• 약학회지
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• 제56권6호
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• pp.358-363
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• 2012

Nemo-like kinase (NLK), an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine protein kinase, plays an important role in wide variety of developmental events. NLK phosphorylates T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) transcriptional complex and suppresses wnt signaling pathway through inhibition of ${\beta}$-catenin/TCF complex interaction. However, the function of NLK in gastric carcinogenesis has not been investigated. In the present study, we have examined whether the NLK gene is involved in the development and/or progression of gastric cancers. NLK expression was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining in 153 advanced gastric cancer specimens. Immunhistochemical analysis showed increased expression of NLK in 91 (59.5%) out of 153 gastric cancer specimens. Statistically, there was no significant relationship between altered expression of NLK protein and clinicopathological parameters, including tumor differentiation, location, lymph node metastasis. We identified that mRNA and protein expression of NLK was significantly up-regulated in human gastric cancer tissues compare to corresponding normal gastric tissues. In addition, we found that human gastric cancer cell lines exhibited relatively high expression of NLK, as compared with normal gastric cells. The results of this study suggest that aberrant regulation of NLK may contribute to the development or progression of gastric cancers and serve as a potential biomarker for advanced gastric cancer patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.76-83
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• 2001

연구배경 : 탄광부 진폐증은 석탄 분진의 흡입에 의한 폐조직의 손상에 대하여 부적절하고 과도한 염증반응이 일어나 폐섬유화를 유발하여 발병하는 것으로 생각되어지고 있다. 이 반응에는 대식세포를 비롯한 많은 염증세포들과 그 세포들에서 분비되는 매개물질들이 중요한 역할을 한다. TGF-$\beta$는 특발성 폐섬유화증, 규폐증 및 석면증의 폐섬유화 과정에 관여한다고 알려져 있다. 그러나 비슷한 기전에 의해 폐 섬유화가 진행되는 것으로 생각되는 탄광부 진폐증에서는 TGF-$\beta$의 관여여부에 대한 보고가 거의 없다. 본 연구는 탄광부 진폐증 환자에서 혈청 TGF-${\beta}_1$을 측정하여 섬유화의 정도에 따른 그 활성도의 변화를 비교하여 탄광부 진폐증의 폐섬유화 과정에 TGF-${\beta}_1$이 관여하는지 알아 보고자 하였다. 방법 : 직업력과 방사선학적 소견 상 탄광부 진폐증으로 진단 된 환자 중 단순 탄광부 진폐증 20예와 복잡성 탄광부 진폐증 20예를 대상으로 하였다. 정상소견인 자 10명을 대조군으로 설정하였으며, 각 대상을 human TGF-${\beta}_1$ immunoassay kit (R&D system, Minneapolis, MN)을 이용하여 혈장 내 TGF-${\beta}_1$을 측정하였다. 결과 : 단순 탄광부 진폐증($0.64{\pm}0.17$ ng/mL)과 정상 대조군($0.63{\pm}0.18$ ng/mL)보다 복잡성 탄광부 진폐증 ($0.79{\pm}0.18$ ng/mL)의 혈중 TGF-${\beta}_1$의 농도가 의미 있게 높았다(p<0.05). 결론 : 탄광부 진폐증의 섬유화 진행 과정에 TGF-${\beta}_1$이 관여함을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 단순 탄광부 진폐증과 복잡성 탄광부 진폐증의 감별진단과 경과 예측인자로서 혈장 TGF-${\beta}_1$이 유용하리라 생각되며, TGF-${\beta}$의 생성을 억제한다면 탄광부 진폐증의 섬유화 진행을 저지함으로써 탄광부 진폐증의 치료에 있어 중요한 역할을 할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.55-60
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• 2007

Aging causes thymus involution, and genes in thymus play an important role in the development of the immune system. In this study, we compared genes expressed in thymus of neonatal and peripubertal rats using annealing control primers (ACPs)-based GeneFishing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and semiquantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. We identified 10 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 20 ACPs. Of 10 DEGs, bystin-like, collagen type V alpha 1 (COL5A1), and T-cell receptor beta-chain segment 2 (TCRB2) that are related to immune-function were detected in rat thymus. Bystin-like and TCRB2 were up-regulated, while COL5A1 was down-regulated in peripubertal thymus. Semiquantitative RT-PCR confirmed postnatal changes in expression of bystin-like, COL5A1, and TCRB2. These results suggest that bystin-like, COL5A1, and TCRB2 could regulate immune function controlled in thymus as age increases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.3077-3084
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• 2016

Various beneficial effects have been described for fermented papaya preparation (FPP: SAIDO-PS501) based on its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory functions. The present study was designed to determine the effects of FPP on carcinogenesis in vivo, and immunomodulatory function in vitro. Mice were injected with RL male 1 cells subcutaneously or 3-methylcholantherene (MCA) intravenously to induce cancer and orally or intraperitoneally treated with FPP solution. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from healthy volunteers and patients with atopic dermatitis, treated with FPP, and subjected to measurement of cytokine production and changes in Foxp3-expressing regulatory T cell (Treg) stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Administration of FPP suppressed tumor size and the incidence of malignancy. In vitro, treatment of PBMC with FPP induced IL-$1{\beta}$, $TNF{\alpha}$ and $IFN{\gamma}$ production. Moreover, FPP suppressed proliferation of PHA-stimulated Foxp3-expressing Treg. These results suggest that FPP has chemotherapeutic properties.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2000년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.8-9
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• 2000

Despite the advances made in the past few decades in cancer chemotherapy, many conventional anticancer drugs display relatively poor selectivity for cancer cells. The nonselectivity of anticancer drugs and the development of anticancer drug resistance have been recognized as serious limitations in their clinical usefulness. Therefore, a major challenge in cancer chemotherapy is the development of new anticancer agents with improved selectivity for tumor cells as well as the prevention of the host cell resistance, both of which result in the improvement of therapeutic effect against cancer cells. Cyclophosphamide (CP), a widely used anticancer agent, is a prodrug that is activated by hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase (MFO) catalyzed C$_4$- hydroxylation. The resulting 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (4-OH-CP) is converted to the ring-opened tautomer to aldophosphamide (Aldo) which subsequently undergoes a base- catalyzed ${\beta}$-elimination to generate cytotoxic phosphoramide mustard (PDA) and acrolein. The cytotoxic activity of CP is attributed to the aziridinium ion species derived from PDA that cross-links interstrand DNA.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.331-335
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• 1995

Asthma is a disease of the airways that is characterized by increased responsiveness of the tracheobronchial tree to a multiplicity of stimuli. A number of causes have been postulated for the increased airway reactivity of asthma is conservative as beta-adrenergic agonist, methylxanthines, glucocorticoids, anticholinergics and mast cell stabilizing agent. Stellate ganglion block for the treatment of bronchial asthma has its controversies. Stellate ganglion block was performed for the treatment of 3 patients with bronchial asthma. After stellate ganglion blocks, dyspnea, coughing and wheezing was markedly reduced. Lung function test improved with 1 st case. Two asthma cases were able to discontinue medication for asthma. No severe aggrevation of bronchial symptoms were noted after stellate ganglion blocks. It suggested that stellate ganglion block can be safely performed on bronchial asthmatic patients.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권9호
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• pp.774-783
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• 2020

The lung has a vital function in gas exchange between the blood and the external atmosphere. It also has a critical role in the immune defense against external pathogens and environmental factors. While the lung is classified as a relatively quiescent organ with little homeostatic turnover, it shows robust regenerative capacity in response to injury, mediated by the resident stem/progenitor cells. During regeneration, regionally distinct epithelial cell populations with specific functions are generated from several different types of stem/progenitor cells localized within four histologically distinguished regions: trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. WNT signaling is one of the key signaling pathways involved in regulating many types of stem/progenitor cells in various organs. In addition to its developmental role in the embryonic and fetal lung, WNT signaling is critical for lung homeostasis and regeneration. In this minireview, we summarize and discuss recent advances in the understanding of the role of WNT signaling in lung regeneration with an emphasis on stem/progenitor cells.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.99-104
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• 2014

Platycodon grandiflorum have been used as a traditional remedy and food source. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulating effects of Platycodon grandiflorum in mouse, using ex vivo experiments. Six to seven-week old mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet, and water extract of Platycodon grandiflorum was orally administrated at two different concentractions (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W./day) every other day for four weeks. In ex vivo experiments, the highest proliferation of splenocytes and levels of cytokine (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$) production were observed in 500 mg/kg BW/day supplementation group for all three cytokines stimulated by LPS. In conclusion, this study suggests that Platycodon grandiflorum extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation and cytokine production capacity by activating macrophages in mice.

• BMB Reports
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.119-124
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• 2009

PI(3,4,5)$P_3$ produced by the activated PI3-kinase is a key lipid second messenger in cell signaling downstream of insulin. Skeletal muscle and kidney-enriched inositol phosphatase (SKIP) identified as a 5'-inositol phosphatase that hydrolyzes PI(3,4,5) $P_3$ to PI(3,4)$P_2$, negatively regulates the insulin-induced glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle. However the mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear. To elucidate the function of SKIP in glycogen synthesis, we employed RNAi techniques to knockdown the SKIP gene in differentiating C2C12 myoblasts. Insulininduced phosphorylation of Akt (protein kinase B) and GSK-3$\beta$ (Glycogen synthase kinase), subsequent dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase and glycogen synthesis were increased by inhibiting the expression of SKIP, whereas the insulin-induced glycogen synthesis was decreased by overexpression of WT-SKIP. Our results suggest that SKIP plays a negative regulatory role in Akt/ GSK-3$\beta$/GS (glycogen synthase) pathway leading to glycogen synthesis in myocytes.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.13-18
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• 2015

Alzheimer's disease severely compromises cognitive function. One of the mechanisms to explain the pathology of Alzheimer's disease has been the hypotheses of amyloid-pore/channel formation by complex $A{\beta}$-aggregates. Clinical studies suggested the moderate alcohol consumption can reduces probability developing neurodegenerative pathologies. A recent report explored the ability of ethanol to disrupt the generation of complex $A{\beta}$ in vitro and reduce the toxicity in two cell lines. Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to understand how ethanol blocks the aggregation of amyloid. On the other hand, the in silico modeling showed ethanol effect over the dynamics assembling for complex $A{\beta}$-aggregates mediated by break the hydrosaline bridges between Asp 23 and Lys 28, was are key element for amyloid dimerization. The amyloid pore/ channel hypothesis has been explored only in neuronal models, however recently experiments suggested the frog oocytes such an excellent model to explore the mechanism of the amyloid pore/channel hypothesis. So, the used of frog oocytes to explored the mechanism of amyloid aggregates is new, mainly for amyloid/pore hypothesis. Therefore, this experimental model is a powerful tool to explore the mechanism implicates in the Alzheimer's disease pathology and also suggests a model to prevent the Alzheimer's disease pathology.