• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.65-76
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the inhibitory effects of Hwangheuk-san (HHS), a Korean multi-herb formula comprising four medicinal herbs, on cell migration and invasion, two critical cellular processes that are often deregulated during metastasis, using the human bladder cancer 5637 cell line.Methods: Cell viability, motility, and invasion were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazolyl)-2,5-diphnyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), wound healing migration, and Transwell assays, respectively. Gene expression was detected by Western blot analysis. In addition, the activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the values for transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) were analyzed using a Gelatinase Activity Assay Kit and an Epithelial Tissue Voltohmmeter, respectively.Results: Our data indicated that within the concentration range that was not cytotoxic, HHS effectively inhibited the cell motility and invasiveness of 5637 cells. HHS markedly decreased the expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which was associated with unregulation of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2. Further investigation revealed that phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT was decreased in HHS-treated 5637 cells, and a PI3K/AKT inhibitor synergistically reduced the inhibition of migration and invasion and also inactivated MMP-2 and MMP-9. Moreover, HHS increased the tightening of tight junctions (TJs), which was demonstrated by an increase in the TER, and reduced the expression the levels of claudin family members (claudin-3 and -4), which are major components involved in the tightening of TJs.Conclusions: The present findings demonstrated that HHS attenuated the migration and invasion of bladder cancer 5637 cells by modulating the activity of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and also through TJ tightening.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.213-221
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• 2017

Baicalein, a natural flavonoid obtained from the rhizome of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been reported to have anticancer activities in several human cancer cell lines. However, its antimetastatic effects and associated mechanisms in melanoma cells have not been extensively studied. The current study examined the effects of baicalein on cell motility and anti-invasive activity using mouse melanoma B16F10 cells. Within the noncytotoxic concentration range, baicalein significantly inhibited the cell motility and invasiveness of B16F10 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Baicalein also reduced the activity and expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9; however, the levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and -2 were concomitantly increased. The inhibitory effects of baicalein on cell motility and invasiveness were found to be associated with its tightening of tight junction (TJ), which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance and downregulation of the claudin family of proteins. Additionally, treatment with baicalein markedly reduced the expression levels of lipopolysaccharide-induced phosphorylated Akt and the invasive activity in B16F10 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that baicalein inhibits B16F10 melanoma cell migration and invasion by reducing the expression of MMPs and tightening TJ through the suppression of claudin expression, possibly in association with a suppression of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.321-333
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• 2021

본 연구에서는 진피-황금 혼합물 (CS)이 급성 역류성 식도염에 미치는 식도 점막 보호 효과를 평가하기 위하여 CS를 경구투여한 후 수술을 통해 역류성 식도염을 유발하였으며, 실험 종료 후 혈액 채취 및 식도 조직을 적출하였다. 동물에게서 적출한 식도 점막의 손상 정도를 육안으로 확인한 결과 CS투여군에서 식도 점막의 손상이 유의하게 감소하였으며, H&E staining을 통해 관찰한 결과 마찬가지로 CS투여군에서 식도 상피의 탈락 및 염증세포의 침윤이 현저하게 감소한 것을 확인하였다. 혈액을 이용하여 역류성 식도염의 원인으로 유효하다고 알려진 ROS의 수치를 확인한 결과, CS투여군에서 ROS 수치가 유의적으로 감소하였으며, western blotting을 통해 NADPH oxidase인 NOX4, p47^phox, p22^phox의 발현을 확인한 결과, 마찬가지로 CS 투여군에서 유의하게 감소하였고, 특히 CS200투여군에서 Normal군과 비슷한 수치를 나타냈다. 또한, CS투여는 염증성 단백질인 MAPK와 NF-κB 경로를 유의적으로 억제하였을 뿐 아니라 tight junction 단백질인 claudin-1과 claudin-4의 발현을 유의하게 조절한 것을 확인하였다. 이상의 결과를 종합해보면 진피-황금 추출물은 산화적 스트레스를 억제함으로써 염증성 단백질의 발현을 조절할 뿐 아니라 tight junction 단백질의 발현을 조절하여 식도 점막을 보호하는 것으로 판단되나 역류성 식도염은 음식물의 섭취와 밀접한 관련이 있는 만큼 추후 동물의 식이 섭취량을 조사하는 등 세부적인 추가 연구가 필요할 것으로 보인다.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

Objective This study aimed to confirm the effect of Sabaek-san extract on the recovery of skin damage in atopic dermatitis-induced mice. Methods In this study, we used 4-week-old NC/Nga mice that were assigned to four groups: control (Ctrl), lipid barrier elimination (LBEG), dexamethasone (Dx) administration after lipid barrier elimination (DxAG), and Sabaek-san extract administration after lipid barrier elimination (SBAG). Ten rats were assigned to each treatment group. After drug administration for 3 days following lipid barrier elimination, ceramide kinase, caspase 14, sodium hydrogen antiporter (NHE), cathelicidin, claudin, and Toll-like receptor (TLR2) were observed to confirm restoration of skin moisturizer production, antimicrobial barriers, and tight junctions in the skin barrier. Results Ceramide kinase and caspase 14 positive reactions were significantly higher in the SBAG group than in the LBEG or DxAG groups. NHE and cathelicidin showed a higher positive reaction in the SBAG group than in the LBEG and DxAG groups. Claudins and TLR2 showed a higher positive reaction in the SBAG group than in the LBEG or DxAG groups. Conclusion It was confirmed that Sabaek-san extract may have the potential to restore damaged skin barrier in atopic dermatitis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권8호
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• pp.625-630
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• 2016

The RNA-binding protein Rbfox3 is a well-known splicing regulator that is used as a marker for post-mitotic neurons in various vertebrate species. Although recent studies indicate a variable expression of Rbfox3 in non-neuronal tissues, including lung tissue, its cellular function in lung cancer remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the number of RBFOX3-positive cells in tumorous lung tissue is lower than that in normal lung tissue. As the transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) signaling pathway is important in cancer progression, we investigated its role in RBFOX3 expression in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. TGF-${\beta}1$ treatment inhibited RBFOX3 expression at the transcriptional level. Further, RBFOX3 depletion led to a change in the expression levels of a subset of proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), such as E-cadherin and Claudin-1, during TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EMT. In immunofluorescence microscopic analysis, mesenchymal morphology was more prominent in RBFOX3-depleted cells than in control cells. These findings show that TGF-${\beta}$-induced RBFOX3 inhibition plays an important role in EMT and propose a novel role for RBFOX3 in cancer progression.

• 한국자원식물학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.207-218
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• 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis and high metastasis and recurrence rates. Although extracts of Alnus hirsuta (Turcz. ex Spach) Rupr. (AH) have been demonstrated to possess potential anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities, the underlying mechanism of AH in HCC treatment remains to be elucidated. We investigated the effects and potential mechanisms of AH on migration and invasion of Hep3B cells. Within the non-cytotoxic concentration range, AH significantly inhibited motility and invasiveness of Hep3B cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibitory effects of AH on cell invasiveness are associated with tightening of tight junctions (TJs), as demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance. Immunoblotting indicated that AH decreased levels of claudins, which form major components of TJs and play key roles in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. Furthermore, AH inhibited the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and simultaneously increased the levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2. These effects were related to inactivation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway in Hep3B cells. Therefore, AH inhibits migration and invasion of Hep3B cells by inhibiting the activity of MMPs and tightening TJs through suppression of claudin expression, possibly by suppressing the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.258-265
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• 2016

In metastatic breast cancer, the acquisition of malignant traits has been associated with the increased rate of cell growth and division, mobility, resistance to chemotherapy, and invasiveness. While screening for the key regulators of cancer metastasis, we observed that neurotrophin receptor TrkB is frequently overexpressed in breast cancer patients and breast cancer cell lines. Additionally, we demonstrate that TrkB expression and clinical breast tumor pathological phenotypes show significant correlation. Moreover, TrkB expression was significantly upregulated in basal-like, claudin-low, and metaplastic breast cancers from a published microarray database and in patients with triple-negative breast cancer, which is associated with a higher risk of invasive recurrence. Interestingly, we identified a new TrkB-regulated functional network that is important for the tumorigenicity and metastasis of breast cancer. We demonstrated that TrkB plays a key role in regulation of the tumor suppressors Runx3 and Keap1. A markedly increased expression of Runx3 and Keap1 was observed upon knockdown of TrkB, treatment with a TrkB inhibitor, and in TrkB kinase dead mutants. Additionally, the inhibition of PI3K/AKT activation significantly induced Runx3 and Keap1 expression. Furthermore, we showed that TrkB enhances metastatic potential and induces proliferation. These observations suggest that TrkB plays a key role in tumorigenicity and metastasis of breast cancer cells through suppression of Runx3 or Keap1 and that it is a promising target for future intervention strategies for preventing tumor metastasis and cancer chemoprevention.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.115-125
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenosides (GS) have potential value as cosmetic additives for prevention of skin photoaging. However, their protective mechanisms against skin barrier damage and their active monomeric constituents are unknown. Methods: GS monomer types and their relative proportions were identified. A UVB-irradiated BALB/c hairless mouse model was used to assess protective effects of GS components on skin epidermal thickness and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Skin barrier function, reflected by filaggrin (FLG), involucrin (IVL), claudin-1 (Cldn-1), and aquaporin 3 (AQP3) levels and MAPK phosphorylation patterns, were analyzed in UVB-irradiated hairless mice or HaCaT cells. Results: Total GS monomeric content detected by UPLC was 85.45% and was largely attributed to 17 main monomers that included Re (16.73%), Rd (13.36%), and Rg1 (13.38%). In hairless mice, GS ameliorated UVB-induced epidermal barrier dysfunction manifesting as increased epidermal thickness, increased TEWL, and decreased stratum corneum water content without weight change. Furthermore, GS treatment of UVB-irradiated mice restored protein expression levels and epidermal tissue distributions of FLG, IVL, Cldn-1, and AQP3, with consistent mRNA and protein expression results obtained in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells (except for unchanging Cldn-1 expression). Mechanistically, GS inhibited JNK, p38, and ERK phosphorylation in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells, with a mixture of Rg2, Rg3, Rk3, F2, Rd, and Rb3 providing the same protective MAPK pathway inhibition-associated upregulation of IVL and AQP3 expression as provided by intact GS treatment. Conclusion: GS protection against UVB-irradiated skin barrier damage depends on activities of six ginsenoside monomeric constituents that inhibit the MAPK signaling pathway.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.182-187
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• 2017

The purpose of the present study is a comparison of the antioxidant effects of Angelica gigas Korea (AG), Angelica sinensis of China (AS), and Angelica acutiloba of Japan (AA), and comparison of the effects of AG, AS and AA on tight-junction related genes in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. All species showed a strong antioxidant effect, and AA was higher than AG and AS in antioxidant effects. The cytotoxicity was confirmed to be higher in AS than AG and AA at a concentration of $1,600{\mu}g/ml$ using the MTS assay in HaCaT cells. We analyzed the effects of AG, AS, and AA on mRNA expression levels of various tight-junction related genes in HaCaT cells. We found that no obvious changes in expression of Claudin 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, Occludin, JAM-A, ZO-1, ZO-2, and tricellulin by treatment of all species, suggesting that there is less possibility of side effects and skin moisturizing effects due to changes in tight-junction gene expression. Our results suggest that AG, AS, and AA are thought to be effective in reducing the oxidative stress of the skin and preventing the aging of the skin.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.12-15
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• 2005

Objective : Cerebral edema develops in the brain tumors by loosening of the endothelial tight junction. Tight junction[TJ] proteins, such as occludin and claudin bind adjacent cells tightly. Authors examine the expression rate of occludin in human brain tumors to evaluate the effect of altered expression of occludin on cerebral edema. Methods : Seventy surgical specimens stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ were used. It included 14 astrocytic tumors, 27 meningiomas, 12 scwannomas, 7 pituitary adenomas, 6 hemangioblastomas. and 4 craniopharyngiomas. After protein extraction, expression of occludin was investigated by Western blot analysis. The tumors were classified according to World Health Organization[WHO] classification. Results : The expression rates of occludin in brain tumors were : glioma [8/14=57.1%]. meningioma [16/27=59.3%], schwannoma [10/12=83.3%], pituitary adenoma [6/7=85.7%], hemangioblastoma [6/6=100%], and craniopharyngioma [3/4=75.0%]. The expression rate in glioma and meningioma was lower than other brain tumors. In gliomas, high grade tumor [1/4=25.0%] exhibited lower expression rate of occludin than low grade one [7/10=70.0%]. Conclusion : These results suggest that the expression of occludin is different among the various kinds of brain tumors. In gliomas, its expression is correlated with the histological grade. It may indicate that occludin plays a role in the development of edema in the brain tumors.