• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.600-604
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• 2007

In this study, we first prepared 3 kinds of powders with different molecular masses from the crude protein-bound polysaccharide extract of Agraricus blazei Murill through ultrafiltration, followed by spray-drying. Then, the antitumor activities of the powders were analyzed. Size exclusion chromatography coupled with a multi-angle laser-light-scattering system showed the 3 powders had the following molecular ranges: below 10 kDa (SD-1), 10 to 150 kDa (SD-2), and above 150 kDa (SD-3), representing peak molecular weights of $8.26{\times}10^3,\;9.65{\times}10^4$, and $5.94{\times}10^6\;g/mol$, respectively. All the powders stimulated macrophage RAW264.7 cells to produce nitric oxide, of which SD-2 and SD-3 were superior to the crude extract powder (CP-SD), while SD-1 showed the lowest activity. Similar results were found for their cytotoxicities against human cancer cell lines (A549, MCF-7, and AGS), where the highest activity was obtained with the SD-2 treatment for 72 hr at $1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$. The MCF-7 cell line was less sensitive to the powders than the other cells. From this research we found that ultrafiltration, in combination with spray-drying, is applicable for preparing protein-bound polysaccharide powders with higher antitumor activities.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.319-329
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• 2023

Resistance to hypomethylating agents (HMAs) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a concerning problem. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a key cell cycle modulator and is known to be associated with an activation of the PI3K pathway, which is related to the stabilization of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), a target of HMAs. We investigated the effects of volasertib on HMA-resistant cell lines (MOLM/AZA-1 and MOLM/DEC-5) derived from MOLM-13, and bone marrow (BM) samples obtained from patients with MDS (BM blasts >5%) or AML evolved from MDS (MDS/AML). Volasertib effectively inhibited the proliferation of HMA-resistant cells with suppression of DNMTs and PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK pathways. Volasertib also showed significant inhibitory effects against primary BM cells from patients with MDS or MDS/AML, and the effects of volasertib inversely correlated with DNMT3B expression. The DNMT3B-overexpressed AML cells showed primary resistance to volasertib treatment. Our data suggest that volasertib has a potential role in overcoming HMA resistance in patients with MDS and MDS/AML by suppressing the expression of DNMT3 enzymes and PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK pathways. We also found that DNMT3B overexpression might be associated with resistance to volasertib.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 2023

The global increase in multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has inspired researchers to develop new strategies to overcome this problem. In this study, 23 morphologically different, soil-isolated actinomycete cultures were screened for their antibacterial ability against MDR isolates of ESKAPE pathogens. Among them, isolate BOGE18 exhibited a broad antibacterial spectrum, so it was selected and identified based on cultural, morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics. Chemotaxonomic analysis was also performed together with nucleotide sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, which showed this strain to have identity with Streptomyces lienomycini. The ethyl acetate extract of the cell-free filtrate (CFF) of strain BOGE18 was evaluated for its antibacterial spectrum, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 62.5 to 250 ㎍/ml. The recorded results from the in vitro anti-biofilm microtiter assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of sub-MIC concentrations revealed a significant reduction in biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent manner. The extract also displayed significant scavenging activity, reaching 91.61 ± 4.1% and 85.06 ± 3.14% of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), respectively. A promising cytotoxic ability against breast (MCF-7) and hepatocellular (HePG2) cancer cell lines was obtained from the extract with IC₅₀ values of 47.15 ± 13.10 and 122.69 ± 9.12 ㎍/ml, respectively. Moreover, based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, nine known compounds were detected in the BOGE18 extract, suggesting their contribution to the multitude of biological activities recorded in this study. Overall, Streptomyces lienomycini BOGE18-derived extract is a good candidate for use in a natural combating strategy to prevent bacterial infection, especially by MDR pathogens.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1654-1663
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• 2014

To examine the effect of tumor suppressor protein p53 on the antitumor activity of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-$E_2$), 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced cell cycle changes and apoptotic events were compared between the human colon carcinoma cell lines HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) and HCT116 ($p53^{-/-}$). When both cell types were exposed to 2-MeO-$E_2$, a reduction in the cell viability and an enhancement in the proportions of $G_2/M$ cells and apoptotic sub-$G_1$ cells commonly occurred dose-dependently. These 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced cellular changes, except for $G_2/M$ arrest, appeared to be more apparent in the presence of p53. Immunofluorescence microscopic analysis using anti-${\alpha}$-tubulin and anti-lamin B2 antibodies revealed that after 2-MeO-$E_2$ treatment, impaired mitotic spindle network and prometaphase arrest occurred similarly in both cell types. Following 2-MeO-$E_2$ treatment, only HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) cells exhibited an enhancement in the levels of p53, p-p53 (Ser-15), $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$, and Bax; however, the Bak level remained relatively constant in both cell types, and the Bcl-2 level decreased only in HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) cells. Additionally, mitochondrial apoptotic events, including the activation of Bak and Bax, loss of ${\Delta}{\psi}m$, activation of caspase-9 and -3, and cleavage of lamin A/C, were more dominantly induced in the presence of p53. The Bak-specific and Bax-specific siRNA approaches confirmed the necessity of both Bak and Bax activations for the 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells. These results show that among 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced apoptotic events, including prometaphase arrest, up-regulation of Bax level, down-regulation of Bcl-2 level, activation of both Bak and Bax, and mitochondria-dependent caspase activation, the modulation of Bax and Bcl-2 levels is the target of the pro-apoptotic action of p53.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.105-117
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• 1999

Purpose: Ionizing radiations have been reported as an apoptosis initiating stimulus in various cells and it has established that sustained elevations in [Ca/sup 2+/] can lead to DNA fragmentation by Ca/sup 2+/-dependent endonucleases, ultimately resulting in apoptotic cell death. The previous experiments have been reported by using primarily thymocytes and lymphocytes and the change of [Ca/sup 2+/] was measured only by minutes or hours respectively. We need to evaluate [Ca/sup 2+/] in both several minutes and hours after irradiation of radiation of radiation therapy and verify the apoptotic cells. Materials and Methods: We have measured [Ca/sup 2+/] in human gingival epitheloid cancer cell with 10Gy irradiation, at minutely intervals and hourly intervals using digitized video-intensified fluorescence microscopy and the fluorescent Ca/sup 2+/ indicator dye, fura-2. In order to find out that the transient rise in [Ca/sup 2+/] could induced apoptosis, cells were incubated for 1 hour at 37℃ with TdT enzyme, rinsed and resuspended containing fluorescence and observed under a confocal fluorescence microscope. MTT assay was done to determine cell activity and LDH assay was done to determine the amount of necrotic cells. Results: After irradiation, the transient and temporal increasing of [Ca/sup 2+/] in the KB cells was founded. Though, there was no change in the intracellular [Ca/sup 2+/] at 30 minutes and 2 hours after irradiation. We could detect of DNA fragmented cells at 4 hours after 10Gy irradiated cells. There were no significant differences between 4 hour, 1 day, 3 day cells. There were no significant differences in MTT and LDH assay between the irradiated group and the control group after 4 hours and 1 day. Though after 3 days there were differences in MTT and LDH assay between the irradiated group was significantly decreased than the control group, in LDH assay the number of necrotic cell death of the irradiated was higher than the control group. Conclusion: In KB cells there were incipient and temporal increasing of the [Ca/sup 2+/] with 10Gy irradiation and the apoptosis was founded from 4 hours later which was earlier than seeing of the change of the amount of the cellular ability and necrosis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.309-315
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• 2019

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignant neoplasm in women worldwide. Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by an infection by the human papillomavirus. Molecular diagnostic methods have emerged to detect the HPV for sensitivity, specificity, and objectivity. In particular, real-time PCR has been introduced to acquire a more sensitive target DNA or RNA. RNA extraction and complementary DNA synthesis are proceeded before performing real-time PCR targeting RNA. To identify an adequate and sensitive cDNA synthesis kit, this study evaluated the two commonly used kits for cDNA synthesis. The results show that the $R^2$ and efficiency (%) of the two cDNA synthesis kits were similar in the cervical cancer cell lines. On the other hand, the Takara kit compared to Invitrogen kit showed P<0.001 in the $10^2$ and $10^3$ SiHa cell count. The Takara kit compared to the Invitrogen kit showed P<0.001 in the $10^1$ and $10^2$ HeLa cell count. Furthermore, 8, 4, 2, 1, and 0.5 ml of forty exfoliated cell samples were used to compare the cDNA synthesis kits. The Takara kit compared to the Invitrogen kit showed P<0.01 in 8, 4, and 1 ml and P<0.05 in 0.5 mL. The study was performed to identify the most appropriate cDNA synthesis kit and suggests that a cDNA synthesis kit could affect the real-time PCR results.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3793-3798
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• 2013

The role of protease-activated receptors (PARs) in lung tumors is controversial. Although PAR4 is preferentially expressed in human lung tissues, its possible significance in lung cancer has not been defined. The studies reported herein used a combination of clinical observations and molecular methods. Surgically resected lung adenocarcinomas and associated adjacent normal lung tissues were collected and BEAS-2B and NCI-H157 cell lines were grown in tissue culture. PAR4 expression was evaluated by RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analysis. The results showed that PAR4 mRNA expression was generally decreased in lung adenocarcinoma tissues as compared with matched noncancerous tissues (67.7%) and was associated with poor differentiation (p=0.017) and metastasis (p=0.04). Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis also showed that PAR4 protein levels were mostly decreased in lung adenocarcinoma tissues (61.3%), and were also associated with poor differentiation (p=0.035) and clinical stage (p=0.027). Moreover, PAR4 expression was decreased in NCI-H157 cells as compared with BEAS-2B cells. In conclusion, PAR4 expression is significantly decreased in lung adenocarcinoma, and down-regulation of PAR4 is associated with a more clinically aggressive phenotype. PAR4 may acts as a tumor suppressor in lung adenocarcinoma.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.496-501
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• 2019

Conventionally, immunotoxins have been produced as a single polypeptide from fused genes of an antibody fragment and a toxin. In this study, we adopted a unique approach of chemical conjugation of a toxin protein and an antibody fragment. The two genes were separately expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to high levels of purity. The two purified proteins were conjugated using a chemical linker. The advantage of this approach is its ability to overcome the problem of low recombinant immunotoxin production observed in some immunotoxins. Another advantage is that various combinations of immunotoxins can be prepared with fewer efforts, because the chemical conjugation of components is relatively simpler than the processes involved in cloning, expression, and purification of multiple immunotoxins. As a proof of concept, the scFv of trastuzumab and the PE24 fragment of Pseudomonas exotoxin A were separately produced using E. coli and then chemically crosslinked. The new immunotoxin was tested on four breast cancer cell lines variably expressing HER2. The chemically crosslinked immunotoxin exhibited cytotoxicity in proportion to the expression level of HER2. In conclusion, the present study revealed an alternative method of generating an immunotoxin that could effectively reduce the viability of HER2-expressing breast cancer cells. These results suggest the effectiveness of this method of immunotoxin crosslinking as a suitable alternative for producing immunotoxins.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 1994

There are a number of reports suggesting that there may be a correlation between the clinical response to radiotherapy in various tumors and the clonogenic survival of cell lines derived from these tumors following exposure to 2 Gy(SF2). Authors conducted this study to determine SF2 for cells in primary culture from surgical specimens. The tumor tissues with squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix and head and neck were obtained. The tumor tissues were disaggregated to single cells by incubating with collagenase type w for 2 hours with constant stirring. Single cell suspensions were inoculated in four 24-well plates precoated with cell adhesive matrix. After 24 hours of incubation at 37$ ^{\circ}C $, rows of four wells were then irradiated, consisting of control set and five other sets each receiving doses of 1,2,3,4, and 6 Gy. After incubation for a total of 13 days, the cultures were stained with crystal violet and survival at each dose was determined by quantitative image analysis system, To determine whether cell growth was of epithelial origin, immunocytochemical staining with a mixture of cytokeratin and epithelial monoclonal antibodies were performed on cell cultures. During the period of this study, we received 5 squamous cell carcinoma specimens of head and neck and 20 of uterine cervical carcinoma. Of these, 15 yielded enough cells for radiosensitivity testing. This resulted an overall success rate of 60$ \% $. The mean SF2 value for 15 tumours was 0.55$\pm$0.17 ranging from 0.20 to 0.79. These results indicate that there is a broad range of sensitivities to radiation in same histologic type. So with a large patient population, we plan to determine whether a different SF2 value is associated with tumours that are controlled with radiotherapy than those that are not.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2009

Background: Uteroglobin (UG) is a secretary protein that has strong immunomodulatory properties, and which is synthesized in most epithelia including lung tissue. Overexpression of UG is associated with decreased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and suppression of cancer cell growth. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) catalyzes tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway, and both the reduction in local tryptophan and the production of tryptophan metabolites contribute to the immunosuppressive effects of IDO. Methods: In this study, we investigated the pattern of expression of COX-2 and IDO, and the effect of UG transduction in the expression of COX-2 and IDO in several non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, especially A549. Results: Both COX-2 and IDO were constitutionally expressed in A549 and H460 cells, and was reduced by UG transduction. In A549 cells, the slightly increased expression of COX-2 and IDO with the instillation of interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$) was reduced by UG transduction. However, the reduced expression of COX-2 and IDO by UG transduction was not increased with IFN-$\gamma$ instillation in A549 cells. In both the A549 COX-2 sense and the A549 COX-2 anti-sense small interfering RNA (siRNA)-transfected cells, IDO was expressed; expression was reduced by UG transduction, irrespective of the expression of COX-2. Conclusion: The results suggest that the anti-proliferative function of UG may be associated with the immune tolerance pathway of IDO, which is independent of the COX-2 pathway.