• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.354-363
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• 2009

Cytotoxic Nitric oxide (NO) overproduced by inducible NO Synthase (iNOS or NOS2), which was induced in inflammatory reactions and immune responses directly or indirectly affects the functions as host defense and can cause normal tissue damage. Microarray analysis was performed to identify gene profiles of both NO-dependent and -independent transcripts in RAW 264.7 macrophages that use selective NOS2 inhibitors aminoguanidine ($100\;{\mu}M$) and L-canavanine (1 mM). A total of 3,297 genes were identified that were up- or down-regulated significantly over 2-fold in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages. NO-dependency was determined in the expressed total gene profiles and also within inflammatory conditions-related functional categories. Out of all the gene profiles, 1711 genes affected NO-dependently and -independently in 567 genes. In the categories of inflammatory conditions, transcripts of 16 genes (Pomp, C8a, Ifih1, Irak1, Txnrd1, Ptafr, Scube1, Cd8a, Gpx4, Ltb, Fasl, Igk-V21-9, Vac14, Mbl1, C1r and Tlr6) and 29 geneas (IL-1beta, Mpa2l, IFN activated genes and Chemokine ligands) affected NO-dependently and -independently, respectively. This NO dependency can be applied to inflammatory reaction-related functional classifications, such as cell migration, chemotaxis, cytokine, Jak/STAT signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. Our results suggest that LPS-induced gene transcripts in inflammation or infection can be classified into physiological and toxic effects by their dependency on the NOS2-mediated NO release.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.593-598
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• 2017

The $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger-1 (NHE-1) is a ubiquitously expressed pH-regulatory membrane protein that functions in the brain, heart, and other organs. It is increased by intracellular acidosis through the interaction of intracellular $H^+$ with an allosteric modifier site in the transport domain. In the previous study, we reported that glutamate-induced NHE-1 phosphorylation mediated by activation of protein kinase C-${\beta}$ (PKC-${\beta}$) in cultured neuron cells via extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)/p90 ribosomal s6 kinases (p90RSK) pathway results in NHE-1 activation. However, whether glutamate stimulates NHE-1 activity solely by the allosteric mechanism remains elusive. Cultured primary cortical neuronal cells were subjected to intracellular acidosis by exposure to $100{\mu}M$ glutamate or 20 mM $NH_4Cl$. After the desired duration of intracellular acidosis, the phosphorylation and activation of PKC-${\beta}$, ERK1/2 and p90RSK were determined by Western blotting. We investigated whether the duration of intracellular acidosis is controlled by glutamate exposure time. The NHE-1 activation increased while intracellular acidosis sustained for >3 min. To determine if sustained intracellular acidosis induced NHE-1 phosphorylation, we examined phosphorylation of NHE-1 induced by intracellular acidosis by transient exposure to $NH_4Cl$. Sustained intracellular acidosis led to activation and phosphorylation of NHE-1. In addition, sustained intracellular acidosis also activated the PKC-${\beta}$, ERK1/2, and p90RSK in neuronal cells. We conclude that glutamate stimulates NHE-1 activity through sustained intracellular acidosis, which mediates NHE-1 phosphorylation regulated by PKC-${\beta}$/ERK1/2/p90RSK pathway in neuronal cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.690-699
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• 2022

Background: Few studies reported the therapeutic effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in lung inflammatory diseases. However, the anti-inflammatory role and underlying molecular in cadmium-induced lung injury have been poorly understood, directly linked to chronic lung diseases (CLDs): chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer etc. Therefore, in this study we aim to investigate the therapeutic activities of water extract of KRG (KRG-WE) in mouse cadmium-induced lung injury model. Method: The anti-inflammatory roles and underlying mechanisms of KRG-WE were evaluated in vitro under cadmium-stimulated lung epithelial cells (A549) and HEK293T cell line and in vivo in cadmium-induced lung injury mouse model using semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), luciferase assay, immunoblotting, and FACS. Results: KRG-WE strongly ameliorated the symptoms of CdSO4-induced lung injury in mice according to total cell number in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and severity scores as well as cytokine levels. KRG-WE significantly suppressed the upregulation of inflammatory signaling comprising mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and their upstream enzymes. In in vitro study, KRG-WE suppressed expression of interleukin (IL)-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and IL-8 while promoting recovery in CdSO₄-treated A549 cells. Similarly, KRG-WE reduced phosphorylation of MAPK and c-Jun/c-Fos in cadmium-exposed A549 cells. Conclusion: KRG-WE was found to attenuate symptoms of cadmium-induced lung injury and reduce the expression of inflammatory genes by suppression of MAPK/AP-1-mediated pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4893-4896
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• 2014

Background: Recent reports have shown that C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) plays an important role in metastasis. Despite a clear understanding of the protein's structure and properties, its functional role remains elusive. We conducted the present study to evaluate the expressions of CXCR4 in pancreatic cancer, and to investigate its relationship with clinicopathological parameters, especially perineural invasion(PNI). Materials and Methods: The association between CXCR4 expression and perineural invasion was determined by immunohistochemistry in pancreatic cancer patients (n=51). Results: CXCR4 expression was correlated with the existence of PNI and the type of PNI (p=0.042, p=0.040). TIMP-2 expression was also correlated with the existence, the pathway and degree of PNI (p=0.000, p=0.006, p=0.000). Conclusions: Our results suggest an association between PNI and expression of CXCR4 and TIMP-2 in pancreatic cancer. CXCR4 may promote the occurrence of PNI in pancreatic cancer cells by decreasing the inhibition of TIMPs on MMP.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.674-684
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• 2009

Objectives : In conditions of brain infarction, irreversible axon damage occurs in the central nerve system (CNS), because gliosis becomes a physical and a mechanical barrier to axonal regeneration. Reactive gliosis induced by ischemic injury such as middle cerebral artery occlusion is involved with up-regulation of GFAP and CD81. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of the Gongjin-dan (GJD) on CD81 and GFAP expression and its pathway in the rat brain following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Methods : In order to study ischemic injuries on the brain, infarction was induced by MCAO using insertion of a single nylon thread, through the internal carotid artery, into a middle cerebral artery. Cresyl violet staining, cerebral infarction size measurement, immunohistochemistry and microscopic examination were used to detect the expression of CD81 and GFAP and the effect on the infarct size and pyramidal cell death in the brain of the rat with cerebral infarction induced by MCAO. Also, c-Fos and ERK expression were measured to investigate the signaling pathway after GJD administration in MCAO rats. Results : Measuring the size of cerebral infarction induced by MCAO in the rat after injection of GJD showed the size had decreased. GJD administration showed pyramidal cell death protection in the hippocampus in the MCAO rat. GJD administration decreased GF AP expression in the MCAO rat. GJD administration decreased CD81 expression in the MCAO rat. GJD administration induced up-regulation of c-FOS expression compared with MCAO. GJD administration induced down-regulation of ERK expression compared with MCAO. Conclusion : We observed that GJD could suppress the reactive gliosis, which disturbs the axonal regeneration in the brain of a rat with cerebral infarction after MCAO by controlling the expression of CD81 and GFAP. The effect may be modulated by the regulation of c-Fos and ERK. These results suggest that GJD can be a candidate to regenerate CNS injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2000

To investigate the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores, we measured isometric contraction and $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx. $CaCl_2$ increased $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying- induced contraction in dose-dependent manner, but phospholipase C activity was not affected by the $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying-induced contraction. The contraction was inhibited by voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists dose dependently, but not by TMB-8 (intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blocker). Both PKC inhibitors (H-7 and staurosporine) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamic acid) significantly inhibited the contraction, but calmodulin antagonists (W-7 and trifluoperazine) had no inhibitory effect on the contraction. The combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were greater than that of each one alone. In $Ca^{2+}$ store-emptied condition, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx was significantly inhibited by verapamil, H-7 or genistein but not by trifluoperazine. However combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were not observed. Therefore, this kinase pathway may modulate the sensitivity of contractile protein. These results suggest that contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores was mediated by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel, also protein kinase C and/or tyrosine kinase pathway modulates the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile protein.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.69-73
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• 2016

High-resolution quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (HRMS), with high-resolution (> 10,000 at full-width at half-maximum) and accurate mass (< 5 ppm deviation) capabilities, plays an important role in the structural elucidation of drug metabolites in the pharmaceutical industry. ML106, a derivative of imidazobenzimidazole, decreased melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Here, we investigated the phase 1 metabolic pathway of ML106 using HRMS in human liver microsomes (HLMs) and recombinant cDNA-expressed cytochrome P450 (CYP). After the incubation of ML106 with pooled HLMs and recombinant cDNA-expressed CYP in the presence of NADPH, five phase 1 metabolites, including three mono-hydroxylated metabolites (M1-3) and two di-hydroxylated metabolites (M4 and M5), were investigated. The metabolite structures were postulated by the elucidation of protonated mass spectra using HRMS. The CYP isoforms related to the hydroxylation of ML106 were studied after incubation with recombinant cDNA-expressed CYP. Here, we identified the phase 1 metabolic pathway of ML106 induced by CYP in HLMs.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2003

RAD6 in yeast mediates postreplication DNA repair and is responsible for DNA-damage induced mutations. RAD6 encodes ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that is well conserved among eukaryotic organisms. However, the molecular targets and consequences of their ubiquitination by Rad6 have remained elusive. In Aspergillus nidulans, a RAD6 homolog has been isolated and shown to be an allele of uvs). We screened a CDNA library to isolate UVSJ-interacting proteins by the yeast two-hybrid system. JIPA was identified as an interactor of UVSJ. Their interaction was confirmed in vitro by a GST-pull down assay. JIPA was also able to interact with mutant UVSJ proteins, UVSJl and the active site cysteine mutant UVSJ-C88A. The N- and the C-terminal regions of UVSJ required for the interaction with UVSH, a RAD18 homolog of yeast which physically interacts with Rad6, were not necessary for the JIPA and UVSJ interactions. About 1.4 kb jipA transcript was detected in Northern analysis and its amount was not significantly increased in response to DNA-damaging agents. A genomic DNA clone of the jipA gene was isolated from a chromosome I specific genomic library by PCR-sib selection. Sequence determination of genomic and cDNA of jipA revealed an ORF of 893 bp interrupted by 2 introns, encoding a putative polypeptide of 262 amino acids. JIPA has 33% amino acid sequence identity to TIP41 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which negatively regulates the TOR signaling pathway.

• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.628-647
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• 2018

Purpose: Obesity is associated with metabolic dysregulation, but the underlying metabolic signatures involving clinical and inflammatory profiles of obese asthma are largely unexplored. We aimed at identifying the metabolic signatures of obese asthma. Methods: Eligible subjects with obese (n = 11) and lean (n = 22) asthma underwent body composition and clinical assessment, sputum induction, and blood sampling. Sputum supernatant was assessed for interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, -4, -5, -6, -13, and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and serum was detected for leptin, adiponectin and C-reactive protein. Untargeted gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS)-based metabolic profiles in sputum, serum and peripheral blood monocular cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminate analysis (OPLS-DA) and pathway topology enrichment analysis. The differential metabolites were further validated by correlation analysis with body composition, and clinical and inflammatory profiles. Results: Body composition, asthma control, and the levels of $IL-1{\beta}$, -4, -13, leptin and adiponectin in obese asthmatics were significantly different from those in lean asthmatics. OPLS-DA analysis revealed 28 differential metabolites that distinguished obese from lean asthmatic subjects. The validation analysis identified 18 potential metabolic signatures (11 in sputum, 4 in serum and 2 in PBMCs) of obese asthmatics. Pathway topology enrichment analysis revealed that cyanoamino acid metabolism, caffeine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, pentose phosphate pathway in sputum, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism and pentose phosphate pathway in serum are suggested to be significant pathways related to obese asthma. Conclusions: GC-TOF-MS-based metabolomics indicates obese asthma is characterized by a metabolic profile different from lean asthma. The potential metabolic signatures indicated novel immune-metabolic mechanisms in obese asthma with providing more phenotypic and therapeutic implications, which needs further replication and validation.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2000

In order to understand the role of heterotrophic protists in the coastal waters off Inchon, abiotic and biotic factors were measured from January 1992 to February 1993. Microbial carbon biomass (mean212.9$^{\pm}$119.1 $^{\mu}$gC/1) was composed of 4.2% bacteria, 0.3% cyanobacteria, 12.l% autotrophic nanoflagellates, 6.6% heterotrophic nanoflagellates, 5.8 heterotrophic ciliates and 71.0% diatom and Mesodinium spp. The carbon biomass of heterotrophic protists (heterotrophic nanoflagellates and ciliates) was highest in October 1992 (mean 37.8$^{\pm}$22.5 $^{\mu}$gC/1), and was low in August 1992 (mean 21.2$^{\pm}$10.8 $^{\mu}$gC/1) and in February 1993 (mean 19.5$^{\pm}$6.4 $^{\mu}$gC/1). However, the contribution of heterotrophic protists to total microbial carbon biomass was higher in January 1992 and February 1993 (about 21%) when the phytoplankton was dominated by nanoplankton than in August and October (about 9%) when large diatoms occurred in large numbers. This study suggests that in Kyeonggi Bay heterotrophic protists might play a more important role as prey for zooplankton and as consumers of bacteria & small phytoplankton in less productive seasons (especially winter) than in productive seasons (autumn), and that the classic trophic pathway from diatoms through copepods to fish might be dominant nearly every season.