• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.203-212
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• 2020

Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene, through alternative splicing of its C-terminal region, generates several PML isoforms that interact with specific partners and perform distinct functions. The PML protein is a tumor suppressor that plays an important role by interacting with various proteins. Herein, we investigated the effect of the PML isoforms on oncostatin M (OSM)-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) transcriptional activity. PML influenced OSM-induced STAT-3 activity in a cell type-specific manner, which was dependent on the p53 status of the cells but regardless of PML isoform. Interestingly, overexpression of PML exerted opposite effects on OSM-induced STAT-3 activity in p53 wild-type and mutant cells. Specifically, overexpression of PML in the cell lines bearing wild-type p53 (NIH3T3 and U87-MG cells) decreased OSM-induced STAT-3 transcriptional activity, whereas overexpression of PML increased OSM-induced STAT-3 transcriptional activity in mutant p53-bearing cell lines (HEK293T and U251-MG cells). When wild-type p53 cells were co-transfected with PML-IV and R273H-p53 mutant, OSM-mediated STAT-3 transcriptional activity was significantly enhanced, compared to that of cells which were transfected with PML-IV alone; however, when cells bearing mutant p53 were co-transfected with PML-IV and wild-type p53, OSM-induced STAT-3 transcriptional activity was significantly decreased, compared to that of transfected cells with PML-IV alone. In conclusion, PML acts together with wild-type or mutant p53 and influences OSM-mediated STAT-3 activity in a negative or positive manner, resulting in the aberrant activation of STAT-3 in cancer cells bearing mutant p53 probably might occur through the interaction of mutant p53 with PML.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.131-137
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• 2006

RGS is a negative regulator of G-protein signaling and can be identified by the presence of a conserved $120{sim}125$ amino acid motif, which is referred to as the RGS box. A number of RGSs are induced in response to a wide variety of stimuli. Increased levels of RGSs lead to significant decreases in GPCR responsiveness. To obtain further evidence of a role of RGS proteins in rat C6 astrocytoma cells, we first determined the expression profile of RGS-specific mRNA in C6 cells using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with a poly dT18 primer and transcript-specific primers. We found that RGS2, RGS3, RGS6, RGS9, RGS10, RGS12, and RGS16 were differentially expressed in C6 astrocytoma cells. The highest expression rate was found for RGS3, followed by RGS16, RGS10 and RGS9, whereas the expression level for RGS2 was barely detectable. We next assessed whether forskolin regulated the expression of RGSs expressed in C6 astrocytoma cells. The present study found that forskolin dose-dependently stimulated the expression of RGS2 transcripts. This up-regulation of RGS2 gene was abrogated by H-89, potent and broad-spectrum protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors. Actinomycin D completely inhibited the up-regulation of RGS2 gene induced by forskolin $(10{\mu}M)$, indicating that the regulation of RGS2 gene is controlled at the transcriptional level. In addition, forskolin did significantly activate transcriptional cAMP response element (CRE) in either HEK 293 cells or C6 cells and did not modulate the $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-l activity as measured by luciferase reporter gene assay. Finally, forskolin induced the expression of RGS2 mRNA in C6 astrocytoma cells, which depend on the PKA pathway and CRE transcriptional pathways.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.132-136
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• 2010

This study examined the biostability and drug delivery efficiency of g-$Fe_2O_3$ magnetic nanoparticles (GMNs) by cytotoxicity tests using various tumor cell lines and normal cell lines. The GMNs, approximately 20 nm in diameter, were prepared using a chemical coprecipitation technique, and coated with two surfactants to obtain a water-based product. The particle size of the GMNs loaded on hangamdan drugs (HGMNs) measured 20-50 nm in diameter. The characteristics of the particles were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-TEM) and Raman spectrometer. The Raman spectrum of the GMNs showed three broad bands at 274, 612 and $771\;cm^1$. A 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that the GMNs were non-toxic against human brain cancer cells (SH-SY5Y, T98), human cervical cancer cells (Hela, Siha), human liver cancer cells (HepG2), breast cancer cells (MCF-7), colon cancer cells (CaCO2), human neural stem cells (F3), adult mencenchymal stem cells (B10), human kidney stem cells (HEK293 cell), human prostate cancer (Du 145, PC3) and normal human fibroblasts (HS 68) tested. However, HGMNs were cytotoxic at 69.99% against the DU145 prostate cancer cell, and at 34.37% in the Hela cell. These results indicate that the GMNs were biostable and the HGMNs served as effective drug delivery vehicles.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2017

The effects of acepromazine on human ether-$\grave{a}$-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channels were investigated using whole-cell voltage-clamp technique in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells transfected with hERG. The hERG currents were recorded with or without acepromazine, and the steady-state and peak tail currents were analyzed for the evaluating the drug effects. Acepromazine inhibited the hERG currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$ value of $1.5{\mu}M$ and Hill coefficient of 1.1. Acepromazine blocked hERG currents in a voltage-dependent manner between -40 and +10 mV. Before and after application of acepromazine, the half activation potentials of hERG currents changed to hyperpolarizing direction. Acepromazine blocked both the steady-state hERG currents by depolarizing pulse and the peak tail currents by repolarizing pulse; however, the extent of blocking by acepromazine in the repolarizing pulse was more profound than that in the depolarizing pulse, indicating that acepromazine has a high affinity for the open state of the channels, with a relatively lower affinity for the closed state of hERG channels. A fast application of acepromazine during the tail currents inhibited the open state of hERG channels in a concentration-dependent. The steady-state inactivation of hERG currents shifted to the hyperpolarized direction by acepromazine. These results suggest that acepromazine inhibits the hERG channels probably by an open- and inactivated-channel blocking mechanism. Regarding to the fact that the hERG channels are the potential target of drug-induced long QT syndrome, our results suggest that acepromazine can possibly induce a cardiac arrhythmia through the inhibition of hERG channels.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.86-91
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• 2011

Ginsenoside (G)-F1 is an enzymatic metabolite generated from G-Rg1. Although this metabolite has been reported to suppress platelet aggregation and to reduce gap junction-mediated intercellular communication, the modulatory activity of G-F1 on the functional role of skin-derived cells has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the regulatory role of G-F1 on the cellular responses of B16 melanoma cells. G-F1 strongly suppressed the proliferation of B16 cells up to 60% at 200 ${\mu}g/mL$, while only diminishing the viability of HEK293 cells up to 30%. Furthermore, G-F1 remarkably induced morphological change and clustering of B16 melanoma cells. The melanin production of B16 cells was also significantly blocked by G-F1 up to 70%. Interestingly, intracellular signaling events involved in cell proliferation, migration, and morphological change were up-regulated at 1 h incubation but down-regulated at 12 h. Therefore, our results suggest that G-F1 can be applied as a novel anti-skin cancer drug with anti-proliferative and anti-migration features.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.465-472
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• 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant type of cancers and its incidence is steadily increasing, due to life style factors that include western diet. Abnormal activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Therefore, targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been considered a crucial strategy in the discovery of small molecules for CRC. In the present study, we found that Nodosin, an ent-kaurene diterpenoid isolated from Isodon serra, effectively inhibits the proliferation of human colon cancer HCT116 cells. Mechanistically, Nodosin effectively inhibited the overactivated transcriptional activity of β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF) determined by Wnt/β-catenin reporter gene assay in HEK293 and HCT116 cells. The expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes such as Axin2, cyclin D1, and survivin were also suppressed by Nodosin in HCT116 cells. Further study revealed that a longer exposure of Nodosin induced the G₂/M phase cell cycle arrest and subsequently apoptosis in HCT116 cells. These findings suggest that the anti-proliferative activity of Nodosin in colorectal cancer cells might in part be associated with the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7003-7006
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• 2015

Background: Nanoparticles of gold and silver are offering revolutionary changes in the field of cancer therapy. N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) metal complexes possess diverse biological activities and are being investigated as potential chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this study was to examine the cytotoxicity and possible mechanisms of action of two types of newly synthesized nanofiber composites containing BIAN N-heterocyclic gold carbene complexes in two types of human cancer cells, namely breast cancer (MCF7) and liver cancer (HepG2) cells and also in normal human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293). Materials and Methods: Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT cell viability assay and oxidative stress by checking the total glutathione level. Results: Both compounds affected the cell survival of the tested cell lines at very low concentrations (IC50 values in the micro molar range) as compared to a well-known anti-cancer drug, 5 fluorouracil. A 60-80% depletion in total glutathione level was detected in treated cells. Conclusions: Reduction in total glutathione level is one of the biochemical pathways for the induction of oxidative stress which in turn could be a possible mechanism of action by which these compounds induce cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines. The in vitro toxicity towards cancer cells found here means that these molecules could be potential anticancer candidates.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1191-1198
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• 2017

Vesicles and organelles are transported along microtubule and delivered to appropriate compartments in cells. The intracellular transport process is mediated by molecular motor proteins, kinesin, and dynein. Kinesin is a plus-end-directed molecular motor protein that moves the various cargoes along microtubule tracks. Kinesin 1 is first isolated from squid axoplasm is a dimer of two heavy chains (KHCs, also called KIF5s), each of which is associated with the light chain (KLC). KIF5s interact with many different binding proteins through their carboxyl (C)-terminal tail region, but their binding proteins have yet to be specified. To identify the interacting proteins for KIF5A, we performed the yeast two-hybrid screening and found a specific interaction with Ras-GTPase-activating protein (GAP) Src homology3 (SH3)-domain-binding protein 2 (G3BP2), which is involved in stress granule formation and mRNA-protein (mRNP) localization. G3BP2 bound to the C-terminal 73 amino acids of KIF5A but did not interact with the KIF5B, nor the KIF5C in the yeast two-hybrid assay. The arginine-glycine-glycine (RGG)/Gly-rich region domain of G3BP2 is a minimal binding domain for interaction with KIF5A. However, G3BP1 did not interact with KIF5A. When co-expressed in HEK-293T cells, G3BP2 co-localized with KIF5A and was co-immunoprecipitated with KIF5A. These results indicate that G3BP2, which was originally identified as a Ras-GAP SH3 domain-binding protein, is a protein that interacts with KIF5A.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.820-826
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• 2014

The localization to specific subcellular sites and the regulation of cell surface receptors and channels are crucial for proper functioning. Postsynaptic density-95/Disks large/Zonula occludens-1 (PDZ)-domain is involved in recognition of and interaction between various proteins, by which the localization and the regulation are mediated. Multi-PDZ domain protein 1 (MUPP1) contains 13 PDZ domains. MUPP1 serves a scaffolding function for structure proteins and signaling proteins, but the mechanism how MUPP1 is stabilized and signalized has not yet been elucidated. We used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins that interact with PDZ domains of MUPP1. We found an interaction between MUPP1 and Parkin. Parkin is an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Loss-of-function mutations of Parkin gene are known to cause an autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism. Parkin bound to the $12^{th}$ PDZ domain, but not to other PDZ domains of MUPP1. The C-terminal end of Parkin has a type II PDZ-association motif, which was essential for the interaction with MUPP1 in the yeast two-hybrid assay. When co-expressed in HEK-293T cells, Parkin co-localized with MUPP1. When co-expressed with ubiquitin in HEK-293T cells, MUPP1 has been strongly ubiquitinated by Parkin. These findings collectively suggest that MUPP1 is a novel substrate of Parkin and its function or stability could be modulated by Parkin-mediated ubiquitination.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.145-151
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• 2014

During bone remodeling, there is requirement of differentiation of osteoblastic cells. Previously, we identified proteins differentially expressed in soft tissue during bone healing. Of these proteins, we focused the effect of LTF on differentiation of osteoblast. In order to analyze the osteogenic ability of LTF, we treated conditioned media collected from human LTF-stably transfected HEK293T cells into osteoblastic MC3T3-E1. The results showed that the activity and expression of alkaline phosphatase were increased in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with conditioned media containing LTF in dose- and time-dependent manner. At the same time, we observed the significant increase of the expression of osteoblastic genes, such as ALP, BSP, COL1A1, and OCN, and along with matrix mineralization genes, such as DMP1 and DMP2, in LTF conditioned media-treated groups. Moreover, the result of treating recombinant human LTF directly into osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 showed the same pattern of treating conditioned media containing LTF. Our study demonstrated that LTF constitutively enhances osteoblastic differentiation via induction of osteoblastic genes and activation of matrix mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells.