• Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.416-419
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• 2018

We describe a case of a 61-year-old Korean man who was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma that was discovered on abdominopelvic computed tomography obtained after the patient complained of back pain. A radical nephrectomy was performed, and the surgical specimen showed a relatively well-circumscribed and yellowish lobulated hard mass. Microscopically, the tumor showed sheets and nests of hypercellular pleomorphic cells with thick fibrous septation, frequent mitoses, and areas of adrenal cortical-like tissue. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor cells were positive for inhibin-${\alpha}$, vimentin, synaptophysin, and melan A. It also revealed that the tumor cells were negative for pan-cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, paired box 8, ${\alpha}$-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase, CD10, cytokeratin 7, carbonic anhydrase 9, c-Kit, renal cell carcinoma, transcription factor E3, human melanoma black 45, desmin, smooth muscle actin, S-100, chromogranin A, CD34, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, and integrase interactor 1. Based on these histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, we diagnosed the tumor as intrarenal adrenocortical carcinoma arising in an adrenal rest. Several cases of intrarenal adrenocortical carcinoma have been reported, although they are very rare. Due to its poor prognosis and common recurrence or metastasis, clinicians and pathologists must be aware of this entity.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.336-340
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• 2019

Myoepithelioma was recognized as a histological distinct entity by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991. Myoepithelial cells are believed to be of ectodermal origin. In salivary glands, the myoepithelial cells that surround the intercalated ducts are spindled, which is in contrast to the large stellate ones that envelop the acini. Myoepithelioma is a benign salivary gland tumor that consists entirely of myoepithelial cells. A 53-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of a painless mass originating from the right parotid gland. The mass grew rapidly reaching a size of approximately 6 cm. The patient had no facial paralysis. The authors performed right parotidectomy. Immunohistochemistry study of this tumor showed that it was positive for vimentin, positive for S-100, focally positive for pancytokeratin, and focally positive for p63 and that it had a Ki-67 labeling index (below 10%). Additionally, the tumor was negative for epithelial membrane antigen, negative for actin, negative for desmin, negative for CD34 and negative for anaplastic lymphoma kinase. The authors present a case of benign spindle cell myoepithelioma of the parotid gland in a 53-year-old man diagnosed after immunohistochemistry study, describing its importance, along with a brief review of the literature.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.380-388
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• 2022

The B cell translocation gene 1 (BTG1) and BTG2 play a key role in a wide range of cellular activities including proliferation, apoptosis, and cell growth via modulating a variety of central biological steps such as transcription, post-transcriptional, and translation. BTG1 and BTG2 have been identified by genomic profiling of B-cell leukemia and diverse lymphoma types where both genes are commonly mutated, implying that they serve as tumor suppressors. Furthermore, a low expression level of BTG1 or BTG2 in solid tumors is frequently associated with malignant progression and poor treatment outcomes. As physiological aspects, BTG1 and BTG2 have been discovered to play a critical function in regulating quiescence in hematopoietic lineage such as Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and naive and memory T cells, highlighting their novel role in maintaining the quiescent state. Taken together, emerging evidence from the recent studies suggests that BTG1 and BTG2 play a central anti-proliferative role in various tissues and cells, indicating their potential as targets for innovative therapeutics.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 1999

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase(PKA) is an intracellular enzyme with serine-threonine kinase activity that plays a key role in cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis in eukaryotes. In order to understand the PKA signal transduction pathway regulating cell life cycle and identify its role, we focused on the characterization of up-/down-regulated genes by PKA using the differential display polymerase chain reaction. Seven differentially expressed sequence tags(DEST) have been obtained. Among these DESTs, 2 DESTs were homologous to the sequence of genes from BLAST search result. KC1-5 DEST that was up-regulated in A123.7 cells was highly corresponded to mouse apoptosis-related gene(MA-3) or mouse mRNA for topoisomerase inhibitor suppressed(TIS). MA-3 was induced in various types of apoptosis, specially in NGF-deprived apoptotic PC12 cells. TIS was down-regulated in the RVC lymphoma cells incubated with topoisomerase inhibitor that induces DNA strand breakages. PG1-1 DEST that was highly expressed in PC12 cells was corresponded to transposon Tn10 3'-end. Tnansposon Tn10 was up-regulated in differentiated myeloblastic ML-1 cells by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. This study illuminates that MA-3/TIS was down-regulated by PKA activity, and transposon Tn10 was up-regulated by it.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.32-41
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• 2015

Objectives: Condurango (Gonolobus condurango) extract is used by complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners as a traditional medicine, including homeopathy, mainly for the treatment of syphilis. Condurango bark extract is also known to reduce tumor volume, but the underlying molecular mechanisms still remain unclear. Methods: Using a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) as our model, the molecular events behind condurango extract's (CE's) anticancer effect were investigated by using flow cytometry, immunoblotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Other included cell types were prostate cancer cells (PC3), transformed liver cells (WRL-68), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Results: Condurango extract (CE) was found to be cytotoxic against target cells, and this was significantly deactivated in the presence of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that its action could be mediated through ROS generation. CE caused an increase in the HeLa cell population containing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage at the G zero/Growth 1 (G0/G1) stage. Further, CE increased the tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and the fas receptor (FasR) levels both at the ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the protein levels, indicating that CE might have a cytotoxic mechanism of action. CE also triggered a sharp decrease in the expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells ($NF-{\kappa}B$) both at the RNA and the protein levels, a possible route to attenuation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and caused an opening of the mitochondrial membrane's permeability transition (MPT) pores, thus enhancing caspase activities. Conclusion: Overall, our results suggest possible pathways for CE mediated cytotoxicity in model cancer cells.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.146-155
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• 2019

Background/Aims: Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a uremic toxin and an important causative factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease. Recently, paricalcitol (19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2) was shown to exhibit protective effects in kidney injury. Here, we investigated the effects of paricalcitol treatment on IS-induced renal tubular injury. Methods: The fluorescent dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate was used to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) following IS administration in human renal proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells. The effects of IS on cell viability were determined using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays and levels of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2-associated protein X [Bax] and B-cell lymphoma 2 [Bcl-2]), nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65, and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) were determined by semiquantitative immunoblotting. The promoter activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$ was measured by luciferase assays and apoptosis was determined by f low cytometry of cells stained with f luorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Annexin V protein. Results: IS treatment increased ROS production, decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells. IS treatment increased the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax, decreased Bcl-2 expression, and activated phosphorylation of MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, and Akt. In contrast, paricalcitol treatment decreased Bax expression, increased Bcl-2 expression, and inhibited phosphorylation of MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, and Akt in HK-2 cells. $NF-{\kappa}B$ promoter activity was increased following IS, administration and was counteracted by pretreatment with paricalcitol. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis revealed that IS-induced apoptosis was attenuated by paricalcitol treatment, which resulted in decreased numbers of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Annexin V positive cells. Conclusions: Treatment with paricalcitol inhibited IS-induced apoptosis by regulating MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and Akt signaling pathway in HK-2 cells.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.369-379
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• 2019

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease associated with age, and amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$) is known to cause Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of Cirsium japonicum var. maackii extract and its fractions against $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity in C6 glial cells. The cells treated with $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ showed a decrease in cell viability and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production compared with the non-treated cells. However, the cells treated with the C. japonicum var. maackii extract and its fractions increased the cell viability and inhibited the $A{\beta}$-induced ROS production. These results demonstrate the neuroprotective effects of C. japonicum var. maackii against $A{\beta}$. To further examine the protective mechanism, we measured inflammation and apoptosis related protein expressions. The cells treated with extract and fractions from C. japonicum var. maackii down-regulated inflammatory related proteins such as cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, and IL-6, and attenuated apoptosis related proteins including B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) associated X protein/Bcl-2 ratio. In particular, the ethanol and ethylacetate fraction exhibited higher inhibitory effect against ROS production and apoptosis-related protein expressions among the extract and the other fractions. Therefore, this study demonstrated the protective effects of C. japonicum var. maackii extract and its fractions against $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity in C6 glial cells through the regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, suggesting that it might have potential as a therapeutic for AD.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.110-122
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• 2022

The reduction of milk yield caused by heat stress in summer is the main condition restricting the economic benefits of dairy farms. To examine the impact of hyperthermia on bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cells, we incubated the MAC-T cells at thermal-neutral (37℃, CON group) and hyperthermic (42℃, HS group) temperatures for 6 h. Subsequently, the cell viability and apoptotic rate of MAC-T cells, apoptosis-related genes expression, casein and amino acid transporter genes, and the expression of the apoptosis-related proteins were examined. Compared with the CON group, hyperthermia significantly decreased the cell viability (p < 0.05) and elevated the apoptotic rate (p < 0.05) of MAC-T cells. Moreover, the expression of heat shock protein (HSP)70, HSP90B1, Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX), Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 genes was upregulated (p < 0.05). The expression of HSP70 and BAX (pro-apoptotic) proteins was upregulated (p < 0.05) while that of B-cell lymphoma (BCL)2 (antiapoptotic) protein was downregulated (p < 0.05) by hyperthermia. Decreased mRNA expression of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway-related genes, amino acid transporter genes (SLC7A5, SLC38A3, SLC38A2, and SLC38A9), and casein genes (CSNS1, CSN2, and CSN3) was found in the heat stress (HS) group (p < 0.05) in contrast with the CON group. These findings illustrated that hyperthermia promoted cell apoptosis and reduced the transport of amino acids into cells, which inhibited the milk proteins synthesis in MAC-T cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.753-758
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• 2010

Purpose: It has been suggested that p16 has a role in glucocorticoid (GC)-related apoptosis in leukemic cells, but the exact mechanisms have yet to be clarified. We evaluated the relationship between the GC response and p16 expression in a lymphoma cell line. Methods: We used p16 siRNA transfection to construct p16-inactivated cells by using the B-cell lymphoblast cell line NC-37. We compared glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression, apoptosis, and cell viability between control (p16+NC-37) and p16 siRNA-transfected (p16-NC-37) cells after a single dose of dexamethasone (DX). Results: In both groups, there was a significant increase in cytoplasmic GR expression, which tended to be higher for p16+NC-37 cells than for p16- NC37 cells at all times, and the difference at 18 h was significant (P<0.05). Similar patterns of early apoptosis were observed in both groups, and late apoptosis occurred at higher levels at 18 h when the GR had already been downregulated ($P$<0.05). Cell viability decreased in both groups but the degree of reduction was more severe in p16+NC-37 cells after 18 h ($P$<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest a relationship between GR expression and cell cycle inhibition, in which the absence of p16 leads to reduced cell sensitivity to DX.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 1990

The benzylacycoluridines (BAU and BBAU) are potent and specific inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase). In contrast to the report that benzylacyclouridines potentiated 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) cytotoxicity against human solid tumor cells (Cancer Res., 44:1852, 1984), continuous exposure of mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells, to FdURd, 5-fluorouridine (FUrd), 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-dFUrd), or 5-fluorouracil (FUra) showed no potentiation of cytotoxicity by benzylacyclouridines. In fact, under the conditions employed, benzylacycoluridines protected the cells from the cytotoxicity of FdUrd, FUrd, or 5'-dFUrd, but not FUra in a dose dependent manner. Intraperitoneal coadministration of BAU or BBAU and a 5-fluorinated pyrimidine (i.e., FdUrd, FUrd, or FUra), to mice bearing L5178Y cells also did not significantly increase the life span compared to those treated with the antimetabolites alone. Anabolism of these nucleosides through the sequential action of UrdPase and orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRTase), inhibition of nucleoside transport by benzylacyclouridines, or both could be responsible for the ineffectiveness of UrdPase inhibitors to potentiate the antineoplastic activity of fluoropvrimidines in L5178Y cells.