormones, and whole endocrine systems. EDs are very dangerous since they are extremely stable, not easily degraded, and accumulated in fat and tissue. 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is known as the most toxic EDs. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of TCDD on proliferation of human breast cancer (MCF-7) and endometrial adenocarcinoma (Hec-1B) cells. 10, 100, and 1000 nM of TCDD were treated with steroid free condition. Viable cell counting, MTT, and BrdU assay was performed to investigate cell proliferation. Apoptosis was investigated using DNA laddering. Although, DNA fragmentation as the evidence of apoptosis was not detected, all of these cell lines showed restricted proliferation at 48 hrs after 100 and 1000 nM TCDD treatments. Recently, it has been reported that the expression of transforming growth factor $\beta$s (TGF-$\beta$s) are increased in TCDD treatment and also involved in regulation of cell cycle. Therefore, these results were considered that the decreased cell prolifcration by TCDD is related to the expression of TGF-$\beta$s.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.477-484
• /
• 2019

Objective: We aimed to observe hair follicle (HF) development in the dorsal skin and elucidate the expression patterns of genes and proteins related to skin and HF development in Rex rabbits from birth to 8 weeks of age. Methods: Whole-skin samples were obtained from the backs of Rex rabbits at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, the morphological development of primary and secondary HFs was observed, and the gene transcript levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), epidermal growth factor (EGF), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), transforming growth factor ${\beta}-1$, 2, and 3 ($TGF{\beta}-1$, $TGF{\beta}-2$, and $TGF{\beta}-3$) were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Additionally, Wnt family member 10b (Wnt10b) and ${\beta}$-Catenin gene and protein expression were examined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. Results: The results showed significant changes in the differentiation of primary and secondary HFs in Rex rabbits during their first 8 weeks of life. The IGF-I, EGF, $TGF{\beta}-2$, and $TGF{\beta}-3$ transcript levels in the rabbits were significantly lower at 2 weeks of age than at birth and gradually increased thereafter, while the BMP2 and $TGF{\beta}-1$ transcript levels at 2 weeks of age were significantly higher than those at birth and gradually decreased thereafter. ${\beta}$-Catenin gene expression was also significantly affected by age, while the Wnt10b transcript level was not. However, the Wnt10b and ${\beta}$-catenin protein expression levels were the lowest at 2 and 4 weeks of age. Conclusion: Our data showed that a series of changes in HFs in dorsal skin occurred during the first 8 weeks. Many genes, such as IGF-I, EGF, BMP2, $TGF{\beta}-1$, $TGF{\beta}-2$, $TGF{\beta}-3$, and ${\beta}$-Catenin, participated in this process, and the related proteins Wnt10b and ${\beta}$-Catenin in skin were also affected by age.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.15-23
• /
• 2021

Background and Objectives During speech, the vocal folds oscillate at frequencies ranging from 100-200 Hz with amplitudes of a few millimeters. Mechanical stimulation is an essential factor which affects metabolism of human vocal folds. The effect of mechanical vibration on the cellular response in the human vocal fold fibroblasts cells (hVFFs) was evaluated. Materials and Method We created a culture systemic device capable of generating vibratory stimulations at human phonation frequencies. To establish optimal cell culture condition, cellular proliferation and viability assay was examined. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction was used to assess extracellular matrix (ECM) related and growth factors expression on response to changes in vibratory frequency and amplitude. Western blot was used to investigate ECM and inflammation-related transcription factor activation and its related cellular signaling transduction pathway. Results The cell viability was stable with vibratory stimulation within 24 h. A statistically significant increase of ECM genes (collagen type I alpha 1 and collagen type I alpha 2) and growth factor [transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1)] observe under the experimental conditions. Vibratory stimulation induced transcriptional activation of NF-κB by phosphorylation of p65 subunit through cellular Mitogen-activated protein kinases activation by extracellular signal regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) phosphorylation on hVFFs. Conclusion This study confirmed enhancing synthesis of collagen, TGF-β1 and FGF was testified by vibratory stimulation on hVFFs. This mechanism is thought to be due to the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs. Taken together, these results demonstrate that vibratory bioreactor may be a suitable alternative to hVFFs for studying vocal folds cellular response to vibratory vocalization.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2009

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HRHDT), a prescription composed of four herbs, has been wi dely used in Oriental Medicine for the treatment of cerebral infarction. However, the mechanisms by which the herbal formula affects on the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cerebral infarction patients remain unknown yet. Methods: The levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-1b, and IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-${\beta}1$ were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cerebral infarction patients under our experimental conditions. Results: The secretory levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-1b, and IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly increased in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cerebral infarction patients. However, pretreatment with HRHDT significantly inhibited the secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory in PBMCs. Also, HRHDT induced a significant increase of transforming growth factor (TGF)-b1 in PBMCs. Conclusions: These data indicate that HRHDT may be beneficial in the suppression of inflammatory processes of cerebral infarct through suppression of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10 and induction of TGF-${\beta}1$.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.8.1-8.7
• /
• 2017

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the major diseases of the urinary system in older men. WSY-0702 is the extracted from the traditional medicinal plant; Seoritae, and it has effects of anti-obesity, chronic cervical pain, and anti-oxidant. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of WSY-0702 in the prevention and treatment of BPH. Several parameters including inflammatory mediators, hormones, and oxidative stress (OS) have been considered to play a role in the development of BPH. Prostate tissue damage and OS may lead to compensatory cellular proliferation with resulting hyperplastic growth. An in vitro study showed that proliferation inhibited the human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 in a dose-dependent manner. In cell line, the cell cycle at the G2/M and G0/G1 phase and downregulated the expression of CyclineB1 (CCNB1) and CyclineD1 (CCND1). In addition, we measured the $H_2O_2$-induced OS damage using RWPE-1 cells. We examined the relative expression of protein involved in the regulation of prostate apoptosis: transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}$, a negative growth factor able to induced prostate apoptosis under physiological conditions. These results suggest that WSY-0702 that can inhibit the growth of prostate epithelial cell by a mechanism that may involve arresting the cell cycle and downregulating CCNB1 and CCND1 expression. In addition, WSY-0702 exposure resulted in significant protective effects in $H_2O_2$-stressed PWPE-1 cells by reduction in TGF-${\beta}$ levels.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.1425-1431
• /
• 2015

The lymphocyte component of the immune system is divided into B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes produce antibodies (humoral immunity) via maturation into plasma cells, and T lymphocytes kill other cells or organisms (cellular immunity). A traditional immunological paradigm is that B lymphocyte and T lymphocyte interactions are a one-way phenomenon, with T lymphocytes helping to induce the terminal differentiation of B lymphocytes into immunoglobulin class-switched plasma cells. A deficiency of T lymphocytes was reported to result in defective B lymphocyte function. However, evidence for a reciprocal interaction between B and T lymphocytes is emerging, with B lymphocytes influencing the differentiation and effector function of T lymphocytes. For example, B lymphocytes have been shown to induce direct tolerance of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T lymphocytes and induce T lymphocytes anergy via transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) production. The present study showed that LPS-stimulated B lymphocytes inhibited the differentiation of Th1 lymphocytes by inhibiting the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) from dendritic cells. An interaction between the B lymphocytes and dendritic cells was not needed for this inhibition, and the B lymphocytes did not alter dendritic cell maturation. B lymphocyte-derived soluble factor (BDSF) suppressed the LPS-induced IL-12p35 transcription in the dendritic cells. Overall, these results point to a novel B lymphocyte- mediated immune suppressive mechanism. The findings cast doubt on the traditional paradigm of immunological interactions involving B lymphocyte and T lymphocyte interactions.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.373-378
• /
• 2019

The nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD) is an innate pattern recognition receptor that recognizes pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns. The 29-kDa amino-terminal fibronectin fragment (29-kDa FN-f) is a matrix degradation product found in the synovial fluids of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). We investigated whether NOD2 was involved in 29-kDa FN-f-induced pro-catabolic gene expression in human chondrocytes. The expression of mRNA and protein was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qrt-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Small interfering RNAs were used for knockdown of NOD2 and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2). An immunoprecipitation assay was performed to examine protein interactions. The NOD2 levels in human OA cartilage were much higher than in normal cartilage. NOD1 and NOD2 expression, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), were upregulated by 29-kDa FN-f in human chondrocytes. NOD2 silencing showed that NOD2 was involved in the 29-kDa FN-f-induced expression of TLR-2. Expressions of IL-6, IL-8, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -3, and -13 were also suppressed by TLR-2 knockdown. Furthermore, NOD2 and TLR-2 knockdown data demonstrated that both NOD2 and TLR-2 modulated the expressions of their adaptors, receptorinteracting protein 2 (RIP2) and myeloid differentiation 88, in 29-kDa FN-f-treated chondrocytes. 29-kDa FN-f enhanced the interaction of NOD2, RIP2 and transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), an indispensable signaling intermediate in the TLR-2 signaling pathway, and activated nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), subsequently leading to increased expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cartilage-degrading enzymes. These results demonstrate that 29-kDa FN-f modulated pro-catabolic responses via cross-regulation of NOD2 and TLR-2 signaling pathways.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 2014

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are present in diverse tissues and organs, including bone marrow, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, and placenta. MSCs can expand easily in vitro and have regenerative stem cell properties and potent immunoregulatory activity. They inhibit the functions of dendritic cells, B cells, and T cells, but enhance those of regulatory T cells by producing immunoregulatory molecules such as transforming growth factor-${\beta}$, hepatic growth factors, prostaglandin $E_2$, interleukin-10, indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase, nitric oxide, heme oxygenase-1, and human leukocyte antigen-G. These properties make MSCs promising therapeutic candidates for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Here, we review the preclinical studies of MSCs in animal models for systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and summarize the underlying immunoregulatory mechanisms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.716-722
• /
• 2005

Carcass weight and backfat thickness are primary yield grading factors. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I/-II, transforming growth factor $\beta$1 (TGF-$\beta$1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulate the proliferation and differentiation of cells including adipocytes. Also, interleukin (IL)-2/-6, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) are known to be related to muscle growth and fat depth. However, the relationships between endocrine factors and carcass grade have not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the concentrations of endocrine factors in serum and muscle, and to investigate the relationship of endocrine factors with carcass grade. A total of 60 crossbred gilts (Duroc${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace) were used. Blood from the jugular vein was collected at antemortem (7 days before slaughter) and postmortem periods, and M. Longissimus was collected at 45 min and 24 h after slaughter. The concentrations of IGF-I/-II, EGF, TGF-$\beta$1, IL-2/-6, cortisol and DHEA-S were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In general, IGF and EGF concentrations in serum and muscle of grade A carcasses were found to be higher than those of grade C carcasses at antemortem and postmortem periods, whereas the pattern of TGF-$\beta$1 concentration was reversed. In particular, the concentrations of muscle IGF-I (24 h postmortem) and serum TGF-$\beta$1 (antemortem) were significantly different between grades A and C (p<0.05). The present results indicate that serum and muscle growth factors affect carcass weight and backfat thickness, and indirectly suggest the possibility that carcass grade could be predicted by expression of serum and/or muscle growth factors.