• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.72.1-72.14
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• 2022

Background: The treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI), a common disease in dogs, is limited. Therefore, an effective method to prevent AKI in veterinary clinics is particularly crucial. Objectives: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is the third gaseous signal molecule involved in various physiological functions of the body. The present study investigated the effect of H₂S on cisplatin-induced AKI and the involved mechanisms in dogs. Methods: Cisplatin-injected dogs developed AKI symptoms as indicated by renal dysfunction and pathological changes. In the H₂S-treated group, 50 mM sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) solution was injected at 1 mg/kg/h for 30 min before cisplatin injection. After 72 h, tissue and blood samples were collected immediately. We performed biochemical tests, optical microscopy studies, analysis with test kits, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis. Results: The study results demonstrated that cisplatin injection increased necroptosis and regulated the corresponding protein expression of receptor interacting protein kinase (RIPK) 1, RIPK3, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1; furthermore, it activated the expressions of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nuclear factor kappa B, and interleukin-1β, in canine kidney tissues. Moreover, cisplatin triggered oxidative stress and affected energy metabolism. Conversely, an injection of NaHS solution considerably reduced the aforementioned changes. Conclusions: In conclusion, H₂S protects the kidney from cisplatin-induced AKI through the mitigation of necroptosis and inflammation. These findings provide new and valuable clues for the treatment of canine AKI and are of great significance for AKI prevention in veterinary clinics.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.319-338
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• 2022

Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) has high morbidity and mortality, the cure rate of surgical treatment and drug chemotherapy is not ideal. Therefore, development of new treatment strategies is necessary. We aimed to identify the mechanism underlying Sp1 regulation of GC progression. Methods and Methods: The levels of Sp1, β-catenin, SET domain bifurcated 1 (SETDB1), and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (HPGD) were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The targets of SETDB1 were predicted by AnimalTFDB, and dual-luciferase reporter assay was used for confirming the combination of Sp1, β-catenin, and SETDB1. HGC27 or AGS cells (1×10⁶ cells/mouse) were injected into mice via the caudal vein for GC model establishment. The level of Ki67 was detected using immunohistochemistry, and hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for evaluating tumor metastasis in mice with GC. Results: HPGD was inhibited, while the protein levels of Sp1, β-catenin, and SETDB1 were up-regulated in GC tissues and cell lines. HPGD overexpression or SETDB1 silencing inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of GC cells, and Sp1 regulated the proliferation, invasion, and migration of GC cells in a β-catenin-dependent manner. Furthermore, HPGD served as a target of SETDB1, and it was negatively regulated by SETDB1; additionally, Sp1 and β-catenin bound to the SETDB1 promoter and negatively regulated HPGD expression. We proved that Sp1 regulated GC progression via the SETDB1/HPGD axis. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that Sp1 transcriptionally inhibited HPGD via SETDB1 in a β-catenin-dependent manner and promoted the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.35-48
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• 2023

Objective : We studied prognostic biomarkers discovery for lung cancer based on the pattern identification for the personalized Korean medicine. Methods : Using 30 tissue samples, we performed a whole exome sequencing to examine the genetic differences among three groups. Results : The exome sequencing identified among 23,490 SNPs germline variants, 12 variants showed significant frequency differences between Xu and Stasis groups (P<0.0005). As similar, 18 and 10 variants were identified in analysis for Xu vs. Gentleness group and Stasis vs. Gentleness group, respectively (P<0.001). Our exome sequencing also found 8,792 lung cancer specific variants and among the groups identified 6, 34, and 12 variants which showed significant allele frequency differences in the comparison groups; Xu vs. Stasis, Xu vs. Gentleness group, and Stasis vs. Gentleness group. As a result of PCA analysis, in germline data set, Xu group was divided from other groups. Analysis using somatic variants also showed similar result. And in gene ontology analysis using pattern identification variants, we found genes like as FUT3, MYCBPAP, and ST5 were related to tumorigenicity, and tumor metastasis in comparison between Xu and Stasis. Other significant SNPs for two were responsible for eye morphogenesis and olfactory receptor activity. Classification of somatic pattern identification variants showed close relationship in multicellular organism reproduction, anion-anion antiporter activity, and GTPase regulator activity. Conclusions : Taken together, our study identified 40 variants in 29 genes in association with germline difference of pattern identification groups and 52 variants in 47 genes in somatic cancer tissues.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.295-303
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• 2023

Background: The use of Adriamycin (ADR), also known as doxorubicin, as a chemotherapy agent is limited by its detrimental adverse effects, especially cardiotoxicity. Recent studies have emphasized the crucial role of angiotensin II (Ang-II) in the development of ADR-induced cardiomyopathy. This study aimed to explore the potential cardioprotective effects of losartan in a rat model of ADR-induced cardiomyopathy. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a control group (group C), an ADR-treated group (ADR 5 mg/kg/wk for 3 weeks via intraperitoneal injections; group A), and co-treatment of ADR with losartan group (same dose of ADR and losartan; 10 mg/kg/day per oral for 3 weeks; group L). Western blot analysis was conducted to demonstrate changes in brain natriuretic peptide, collagen 1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, B-cell leukemia/lymphoma (Bcl)-2, Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), and caspase-3 protein expression levels in left ventricular (LV) tissues from each group. Results: Losartan administration reduced LV hypertrophy, collagen content, and the expression of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and MMP-2 in LV tissue. In addition, losartan led to a decrease in the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 and an increase in the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreover, losartan treatment induced a reduction in the apoptotic area compared to group A. Conclusion: In an ADR-induced cardiomyopathy rat model, co-administration of ADR with losartan presented cardioprotective effects by attenuating LV hypertrophy, pro-inflammatory factors, and apoptosis in LV tissue.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.11-25
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• 2023

In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), chromosome 4 open-reading frame 47 (C4orf47) has not been so far investigated for its prognostic value or association with infiltrating immune cells. We performed bioinformatics analysis on HCC data and analyzed the data using online databases such as TIMER, UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier plotter, LinkedOmics, and GEPIA2. We found that C4orf47 expression in HCC was higher compared to normal tissues. High C4orf47 expression was associated with a worse prognosis in HCC. The correlation between C4orf47 and infiltrating immune cells is positively associated with CD4+T cells, B cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells in HCC. Moreover, high C4orf47 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis of infiltrating immune cells. Analysis of C4orf47 gene co-expression networks revealed that 12501 genes were positively correlated with C4orf47, whereas 7200 genes were negatively correlated. The positively related genes of C4orf47 are associated with a high hazard ratio in different types of cancer, including HCC. Regarding the biological functions of C4orf47 gene, it mainly regulates RNA metabolic process, DNA replication, and cell cycle. The C4orf47 gene may play a prognostic role by regulating the global transcriptome process in HCC. Our findings demonstrate that high C4orf47 expression correlates with poor prognosis and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in HCC. We suggest that C4orf47 is a novel prognostic biomarker and potential immune therapeutic target for HCC.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.27.1-27.11
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• 2020

Although various studies on predictive markers in the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are in progress, only PD-L1 expression levels in tumor tissues are currently used. In the present study, we investigated whether baseline serum levels of IL-6 can predict the treatment response of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. In our cohort of 125 NSCLC patients, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were significantly higher in those with low IL-6 (<13.1 pg/ml) than those with high IL-6 (ORR 33.9% vs. 11.1%, p=0.003; DCR 80.6% vs. 34.9%, p<0.001). The median progression-free survival was 6.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9-8.7) in the low IL-6 group, significantly longer than in the high IL-6 group (1.9 months, 95% CI, 1.6-2.2, p<0.001). The median overall survival in the low IL-6 group was significantly longer than in the high IL-6 group (not reached vs. 7.4 months, 95% CI, 4.8-10.0). Thus, baseline serum IL-6 levels could be a potential biomarker for predicting the efficacy and survival benefit of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in NSCLC.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.467-473
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the potential protective effects of (+)-afzelechin (AZC), a natural compound that is derived from Bergenia ligulata, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses. AZC is known to have antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, and cardiovascular protective properties. However, knowledge regarding the therapeutic potential of AZC against LPS-induced inflammatory responses is limited. Thus, we investigated the protective attributes of AZC against inflammatory damage caused by LPS exposure. We examined the effects of AZC on heme oxygenase (HO)-1, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in LPS-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, the effects of AZC on the expression of iNOS, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β were analyzed in the lung tissues of LPS-injected mice. Data revealed that AZC promoted the production of HO-1, inhibited the interaction between luciferase and nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and reduced the levels of COX-2/PGE2 and iNOS/NO, thereby leading to a decrease in the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1 phosphorylation. Moreover, AZC facilitated the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, increased the binding activity between Nrf2 and the antioxidant response elements (AREs), and lowered the expression of IL-1β in the LPS-treated HUVECs. In the animal model, AZC significantly reduced the expression of iNOS in the lung tissue structure and the TNF-α level in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These findings demonstrate that AZC possesses anti-inflammatory properties that regulate iNOS through the inhibition of both NF-κB expression and p-STAT-1. Consequently, AZC has potential as a future candidate for the development of new clinical substances for the treatment of pathological inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2024

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor activated under hypoxic conditions, and it plays a crucial role in cellular stress regulation. While HIF-1α activity is essential in normal tissues, its presence in the tumor microenvironment represents a significant risk factor as it can induce angiogenesis and confer resistance to anti-cancer drugs, thereby contributing to poor prognoses. Typically, HIF-1α undergoes rapid degradation in normoxic conditions via oxygen-dependent degradation mechanisms. However, certain cancer cells can express HIF-1α even under normoxia. In this study, we observed an inclination toward increased normoxic HIF-1α expression in cancer cell lines exhibiting increased HDAC6 expression, which prompted the hypothesis that HDAC6 may modulate HIF-1α stability in normoxic conditions. To prove this hypothesis, several cancer cells with relatively higher HIF-1α levels under normoxic conditions were treated with ACY-241, a selective HDAC6 inhibitor, and small interfering RNAs for HDAC6 knockdown. Our data revealed a significant reduction in HIF-1α expression upon HDAC6 inhibition. Moreover, the downregulation of HIF-1α under normoxic conditions decreased zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 expression and increased E-cadherin levels in lung cancer H1975 cells, consequently suppressing cell invasion and migration. ACY-241 treatment also demonstrated an inhibitory effect on cell invasion and migration by reducing HIF-1α level. This study confirms that HDAC6 knockdown and ACY-241 treatment effectively decrease HIF-1α expression under normoxia, thereby suppressing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These findings highlight the potential of selective HDAC6 inhibition as an innovative therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.615-620
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• 2023

Massive localized lymphedema (MLL) is a rare disease caused by the obstruction of lymphatic vessels with specific clinical morphological and radiological characteristics. People with morbid obesity are mainly affected by MLL. Lymphedema is easily confused with soft tissue sarcoma and requires differential diagnosis, both the possibility of an MLL and also carcinoma manifestations in the soft tissues. The possible causes of massive lymphedema include trauma, surgery, and hypothyroidism. This report is the first case of MLL treated surgically in the Russian Federation. Detailed computed tomography (CT) characteristics and an electron microscope picture of MLL are discussed. A 50-year-old woman (body mass index of 43 kg/m²) with MLL arising from the anterior abdominal wall was admitted to the hospital for surgical treatment. Its mass was 22.16 kg. A morphological study of the resected mass confirmed the diagnosis of MLL. We review etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of MLL. We also performed an electron-microscopic study that revealed interstitial Cajal-like cells telocytes not previously described in MLL cases. We did not find similar findings in the literature. It is possible that the conduction of an ultrastructural examination of MLL tissue samples will further contribute to the understanding of MLL pathogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.774-782
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• 2024

This study aimed to elucidate the anti-colon cancer mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 in vitro and in vivo. Cell viability rate was detected using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tetrazolium assay. The inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg1 against CT26 cell proliferation gradually increased with increasing concentration. The in vivo experiments also demonstrated an antitumor effect. The monodansylcadaverine (MDC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and expression of autophagy marker proteins confirmed that ginsenoside Rg1 induced autophagy in vitro. Ginsenoside Rg1 induced autophagy death of CT26 cells, but this effect could be diminished by autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine, 3-MA). Additionally, in a xenograft model, immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissues showed that the LC3 and Beclin-1 proteins were highly expressed in the tumors from the ginsenoside Rg1-treated nude mice, confirming that ginsenoside Rg1 also induced autophagy in vivo. Furthermoer, both in vivo and in vitro, the protein expressions of p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-p70S6K were inhibited by ginsenoside Rg1, which was verified by Akt inhibitors. These results indicated that the mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 against colon cancer was associated with autophagy through inhibition of the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway.