• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제27권9호
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• pp.1254-1262
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• 2014

Lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF-1) is a member of the T-cell specific factor (TCF) family, which plays a key role in the development of breast endothelial cells. Moreover, LEF-1 gene has been identified as a candidate gene for teat number trait. In the present study, we detected two novel mutations (NC_010450.3:g. 99514A>G, 119846C>T) by DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in exon 4 and intron 9 of LEF-1 in Guanzhong Black, Hanjiang Black, Bamei and Large White pigs. Furthermore, we analyzed the association between the genetic variations with teat number trait in these breeds. The 99514A>G mutation showed an extremely significant statistical relevance between different genotypes and teat number trait in Guanzhong (p<0.001) and Large White (p = 0.002), and significant relevance in Hanjiang (p = 0.017); the 119846C>T mutation suggested significant association in Guanzhong Black pigs (p = 0.042) and Large White pigs (p = 0.003). The individuals with "AG" or "GG" genotype displayed more teat numbers than those with "AA"; the individuals with "TC" or "CC" genotype showed more teat numbers than those with "TT". Our findings suggested that the 99514A>G and 119846C>T mutations of LEF-1 affected porcine teat number trait and could be used in breeding strategies to accelerate porcine teat number trait improvement of indigenous pigs breeds through molecular marker assisted selection.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.36-41
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• 2018

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile vasculitis predominately affecting infants and children. The dominant incidence age of KD is from 6 months to 5 years of age, and the incidence is unusual in those younger than 6 months and older than 5 years of age. We tried to identify genetic variants specifically associated with KD in patients younger than 6 months or older than 5 years of age. We performed an age-stratified genome-wide association study using the Illumina HumanOmni1-Quad BeadChip data (296 cases vs. 1,000 controls) and a replication study (1,360 cases vs. 3,553 controls) in the Korean population. Among 26 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) tested in replication study, only a rare nonsynonymous SNP (rs4365796: c.1106C>T, p.Thr369Met) in the lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1) gene was very significantly associated with KD in patients younger than 6 months of age (odds ratio [OR], 3.07; $p_{combined}=1.10{\times}10^{-5}$), whereas no association of the same SNP was observed in any other age group of KD patients. The same SNP (rs4365796) in the LEF1 gene showed the same direction of risk effect in Japanese KD patients younger than 6 months of age, although the effect was not statistically significant (OR, 1.42; p = 0.397). This result indicates that the LEF1 gene may play an important role as a susceptibility gene specifically affecting KD patients younger than 6 months of age.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.2793-2800
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• 2015

In molecular-targeted cancer therapy, acquired resistance to gemcitabine is a major clinical problem that reduces its effectiveness, resulting in recurrence and metastasis of cancers. In spite of great efforts to reveal the overall mechanism of acquired gemcitabine resistance, no definitive genetic factors have been identified that are absolutely responsible for the resistance process. Therefore, we performed a cross-platform meta-analysis of three publically available microarray datasets for cancer cell lines with acquired gemcitabine resistance, using the R-based RankProd algorithm, and were able to identify a total of 158 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 76 up- and 82 down-regulated) that are potentially involved in acquired resistance to gemcitabine. Indeed, the top 20 up- and down-regulated DEGs are largely associated with a common process of carcinogenesis in many cells. For the top 50 up- and down-regulated DEGs, we conducted integrated analyses of a gene regulatory network, a gene co-expression network, and a protein-protein interaction network. The identified DEGs were functionally enriched via Gene Ontology hierarchy and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. By systemic combinational analysis of the three molecular networks, we could condense the total number of DEGs to final seven genes. Notably, GJA1, LEF1, and CCND2 were contained within the lists of the top 20 up- or down-regulated DEGs. Our study represents a comprehensive overview of the gene expression patterns associated with acquired gemcitabine resistance and theoretical support for further clinical therapeutic studies.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.77-82
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• 2006

The tea looper caterpillar, Ectropis obliqua, is one of the major pests of tea bushes. E. obliqua single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (EcobSNPV) has been used as a commercial pesticide for biocontrol of this insect. However only limited genetic analysis for this important virus has been done up to now. EcobSNPV was characterized in this study. Electron microscopy analysis of the occlusion body showed polyhedra of 0.7 to $1.7\;{\mu}m$ in diameter containing a single nucleocapsid per envelope of the virion. A 15.5 kb genomic fragment containing EcoRI-L, EcoRI-N and HindIII-F fragments, was sequenced. Analysis of the sequence revealed that the fragment contained eleven potential open reading frames (ORFs): lef-1, egt, 38.7k, rrl, polyhedrin, orfl629, pk-1, hoar and homologues to Spodoptera exigua multicapsid NPV (SeMNPV) ORFs 15, 28, and 29. Gene arrangement and phylogeny analysis suggest that EcobSNPV is closely related to the previously described Group II NPV. Bioassays on lethal concentration $(LC_{50}\;and\;LC_{90})$ and lethal time $(LT_{50}\;and\;LT({90})$ were conducted to test the susceptibility of E. obliqua larvae to the virus.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.42-53
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• 2020

Objective: Recently, microRNA (miRNA) has been identified both as a powerful regulator involved in various biological processes through the regulation of numerous genes and as an effective biomarker for the prediction and diagnosis of various disease states. The objective of this study was to identify and validate miRNAs and their target genes involved in inflammation in placental tissue. Methods: Microarrays were utilized to obtain miRNA and gene expression profiles from placentas with or without inflammation obtained from nine normal pregnant women and 10 preterm labor patients. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blots were performed to validate the miRNAs and differentially-expressed genes in the placentas with inflammation. Correlations between miRNA and target gene expression were confirmed by luciferase assays in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Results: We identified and validated miRNAs and their target genes that were differentially expressed in placentas with inflammation. We also demonstrated that several miRNAs (miR-371a-5p, miR-3065-3p, miR-519b-3p, and miR-373-3p) directly targeted their target genes (LEF1, LOX, ITGB4, and CD44). However, some miRNAs and their direct target genes showed no correlation in tissue samples. Interestingly, miR-373-3p and miR-3065-3p were markedly regulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, although the expression of their direct targets CD44 and LOX was not altered by LPS treatment. Conclusion: These results provide candidate miRNAs and their target genes that could be used as placental biomarkers of inflammation. These candidates may be useful for further miRNA-based biomarker development.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제61권1호
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• pp.42-52
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• 2023

The genus Babesia includes parasites that can induce human and animal babesiosis, which are common in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The gut microbiota has not been examined in hamsters infected by Babesia duncani. Red blood cells infected with B. duncani were injected into hamsters through intraperitoneal route. To evaluate the changes in gut microbiota, DNAs were extracted from small intestinal contents, acquired from hamsters during disease development. Then, the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria was sequenced using the Illumina sequencing platform. Gut microbiota alternation and composition were assessed according to the sequencing data, which were clustered with >97.0% sequence similarity to create amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were made up of the major components of the gut microbiota in all samples. The abundance of Bacteroidetes elevated after B. duncani infection than the B. duncani-free group, while Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota declined. Alpha diversity analysis demonstrated that the shown ASVs were substantially decreased in the highest parasitemia group than B. duncani-free and lower parasitemia groups. Potential biomarkers were discovered by Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis, which demonstrated that several bacterial families (including Muribaculaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Oscillospiraceae, Helicobacteraceae, Clostridia UGG014, Desulfovibrionaceae, and Lachnospiraceae) were potential biomarkers in B. duncani-infected hamsters. This research demonstrated that B. duncani infectious can modify the gut microbiota of hamsters.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권11호
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• pp.1640-1650
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• 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of common malignant neoplasm worldwide. Many studies have analyzed compositions of gut microbiota associated with various diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and colon cancer. One of the most representative bacteria involved in CRC is enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), a species belonging to phylum Bacteroidetes. We used ETBF colonized mice with azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) and zerumbone, a compound with anti-bacterial effect, to determine whether zerumbone could restore intestinal microbiota composition. Four experimental groups of mice were used: sham, ETBF colonized AOM/DSS group, ETBF colonized AOM/DSS group zerumbone 60 mg kg-1 (ETBF/AOM/DSS + Z (60)), and only zerumbone (60 mg kg^-1)-treated group. We performed reversible dye terminators-based analysis of 16S rRNA gene region V3-V4 for group comparison. Microbiota compositions of ETBF/AOM/DSS + Z (60) group and ETBF colonized AOM/DSS group not given zerumbone were significantly different. There were more Bacteroides in ETBF/AOM/DSS + Z (60) group than those in ETBF colonized AOM/DSS group, suggesting that B. fragilis could be a normal flora activated by zerumbone. In addition, based on linear discriminant analysis of effect size (LEfSe) analysis, microbial diversity decreased significantly in the ETBF colonized AOM/DSS group. However, after given zerumbone, the taxonomic relative abundance was increased. These findings suggest that zerumbone not only influenced the microbial diversity and richness, but also could be helpful for enhancing the balance of gut microbial composition. In this work, we demonstrate that zerumbone could restore the composition of intestinal microbiota.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제64권4호
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• pp.383-389
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• 2021

비만은 숙주의 전신 염증 및 대사 기능 장애에 기여하는 장 상피 장벽 기능 저하와 관련이 있다. 한국의 전통 식품으로 식이섬유가 풍부한 콩 제품은 항염증 반응을 비롯한 다양한 생물학적 활성을 나타내어 왔으나 대장 건강에 대해서는 보고된 바가 없다. 본 연구에서는 고지방 식이(HFD)를 섭취한 비만 모델에서 콩(CSB)에 대한 장 건강 증진 효과를 조사하였다. SD 쥐에게 동물 실험 기간 동안 HFD 또는 10.6% CSB가 함유된 HFD (HFD + CSB)를 제공하였다. CSB의 섭취는 HFD로 유발된 체중과 지방 축적 증가를 현저하게 감소시켰다. 또한, CSB의 섭취는 대장 조직에서 HFD에 의해 감소된 밀착 결합 지표(ZO-1, Claudin-1 및 Occludin-1)의 mRNA 발현을 개선시켰다. 또한, 조직병리학적 평가에서도 CSB 섭취는 대장 조직에서 HFD에 의해 증가된 염증 세포 침윤과 대장 상피 조직 붕괴를 개선하는 것으로 나타났다. Genus 수준에서 HFD 섭취에 의해 Lactobacillus, Duncaniella, Alloprevotella 등 미생물 종의 abundance 차이는 확인되었으나, CSB 섭취로 인한 영향은 명확하게 나타나지 않았다. NMDS 분석에서 HFD 섭취에 의해 유의적인 장내미생물 생태 이동을 보여주었지만 CSB 섭취는 차이가 없었다. HFD와 CSB 간 유의적으로 차이가 나타나는 genera를 조사하기 위해 LEfSe를 수행한 결과, CSB는 Anaerotignum, Enterococcus, Clostridium sensu stricto 및 Escherichia/Shigella 속의 풍부함을 증가시킨 반면 Longicatena 및 Ligilactobacillus의 풍부함을 감소시켰다. 이러한 결과는 CSB 섭취는 긴밀한 접합 성분을 개선하여 HFD로 악화된 대장 건강을 개선하는 반면 장내미생물생태에 긍정적인 효과를 미치는지에 대해서는 명확하지 않았다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권9호
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• pp.1206-1212
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• 2023

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays essential roles in regulating various cellular behaviors, including proliferation, survival, and differentiation [1-3]. The intracellular β-catenin level, which is regulated by a proteasomal degradation pathway, is critical to Wnt/β-catenin pathway control [4]. Normally, casein kinase 1 (CK1) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), which form a complex with the scaffolding protein Axin and the tumor suppressor protein adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), phosphorylate β-catenin at Ser45, Thr41, Ser37, and Ser33 [5, 6]. Phosphorylated β-catenin is ubiquitinated by the β-transducin repeat-containing protein (β-TrCP), an F-box E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, and ubiquitinated β-catenin is degraded via a proteasome pathway [7, 8]. Colorectal cancer is a significant cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Abnormal up-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a major pathological event in intestinal epithelial cells during human colorectal cancer oncogenesis [9]. Genetic mutations in the APC gene are observed in familial adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP) and sporadic colorectal cancers [10]. In addition, mutations in the N-terminal phosphorylation motif of the β-catenin gene were found in patients with colorectal cancer [11]. These mutations cause β-catenin to accumulate in the nucleus, where it forms complexes with transcription factors of the T-cell factor/lymphocyte enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) family to stimulate the expression of β-catenin responsive genes, such as c-Myc and cyclin D1, which leads to colorectal tumorigenesis [12-14]. Therefore, downregulating β-catenin response transcription (CRT) is a potential strategy for preventing and treating colorectal cancer. Plant cytokinins are N⁶-substituted purine derivatives; they promote cell division in plants and regulate developmental pathways. Natural cytokinins are classified as isoprenoid (isopentenyladenine, zeatin, and dihydrozeatin), aromatic (benzyladenine, topolin, and methoxytopolin), or furfural (kinetin and kinetin riboside), depending on their structure [15, 16]. Kinetin riboside was identified in coconut water and is a naturally produced cytokinin that induces apoptosis and exhibits antiproliferative activity in several human cancer cell lines [17]. However, little attention has been paid to kinetin riboside's mode of action. In this study, we show that kinetin riboside exerts its cytotoxic activity against colon cancer cells by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and promoting intracellular β-catenin degradation.

• 한국유기농업학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.479-499
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• 2019

본 연구는 제주지역 무 주산지에서 재배 방법(유기 vs. 관행)과 토양 종류(화산회토 vs. 비화산회토)에 따른 토양의 화학적 특성, 미생물 활성 그리고 미생물 군집 조성을 분석하고 요인간 연관성을 구명하기 위하여 수행하였다. 전반적으로 유기와 관행의 재배 방식에 따른 토양 화학성은 처리간 뚜렷한 경향을 보이지는 않았으나 토양 미생물체량, 효소 활성, 종 풍부도와 다양성 그리고 미생물 군집 분포 등은 유의한 차이를 보였다. 반면에 토양 종류에 따른 화학성과 미생물 군집 분포 등 미생물학적 특성은 뚜렷한 차이를 보였다. 특히 유기재배 토양에서 관행 대비 토양의 세균, 방선균 및 사상균 그리고 미생물체량이 증가하였으며, Org-NA 토양에서 탈수소효소 활성, 종 풍부도(Chao 1) 그리고 종 다양성(Phyrogenetic diversity) 지수가 가장 높았다. 무 재배 토양에 분포하고 있는 주요 세균 문은 Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes 그리고 Actinobacteria 등 5종이었으며 재배 방법 및 토양 종류에 관계없이 Proteobacteria 문이 화산회토에서 25.9%, 비화산회토에서 21.9~24.9%로 가장 높은 분포를 보였다. 그리고 대체로 화산회토와 비화산회토 토양 종류별로 유사한 군집 조성을 보였으며, 화산회토에서는 재배 방법별 주요 문의 군집 조성은 큰 차이가 없었으나 비화산회토에서는 차이를 보였다. 특히, Firmicutes는 Org-NA 토양에서 21.0%, Acidobacteria는 Con-A에서 21.6%로 가장 높은 분포를 보였는데 대체로 화산회토와 관행재배 토양에서 높은 경향을 보였다. 또한 재배 방법 및 토양 종류별 미생물 군집을 대표하는 바이오마커를 찾기 위하여 LEfSe 분석을 실시한 결과, Firmicutes 문의 분포가 비화산회토와 유기재배 토양에서 유의하게 증가하였다. 그리고 토양 화학성 중에서 총유기탄소 함량, 유효인산 그리고 치환성칼륨 함량은 Firmicutes 등 주요 세균 문과 유의한 상관관계를 보였다.